News-Record.com

Your editorial, "Mistakes follow candidates" (Sept. 27) [not posted], states that "some people running for City Council have made 'bad decisions in the past.'" No kidding.

Apart from an uncontrollable urge to wallow in political correctness (Heaven forbid that you would have us judge harshly people who did not vote, were convicted of breaking and entering, larceny, trespassing, drug possession, assault on a female, violation of a protective order and tax evasion).

Why in the name of common sense are you not expressing outrage that people with this kind of "judgment" are allowed to run for City Council in the first place?

Most employers require an application with a background check and wouldn't touch these people with a 10-foot pole for the position of floor sweeper.

If our city is looking for trustworthy, capable leadership, it is a waste of taxpayer time and money to put these candidates on a ballot.

Mae H. Boys
Greensboro

More than 10 months ago Trudy Wade lost the election for a seat on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners to John Parks, yet she refuses to concede defeat.

Through a series of legal maneuvers, Wade is challenging the votes of county residents who legitimately cast provisional ballots. Her demands for repeated recounts and her appeals to the courts are very expensive for the taxpayers of Guilford County and the state.

Following the example of George W. Bush in 2000, Wade prefers to be selected by activist Republican judges in the state's Supreme Court rather than accept the will of the majority of the voters. Her effort to suppress legal votes demonstrates her contempt for the electoral process. Last week the State Board of Elections conducted yet another recount here in Guilford County and found John Parks the winner by 90 votes.

It's time for Wade to stop being a sore loser and step aside to let John Parks assume his rightful seat as a county commissioner.

Denise Baker
Greensboro

The Sept. 25 article about North Carolina schools passing rules to allow illegal students defies both logic and common sense. These are supposedly "institutions of higher learning," so I wonder what part of "illegal" do they not understand?

I can understand goofballs such as President Bush pandering to illegal aliens for political reasons. But when our nation's universities and colleges do it, we can only surmise that sophistry is the order of the day.

Why not also have drug stores that welcome addicts and malls that open their doors to thieves and criminals? I mean, hey, these folks have to get along in life just like the illegal aliens, right?

In fact, since our addicts and criminals are American citizens, they should have at least the same benefits as illegal aliens.

People such as Deborah Kelly (executive director of Centro de Accion Latino) probably have decent, albeit, misguided motives. Enlightened observers say that Kelly and her ilk must not even realize that they pose a greater threat to our nation than does al-Qaida or any terrorist organization. Our nation cannot be defeated by armed forces -- but it could crumble from within because of our own stupidity.

Ed Creamean
Danville, Va.

We read in a News & Record article recently that there were "no noise complaints from Fisher Park" during this year's events at the new baseball stadium. It makes better business sense to acknowledge there are stadium noise concerns and work to alleviate them, rather than pretending the amplified sound of the new stadium's announcer and the fireworks generate no concerns.

There certainly are complaints about noise from amplified announcements and fireworks from the new stadium. And while many neighbors are not disturbed by the noise, many others can appreciate that those not well buffered by some combination of distance, buildings, trees, good insulation, or even hearing loss, have expressed reasonable concerns about amplified noise and fireworks from the new stadium.

We practice tolerance and acceptance of what comes our way, but it would be generous for those stadium and team owners, profiting from the amplified announcements and fireworks, to acknowledge there are concerns and improve the situation, as promised, rather than pretending there are no noise concerns. We can share loud public accolades when that happens.

Cheryl Poole
Greensboro

Despite what many people think, American liberals do care about the defense of this country. I don't like it when conservative Republicans imply liberal Democrats advocate a weaker nation. Being a liberal does not make me any less patriotic than my fellow conservatives. I love God and my country and pledge my allegiance to both.

Our country has not done so badly under Democratic leadership. After all, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman served as wartime commanders-in-chief, and John F. Kennedy was certainly the most inspiring president in recent memory.

Many liberal Democrats actively defend the United States of America every day. If memory serves me correctly, both Al Gore and John Kerry served in Vietnam.

Someone once said to me many years ago that the older you become, the more conservative you become. Well, it has not happened to me yet, and I'm getting pretty old. Please don't write off liberals or Democrats just yet.

Beth C. Hawkins
Gibsonville

A little rain in Greensboro the other night, and that's a good thing. It's too late for the plot of dirt that I used to call my front yard. Summer started off with plenty of rain -- no need for sprinklers. When it all dried up, I refrained from watering because I was trying to be a good citizen. My neighbors might say that I was just ready to be done with mowing season, but that's just a rumor.

I'm afraid to aerate this season for fear of jarring my fillings loose. Those aerators aren't meant to bounce across petrified dirt. Looks like another year without an award-winning lawn. It's a fine line between being a good citizen and a neighborhood annoyance.

As a small favor, let me ask that you ignore the petition that's going around seeking my eviction.

David Theall
Greensboro

I'm writing in response to the offensive headline on Marta Hummel's Sept. 25 story, "Illegal students pass on N.C. plan."

As of last year's change to admissions rules, undocumented immigrants and their children can legally enroll in public colleges and universities, making the term "illegal student" wholly incorrect in addition to being blatantly biased. Why is it that even when undocumented immigrants are doing things they're entitled to do, we judge them by throwing the term "illegal" into the mix? Do they become "illegal shoppers" at the grocery store, too? And if one illegal act turns someone into an "illegal person," why is it that the rest of your paper doesn't reflect this when talking about American citizens? Following this logic, a drugstore owner who sells cigarettes to a minor should become an "illegal parent" when attending a PTA meeting.

In the future, please consider the impact before using biased language.

Rebecca Mann
High Point

I have learned that at least one candidate has been asked by one of your reporters about the problem regarding my withdrawal from the Pleasant Garden council race. I wish to advise in no uncertain terms that my withdrawal was solely my choice and was not caused, or contributed to, by any other person or persons except myself. I really did not wish to run but pretty much talked myself into it after being approached by many citizens over the past two years.

It is quite simple. I am not willing to commit to four years on the council. To get elected and then not serve out my term would be unfair to the town and to others willing to make such a commitment. I intend to serve Pleasant Garden in any way that I can to help it continue to be a town that lives up to its name.

We really don't need any more inaccurate information published or inferred about our town or its citizens.

Edgar G. Phillips
Pleasant Garden

Regarding your staff writer Eric Swensen's article (Sept. 17) on red-light cameras, the state constitution states that the "Clear proceeds of all penalties and forfeitures of all fines collected ... for any breach of the penal laws of the state" are to go to the school systems. I submit that the "clear proceeds" as indicated cannot be adjudicated. It is a matter of accounting principle and must be determined based on the situation.

I submit that no Superior Court judge or any other judge can establish a percent of receipts as "clear proceeds" of penalties, forfeitures or breach of any penal law of the state.

P.A. Mansfield
Greensboro

It seems like every time I read the paper, the News & Record is publishing a negative story about how the tournament at Forest Oaks is not going to be here anymore. The Chrysler Classic of Greensboro is one of the oldest tournaments on the PGA tour and has one of the largest purses.

We have had great players such as Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Fuzzy Zoeller, Davis Love, John Daly, and other major winners come to this event. We have one of the best fields in years.

Yet, the News & Record continues to report that the tournament will not be here in the next few years. I believe that the News & Record should be a leader in the effort to ensure that the CCG remains a vibrant part of our community for years to come. The tour is a big boost to our economy and means major national and worldwide coverage of our city and state.

The Jaycees have contributed tens of thousands of dollars to local charities to help improve our community. Here's hoping the News & Record, PGA, Jaycees, the leaders of Greensboro and surrounding communities will come together to ensure the future of the CCG.

Mike Oakley
Greensboro

Republicans like to complain about poor people, especially those who "ride in the wagon." We saw the complaints in spades with Katrina, especially in right-wing blogs and on talk radio.

Our treatment of the poor is a moral issue and raises these questions: Why do Republicans, who have the power to do something about poverty, insist on creating more poor people? And why don't Republicans change their economic policies so people can get decent jobs and workers can make a living wage? Republican economics have been cruel.

The poverty rate has risen 11 percent under Bush. It declined every year under Clinton. Over the past four years, gas prices have increased $1.40 per gallon, the trade deficit is at an all-time high of $700 billion, the real value of the minimum wage has decreased by 7 percent, there are 6 million new uninsured Americans, and median household incomes have declined annually.

America needs to return to fiscal responsibility and sound economic policies that benefit the poor and all Americans. We need to stop making the poor poorer and the rich richer. We need to stop creating poor people. We need to stop immoral economics.

John Sexton
High Point

In regard to Allen Zerkin's column, "Should we bargain with al-Qaida?" (Sept. 22) [not posted] and his premise, "sooner or later we may find ourselves having little choice but to seek a truce with al-Qaida" -- what classic pseudo-intellectual rubbish.

You destroy a rabid dog, not pet it and let it take you for a walk around the cemetery. Unless, of course, you want to take up early residency in the cemetery.

Rich Brenner
Greensboro

I don't get it. We continue to sit back and watch more and more of our rights and privileges be taken away by the few. And once that is done, we question why our nation is so intolerant of others. Can they not see?

A few do not believe in God. That is their right. But rather than remove my right to pray in public, to wish a co-worker Merry Christmas, to pledge my allegiance to my country -- the country within which I choose to live -- children are taught that because some do not believe in God, no one can even mention him.

Can we not teach tolerance of difference rather than "my way or no way"? Can we not accept each other, respect each other, teach tolerance rather than selfishness and come together as a nation, not as separate entities working against each other?

Kathryn Sherrill
Greensboro

I am writing to commend the staff of Moses Cone Hospital for its deep commitment to customer service and compassionate treatment. In the last 10 years, my family has spent time in a number of hospitals. This summer, we made several visits to the emergency room at Cone and had a family member hospitalized there twice.

While there is no way to make hospitalization completely pleasant, our experience at Cone was the best we've had. The key difference in care I noted, even from the same hospital a few years ago, is the personal warmth shown by the staff. From pre-admissions staff to nurses to cleaning crews, everyone responded to requests for assistance promptly and courteously. Each employee seems to have been told their first priority is to help, regardless of job description.

There is no time in life when people feel more vulnerable or out of control than in a hospital. There are few employees anywhere more stressed and overworked than in a hospital. This combination creates a huge potential for conflict, short tempers and misunderstanding. Cone seems to have gotten the balance of efficiency and compassion right, and the community should be very proud of the quality of its hospital.

Patricia Boswell
Greensboro

Now that all the children have been rescued and accounted for in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, we can turn to the more important task of rescuing their pets.

Richard A. Davis
Pfafftown

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Kathy Scott Rummage

America has lost one of its finest with the recent death of a hero. Asheboro airman Chief Master Sgt. Luther D. Rummage Jr. fought in harrowing battles, flying in bombing raids as U.S. forces tried to defeat the ruthless attacker.

With America fighting battles overseas right now, this could be the story of an Iraq war vet. But Luther Dee -- "L.D." to his loved ones -- was a survivor of World War II. His family only learned his story in recent years as L.D. slowly let it drain from his heart, where it had been bottled for decades.

L.D. was also "Dad" and "Granddaddy," and those who called him those names learned the master woodworker and avid golfer was also an American hero.

Rummage was one of the original members of the 448th Bomb Group and was in the 713th Squadron in England as a flight engineer aboard a B-24 Liberator. He was on the 448th's first bomb run over Germany and flew in the Berlin raid of April 19, 1944. He was wounded on his third mission over France and shot down over England on his 12th mission. It was during the fateful 13th mission that he was shot down again, this time over Germany, and captured. He escaped, only to become a prisoner in Switzerland. The French Underground rescued him and he eventually returned home just two days before Christmas 1944. For his terrified family in Mooresville, it had been an agonizing eight months while he was listed as missing in action.

We now have CNN and Fox News to document the fighting in the Middle East 24 hours a day, but the wars of our golden generation are preserved largely in their memories. We must turn off the TV, log off the Internet and tune in to our aging veterans. The Associated Press recently reported that our World War II vets are dying off at an astonishing rate of 1,000 a day.

Make that 1,001, because we lost an incredible man who sacrificed his safety in the skies over Europe many years ago. A man who came home, married his sweetheart, Helen, and helped raise a family of four children, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. A man who, when you took the time to ask and listen, would tell you his unforgettable story. It didn't take long to learn he had a Purple Heart and a red, white and blue soul.

The writer lives in Charlotte.

Reference is made to the feature article written by Richard Barron on the merits of incentives given to industry.

The incentive package given Thomas Built Buses in 2002 occurred while I was mayor of High Point. The article correctly stated the 2004 taxes paid by Thomas Built Buses. There were other advantages to High Point not stated in the article. Quoting from the proposal prepared by High Point Economic Development Corp. to our City Council, please note:

"Thomas Built Buses is a major user of water, sewer and electricity. City revenues from these utilities and property taxes for the expansion are estimated to be $1,026,500 per year. Using this estimate, the city would recoup its $4.5 million investment within 4.38 years."

Not all incentive packages paid for by taxpayer money are as valuable to local government. Thomas Built Buses was then and is now a wise investment for the city of High Point.

Arnold J. Koonce Jr.
High Point

I am responding to Ian Millar's letter, "English is enough" (Sept. 19).

As a parent of four children currently enrolled in Spanish Immersion programs at Aycock Middle and Jones Elementary, I say he is way off base. All types of ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds are represented in these programs. A properly administered K-12 full Spanish Immersion program bridges together these various backgrounds by building trust, friendships, compassion, intelligence and even love. It also provides cultural and educational opportunities that parallel or exceed a private and/or accelerated learning education.
Many Americans speak Spanish. What better lesson than to foster children who can communicate with them? Would Millar rather America use all "foreign" Spanish-speakers to communicate?

It can be difficult to sacrifice "comfortable" attendance zone schools for a magnet choice, but immersion test scores and community involvement prove that our immersion program delivers more bang for the buck. My fantasy is more full immersion opportunities for elementary children to continue through their high school years.
After looking it over one more time, if Millar still doesn't like it, he doesn't have to apply for our waiting lists. Instead, he can ask my children to translate for him.

Paula Murphy
Greensboro

The writer is past PTA president, Jones Elementary.

This is all about Roe, as Charles Krauthammer wrote in your Sept. 15 paper.

"Roe, Roe, Roe your boat gently down the stream."

Judge Roberts knew to "Roe" his boat gently down the mainstream, and he did so masterfully.

Let us not forget the rest of the song: "Merrily, merrily, we roll along, life is but a dream."

It will take more than an act of Congress to establish the reality of life and the equality of life for all who dream.

Jim Ellis
Stoney Creek

Students across the United States have returned to school. However, this year more than 100 million children around the world will not have a chance to go to school. That is double the number of primary school children in the entire United States. Three-fifths are girls.

In the past, world leaders have acknowledged the value of education and pledged to invest in it. In 2000, 189 countries agreed to guarantee universal primary education by the year 2015. From Sept. 14-16, these leaders reunited and evaluated the progress that has been made. We are already falling off track for these targets. This is an issue that no one can ignore. Not only does education teach people to read, write and think, it also promotes economic growth.

Countries with better economies are not only less dependent on foreign aid but provide new markets for American business. Through the NetAid Global Citizen Corps, a program that empowers young Americans to fight global poverty, I am working with a coalition of students from around the country to mobilize communities to lobby for universal primary education. Throughout the year, we will work in our communities to raise awareness about global poverty.

Bita Emrani
Greensboro

I would like to thank all the people who sprang to action after my family was involved in an automobile accident at the intersection of High Point Road and I-40 exit/Pinecroft Road Sept. 16.

While crossing the intersection in our van, we were hit by a man who ran the red light. Our van was rolled onto its roof. Within seconds, I heard lots of people running to our aid. Thanks to the lady with a tattoo on her ankle because that's all I could see while I was hanging in my seat belt. Thanks to the man with the blond hair and blue-striped shirt. Your adrenaline must have been pumping, but you got us out. Thanks to Rebecca, who offered medical help. Thanks to the taxi driver and Jose the real-estate agent, who wanted to make sure we knew they were witnesses. Thanks to Pastor Sarah from Glenwood Methodist, who was an angel in our midst. She stayed the entire time, offering a listening ear and a hug.

That night, the greatness of humanity was revealed to me by ordinary people. Thank you to the others I might have missed; I am grateful for your compassion.

Kelly Peeler
High Point

As an FDR yellow-dog Democrat liberal, I am ready to throw in the towel on public education.

The time has come for vouchers to support those who would send their children to private school and to encourage home-schooling for those who can handle it. For all others, I recommend we supply those households that cannot afford it a computer and Internet service. We should then outsource public education online to perhaps New Delhi, India. It has to be better and significantly less expensive.

Bill Bennett (secretary of education under Reagan), liberals' arch-nemesis, is correct. "The public school systems have been set up for the school administration, not the education of the kids." Not an exact quote, but close.

How did I come to this?

Any educational organization that requires an executive accountability research officer and a chief of staff for the superintendent is so completely full of itself that it cannot possibly work.

It is with great regret and inner struggle that I succumb to this conclusion.

David Colin
Greensboro

Let's further inclusiveness and promote our increasing diversity by adding names such as Tyrone and Lakisha and Jose and Margarita and Abdullah and Fatima to next year's parade of hurricanes.

Guy Sinclair
Graham

Thank you, Nancy McLaughlin, for a moving article about organ donation and raising awareness with a delicate issue. Years ago, in my naivete, I would joke with the best of them. St. Peter greets you at the pearly gates and gasps, "You gave away what?"

Like most things, it's amusing until it comes through your own front door and tears your world apart. It doesn't just happen to others anymore, it's the white elephant in your own living room.

Education is swift, and no one is exempt. It can be as simple as catching a virus that attacks the heart. My husband waited for six months at Duke Hospital to receive his heart transplant. Someone in New Jersey was faced with a tragedy that rocked their world, and in the midst of that turmoil surrendered the ultimate gift. An incredibly unselfish act that we remember every day.

Please consider organ donation; I think the God we serve will honor that choice.

Barbara Currie
Summerfield

More than half the people who need an organ transplant in the United States will die before they get one. Most of these deaths are needless. Americans bury or cremate 20,000 transplantable organs every year. More than 6,000 of our neighbors suffer and die every year as a result.

There is a simple solution to the organ shortage -- give organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs when they die.

Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. About 70 percent of the organs transplanted in the United States go to people who haven't agreed to donate their own organs.

Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers. LifeSharers is a non-profit network of organ donors who agree to offer their organs first to other organ donors when they die. They do this through a form of directed donation that is legal in all 50 states and under federal law. Anyone can join for free at www.lifesharers.com. LifeSharers has 3,241 members, including 130 members in North Carolina.

Dave Undis
Nashville, Tenn.

The writer is executive director, LifeSharers.

If the three rules of real estate are location, location, location, why on earth would we invest $35 million in War Memorial Auditorium, given its location? Having been in its current location for decades, it has done nothing to help the area, and the area has done nothing to help the theater experience.

Also, why would we expand the seating capacity when it is already difficult enough to fill? For sure, Greensboro needs an acoustically and architecturally excellent performing arts facility, but let's locate it in a more inspiring and convenient location, such as downtown, where the theatergoing public can eat and drink within walking distance -- and support an infrastructure that is already in place.

Robert N. Johnston
Greensboro

When reading Go Triad, a wave of dismay washed over me. I am referring to "Urinetown: The Musical." With all the wonderful musicals available, why would one choose what seems to me to be coarse and base?

I am ashamed of UNCG's theater department. I am ashamed that a fine city such as Greensboro would be associated with this. I feel disdain, but also pity for the producer and the author. One who has to resort to toilet humor speaks volumes of a lack of imagination and creativity.

I believe someone who is truly talented and gifted could take an often-used subject and bring new, innovative ideas to it. How revolting to build a musical around such an unsavory topic. I believe we deserve to expect decency and not gutter entertainment. Come on, UNCG, you can do better than this.

Pat Mitchell
Randleman

Upon reading about the proposed Hilltop Road development, I was disappointed to see that the zoning commission, with the assistance of Henry Isaacson, is once again flaunting and completely disregarding the comprehensive land-use plan.

I truly feel regret and remorse for the citizens who put in years of hard work to develop the land-use plan. Our city leaders do not seem to care about the effort that went into the project because they consistently ignore the plan that was created.

I wish the Hilltop Road residents the best of luck with the City Council. However, I expect that development will once again win the vote over common sense, good judgement, and sound comprehensive planning.

Ted Eaves
Greensboro

Who's accountable for the 1,000-plus lives that were lost during Hurricane Katrina, especially in light of the minimal loss of life during Hurricane Rita?

In the military, there is a term in which officers or enlisted individuals can be prosecuted for severe or gross incompetence, under the Military Uniform Code of Justice. The terminology for this gross incompetence is dereliction of duty.

Just a couple are being charged with homicide for not evacuating a nursing home, which contributed to the horrifying deaths of several helpless inhabitants. Our federal government (FEMA), Louisiana state and local government should be held accountable for all those lives lost during Hurricane Katrina and at the very least, the charge should be dereliction of duty.

David W. Ashby
Greensboro

Experts have predicted that gas prices will remain high even though damage to refineries from Hurricane Rita appeared lighter than they expected. They also say that we may never see "pre-Katrina" levels again. Why is this?

It seems to me that every time there is a disaster in our country, the oil companies feel the need to raise the price of gas. Are our current prices really a result of the recent hurricanes, or are the oil companies using this as a convenient excuse to make more money?

I don't think there is a real reason to keep the prices so high. They simply do this because they can. Who knows what will happen after the hurricane damage is repaired. I think the prices will continue to stay high because as long as we pay it, they'll keep raising it.

Justin Carter
Greensboro

I am a loyal fan of N.C. A&T State University's football team, but I was dismayed Sept. 24 when I attended a game between A&T and Elon University.

Despite its stellar reputation, A&T's band was not permitted to play for the halftime show; the same thing inexplicably happened in 2003. I attend many college games, and it is customary for the guest band to be invited to perform first, followed by the home team's band. There was more than adequate time for both bands to play, so I was at a loss as to why I, and hundreds of other observers, not to mention the students, were needlessly inconvenienced.

Why did A&T's band have to play post-game? Most of the fans, especially those who have to travel some distance to return home, would prefer leaving immediately after the game. Why must we delay our departure in order to enjoy A&T's band performance? What is the rationale behind this procedure?

I have sent a letter to the president of Elon University to try to obtain a logical explanation for one band performing at halftime and the traveling band having to wait until after the game to perform. It strikes me as very odd and improper that such a procedure has been implemented on more than one occasion.

Nora Jones
Greensboro

I can no longer find the words to express my angst at the ongoing loss of beautiful old trees in this city. However, I recently saw a photograph of a huge, old-growth Douglas fir tagged to be cut down. Beneath it was this quote: "God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches, and a thousand straining, leveling tempests and floods; but he cannot save them from fools" -- John Muir.

Please stop this foolishness before our beautiful city is no longer green.

Nancy Probst
Greensboro

I just want to congratulate the News & Record on its superior series on corporate incentives. This is in the best tradition of local journalism and community service. Taft Wireback, Richard M. Barron and the others have made a very real contribution with this series.

Wireback had already distinguished himself with his evenhanded and thorough coverage of the FedEx hub and the ensuing controversy.

The incentives series is award-winning journalism. Sincerest congratulations and thanks to all involved.

Earle Bower
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Lois L. Bailey

I think the federal and state governments should enact laws that would require doctors to cure all patients. We don't care how unique the circumstances are for each patient, even though some may not follow their doctor's instructions and some cannot speak English and some have handicaps. That is not the point -- doctors need to be made accountable. In addition, I think we should pay them bonus money based on the amount of time they keep their patients alive. If the 2005 patients exceed the number of patients from 2004, doctors will be declared competent and successful professionals.

At the same time, courtroom lawyers should have to increase their rate of "not guilty" verdicts from year to year. If they do not, they are not doing their jobs adequately and their firms should be put on a "watch list."

Crazy, you say: Who would demand such requirements of professionals? Well, those are the constraints within which teachers have to work every day.

I totally empathize with Betty T. Kane (Counterpoint, Sept. 16). What a slap in the face to teachers and students at Jefferson Elementary to have an NR -- no recognition — because they did not achieve "improvement." Any institution, group, business, etc., that has a 95 percent success rate is just that, a success.

First of all, the growth analysis is a misnomer. If one is comparing 2005 students to 2004 students, it is like comparing apples to oranges. The students at any school are not identical two years in a row. Therefore, for growth truly to be meaningful, one needs to measure the same cohort. The students who attend Jefferson in 2004 are different from the students who were there in 2005. One would need to compare the scores of each student who took the test in 2004 to how he or she did in 2005.

However, the major injustice of this whole issue is that teachers are being judged by a test that students take three days out of the year, when we all know that there are many variables other than teachers that affect student outcomes. Who can honestly say that teachers at so-called "high risk" schools are not as deserving as teachers at "excellent" schools?

I know from more than 30 years in education that teachers at all schools are working around the clock to help all students. To label schools and teachers based on test scores is educationally unrealistic and unsound.

You would not rate doctors by the health of their patients, so why are we doing this with teachers? Politicians should not be making educational decisions. Until we demand otherwise, we will have these irrational proclamations.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

It's been Spartan for nonprofit organizations lately. I volunteer at Guilford Correctional and at Urban Ministries, and I have seen them cope with the belt-tightening. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have been on my mind in that context.

I don't contend that these catastrophes are less tragic because the victims aren't in our town; that would be patently un-Christian. This note is prompted by the federal dollars proposed for recovery in these states, a total of more than $300 billion, in addition to the thousands of churches involved financially and hands-on in the recovery. Private donations are miniscule by comparison.

Potter's House, the arm of Urban Ministries that provides meals, receives no federal funds, and CROP is a significant part of its budget. Since 1999, CROP receipts have been flat, and yet two to three times more people come off the street for lunch each day. Give to Red Cross, pledge to your church, but please don't waver in your support of CROP and other local efforts that depend entirely on your private donations.

Read Matthew 25:31-46 and recall that you have entrusted others with the care of your brothers and sisters who are strangers in our town and need food, clothes and shelter.

Dan Nelson
Summerfield

I need to explain what caused my criminal record. In 1999, I suffered with manic depression. I never had that problem before. I did not choose mental illness. It chose me.

I broke the law during a manic phase where you feel invincible. I was not in my right mind.

I believe my ex-wife took out a protective order because she did not realize I was sick. I was never violent toward her, my children, or anyone. The violations of that order were attempts to contact my children.

I did not make a conscious decision to be a criminal. There are no serious infractions either before or after 1999 on my record. I was placed on medication that brought me back to normal. I continue to take medicine to prevent any further episodes. I was sick, but now I am fine. I have not had any other symptoms since 1999. Many people live normal lives with their mental illness under control.

I hope you were not insinuating that I was making "dumb mistakes" when in fact I was sick.

Dave Howerton
Greensboro

The writer is a candidate for Greensboro City Council at large.

Just when we all thought that President Bush had learned a lesson about appointing unqualified people to important government positions, such as the Michael Brown directorship at FEMA, it is shocking to hear that Bush has nominated Harriet Miers for the Supreme Court.

Miers has absolutely no experience as a judge at any level. Her only qualification is that she is a long-time crony (and fund-raiser?) of Bush.

It is absurd for Miers to be nominated for such an important position. The Bush administration's continued favoring of cronyism over experience has brought us to the horrible situation we have in New Orleans and Iraq.

When are the American people going to realize that having competent and qualified people in important jobs like FEMA director and Supreme Court justice is infinitely more important than the issue of gay marriage? America can't afford the continued incompetence of the Bush administration. It is time to consider impeachment of Bush, Tom DeLay, Bill Frist and Karl Rove.

Randy Scott
Greensboro

Dick Douglas' recently published restaurant experience (letter, Sept. 30) should be required reading for many restaurateurs and wait staffs.

The use of the word "guys" in addressing mixed company is on a par with the "you know," "OK," and "like" redundancies in dumbing-down the art of self-expression.

Douglas also presents a widely shared view that public dining room civility suggests the proper resting place for the ubiquitous baseball cap is a wall hanger.

J. T. Quinn
Greensboro

Maybe it's just me, but I don't understand the fatalistic mentality of the news staff at the News & Record regarding the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro.

The "obituary" of the tournament was prominently featured on the front page of the Sept. 25 edition; Davis Love's withdrawal garnered space on the coveted front page; "Jaycees give up Classic control" also earned some valuable front-page real estate.

To be fair, you had some positive news, "Players think Greensboro's event will be back in 2007," buried in section C4 (following an absolutely engaging, fascinating waste-of-ink story about a Stimpmeter). Why bother?

Clearly, the mind-set of the news staff and its writers is one that would rather not be troubled by an event that has been part of the social and economic fabric of this community for 66 years.

Thankfully, the fate of the tournament is in the hands of the PGA Tour, the Greensboro Jaycees and some great corporate citizens -- not the News & Record.

James Kerr
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Richard Koritz

The Oct. 2 front-page article, "Panel: Healing already started," grossly distorted my testimony before the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission. I have two principal reasons for opposing the process.

First and foremost, while representatives of the ruling-class wealthy of Greensboro argued against this process on the basis that this city was no longer the kind of place that would produce such a massacre, I believe that there has been no fundamental change in the rulers, in the reactionary groups, in the status of the oppressed, in the system in general. (Compare the South African model of the commission where the apartheid regime had been replaced.) The GTRC process offers the poor and working poor "reconciliation" as a substitute for striving for some level of power. "Reconciliation" is a grand illusion that only serves the powers-that-be. In this connection, I raised Hurricane Katrina as a wake-up call.

Secondly, my concern has never been solely for the "organized workers" as your article inferred. By distorting my testimony, the News & Record tried to use me as a spokesman of "conservative organized labor," pitting this sector against the more militant poor and working poor. In reality, organized workers have a definite stake in joining with the unorganized to strive for unity and power. And my testimony, in fact, emphasized the plight of the poor and working poor -- black, Latino, Asian and white.

My opposition to the raising up of this defeat for the people that occurred on Nov. 3, 1979, is that it is a source of demoralization for the black community and the working people of this area in general, the very people who have more need than ever to stand up and fight for their rights.

My testimony contrasted the GTRC process with the coming International Civil Rights Center and Museum, where I serve as a board member. This museum will commemorate the historic Sit-In Movement at Woolworth's that ushered in an era of civil rights and black liberation struggle victories. It resulted in the smashing of legal segregation in the southern United States. The museum's message is that we can and should fight for justice and that we the people can win.

I closed my remarks with these words of Frederick Douglass: "Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will."

The writer lives in Greensboro.

I'd like to express my sincere thanks to Michael Schlosser for his explanation (Sept. 30) of the Klan/Nazi trial of 1980, and to this newspaper for devoting the space for this long-overdue airing of the facts surrounding this ignoble episode. Schlosser is an unimpeachable source, in view of his direct connection to the trial as Guilford County district attorney.

The purpose of this letter is not to advocate for either side; it is to defend the reputation of our great state and its judicial process. The trial's coverage, in TV and all national media, left the impression that North Carolina was a racist, bigoted state that acquitted Klan/Nazi defendants.

Yes, they were acquitted because, as Schlosser stated, the CWP was totally uncooperative in prosecuting the case. Klansmen, he pointed out, were only too willing to testify and did so, relating their account of the proceedings. Schlosser cited instance after instance of the prosecution's efforts to get CWP witnesses to offer testimony, but they used the opportunity to vilify the court, the trial, the police, the FBI and more. How could this but alienate a jury, aside from failing totally to add any substance to their position?

Leo Derrick
Asheboro

I wonder if many people are aware that their tax dollars are helping the ACLU in attacks on the Boy Scouts and other of our country's traditional liberties, such as banning the Pledge of Allegiance and removing the Ten Commandments from public view. Due to a loophole in the law, we are paying the legal fees for these lawyers.

A provision in U.S. Code 1988, Civil Rights Act 42, allows for public funding of attorneys' fees for civil rights cases. When this law was passed 30 years ago, it was intended to help victims of actual discrimination. But, now the ACLU is abusing this law to secure taxpayer dollars for attacks on religion, the Boy Scouts and the Pledge of Allegiance. If they can infer or dream up the case that someone's civil rights are being violated, they can collect taxpayers' dollars to litigate it. For example, the ACLU collected nearly $1 million in court fees from taxpayers after forcing the city of San Diego to deny use of a park for a Boy Scout summer camp. Petition Congress to amend this law and stop the ACLU from exploiting it.

David Moore
Madison

Allen Bullard of Randleman (letter, Sept. 22) made the outrageous accusation that I supported Marxism. I do not support Marxism. Furthermore, his failed attempt to brand me speaks volumes about himself.

Bullard's egregiousness associating the advocating of peace with his derelict understanding of Marxist ideology is blatantly evident.

Based entirely on his intellectually bankrupt remarks, it is clear he has never read anything by Marx, much less anything pertaining to politics or world history. Obviously, Bullard is in dire need of an education.

The lack of critical thinking so prevalent today, as demonstrated by Bullard, is disgusting. The abominable ignorance that dares to pass itself off as logic in letters such as his is epidemic and reaching frightening proportions.

I call upon all rational citizens to combat this onslaught of anti-intellectualism and dutifully counter-demonstrate that knowledgeable intelligence trumps arrogant stupidity.

The moral, Mr. Bullard, is this: Do not bear false witness against thy educated neighbor, particularly when said neighbor fears no arrogant, ignorant, right-wing evil. And remember: An educated citizen is our best defense against the tyranny of the majority.

Therefore, get thee to a university, post-haste.

In the meantime, support our troops. Bring them home. May reason and peace prevail.

Robert Healy
High Point

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Jon Caldwell

After reading the article in the Oct. 2 paper on the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission, I am left with nothing but confusion.

I don't understand what was being said or what is being reported upon. The only things I could gather were that the commission has held its final meeting and will be coming up with some recommendations soon.

Then it goes on to quote some people who have been involved in the process. The quotes they offer make absolutely no sense to me.

For instance, "You're never going to get healing, you're never going to get reconciliation, you're never going to get peace without justice" -- Rev. Carlton Eversley.

Can you tell me what this means? Can you put it in context for me? And what does Darryl Hunt have in common with communists from the '70s?

"This process still to this day serves not to empower but to disempower the very people in the society who are still powerless and struggling to attain some kind of power through collective action" -- Richard Koritz.

Translation, please. I swear I can't make out what he is saying. It is just a bunch of words strung together like a daisy chain.

And finally, my favorite of all: "One of the problems with white people is that even those with goodwill seem to be unconsciously white ... you've got to shock white people into their whiteness, I think" -- Rev. Carlton Eversley.

I don't even know where to begin with this one. It is dripping with contempt, racism and anger. And to think that this guy is preaching to a congregation in Winston-Salem. He is the black version of a Grand Wizard and doesn't seem to get it.

The writer lives in Raleigh.

Hargrove "Skipper" Bowles fell short when he ran for governor of North Carolina more than three decades ago, one of only a few of his many worthy goals he didn't meet or surpass.

Bowles loved this state and he loved the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also loved civic service and leadership. If he were alive today, he would be bubbling with justifiable pride with the selection of his son, Erskine, to be president of the public university system. For the elder Bowles, nothing could be finer than to have his son the top administrator of Carolina (university).

Erskine Bowles learned well from his father the importance of providing public service. The senior Bowles often referred to such service as adding to the community woodpile, a lesson remembered and followed by his son.

Erskine Bowles will surely build on the legacy of William Friday in his new post because, like Friday, he genuinely cares about the people and their progress. His daddy taught him that. Because he learned that lesson well, we will all be the beneficiaries.

Ned Cline
Greensboro

A few months ago, a tragic accident occurred on Aycock Street, prompting the city to lower the speed limit from 45 to 35 mph. Highly visible signage and police enforcement have made a difference: Most people drive more slowly.

Couldn't the same strategy be used on the "dangerous" portion of West Friendly Avenue? Those whose homes abut the road would keep their yards, less gas would be consumed, and fewer accidents would occur.

Perhaps the city could spend the saved money on providing bus stop benches for our citizens (especially the disabled and elderly) who use mass transportation.

Teresa Dail
Greensboro

Ah, Steve Arnold. The joys of being county commissioner. The position opens doors to you and your company, Arcon, that most of us in the electorate could only dream about. But the office also carries memory problems.

How else could we explain the unpaved streets in the New Chartwell development in Oak Ridge, or the IRS tax lien for unpaid taxes of $52,402.54 plus interest and penalties, or the failure to obey a Guilford County ordinance that regulates encroachment by developers at streams to prevent erosion and silting, or obstructing a stream in violation of my reading of a state statute (these last two are occurring at your new development at Brightwood Farms)?

What else have you forgotten, Mr. Arnold? What other havoc have you wrought?

Rodna Hurewitz
Stoney Creek

For about 25 years, I've enjoyed driving on West Friendly Avenue because of the truly great trees there. Now, they're being butchered to put a divider in the street -- a move that will probably cause more accidents than it will prevent.

I suggest we take the DOT "geniuses" who perpetrated this atrocity and transfer them to FEMA. They'll fit right in there.

George Hopkins
Greensboro

My husband and I were watching the Fox 8 10 p.m. news recently when they reported on a file from the Piedmont's Most Wanted about a 64-year-old Rockingham County man who had been murdered.

While the circumstances surrounding the crime were tragic, something completely different struck me about this report. The reporter, in a very short period of time, referred to this 64-year-old victim as "elderly," a "senior" and an "old man." Come on. Sixty-four?

You know, this is 2005, and we don't put people that age out to pasture anymore. The population is aging, and young reporters need to realize that and keep up with the more mature members of the community. This man and his family have already suffered enough; let's not offend them by the way we describe their loved one.

And by the way, I am not writing this because I take personal offense; I am a spry 48 years old.

Gail Welker
Climax

I heard the dreaded sound long before I could see the devastation. I felt the grinding vibration, drowning my world with its constant roar, stopping only to shift position. I felt my anguish in the depressing drone of those nightmarish implements, eating their way down my tree-lined street.

I can feel the pain as these sentinels of beauty topple to the ground below, leaving only a raw stump with its gaping wound. I weep silently as this barrenness almost defies me to question man's disruptive, defacing mode of reason.

I can only hope, as those glaring sidewalks snake through my shrinking yard, consuming everything in their path, that maybe I will be gifted with understanding and even acceptance of this thing called progress. I will continue to keep vigil in my near-hypnotic state, afraid to blink, lest another tree falls without my blessing.

Ellenor E. Shepherd
Greensboro

In response to all I have read and heard about the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission, I'm so proud of our mayor and some of our City Council members for not getting involved in this mess.

Yes, all the family members of the communists who were killed blame the U.S. government, the Klan and Nazis and the police for everything. But, who were the instigators? Weren't the communists the ones who invited the Klan and Nazis to their little "Death to the Klan" party at Morningside Homes? In fact, the communists were armed with guns, just as the Klan and Nazis were. They were smart people with big college degrees, but they were idiots.

The communists' way of life is wrong and doesn't work. I hate that anyone died that day in November, but I'm tired of hearing about it. If they all had been arrested and sent to prison, or deported to their favorite communist country for treason, this whole thing wouldn't have happened. The U.S. government is not perfect, but we live in the best country in the world.

Rick Barton
Greensboro

Your newspaper had an article, "No fluoride: Water in Greensboro is lacking" (Sept. 30). This article was to make us believe that if there was no fluoride in our water, our teeth would suffer.

What about how much our health suffers from the addition of fluoride in our water? Did you know that 11 unions representing more than 7,000 workers at the EPA are calling for a national moratorium on programs to add fluoride to drinking water because of a possible cancer increase? There is a question of an increase in osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer, due to exposure to fluoride. Just Google fluoride and you will get 5,700,000 hits for fluoride, many of which are followed by the word "toxic."

Half of all fluoride ingested remains in the skeletal system and accumulates with age. Fluoride can interfere with the reproductive system, pineal gland and the thyroid gland. It causes tooth and bone fluorosis and can cause joint pain and arthritic symptoms.

Let's see an article with a little investigation before pronouncing the loss of fluoride as a bad thing.

Jo Isler
Jamestown

Concerning Rebecca Mann's letter (Oct. 2), in which she complained of an "offensive headline" about "illegal students" as being "biased," I totally agree with her. The undocumented immigrants should be solely labeled as they are -- illegal aliens.

If they are enrolled as students in the public colleges and universities legally, then of course they would not be "illegal students" but would still remain as illegal aliens.

Andy Preston
Greensboro

Like the first fresh breezes of autumn, there passes occasionally an event on the national level that is nonpartisan. Such seemed to be the approval of John Roberts as our chief justice of the Supreme Court -- or almost so. Twenty-two Democrats felt compelled to split their party with meaningless, pouting votes over something he may have said about women when he was 21, or some such nonsense.

But to the rest of us, it was clear and refreshing. His candidacy was strong, his demeanor forthright and honest, his qualifications impeccable. How wonderfully different. Aren't these all-too-rare moments of not being stridently blue or red on an important issue what we are all longing for in this country?

In contrast, we get Tom DeLay's rant against partisans as his explanation to us of how the grand jury system works. Not having quite the same respect for the law as Roberts, his indignation sounded comic and empty.

They've gone to that well too often -- both sides -- and we're so very tired of it. In discovering a good man and in exposing a shyster, we can all agree — and move on together.

Bill Yaner
Jamestown

There has been diversion in the media that has taken the nation's eye off the ball. This debate regarding liberal versus conservative views is rather inane when I believe that most people polled claim to be moderates embracing opinions from each.

On TV, I saw and heard Jacques Cousteau say that the largest problem is the overpopulation of our species on this planet.

Meanwhile, our new bedfellows, the other nations, compete for fresh water, food, fuels and valuable production. Most of our masses act for today, tomorrow and the immediate family only. The main concerns are to launch the kids and cover retirement. Future generations must do the best they can.

There is only one thing left to do: increase intelligence and education, together with awareness of history and science, to predict the future.

Unfortunately, throwing more money at poor plans is like gasoline on greedy fires of dysfunctional bureaucracy. It may take a village to educate a child. The best mentors are local parent volunteers. Neighborhood-village-type public school systems should be returned for more longevity of this species.

Frank Freeman
Greensboro

Bush I and Bush the son remain disasters that manifest themselves in Justice Thomas and this SMU lady who will eat all of GWB's political capital if confirmed. The Supreme Court put this paper tiger in and will retire him to Crawford as a failure.

Welcome to the end of conservatism and its incompetence. Miers is a mistake.

Bob Blakeney
High Point

Can't anyone in Washington think straight? It does not take a CPA to see that a day of reckoning must come. Maybe soon.

The lead story of the News & Record (Sept. 17) stated that the president ruled out raising taxes to pay for Gulf Coast reconstruction. Blithely ignoring simple mathematics, the government says the tax increases would harm our "prosperity." We have seen in New Orleans the reality of "prosperity" for far too many Americans. We also saw that it was mostly the tattered remnants of the middle class who gave the fastest and most meaningful help to the storm-tossed.

And the "prosperity" to which they referred is borrowed -- nay, stolen -- from our descendants.

Note that the disasters did not end with Katrina. Ophelia, Rita. And who knows what's next? But we do know that the billions given away in top-skewed tax cuts and the billions still being squandered in Iraq could be put to far better use.

Our plutocratic Congress and executive branch have no personal concerns about income tax rates, medical insurance, retirement income, unemployment or children (with one exception) in Iraq. Marie Antoinette's admonition, "Let them eat cake," comes to mind.

Dan W. Maddox
Greensboro

Thank you, Greensboro Beautiful and Greensboro Parks and Recreation, for all of your hard work in organizing and coordinating the Art in the Arboretum event that was held Oct. 2 in Lindley Park. This was by far the most well-organized and well-run event for artists that I have ever been fortunate enough to be a part of.

Thanks, also, to all of the many volunteers who constantly came around helping the vendors in so many ways. A special thanks for their hard work in organizing this event goes to Mebane Ham, events chairman, and Judith Kastner, artists coordinator, and, of course, to all of the volunteers who made Art in the Arboretum such a special occasion. Their efforts culminated in this very special event for both the exhibitors and all those who came to enjoy a wonderful afternoon filled with art, music, and delicious food.

I would also like to give a special thanks to all those people who work so hard to keep our city truly beautiful in our many public gardens and garden projects. Your praises may be unsung, but your work is enjoyed and appreciated by all.

Mary Anna Dunn
Greensboro

Regarding Pat Mitchell's letter (Oct. 5) on UNCG Theatre's recent production of "Urinetown: The Musical":

It is my understanding that Mitchell didn't see this play but drew an inaccurate conclusion about the musical based on its title. I saw "Urinetown" on Sept. 30.

This show possesses all of the aspects of great American musical theater: uplifting themes (the classic struggle of good triumphing over evil, a classic love story), great performances, great production values and great direction. The job of an academic and artistic university program is not to continue to produce "The Sound of Music." Its job is to provide meaningful experiences for its students and for the community.

UNCG Theatre trains people to become professional actors, directors, designers, stage managers and teachers and professors of theater. The experiences these students had were invaluable for their growth as artists. The show I saw received a standing ovation.

Scatological humor aside (of which there is very little), UNCG's production of "Urinetown" was an uplifting, joyful experience, full of metaphor and message. Mitchell's letter seems like one more example of "judging a book by its cover" and not by its contents.

Lori Koenig
Greensboro

The writer has a MFA in theater/directing, UNCG class of 1992.

Pat Mitchell, you are an uninformed prude. "Urinetown" was a great musical with a terrific cast of all students. The plot of the production was similar to the French and Russian revolutions, and the choreography and music were top notch. This play has had rave national reviews. The UNCG production was professionally done by the director, actors and production crews, who deserve kudos for putting together such an entertaining evening.

The topic was a worldwide water shortage, which greatly limited flushing. The poor people in the setting were required to pay ever-increasing fees for the use of the public facilities, thus setting off an uprising against a tyrannical, money-grabbing Boss Tweed-like ogre. Interspersed in this was romance and patriotism and good humor.

It was a terrific musical and UNCG should be congratulated for providing it. You obviously did not see the production and are speaking from a far-right pulpit; but as Toulouse-Lautrec once said, "I'll thank you to not look at my paintings with your dirty mind." We are bombarded with sex on TV, movies and theater and think nothing of it. "Urinetown" was just a new twist on what we already accept.

Robert F. Bell
Ridgeway, Va.

So, Greensboro is out of fluoride. This is great news. Oh, how I wish the entire country would run out. Who needs this poison, anyway? That's right, it is rat poison. Sodium fluoride is what I'm talking about, not natural fluoride. Sodium fluoride is a byproduct of the aluminum producers, an insecticide used as rat poison.

Could this poison play a part in autism? Children get this poison in pills, toothpaste, swish treatments in school, and in drinking water. How much of this poison do they need in their bodies? This borders on child abuse, if you ask me.

One of the last cities in Europe to permit fluoridation was Basel, Switzerland, and they have stopped. Why? Because after they started fluoridation, the kids' cavity rate increased.

This is a sham put on the American people by Big Brother. In North Carolina the public cannot vote to use or not to use fluoride in our drinking water. We should have pure, safe, drinking water only. No poison added, please.

Pete Comer
Madison

When it comes to Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers, a track record and impressive list of accomplishments are sorely lacking. Instead, we have a faith-based nomination. Bush tells us to trust him because she shares my values. Sorry, but only a fool would trust President George W. Bush because, unlike Miers, Bush does have a well-documented track record. Bush has a record of lies, deception and failure.

Seems to me that depending on a faith-based Supreme Court justice is just a prescription for more disasters. A Supreme Court justice should be nominated and confirmed using facts and reason, not unfounded faith.

Anna Harris
High Point

Fortunately, a shortage of toxic waste fluoride has curtailed fluoridation in Greensboro. Yes, that's right. Scientists at the EPA, the nation's water safety regulator, and elsewhere have long criticized EPA's official encouragement of adding industrial waste silicofluorides to public drinking water as a solution to an otherwise costly disposal problem.

In July it was discovered that evidence of a link between fluoridation and bone cancer in a Harvard Medical School study had been suppressed. Since then, 11 unions representing more than 7,000 EPA professionals have called for a nationwide moratorium on fluoridation. Water fluoridation has long been discredited in Japan and Europe. With mounting evidence of fluoridation's lack of benefit and contribution to numerous health and environmental problems, this is a good time to reevaluate it in Greensboro.

Check the science for yourself at www.fluoridealert.org. Then compare to the fancy footwork of fluoridation promoters at www.fluoridealert.com. If you like history and intrigue, pick up the 2004 book, "The Fluoride Deception," by investigative reporter Christopher Bryson.

Janet Nagel
Greensboro

An intelligent examination of some issues may reveal many competing alternatives (Norman Franklin letter, "It's not hard to see how it got to this," Sept. 29):

1. Abortion and murder are not synonymous terms. Abortion is a legal choice. Murder is a legal prohibition.

2. A decent person may conclude that homosexuality is a complex issue not conducive to judgments based on ignorance.

3. Marriage is a legal contract defined by state law -- not religion or human physiology.

4. In the past, many who prayed in school (and out) were racist, slave owners, oppressors and thieves (native American land).

5. Burning the American flag may indeed signify disrespect for this nation — but not necessarily true in all cases.

6. The pledge of allegiance is not banned. However, I believe forced allegiance is illegal and meaningless.

7. Outrageous jury verdicts have always been a part of the American system of justice (Dred Scott decision, Scottsboro boys, Ku Klux Klan acquittal in Greensboro, etc.).

Finally, calling a book "great" does not make it great. However, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

Andrea L. Jackson
High Point

I wonder why some people blame President Bush for a lot of things that happen? Would they like to have his job?

I heard him today in a news conference. He did really well answering all those questions. Some weren't really important. People are so quick to judge even when they don't have the authority to do so.

President Bush made a good choice in John Roberts. I believe he has made another good choice. The Senate will be the deciding factor in this.

It wouldn't hurt to say a prayer about this.

Nancy R. Smith
Greensboro

The faculty, staff, and students of High Point University have joined hands to assist in the aftermath of this devastating storm. As early as Aug. 30, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions began assisting displaced students interested in enrolling for fall semester. Even though the semester had been in session for nearly one week, faculty and administrators stood ready to aid in the registration and enrollment process. University President Nido Qubein stepped forward with an initiative waiving tuition and fees for any student displaced by the hurricane.

At High Point University, we believe the formation of extraordinary character means being balanced spiritually, intellectually and socially. Our students and faculty have taken it upon themselves to make significant contributions to those affected by the hurricane. To date, student and faculty-led initiatives to raise money for hurricane victims have raised more than $87,000 for the United Way and American Red Cross Katrina relief fund.

The faculty, staff and students of High Point University have demonstrated extraordinary character in response to this national tragedy, and I'm proud to be a part of such a compassionate and selfless community.

Jessie McIlrath-Carter
High Point

The writer is director of admissions, High Point University.

Regarding the letter (Oct. 5) about organ donors, several years ago, one of the late Pentecostal bishops stated that he wanted to make a beautiful corpse (when he died) and he did not want to lose any of his bodily parts that God had given him. The recent letter about organ donors stated that 20,000 transplantable organs are buried or cremated every year, and that 6,000 people who need them suffer and die every year as a result, all due to those organs not being donated.

I will not be specific about a particular religion, but some people and religions do not believe in donating blood or organs to another person so that they may live longer in life. I do not believe organ donating is wrong or sinful, but I believe if people want to contribute, they should do so by joining the organization and keeping donor cards with them whenever they travel.

Augustus McDowell
Greensboro

The most important achievement gap for us all is the often pitifully wide gap between who we are and who we have the potential to be. Perhaps no elected official from this area illustrates this truth as well as Guilford County Commissioner and former North Carolina NAACP President Melvin "Skip" Alston.

Alston has always claimed to represent the people in our society who could benefit the most from greater representation. But the battles he has chosen to wage and the issues he has chosen to neglect have too often exposed Alston as merely a hypocrite most strongly committed to representing one individual: himself.

To close the gap that has kept him from becoming a leader worthy of our respect, Alston must wake up and confront the only individual responsible for his failure to live up to his leadership potential: himself. If he chooses to change his ways, Alston has it within himself to close his own achievement gap, use his undeniable intelligence and talents, and become the kind of leader our entire community needs and deserves.

To paraphrase our state's motto, I hope Alston from now on will "actually be rather than merely seem to be."

Seymour Hardy Floyd
Greensboro

Resgarding Pat Mitchell's letter, "UNCG can do better (Oct. 5): I was thrilled to read in "Go Triad" that UNCG would be performing "Urinetown." I had wanted to see this musical on Broadway but did not have the opportunity. It was a real coup for UNCG to be the first college to offer this performance.

I attended the Oct. 1 performance and was not disappointed. The production quality was excellent, and, frankly, beyond what I expected from a university. The show itself was satirical, witty and just plain funny. From Mitchell's letter, it's clear she neither saw nor researched the musical. If she had, it would have been apparent that this show has nothing to do with "toilet humor" or "gutter entertainment."

As well as poking fun at the musical theater genre, it offers a serious message about our "unsustainable" way of life that is extremely apropos, given the continued rise in gasoline prices and developing drought conditions.

Kudos for a great choice in shows and in executing it so well. I hope UNCG will continue to bring fresh and exciting productions such as this to the Triad.

Terrie A. Thoma
Jamestown

The Summerfield Town Council recently adopted guidelines forbidding the public from criticizing elected officials during council meetings. The policy, effective at the October Council meeting without prior notice, forbids citizens from name-calling, rudeness and making derogatory comments negatively reflecting on a person's character, reputation or candidacy of incumbents seeking re-election. It puts citizen speakers at the bottom of the agenda -- after conclusion of all business and executive session -- requiring those with special needs to wait at least three hours to be heard.

This policy is the council's reaction to continual outcries about its wasteful spending and intention to build a county sheriff's substation solely with Summerfield taxes. Sheriff BJ Barnes is husband to Summerfield Mayor Dena Barnes.

Contrary to the council's censorship, the adage "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all" has no place in political debates. Public comment is just that -- a chance for citizens to voice their opinions about government, whether the representatives like it or not.

Summerfield citizens will continue to be heard. So "if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen."

Becky Strickland
Summerfield

The writer is a candidate for Summerfield Council.

When we learned that 500 evacuees expected from New Orleans were not coming, it was disappointing to many in Greensboro who had mobilized to respond hospitably to our "new neighbors." Now, there are many "old neighbors" who have need of services we were ready to offer the homeless, jobless, hurting people of New Orleans. I was imagining how these people would feel when they witnessed the outpouring of generosity toward Katrina victims.

Is there a way to shift these good energies towards the victims of our own local economic "Katrina" that has left so many swamped, homeless, and hopeless? Trained "Care Teams" have been assigned to New Orleans families that did find their way here. How about assigning Care Teams to local families? Social Services or Urban Ministry might identify those who could benefit -- people right here for whom food, a job and a place to live are just what they need.

I know there are agencies that can use support, but more importantly, there are hearts newly opened, in people who have more than they need, that might now find new focus on those who have always been here, in poverty, in our own city.

Mary K. Wakeman
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Jim Fain

Regarding your recent series of articles on incentives, I emphatically disagree with a number of assertions and statements in the articles. In particular, I take strong exception to sweeping conclusions reached by Taft Wireback in his Sept. 25 article, which were based on his examination of a limited number of files -- about 10 One North Carolina Fund grants out the 117 grants awarded since 2001.

In fact, incentive grants made under the Job Development Investment Grant and the One North Carolina Fund programs are made carefully and thoughtfully, based on extensive public policy guidelines detailed in the statutes, which guide the grant-making but provide the discretion to make situation-specific decisions. This flexibility allows for different approaches as warranted by an objective consideration of facts rather than favoritism.

Further, I can assure you that significant attention and resources are committed to oversight of these programs. We have worked to enhance the underwriting, documentation and procedures used to administer grants. Grants are made under binding legal agreements that set out the state's performance expectations of the grantee and include protection for the state in the event of non-performance. And we utilize a sophisticated cost-benefit analysis in the JDIG program to that the state enjoys a positive return on these investments.

The Department of Commerce was not informed that your paper planned a wide-ranging series of articles on incentives, and I would have appreciated the opportunity to discuss our use of incentives with your reporters. We would welcome such an exchange and would be pleased to meet with your editors and reporters.

Finally, incentives are an important tool for winning good new jobs for North Carolina families in a fierce global competition for business locations and expansion. But it's important to remember that the key to long-term economic development and strength is our state's investments in education, workforce development, healthy communities and innovation. We use incentives in a prudent, responsible way to augment those longer-term economic development strategies.

The writer is secretary, N.C. Department of Commerce.

My daughter is a nursing student at UNCG. On Oct. 3, someone hit her car while it was parked in a university parking deck. This driver sped away without stopping. Fortunately, a concerned student was able to provide enough information for my daughter to file a police report with the appropriate authorities. Hopefully, they will be able to locate and prosecute the driver.

I would like to say to the adult female driving the silver minivan who struck my daughter's red Toyota Corolla, you should have taken responsibility for your actions. Because of your carelessness, my daughter's insurance will have to pay or it will have to be repaired out of pocket. I don't know why you didn't stop. Maybe because you were in a hurry, maybe you didn't want your insurance to pay, or maybe you just didn't care.

The university that is my employer has academic and social honor codes for students. Academic is for in-class behavior, social is for out-of-class behavior. Lady, what you did is a social honor code violation, and if you are a student, you should be suspended. If you are a faculty or staff member, shame on you.

Phyllis Phillips
Graham

George Bush has repeatedly warned Congress not to create legislation that would ban torture, nor to authorize any investigations into ongoing torture, rape, murder and disappearances that are taking place in U.S. detention centers around the world. In his most recent insult to American values, Bush has threatened to veto a $440 billion defense spending bill passed by the Senate, because it includes amendments that would ban torture.

Regardless of whether they voted for him or not, Americans must face the fact that this sadist who inhabits our White House is cut from the same cloth as Saddam Hussein. Recall that while he went golfing, his own people were dying in the streets of New Orleans. Democrats and Republicans alike are increasingly recognizing that opposing Bush is less about politics than it is about standing up for democracy, our rights and freedoms, and our standing in the world community. Anyone who believes in traditional American values should organize and demand that Bush, Cheney and their gang of depraved thugs should be brought to justice for torture and other crimes against humanity.

Laurie Gengenbach
Julian

Thanks for publishing the articles (Ideas, Oct. 9) that questioned plans for rebuilding New Orleans [not posted]. Although the Dutch system of dikes was applauded, the writers failed to mention that the Netherlands had offered to send engineers to design and oversee the construction of equally effective dikes to protect New Orleans. They were turned down, of course.

Having lived in New Orleans before moving to North Carolina, I feel virtually certain that the offer was rejected because the Dutch refused to accept bribes to do shoddy work and siphon funds to local and state officials.

Charles Tanquary
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By William G. Dosse

This is in response to your Oct. 9 article relating to the influence of parental wealth on the performance of schoolchildren. Your article looked only at the most obvious determining factor. Wealth is only a consequence of the real parental educational determiner. I am referring to the effect on children's performance in school of the value that their parents place on education. The wealth of a child's parents is most likely a result of the parents' attitude toward education and also the attitude of the children's grandparents toward education.

More than 30 years ago, when my children were in public schools, I noted a then-recent repeat of a prior study of the factors that affect a child's scholastic performance. The results of the two studies were identical. First and foremost, the attitude of the parents toward education influenced the child's performance. In descending order from the parents' attitude were the attitude of the child's peers toward education; the quality of the teaching; and finally the facilities. Naturally, the educational establishment hated the results of these studies. However, the anecdotal evidence within my own family supports those results.

My parents never finished college but always said, "When you go to college," never, "If you go to college." So, I have three college degrees.

Each of my children has two college degrees in engineering, thus avoiding the "do you want fries with that" syndrome. Each of my daughters was self-supporting from the time of getting her BS, was living apart from my home, and was putting herself through graduate school. I had always made it as clear as I could to both of them that I was a wholesale user of education in my job. Yet my own IQ is slightly below that of the average graduate of the University of Illinois. Attitude and work are what make the difference in achievement, not mental brilliance.

My grandchildren attend public schools in a district with a wide range of parental income, education and ethnicity. They have simultaneously been home-schooled by their parents, emphasizing math and language skills. Therefore, my grandchildren test several grades above their age-dictated grade levels. They know how and why they are being so prepared, and they have already shown that they can achieve very high SAT scores.

Abe Lincoln studied by the firelight of the hearth. If a child wants to read, and if his parents want him to read, that child will be sufficiently motivated to find a way to overcome obstacles.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

After reading Sunday’s story, "Dollars & Sense" (Oct. 9) by Matt Williams, I'm convinced this newspaper is run by communists. Why should Guilford County's academically successful wealthy children be forced to make sacrifices for the county's poor ones?

Your solution is to mix the rich kids with the poor ones and voila! We dumb down the smart ones so all schools have a diverse mixture and the poor kids have a better chance. But what about those smart rich kids' chances of being challenged to their greatest potential? It seems to me that if the Northwest district had the county's best-performing schools where students are tracked from one neighborhood school to another, maybe you ought to model other districts after this one instead of busing poor kids halfway across town where their parents are completely detached from their education.

I know your solution: Let's just rob from the rich and give to the poor so everyone has the same economic prosperity. Your Robin Hood approach reeks of communism. Maybe Mr. Williams and Dr. Grier would be willing to give up their salaries for this socialist experiment.

Frank Fraboni
Greensboro

Pat Mitchell's letter (Oct. 5) regarding UNCG's production of "Urinetown" raises an issue that colleges and universities across the country grapple with every day -- how do we best serve our multiple constituencies? While we do bear in mind community relevancy and audience appeal, our primary function is to educate. Therefore, our programming decisions are ultimately based on academic merit.

"Urinetown" was selected by theater faculty members because of its exceptional historical reference to musical theater. The three-time Tony Award-winning satire drew from the music and dance of "Les Misérables," "West Side Story," "Big River," "Fiddler on the Roof" and the "big tap" dance genre of the 1940s -- all in one show. And, although its style was tongue-in-cheek, the show was not "toilet humor." It was an intentionally far-fetched satire addressing the very relevant subject of long-term water shortage. The musical was a perfect vehicle for furthering cultural literacy among our student and public audiences.

We understand not everyone is comfortable with our programming decisions. We also understand it is our job to expand minds and further knowledge.

Anne Willson
Greensboro

The writer is director, UNCG ArtsLink.

In his Oct. 11 letter, Dan Maddox recites the same old "tax cuts for the rich," Democratic talking points. Let's set the record straight. The tax rates for high-income people are already far too high. Not only is this grossly unfair, it causes them to spend a lot of time avoiding taxes.

On the other hand, there are hundreds of loopholes for them to walk through so as to allow many to pay little or no tax at all. That's grossly unfair. Contrary to the tone of his letter, lower-income people don't pay their fair share of taxes. I know that's not politically correct, but it is true. He is correct in his observation that middle-class earners pay more than their share.

The current tax system cannot be made fair. The solution is some sort of flat tax, with no exceptions. Exceptions will eventually destroy fairness, as it has in our present system. We also need to tax consumption, not production. A national sales tax would fit the need.

Maddox ignores the elephant in the living room: Government spending is the problem, not revenues.

Larry Emory
Greensboro

During World War II, Elliott, John, James and Franklin Jr., sons of FDR, served in combat in a real war, as did Lewis Truman, Harry S. Truman's cousin; John, Ike's son; and Ted, Archie, Kermit and Quentin, Teddy Roosevelt's sons.

During World War II, war profiteering was criminal, excess profits were taxed, and there was home-front sacrifice.

The incumbent president exhorts American youth to sacrifice their lives for his "noble cause," an invasion of a third-rate, defenseless, trifurcated country split by religion and decimated by decades of war and sanctions.

Military-eligible spawn of George, Dorothy, Neill, Marvin and Jeb Bush have rejected emulating the "Greatest Generation": Jenna, Barb, George P., Noelle, John, Lauren and Marshall Bush and Sam and Ellie LeBlond have not answered the call.

Meanwhile, Halliburton, Bechtel, ad nauseam, with no-bid contracts, have robbed taxpayers with impunity. The Military-Industrial Complex profiteers like bandits.

Actions belie talk. Why should any sane, intelligent American want to stay this course?

William Adams
Salisbury

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Elizabeth Hummel

As a recently arrived "out-of-state teacher" employed in a North Carolina public school system, I voice my wholehearted support for Gov. Easley's veto of the bill altering North Carolina teacher licensure standards.

For more than a decade, all prospective North Carolina teachers have been required to take the Praxis exam, designed as a standard for determining if a person has the minimum knowledge necessary to be a teacher of a particular subject area. Therefore, dropping this testing requirement definitely opens the possibility that teacher quality could suffer.

I understand that there is a teacher shortage here; however, lowering standards for state licensure is a misguided attempt to attract educators to North Carolina.

In order to attract additional excellent teachers, North Carolina would be wiser to improve its state salaries for educators. Currently, teaching salaries are not on par with nearby states. For example, when I returned to live in my home state of North Carolina after teaching 10 years in Tennessee, I experienced a 15 percent pay cut working in my same instructional field.

Instead of attracting highly qualified teachers with a competitive salary scale, the General Assembly has chosen to expose North Carolina students to inferior instruction from less-qualified teachers than state standards currently permit.

Gov. Easley's recent veto is laudable. The state needs to protect its standards for highly qualified teachers while increasing salaries to attract and maintain the excellent faculty that North Carolina's young people deserve.

The writer is a Siler City elementary teacher.

When I read letters about how the red-light cameras supposedly cause more accidents than they prevent, I don't know whether to be amused or frightened.

Any person who believes that running through a red light is safer than stopping for one is not only mistaken but dangerous as well.

James Reid
Thomasville

It took a double take to believe my eyes with your Oct. 9 edition. Yes, it really did have a headline on page A14 that read, "Quake batters Pakistan, neighbors," then in much smaller letters, "Temblor's death toll tops 18,000 in 3 nations."

What? Eighteen thousand people dead from an earthquake in small letters on page A14?

I looked again at the front page. Maybe there was something I missed. There were huge pictures of cars and houses regarding a school issue. There was in big letters a heading that read, "NAACP replaces Alston as president." But page 14 says 18,000 dead. How can this be?

Last time I heard, people are people wherever they may live, with the same feelings and dreams as you and me. Maybe this is a fluke of some sort with the paper and not a reflection of what our society has become. I tremble to think.

Barbara Germain
Julian

One of the amazing things about people who serve the public is their ability to go above and beyond the call of duty. This is true of the law-enforcement officers in Guilford County.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is a movement by men and women in law enforcement to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics. The officers in Guilford County have spent many off-duty hours selling T-shirts and hats, hosting golf tournaments and polar bear plunges, and sitting on the roof of a doughnut shop.

This year these extraordinary people have raised $78,000 for the athletes of Special Olympics North Carolina. Thank you to the Guilford County Sheriff's Department, Greensboro Police Department, High Point Police Department, N.C. A&T State University Police Department and the UNCG Campus Police Department for all your hard work. Also, thank you to the sheriff and the chiefs of police who supported them in their efforts.

The next time you see an officer on duty, please remember all the wonderful things they do off duty for the people in the community.

Roy Forrest
Whitsett

The writer is vice president of development, Law Enforcement Torch Run, Special Olympics North Carolina.

President Bush gave the frank, honest assessment that Iraq has become the base for global terrorist activities. He was not so forthcoming in regard to how that happened.

Iraq was a malevolent dictatorship before the United States invasion but not a hub of terrorist activity. President Bush's ill-advised war in Iraq created the conditions that allowed terrorists to flourish. Our troops are brave and honorable. The war was a mistake. Our leadership failed us.

Bill Hensel
Greensboro

In answer to the letter to the editor from J.T. Quinn on Oct. 7, I wholeheartedly agree with Quinn's letter saying caps should be removed when in a restaurant. Where are our manners?

Also, please do not refer to me or my friends as "you guys."

Florence C. Llewellyn
Greensboro

Thanks so much for Louis Bekoe's insightful "The Wingman's best move: Quick step away from entanglement" (Oct. 7).

Bekoe would have us believe that all women who frequent Triad-area bars can be categorized as either physically attractive (hotties) or -- using Bekoe's word -- ugly (notties), and that these physical characteristics alone dictate how they should be treated. What an enlightened philosophy.

The weekly Vexed in the City column is advertised as "about being young and single in the Triad." My guess is that Bekoe's Neanderthal view of the opposite sex is shared by very few and is not anything most folks want to read about in their daily newspaper.

I'm not sure which is more embarrassing: Bekoe's sophomoric rantings, or the fact that no News & Record editor demonstrated the good sense to kill the piece.

Bob Malekoff
Greensboro

Anyone who has fought on foreign soil knows that freedom is not free. We are at war in the Middle East, losing our brave servicemen every day.

It is a terrible disgrace to all our veterans and our current brave servicemen that you chose to put the loss of six Camp Lejeune Marines in the B section of the Oct. 8 paper and put the NAACP and the train on the front page.

An utter disgrace.

Calvin R. Phillips
Randleman

I am disappointed and ashamed to be a member of the North Carolina NAACP.

The level of mudslinging and underhandedness during the recent election at the state convention in Greensboro was inexcusable.

Gary Phifer, a supporter of newly elected state NAACP President William Barber and First Vice President Carolyn Coleman, stated in the Oct. 9 News & Record that he expected "more ministers to become active in the group because of the new administration."

In fact, the behavior of some members and newly elected officers will most likely cause the many members who joined during former President Melvin "Skip" Alston's tenure to relinquish their memberships.

Alston and former First Vice President Gladys Shipman should be lauded for the many accomplishments achieved during their administration. Despite the unfortunate disagreements and the break in unity, I will continue to support the NAACP because of its history and, I hope, its successful future.

To Mr. Alston and Mrs. Shipman, kudos for a job well-done. To Rev. Barber and Mrs. Coleman, good luck.

You have enormous shoes to fill.

Pam Newman
Greensboro

The writer is member, Greensboro NAACP Branch and former assistant to the executive director of the N.C. NAACP.

Think about the cost and the amount of fuel used by President Bush on his travels. This makes his eighth trip to the Gulf Coast area and for what reason?

He could do what needs to be done by Washington from Washington. He causes more problems by going down there, in my opinion.

A plane like a Boeing 747 uses approximately 1 gallon of fuel (about 4 liters) every second. Over the course of a 10-hour flight, it might burn 36,000 gallons (150,000 liters).

According to Boeing's Web site, the 747 burns approximately 5 gallons of fuel per mile. This does not include other aircraft used to carry the helicopter, car and support personnel -- or the fighter escort.

Truckers are paying more for fuel and, at the prices of diesel, it's going to hurt the country and Bush doesn't seem to care.

Harold Absher
Pleasant Garden

Regarding your Oct. 11 Life section article on the aging rock veterans who may not be around much longer to sell out concerts [not posted]:

It seems that artists who are recording today (alternative, rap and so-called pop) are selling CDs but not concert tickets.

One reason, as the article states, is that real musicians cut their teeth playing live first, with just their instruments and their amps.

They don't start out in a studio with two or three synthesizers doing all the work for them.

Nobody wants to pay $30 to $60 for a ticket to see a DJ. They want to see a real band that knows how to play music.

My 11-year-old son can spit into a microphone and scratch up some records, but that doesn't make him an artist or a musician.

Thankfully, he also can play the drums, piano and trumpet. Something that people actually want to hear.

Brian Suttles
Greensboro

The North Carolina Republican staff recently issued a press release calling Democrats racists for attending a dinner in honor of 19th-century politicians Zebulon Vance and Charles Aycock.

The screamingly wrong-headed argument put forth by the GOP staff was that people in 2005 have the same racial sensibilities of people in 1865, so anyone eating at the dinner was, de facto, a racist.

That was an incredible affront to today's black people, whom the GOP hoped would judge modern-day Democrats by their 19th-century predecessors, and it was an affront to North Carolina's history, as well as two of its most familiar and popular politicians.

As a Republican, I was embarrassed by my party's attack on history. When I complained to the GOP staff and board, the GOP promptly blocked my e-mails so they would not have anyone pointing out to them that their mistake had angered a once-loyal member of the party.

Now I know why Republicans are a minority party in the General Assembly.

Clint Johnson
Winston-Salem

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Tom West

The year is 1946, and I stand with my mom at "Jefferson Square," the nexus of the city of Greensboro's transit system, the old electric trolleys, operated by Duke Power.

While mom and I await the next bus, transfer tickets in hand, I peer upward along the side of the building. Wide-eyed and in a state of childlike awe, I look to the top of the Jefferson Standard Building. Suddenly, a flock of pigeons startles me and I wet my pants. Much to my chagrin, Mom makes excuses for me, as I am "only three years old." This is the earliest memory I have of my life.

The Jefferson Standard Building has become an historic monument in my life. During my childhood, Jefferson Standard sponsored me in the "Soap Box Derby" in 1950; sent me to the YMCA Camp Nawakwa, 1952-1954, and served as a beacon during the later years of my life.
In 1964, I was offered a position by Pilot Life as an "ordinary life agent" in Albany, Ga., the city where I was discharged from the military. I pursued a different career, but did not forget the influence of Jefferson Standard Life.

I purchased a life insurance policy from them for my family. When I rode the train home to Greensboro after my first year in the military, I remember thinking all across Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and finally North Carolina, that I would probably not recognize the ever-changing face of the city of Greensboro.

Getting off the train at the Depot, I did not recognize the interior of the train station; I had never been there. I walked outside the station and the first thing I saw was the Jefferson Standard Building. What a wonderful, warm and comforting feeling!

I knew then without a doubt, I … was … home! Thank you, Jeff-Pilot for all that you were in my life. I love the city of Greensboro. May your new corporate entity love it as well.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

I read with great interest your lengthy Oct. 11 front-page article on wealth and school success. It was a great example of a world full of things that are statistically linked that do not show cause and effect. It is also a great example of the many social problems, such as behavioral suspensions, that do not get solved because people look for solutions in all the wrong, statistically linked places rather than addressing the real problems.

I stipulate that not being poor is in most cases better than being poor and that being poor can present more hurdles than not being poor.

However, that does not mean that being poor in itself is a primary cause of underachieving in school. Parental involvement in child-raising in general and in school performance in specific would likely be more statistically linked and would certainly have a closer cause-effect relationship. Other factors such as home stability, legitimacy, two-parent families and parental education level are also probably more closely linked to cause and effect. Peer pressure and role models would also be influential factors.

I look forward to a comparably placed analysis of cause and effect.

Bruce Raynor
Greensboro

As a graduate of Dudley High School (1979), with a chemical engineering degree from N.C. State (1983), and as a parent of children in the Northwest district, I would like to offer an opinion as to how the school system can achieve higher test scores in the lower socioeconomic school districts. In my case, my family and church were key.

Success is not a product of integration. Success, for the vast majority, is achieved through self-worth, the knowledge that education is the equalizer, good health, and a willingness to work smart and hard to achieve your goals in life.

The system is left to instill these values, if they are not instilled in the home. Excellent, mentoring teachers with a push toward high level of achievement is critical. The homework hour cannot be overlooked. If this is not enforced in the home, the system will have difficulty in setting this up outside the home.

Emphasis by the system on the key learning tools with early self-worth classes must be achieved.

Joe Plante
Summerfield

The recent article citing the problems two families have experienced is not the norm at Kiser.

To compare the Kiser of today to the problems of two years ago is not fair. Since the arrival of Dr. Dot Harper, Kiser has shown improvement. Her zero-tolerance policy is well known throughout the school, and incidents are way down. Both students and faculty know that the principal and her staff are tough but fair.

Kiser Middle School is not perfect, but I don’t know another middle school in the district that is.

Patti Stiles
Greensboro

I have known Greensboro Police Chief David Wray since he was a young boy. He and his family were members of our church, members of our community and our neighbors.

David Wray always has looked for the good in people, and he has always been a polite, straightforward citizen of Greensboro.

I can see the good he is trying to instill in our police department, and I thank him for his deep concern and care for the people of Greensboro.

We are witnessing a corrupt police department in Louisiana each day, and I want to thank Chief Wray for the outstanding job he is doing to keep us safe in Greensboro and for the job he is doing to keep our police on the up-and-up.

Thanks, David. Keep up the good work.

Ada Nelson
Greensboro

In a front-page article, Matthew Williams claimed that the wealth of residents in a school's attendance zone is a better predictor of test scores than teacher experience. I searched the article to find results regarding the influence of teacher experience on learning, but I couldn't find any mention of this.

Even if the correlation is lower than the correlation between wealth and achievement, if there is a positive link (and research shows that there is), it matters tremendously.

That's because designing systems so that our best teachers work in schools with the lowest achievement is within our power. Our leaders can design systems that encourage (rather than discourage) experienced teachers to work in schools that serve poorer communities. State and local systems can work to slow teacher turnover, so that new teachers stick around long enough to become effective.

Currently, there is a link between the wealth of a school and the experience level of the teachers working there. But this is something we can do something about -- there is ample evidence from other countries that these can be uncoupled.

It will pay to focus on things under our control, and avoid getting hung up on the things we cannot.

Marnie Thompson
Greensboro

Editor's note: Williams' article does state: "Poorer schools in the county have higher turnover rates than richer schools that typically do well on state tests. Because of that, poorer schools countywide have more teachers with fewer than three years experience."

All too frequently, we hear what is wrong with our schools, but I want to make the community aware what a gem those of us in Guilford County have in the Weaver Academy of Performing and Visual Arts.

On a recent Sunday afternoon, eight extremely talented teachers and performers, including Weaver's principal, Anna Brady, gave a faculty concert for the school's students and parents. The quality of the performance was outstanding, and we are indeed fortunate to have such creative and truly accomplished individuals teaching our children.

My daughter is a junior at Weaver, and she has grown in her musical ability and commitment to her art since being a student there. Her exposure at Weaver to the creative process, to gifted teachers and students, and to the arts will sustain and enrich her, I am sure, throughout her life.

Thank you, Weaver Academy teachers.

Terry Moore-Painter
Oak Ridge

What was the point, News & Record? I scratch my head over the point the News & Record was trying to make with your front-page story (Oct. 9) that more affluent Greensboro neighborhoods offer better education.

Throughout the United States, neighborhoods have always taken pride in the quality of education and schools they can provide, so what's the news? Was your purpose to be divisive, making those less affluent resentful and those more affluent feel guilt?

If so, shame on you. There are many reasons for educational disparity along economic lines -- that does not make it wrong or unjust.

Take note, News & Record, that more affluent cities have better, more informative newspapers that cover much more of the news than smaller-town papers.

Next Sunday's headline?

Joseph Saldarini
Greensboro

Jefferson-Pilot says goodbye to Greensboro. After reading the news about the merger with Lincoln National, I was reminded of a similar merger here when Norfolk & Western merged with Southern Railroad. At first there was talk of bringing more jobs to Roanoke due to an expanded company. Over time, jobs not only disappear but they are consolidated in other regions. The purpose of any merger is to cut costs (jobs) and improve the stock of the new company.

In the meantime, the CEOs of the new company receive the dividends. It is called 21st century greed. The downside is Greensboro loses the most. The private sector must now make up contributions for charity and arts organizations. There is no positive news in this merger for the Triad.

Edward De Launey
Roanoke, Va.

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Randy Branston

Over the past few days, we have seen some correspondence highlighting the importance of family wealth in scholastic achievement and proposing that what ails the schools could be addressed by economic integration. Recent articles cited the example of Wake County, where this approach has helped school performance. However, a more detailed examination of the facts suggests that other factors influence the trends cited.

First, neighbors of ours who have lived in both Wake and Guilford counties also have found that Wake County does not practice social promotion in the early grades and the workload in middle school is higher than in Guilford County. This more rigorous program also helps student achievement in Wake County.

Finally, if the premise described in the recent articles is correct, then there is no way schools comprised almost completely of economically disadvantaged students could have high academic achievement. However, there are schools across America where this is happening every day.

In the KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) academies, students in class sizes of 40 are eagerly working harder and achieving far more than their counterparts in typical public schools. While these institutions operate very differently from typical public schools, there is one striking difference that exists outside of the school walls: the expectations placed on the parents and caregivers of these students. Parents of students at the KIPP academies are required to become deeply involved in their child's education and constantly reinforce the concept that high scholastic achievement is important and rewarding.

A similar mind-set exists in most affluent homes. Parents tend to stress the importance of education, and students can see the long-term results around them. This is what drives the trends cited above, as opposed to just wealth itself, since in most cases successful education leads to greater affluence.

Conversely, if the student gets the message from home that school is not important, the road to academic success is a rocky one, irrespective of the financial situation.

One way to address the root cause of the problems facing the schools would be for the school administrators and the school board to form an alliance with community organizations and churches to get this message out and into the homes of students where it may be lacking. That way, the underlying cause of the problem can be addressed as opposed to a superficial correlation.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

I recently had the pleasure of officiating the football game between Greensboro Dudley and Eden Morehead, and wanted to send out a thank you to the coaching staff of Dudley. Rarely do we as officials get the opportunity to work a game in which the kids are as well mannered as they are talented.

Every question or statement directed to the young men on this team was followed by a "yes sir" or a "no sir" and their behavior on the field, while intense, reflected good sportsmanship. Many times in today's day and age, a coaching staff is only judged by the wins and losses, but this staff should be commended for not only being one of the best teams on the field in the state, but for teaching kids the right way to do things.

Keep up the excellent work, Dudley.

Dale Proctor
Archdale

Recently, synerG hosted Around the Table with Dr. Terry Grier, superintendent of Guilford County Schools. This was my first opportunity to attend one of these sessions.

I want to commend the synerG Action Greensboro Young Talent Initiative for setting up opportunities to talk with leaders of our community. I recall earlier days when Action Greensboro struggled to get young professionals involved. It looks like it is alive and in good hands at this time.

I also think Guilford County Schools is lucky to have Grier at the helm. He gave a very informative and candid discussion of our schools. It was encouraging to see how Guilford schools are addressing the challenges and innovating with new approaches for improving the education of our students. There may be problems, but it appears we have a lot of good things going for us in our schools.

Especially, we owe a special thanks to our teachers; we need to ask them how we can help them to improve the learning environment.

Lonnie H. Baxley Jr.
Greensboro

I have found the recent articles in this paper correlating (either directly or insinuated) student performance in the Summerfield/Northwest school district with income level in this district entertaining. When we moved to this school district in 1989, it was because it was the best in the county at the time. It was not the wealthiest demographically.

I suspect the population explosion out here in recent years had a lot to do with the quality of the schools, even though they were some of the most crowded in the system. What made this school district the best, not the wealthiest, 16 years ago? Why has it become the "wealthiest" school district? I suspect the answers to improving education system-wide lie in discovering the answers to those two questions rather than just throwing money at the problems.

Elaine Bulluck
Greensboro

I recently heard a story on TV where truck drivers are now losing money doing their job. Why is that? Gas prices are way too high and few are benefiting from the hurt of many.

Say what you will about supply and demand, but there is no way demand goes so high that gas prices go from $0.99 (Oct. 2001) to $2.90 and higher exactly four years later. Yes, two hurricanes have disrupted oil production, but there is no way we could be on the verge of another oil shortage four years after people could get a tank of gas for $20.

What does this do for a truck driver? They get paid per each mile they drive, but the longer the trip, the more they have to fill up. Diesel fuel is actually more expensive than unleaded and forces the truck driver to tap deep into his pockets just to do his job. In return, the driver gets his money and is still in the hole.

So, does our nation value our blue-collar workers? Judging by this example, the answer is no because we like high prices and the idea of the rich getting richer.

Bryan Jones
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Todd Drake

I read with pleasure Leia Forgay's article in The 'boro section, "Illegal Immigrants and college: Dreams Deferred" (Oct. 13). Congratulations to her for being brave enough to write a sympathetic article on "illegal aliens."

In my own work with the children of undocumented workers, I have watched as their enthusiasm and hope for a college education begin to wilt like petals from a flower as they approach graduation and discover the roadblocks to becoming something more than a day laborer.

Being a taxpaying citizen of the state, I get the point that we should not subsidize the college tuitions of those from "out of state" or "out of country." Yet I also feel that all the children living among us, whether documented or undocumented, rich or poor, should not be barred from aspiring to go to college and bettering their lives. Jim Crow tried keeping another minority "down on the farm," and it was wrong then and it is wrong now.

Here's my suggestion for a solution: We should follow the example set by Georgia and their college HOPE scholarship (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) that is funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education. Considering many undocumented workers will play our lottery and thus contribute to our "education fund," let's open the opportunity for their children to go to college on the same type of grants.

Our HOPE scholarship should be open to anyone who goes through all four years of high school in our state and has an appropriate GPA, lives in North Carolina, and either is a U.S. citizen or is applying for citizenship (the latter being very important).

I would rather have hardworking and hope-filled immigrants come to our community, become citizens, and become part of the taxpaying middle and upper class than create a exploited permanent underclass, who, because of a lack of access to higher education, becomes locked in a marriage of poverty and hopelessness, with its inevitable offspring -- crime.

Childhood and young adulthood is the season of hope and enthusiasm. Let's exploit that energy and make North Carolina a better place in the process. With a North Carolina HOPE scholarship open to all residents, and supported by all residents, we can turn everyone's hope of winning the jackpot into something worthwhile for all our state's children.

The writer is visiting assistant professor, Guilford College, and 2004-2005 Rockefeller Fellow at UNC-Chapel Hill's University Center for International Studies.

The following is a Counterpoint:

By M.B. Campbell

I read with dismay the slanderous article about Durham by Michael Skube (Oct. 16, not posted). I spent six years in Durham as a resident/refugee and believe that all of this negative talk about Durham is just jealousy by the neighboring cities. We who spend time or live in Durham are sick of hearing these comments, such as: Did you hear about the Durham family that vacationed in Baghdad to get a break from all the crime?

People in Durham don't sit around making fun of Greensboring, or all those yuppies drinking Cosmos in Raleigh, or saying Chapel Hill ... well, all right, we do make fun of Chapel Hill. But so does everyone else.

Anyway, here are 10 reasons Durham is such a great place:

10. Although it's cool to have a "gangsta" candidate running for city government in Durham, it would be silly in Greensboro (i.e., Keith "K-Diddy" Holliday).

9. Duke's basketball team would beat the bejesus out of Bennett College (though, admittedly, a football game would be a toss-up).

8. In Durham, there are magnet schools: They use magnets to check for weapons when kids enter schools.

7. If you miss a drive-by shooting in Durham, just be patient. Another one will be by soon.

6. Durham has a real baseball team with a real nickname made famous by a cool movie. Can you imagine a movie called "The Hoppers"?

5. Each year Durham gets an influx of 1,500 rich, snotty, New Jersey teenagers.

4. It's a short drive to head over and beat up Chapel Hill sissies.

3. Durhamites see no contradiction in having the neat Lucky Strike water tower overlooking Duke Hospital Cancer Center.

2. Durham has the most fistfights per local government meeting this side of Belfast.

And the No. 1 reason Durham is so great:

1. The annual gay-lesbian film festival brings a welcome annual visit from our favorite neighbor, Jesse Helms.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

In response to "Kiser is violent, two parents tell board" (Oct. 12):

Kiser is a safe school. I have a child there in the eighth grade. I also have one who went through and is in the 11th grade at Grimsley, and I will have another one at Kiser next year. Please don't base your opinions on one person. This is one child, and there are more than 1,000 students in the school.

I asked my son at Kiser if he ever feels threatened. He says no. He loves the school. I know a lot of other children, boys and girls, do not feel threatened. Dr. Harper is a fantastic principal. She has worked hard at controlling the fights in the school, and it is working.

Yes, the school board keeps changing the makeup of the school each year. Yes, we did get 120 "opt-in" children from another middle school this year. But, overall, the kids are still learning and in an environment that is safe.

I encourage you to go to Kiser, talk to the teachers, who are the happiest they have been in years, and students and then form your opinion. Kiser is a safe school.

Karen Foster
Greensboro

Skip Alston comparing himself to Jesus Christ brought tears to my eyes -- of laughter. Thank you, Allen Johnson, for putting into writing (Oct. 16) what the majority of Guilford County has either been thinking or saying about Skip Alston.

Virginia Rice
Greensboro

I recently heard a report on TV that truck drivers are now losing money doing their job. Why is that? Gas prices are way too high and a few are benefiting from the pain of many. Say what you will about supply and demand, but there is no way demand goes so high that gas prices go from 99 cents in October 2001 to $2.90 and higher exactly four years later.

Yes, two hurricanes have disrupted oil production, but there is no way we could be on the verge of another oil shortage four years after people could get a tank of gas for $20. What does this do for a truck driver? They get paid per mile they drive, but the longer the trip, the more they have to fill up. Diesel fuel is actually more expensive than unleaded and forces the truck driver to tap deep into his pockets just to do his job. In return, the driver gets his money and is still in the hole.

So, does our nation value our blue-collar workers? Judging by this example, the answer is no because we like high prices and the idea of the rich getting richer.

Bryan Jones
Greensboro

In reference to Grimsley High School junior Leia Forgay's two distressed friends, students in the United States illegally, it should be remembered that they have already been generously subsidized by North Carolina taxpayers who put them through their years in public schools. The annual tab for such students -- based on simple per pupil expenditure calculations, excluding supplemental English-learner programs and feeding programs and added capital construction costs -- is $321 million (Federation for American Immigration Reform report).

That illegal alien students would want North Carolina taxpayers to subsidize their educations through college is understandable, but there are many thousands of citizens who cannot obtain college aid.

Stories such as the one Forgay relates are a journalistic staple. They reflect a grim fact that the country's news media and both political parties will not face: We are losing control of our country. The precious right of American citizenship is eroding, and with it goes national sovereignty. To what end?

Tom Shuford
Lenoir

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Paul Bennett

In response to "Public schools hunt for better teachers" (Oct. 13), I was startled to read that differences in legislative opinion have halted our efforts towards a progressively better education system. Gov. Easley's veto of the measure (to allow out-of-state teachers North Carolina certification), which had been passed almost unanimously by the General Assembly, illustrates a strong misconception about public education.

When legislators, media and social commentators discuss public education, often they fail to get to the root of the problem. As in business, athletics and life, quality comes from commitment, and until there is a genuine commitment to education from the top to bottom, North Carolina's will remain marginal, at best. Such a commitment starts in our homes and is reciprocated through each level of society. To educate our youth properly, parents and guardians must emphasize its importance. This fact is known, but how can parents emphasize or place faith in a system that quite possibly (depending on socioeconomic status) failed them?

They must see a real cooperative commitment from legislation to the future of their children. Until Gov. Easley and the General Assembly make a strong commitment to improving education, parents and children alike will continue to resent a system that repeatedly lets them down.
I am of the firm belief that good students make good teachers. The problem lies not with the fact that we have ill-equipped or ill-prepared teachers, but that enthusiasm for, and confidence in, the entire system has been lost. North Carolina's constituents must push for higher levels of education for their children; otherwise, we will continue to see similar apathy from legislators.

Further, Gov. Easley's implication that allowing teachers from other states would somehow reduce the quality of teachers seems obtuse, especially with your reference to the already average quality of teachers. If quantity is the issue, why not increase the supply of teachers as a temporary solution? With a provisional fix in place, we could begin to increase parental and student concern and involvement. If people care deeply about the plight of public education, their concern will demand better teachers and resources. Teachers who fail to show interest in the progress of students inevitably will be filtered out, thereby increasing the overall quality of education. However, as long a the people and legislators are allowed to remain complacent about public education, the youth of North Carolina will continue to leave the system ill-equipped to improve the quality of life for themselves and those around them.

The writer lives in Elon.

Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Burley Mitchell was right when he said it would be naïve and dangerous for this state to unilaterally disarm its ability to recruit badly needed jobs. Thank you for recognizing that practicality in your Oct. 14 editorial.

We don't doubt former Justice Bob Orr's sincerity in pursuing his lawsuit. We do doubt he has looked far enough down the road to see that, if successful, it will mean thousands of jobs passing our state by.

That's no idle claim. It happened numerous times until this state got serious about competing with 45 other states offering incentives to prospects. With 275,000 manufacturing jobs lost, it's no time to upset the applecart in pursuit of what seems to be a rehash of legal issues settled 10 years ago.

North Carolina's elected officials have many times reconfirmed their support for incentives as part of economic development policy. The majority of North Carolinians of every political stripe oppose judicial intrusion into this issue.

Consequently, contrary to your editorial, it would make sense that such beliefs are reflected in their judges.

Scott Millar
Hickory

The writer is president, N.C. Economic Developers Association.

Is it just for a state to offer incentives in order to get the jobs needed for the citizens?

In the editorial, "Dell deal challenge merits legal answer" (Oct. 14), that question is raised. Essentially, there are incentives in North Carolina so that Dell will more likely choose the state as a business location, making more jobs available for the citizens.

In light of mass losses of jobs that the North Carolina economy has recently dealt with, I am not sure that there is a problem with offering a break in order to get the jobs needed. The legal question of the appropriateness should not exist because I believe that it is just that there is such a distribution.

The company receiving the incentive to come to the state is in turn providing jobs for those who have been laid off. When they get jobs, they will no longer need the governmental assistance from the Employment Security Commission. Since the company is saving the government money, they should be offered such an incentive to do so. I believe that justice would require that we at least do as much for the company that is doing something for the state.

Airy Lane
Burlington

Kudos for the Little Guy. I just wanted to give a big round of applause to Steven Grover, the owner of the A&P Mini Mart in Durham for having the fortitude to stand up to his gas supplier by refusing to raise his gas prices to a price that was higher than what was paid for the gas in his tanks.

He risked losing the revenue from those gas sales by refusing to bow down and "get with the program." He did what many of us do not have the power to do since we are not in the retail gas business.

Now that Attorney General Roy Cooper has filed a price-fixing lawsuit and has begun an investigation in North Carolina, I wonder how many other gas suppliers have done the same thing.

Bravo, Steven Grover. Thanks for speaking for all of us.

Sandra Miller
Reidsville

Lorraine Ahearn's column, "The secret she kept for 44 years: 'The blue package arrived safely' " (Oct. 16), was great. However, she did not mention two of the groups involved. The Adoption Triad Dialogue Group meets second Tuesday of every month.

Also there is the North Carolina Coalition for Adoption Reform, which will be bringing legislation before the 2007 General Assembly to give access to the original birth certificate to any adult adoptee, the adoptive parent of a minor adoptee or the descendant of a deceased adoptee who requests it.

For more information please see our Web site at: http://adoptionreform-nc.org

Roberta MacDonald
Durham

How did we come this far? Take the case of Harriet Miers, President Bush's nominee for associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. She has spent more than 30 years studying and practicing law, yet she lacks the intellectual depth and understanding to interpret the Constitution and render a decision with a well-reasoned argument. Or so many elites on the left and right tell us.

Of course, this also relegates most Guilfordians to the realm of the unqualified. Who wrote this wildly esoteric document that only a few individuals, after several years of study, can begin to understand? And yet, we as ordinary officeholders will take an oath to uphold the Constitution. What are we upholding? Must we consult an interpreter?

The genius of the Constitution lies in its simplicity. That is what befuddles the elitists. They, instead, are fascinated by complexity. In constitutional law, they cherish the myriad pathways from an origin to a destination. After all, it takes a while to go from "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," to the contention that the phrase embodies a wall of separation between church and state.

Miers, as a jurist, will likely steer a clear legal path in reaching her decisions.

Ernie Sawyer
Greensboro

I was surprised by Taft Wireback's mistake in the story, "City leaders say JP loss isn't a killer" (Oct. 16). He should have known that "Ladd's" birthplace was in High Point, not Greensboro.

And he should have called it LADD, the acronym for Lea, American Drew and Daystrom. The company, founded by furniture veterans Don Hunziker, William Fenn and Richard Allen, moved its headquarters from downtown High Point to Grandover in the mid-1990s.

Raymond Reid
Kernersville

There is so much history and so many success stories. Here is another. I was the first manager of the Greensboro system for Cablevision, parent company Jefferson/Carolina Corp. (created by Jefferson Broadcasting and Carolina Telephone & Telegraph). Later, I was regional manager for the Greensboro and Burlington systems.

Roger Soles and Michaux Crocker were visionaries of the cable industry, which has grown, slowly at first, then by leaps and bounds.

Thanks, JP.

Jack W. Gourley
High Point

I was bemused by your Oct. 16 article bemoaning the loss of Jefferson-Pilot. Predictably, the comparisons with that business mecca, Charlotte, came into play.

Most of the people interviewed would agree that Charlotte has many advantages for business. However, quality of life for the people living in and around Charlotte is not one of them. Endless traffic jams, overcrowding, pollution, urban sprawl and enormous numbers of subdivisions extending far into the surrounding countryside are endemic to Charlotte. Then there are the big-city problems of crime, escalating property taxes and out-of-control development.

Not to say that we don't have these problems in Greensboro, but to a much lesser degree. I may gripe about it sometimes but, all in all, I like Greensboro. After having lived many places on three continents, I have to say that this is one of the best places I have found.

For those people forever envious of Charlotte, go there to live! Leave the rest of us here in the Gate City. We like it here.

Albert M. Carter
Greensboro

As an alumnus of N.C. A&T State University (Class of '92), I enjoy the homecoming festivities and attended the football game despite the horrendous ticket prices. My children and my nephew weren't given that opportunity because of those prices. For me, there was not perceived value in paying that much money for tickets for people who are not yet true fans of the environment and the game. They have attended the games and activities numerous times in the past.

To put this in perspective, recently I attended the homecoming game for a Division 1-A football team that is currently ranked No. 3 in the nation. I had reserve seating accommodations that put me and my son just above the lower level, on the 50-yard line. The price of those seats was $40. To pay $45 for general admission for a Division 1-AA team that's not very good takes being an alumnus. But, the perceived value of bringing others to enjoy that environment, which is what we normally do, just wasn't there. And this was also the perception of others, based on the number of empty seats in the stands.

Mario Jardine
Lynchburg, Va.

Anger and hysteria seem to be the rule in letters to the editor. Read the letter by Laurie Gengenbach (Oct. 14). It is filled with hatred for a public official.

To disagree with someone is normal and healthy when expressed in logical and honest terms. Not so the rhetoric in the print media. Public officials should be held to fair standards, but objections to their behavior or policies must be stated fairly and honestly. Again, not so today.

Have we devolved to shouting and yelling to declare our position? No logic? No reason? Stop and think, you could be next.

Don Mulligan
High Point

During the 35 years I resided in Greensboro, it was my fortunate lot to meet a number of outstanding citizens. Politicians, business leaders, philanthropists, clergy and academicians who led in their fields and made significant contributions to the Gate City impressed me with achievement.

In all, I never encountered a more decent, fair and hardworking leader than the Honorable W. Douglas Albright. In many ways, Judge Albright represents in my mind the civility, grace and compassion that is the best of Greensboro. His coming retirement from the Superior Court bench is a milestone worthy of celebration.

Dave Alexander
Swannanoa

Why does Giles Lambertson think we need his individual citizen's to-do list to win in Iraq (Oct. 16)? He proposes the absurd: Action by those confused by the war ("others ... not quite willing to sacrifice but cannot think of anything they might give up") without questioning the way our leaders have led it. Except enlistment, Lambertson says, "any American can perform these sacrificial acts (prayer, Christ-like endurance of criticism from Democrats and now, Republicans) without giving up much," a bizarre phrase that echoes the president's call for more shopping after Sept. 11.

Most agree with President Bush's view of terrorism's threat, but after four years of leadership, the hard right has failed to come up with a coherent national policy.

Only Hurricane Katrina pushed Bush to consider gas conservation. In 1941, no one knew how long war would last, but four years later, no one wondered how to win or the degree of sacrifice it would require.

Andrew Young
Greensboro

Not quite as expected, 95.7 percent of voters stayed home and did not bother to vote Oct. 11. Only 4.3 percent of registered voters actually voted. The voters "quietly" hammered their apathy home. Congratulations, but your non-vote is a vote.

"Non-voters" have shown their disappointment by expressing themselves in silence. A "performance record" of these liberal elites looks like this:

The News & Record's article, "Higher income, better test scores," helps dispel the worn-out myth that we can improve public education simply by throwing money at it. However, the conclusion that kids who live in big houses do better at school than students who live in less expensive houses needs more explanation.

Those of us who aren't "professional educators" have long known that good schools are a product of much more than just money. Perhaps now Superintendent Grier will be persuaded to end his pleas for dramatic increases in funding and focus on other solutions like increasing parental involvement.

The correlation between home prices and educational outcomes, however, doesn't give parents much information. The real news is what goes on in those bigger houses. I am confident that a closer look will demonstrate that those big houses are inhabited by children with two parents who require their children to do their homework and go to bed at a reasonable hour. Finally, evidence that children in expensive homes do better because their parents can afford to send them to ballet recitals or Europe is anecdotal at best. One is hard pressed to explain how cultural experiences translate into higher math scores.

Paul Daniels
Greensboro

While I'm always interested to read about five-toed, two-tongued cats and other sideshow-type attractions, I was more than a little disturbed by the closing line in the article of Oct. 18 (on the front page, no less): The tomcats aren't bothered by the unaltered female cat's two tongues; she's pregnant with "yet another" litter of kittens!

I am sure I am not alone in feeling some disgust at the contribution to pet overpopulation being made by this irresponsible pet owner. As a former animal shelter employee and volunteer, I guess I should be thanking people like this since, without their "contribution," there would be no need to feed, house and too often euthanize (read: kill) the homeless cats and dogs in North Carolina, leaving animal shelter employees unemployed.

Good luck finding homes for all those kittens; hopefully, their owners will be responsible and have them spayed or neutered so they do not contribute to this overwhelming problem.

Joy Combs
Gibsonville

As an advocate of spay/neuter surgery for all companion animals, I found "Two-tongued cat laps up fame" (Oct. 18) quite offensive. Allowing a cat to have litter after litter is extremely irresponsible, considering we live in a country that euthanizes millions of adoptable cats and dogs each year. Letting a cat reproduce simply means that more animals will die in animal shelters, and that is nothing to be proud of.

As for "Five Toes" -- the cat whose inattentive owners took four years to discover her two tongues -- I can only hope that her caretakers will cast aside their greed and do what every responsible pet owner should do: Have the cat spayed.

Lisa Crosby
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Lonnie Groendes

The Oct. 9 News & Record's exploitative front-page feature article on poverty, wealth and education in Guilford County was so terribly disappointing. Such dramatic and hyperbolic editorial approaches to spotlight problematic social issues have never served to fire anything more than existing prejudices, beliefs and community hysteria.

So sad that the N&R chose to spotlight such an ineffective and explosively shallow portrayal.

Bottom line: Cutting through rhetoric and prejudice and special interests, the most effective education of our children begins in the home.

If there are parents, or a parent, a guardian, caregivers or a single caregiver, even a strong and reassuring role model in the child's home, who care enough to take the time and make the effort to track the child's progress in school; to stay in close touch with the school and teachers; to have the courage to discipline the child's schedule to do homework and special assignments, and monitor peer pressures -- that child is going to succeed in school and life regardless of the financial profile of "the family."

You might want to ask reporter Matt Williams to do a follow-up on how many responsible adults in the homes of impoverished children consistently exert the discipline, encouragement, love and support those children need to succeed. I'm sure he's going to find some children from very poor homes who are doing quite well because of responsible adult supervision.

I'm sure he will also find children from wealthy households who are failing in school and life because of overly indulgent and irresponsible adult supervision in the home.

It's not about the money. It's not about race. It's not about the school, the district or the teachers. It's not about federal, state or local subsidies or special programs. It's very simply about the nurturing care and personal encouragement, discipline and vision that can only be prevalent in the home where the child goes to sleep at night and wakes up in the morning -- their home base, the place where security and love should be synonymous with "home."

How irresponsible of the News & Record to address such a serious social problem with an editorial slant to inflame and incite, rather than to heal and encourage. For shame.

Redeem that despicable decision with a more detailed follow-up on how a child's home life affects his educational success.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

It was disturbing that Michael Skube's column (Oct. 16, not posted) stereotyped nearly 250,000 people for the actions of a few individuals and stigmatized diligent elected leadership because unqualified people tried to run for office.

It was even more disturbing because a good writer like Mr. Skube fell into a trap. Stereotyping is also at the root of racism, fascism, sexism, gay-bashing and other forms of intolerance, including today's terrorism.

Newspaper readers will obviously see more negative headlines about Durham than other communities. It's the only major city in the state intensely covered by two major dailies, our Herald Sun and the News & Observer based next door in Raleigh. It's twice the coverage, not twice the news. It seems people love to read "bad" stuff if it is not "their" bad stuff, and apparently even journalists get fooled.

It would be easy to provide ample evidence asserting Durham has been, and very well may be today, the community bringing the greatest positive exposure to North Carolina ... not just as home to Research Triangle Park, North Carolina Central University and Duke or scores of accolades, including good governance, but because the people here are truly extraordinary.

Reyn Bowman
Durham

The writer is president and CEO, Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau.

It was with sadness that I read of Judge W. Douglas Albright's plans to retire in 2006. The people of North Carolina have been blessed with Judge Albright's wisdom, uprightness and honesty.

He is a great communicator whose oratory has inspired many. He shows respect and consideration for others, always living by the Golden Rule. He is never too busy to help others and is an outstanding role model for the young people in our community.

In Zechariah 8:16 (NIV) we read: "These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts." Judge Albright has truly carried out these instructions. When one reads about him, he is often aptly described as a "man of integrity."

We are proud that this "man of integrity" has served the people of our state for more than 31 years, and we wish for him a future of much-deserved happiness.

Doris Henderson
Greensboro

Around the country in the past two weeks, the new movie dealing with Edward R. Murrow, "Good Night, and Good Luck," opened to excellent reviews.

Sadly, Guilford County, being the birthplace of Mr. Murrow, should have been the location for the movie's premiere.

May I suggest the News & Record run an article about Mr. Murrow and his amazing life? Also, if it is not too late, our city leaders should try to arrange a special event surrounding the opening when it reaches Greensboro.

We should all be proud of one of our most famous and illustrious citizens.

George Burfeind
Greensboro

I am submitting this letter in response to the outraged citizens' attack on Fantasia Barrino.

First off, do these people understand that individuals from the same area may have a different perspective on the area, depending on their socioeconomic status? I have lived in High Point before in a low-income area, and I have to agree with the sentiments of High Point being a "dead-end" town for some people. Although I was college-educated, I could not find a job in High Point the entire time I lived there. When I lived in Greensboro and Burlington, I could find work.

Before you vilify Fantasia any further, consider this: A homeless man living in a cardboard box in Manhattan may not have the same opinion as a Park Avenue resident. If there is any consolation, any person with a shred of intellect would not generalize an entire town from one person's perspective.

Christy Hyman
Burlington

While working at a 24-hour restaurant at the intersection of highways 68 and 40 a few years ago, I met a couple staying at a nearby five-star hotel. They had evacuated their home in Myrtle Beach, S.C., ahead of Hurricane Floyd.

They were complaining of the inflated rates for rooms. We agreed that this did not seem right, and they considered themselves lucky that they could afford to stay there.

Being in the restaurant business themselves, they did not begrudge the hotel making a profit by raising the price of drinks in its bar, as they had a choice as to whether they visited the bar or not. Price-gouging is not limited to the High Point furniture market. These practices are only now being discussed because Las Vegas promises to treat market goers with a little more fairness. Too bad Vegas isn't closer to storm-prone areas.

Theresa Yawn
Summerfield

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Anne Taylor

In all of the media discussion about hurricane preparations and "lessons learned" from the horrors of Katrina, North Carolina is slowly beginning to recognize the need for a more environmentally literate populace who can make more informed decisions. The alternative is to remain utterly dependent upon government regulations for the personal safety and well-being of our loved ones.

Environmental education is not environmental issue advocacy; it is instead the knowledge, skills and understanding necessary for informed environmental decision-making.

If we don't even know what a river basin is or how it functions, how will we ever know that rain miles away from our homes can cause us harm? Do we intentionally put our families in harm's way with the reasoning that "government regulations don't prevent us from doing it" or "the government will pay for any economic consequences of having done so"? Or will we choose to become educated and take personal responsibility for our own environmental choices?
And do we intentionally leave the least educated to suffer the greatest harm, or will we ensure that every graduate of North Carolina schools will have the knowledge, understanding and skills to make more informed environmental decisions?

Education about the environmental consequences of our daily decisions is not yet one of the tools used in the context of disaster preparedness. However, the long-term and lasting benefits of an environmentally literate population are profound. North Carolina has the infrastructure, programs, facilities and professionals in place to conduct the K-12 and adult education; we need the public's will to use North Carolina's environment as an integrating context for learning in all subject areas and to invest in general public education.

The result will be students who are active and outside, who take pride in their achievements, who improve test scores; teachers with fewer classroom-management problems; and a populace that takes personal responsibility for the environmental consequences of our individual actions.

The writer is executive director of the Raleigh-based Environmental Education Fund and lives in Wendell.

Regarding the overturned conviction of confessed murderer Jerry Louis Alston by the N.C. Court of Appeals:

I may need your help understanding the reasoning involved.

The reversal was apparently on the basis of "unreasonable search and seizure." Really?

A police officer enters the home on the invitation of the slain man's brother. Blood spatters are seen on the wall.

She leaves, obtains a search warrant, returns to find the body. In what way is this "unreasonable"?

Perhaps the slain man's brother should be charged with breaking and entering. After all, he broke into the house through the window.

In your Oct. 22 editorial, you laud the decision as upholding our constitutional right to be free from illegal search and seizure. Why am I not comforted by this?

Is there not a place for common sense in the law?

Edward Bryan
Greensboro

Giles Lambertson (Oct. 16, not posted) sounds a call for "sacrifice" in support of the "war on terror" -- despite mountains of evidence revealing it to be largely a deliberate snow job. It takes a lot of blind dedication to support a lie but sheer temerity to ask others to contribute their blood and treasure.

I might think it fair to ask my surgeon if he smoked, my attorney if he took bribes. Mr. Lambertson, how exactly have you sacrificed? Is it by harping on this theme, "be afraid, or else" for the last four years? Are you sending personal letters of support to the troops? Have you attempted to enlist or encouraged relatives to? Is there is anything solid behind your admonitions?

Whether Americans currently are capable of sacrifice is not the point -- since we have all sacrificed untold respect, trust and goodwill by arrogantly meddling in virtually everyone else's affairs. Have we not sacrificed (read: squandered) countless billions in both Bush regimes on the pointless aggressions against Iraq?

Lambertson says, in one column: "War is a total population experience. No one is exempt," and, "Pray for peace and for eventual triumph over intolerant sectarian forces."

Where is this guy coming from?

Jack Stone
McLeansville

"I am not a crook."
-- Richard M. Nixon, 1974

"I did not have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky."
-- Bill Clinton, 1998

"I am not a slumlord."
-- Skip Alston, 2005

A. Wayne Hinson
Greensboro

A recent transportation meeting was advertised as a "Thinking Ahead" forum, but it turned out to be a "How we can get more tax dollars" forum.

Most of the approximately 50 attendees were representatives of local and state transportation departments, and they had no problem finding ways of increasing transportation funding.

There was no discussion of how or why the condition of North Carolina's roads and bridges is among the worst in the nation and why urban sprawl and poor land use have created decreased safety and traffic congestion and increased air pollution. If the members of the "Thinking Ahead" Steering Committee, including Greensboro Mayor Keith Holliday, present the finding of the forum as the public's support for increasing taxes, then we can expect more of our tax dollars to be wasted.

Until Gov. Easley and the legislature recognize that most of the lack of funding has been a result of the legislature turning a blind eye to the way the N.C. Department of Transportation conducts business, nothing will change.

Where North Carolina transportation is concerned, the adage, "If you don't know where you have been, how can you know where you are going?" fits well.

C. Robin Dean
Clemmons

After reading the editorial "Rooms with a view" on the opinion page Tuesday, I wondered if anybody from the News & Record's editorial board or City Council member Robbie Perkins had ever even been downtown.

Downtown Greensboro has had a full-service hotel since the early 1980s. It was built as a Sheraton, changed to a Hilton and is now currently a Marriott.

The Marriott has 280 rooms, abundant meeting space, a nice restaurant and a bar. It has long been used by Vanity Fair, Jefferson Pilot, Wachovia and other downtown businesses. It is also within walking distance of all downtown restaurants and bars.

You wrote that downtown needs "a good-sized hotel with amenities and atmosphere." It seems like it would have been fair for you to write "another" good-sized hotel with amenities and atmosphere, since one already exists.

Paul Jordan
Greensboro

The only politicians in Davidson County who are maintaining a lower profile than the Thomasville City Council candidates are the advocates for the school and community college bonds.

Either they are taking victory for granted, or they have recognized that their case is weak and don't want to call attention to it.

Originally, the community college bonds were going to be first on the ballot. Then a Davidson Vision-sponsored voter survey revealed that 613 of the 616 respondents were belligerently indifferent to the fate of Davidson County Community College.

Now the sequence on the ballot has been reversed. A wormy apple makes a poor appetizer.

At the public hearing on the 1992 school bonds, at least a dozen citizens spoke in support of the bonds. This year, even though glitches in advertising necessitated two public hearings, the only pleas for an affirmative vote came from the county commissioners' side of the table.

In 1992 the bond proponents promised that revenue from the local-option sales tax would be sufficient to service the new debt without a property tax increase. Today's bond proponents are making no such claim.

Barney W. Hill
Thomasville

I disagree with the column by Michael Skube (Ideas, Oct. 16, not posted) that disrespects the city of Durham. His writing is disingenuous and malicious.

No good purpose is served in writing such a column, other than to gain attention or self-satisfaction by being destructive or to vent an unkind opinion. I am retired, have seen all our country and am free to live anywhere, but I moved to Durham by choice four years ago.

I could have picked Greensboro, Charlotte, Raleigh, etc., but chose Durham. Certainly, Durham has crime and scandals, just as any other large city, but it is blessed with other wonderful attributes to a far greater degree than most other cities: beauty, history, heart, music, culture, education, a heavy concentration of highly educated, talented and friendly people, and many, many amenities.

I am proud of Durham and will stay here for life.

Rod Gerwe
Durham

I don't understand the twisted complacency and false accusations flung at those who oppose the war in Iraq. Some of us vehemently oppose this war, but we are being accused of being unpatriotic or unsupportive of our troops. What nonsense.

To see the generation who so effectively protested the wrongs of war in the 1960s and '70s now act so complacent about this war, and the web of deceit the president has spun to gain support for it, gives me a truly hopeless feeling.

What is this madness? Why are lives lost for this lie?

I can't imagine that Clinton was impeached for having sex with a consenting adult and George W. Bush has been allowed to remain in office after lying about weapons of mass destruction and ruining the reputation of America throughout the world.

Oh, I almost forgot: he's anti-abortion. So we save the lives of the unborn but send young men to Iraq to be killed. This is insanity.

Trish McDermott Bogue
Browns Summit

I would like to commend Fantasia Barrino on her efforts to chronicle her life events in her recent autobiography, "Life Is Not a Fairy Tale."

I would like to comment on her editors and how they depicted the city of High Point and its values. I personally do not believe that Fantasia meant what was stated. Being educated within Guilford County Schools doesn't constitute illiteracy.

I think her thoughts were taken out of context and were made to fit into the hype about her being a single mom. We all know the richness the Triad has to offer.

Honestly, if she hated High Point that badly, I don't think she would have represented the city in a national competition.

Embrace her courage of speaking about her experiences and pray that it helps other individuals overcome their obstacles.

Kenisha Curtis
Greensboro

Here we go again. More laws to protect the children. This time it's lead.

Were I a parent of a child under 6, the proposed ordinance would irk me as follows:

1) I'm too stupid to determine if my child is at risk -- regardless of where I live.

2) I have to pay for a test that is unnecessary if I live in a post-1987 residence.

3) The required test only applies to my under-6 set; the rest of us don't count?

4) The test is only required once. If I move to new digs, the old test is enough. The new place could be swimming in lead dust.

5) I do not have the option of going to the hardware store or on the Web and buying a kit to test for lead in the dust in my residence in lieu of having a blood test. God forbid that our leaders encourage me to identify any lead risk before my child is poisoned; better to wait until afterwards.

The proposed ordinance reflects failure of the health-care community to get the attention of those at risk. Instead of educating people, they prefer to stick it to them.

Walter J. Sperko
Greensboro

Rather than dwell on reasons why people are unhappy with the war in Iraq, Americans should take a look at the many positive outcomes the war has produced. There will never be a consensus on the necessity of the war, but open-minded people who don't refuse to look at the war objectively will see that President Bush and his loyal coalition have accomplished much good.

Most importantly, the Iraqi people now have a voice. In December, Iraqis will take part in a landmark election, their first meaningful one in decades. Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds will all have adequate representation. The tyrant Saddam Hussein literally found himself trapped in a hole in the ground and will soon meet justice. There will be no more secret police, no more mass killings, no more authoritarian leaders. The overlooked holocaust of the Kurdish people has ended. The programs for deadly weapons and terrorist training camps have been forced away from Iraq, to other countries. Many people will never accept these results as sufficient, but the war in Iraq has made the world a better place.

Michael O'Shea V
Greensboro

I was extremely disappointed to read Michael Skube's column on Durham ("Durham: The city we'd like to forget," Oct. 16, not posted). As Durham County manager, I can report the Durham I know is not the Durham Skube characterized.

Like many of us, Mr. Skube fell victim to believing what he reads in the newspapers or what he hears on television. I'm glad Merck, AW North Carolina and other companies that invested in our county did not fall victim to such theatrics. After looking behind the headlines, they found Durham a great place for business with a well-trained supply of labor, quality schools and an outstanding work ethic. Mr. Skube didn't do his homework.

All communities have problems. Those of us in Durham want your readers to know we're too busy winning the battle to criticize what others are, or are not, doing.

Mike Ruffin
Durham

We are scheduling and testing our kids out of an education. Combine block schedules (30 fewer hours per class than traditional schedule) and benchmark testing (10-plus extra hours of review and testing), and students have 75 percent less time per class than five years ago.

Cookie-cutter teaching ignores different teaching and learning styles. Teaching to the test may help with short answers, but it deletes conceptual learning and true education. Robbing teachers and students of class time and the opportunity for creativity and spontaneity is in opposition to real learning. The result? Compromised education.

A shortage of teachers, Dr. Grier? No problem. Continue excessive testing and the punitive leadership style. Continue blaming teachers for students' poor performance, while parents and students shoulder little of the responsibility. Continue making unrealistic demands so even those truly called to teaching won't stay.

Then hire a larger testing staff. Teachers won't be necessary, just a tape/CD/DVD player. Seat the students; press "play."

Or give back the 40 hours of lost class time. Let students and parents assume their honest share of responsibility. Hire social workers and tutors, not testing staff and paraphernalia! Close the gap upward, not downward.

Susan Tysinger
Greensboro

Sponsored higher education for illegal aliens? Put simply, no.

Please understand, I am not talking about those individuals who apply to come to this country and strive to become citizens. I am talking about the ones who sneak in here and live off of my government's resources. An illegal alien is just that, illegal, and should be treated and referred to as such until that status changes.

In Todd Drake's Oct. 20 Counterpoint, he writes that the state should set up a scholarship with lottery dollars, and, since illegal workers will play the lottery, that participation entitles their children to these grants. I say that playing the lottery entitles that person to only one thing: the chance to win the jackpot. That's it.

This country does not owe anything to anyone who is living here illegally, nor do we owe anything to their children. By allowing equality to be issued regardless of legal status, the only ones who suffer are the children who are most entitled to what this country has to offer. They are the ones of every nationality who are legal citizens!

Kelley Johnson
Greensboro

Scott Millar and Airy Lane (letters, Oct. 22) support state and local giveaways to businesses, for attraction or retention -- extortion in either case.

In his book, "Jobscam: Corporate Tax Dodging and the Myth of Job Creation," Greg LeRoy tells about needless incentives to attract or retain firms at great price, eroding the community tax base and wage rates. An industry has grown in facilitating these extortions and scams, carefully avoiding their real name: lobbyists.

Deliberate ignorance and denial in paying hundreds of thousands of dollars per job and not keeping up with adverse effects on real taxpayers (you and me) promotes this crime.

Corporations have been excluded from accountability by their representatives in Raleigh and Washington (you thought they were your representatives, did you not?). Justice Robert Orr has done a great thing, and I support him.

This is corporate greed and government stupidity compounded to our loss.

William A. Franklin
Burlington

Let me get this straight. Your editorial (Oct. 22, "Justice takes a twist") would have us believe it is better for a convicted, confessed killer to go free (because of a police officer, obviously acting with good intent, along with a legal loophole whereby the prosecution failed to introduce something by mistake) than to bring justice to a dead man and his family? Keep in mind, we're not talking about a gross abuse of the suspect here. Is this justice or legal mumbo jumbo? Is it just me or is that insanity?

I know, all the civil libertarians and ACLU lawyers (as well, apparently, as your editorial board) who make their living off these absolutely unbelievable reasonings are howling and getting ready to wrap themselves in the constitution and denounce my unspeakable horrific ignorance of the law! But you will never convince me that the framers of our constitution ever intended, nor believed for one second, that our legal system would put more value on a convoluted technicality than a human life! Can anything ever be more valuable than that? If the victim were related to the editor, would the feeling be the same?

Heaven help us. Oops, I've probably violated some new law for that, as well.

Ed Cox
Greensboro

The News & Record wears its hypocrisy well. On Oct. 26 you devoted 90 percent of the front page to telling your readers that George Bush has killed 2,000 American soldiers. You did it under the guise of "Paying Tribute to the Fallen." Wrong, you did it because you are giddy with the thought of using the body count of the fallen soldiers to demonize Bush.

Where were your stories in the months before the count reached 2,000? We cannot pay tribute until we have reached a certain body count? Where will the stories be until the body count reaches what you consider another milestone?

The size of your headline and your opening sentence on the front page told anyone that this was not about paying tribute to the fallen. How cowardly and callous you have become to use the death of one single soldier, much less 2,000, to advance your political agenda.

Don't like the way Bush is conducting the War on Terror? Address the issues with him. Do not use or try to stand behind fallen soldiers to advance your political views.

Ed Pring
Greensboro

Michael Skube writes that while "other cities in North Carolina have higher per capita crime rates ... Durham is where you expect to read about crime" (Oct. 16, not posted).

Read his statement again. Why is that? It is a question he does not raise, but it is surely the most interesting question that his statement suggests.

I think it is because Durham has a higher percentage of blacks than other cities, and many people think that automatically means a higher crime rate. In other words, it is racial prejudice.

Skube goes on to exaggerate Durham's crime problems to fit the racially prejudiced image of the city that he apparently shares with many.

How could a journalism professor and a major state newspaper air such prejudice so casually? Before you publish another editorial calling for racial understanding from others, I suggest you first examine your own attitudes and editorial judgment.

Mark Hellman
Durham

Like many of you, I watched the media coverage of Hurricane Katrina on the national news and could not imagine sitting at home and not going to help. After consulting with my employer (High Point University) and clearing my calendar for my remaining two weeks' "vacation," I was deployed and ready to go help in the role of an American Red Cross disaster volunteer. I was assigned to a service center in Mobile, Ala., and interviewed clients from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. There was not any amount of training that prepared me for the stories of suffering and devastation.

Before leaving on my trip, I also had the privilege of working at an organization that strapped on its armor of hope and wanted to help. Whether a student, staff or faculty member, these angels of giving were able to raise and collect more than $10,000 for our local American Red Cross chapter. I am hopeful that I represented them well, and I can never thank them enough or convey the hope and recovery they provided for so many.

Gail Tuttle
High Point

The writer is dean of the Evening Degree Program at High Point University.

The other night I dreamed that our nameless president gave excessive tax cuts to the rich and gobbled up the small businesses, which were the mom-and-pop operations of our country. All of these little guys fled the country, leaving only the rich to not pay taxes.

My only regret is, once awake, I couldn't finish the dream.

Vickie Currin
High Point