LETTERS: Miners, Haiti, alcohol and more

Help miners, but don't begrudge Haiti

A recent letter begrudging aid to Haiti is disturbing on so many levels, it's hard to know where to begin. First, is anyone preventing the writer from contributing to the 29 dead miners' families? Is a telethon necessary to inspire his generosity? Just call the biggest church in Montcoal, W.Va., and ask where to send a donation.

Next, thanks to a legacy of colonialism, slavery and a few U.S.-funded dictatorships, Haiti has been mired in poverty for years. By most estimates, more than 200,000 died and even more were left homeless and at risk for disease. If the writer cannot tell the difference between 29 and 200,000, then I feel sorry for him. Sure, some of our tax dollars went to Haiti, but we fund wars all the time and I am happy our money is helping to save lives.

Finally, those 29 brave miners willingly went into a mine known to have numerous safety violations. If they were unionized, their families will be well taken care of. I suspect there will be 29 lawsuits as well.

Ann Rita Darcy

Huntington Station

Alcohol consumption surely affects others

Smoking is definitely harmful to others, but a recent writer's claim that alcohol consumption does not affect others physically is way off the mark . Death on the highways, broken families, domestic and stranger violence are all byproducts of "secondhand" alcohol consumption. I, for one, would rather be next to a smoker at a Giants game than some foul-mouthed, slobbering drunk.

Gail Michos

Floral Park

Get on with 9/11 trial

Thanks to Washington politics, we have once again made a mockery of the American judicial system . Nearly 10 years after the 9/11 attacks, we have no justice for those responsible and continue to argue about where their trial will take place.

While I completely disagree with the "rights" they have been afforded under our Constitution, they then have the right to a speedy trial. So, let's get on with it!

Lou Desiderio

South Huntington

Celebrate Earth Day by going vegetarian

Today marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, a day we pledge to conserve Earth's natural resources for future generations. We already know about recycling, changing light bulbs, adjusting the thermostat and reducing our driving habits. This year, we can best observe Earth Day by switching to a plant-based diet. A recent study found that production of meat and dairy products may account for fully half of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.

Nathan Daniels

Melville