Reading your article on whether policemen racially profile their stops brought back memories of my youth.
When I was 18 and 19 years old, I was stopped several times. Mostly at night. Being polite, legal, and honest helped make these stops fairly painless. Police personnel will tell you why you're being stopped. My biggest problem was that my music was too loud or that I didn't obey traffic regulations.
These stops made me into a better driver and a more responsible adult.
Did they profile me?
Maybe to some extent, but I was asking to be stopped. Five times that I can remember it was nighttime. They couldn't tell if I was black, white, or Hispanic.
I was someone, somewhere, doing something that was out of place. That's why you get stopped!
The authorities must be respected and the rules must be followed to maintain peace and harmony.
It's sad that 90-something percent of law-abiding citizens are afraid to tell the 10 percent who want to dress like thieves, act like thugs, or drive like maniacs that they fit a certain persona. You will be judged for your looks and your actions. This is not MTV.
Lawyers wear suits with ties; it helps gain respect in court. It helps us distinguish between the good guys and the bad guys. Good grooming and good attitudes gain respect in courtrooms.
In the public eye, the world is a courtroom. Act accordingly. You will be judged.
JOE BELAIR
Fairfax RoadDouble standard in Enron coverage?
The Jan. 17 headline read: "Enron debacle's tentacles extend toward Jeb Bush." This headline would lead one to believe Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is involved in some fashion in the Enron collapse.
The article focused on the loss incurred by the Florida state pension funds of its Enron investment and stated that Mr. Bush, as governor, is a trustee of the fund.
If one bothers to read it, the article, contrary to the headline, indicates that Mr. Bush had nothing to do with the pension fund investment in Enron.
On the same day's editorial page was your editorial, "Go get 'em, Betty." Seems the Ohio public employee and state teachers retirement funds invested and lost $114.5 million in Enron.
Why no "Enron debacle's tentacles extend toward Bob Taft" headline on the front page?
HAROLD HOFFMAN
Tanglewood DriveDrop the labels and stick to the issues
Today another letter used terms like "liberal" and "conservative" (as if each were a curse).
This name-calling is becoming tiresome. Labels create animosity. Debate on issues is healthy (and needed). Let's stick to the issues.
MARC SMITH
Oregon
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