News-Record.com

I have been reading all the complaints about hotel room charges for the High Point furniture market versus the Las Vegas market. Beware! Las Vegas will get you.

I attend three shows a year there, and the room rates are very inflated. In checking my expense accounts for 2005, I spent 16 nights in Las Vegas. The average nightly charge was $180.05. Last March, we were charged $240 for the Marriott Suites.

I am going again the week of Jan. 16, and the following rates are shown on the Internet: Mirage, $217; Harrah's, $248; Bellagio, $273; Treasure Island, $173; New York/New York, $184; MGM, $202.

People need to understand that the good rates given now in Las Vegas will not remain.

Mike Cantwell
Whitsett

My friend and I were eating at the cafeteria at Carolina Circle Mall about 12 years ago. I had read in the paper that Rosa Parks was to be at A&T for a visit. Close to us, they had set four or five tables together.

Before long, some very distinguished black men came in and sat down on both sides of the tables. A sweet-looking lady came in and sat at the table with them. After they ate and talked, this sweet lady got up and stood away from the tables with a young man. That is when I realized this was Rosa Parks.

I told my friend I was going over to hug her. When I reached her, I realized this might be a bodyguard with her. I told him I just wanted to hug Mrs. Parks, and he said not to hug her too tight. I hugged her and told her I loved her and walked back to my table.

I call this my claim to fame. I'm sure Mrs. Parks is in heaven today.

Carolyn Corbett
Climax

The loss of a bright young man. The grief of his family and friends. The multiplied grief of Iraqi families, caused by his actions and those of his surviving companions.

What will it take to end the sadness? Until parents stop thinking it's "cute" for their boys to "love their war toys," until churches stop condoning -- even blessing -- the killing of humans, until those who say they follow the Prince of Peace take Him seriously and dedicate themselves to alleviating, not causing, suffering, the sadness will not end.

God speed the day when our "best and brightest" are taught to heal rather than to harm; to rescue rather than to attack; to build rather than to destroy. Only then will the sadness be banished.

Please, God, let it be soon.

Ruth Martin
Browns Summit

There was a time when the only thing lying in the road no one would try to miss was a class-action lawsuit lawyer. They have been displaced by liberal journalists.

It must be a relief to you and your paper that the death count in Iraq has reached 2,000. I have heard this number for almost two years as a goal you were shooting for. Why not print the number of deaths in the first World War, the second World War, Korea, Vietnam? This was a costly price to pay for peace also. Guess which party was in power when World War II was fought.

Why do you not print the figures of the dead and run pictures of them? I wonder if you think the American people are dumb enough to listen to you.

Ken Sawyer
High Point

Regarding the article, "Gang activity evident in local schools" (Oct. 26):

As a teacher at Aycock Middle School, I was baffled to see our name mentioned in the article. Though I am certainly aware that gangs do exist, in my three years at Aycock I have seen no evidence of them in our school. What I have seen is a school honored as one of the 15 most-improved schools in Guilford County, classrooms with students and teachers using our many new computers, a premier drum line, a principal nominated for Principal of the Year, and, most of all, a caring faculty and staff that is second to none. The only "13" I'm aware of is the age of many of our students.

Helen Goley
Greensboro

You know, when I wrote this "good news is no news" letter, I had a hunch that it would not be printed, because it is true. I, and the majority of your readers, would prefer hearing good news. So put the bad news, if you must, in fine print in the middle of the paper, where you are now hiding the good news.

If you were known as a paper that printed the good stuff, I firmly believe that your circulation would increase, rather than decrease, as I suspect is happening now.

Tommy Cox
Greensboro

In the 1960s, I was able to count on the GI Bill to provide the difference in finding some of the financial means to make it through law school. The GI Bill today is long gone, but now Congress is attempting to drastically cut the federal Student Loan program, as well as food stamp subsidies, and Medicaid.

Today, as a lawyer practicing primarily in the area of bankruptcy, I see many Guilford, Forsyth and surrounding county residents who are not making it financially and who drastically need the relief once partially provided by bankruptcy. Under the new Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, providing relief to either the small minority of abusers or to the vast majority who are truly needy will be a more burdensome and costly proposition but still will be possible. With or without bankruptcy, if these programs are axed, as Mr. Bush and his supporters seek, I fear to think what will happen to these less-fortunate neighbors. Most are in their situations through no fault of their own.

They must be able to rely on a compassionate government to carry on. This message must not die on deaf ears in Washington.

A. Carl Penney
Winston-Salem

Regarding your editorial on the N.C. Department of Correction (Oct. 26, not posted): Maybe for the prisons the accusations are true, but there are many different groups in DOC.

Probation/parole officers are in a group associated with DOC, but I can assure you they are not overpaid; they are grossly ignored when it comes to money and equipment. They are in contact with criminals every day, yet most are not given weapons to defend themselves, and for some reason this state seems to think that is sufficient. But when this sector of DOC asked for a yearly raise, they got no more than $850, and everyone knew if they asked for more it would be vetoed.

Yet here, a couple of months later, money magically appears to give teachers more but no one else. So maybe you can investigate why every state employee isn't as taken care of financially as teachers are. I know teaching is hard, but so is keeping track of North Carolina's drug dealers, sex offenders and other criminals.

Amanda Purgason
Reidsville

Editor's note: The writer is married to a parole officer.

There are far too many good deeds that never get written about or make the headlines. "Jungle Jack" Hanna's recent visit to Greensboro for the Natural Science Center certainly made the news. What you did not hear about are the 35 amazing women, and a few guys, too, who selflessly dedicated weeks and even months of their lives to ensure that Jack's visit would be an overwhelming success and a symbol of the unprecedented transformation being launched at the Natural Science Center.

Led by event co-chairwomen Bethany Duggins and Karen Kelly, this passionate and tenacious group of community-minded citizens deserves our highest recognition.

In just my second year as the museum's executive director, I stand grateful and humbled by such a wonderful, committed and fun group of people. It is a privilege to be surrounded by citizens so dedicated to the kids, creatures and communities of this great city. With Animal Discovery finally breaking ground and the Science City, USA master plan just leaving the gate, there are going to be a whole lot of things for the great citizens of Greensboro to get excited about.

Glenn D. Dobrogosz
Greensboro

The writer is executive director, Natural Science Center.

On Oct. 20, an amendment to a spending bill was voted on in the U.S. Senate. This amendment would have increased the amount of home-heating financial assistance to the poor by roughly $3.1 billion.

Sixty votes would have passed this amendment. However, only 53 senators (Democrat and Republican) voted for it. Both of our senators (Dole and Burr) voted against this increase in funding for the poor. I am so ashamed of them.

We all know that home-heating costs are projected to soar this winter. Obviously, our senators don't care about those less fortunate than themselves. Otherwise, they would have voted in the affirmative.

Joel Ritter
McLeansville

I agree with Earl N. "Phil" Phillips (former owner of Showplace) that we need to do everything possible to keep the furniture market in High Point. That's why we should all encourage him to invest a few of the tens of millions he's made off of the furniture market into new and larger hotels.

How about it, Earl? Put your "$" where your mouth is.

Rick Williams
High Point

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Hank McGovern

Of course, Leonard Pitts' question (Oct. 22) as to whether we love the death penalty "too much" is rhetorical. The more important question is what values do we want to embrace as a society? While we ostensibly tout peace, if we truly value it, we need to abolish the death penalty. We cannot create peace through violence. We are what we practice.

The notion of exercising a moratorium until we can demonstrate fairness is a red herring. It is so because we can never have fairness with the death penalty. The system will always be fallible and, consequently, there will always be a chance of executing an innocent person. Our judicial system has done it many times and will never be exempt from this egregious mistake. It is immoral to advocate a process that executes innocent human beings.

In the same way we view slavery as an anachronism, I predict our national consciousness will evolve so that one day the death penalty will be viewed by our country as barbaric. This optimism is fueled by the following analysis.

The economic dimension shows capital punishment is more expensive than life imprisonment. A Duke University study found that, on average, it cost $805,000 to keep a 25 year-old in jail until he is 75. That is more than 2 million less than the cost to prosecute a capital case with its appeal process.

The moral dimension is frequently addressed by capital punishment advocates with the biblical enjoinder: "Thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth…" However, Jesus did not agree with that principle from Exodus. During the Sermon on the Mount, he called for his followers to "turn the other cheek" instead.

For the Christian moral perspective, Christ's calling is affirmed by the Fifth Commandment: "Thou shalt not kill." I wonder how many favoring posting the Ten Commandments in public also favor the death penalty.

The psychological dimension involves fallacious reasoning. The common-sense notion that it will deter violence is unfounded. It is based on the assumption that the fear of being put to death will discourage potential murderers. The problem with this assumption is that most murderers do not value life, neither other peoples' nor their own, particularly during the period they commit murder.

The fact that the death penalty does not work is further supported by studies such as that from Canada where the homicide rate dropped significantly after the death penalty was abolished.

A compassionate, wise society will mandate life sentences instead of committing violence to stop violence.

The writer is a licensed psychological associate living in Asheboro.

Nearly all of the patients visiting my family medicine clinic on a recent morning had medical problems making them priority candidates for the flu shot. We had none to give them. All we could do was ask them to call back next week in the hope that some had come in. For several of them, the opportunity will be lost because getting out of the house to come to our office is challenging due to wheelchair use, etc.

Meanwhile, the vaccine is available at pharmacies and Wal-Marts. Increasingly, our governments are practicing social Darwinism where those deemed fit to survive must be able to make it to the marketplace. Public health priorities are being determined by people's status as consumers. Is this how we want America to be?

Wayne Hale
Greensboro

The writer is a family practicing physician, teaching residency, Moses Cone Hospital.

I do not often agree with Leonard Pitts, but I cheer and salute him wholeheartedly for his Oct. 24 column in which he chastises the NBA "superstars" (read: churlish, infantile, gangsta rapper wannabes) who are upset with the new NBA policy regarding off-court dress. I say it is about time.

What I particularly appreciate is that Pitts, as a black man, has taken a stand on this issue, publicly spoken up and correctly labeled the claim that the dress code is racist as so much c--p and labeled it as what it is: "a total tempest in a teapot" precipitated by pampered, coddled athletes who have lost touch with reality.

Mike Crouch
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Kris Patel

The News & Record's report ("Dollars and Sense," Oct. 9) on the link between poverty, wealth and education was disappointing and feeds into the stereotype that if you are poor, you cannot succeed. My husband's experience demonstrates that this simply is not true.

His father came to this country with literally a few dollars. His family moved into the basement of an apartment building where his mother slept against the door to keep homeless people from coming inside. Eventually, they moved into a better home but never became economically stable.

Here are the jobs of some of my husband's family members: two uncles are cooks at Denny's, one aunt works at McDonald's, another is a manager of Taco Bell (after working for years as an employee), and another uncle worked for years as a cook at Red Lobster.

Now, let me tell you about their kids. My husband, after financing his own college and medical school education, is now a very well liked and respected physician in High Point. Two of his cousins are in medical school while another is applying. One is in high school making straight A's. Another came to this country three years ago not speaking any English and is now in the fifth grade making straight A's.

Why have my husband and his cousins succeeded? Like my parents (who were not wealthy, either), their parents have had clear expectations of their children: try your best in school, do your homework, respect your teachers, follow the rules, go to college, have goals, don't pity yourself, etc. Unfortunately, not every child has such parents.

I don't know how to change the attitudes of irresponsible parents; however, I do know that monetary wealth alone would not make them value education.

Articles like the one written are counterproductive and demeaning to the parents who are economically disadvantaged but are trying to instill the values of hard work and discipline in their children, and they are also insulting to the people who have achieved educational and/or financial success through hard work.

The newspaper ought to promote the idea that the value parents put on education and the work ethic of the student are more strongly related to success than is money.

I hope that economically disadvantaged families will read about my husband and his family and see that high expectations are the key to later success.

The writer lives in High Point.

On Saturday, Oct. 29, above the fold, the headline reads: "Real sticking point. Score so far this year, Davie Street Bridge 6, Big Trucks 0." Well, duh. Is that a big surprise?

There have only been seven trucks stuck (another was trapped this week) under that bridge this year, not to mention the ones that came before.

Now our city leaders are going to spend our hard-earned money to put up a light-detection system and flashing sign that says "Over Height." You have to know that is going to fix things really well. This is yet again an example of the public paying for the ignorance and plain stupidity of a few.

I say, enact a local ordinance that says, if you stick your truck under any of our bridges, you will be charged with the cost of removal, and fined for being to darned dumb to even be driving a big rig. After all, do you really not know how high the trailer is that you are pulling?

The fine for doing this bone-headed stunt should be $1,000 to the driver, $5,000 to the company or owner of the rig. Why should the public pay?

Kenneth Ludington
Greensboro

The November Vanity Fair calls Bush on another lie: this time his identity, his "cowboy" act, noting he didn't even buy his ranch until 1999. So his cowboy and boot strut isn't real either, but women love him because he reminds them of their fathers. What better recommendation is there for a president?

The Wall Street Journal worries over our $5 trillion debt, and a professor on NPR talked of Bush promising to everyone in the country and world even more money while giving millionaires tax breaks, leaving the problem for the next president.

Recently, the U.S. troops killed in Iraq passed 2,000. Bush's late response to Katrina caused many deaths. So, while our young are sent to die in an endless war on terror, while we are up to our eyebrows in debt, looking like fools in the eyes of the world, all sources wonder how long the American people will take it. But then, the man who swaggers up to the mike is only human. Too bad he's also our president.

Gay Cheney
Browns Summit

Why does Guilford County continue blinking at the true need of a one-center facility location for all county government operations? Should we endure further expensive separation or should we pause to initiate a historic and overdue change?

Have we not heard, "Divide and conquer," or will we continue embracing shameful, individualized egos while blindly ignoring truth?

Al Campbell
High Point

World War II accomplished two regime changes: Germany's Hitler committed suicide and Japan's emperor became a figurehead subject to Gen. MacArthur's orders.

U.S. involvement in that war lasted 46 months and cost 292,000 killed in action. The war in Iraq, now in its 31st month, has cost 2,000. If my averaging is correct, we lost 6,347 troops per month in World War II, versus 65 per month in Iraq. Cold military comparison shows that for each soldier killed in Iraq there were roughly 100 in World War II -- about a 100-to-1 ratio thus far.

This letter does not defend mistakes in either war. Winston Churchill wrote that there would have been no war in Europe had there been a mere show of force against Hitler's first aggression (his unopposed Rhineland grab).

War casualties are heart-rending. But remember that our freedom was were bought with casualties. Remember, too, that 13 years elapsed after the Revolutionary War before our constitution, with its 10 "Bill of Rights" amendments, was ratified. With 27 amendments to date, the constitution in 1920 granted women the right to vote.

Francis L. Perkins
Greensboro

The most recent quarterly profits for oil companies were as follows: Exxon Mobil, $9.9 billion; Royal Dutch Shell, $7.369 billion; BP $5.33 billion; ConocoPhillips $3.8 billion; Amerada Hess $272 million.

Meanwhile, our representatives Howard Coble, Virginia Foxx, Robin Hayes, Patrick McHenry, Sue Myrick, and Charles Taylor, all Republicans, voted for H.R. 3893, the Gasoline for America's Security Act of 2005. This bill weakens the Clean Air Act while purporting to address issues of refinery capacity. It also weakens requirements for more than 17,000 industrial facilities. And by limiting use of cleaner fuels, it will hamper the introduction of low-sulfur diesel fuel, which is estimated to save 20,000 lives per year.

The bill unnecessarily extends Clean Air Act deadlines for ozone cleanup, putting millions of Americans at risk of adverse health such as asthma and other respiratory ailments.

The legislation further assures industry lengthy government reviews and new environmental hurdles do not block refinery expansion.

American taxpayers will foot the bill for over $4 billion in industry giveaways. I will remember how generous our Republican representatives have been to oil companies come election time.

James Biaso
Winston-Salem

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Kathy Young

It's all about money? It's never all about money.

It's about lifestyle choices that result in less money. Your article of Oct. 9 implies that a family's income is directly responsible for a student's performance in school. Nothing could be further from the truth.

As a retired teacher who began in 1966, I've had ample opportunity to study student performance. True, most students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds don't do as well in school as their more affluent classmates, but there are many, many exceptions in both groups and reasons for it.

I am one of them. Reared in a slum by a divorced mom who worked two jobs, I graduated high school with highest honors and got a master's degree. That's because my mom had only one child, spent her spare time with me, took me to church every Sunday, made sure I did my homework, encouraged me in school, went to every school function, had conferences with my teachers, took me to the library and museums, and taught me to read early. She taught me that school was important.

My students who did poorly almost always had parents who fit one or more (or even all) of these categories: took drugs; drank heavily; dropped out themselves and didn't value school; began having children at age 16 or younger; had four or more children (which they couldn't support); had a criminal record; never came to any school functions; refused parent conferences; abused their children; taught them that teachers and police and other authority figures were the enemy. I have taught seven children in a single family without ever meeting the parents, who responded to all conference requests with hostility. It was no wonder that all the children did poorly in school and the second-oldest went to prison soon after high school. These are parental lifestyle choices. They usually do result in less income and cheaper housing, but lack of money is not the issue. The lifestyle choices result in less income.

Handing more money to an alcoholic dropout who isn't teaching her seven children to do their homework wouldn't result in a change of behavior. It also won't change her children's performance in the classroom.

Without a doubt, most children from more affluent homes do better in school than most children from less-affluent homes. The parents made good choices along the way to become more affluent, and they teach their children to make those same choices, one of which is to value education.

It isn't all about money.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

I read with dismay in our paper that more people in Greensboro watched reruns of "The Jeffersons" on primary election day for the City Council than voted.

We are asking our young men and women in uniform to die for the cause of democracy, and too many are paying that ultimate sacrifice. When we don't bother to vote, a right they are dying for, we disgrace ourselves and dishonor their service.

If you don't vote on Tuesday, you should feel shame every time you see a man or woman in uniform. Please honor our servicemen and women by voting.

Bill Craft
Greensboro

With all the accolades being tossed to Judge W. Douglas Albright, his parents also deserve much praise, and he would be the first to agree. Many years ago, Greensboro honored the "Workers of the City" at First Baptist Church. Doug Albright (not yet the judge) was an outstanding citizen and speaker for the occasion. Though his parents, Dorothy and Purvis Albright, were not the ones being honored, their son gave them much credit for his upbringing.

What more could parents ask than to know they had influenced a child to be a good citizen? Someone said, "What the soul is to the body, so the Christian is to the world."

Helen B. Walker
Greensboro

Regarding Allen Johnson's column, "New mantra for local education: 'I've got mine, good luck in getting yours' " (Oct. 30), it is sad to learn of the dismissive tone of some of the responses to "Dollars and Sense," the report on the connection between wealth and SAT scores, but such a tone is not surprising, and the mantra is not new.

Just look for the best school facilities in Guilford County; you won't find a really good auditorium at a public school. Yes, let's hear it for school reform. Let's try these ideas: raising the minimum wage so poor parents don't have to work two or three jobs; providing good health care for everybody; providing the best preschool experiences for the poorest children.

We are all in the same boat, folks, this big USS America. Just remember what Poor Richard said: "It takes just a small leak to sink a great ship." If the folks in steerage drown, so will the rest of us.

John York
Greensboro

A recent statement by the No. 2 leader of al-Qaida deserved more attention than the News & Record provided. This chilling document shows how Islamist leaders think.

The leaders of al-Qaida and its allies may be twisted, but they are not insane. Islamist leaders are realistic about their successes and failures. Al-Zawahiri acknowledged that the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan is likely to succeed.

The article illuminates al-Qaida's goals for Iraq. The U.S. invasion created a convenient opening. For now, outside Islamists are working with native Iraqis to expel the United States. If they succeed, the Islamists plan to betray their allies and take control.

The Islamists plan to use Iraq as a base to spread revolution. While the current insurgency is bad, an Islamist Iraq would be worse. The Islamists are already exploiting Iraq. Islamist Jihadis use Iraq as a finishing school for terrorism. Surviving terrorists move on to other battlegrounds or agitate in their homelands.

Joel Goldstein
Greensboro

In response to Allen Johnson's column about Carolina Circle Mall (Oct. 23), I, too, have special memories of the mall when it opened. I was lucky enough for my parents to buy my first and only pair of ice skates (I still have them). They were ordered from the Sears Roebuck catalog, and we picked them up on Lawndale Drive.

When I turned 18 in 1983, we were able to order alcoholic beverages, and I remember sitting at Annabelle's drinking Sangria and watching people skate. (That was a short-lived treat, as the state raised the drinking age to 21.) I spent many weekends as a teenager walking and cruising around the mall and McDonald's, which has managed to survive all these years. I remember East West Gifts, Camelot Music, Electronic America and riding in the glass elevator at Ivey's, which later became Dillard's.

Yes, the mall will always hold special memories for me as well.

Susan Steed
Reidsville

It is an absolute shame that people who depend on safe, comfortable and functional housing have to deal with our city's slumlords, Skip Alston and Bill Agapion. I would address then as mister, but that title has some respect. I know there is a market for this type of housing and these men fill that need, but when a person's safety is an issue, it's time for action by authorities.

Please keep the pressure on these guys, who do not take responsibility and always have an excuse to prolong the situation, if they do anything at all. If they say there are no problems, I challenge them to live in their questionable properties for a week. I can't wait to hear the excuse for sidestepping that one.

Michael B. Zales
Greensboro

There is a huge problem looming in America: the single-issue voter. I know several people who vote for candidates based exclusively on what they say about abortion or gay rights. Hardly any of these well-intentioned folks seem to realize that using that attitude, they could have voted for Hitler or Saddam Hussein.

This is not a statement equating morality-based politicians with the current bywords for human evil. It is a caution. By voting for a politician based exclusively on one issue, you are giving unquestioned support for all other policies she or he will inevitably deal with while in office.

What about trade issues? War? Social Security? The relationship between church and state? There are thousands of other issues, many relating to life and death for millions of people, and they are ignored by voters, all in the name of keeping women from having abortions or keeping homosexual people from getting married to each other.

When the voters develop such tunnel vision, it is almost inevitable that harmful leaders will show up to lead a country to ruin. Voters need to be more vigilant in their civic duties.

Eric Harrington
Greensboro

In 1787, Edward Gibbon completed his book, "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." He listed the causes as follows:

1. The rapid increase of divorce. The family is the basis of human society.

2. Higher taxes for spending of public monies for free bread and circuses for the people.

3. The mad craze for pleasure, with sports becoming more exciting and brutal.

4. The building of gigantic armaments, when the real enemy is within.

5. The decay of religion -- faith fading into formalism.

The world today is on an immoral binge such as has not been known since the days of Rome. We are living in a society that seeks pleasure above anything else, and we are seeing human nature expressing itself without God. Many have fallen into an antinominalism in which they believe intellectually but go out and live like the devil, imagining that God will forgive them and take them to heaven.

I believe you have to be obedient to the Bible, and there is a self-denial and a bearing of the cross if you are to be a follower of Christ.

Nick Nicholson
McLeansville

I feel that on the issue of gasoline and the government trying to push hybrid vehicles on the public, why doesn't the government mandate that all state, local and national agencies use hybrid vehicles? This includes all gas-driven vehicles used for mass transportation, company use and law enforcement.

Also, the government could give tax advantages to taxi companies and businesses that switch their vehicles to hybrids. Since these vehicles are on the road more hours per day than the average citizen's vehicle, this would save billions of gallons of gas and lower gas prices for the consumers, which would then in turn help strengthen the economy.

For law enforcement, this would also open up thought processes about how to prevent high-speed pursuits since hybrid vehicles are not performance-oriented, also saving innocent lives taken in out-of-control highway pursuits.

Franklin Nix
Asheboro

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Martha S. Ward

Like Lonnie Groendes (Counterpoint, Oct. 25), I was disappointed by the Oct. 9 article on economics and education. The association between socioeconomics and school success is documented and well-researched. I agree that poverty is not in and of itself a cause of academic failure and that students from poverty backgrounds can learn.

However, the underlying issue that our country fails to address is poverty and the impact that it has on every aspect of life. Groendes' response revealed an appalling lack of knowledge, empathy and insight into the harsh realities that families living in poverty face each day.

Of course, family and home are central to education, another fact that is well established. But we as a society must own up to the part we play to ensure success for all of our children.

Stories abound about the courage and sacrifice of poor parents who instill the importance of education in their children. These heroic, everyday people work against all odds. How dare Groendes assert that most poor parents do not "care enough" to carefully track school progress, to "have the courage" to discipline, and are "overly indulgent and irresponsible" in supervision? This is the classic blame-the-victim mentality that stifles progress toward solving our national shame of failing to care for all of our citizens.

Have you ever considered, Mr. Groendes, that it might be difficult to carefully track and monitor the daily progress of your children if you are working one or two low-paying jobs and still do not have enough money to feed and clothe your children? Or that perhaps the parents themselves were not successful in school and don't know how to advocate for their children, or are intimidated by the well-educated teachers and administrators? How exhausting it must be to live surrounded by evidence that our society cares so little that we leave so many behind.

Groendes can redeem his holier-than-thou attitude by volunteering to be one of the special individuals who reach out to touch the life of a child not their own.

The community can focus on supporting the educators in the most challenging schools who make a difference in the lives of many children.

We can demand that government acknowledge and act against our shame of being the Western nation with the highest poverty rate among children.

The writer is program evaluation manger, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. She lives in Greensboro.

It has been my great privilege to know and count as a friend The Honorable W. Douglas Albright since his days at Greensboro Senior High School and later at Duke University. Humbly, I submit that the friendship has stood the test of time.

I write after learning of Judge Albright's plans to retire as resident Superior Court judge next year. Even as the judge himself has said, according to Eric Collins' excellent piece on the front page of the Oct. 18 paper, this is "an emotional thing" with me.

As many of your readers will remember, Albright was an outstanding basketball player in his youth. At WBIG I had a cherished opportunity to broadcast many of the games in which he participated, both under Bob Jamieson at Senior High and Vic Bubas at Duke. And I have had occasion to meet with the judge several times in recent years when he held Superior Court in Asheboro.

I could go on to praise Judge Albright's wisdom and character. This is a prince of a man who certainly can claim a monumental place in the history of North Carolina jurisprudence.

I wish him the best as he contemplates retirement.

Add Penfield
Asheboro

In New Orleans a while back, police were given the go-ahead to shoot looters who demonstrated no respect for property in the aftermath of one of the largest natural disasters faced by this country.

During that same period of time, while folks were stunned and trying to get on their feet, oil companies jacked up the price of gas, citing supply and demand, disrupted supply lines, etc., and then went on to have their best quarterly earnings in history. Am I missing something here?

How come the oil folks get to make extra billions of dollars, whack nearly every American consumer and damage a national economy that is, unfortunately, based on oil to transport nearly all of our goods -- especially when we are facing a huge natural disaster? Our answer: Uh, they should use some of the profits to build more refineries. Is that really the best the American system can do?

Sidney Kitchens
Greensboro

When Lewis Libby resigned from the White House (Oct. 28), both President Bush and Vice President Cheney mentioned the many sacrifices he has made on behalf of his country.

Indeed, Libby has been willing to sacrifice much. He was willing to sacrifice the career of a covert CIA operative, as well as potentially expose other covert agents who could be traced back to her. He was willing to sacrifice the reputation of Joseph Wilson by discrediting the messenger and not the message. He was willing to sacrifice our trust in a free press and the principles of integrity, honesty, and respect for others that govern a free society. He was even willing to sacrifice the reputation of the administration he worked for. I find it disturbing that his bosses accepted his resignation with regret and not outrage.

Bush and Cheney must have other sacrifices in mind, but many Americans are left to wonder if there is another sacrifice that Libby has been asked to make. No charges have as yet been made alleging conspiracy. These kinds of charges usually require the cooperation of a conspirator -- a conspirator, for instance, facing 30 years in prison.

Tim Parrish
Greensboro

In his Oct. 16 column [not posted], Giles Lambertson calls upon us ordinary citizens to make sacrifices. My generation, during World War II, endured rationing of sugar, meat, shoes, fuel, etc., willingly. We had ceiling prices in effect, and there wasn't the obscene profiteering among government officials then.

Lambertson should be calling upon those who are benefiting from no-bid contracts, overcharging government with impunity and exacting tax breaks at the same time, to make "sacrifices." Fat chance their sons and daughters will be risking life and limb in disastrous adventures.

At the same time, isn't it strange that so little mention has been made of the sacrifices exacted from the Iraqi people. They have suffered the loss of many lives; many have been maimed and much of their country destroyed through our invasion.

I sincerely hope their sacrifices will not be outweighed by promises for a better life under rule of law. If Lambertson could convince us that this was a necessary war and that the instigators in our midst were not directly benefiting from it, we could and would make sacrifices above and beyond what he is calling for.

Lillian H. Rauch
Greensboro

Look at the face of the young Marine (front page, Oct. 26). There are so many emotions on his face. I see bewilderment, fear, sadness, astonishment, loss and loneliness. Why? A roadside bomb killed 14 Marines, many from his platoon. The number of reported U.S. fatalities in the Iraq war reached 2,000 on Oct. 25.

I would like to ask this Marine, after he's had to watch his comrades fall by the wayside, to express his thoughts on the way the Iraqi “detainees” were treated -- actions that resulted in the most ridiculous miscarriage of military justice of late. While 2,000 of our brave soldiers have been slain, these "detainees" are still alive and would kill again if they had the opportunity. Pardon me if I feel nauseous.

As a veteran of the Vietnam conflict and one who has befriended numerous survivors of WWII, I know the United States of America is in a war. A deadly war where the enemy will do unto you before you do unto them. They should be treated as the deadly enemy they are and not mollycoddled, don't you think?

Just remember the look on that young Marine's face.

C.K. Caldwell
Reidsville

Jacob Silberberg / The Associated Press
Marine Sgt. Dennis Osborne of Cincinnati pauses during operations in Iraq. A roadside bomb killed several soldiers from his platoon.

Recently, I put gas in my car. Recognizing that the unconscionable price of gas now being paid clearly reflects the unchecked greed of corporate management as sanctioned by its board of directors, I muttered as I hung up the pump nozzle and tore off my receipt.

Attached thereto was the printed credit card receipt of the previous customer bearing the name of the buyer for .742 of a gallon, costing $2. I thought, why would anyone buy so little? Seven-tenths of a gallon would hardly fuel my car from the service station to home.

Then it dawned on me. I was given a recordable example of the suffering inflicted upon the financially impacted members of our society by the powers that be.

Why can't the oil companies just reduce their prices instead of reporting record profits?

Exxon/Mobil just reported the highest quarterly earnings in the history of American business.

I have long advocated that all publicly owned companies should have an ombudsman as a member of the board of directors. After all, even labor is represented on the board of directors of General Motors. An ombudsman could advocate the interests of the consumer, the community, and the nation and the small stockholders.

W.F. Rucker
Greensboro

Your Oct. 20 editorial [not posted] regarding the court system deserves a response.

You are correct that the state constitution does not say that criminal cases are more important than civil cases. You fail to note that the judicial system is an equal partner with the executive and legislative branches of government. Notwithstanding this, the North Carolina General Assembly has consistently underfunded the court system and has micromanaged it through a line-item budget that prevents the taking advantage of savings.

Your statement that the system's allocation rose this year is sophistry. The increase was the 2 percent state employee raise for everyone. The judicial system was funded at 2.1 percent of state revenues, a reduction from 2.7 percent. The Wake County School System has a larger budget than the state judicial system. The director of the Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Department makes more than the Chief Justice.

Lastly, you hold up Marc Basnight as an example of efficiency based on his leadership of the Senate.

Your staff writers should do an expose of the funding of the judicial branch and win a Pulitzer Prize. There is a lot of meat there.

G.S. Crihfield
Greensboro

When Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., proposed that the Senate go into closed session in hopes of getting a long-promised investigation into the question of prewar intelligence information, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said Democrats "have no convictions, no principles and no ideas."

That surely comes as news to my Democratic friends who hold firm convictions and take stands on principles motivated by deeply and sincerely held religious beliefs. The principles for which Democrats have fought over the years include equal treatment for minorities, worker safety, fair wages and decent housing. The common denominator in all these convictions is that all people deserve to be treated as valued human beings.

Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., said that Sen. Reid was making "some sort of stink about Scooter Libby and the CIA leak." Heaven forbid anyone make any kind of a stink about blowing a deep-cover CIA agent's identity, an action that is so dangerous that it is against the law. Much better to make a stink instead about sexual infidelity because, after all, the war has only cost 2,000 American military service members' lives -- and countless thousands of civilians' lives too.

Beth Woodard
Jamestown

In Trish Bogue's letter (Oct. 28), she says her opposition to the Iraq war is an act of conscience and that we are in this war because -- you guessed it -- "Bush lied." She says those like her are accused of being unpatriotic and unsupportive of our troops.

Actually, we know you guys love our troops, and you love America, it's just that we don't trust you to defend our citizens or our country. Why, because you have shown repeatedly you don't have that internal courage required for the job. Consider John Kerry (review his anti-war testimony regarding our troops in Vietnam), or Howard Dean, your Democratic leader (How would you like him defending our country?).

Or how about anyone else in the Democratic Party. Think any would aggressively protect our country?

I am tired of the statement that "Bush lied." Every investigation regarding this accusation proves that President Bush did not lie, and neither did British or Russian intelligence; all believed the same as our president.

Would the United States be safer, or less safe, with Zarqawi and bin Laden in control of Iraq, its people and its resources? How does your conscience answer this?

Bob Goodman
High Point

I was watching CNN on Oct. 31 about the president's choice for the Supreme Court and could not believe what I heard Ted Kennedy saying about honesty and truth.

Here's a coward who used his family's wealth and name to cover up a female friend's death a long time ago. It's amazing this coward has the nerve to continue to deceive everyone around him and speak about truth and honesty.

I pray he repents before the day he meets his Maker for on that day, honesty and truth will prevail.

Jeff Marshall
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Elizabeth Edmonds

In her article, "In Summerfield, old, new sit at crossroads" (Oct. 30), Terrina Picarello refers to the newcomers in our community as "young whippersnappers." Well, I'd like to ask the young whippersnappers, including Picarello, this question: Why do you young whippersnappers move into "charming" communities like Summerfield to get away from hectic city life and then proceed to drag business and development into the charming community until it looks just like the place you left?

Summerfield was progressing just fine, and if folks needed to grab a sandwich or a cup of coffee, there were a couple of local places that more than met that need. The feed mill had everything you needed for your garden, lawn and pets, and if not, they could order it. It was, and probably still is, the best place to hang out with friends and discuss everything from the weather to local politics to world events.

The nine new subdivisions you have brought, in addition to the ones on the drawing board, have given us big government on a local scale. Your need, not ours, for the amenities you left behind has compelled our town council to approve every development that comes before them and invite businesses in to increase the tax base to provide these amenities. Now the taxes we incorporated to avoid have gone up, our scenic vistas are disappearing as we come under siege by developers, our wildlife is forced out and Summerfield no longer remotely resembles the charming community we all remember.

Water was never a problem before you came, but now you've made it a problem by pushing for more services and amenities. If a good cup of coffee is what you want, then go to your tap and draw a little pure well water while you still can and brew a pot the way all these "core" citizens have done for many years.

And finally, there was no conflict between charm and progress before you arrived. We were a quiet, little rural community progressing at a reasonable pace. So, to paraphrase an old bumper sticker, "Keep Summerfield rural. Buy a young whippersnapper a cup of coffee and a tank of gas back to Greensboro."

The writer lives in Summerfield.

I read with interest the story about all the charities going broke.

My 49-year old son-in-law had open heart surgery. Social Security hasn't come across with a penny. It has been six months. They have two sick children and don't know month to month if they will make the rent.

They were receiving $250 a month from Social Services until this month -- by the way, you try living on that. My daughter was told they couldn't give her any more money. She asked them what was she going to do? They told her to go beg at some of the area churches. Good answer.

It's nice to help other countries that say send only cash, but what about our poor, our hungry and the elderly?

I know for over 30 years I have given generously to charities, but now those agencies can stop sending me envelopes. I retired this year, but I will go back to work to help my daughter and her family.

I bet there are a lot of people that feel like I do. Disgusted.

Louise Schultz
Franklinville

It wasn't that long ago when America was a beacon of light to the rest of the world, and people knew that this country stood for decency and honesty. This administration has changed all that with the help of good Christians who were willing to give up the main tenets of their faith to get Bush elected. Thou shalt not lie; thou shalt not kill, and thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor were less important than voting for people who knew what words to say to get the sheep to follow.

As Americans, we all are suffering from the lies, the killing, and the false witness that this administration has done. But to me, the bigger shame is on those who knew what these people were all about but still voted them in, and set aside the teachings of their religion and their God. To their credit, some have regretted their folly; but others still believe our president to be a good Christian man. Good Christian men do not lie, they do not kill, and they do not bear false witness.

Fred Riek
Jamestown

For 10 years, the Community Theatre of Greensboro has thrilled Triad audiences with its live stage production of "The Wizard of Oz." Nov. 11 through 20 promises more of the same.

This truly exceptional arts event holds such a special place in our community. Year after year, I am always blown away by the dedication of the cast and crew as well as the excitement and loyalty of our audiences.

CTG and the production of "Wizard" create so many unique and special opportunities -- families working together, young people sharing their talents, students exposed to their first theatre experience. To see the beautiful Carolina Theatre filled to capacity with an emotionally charged audience is the best gift a community can give a local arts organization.

"Wizard" stands as the perfect example of how the arts can strengthen a community. I sincerely thank all of those who have contributed to and supported this production over the years, and I offer a heartfelt invitation to everyone in our community to share the joy and join us for this classic piece of Americana and Triad history.

Robert Ankrom
Greensboro

The writer is director of marketing, Community Theatre of Greensboro.

How did this happen? Why a monopoly that excludes doctors? Who benefits from this procedure? How is it possible that doctors are not provided their orders for the flu vaccine?

Everyone is urged to get a flu shot, especially those in the "at risk" group, but that is the group least able to go from one pharmacy or grocery to another to get a shot. And those fortunate to arrive at or before the announced time are told that numbers have been given out and there is no vaccine left.

Why do people have to hunt for vaccine when the logical providers, their doctors, are kept out of the loop? Where is the local health department? Where is the local medical association? Where are our elected officials?

And, where is the media? Surely this a problem that they should be investigating. This whole thing just doesn't smell right.

Betty W. Mooney
Greensboro

One of my memories of growing up in Greensboro takes place at the Jefferson Roof Restaurant in 1944. I was 17, waiting to go into the Navy and a stock boy at Meyer's Department Store.

A co-worker gave me a going-away dinner complete with the classic "Dopp kit" (a shaving kit). You could see the entire city and at that time in my life, it was a great sight. We were greeted by a smiling gentleman with white gloves, guiding us to the next available elevator.

I was able to dine there again quite some time later. There will always be a "Jefferson Building" in our city.

Bernard Shepherd
Graham

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Terry Westry

I am writing in response to recent media coverage regarding Gov. Mike Easley's decision to give North Carolina teachers an additional $75 a month pay increase with the hopes to increase teacher pay to the national average by 2008-2009. What about the remaining 90,000 state employees?

I understand the criticality of hiring and retaining teachers, but as an 11-year state employee who has received little or no pay raise for the past five years, I feel the governor is playing political favorites.

During the last legislative session, the governor threatened to not sign the budget because it contained a $150 (a year) bonus for state employees. The money was there, but he chose to sign a budget that appropriated money for a teacup museum and other legislative projects instead of taking care of the employees that keep North Carolina clean, safe and running every day.

As a computing consultant, I am responsible for capital projects and the day-to-day voice operations at a local university. Without this valuable service, my agency could not effectively operate in today's business environment. Economically, this would diminish the number of qualified individuals to fill critical jobs in industries throughout the state.

Has Gov. Easley forgotten his state employee roots? The important question is, will Gov. Easley do the right thing and raise state employee salaries to the national average (or at least market rate) before he leaves office?

State employees play a vital role in maintaining the welfare of all North Carolinians.

The writer is the Bylaws Chair of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, District 17, which represents Guilford County.

Regarding the article, "Kiser suspension rate rises": I am a teacher of 29 years, and, yes, I fully understand the need for discipline in the classroom. This wonderful idea of Adequate Yearly Progress certainly sounds like the answer to all of education's problems. One must realize, however, that someone has to pick up the pieces. In this case Kiser Middle became the "lucky" one.

With the good so comes the not-so-good. We all have a common goal, to do our best to educate our future generation. With this in mind, we need classroom control and parental support to achieve success. I fully believe Principal Dot Harper has the ship headed in the right direction.

As an educator, I applaud her efforts to hold students accountable for the choices they make and to create an environment that allows teachers and