‘On the Streets, Promises Unkept’
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The American Civil Liberties Union, undeterred by public criticism for such myopic, irrational efforts as supporting the Nazi’s right to march in Skokie, Ill., and opposing the California Victims’ Rights Bill, has undertaken yet another cause of blind stupidity. Now it opposes New York Mayor Ed Koch’s decision to hospitalize that city’s mentally ill street people (Part I, Oct. 30).
If the ACLU had any courage or creativity, it would applaud Koch’s action as a major step toward recognition that Americans have certain fundamental rights to food, shelter and health care. Instead, the ACLU argues that hospitalization deprives the homeless of their liberty.
It is sadly predictable that the ACLU is again the stick in the spokes of a major opportunity to help the poor and underprivileged. If this is the way the ACLU fights for my civil liberties and rights, I strongly urge its short-sighted, extremist lawyers not to do me any favors.
DAVID SIMON
Venice
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