Isn’t it ironic that on the same day as Rick Brawley’s letter (March 7, “Pro football becoming National Felons League”) appeared condemning the Baltimore Ravens for signing Donte Stallworth, the front page of this newspaper had an article about Ben Roethlisberger and accusations of sexual assault (again)?

At the end of Brawley’s letter, it states “Go Steelers.”

Yes. Go Steelers. And take your marijuana possession (Santonio Holmes), your drunk and disorderly (Jeff Reed) and your alleged sexual assaults (Ben) with you.

And no, kids, it isn’t OK to commit these crimes if you play in the NFL – unless, of course, you play for the almighty Pittsburgh Steelers.

Then it’s OK to drive around town smoking pot, or get drunk and threaten a police officer, or force yourself on a woman.

If Brawley wants to change the name of the Ravens to Murderers, then I have a suggestion for a new name for the Steelers: How about the Pittsburgh Potheads, Drunks and Sexual Predators?

By the way, the writer’s do-no-wrong Steelers recently signed Will Allen, who was arrested for DUI last month. He’ll fit right in on this team. They can all celebrate together.

Get off your high horse. Your precious Steelers have as many thugs, troublemakers and criminals as Baltimore or any other NFL team.

William J. Watkins

Windber



Begin health-care overhaul in hospitals

I spent a lot of time in hospitals during the 1990s and 2000s. My husband had a chronic illness, making surgeries necessary (15 in as many years).

Many years ago, he told me the most frightening part of hospital stays was the filth. We would be in a room for days and it was never cleaned; nor the bed changed.

He was put in rooms where there was dried blood on the floors, walls, curtains, bed frames, and even the portable tables over the beds.

We got to the point where we brought our own disinfectants and cleaned the rooms ourselves.

He predicted the germs would “get him,” and he was right. He died in 2007 from an infection acquired in a hospital (not in Johnstown).

Everybody is worried about paying for hospital health insurance, but we might be better off staying at home. Per the Internet, approximately 48,000 people died in the United States last year from hospital- acquired infections.

If you are old enough, you can remember that hospital staffs used to be a very visible presence every day. Now you can’t get anyone to pick up a Band-Aid while paying costs upward of $2,000 a day.

The health system is broken, and instead of continuing to argue about paying for health insurance, we should investigate the hospitals and start at the very bottom to fix it.

Why pay for health care that could cost you your life because the cleaning lady was let go to keep profits up?

Sherial A. Huncharik

Johnstown



Think before hopping on bunny bandwagon

During the next few weeks, thousands of area adults will be tempted to buy rabbits for Easter for a beloved child, godchild, grandchild, niece or nephew. And a few months from now, our animal shelters will be, as they are every year, inundated by a flood of cast-off bunnies.

It is hoped that everyone who is considering buying a rabbit this year will stop and think about two important facts:

* Although rabbits can make wonderful pets, they are naturally fragile and timid. An active child who expects a cuddly pet can easily terrify or even injure a rabbit.

* A well-cared-for rabbit should live as long as a large dog (10 years or more) and will require just as much love, attention and veterinary care as a dog or cat.

So don’t give a rabbit to a child unless you know that the child’s parents will be happy to take on a decade-long commitment.

If you want to make a child’s Easter happy, don’t give him or her a live rabbit unless you know the animal will be loved and cared for throughout its natural life.

If there’s any doubt, give a stuffed or chocolate bunny instead.

Craig Nelson

Altoona



Cambria Township crew worthy of praise

It is apparent that many letters to The Tribune-Democrat are complaints.

I wish, however, to thank Cambria Township’s snow-removal personnel for their outstanding job.

I believe they did an excellent job during the February snow deluge.

Evalyn M. Martin

Colver



Moral decay leading us down wrong path

We are living in a financial earthquake with many tremors and no footing.

As the people were in the days of Noah, so we are today.

Until the water rises, we are going about life the same way with the same morals.

Just remember that the devil is trying to destroy us and God is pouring his wrath out.

It looks as if we’re in one hell of a shape.

Rick Kesselak

Johnstown