April 23: Schumer on gas prices, Green commuting, Pope coverage

April 23, 2008

Being at one with the Earth

As I rode my bicycle to work on the first Earth Day in 1970, I expected to be surrounded by other riders, all proclaiming to be "one with the Earth," dedicated to a "green" way of life. On that early spring morning, as I rode my bike on the shoulder of Pulaski Road heading for my job at Grumman Aviation, none of the tens of thousands of reported Earth Day supporters were on the road with me. Cars whizzed by me with mere inches to spare - I was obviously an intruder on their territory. I was the threat to their environment.

The day's round trip was eventually completed without mishap, but I never rode my bike to work again. Although I still do considerable biking on Long Island, I never ride during the morning and evening peak traffic periods. And even now, 38 years later, with people considerably more conscious of the environment, it is still a tough job to ride a bike to work.

Bill Domjan

Melville

A Catholic take on coverage

How can the Catholic Church invite Rudy Giuliani - twice divorced, supporter of abortion rights - to receive Holy Communion at Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral said by the pope ["Giuliani receives communion," News, April 20]? How can this happen?

Timmy Riches

Brooklyn

What excellent coverage Newsday gave to the pope's visit to the United States! From the opinion survey about what Catholics are thinking to his various encounters with real people, your reporting has been thorough and evenhanded.

Pope Benedict XVI has surprised many by his gentle, pastoral ways compared to his previous persona as a strict disciplinarian. Let's hope his understanding and conciliatory manner will reconcile conservative and progressive Catholics in today's church. At Mass, we pray the Apostles' Creed, which is our profession of faith as Catholics. May the church finally be one, is my prayer.

Edward J. Thompson

Farmingdale

Shame on Carter

My family and friends are outraged by a letter writer who feels angered by Israel snubbing former President Jimmy Carter on his recent visit to the Middle East ["Israel should not snub Carter," Letters, April 21].

Why would Israel even consider seeing the misguided Carter, who wants to negotiate with Hamas, the very group bent on destroying Israel?

The United States should revoke Carter's passport and provide absolutely no security on any of his travels. He has gone out of his way to harm the United States and is a traitor to all we stand for.

Judy Marlow

Smithtown

Those gas prices

Every New Yorker and every American has been struggling to heat their homes and fuel their cars this year, while oil companies are enjoying windfall profits. For Long Islanders, gas prices are 15 to 20 cents more per gallon than the national average. These skyrocketing prices and public outrage have now created a chance to finally force the changes we desperately need: anti-gouging protection for consumers, ending subsidies for Big Oil, energy market reform, and alternative energy to reduce reliance on foreign oil.

First, we must pass the "Close the Enron Loophole Act" to end the free pass traders enjoy to duck federal oversight while electronically trading energy futures. Next, we must hold oil companies accountable for egregious profits they are making by offering gas price relief to consumers - paid for with windfall oil company profits and stopping subsidies to Big Oil. In the long term, we must devote far more focus and resources to developing alternative energy sources.

With the resolve of the people and the leadership of the federal government, we can finally embark on a new era of energy use that won't leave Long Island families stuck between an empty gas tank and a hard place.

Sen. Charles E. Schumer

Washington, D.C.

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