‘Ferrer’s Progress’

In The New York Sun editorial, “Ferrer’s Progress,” [March 18, 2005] you accuse me of “re-litigating 5-year old cases via political press releases.” The charge is disingenuous. Lingering issues regarding the shooting of Amadou Diallo were resurrected not by me, but by a member of the NYPD and by the former borough president of Bronx County.

It was the nature of Mr. Ferrer’s response to a question by a sergeant that prompted a member of news organizations, including your own represented by reporter Jeff Gray, to contact my office. Even then I declined to issue a press release for general distribution. My remarks were limited to a one-paragraph statement, which was given only to individual reporters who called my office seeking comment. Furthermore, I indicated in the statement that it was not for me to say whether a crime had been committed because a jury had decided that issue. Indeed, what I have had to say about this matter has been very respectful of the jury’s verdict and can hardly be characterized as “re-litigating” this case.

ROBERT T. JOHNSON
Mr. Johnson is the district attorney of Bronx County
Bronx

‘Schiavo’s Mother Pleads’

Re: “Schiavo’s Mother Pleads for Court to Spare Terri,” Josh Gerstein, Page 1, March 22, 2005. It’s interesting how a lot of people, including the mainstream media, keep referring to the Terri Schiavo imbroglio as a right-to-die matter. Dying is not really a right, unless one views suicide as a feasible alternative. It is really more of an inevitable consequence of the immutable laws of nature. Isn’t anyone asking if Terri Schiavo has a right to continue to live? From her parents and husband’s perspective, the more practical question may be, who has a right to take a life?

MIGUEL A. GUANIPA
Whitinsville, Mass.

Terri Schiavo deserves the same rights and dignity of every human person. Removing her feeding tube so that she dies a slow death through starvation and dehydration – this, supposedly, in the name of mercy – is intensely brutal and barbaric. We must protect the most innocent and defenseless in our society.

CYRILLE VELASCO
Manhattan

The decision to keep Terri Schiavo alive, or not, is a state issue and has nothing to do with the federal government. Since when does Congress get involved with personal and family life decisions. Even more despicable is the picture being painted of Michael Schiavo as a callous husband, when for the last 15 years, he has been by her side and echoing her wishes. I have never seen a Congress rush so quickly to address an issue, considering they were beginning their Easter break. The same can be said for President Bush, who flew back from his ranch in Crawford. With how many other personal situations will this administration feel it has the authority to get involved?

DIANE HOUSNER
Forest Hills, N.Y.

Terri Schiavo’s fight for life is also our own. Like her, we are human, fragile, and susceptible to injury at any given moment. None of us, even the physically strongest, knows whether or not tomorrow we may sustain some unpredictable misfortune leaving us totally incapacitated like Terri is now. Our lives are in God’s hands. Even if we should find ourselves in such a diminished state, we cannot succumb to define for ourselves when our lives are worth living. Neither can we delegate that decision to others like doctors, judges, or spouses. As a practicing Catholic, I believe the decision of whether we live or die at any given moment is the Creator’s.

JOHN VIRDONE
Great Neck, N.Y.

‘Stop Stalling on Gun Vote’

In her recent column “Stop Stalling On Gun Vote, Mr. Speaker,” [New York, March 11, 2005] columnist Alicia Colon wrote of a recent murder in New Jersey and quoted the Staten Island borough president – “Mr. Molinaro said the men cold-bloodedly slew the family because there is no death penalty in New Jersey.” The only problem with that argument is the New Jersey has had the death penalty since 1982 and currently has 15 prisoners on death row.

JERRY SKURNIK
Manhattan

‘The Idiot Savant?’

You keep referring to Warren Buffett as the “Sage of Omaha” [“The Idiot Savant?” Editorial, March 10, 2005]. His proper moniker is “Oracle of Omaha.” It’s the alliteration with the letter “o” that makes it work.

DONALD GOECKS
Brooklyn

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