Pole Lacked

While I enjoyed most of [Cover, Holiday Dining and Entertainment Guide, "Wassup, Wassail?" Angelina Sciolla, Dec. 8, 2005], I did not appreciate the "How many people does it take to make a Polish Christmas dinner?" question immediately under the headline. This is a clear reference to a common introduction to many a Polish "joke." It's hard to believe that an article about a wonderful Polish tradition would include this type of insulting ethnic "humor." It's not appropriate and certainly not appreciated. I believe you owe your readers an apology.

Tom Kiseleski
Pittsford, N.Y.

Your article on the traditional Polish dinner was excellent. The introduction was in poor taste. Ethnic jokes are taboo in our politically correct society. Other races and minorities do not tolerate it; why should we?

Larry Zeleznik
Via E-mail

Another piece ripping into the president, how original [Slant, "In Defense of Dubya," John Scalzi, Dec. 15, 2005]. Do you liberals ever spend any time trying to figure out why Philly is falling apart and is the most corrupt big city in America? Get off the president's back and start writing about more important things.

Jay D. Gelman
Broad Axe, Pa.

I am a Philadelphia resident, born and raised, and I am quite aware of the ills within the neighborhoods. However, I am also aware that those very same ills affect all societies and neighborhoods all along Lancaster Avenue [Cover, Dec. 15, 2005]. If you are going to portray Lancaster Avenue, then show everything. Show those drunk children in Haverford, show those prostitutes in Coatesville, show these kids in Parkesburg that drive by drunk and shoot cows from their car. The question at hand is what is the purpose of this article? Is it to show Lancaster Avenue and the many faces that make it up from Lancaster to Philadelphia? Or is it to show how much better the suburbs are versus the city? These articles always serve to build the ego of others at the expense of those who have no voice. I wonder what effect your article will have on residents in Parkesburg as they read about Philadelphia. Will it make them feel good to know that Philadelphia is such a haven for crime, and their lives are so civilized? Will it make them feel safe to know that the crime is at that other part of Lancaster Avenue and not on their end? Will it reassure them that as long as they don't go past 63rd Street they will never have to experience drugs or violence?

Ron Daniels
Parkesburg

I really think you captured the spirit of what is wrong with Philadelphia in [WTF, "The Two Philadelphias," Duane Swierczynski, Dec. 8, 2005]: The city "works" if you live in certain neighborhoods, are connected to the right power brokers, or play the game.

The city needs to work for the general welfare, not just the special interests. That message has to keep coming from the right and left if we have a chance for broad-based reforms.

Brett Mandel

Executive Director, Philadelphia Forward