It's that time of year again: graduation. And this year's college and high school graduates will enter a world with endless opportunities. Unfortunately, many of those opportunities do not exist in the city of Pittsburgh. That is why so many of our best and brightest young people will seek futures in places outside of Allegheny County.

As the 250th anniversary of the city approaches, it's the perfect time to not only celebrate our past, but also focus on the future. As a 25-year-old resident of the city who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh two years ago, I watched countless numbers of my colleagues pack up and leave before their mortar boards even had a chance to hit the ground. Why?

Let's start with Downtown because most cities (and rightfully so) are judged by their center of commerce, entertainment and culture. In the city's new push to encourage people to live Downtown, they have forgotten that many young people cannot afford the exorbitant prices being asked of the new residences. Furthermore, for those wishing to seek entertainment Downtown, they must endure ridiculous parking rates, restaurants and coffee shops that close at 6 p.m., and quite possibly the most unreliable taxi service of any city in the United States.

Pittsburgh has so much to offer: a low cost of living, diversity and culture. Yet, the roadblocks that exist to them only detour young people to find employment, entertainment and their future elsewhere.

JASON SMITH
Squirrel Hill

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It has become very clear, at least to me, that big oil will continue to blood suck the American people out of their money. After all, they set us up for the dependency of their product, knowing full well they would have us totally controlled the way a drug dealer controls his addicts.

Our lawmakers sat on their hands as big business sold out this great country of ours, as we got excuse after excuse just why our big-paying jobs were being lost and our gas at the pump was going up.

Well, it's time for the American people to fight back and take back our country from these politicians who opened the doors for everyone in the world but the American worker. We need to make the voice of the people heard around the world; then and only then will our politicians take notice to the true power of the people!

Tomorrow's news should read: "Massive layoffs as politicians fight for their jobs, but the American people say no to any more back-room deals and send them packing."

Tomorrow's news should read: "School busing to stop, as the people speak out for bringing back the neighborhood schools!"

Tomorrow's news should read: "Imports in trouble as the American people buy American or do without!"

The people should make it clear to big business that if they want to sell it here, they should manufacture it here, using Americans!

I don't claim to have all the answers, but I do know that as Americans, we must come together and tell the world: Action to save our way of life comes first and we are going to put our trash at the curb.

JAMES R. CARLISLE SR.
Murrysville

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I read with great sadness about the diagnosis of Sen. Edward Kennedy ("Sen. Kennedy's Prognosis Poor," May 21).

When my 44-year-old niece suffered a seizure, she was told she had a stroke. She was a registered nurse and kept trying to tell her primary care physician, the hospital and emergency room doctors and her neurologist that she was experiencing dizziness and other issues that concerned her. They told her she could return to work and did not listen to her. Only after almost two months of these doctors ignoring her concerns did she find a doctor who did listen. She had fourth-stage glioblastomas.

It takes, unfortunately, a person of note to suffer a tragic circumstance to get the attention of people. I can only hope that those who read this letter and follow the progress of Mr. Kennedy's health will question their doctors if they experience an unexpected seizure and will take control of their health issues.

For those who think this was an isolated incident, let me say that my mother-in-law was misdiagnosed for six months and she also had brain cancer.

These comments are dedicated to my niece, who was 45 when she died this past February, to my mother-in-law, who died in June 2000, and to Mr. Kennedy, for the courage and prayers he will need in the coming months.

Perhaps the legacy Mr. Kennedy will leave is brain tumor awareness and the need for universal sharing of treatments and funding for research.

CAROLE SPIRNAK
Heidelberg

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In response to David Davis' outcry regarding the "muck and immorality" and "revolting arrangement" of man-man and woman-woman marriage ("Our Sinking Society," May 30 letters), it seems that the problem with Mr. Davis' vision is not his lack of enthusiasm for his cause but rather his lack of historical knowledge.

Mr. Davis asks rhetorically, "When in the history of the human race ... has it been the 'basic right' of men to marry men or women to marry women?" While admittedly no other nation has judiciously defined sex in the strict manner that Mr. Davis demands, Mr. Davis would be surprised to learn of the broad social acceptance of man-man and woman-woman sexual unions throughout history -- from the often-referenced Greeks and right through our own 20th century.

A little foray into the fascinating world of sexual history would reveal that our "[recently] corrupted society" has, in fact, been corrupt at least since the dawn of recorded history. Before Mr. Davis makes such broad historical generalizations in the future, I would encourage him and those who hold staunch opinions based on anecdotal versions of history to become familiar with some of the classics in sexual history. I particularly would recommend works by John Boswell, Thomas Laqueur, Peter Gay and George Chauncey, all highlights of the modern sexual canon. Even if you leave with the same opinion, it will prevent the future course of the marriage debate from being filled with historical half-truths.

Read the classics; sometimes it's better to let history speak for itself than to make history speak for you. And remember, sex has a longer history than last night's tryst between the sheets.

MATTHEW FUSINA
Franklin Park

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Regarding alternatives to the drink tax, Loretta McDermott would like to have somebody suggest an alternative to the drink tax ("What Alternative to the Drink Tax Do They Offer?" May 28 letters). I have a wild and crazy idea: How about raising the price of public transportation to cover the cost? Even at $5 per ride, it would still be cheaper than owning a car.

I am tired of paying for things I never use. I pay school taxes, but have no children. I would suggest that a flat fee be charged to everybody living in the school district and additional fees for those families who send children to school and actually use the facilities.

I choose to drive a car and pay what is necessary, but I would like to drive a really nice car; who would like to help me pay for it? Can Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato help me out?

J. GORALZICK
South Side

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Regarding "Philadelphia's Mayor Joins Fight to Ban Sale of Assault Weapons in Pa." (May 28):

If Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and state Reps. David Levdansky and Dan Frankel believe that reporting "lost and stolen guns" will stop the "gun violence," I think it's time they told the readers how that will happen. Where has it been tried and worked?

Someone breaks into my home and steals, among other things, my guns. I call the police. They fill out a report, and being a responsible gun owner, I also give them the description and serial numbers, etc., for my guns. Now are they going to go door to door looking for my guns or are they going to look for the thief?

Seems to me after reading all the news reports on "lost and stolen" guns and the need for an assault weapons ban, they are all targeting the gun rather than the criminal who uses the gun. A gun is just a piece of metal until someone pulls the trigger.

So please explain to me and the people of Pennsylvania how this law will work and some proof of where it has worked. I am sure we would all like to know.

JUDITH BROWN
Upper St. Clair
The writer is the Pennsylvania coordinator of Second Amendment Sisters.

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