Letters to the Editor - May 7, 2010

Computer SuperCenter apologises for ad

To whom it may concern:

I want to apologize to anyone who may have been offended by the front page advertisement last week titled, "Tired of being abused by Dell?"

An Indian woman is depicted in the ad suggesting that might be the support representative so many frustrated Dell customers encounter.

Approval of this image was made only after discussing it with our own three Indian employees who thought it was humorous. But when I actually saw the ad in the paper, I personally felt it was not edgy or funny. It was insensitive and exceeding poor judgment on my part because it depicts an entire race negatively. The image had been removed from the ads, but I subsequently received a phone call from a woman who was in fact offended. She accepted my apology and prompted me to write this letter. Greenwich is a very, very diverse community, and some of our most successful residents and workers are not Caucasian.

Some of my best employees aren't either. It was not my intention to comment on an entire race, and I am truly sorry. Clearly, I am no marketing genius, and should instead consider running a seminars on, "How to drive business away in a bad economy!"

All levity aside, stereotyping is a serious issue, and I hope you too will accept my most genuine apology if you were also offended.

Brian Desrosier

Computer SuperCenter of Greenwich

Greenwich

Increasing security of nuclear arsenals should be top priority

To the editor:

The tragedy on 9/11 was a wake-up call for our nation. Coordinated and carried out with hi-tech efficiency, the attack exposed America's vulnerability to destruction by religious fundamentalists waging jihad far from our shores. Today the dangers are much greater, notwithstanding much improved measures of home security.

With the end of the Cold War, the dangers of nuclear warfare between the United States and Russia have receded. But the dangers of nuclear terrorism have increased.

The technology of building nuclear weapons is widely known, and all that keeps terrorists from acquiring such weapons is their inability, so far, to obtain the necessary nuclear materials.

This has not been for lack of trying, and their efforts may yet succeed through lapses in security, or corruption. There are numerous potential sources. Nine countries now possess nuclear weapons. Iran could become the tenth. Uranium and plutonium that could be used for a bomb is spread all over the world -- global stockpiles of highly enriched uranium (HEU) are estimated to be 1,700 tons, and separated plutonium 550 tons.

That's enough for about 200,000 nuclear weapons. Even though civilian HEU currently represents only a small percentage of the total global amount, it would be sufficient for more than 1,000 Hiroshima-sized nuclear weapons. This HEU is located in about 100 sites, in 40 countries worldwide.

All of this underscores the importance of the initiatives undertaken earlier this month. President Obama deserves great credit for his leadership at the recent meeting with world leaders to increase the security of nuclear arsenals and bomb-grade materials. Locking down loose nuclear materials within four years, the President's stated goal, will be difficult to achieve.

It is up to us to remind our government that no domestic or foreign policy matter is more urgent. We in Greenwich have a particular incentive to do so. We live only 30 miles from Manhattan, surely a priority target for terrorists.

Gerald A. Pollack

Old Greenwich

Advanced Learners program one of the best

To the editor:

In a year of much change, one thing has remained constant: the deep sense of fiscal stewardship that our Board of Education provides while striving to deliver a quality public education for our Town's students.

Our Board has produced an education budget that stays within BET guidelines while still focused on the needs of our students in support of the District's "Vision of the Graduate": improved classroom instruction for all, aimed at developing excellence of each student.

One such example of their continued devotion to educational excellence coupled with fiscal prudence is their full reinstatement of the 3rd grade Interdisciplinary Science Strand to the Advanced Learners' Program.

We take this as a statement of the BOE's continuing commitment to excellence in education in Greenwich. Let us remember, that the Advanced Learners' Program is recognized as one of the best of its kind, in a state that does not financially support its brightest through funding of "gifted" programs!

It serves the academic needs of approximately 20 percent of the 2nd - 8th grade students in the Greenwich public schools. With so many bright kids in our Town, ALP is truly one of the linchpins of a Greenwich education.

Thank you, Board Chairman Mr. Anderson, for your leadership; thank you, all board members for the hard work and dedication you give to the nearly 9,000 Greenwich public school students in your care.

We support you and the proposed 2010-2011 Budget. We hope that the Town join us in support of the Budget, as well.

Christina Russell

Bonnie Novek

PTAC Co-Chairs, Advanced Learners' Program

Parks and Rec benches are needed for children's events

To the editor;

The North Mianus Elementary School held its' annual Pow Wow, ( a fundraiser carnival to benefit its students through the PTA), this past weekend.

In years past, the Department of Parks and Recreation has loaned its benches to the event, as well as the Cos Cob School May Fair, which my wife co-chairs.

This year, the City of Stamford was gracious enough to loan their benches, when Greenwich Parks Director Joe Sicliano and his loyal assistant Bill Burgess decided it wasn't, "in the budget," for the town of Greenwich to do so.

I think this is nothing short of disgraceful.

Mr. Sicliano and Mr. Burgess, these events are for the benefit of our town's children.

How can you conclude that they are not worthy enough to, "fit in your budget?"

I would hope that you will reconsider your ill-advised decision, and provide these benches for the Cos Cob School event later in the month.

If you do not, the end result will be an added expense to the fundraiser, and ultimately take money out of the pockets of our elementary school students.

By the way, if you still believe this is an unneccesary drain on your budget, I will provide manpower and vehicles to deliver and bring back the benches for you.

Come on guys...wake up.

Rick Novakowski

Cos Cob