To the editor: I am a professor at the University of North Texas and a social worker. I read with interest Joyce Tsai's article on shoplifting classes ("School for Shoplifters," June 30, 2004). I concur with the article's conclusion that the benefit of most of these programs is dubious. It seems that the mistake that some programs and practitioners make is assuming that certain skill deficits or personality quirks cause shoplifting. For instance, they may teach money management skills because they assume that people shoplift because they unwisely spent all their money and now must steal to make ends meet. They focus on raising self-esteem because they assume that people who feel badly about themselves are prone to steal. Unfortunately, there are no known causal factors related to shoplifting, so programs that attempt to address these and other issues are misguided.

My spouse, Dawn (a licensed professional counselor), and I have been providing Denton County with a non-violent offenders program that includes many shoplifters (with one program for juveniles and another for adults) for more than a decade. Early on, we concluded that shoplifters seem to be perfectly normal in most cases; they are virtually undistinguishable from non-offenders. They do not have overly low self-esteem, they are usually not poverty bound (in fact, most shoplifters have enough money in their pockets to pay for the items they pilfer), and they do not seem to suffer from mental health problems. They steal because they want to.

Therefore, our approach does not focus on deficits in skills or knowledge. We note that shoplifters have made a decision, at least once, that is based on a negative value system about other people and their property. Our goal is to help the offenders explore their personal values and our social values and to make a decision, not just to refrain from stealing, but to channel their energy in a positive way to improve conditions for everyone in their community. It is a very powerful and motivating experience for the participants.

Our program has been very well received by the participants and the community, with extremely positive feedback. The groups meet one time, all day on a Saturday, and the total cost is $40. Juvenile offenders must come with a parent or guardian, and the entire family is urged to attend at no extra cost.

Thanks.

Mark Sandel
Denton

To the editor: My thanks to Piet Levy who wrote up a quick and nice piece on Chicago food ("My Kinda Town," July 7, 2004). I just arrived today from the Windy City for a new job and new home in Fort Worth and found his article while I was looking through your web site for dinner options my first night in town. What timing to find his piece on the front page of your dining section. Too bad it seems like there's not decent deep dish around here. Tell Piet to check out Lou Malnati's, Pizzeria Due or Ranalli's next time he's in Chicago -- rumor has it some of them will even ship their pizza, frozen, anywhere in the country!

Angie Kaufman
Fort Worth

To the editor: If Kristian Lin hates Michael Moore so much, why was he reviewing his wonderful film? Was there no one else that could do it? I'm really sorry if the truth offends you so much. God forbid anybody talk bad about the baby George. You say you feel "disgust" with his "exploiting" of Lila Lipscomb. It appeared to me the woman wanted to talk, even welcoming Moore into her home. The simple fact of the matter is that George and his cohorts are the most dangerous terrorists in the world. The world needs more people like Michael Moore. As for you Kristian, please do the world a favor and stay home on election day.

Tim Burt
Fort Worth

To the editor: Kristian Lin's review of Fahrenheit 9/11 was a confirmation to me that there's plenty of Americans who just weren't paying much attention in their high school civics class. At first I was glad for someone to point out that Moore is mean-spirited -- a bad trait in a filmmaker, yet surely worse in a president. In Bowling For Columbine, I found myself feeling bad for Charlton Heston, who had invited Moore and his camera crew into his home. Though I am against everything Heston stands for, I thought Moore's behavior was just bad manners.

Mr. Lin admonishes Moore for having spent so much time on the Bush family's pre-and-post 9/11 ties with the royal family of Saudi Arabia, since this had already been hashed out in Craig Unger's book, House of Bush, House of Saud. At the same time he points out that this was the "least well-known to the general public." Everything about Fahrenheit 9/11 is "least well-known to the general public," thanks to the corporate media, which from the start has been embedded with the Pentagon. Why else are movie houses packed with audiences who are there to see a documentary? What greater evidence that the general public -- a group Mr. Lin so cavalierly brushes off -- is a little tired of the world according to Fox News?

When Mr. Lin wrote about this martyrdom complex, finishing up with the bombastic description "a self aggrandizing bastard," I was sure he was referring to the current president. Whoops --no, stupid -- the filmmaker. That's the guy. Fantastic.

Paul Leddy
Lima, Peru