Barry Morrison

STU BYKOFSKY'S comparison of those seeking a smoking ban to Nazis ("Nutter, Street & Nicotine Nazis blowing smoke again," Feb. 17) is inappropriate and offensive. Regardless of Mr. Bykofsky's view of whether restrictions should be imposed on smokers in public accommodations, his linkage is insensitive and painful. Such a comparison trivializes the bestiality and horror of the actions of the Nazi regime and its leaders, and dishonors the memory of 6 million Jews and others who perished during the Nazi campaign of genocide, which has no parallel in history.

The Inquirer reported that Lincoln University professor Kaukab Siddique stood by controversial comments he made at a September rally in Washington, D.C. ("Lincoln professor stands by anti-Israel talk," Friday). Statements made by Siddique on that and other occasions include: ". . .our religious leaders in this country . . . must put their hands on the Quran and say that they do not recognize Israel as a legitimate entity. If they cannot do that, they must be branded as kaffirs (infidels)

IN HIS FEB. 2 column, "Muzzled - to Within an Inch of Our Lives," Michael Smerconish goes overboard in his attempt to communicate his frustration with political correctness in the name of racial sensitivity. We agree with a number of the points made by Mr. Smerconish: There shouldn't be a double standard for past transgressions of minority public servants; false claims of racism and victimhood should be challenged; security should not be compromised in the name of ultrasensitivity to ethnic sensibilities.

WE WERE distressed and disappointed to see the Daily News give front-page treatment to a fringe hate group far out of proportion to what it deserves ( "Kansas Church Labeled as a Hate Group is Planning Protests in Philadelphia," Dec. 11 ). The Daily News , however unwittingly, helped the Westboro Baptist Church to score a victory even before appearing in Philadelphia and encouraged the group to not just blow smoke but actually show up. Westboro Baptist is a very small Kansas-based group, far outside the mainstream, that has no affiliation with mainstream Baptist organizations and engenders minuscule popular support.

WE ADMIRE Stu Bykofsky for consistently speaking his mind and being willing to go against the grain. But in doing so by taking on critics of Arizona's immigration law he, unfortunately, misses the mark. We agree the federal government has failed and dragged its feet in not passing sorely needed legislation. Also, those who want to bring about more stringent enforcement and regulation of immigration should not be categorically charged with being bigots. But the Arizona statute seduces the state's residents with the false promise of improving safety and security.

STANDING IN line in the post office the other day, I was delighted at the response when two customers at the window were short of cash. Each time someone quickly supplied the 10 cents and 48 cents needed. And a lady asked an elderly woman (me) to go ahead of her in line! Did you know that on Nov. 26, Mayor Nutter participated in a reading from scripture in City Hall at the invitation of the American Bible Society? Indeed, the mayor read from Psalms and was followed by the president of the Westminster Theological Seminary and then by many others.

Monica Yant Kinney appropriately chided Milton Street for hurling a racial slur at mayoral candidate Michael Nutter. She followed with the rejoinder, "So much for Philly being the Next Great City" ("Milton and his one-ring circus," Feb. 22). We agree with Yant Kinney's outrage, but disagree with her conclusion. Unfortunately, intemperate, mean-spirited, divisive comments are abundant and prejudice lies just below the surface affecting so many aspects of our lives. For Philadelphia to wallow in despair in the face of such realities, however, is both impractical and short-sighted.

Two weeks after they were charged with harassing their Jewish in-laws, a Bristol couple were arrested again yesterday, this time on charges that they intimidated several Jewish doctors who once treated them. Richard Cohn, 35, and Karen Cohn, 36, surrendered to Lower Makefield police yesterday, charged with harassing four local doctors, paging them endlessly, offering their homes for sale and ordering gay and pornographic magazines for them under Jewish-slur names. "These folks seemingly don't like Jewish people," said Barry Morrison, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, who is helping with the case.

After a weeklong investigation as to how racial and ethnic slurs ended up in a word-search puzzle contained in a Sunoco Welcome America brochure, the advertising agency responsible for the booklet and the Anti-Defamation League agreed yesterday that the occurrence was accidental and that no harm had been intended. "This really was just an absolutely terrible and inadvertent computer-generated error," said John Goodchild, chairman of the Weightman Group, the Philadelphia agency that designed the booklet.