South Philly Review

To the Editor:

Ms. Pellicane, considering you left our fair city in 1962, I don’t really think you have any right expressing an opinion on topics you have no idea about (“Outside in,” Jan. 28). Southern High School, as well as many other high schools — public, Catholic and private — around the United States have issues.

You stated Southern had a bad reputation as far back as you can remember. My mother, aunts, uncles and godmother, among others, attended Southern from the late ’50s to the early ’60s. My father, while dating my mother, went to many dances there and said it was a good school at the time. They are all wonderful people and have raised their children right.

Obviously, times have changed as do people. For you to make such broad comments that make South Philly sound like a terrible place annoys me to no end. While you bailed and moved to New York, I have lived here my whole life and love every minute of it.

For all of the bad people who live here, there are 20 good people. You can keep yourself and your opinions in your little city of Bayside, N.Y.

Telling his view

To the Editor:

Recently on national television and in mainstream news publications, the don’t ask, don’t tell policy issued by Washington in the early ’90s for military personnel is now challenged by the Obama administration as per his campaign promise to overturn it.

As a Christian, along with millions of others, I strongly believe marriage and family life between a man and woman is the very fabric of our society that should remain as is.

Gays and lesbians should accept their lifestyle is not the norm, whether in civilian or military life, and have dignity and common sense at least in the military to adhere to the don’t ask, don’t tell policy.

As a veteran who served honorably during the Korean War, I, along with my fellow soldiers, could never accept someone openly gay as one of our own. The reasons are simple and hard facts. Gays’ sexual orientation would undoubtedly cause great apprehension and stress among straight soldiers because of the close, intimate living quarters in military life.

For what it’s worth, during my Army life and even 60 years later, I could never accept an openly gay soldier sleeping in a top or side bunk bed next to me. Unpleasant thoughts would lessen my ability to serve my country.

In fairness, I will say to gays, you are certainly entitled under our Constitution to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but the gay lifestyle should never be openly accepted in the military. I also say to gays, live as you choose, but I and other veterans, along with millions of Americans, know the don’t ask, don’t tell policy works and must remain as is.

The vulnerable ones

To the Editor: