Since the Vietnam War, the credibility of our government among its citizens has suffered enormously, and neither Ronald Reagan nor George W. Bush have helped a bit to restore it.
We published photos and details shortly after Saddam Hussein was captured, but we can't publish a photo of the dead Bin Laden because it would be too gruesome? Let the public have clearly visible proof, which would indeed quell the doubters.
Flavio Ciferri
San Clemente
Not a historian
Re "Bachmann invokes WWI," May 2
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) has struck again. Is there anyone on the political scene who's more outrageous?
In her speech to New Hampshire Republicans on Saturday, she said, "There is no analogy to that horrific action," referring to the Holocaust, but she then proceeded to make exactly that analogy in referring to the country's tax burden and "disenfranchisement" of Americans.
Bachmann displays a dismal lack of sensitivity and historical perspective. Clearly, she's the perfect presidential candidate for Republicans.
Norm Avrech
Pacific Palisades
Driver's licenses
Re "Impounding is not the answer," Editorial, April 29
The Times' editorial states, "Unlicensed drivers, including illegal immigrants, shouldn't be on the road." The solution, according to The Times, is to allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.
Gee, I wonder if The Times' real objective is to solve the problems associated with unlicensed drivers or to provide people in our country illegally a form of identification that implies legal status.
Rod Hallock
Chino Hills
Welcome news
Re "He makes physics fun," Column One, April 29
Thank you for making the story of Amir Abo-Shaeer, the Goleta, Calif., high school teacher, front-page news. How inspirational and impressive, not only in what he gives to his students on a daily basis but of how he was able to raise $6 million to start the engineering academy at the school.
I found it ironic that this story of selflessness and dedication was next to the story of how the civic leaders of Bell cheated their people, especially the children, out of the bond money that could have "transformed Bell into the southeast's finest community."
Two very different legacies.
Mari Muki
Culver City
