News-Record.com

Kudos to Duke Power's ability to give respite to their trucks on a daily basis at the end of my driveway, leaving cigarette butts and assorted detritus while simultaneously honing their scorched-earth landscaping technique on helpless road-front property.

Skeet Club Road is being augmented to a four-lane road with a proposed 23-foot grassy median (for safety reasons) designed by Jeanie Tyson, the Department of Transportation's cerebral masterpiece.

I live on Skeet Club Road and will take great pleasure in going in the opposite direction of my desired destination, and the inevitable U-turn that follows will only add to my elated stupor. This, of course, might be complicated by my severe vertigo, which usually compels my U-turns to morph into figure eights. That won't matter though, by virtue of my stupidly gigantic SUV, which will roll over the bucolic median with all the grace and aplomb of a drunken rhino.
Actually, the median itself might be the most convenient lane in which to traverse.

Obviously, our neighbors on Johnson Street are far superior drivers and are adept at handling the immensely dangerous phenomenon that is the turn lane. God bless 'em.

Parris Lee Patton
High Point

When the U.S. Forest Service was created during the administration of Theodore Roosevelt, many argued for placing it in the Interior Department. Fortunately, its founder, Gifford Pinchot, understood that Interior in that day had more interest in exploiting our natural treasures than in protecting them for posterity.

Pinchot's premise was both commercial and preservationist. He argued that our vast forests are a valuable national asset to be managed for their commercial value and preserved for posterity. President Bush has asked Congress to sell tracts of the National Forest to offset a miniscule portion of the record federal budget deficit.

Now, more than ever, we need people like Pinchot. In the days when the Forest Service was founded, there were about 75 million people living in the United States, most on family farms. Today, there are nearly 300 million, mostly living and working in urban environments. Today, and in the future, we need this natural acreage to remain public and unspoiled.

A healthy national psyche demands places where we can leave behind the noise of daily life to quietly consider our genuine human needs. There must be a better way to reduce our federal deficit.

Eric Eno
Greensboro

I agree that illegal immigrants should not be allowed into this country. We are having enough problems as it is.

Where they are allowed in, they bring disease, crime and take jobs away from the needy, etc.

We don't owe them anything.

N.R. Smith
Greensboro

Regarding the Internal Revenue Service's proposal to allow the sale of confidential tax returns to third parties: Can you say "insanity"? We just put pressure on the federal government not to turn the security of our seaports over to a Middle Eastern firm, yet the safety and security of the American taxpayer will be compromised if this outrageous proposal comes to fruition.

Requiring a taxpayer to sign a permission statement allowing the preparer to release the information doesn't ring true. There are many individuals who are illiterate and out of a sense of false pride, will sign on the dotted line.

Also, an unscrupulous preparer could alter the form after the fact. The preparer could then just walk away from prosecution due to "sloppy record-keeping" aka Project Homestead.

If this invasion of privacy does become a reality, shouldn't the individual taxpayer be the recipient of the fee paid for this information?

Eileen Thiery
Stokesdale

I am aware that things are hard for the people from the New Orleans area hit from Hurricane Katrina. But I didn't realize the extent. I work at a pet store in Greensboro, and we have gotten a new manager from New Orleans. He worked for our company there and said 75 percent of the management was displaced.

He and his wife made a good living. They had a house, cars. The hurricane took away that. One car was taken into the Gulf and insurance refused to pay, saying he couldn't prove what happened and didn't have adequate coverage.

This man and his wife had to file bankruptcy. Now their credit is destroyed. They cannot even rent an adequate place. This is shameful.

This is just one. I'm sure there are many more.

Virginia Rusch
McLeansville

I wanted you to know what a great job the Parks and Recreation Department did with the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Speaking to many of the participants gave me a better view of how much they appreciated what our city did for them — some 800-plus strong.

We are very fortunate to have this event because of the far-reaching effect it had on our country. People should realize how lucky we are to have history right in our back yards.

Evidently, this is a life-long hobby for many participants and I was told how much they like Greensboro, and might return here to live. In any event, congratulations to Greensboro and the U.S. Park Service.

Bob Carlson
Greensboro

A Counterpoint in Thursday's editions misstated the name of its writer. Tony Watts wrote the piece.

Years ago in this country whose freedoms we cherish, a few citizens called "patriots" spoke up against a king who overtaxed the people and gave government forces the right to search and seize private property. Those patriots risked their lives by speaking up and refusing to comply.

After casting off the yoke of their oppressor, they set down a set of principles to guarantee our freedoms. One of these principles was the rule of law taking precedence over whim of leader. Another principle was open access to information about the government. And a third was freedom to express disagreement over public policy.

It has come to light that when President Bush reauthorized the Patriot Act on March 9, he wrote an addendum after the press had left the signing ceremony. In that addendum, Bush wrote that he does not consider himself bound to uphold the law. He continues to surround himself with hand-picked audiences and inhibits verbal dissent wherever he goes.

It seems to me that our president resembles King George far more than he does those original patriots.

Kurt Lauenstein
Greensboro

The year was 1956. It was my first year at Dudley High School. That’s where I first met Josephine Boyd. She was two grades ahead of me. Even though she was small in stature, she stood tall academically. Her decision to transfer to Greensboro Senior High, now known as Grimsley, was indeed a challenge for her. Imagine how alone she must have felt. Thank God for the five students who befriended her.

The stakes were not only high for Josephine, but also for these five brave girls. They took a chance of being ostracized by their peers or possibly put themselves in harm’s way.

Some people didn’t want the News & Record to print this story; they said it opened up old wounds. I’m sure they are very responsible in making sure of the accuracy of whatever they print.

As for Grimsley High School, I applaud you for doing something you were not compelled to do: honoring Josephine Boyd Bradley. I label that integrity. Thanks, Grimsley, for your gesture to further unite the citizens of this great city. For this I honor you.

Shirley J. Wright
Greensboro

I am a nurse who has seen firsthand the effects of tobacco, both professionally and personally. I have seen children suffer because their parents smoke, unaware of the level of harm they are causing. I have also watched tobacco take the life of my husband as our family recently spent our last Christmas together.

I am glad to see more restaurants going smoke-free voluntarily, but that is not enough. Smoking in public is not just the personal choice of the smoker. It takes the choice to breathe clean air away from everyone in the restaurant or work site.

It is time for our community to decide to set a standard of health that everyone can live with. Smoke-free public places not only protect nonsmokers, they are the No. 1 reason why smokers decide to quit. That is a benefit that every child or spouse of a smoker could be grateful for.

Jill Ballance
Greensboro

As a resident for more than 30 years, I write in reference to the article concerning future art projects downtown displaying coffee cups as a symbol for civil rights (March 17).

There is now a federal holiday celebrating the settlement of the movement as well as a museum that is being planned downtown where all pertinent facts will be exposed for the knowledge of future generations. The story is told in history books, and no one disputes equality for all. It seems there might be more transplants living here now than the original population who experienced the pain. If you ask present residents, they all seem happy living in this beautiful city. Greensboro Beautiful has done a commendable job.

There is no need for the expense of coffee cups being displayed anywhere. This would serve no purpose and only add an unnecessary expense to our tax bill.

The matter was settled. Why keep opening this topic?

Let’s all be happy and live by the Golden Rule, “Do to others as you would like them to do to you,” and remember we are all equal. No further discussion is needed. Amen.

Dorothy Walker
Greensboro

The decision by the Board of Education to name our new middle school Northern Guilford Middle School is out for public comment. The board rejected the name Edward R. Murrow Middle School by a 6-5 vote. After they confirm their decision in 30 days, Guilford County will have the 16th directionally named school.

No school district in the United States has anywhere close to this number. Once again, the school board had a chance to embrace excellence but chose more of the same. We cannot improve the school system if we continue to do the same things we are doing now.

Joe Stafford
Greensboro

I doubt we'll ever know the real story about Project Homestead, but at this point all I want is our money back.

As I wrote several years ago, the city should pursue the board of directors for the misappropriated dollars and should seek civil penalties, since criminal prosecution has been ruled out. The level of proof is lower in a civil case (reference O.J.'s second trial).

I hope that we, the taxpayers, can recover some of our money from the members of the board, or from the insurance company that held the policy that covered their malfeasance — intended or accidental.

If it can be proven that certain leaders of our great city were the recipients of threats by Michael King and thus gave in to his wishes, they should be required to come clean and at least pay the city back, though without penalty. If we allow the miscreants to get away with this, shame on us.

Bob Rives
Greensboro

Terry Grier has given our community the perfect chance to say "hold it." To look at the big picture. To take the opportunity to demand a return to old-school values of the 3 R's and expect two more, defined as reason and responsibility, as presented in "Raising the Bar: A Strategic Plan for a Better Economy and Vibrant Community," the proposal of the Greensboro Partnership. "Raising the Bar" calls for elected officials and business leaders to come together to make courageous decisions.

It questions why Greensboro is not connecting. That is where reason and responsibility come in. That is where Trudy Wade nonmaliciously but repeatedly asked "who cares?" at the Guilford County commissioners meeting that allowed for the passage of the Smith academy. The one small example of adding an academy to Smith suggests a quick fix, seems to pre-empt logic and sidesteps the expectation of excellence in personal educational responsibility. It is in contrast to allowing GTCC to expand its solid and proven record for meeting technological and professional training.

"Raising the Bar," based on needs identified in "Focusing on What Matters," is a solid thesis encouraging active responsibility and excellence in leadership.

Sue McGinnis
Greensboro

As a member of the board of directors of Sanctuary House, I applaud the rebuttal by David C. Partington (March 23) to the article by Kathleen Parker (March 9).

Many families of individuals with severe mental illness work tirelessly to bring about wellness and rehabilitation of their loved ones.

Labeling illness in such a degrading way only shows lack of knowledge of medical diagnosis and treatment, and insensitivity toward others.

We can do better.

Theresa Hansen
Greensboro

We are grateful to David C. Partington for his Counterpoint article, "Let's stop demeaning mental illness" (March 23). We, too, were saddened and disappointed by the chosen words and headline in Kathleen Parker's Second Opinion column (March 9).

As members of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), we have a mission statement that states:

"We will improve the quality of life for individuals and their families living with the debilitating effects of severe and persistent mental illness. We work to protect the dignity of people living with brain disorders through advocacy, education, and support."

Knowledge of serious brain disorders dispels fear and stigma, and it is well known that early identification and treatment are of vital importance. By getting people the treatment they need early, recovery is accelerated and the brain is protected from further harm related to the course of the illness.

We concerned family members ask for your wisdom and compassion when describing people suffering from brain disorders. Help us eradicate stigma — not perpetuate it.

Frank and Pat Cleary
Greensboro

In response to the letter writer from Whitsett in the March 26 News & Record, I see that the old playbook used by the Bush-haters is still being utilized: blaming Bush for wages.

The writer accuses Bush of waging war on working people, because inflation-adjusted wages have decreased? But being a true critic of capitalism, the writer favors increasing the minimum wage as a cure for wages affected by inflation. Interesting here that the writer never considers that the costs of goods and services are largely comprised of the cost of labor. Of course, when you have a single-minded purpose of tearing down the president, why allow logic and rational thought to enter the mix?

I noticed in the letter that the writer never mentions the job growth created and the tax cuts enacted during Bush's first term. I suppose those items best be ignored by the critics since that would not follow the script of "waging war against American working people."

Fred Clauhs
Oak Ridge

When the Community Theatre of Greensboro mounts a musical production such as the recent "Beauty and the Beast," there are more people from our community involved than in any similar local theatrical endeavor. Your failure to cover/review the production hampered the publicity effort and subsequent attendance, and did a disservice to your reader base. Support the local arts. Critique honestly, but feel obliged to provide what your readers are genuinely interested in.

Phil Koch
Greensboro

While reading another disheartening newspaper article regarding the academic incompetence of the Dudley High School faculty and students, I felt compelled as a Dudley teacher to give a firsthand account of my recent experiences.

Students come to me with their valid concerns about the reputation of this historic institution. The negative publicity has not only affected the students, but the community mentorship sites where my students do their clinical rotations.

Frequently, after an article appears in the paper, my students have been asked by well-meaning individuals, "What is happening at Dudley; are you closing?" I am thankful for those in the community who see beyond the published allegations of the quality of Dudley.

The demoralizing publicity has impacted the spirits of some students when their primary focus should be on exams and graduation. More balanced reporting might include the academic gains that students have made and the many volunteer activities my students are involved in, including our annual blood drive and tutoring at Bluford Elementary.

As anyone who has raised a child knows, it takes constructive criticism as well as positive reinforcement to be successful. Therefore, I implore you to report both sides of the story.

Nancy Edwards
Greensboro

I will graduate in May with a bachelor's in social work. Lately, I have been telling everyone how excited I am to be graduating soon. When asked about my major, I enthusiastically reply, "social work." I get one of two reactions: "Oh, I am so sorry," or "You will never make any money doing that." I have to hold myself back from telling them to shove off.

Why is there such a stigma with social workers? We do some of the best work in this country and get little or no recognition. People react negatively when you are out on a visit or even meet them in a hospital setting. They think you are there to take their children or do something else that will bring harm to their families.

I want to let everyone know that social workers do a lot of good in our communities. And just like teachers, firefighters, police officers and other civil servants, we are grossly underpaid. What will it take for this country to stop looking down on people who do selfless hard work? I am proud to be a social worker and I can't wait to make a difference in someone's life.

Ashley Clocher
Greensboro

In this age of American Eagle, Express, J. Crew and other expensive name-brand clothing lines, few students would argue they do not feel pressure to "fit in" and "be cool" by wearing the current fashion crazes.

However, it seems ironic to me that high school students perceive wearing trendy clothing as a means of expressing individuality. Where are the individuals when everyone is wearing the same brands and styles?

School uniforms would prevent students from buying the same clothes as their peers simply to gain acceptance. With a school uniform policy, students would no longer need to group according to brands and styles and would be forced to get to know each other on a more personal level. With this elimination of pressure and competition to "fit in" and "be cool," students could concentrate on the important task at hand: learning.

Ellen Bullins
Winston Salem

I am disappointed in the News & Record for failing to carry any story about the recent creation of a new federal department.

I have it from a reliable source that old "Brownie" has been appointed to head the new Department of Bone Headed Ideas. How else can you explain the plan to sell parts of the Uwharrie National Forest and send the proceeds to the Pacific Northwest?

Future plans for the new agency include opening our national borders (even wider) and having North Korea operate all our seaports. Also under consideration is a plan to replace all our battle tanks in Iraq with French-made LeQuak models that have one forward and five reverse gears. The one forward gear is to be used only if you are attacked from the rear.

Richard Thompson
Asheboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By KOFI DOONQUAH

In the Leonard Pitts column, "Thou shalt not quote Bible selectively" (March 11), the author argues that evangelicals selectively quote the Bible to deny homosexuality. He gave a very compelling reason why not to selectively quote Scripture. I applaud this emphatically.

Unfortunately, this type of biblical interpretation is rampant in contemporary Christianity. This type of selective quoting is not unique to recent history, however. A former altar boy in Germany used Christianity to torture and kill millions of Jews in the 1900s. European and American society used the Bible to justify the brutality of enslaving or killing 25 million to 50 million people of African origin. In our day, people have used Scripture in an attempt to dogmatize all types of weird teachings. All one has to do is turn on the TV set and observe the numerous aberrations and derivations from orthodoxy. This has resulted in 22,000 different denominations that are growing at a rate of 20 monthly. This may also point out the difficulty in interpretation of Scripture.

However, one thing that we cannot do is simply ignore parts of Scripture to hold to our preconceived notions and prejudices.

Pitts, unfortunately, has become guilty of the very same hypocrisy of selectively quoting Scripture for selfish agendas. He quotes a few Old Testament laws without reference to their New Testament explanations. Of course, we do not kill people who work on Sunday/Sabbath, although this was commanded in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Jesus himself worked on the Sabbath, showing that doing good is more important than not working on the Sabbath.

And, of course, we do not force people to marry in situations of rape. That would not be love (the higher standard of the New Testament). And while most Protestants have bowed their knees to the sexual revolution and feminism, which I agree are selective interpretations, there is nothing in Scripture that even comes close to supporting homosexuality. In fact, this type of activity is categorically condemned just as adultery, murder and drunkenness.

What Pitts is really saying is because evangelicals have selectively quoted Scriptures to facilitate the sexual revolution and feminism, then evangelicals should do the same for homosexuality. Pitts' headline, therefore, should not have read "Thou shall not quote Bible selectively." Instead, it should have read, "Let us all quote Scripture selectively."

The writer lives in Reidsville.

It is ironic that Thomas Sowell ("Use honest language on immigration," March 29) accused supporters of comprehensive immigration reform of failing to employ "honest language" because honesty is precisely what is lacking in Sowell's restrictionist arguments.

First, it is not a crime to be in the United States without status. It is a civil, regulatory offense — not a crime. Equating immigration violators with "bank robbers" and "murderers," as Sowell attempted to do, is far from honest.

Second, price is not the force driving the black market of undocumented labor. Sowell alluded to undocumented labor getting "half the pay" earned by Americans and their wages being the same as buying a jet for $1,000.

Is this "honesty" when noncitizens make up 40 percent of farming, fishing and forestry jobs, 33 percent of jobs in building and grounds maintenance, 22 percent of food-preparation jobs and 22 percent of construction jobs?

The vast majority of these employers pay good wages; they just can't find enough U.S. workers willing to do the work. When Sowell is ready to engage in a truly honest debate on immigration, let me know.

Jeremy McKinney
Greensboro
The writer is a North Carolina-certified immigration law specialist.

I could not believe my eyes when I read the News & Record March 30. What could be going through the minds of Guilford County school board members to actually consider giving Terry Grier an incentive — a raise — to stay? He has done more to destroy the "community" of Guilford County than anyone else in a position of authority in our county.

Does the school board see the signs urging it to "Get Rid of Grier" all over the county? There also are bumper stickers, backyard displays, even a billboard at times, all asking for a new superintendent.

Guilford County has many strong personalities in positions of authority: sheriff, county commissioners, city councils, etc. Yet, no one else has been singled out for protest except Terry Grier. Citizens can respectfully disagree with positions of officials and still hold them in esteem.

There are good reasons why citizens protest Grier: The superintendent's door is closed, and so is his mind.

We now have a golden opportunity. Dr. Grier is looking elsewhere. I sincerely hope the school board will allow him to do so.

The only incentive I suggest the board give Dr. Grier is a suitcase.

Beth Olson
High Point

It bothers a lot of your readers when articles appear in the News & Record about Jefferson Pilot Financial leadership, with names of Julian Price, Joe Bryan and Roger Soles but with no mention of Howard Holderness.

"Chick" Holderness worked in the Actuarial Department of Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Co. for seven years, then in 1931 was named head of the Mortgage Loan Department. In 1932, he became vice president and treasurer and was elected to the board of directors.

Holderness was president and CEO of Jefferson Standard for 17 years, from 1950 to 1967. During his time as president, the company tripled in size.

The total insurance in force moved from less than $1 billion to a total of more than $3 billion. Holderness was recognized nationally by his election as chairman of the Institute of Life Insurance.

He was a "people person" who had a special interest in employees; sales managers and agents; and their families.

He worked closely with the leadership of Pilot Life and did much for his company and for this community.

Seth C. Macon
Greensboro
The writer worked with Jefferson Standard Life for 44 years.

I am an eighth-grader at Guilford Day School. I am a compassionate person and love helping people, so I have always been interested in becoming a police officer or a firefighter.

However, my opinion changed when I heard how much they get paid. It's not that I want to be rich, but I think they deserve to be paid more for saving lives and catching people who do wrong.

They only start out making around $34,000 to $35,000 a year, which means around $16 an hour. I think they should make $30 an hour.

They do a lot and get paid a little. I have a friend whose dad was promoted to corporal, and he gets paid less than he did as a police officer. They deserve to be paid more.

The heads of large companies are millionaires, which means they get paid more than police officers and firefighters for sitting at a computer all day.

I guess my point is that our heroes should get paid a lot more than they're getting.

Montana Snow
Kernersville

Kind of makes it easier to enjoy the circus if you can get its various acts all in the same place ... so how about asking the Truth & Reconciliation folks to investigate the Project Homestead folks?

Guy Sinclair
Graham

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By ELLEN W. GERBER

Tony Watts writes (March 30) that, "It isn't homophobic to fear for a culture that does everything in its power to undermine God's intended purpose for the sexes."

Watts doesn't seem to understand that neither he nor anyone else knows what G-d's purposes are. Consider this: Throughout all of time and in all societies — generation after generation, irrespective of culture — there have been homosexuals. Men have loved men and women have loved women. In fact, even lesser creatures exhibit homosexual behavior.

In Bruce Bagemihl's book, "Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity" (St. Martin's Press, 1999), the far-flung evidence of homosexuality in more than 450 species is presented through an exhaustive meta-analysis of published, peer-reviewed journals.

So, based on the fact that homosexual behavior is widely present throughout nature, one who is not homophobic might well come to the conclusion that homosexuality is part of G-d's design. And, one who is not homophobic might actually read the Bible in a different way.

In all of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, there are very few and fleeting references prohibiting or condemning male-male or female-female sex. Jesus had not a single word to say about the subject. There are no references condemning homosexual love or relationships or marriage.

One who is not homophobic might be more concerned with other biblical commandments that appear much more frequently. He or she might read the Bible to require — sometimes on pain of death — many behaviors that he or she totally ignores.

For example, all of those people shopping or working on the sabbath are refusing to follow G-d's express command not to do so. (Exodus 31:15 ... "whoever does any work on the sabbath day shall be put to death.") G-d also commands people not to eat pork or shellfish, or wear clothing of mixed fibers, something most people do on a daily basis. Finally, one who is not homophobic might wonder why, if the Bible is the basis of all morality, it condones slavery.

Perhaps one has to acknowledge that there are many values expressed in the Bible, such as loving one's neighbor, creating a just society and taking care of the mote in your own eye rather than someone else's. One who is not homophobic might observe that these values require that homosexuals be treated fairly and equally and lovingly in a society guided by the Bible or secular law.

The writer lives in High Point.

If I were operating a multimillion-dollar company and my top executive threatened to quit and join another firm; and if I could have my pick of a dozen executives that could do as well as the one I currently am employing; and if my pick of these candidates would be pleased with the opportunity to replace my current executive at the present level of compensation; and, most especially, if my top executive recently had made decisions that alienated a large number of "customers," I would look him in the eye, shake his hand, and wish him well in his new endeavors.

With the principle established above, I would shake Dr. Grier's hand and wish him well.

The only reason I would consider "chasing after him" with increased compensation is if I felt incompetent in operating the business in the short term, or if I felt unqualified in choosing a successor.

Directions to Charlotte: I-85 South.

Ed Ingle
Jamestown

What do you suppose happened when Texas started allowing competition in cable service? If you said prices dropped, then go to the head of the class. That is exactly what happened. Competition works every time it is tried.

Then it seems that it should be time to give our cable companies in North Carolina a little friendly competition. This will most assuredly benefit consumers. Cable companies have had a free rein for way too long and we have seen our costs rise. If we begin state franchises and allow phone companies, as well as others, to compete for our business, we will see better rates and better service.

Lexington currently has such a system and cable rates are 25 percent lower, from the same cable company, than the immediate surrounding areas. We should all be allowed to shop around for the best price and service in cable. Why should cable companies have a monopoly?

As a small-business owner, I have to compete against my competitor. Why should the cable company not do the same?

Joyce Krawiec
Kernersville

For all those writing in and ranting about how violent Muslims, the Islamic religion and the Quran are, I suggest you take a look at the Holy Bible.

According to Holy Scripture, it is perfectly moral for Christians to put all adulterous people to death, shoot to kill any burglar, avenge all murder by having relatives personally kill the murderer and, just to cover everyone else, condemn all thieves, drunkards, swindlers and homosexuals to eternal hell and damnation. Details can be found in the books of Leviticus, Exodus, Numbers, 1 Corinthians and Revelation.

Some Christians really doth protest too much.

Charles Garner
Greensboro

I am writing to ask you to help pass H.R. 550 as written. This is a bill authored by Rep. Rush Holt of New Jersey regarding the paper verification of electronic voting machines. It is important to protect the integrity of our voting system, which is our greatest privilege and responsibility in this beloved country of ours. There must be no question of any tampering with this sacred trust.

Barbara Jones
Greensboro

I am not opposed to immigration but I do oppose illegal immigration. It seems so many break our laws to enter the country and continue to break them after arrival.

Why do so many come illegally? Is the legal process too complicated? Too expensive? Too inaccessible?

Instead of building a wall along the border, wouldn't it be preferable to build immigration offices instead? Assist the process instead of deporting, which doesn't seem to solve the problem.

Elizabeth Y. Hounshell
Greensboro

The response by District Attorney Doug Henderson, "No charges will be filed in probe of Homestead" (News & Record, March 1), puzzles me.

Either one of two things happened in the loss of $500,000 of taxpayers' money: (1) Henderson, as an attorney, not an accountant, is unaware of necessary auditing procedures used in verifying evidence in the case of illegal transactions or (2) significant political pressure has been placed on him not to embarrass or implicate leaders who were involved.

As a CPA with more than 30 years experience, I think his comment about the lack of evidence to pursue anyone criminally is false. Accounting firms that perform audits face the lack of evidence to support transactions regularly. CPA firms have developed auditing procedures for reconstructing evidence, generally with the assistance of outside parties. It appears Henderson is unaware that evidence can be reconstructed. Failure by the City Council to take appropriate action makes it a party to possible cover-up.

Do city leaders have the guts to find the truth when it involves key city leaders? This is known as "white collar crime" when committed by business leaders. However, crime is crime.

Randall S. Minix
Greensboro

Jobs Americans won't do? We're all getting really sick and tired of that remark.

An economy contrived for the benefit of business owners and stockholders who pay lawmakers under the table is what "won't do." This new form of prejudice of Americans against Americans is what disturbs me.

The ones proclaiming this are in their comfort zone, while average American citizens are losing ground. Hypocrites. Mr. President, Mr. Congressman, Mr. Senator, Mr. Corporate Fat Cat, you people wouldn't do "those jobs" or our jobs, either, for what we earn. You should really stop speaking badly about us. Remember the people who voted you in to supposedly represent us, the United States.

You are not doing your job even at an extravagant salary. All of you so-called American citizens could be replaced by harder-working, smarter and more ethical responsible persons who would do your jobs for far less pay.

Yes, we're lazy Americans. The only ones worse are our lazy leaders. Come on, America, let's vote them out. Republicans and Democrats as well.

Danny Comer
Seagrove

In the article on the Civil Rights Museum (March 30, News & Record), it was stated that of the $7 million raised for the museum, only $2 million had been spent on construction. In the article on March 31, those figures were reversed.

I, for one, will not vote for a Civil Rights Museum bond issue until I know more about who is overseeing the expenditures of this project.
I am tired of reading about the graft going on with the people turned loose with our tax money.

The News & Record should print an itemized account of the $7 million.

Nancy Cornelius
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint column.

By JOHN GEHRIS

The following are some tips so future school board members can avoid acts of "effigy."

• No more fake public hearings. If you have your mind made up before the "hearings," even though the law says you must hold the hearings, it is legal to advise the public not to come.

• Don't turn down a chance to meet with an organization of your constituents by saying, "I have nothing more to say."

• Don't say that you are redistricting a school that is 40 percent minority but contains children coveted by your alma mater and that of your co-conspirators by saying that it is not diverse enough, while doing nothing about other schools in the district that are much less diverse. Just say the school has something you want, and you're taking it.

• Don't randomly remove children from a school by lottery and send them to a school rated as one of the worst-performing in the state. This is a double no-no.

• Don't take active measures to divide your community, playing one part of your town off against another.

• Don't spend months refining and getting "public feedback" on redistricting maps and then unveil and vote in a new map five minutes before the vote. Not good, guys.

• Don't make a deal with a partisan political organization like the High Point NAACP in exchange for votes by bartering someone's children. People don't seem to like this.

Although the school board, I'm sure, is inventive enough to come up with others, if you can keep the above in mind, maybe you, too, can join us and Allen Johnson in stamping out effigy in our lifetimes.

The writer lives in High Point.

The News & Record quoted Mayor Keith Holliday as proposing the inclusion of bonds to finance the endless money pit that is the old Woolworth building in the upcoming bond package. Did the mayor perhaps forget that the citizens, who pay the bills around here, voted this proposal down in 2000?

Is he so anxious to repeat the Project Homestead fiasco that he would endorse another assault on the taxpayers? Does he not see that piling on more debt for unnecessary projects will be the straw that breaks the backs of many of our citizens who struggle day to day to exist?

A debt assumed by a political body is called a bond. This is an appropriate name for an instrument that will keep a city and its citizens in bondage for many generations.

Donnie Stowe
Greensboro

Is Islam really one of the world's great religions?

When I read about Islamic clerics offering to pay for the killing of cartoonists, or in Afghanistan a cleric requiring the execution of someone converting out of Islam, am I hearing correctly or are these clerics guilty of murder for hire?

These kinds of threats are tactics used by the worst of the human race to intimidate those they control into submission, not to God, but to themselves and their henchmen. Reasonable and good Muslims, where are you when we need you to speak out against what is not only a form of terrorism against non-Islamic people, but also against yourselves?

What will happen if you do not speak out and the non-Islamic world is provoked to critical mass against what they will see as a unified Islam composed of sociopaths?

Chris Corry
Greensboro

The "Monday Clipper" (April 3) about taxes was quite interesting. And to learn that my total tax bill is $20,567 was surprising. I would have expected it to be higher.

I would encourage you now to show the other side of this story. What do I get for my taxes of less than $21,000 each year?

You might begin at the local level - schools, parks, streets, libraries, fire and police protection, etc.

Then from the state - roads, parks, beaches, highway safety, services, colleges and much more.

Then federal - highways, other infrastructure, services, military protection, forests, insurance for some, etc.

If we compare our benefits to our costs, I think most people (above poverty level) should feel their tax investments are worthwhile. It’s not "the government" that needs taxes, it’s "we, the people."

Jean Eason
Greensboro

Enough of the culture of corruption already. Since George Bush’s appointment to the presidency, we have suffered from his steady stream of scandal, lies, misdirection, theft and greed. Real people are being hurt by the abuse of the Constitution and American rule of law. No president, no Congress person, is above the law.

To Congress: Either censure Bush now or you will be fired at the next election. You are either for America and American values and will demonstrate your patriotism by censuring and impeaching the entire Bush administration or you are part of the problem and will be painted accordingly at election time.

It’s your job. Do it or be put out of office by any and all legal means.

James Farrell
Greensboro

Frequently, your paper and other news media print articles about abortion, including your editorial cartoon (March 16) pointing to the fact that society and its leaders have become very skillful in using semantics to disguise the real meaning of an issue.

People speak of being pro-Roe vs. Wade, pro-abortion, pro-choice. Remove all these pro’s and we are faced with the real basic question: Does a woman or doctor have the right to kill a developing human? There is no other correct interpretation of these terms.

When a human sperm and egg fuse and divide for the first time, it becomes a developing human, not a developing horse, bird or starfish. Calling it a gamete, zygote, embryo or fetus does not change the truth, nor does the argument as to when life begins or when the life becomes a human.

These are only further attempts to mask the real question: Does anyone have the right to kill a developing human? Mitigating circumstances can be debated later.

John W. Taylor
Greensboro

I’m absolutely not a Bush fan, but it’s amazing how far some people go to bash him. A prime example is Kurt Lauenstein (letter, April 3).

He starts by comparing Bush to King George. King George was an absolute monarch. Bush does not have absolute power.

He goes on to blame Bush for the Patriot Act. Congress reauthorized the Patriot Act. The president has no authority to do that. In fact, Congress and its pandering pork-barrel politics can be blamed for most or all our problems.

No, Bush didn’t cause the hurricane, either. I wonder if these people can grasp how their wild accusations destroy their credibility.

The Republicans have sorely disappointed me, and I might be persuaded to vote Democratic for the first time in my life. Unfortunately, the Democratic Party has been taken over by a bunch of screwballs. They should never, ever have power.

It’s time for a third party. Maybe the Libertarians?

Libertarians seem to be what the Republicans claim to be.

Larry Emory
Greensboro

I was deeply saddened to learn of the pending fate of the Emma and Julius Gray home, located at the corner of Market and Spring streets. As one of only a handful of pre-1880 structures left in Greensboro, its destruction rings yet another death knell for this city’s tangible history.

Its loss is a shameful act on behalf of the developer, and a gross oversight and missed opportunity for a city about to celebrate its 200th anniversary.

This destruction of Greensboro’s heritage exemplifies the need for greater protection of the city’s historic resources.

Mindy Zachary McReynolds
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Mike Crouch

Middle Eastern Muslim immigrants are welcome in America, but some cultural/religious values they may hold aren’t. Mixed responses from three Muslim leaders (News & Record, March 12) didn’t ease their non-Muslim neighbors’ suspicions.

Isa AbuZuaiter’s sentiment is welcome: "We’re proud Americans … I’ll (fight) to defend this country." But his statements that "we don’t know who’s behind all these kidnappings or beheadings" and that groups calling themselves Muslims may be "doing this to disgrace Islam" are disingenuous.

His claim that Iraqi beheadings are "political" is outrageous. His implicit justification of violence in Iraq as "not religious" but "caused by occupation" is incredible, an offensive distortion worthy of Yasser Arafat.

Publication of the Danish cartoons justifiably offended these men, but grotesque depictions of Jews published daily in Middle East newspapers offends Jews and "Piss Christ" offends Christians, but neither riot and burn.

Despite belated efforts by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Americans are suspicious of Middle Eastern Muslims. Some reasons:

• Sept. 11, 2001 - 19 Middle Eastern Muslims commit a horrific atrocity against America.

• Sept. 12, 2001 - Television images record wild celebrations throughout the Muslim world.

• Americans are shocked at sharia law punishments: wife-beating, gang rape, honor killing, death sentences for Muslim converts to Christianity.

• The FBI finds that some U.S. Muslim "charities" provide terrorist funding; others provide cover for al-Qaida-linked cells. Some American mosques preach terrorism and jihad.

• Palestinians elect the terrorist group Hamas as their national government.

Dr. Wafa Sultan, Syrian-born psychiatrist living in America, debating an Egyptian imam live on al-Jazeera, offered candid assessments of Islam: "The world is witnessing a battle (within Islam) between modernity and barbarism … between the civilized and the primitive, a battle that forces of violent, reactionary Islam are destined to lose." Her reward: many death threats, and the imam declared her a heretic.

Is Islam peaceful, violent or both? Americans expect and deserve unambiguous answers.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

One of the first thoughts that occurred to me when I heard the story of the man in Afghanistan who was charged with the crime of apostasy was: Maybe we should try to export civilization instead of democracy.

Let's face it. All the "great faiths" have had their periods when they executed people for leaving the faith. But it should be a sign of advancement in civilization that the older faiths matured enough to stop thinking that it's a horrific crime to change one's mind.

Many people feel free to criticize the Muslim faith for such barbaric attitudes as being willing to kill for such "crimes" as apostasy and blasphemy. What they tend to forget is that the "more enlightened" people of Europe and America aren't really all that far removed from the very same errors. Hopefully, civilization will continue to spread, and deaths over cartoons and people who change religions will one day become a thing of the past all around the world.

Eric Harrington
Greensboro

Finally the lottery is here. On the news, I heard that one of the first customers spent $18 and won $7.

First educational lesson from the lottery: If you spend $18 and get back $7, you didn't win anything. Lotteries are for suckers, plain and simple. But in case you love to play, I'll give you $10 for every $15 you give me. Now that's a deal.

Folks, why don't we teach our children that they don't get something for nothing? Why don't we teach them to put their noses to the grindstone, work hard, save their money and invest it in something that has a better return than minus-61 percent, which means you lose $11 for every $18 you invest.

The headline read, "Let the games begin," but it should have read, "Let the fleecing continue." And, good luck on winning to all you lottery players; you're going to need it.

Donald McDowell
Whitsett

I am writing this letter on behalf of Commitment to Excellence — a coalition of 30 businesses and corporations and the Guilford County school system — to commend Dr. Terry Grier for his outstanding accomplishments during his tenure with the school system.

We are grateful that he has decided to stay and continue his fine work with principals, teachers and students in providing a first-rate education for Guilford County's students.

As superintendent, Dr. Grier has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to enhancing teacher quality and closing the achievement gap between majority and minority students. Today, we boast one of the best teacher-retention rates in North Carolina. And college scholarships for graduating seniors increased from $28 million in 2000 to $50 million in 2005.

Under Dr. Grier, our school system has introduced middle colleges as an alternative to traditional high schools, the Saturn School with classes at nontraditional hours, and dropout prevention. Guilford's dropout rate is now among the state's lowest and is the lowest of the state’s five largest districts.

Dr. Grier's critical decision to stay means he can continue to help us address the challenges of educating today's students and making ours the best school system in the country.

William V. Nutt Jr.
Greensboro
The writer is chairman, Commitment to Excellence, and president and CEO, AIG United Guaranty.

Your April 5 editorial questions our priorities about the importance of sports compared to more learned activities. You asked, "When did we become a society that values sports and celebrity more than, say, mathematical acumen, scientific genius or turning an eloquent phrase? What's happened to our priorities?"

This seems a little hypocritical for a newspaper that devotes so much space to sports coverage. And what coverage it is, with such dramatic, overwrought prose. Virtually every game or race is legendary, unlike any other, for the ages. But, hey, we're "Tournament Town," aren't we?

Isn't it ironic that the paper can afford sports reporters on staff but can't even afford to subscribe to The New York Times news wire? I understand it's not a bad source for mathematics, science and literature as well as smart, thoughtful pieces by writers such as Thomas Friedman.

I am delighted you have seen the light and are getting your priorities straight. I look forward to the new four-page sports section with wire service coverage. Those savings should allow resubscribing to The New York Times wire service and using that as a source for the new math, science and literature section. When will it start?

Earle Bower
Greensboro

Where did all the good people go? I have asked myself this question a thousand times. I have lived in the South most of my life. I was in the Army and had the opportunity to travel all over the world. I remember when people used to say that the South was the best place to be. I must say that after my travels, I don't see much difference in the South compared to any other state. Especially in business, people are cruel, uncaring and corrupt, and they try to ruin the reputations of others who have worked and made a difference.

I have learned not to believe everything that people say, it can destroy you. I wonder why people cannot be straightforward. I wonder why people can't tell things the way they really are. Do we hide behind hypocrisy and guilt so much that we can't define ourselves anymore? I especially think that African American women are misunderstood. I think we are getting dealt a bad hand in our society because we are not fake. I am disappointed in the way we are perceived and treated in this ever-changing and supposedly more diverse world. Global economy, we say. From whose perspective?

JoAnna Gwynn
Ruffin

Even though it is not front-page news anymore, the tragic situation in the Darfur region of Sudan continues. As the world's most influential country, we must not sit back and let the genocide go on. Father Michael Perry, coordinator of the African region for Franciscans International, said, "The decision of whether or not to stop the genocide in Darfur may be one of the defining moral questions of our time. Responsible nations of the world have a clear ethical and religious obligation to act."

As individuals, we may feel helpless, but unless government leaders hear from us, they will not take the necessary action or appropriate the funds needed to help. The Save Darfur Coalition is having a postcard drive urging people to send postcards to President Bush asking him to use the power of his office to support a stronger multinational force to protect Darfori people.

To send an e-mail postcard, access their Web site at www.millionvoicesfordarfur.org or www.savedarfur.org. More than one million postcards will be presented to the president on April 30.

Already more than 400,000 are dead and 2 million people have been displaced. Please take a minute to send a postcard and let the president know you care.

Sue Jezorek
Greensboro

The Senate Judiciary Committee recently approved misguided legislation that would reward illegal immigrants with guest worker cards if they pay a $2,000 fine and learn English. I never thought I would see the day when our government would be more concerned with the demands of Mexican President Vincente Fox than with the American people.

Those who want to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants contend that illegals, most of whom are from Mexico, pay taxes and benefit the economy. This is a red herring, as studies demonstrate that illegal immigrants actually cost states billions. After subtracting taxes paid by illegal immigrants, it is estimated that they cost California alone $9 billion annually.

Furthermore, the $20 billion repatriated to Mexico each year by illegal immigrants keeps the moribund Mexican economy afloat and allows the historically corrupt Mexican government to resist calls for reform. Ironically, it is America's failure to enforce its immigration laws that allows the Mexican government to continue policies that impoverish the country and encourage its citizens to emigrate.

No one should be ashamed to demand that our government enforce immigration laws. Nor should we flinch from throwing out of office those who refuse to end the flow of illegal immigrants.

Paul Daniels
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By John Roberts

As I prepare to buy my first North Carolina "education" lottery ticket, my memory pulls me back to my grade-school days when one day we were treated to a visit from a magician who performed lots of thrilling tricks, including the classic shell game. We all were excited and impressed by the show and, of course, each of us thought we knew which shell that little pea was under. It was one of those happy school days you never forget.

Flash forward 20 years, and I'm living in Ohio in the mid-1970s as Ohio is developing its lottery. It too was touted as the greatest boon to education since the printing press. Not much was made of the state general fund accounting issues involved because, as we were told, almost all the money for schools came out of the general fund anyway, so "it's not to worry." I remember commenting at the time that sending unrestricted funds into any state general fund is akin to setting a bucket of slop in front of some hungry hogs.

Flash forward another 30 years and I'm watching North Carolina put on the same off-Broadway show. The scripts of the proponents and detractors are identical. Just lift out the word Ohio and insert North Carolina.

Oh, well. I'm fairly certain that my little purchase will help this state's schools in some fashion, but I'm also certain that the people of North Carolina will never know which shell that little pea (or their money) is really under.

The writer lives in Reidsville.

I just read (again) how a losing ticket in the Education Lottery is money for the kids. According to the North Carolina Public School Forum (www.ncforum.org), each dollar of lottery revenue sends 13 cents to school construction, 17 cents to reducing class size and the More-at-Four program, and 3 cents to scholarships. I believe that in time the state legislature will use this as its source of income for education funding, and not to increase spending as implied.

However, here's my real problem with the Education Lottery: I believe gambling is wrong. It is a get-rich-quick scheme at best and an addiction for many at worst. As I am trying to teach my kids to be responsible, hard-working, productive citizens, where does gambling fit? Is it OK if tagged for education? Isn't that situational ethics, where the assumed ends justify the means?

The state tells the schools to teach Character Education. Which one of the cornerstones does gambling fall under: honesty, fairness, perseverance, trustworthiness, courage, citizenship, responsibility, self-discipline? Please, spend your resources building up our kids, not buying lottery tickets in their name.

Sheila Siler
Greensboro

On April 3, Theresa Hanson and Pat and Frank Cleary responded to Kathleen Parker's March 9 article on mental illness. Both cited the importance of knowledge in dispelling stigma and misunderstanding about mental illnesses (brain disorders).

Because of the stigma attached to mental illnesses, "two-thirds of all people with diagnosable mental disorders do not seek treatment" (Surgeon General David Satcher's 1999 Report on Mental Illness).

What do you know about mental illnesses? With one in five Americans experiencing a mental disorder each year (Satcher Report), it is prudent to learn about mental illnesses.

An initial base of knowledge is as close as your neighborhood library. Ask for The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) holder. It contains brochures on the major mental illnesses, information about NAMI free educational programs, book lists, and information on other helpful resources.

These holders also are available at the Moses Cone Behavioral Centers, Moses Cone Medical Library, the Women's Hospital Library, Guilford County Mental Health Centers, Health Service, Urban Ministry, Maple Street Police Department, Jamestown GTCC Psychology Department, the Psychiatric Center at High Point Regional Hospital, and Caring Service in High Point.

Dorothy M. Oliver
Greensboro

In recent years, we have made great headway against injury to our children by lead. We now aggressively prevent levels of lead poisoning that caused neurological damage but were accepted as unavoidable not so many years ago.

It is time we reach this same level of control with another heavy metal: mercury.

The mercury producers of North Carolina have begun to make progress in reducing production. The technology exists to do this quickly so our environment (our lakes, fish, etc.) can begin to recover. Prolonging production only prolongs the time to recovery.

Let North Carolinians continue to lead the country in environmental improvement and encourage the Environmental Management Commission to aggressively implement the U.S. EPA rules for mercury control.

Teresa Bratton
Greensboro

Looking at the bright side, I see many things that please me, but upon closer examination, I am compelled to don my Darth Vader helmet and contemplate the dark side.

Our leaders point proudly to our current "prosperity." But, careful research reveals how ephemeral are these temporary good times. There is no sound foundation for them.

It is easy to present this illusion when a compliant Congress has only to raise the national debt limit yet again, lately to $9 trillion.

Our forefathers fashioned probably the best governmental structure ever conceived. But, it must be administered by statesmen, not mere politicians; unfortunately, we have many more of the latter than the former.

Observe their accomplishments since 2001: Continuing tax cuts that overwhelmingly favor the few; a flawed Medicare drug law; the poorly handled Katrina disaster; the Iraq fiasco, which now enters its fourth year, brave soldiers notwithstanding, etc. What is notable is not that this administration has an approval rating as low as 37 percent, but that's it is that high.

Where's Obi-Wan Kenobi when you need him?

Dan Maddox
Greensboro

I write to add to the growing chorus of residents who are disappointed by your decision to selectively review the theater productions in our city.

Greensboro's downtown is developing and is something of which we all should be proud. The arts community (and the theater world, in particular) is a big reason why. There is simply no good reason not to support all theater productions.

To hear the excuse that there are simply too many shows and then see only one review in that week's paper leaves me confused and frustrated. There are so many wonderful reasons to celebrate this city.

It's time for a paper to lead us in a meaningful way toward being an informed community so that we can become the city we have the potential to be.

Lee H. Bristol III
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Thomas J. Leary

Conservative journalists and pundits are fond of accusing liberals of unpatriotic gloating about American difficulties in Iraq. Accusations of anti-American attitudes and of shameful disloyalty by liberals are persistent. Needless to say, these accusations are groundless.

Cal Thomas, however, gleefully admits to gloating about France's current turmoil with its young citizens, primarily under-educated Muslim immigrants, who are protesting in the streets against the impending enactment of new labor legislation ("France pays the price for socialism," March 31).

The legislation would grant employers more discretion in restructuring their work forces by reducing the job security and tenure of worker under age 26. In strengthening the hands of management and limiting the current, entrenched rights of young workers, the government hopes to help firms become more competitive and to reduce high unemployment among the young.

To make sure readers understand the depth of his feelings, Thomas characterizes the French as "snooty" and condescending toward Americans. Additionally, they are wrongheaded "victims of the ideological grip socialism has on many French citizens." Voila! There you have it: Socialism, with its excessive baggage of social and welfare entitlements for all, is the cause of France's economic stagnation. The remedy? Emulate America and adopt capitalism "with its associated free market."

Apparently, Thomas has not observed our own economic problems, among them: increased poverty; high minority unemployment; lack of a living wage for the working poor; the eroding middle class, and on and on. In sum, this is the price we pay for capitalism.

It's an imperfect world, and economic conditions are variable and frequently difficult to anticipate and control. Virtually all countries, however mature and technologically advanced, experience difficulty providing full employment and adequate social and welfare benefits for all their citizens. It behooves us, including Thomas, to become more tolerant of the economic and cultural shortcomings of other governments.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg has confirmed what many of us in Guilford have suspected for a long time — Terry Grier is a loser. And no, I am not talking about his failure to garner the job leading the state's largest school district. I am talking about his thinly veiled attempt to save face in a race that he was steadily losing. With the majority of the votes committed to the other candidates, Grier decided his heart wasn't in it and pulled out of the race.

This is the same sort of "honesty" that he uses in leading the Guilford school district. Repeatedly, he asks parents for input, has town hall meetings, hears the pleas of the masses in northwest Guilford and High Point and then promptly steers policy to meet his own agenda. He claims that he does it for the underprivileged kids in the district and, yet, we still have failing schools.

Well, congratulations, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, you have seen through the bluster and the plastic smile and made the right choice. And we have the loser.

Kevin Jones
Summerfield

I just finished reading the article referring to the fact that Dr. Terry Grier has decided to remain with the Guilford County school system.

I am wondering how much more the taxpayers of Guilford County are going to have to contribute for the increase in his salary that will be forthcoming in the near future.

Bernard L. Zales
Greensboro

In response to Joe Stafford's letter (April 2), the recent vote by the Guilford County Board of Education to name our new middle school Northern Guilford Middle School is right on target.

Stafford failed to mention that there is tremendous support in the northern area of Guilford County to use the name of Northern for these new schools. The PTSAs of Northeast middle and high schools, Monticello-Brown Summit Elementary School and Northwest middle and high schools have all endorsed the use of the name Northern. The new high school has already been named Northern, and it makes sense to name the middle school likewise.

Stafford has repeatedly lobbied for a school to bear the name of Edward R. Murrow. While Murrow was a renowned broadcast journalist and was born here in Guilford County, he has not directly contributed to the educational process in our county.

If we are to use the name of a noteworthy person, that person should have made a significant contribution to our local school system that would be worthy of having a school named in his or her honor.
What is Stafford's hidden agenda for the naming of our schools?

Gary and Debra Swing
McLeansville

Thanks for the nice letter to the citizens, Dr. Grier. It's good to know that you are so strongly committed to our community. Now, can you please answer one very relevant and easy question publicly?

Did you had any conversations at all at any level with the board or any of its members about your future compensation or contract if you stayed in Greensboro instead of going elsewhere, since the potential position in Charlotte became available and known?

R. Jon Stouky
Jamestown

It was interesting to read the various high school student perspectives regarding the prom (The 'Boro, April 6). I was disappointed that all the faces and viewpoints were white. For a more complete picture of our community's opinion, the views of other members need to be represented.

Come on, News & Record. What an oversight.

Kelly Connelly Evans
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint.

By Edward Whitfield

John Young is a friend of mine, but I feel compelled to respond publicly to his April 2 commentary in this paper.

I offer this with love and conviction.

It seems that Young has a deaf ear and a blind eye. He seems not to have heard the repeated self-criticisms of former Communist Workers Party members about some of the errors and misjudgments that they made in leading up to the Nov. 3, 1979, tragedy. He feels the need to point out to the community how bad they were. He makes these criticisms as though the self-criticisms were not a matter of public record from the hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
We don't need quotes from Jerry Tung in New York to see the errors then or the good work before, during and after this event, and none of his statements justify what happened.

Young also seems to have a blind eye to the Police Department's behavior that day. He accepts the ridiculous notion that the police were confused and tricked by deceitful demonstrators when it was those same police who were able to provide exact information to the Klan/Nazi caravan so it could get to the appointed place at the appointed time that was listed on the parade permit and perform its mayhem.

The CWP does not exist as an entity now in this community, although some of its former members do. Those people's record over the last 26 and in the period before speaks for itself. Their errors have been spoken to by them repeatedly, and there is nothing in their rhetoric that made them deserve or cause the deaths.

The Greensboro police, on the other hand, do continue to exist in this community, and in a democracy the police must be supervised by the community. While, hopefully, we will get more details soon, some of what is coming out in the current exposure of the police's unsupervised secret activity makes much more sense of the Nov. 3 incident than the idea that the police decided to take a low profile but didn't tell anyone and then got confused and misled.

But it may be a bit premature to go too deeply into the answers to these questions when we have the opportunity to see the work of a commission of seven unimpeachable members of the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission who were never in the CWP and who are held in high esteem by all who know them.

The product of their last two years' work should not be undercut by speculation that is based on a deaf ear and a blind eye. Let's look forward to reading this report soon.

The writer lives in Greensboro and is a long-time activist and a former labor organizer. He testified during the July 2005 Truth and Reconciliation hearings.

In an April 7 letter, Danny Comer asked America to vote out both the Republican and Democratic parties. That's sound advice.

Unfortunately, those who rule North Carolina will not allow the voters that option unless we take action. As it currently stands, only Republicans and Democrats will appear on the ballot this November. In order for another party to qualify, they must submit approximately 70,000 valid petition signatures by June 1, an exceedingly onerous task.

G.S. 163-96, the unconstitutional statute which placed this burden on new political parties, was clearly designed to maintain the Republican-Democratic stranglehold on power. However, House Bill 88, as originally written by one well-intentioned representative, would significantly ease ballot-access restrictions and give voters more choice in elections. In a vile maneuver, however, the full House amended the bill to make it even more difficult for new parties to gain ballot access and sent it to the Senate.

Write or call your state senators and demand that they put H.B. 88 back in its original form and send it back to the House as such. The voters of this state want more choices now. We can have it if we will only demand it.

Paul Elledge
Browns Summit

Regarding the article (April 3) by Jackie Hammers-Crowell and Justice Maura Corrigan on the nation's foster care programs:

I agree that the system has its problems. It is great that the authors, as well as the Pew Commission, are working on legislation to help make improvements.

There is a local group trying to make things better for kids in Guilford County. As a 501(c)(3), non-profit charity Foster Friends of North Carolina exists to enrich the lives of children in foster care by providing activities and opportunities that promote self-esteem and offer quality experiences that closely resemble a normal childhood. Some recent activities we've funded include clarinet lessons for a 12-year-old boy, graduation expenses for an 18-year-old girl and a class trip to Washington, D.C., for a 13-year-old boy. Sometimes foster families or the Department of Social Services cannot provide "extras"that the rest of the class gets.

We are also in the early stages of developing a mentoring program for kids in foster care who have no family connections.

We are trying to make a difference in our small way. Additional information about our mission is available on our Web site at www.fosterfriendsnc.org or call 286-0238.

Peggy Adelman
Greensboro

As of this writing, 2,322 Americans have died in Iraq, that number will be higher by the time this is printed. Another number will have swollen even more — the often ignored Iraqi war dead, now estimated from 33,821 up to 300,000.

Terrible Iraqi losses are one key reason that the U.S. occupation cannot succeed.

Such horrible suffering in a war, now clearly based on trumped up reasons, dooms our efforts in Iraq. This is especially so as the occupation is run by the Bush administration, which brought a 70 percent unemployment rate and Abu Ghraib atrocities to Iraq.
Despite the sectarian violence, one PIPA poll found that 87 percent of Iraqis want a withdrawal plan. Shouldn't we give them one, taking out our corporations, relinquishing our oil claims, and all but our reconstruction aid?

Rep. Howard Coble recently voted with a vast majority in the House not to fund permanent bases in Iraq. I hope readers will thank him and press for troop withdrawal.

The United States can support peace negotiations and fund reparations, but it cannot win Iraqi hearts and minds by military force.

Anne Cassebaum
Elon

According to Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, "Illegal" means "not according to or authorized by law."So, "illegality"is breaking the law and/or committing a crime. Crimes are punished by law. Illegally entering U.S. territory should then be punished according the current laws as it happens in any other country in the world.

I "legally"moved in the United States 27 years ago and I "legally"became an American citizen. "Illegal"immigrants should be treated for what they are; otherwise, the meaning of the word "illegal"should be officially changed.

I love and respect all "legal"immigrants. It does not matter where they come from, their skin color or their religion.

Dario Delmestri
High Point

Guilford County Schools Superintendent Terry Grier's comment on dropping out: "Ultimately, I feel a deep moral commitment and responsibility to the children, citizens and leadership of Guilford County Schools in continuing and improving upon our good work."
How about, the interviewing was going badly?

He is a master of self-serving propaganda.

Think about it. Some "Middle Colleges" are actually vocational schools for troubled kids. However, that doesn't sound good. Self-esteem and all.

Smith or Dudley will establish an early something academy/college focused on medical skills. Sounds good. We will write our children off to emptying bedpans.

Shame on us. We deserve Dr. Grier.

David Colin
Greensboro

Nobody that I know is against immigration. However, almost everybody that I know is against illegal immigration and especially another amnesty, which is another word for rewarding lawbreakers. This is an American issue, not a Republican or Democrat issue.

The first thing we must do is secure our borders, no matter what the cost or how it is done. Seems that two fences a short distance apart with a road in between work just fine. I must admit that it upsets me greatly to see people who are here illegally jamming our cities, demanding rights to which they are not entitled.

Imagine the same scene in Mexico. The marchers would be behind bars with knots on their heads. Guess how many TV cameras would be there to support them.

Call, write, fax, e-mail, visit your representatives. After all, you control their political careers. Don't know how to be heard? Try www.numbersusa.com.

Edgar G. Phillips
Pleasant Garden

I am a senior at UNCG and am doing my senior year internship. I have been researching services for our Hispanic clients. I have become very frustrated and amazed at the lack of services available for the Hispanic population that does not speak English.

Whether people agree or disagree with immigrants coming into the community and not speaking English, they are here and are in need of help. Poverty, substance abuse, mental health problems and child maltreatment all exist in every culture, race and population.
President Bush has called for the community to step up and for privatization to take over social services. This is for all people, no matter what language they speak.

The people have voted for a president who wants less government involvement and one who believes that citizens will step up. So, it is time for our community to step up and provide for all our people.

Kristen Crumpler
Greensboro

I had just about finished my 1040 tax forms for 2005 when I read Chris Edwards' April 6 column about the complexity of our tax code. After becoming bleary- eyed completing the schedules for the Alternate Minimum Tax and Capital Gains and Qualified Dividends, plus various other schedules, I found that my tax amounted to 16.9 percent of my gross income.

I looked at my 2004 form and found the tax had been 17.4 percent of gross. At that point, I could not have agreed more with Edwards' analysis.

I am a single widower and have filed 1040s since 1946, with income and frustrations growing over the years.

I agree that the tax code's complexity has increased to the point where a degree in accounting is almost a requirement. But I have a suggestion.

Why not give individuals who file 1040s, and whose income is under $100,000, the option of paying a flat tax of 17 percent to 18 percent or whatever the IRS finds appropriate? W-2 and 1099 forms cover most income, and capital gains could require a broker's confirmation.
Such a change would not be attractive to accountants and lawyers, but read Edwards' column again and see if some system, such as I've suggested, doesn't make sense.

Warren Search
Greensboro

Let’s let anyone into our country who wants to come. Let’s ignore our laws. Let’s make everyone eligible for taxpayer-funded benefits, particularly in-state tuition benefits (except, of course, legal citizens from neighboring states).
In fact, let’s do away with all of our laws (except hate crimes, of course), and give amnesty to all lawbreakers.
Why should those who wish to keep a little more of their own money, and cheat on their taxes, be labeled as criminals? After all, it is our money, and it isn’t "their" country.
Why not decriminalize murder, rape, burglary, assault, or pedophilia? This would accomplish two very important agendas: We would no longer be the most crime-ridden society in the Western World, and the Democrats immediately would gain a great number of badly needed new voters.
Finally, those of us who are descendants of legal immigrants would be less offended when we use an ATM machine and the first question on the screen is, English or Spanish?
Tony Moschetti
High Point

Thirty years ago, a rising tide lifted all boats. We were all in the same pool, and what was good for corporate America was good for working Americans. Now, instead of a single pool where there is one rising tide, we have a series of lakes, where the water level is lowered for some (the working Americans, whose real wages have stagnated or gone down in the last three years, according to government figures), and the water level floating the yachts of the CEOs and corporations.
In the last five economic recoveries, according to the current issue of The American Prospect, 25 percent of company revenues went to profits and 75 percent to workers’ compensation. In this recovery, it has been 59 percent to profits and 41 percent to workers. Productivity rose 104 percent from 1947 to 1973 and wages tracked that number. Yet, over the last 20 years, income from all productivity gains went to the wealthiest 10 percent of Americans. (Study by Northwestern University economists Ian Dew-Becker and Robert Gordon).
The top 1 percent of Americans now control over 40 percent of the wealth. Ninety-nine percent share the remaining 60 percent of the country’s wealth. Did 1 percent create 40 percent of the national wealth? I doubt it.
Sandi Campbell
Siler City

Regarding illegal immigrants demonstrating for legal status: Put up or shut up. For those of us born under the U.S. flag, it means living our legacy. A legacy that includes our forefathers fighting and dying for this country’s freedom. Of doing more than paying sales tax — paying tax on the money you earn living in the United States, paying property taxes, buying insurance, learning the letter of the law, learning the language, learning the rules of the American road.
Being a citizen is more than working hard. It’s working hard at being an American citizen while working hard to make ends meet because illegal immigrants are working for those who pay "under the table," driving paychecks down.
If you’re eager to be an American citizen, put up or shut up, or just go home. Until you’re willing to live as an American, stay there.
Wade Currin
High Point

Our children's access to doctors specializing in pediatrics is astounding. In Greensboro alone, there are more than 20 practices for children. The majority of these doctors consistently accept new patients. The availability of doctors focusing on young to middle-aged adults and their medical conditions is similar.

It is not until people reach the golden age that access to specialized medical treatment becomes an issue. As the average lifetime lengthens, a greater number of health concerns will arise. With the rise in age, certain medical concerns have increased, such as cancers, diabetes, malnutrition, arthritis, etc.

Is it not apparent that our medical system should adapt in preparation? The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2025, the elderly population will surpass the population of children. Who will provide medical assistance for these aging individuals? In Greensboro, only two practices specialize in geriatrics, one of which is not accepting new patients at this time.

As time continues to bring more people toward the golden age, have physicians in Greensboro and the United States forgotten about this ever-growing population?

Karin Lauff
Greensboro

Our family recently moved to Greensboro from Southern California. Everyone we've met is kind and friendly, real estate is more reasonable, and the traffic isn't bad. The city is pretty and the weather moderate.

However, we were stunned to find the cost of living, other than real estate, is more expensive. Food, especially health food, costs more and is taxed. Good restaurants are pricey, although Greensboro servers are paid below minimum wage. Property tax is higher. Beauty services charge two to three times more. Gardening is more expensive. Salaries in Greensboro are half of what you would earn on the West Coast. Why?

Greensboro, as lovely as it is, seems to be losing its middle class. The average person who is struggling to make ends meet is being taken advantage of by small and large businesses.

This can be a great place to live if employers would pay decent, living wages and property taxes were lowered. It would be even better if the people of Greensboro empowered themselves by voting in local elections.

I hope by bringing awareness to this community, we can begin to raise the standard of living for all who reside here.

Sherry Tow
Greensboro

I read Rosemary Roberts' column almost every week. Her April 7 column mentioned obscure people who stepped up. She also might have mentioned Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who is still not recognized by most readers.

He was a German Lutheran theologian who at age 25 became a lecturer at the University of Berlin. In 1933, with Hitler's rise to power, Bonhoeffer became a leading spokesman for the Confessing Church, a resistance movement against the Nazis. He came to the United States for several years, to become a seminary professor in New York, but returned to Germany even though he knew the danger of his decision. He was arrested in 1943 for anti-Nazi activities. He was later linked to the July 1944 attempted assassination of Hitler.

Bonhoeffer was one of the "others" mentioned by Rosemary. He was sent to Buchenwald, and later to Flossenburg prison, where he led Sunday liturgy for his fellow prisoners. He was hanged by special order of Heinrich Himmler on April 9, 1945, only a month before the end of World War II in Europe.

Bonhoeffer's book, "Cost of Discipleship," spells out the supreme meaning of not sitting on the sidelines in tumultuous times. One version of Rosemary's quote is, "All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." Bonhoeffer was one of those who did not "do nothing."

Pete Petrea
Greensboro

Charlotte sees flaws that Guilford misses
Compliments to the Charlotte community. They saw through the whirl of activities and backslapping and signaled their assessment in the process.

Managing programs is the responsibility of the superintendent. It is his job to present the board with realistic policy alternatives with their respective costs and consequences so the board can select policies for implementation. None of this is being done, or at least reported. Items appear on the agenda without much notice. Last-minute surprises are modus operandi. Transparency is not part of the process. Allocating funds to programs improving education and discipline is more important than continually changing school boundaries to match statistics.

A recent proposal of teacher incentives for performance just before the Charlotte community meetings raises questions of sincerity. Timing is everything. Teachers deserve better pay for performance; so do bus drivers. Superintendents who do not produce measurable results do not.

Examining the termination clauses of a contract valid through 2009 in a public way may be necessary to understand if there are alternatives. Applying for a job elsewhere is no sin; however, pontificating about love, after sensing failure, is insincere. This insincerity is what the Charlotte community recognized. Wake up, Guilford County.

Richard O. Rafanovic
High Point

By way of backdrop, my letter cites Leonard Pitts (column, March 11) and Kofi Doonquah (Counterpoint, April 4). We seem to live in a modern, technological age where might makes right with anything goes.

The powerful, the wealthy and the famous are the important people on earth. The wicked prosper while the righteous suffer (or the innocent suffer). Few choices exist in life. Power, wealth and fame are ultimate keys that lead to worldly success and personal destiny — or so it seems. Corrupt government, corrupt politics, defective educational systems and passivity are common results. Corrupt power rewards evildoers such as child molesters, perverts, pornography lovers, drug dealers, thieves and murderers. This is "might makes right" philosophy.

In addition, we have "anything goes" philosophy. The thought pattern is secularism and materialism, and no absolutes nor absolute divine authority in whom to answer.

In conclusion, perhaps humanity should adopt anarchy. Let's destroy ourselves and each other. Why not just live for the nasty and now? Eat, drink and be merry. What do we have to lose?

Richard W. Murray
Greensboro

An April 11 Counterpoint ("Thomas revels wrongly in France's woes") mischaracterized the most recent youth protests in France. The majority of the protesters were not Muslim. A previous protest of a lack of job opportunities in France involved mostly Muslim youths.

Charles Davenport believes that Republican Ron Styers should be elected to replace Democrat Pricey Harrison because she is a liberal. He lists things she's voted for or advocated, but he fails to explain why they are especially awful.

For example, what's wrong, or especially liberal, about investigating reasons minorities are jailed at rates higher than the rest of the population? Wouldn't responsible moderate or conservative politicians also wish to know? He complains about Harrison voting to raise state employees' salaries. Again, how is this issue especially liberal given the state's historically low wages? Wouldn't a conservative or moderate just as easily agree that low wages do not attract or keep the best qualified employees?

Davenport quotes Styers' positions and announces they are genuinely Republican and conservative. Styers, a businessman, wants great schools and low taxes but doesn't go into details. He is against "throwing money" at education, because it is wasteful, but doesn't explain why government throwing money at businesses like his through lower taxes and other perks is not wasteful. Davenport doesn't bail him out on this point. Davenport promises us an exciting discussion about these issues, and maybe one day we'll get it.

Andrew Young
Greensboro

On behalf of thousands of parents, teachers and students in Guilford County, let me express our disappointment at Terry Grier's failure to obtain the school superintendent position in Charlotte. The possibility of reinstating hundreds of teacher assistants upon his departure was a celebration many of us were counting on.

It's been reported that school board officials were considering a pay increase in the hopes of keeping Grier in Greensboro.

As a not-so-gentle reminder to these officials, please be aware that elections are right around the corner, and countless of us are ready to show you just what we think of your handling of Grier and his campaign policies.

Those of us in favor of a student-based curriculum that endeavors to highly prioritize the ever-increasing needs of our diverse population, thank you for your support.

C.A. Dyson
Greensboro

Now that Dr. Grier has "decided" to stay, let's look at a couple of things that happened during his interview process.

When asked about why he was criticized so much in Guilford County about High Point's redistricting, he replied that these plans were not his but the local school board's and that he was taking the heat.

Now, either Grier has no character and doesn't take responsibility for his actions, or the board has no idea how to manage him. You can read any management book in the world, and they will all say that if a manager cannot get his/her employee to take responsibility for what he/she does, then the company will fail sooner or later.

Next, Dr. Grier told people in Charlotte that turning around troubled high schools was his specialty. After six years here, correct me if I am wrong, but there has been very little or no improvement in any of our troubled high schools.

Now, he is back. The school board needs to put him against the wall and say enough is enough, "deliver or out."

Martin Phillips
High Point

I see from the letter to the editor of April 2 ("Journalist doesn't warrant school name") that the most distinguished and renowned figure of American broadcast journalism shouldn't have a school named for him because he didn't directly contribute to Guilford County's educational process.

Evidently this guy named "Northern" did contribute to the edification of Guilford since that is the name finally chosen for the county's new school.

I, too, wonder what Joe Stafford's "hidden agenda" could be for wanting to name a school for Murrow.

Could it be a keen interest in history or a boredom with existing directional names?
Could it be, as David Halberstam once said, that Murrow was "one of those rare legendary figures who was as good as his myth"?

Or was it, as a plaque at CBS headquarters states, "He set standards of excellence that remain unsurpassed"?

New Hanover County recently named two schools for Medal of Honor recipients. Smithfield just named a post office for Ava Gardner. Maybe they had hidden agendas, also.

Murrow may not have contributed much to the education of Guilford County, but for World War II and the years following, he certainly educated the rest of the world.

Warren Dixon Jr.
Liberty

I've just read about the roundabouts being built in Greensboro. While they may be a return to a system given up here years ago, traffic circles are still a familiar scene to anyone who has driven in the United Kingdom. They are used everywhere, even where the equivalent of two interstate highways cross.

The secret to their success is that everyone knows and obeys the rules of the road: The vehicle in the circle has the right of way, and vehicles entering must yield. It also helps if drivers use their turn indicators to let people know which exit from the circle you plan to take.

That last point might be tough for us to learn, but roundabouts work and traffic keeps moving. I hope we can learn how to use them properly.

Tom Netsel
Jamestown

Wow! Another media darling! In the April 7 News & Record, there were three separate write-ups that included quotes from a 61-year-old real-estate broker chastising President Bush at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte. You would have thought that the guy had been the first big winner of the brilliantly conceived, utopian, extremely popular, problem-solving North Carolina Education Lottery.

His quote: "In my lifetime, I have never felt more ashamed of my leadership in Washington."

Hey, give us a break, Mr. Real Estate Man. I'm 61, which means I've lived the same 61 years that you have. Let's see. More ashamed than President Kennedy's Bay of Pigs fiasco?

More ashamed than President Johnson and Robert McNamara's Vietnam War blundering?

More ashamed than President Nixon's Watergate?

Last but not least, more ashamed than President Clinton's cigar and intern episode and impeachment?

Now, did the guy have guts? Certainly. Was it a story? Probably. Did he deserve a picture? A stretch.

Does he deserve hero status? Hardly.

Barney Yaskiewicz Jr.
Greensboro

I have two sensible, modest proposals regarding the current protests over immigration reform.

I totally agree with City Councilman Tom Phillips, who repeatedly states that he would like a full report released to end any suspicions of a cover-up regarding Project Homestead. So would everyone in Greensboro.

I speak for many citizens in Greensboro who would have been contented with a simple vacation while these employees of Project Homestead were on travels and cruises at the expense of the working people.

Your report suggested that some elected leaders bowed to political pressure from Homestead's founder, the Rev. Michael King. If this is the case, don't the citizens of Guilford County deserve to know who has taken advantage of us? Should these leaders be guilty, they should pay their dues and stay out of city government.

I can't believe the city just kept handing this organization money hand over fist.

Susan F. Simms
Greensboro

While it is clear that there are troubling things occurring in the Duke lacrosse program, it is also disturbing that this is the only way your publication and the rest of the media cover the great sport of lacrosse.

We have two colleges in Greensboro with Division III programs that barely get mentioned. We have fantastic high school games three to four nights a week that only get a box score. We have one of the best youth programs in the state, and maybe the country, and we have to beg for publicity.

If you're going to cover the sport, then cover the sport, not just the controversy. Lacrosse is the fastest growing youth sport in the country with many people working to make it a success. Don't fall prey to tabloid journalism. Represent the good as well as the bad.

Stephen Romaine
Greensboro

When Skip and Earl first started action on the civil rights museum, the price for the Woolworth building was $700,000. After approximately $10 million has been donated and spent with only about $2 million in construction and paying for the building, now we read that there is a $2 million mortgage on the building and up to $20 million to complete the museum.

I cannot believe that Mayor Keith Holliday or anyone else could even consider a taxpayer bond of $10.5 million to pay for this boondoggle.

Kress, a similar building just a half-block away, was completed with a penthouse on the roof for something over $4 million.

Wake up, people. The only thing worse than this is the landfill deal.

Larry Walton
Greensboro

As a citizen of the United States, I feel like my hard work is being taken advantage of when I have to pay for the benefits that an illegal immigrant receives from our government. The legislation being put into place to fight illegal immigration has my support 100 percent.

I understand that there is turmoil in other countries greater than what exists in the United States. However, one should not be allowed to come into a new country without becoming a legal entity in that country. Like most things in life, nothing is free. To make a new start one must begin with the basics; for an immigrant that begins with becoming a citizen. When the government overlooks citizenship, it's a slap in the face to taxpayers who struggle to pay for the benefits handed to new arrivals.

Even though the naturalization process is a time-consuming process, immigrants to North Carolina have resources, such as the Center for New North Carolinians, available to them that will assist them in getting on their feet until they are eligible to apply for citizenship.

J'Omega Holden
Greensboro

I read with interest your article on the shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists across the country (April 7). This is a serious nationwide problem.

I am pleased to inform your readers, however, that due to grants from the Moses Cone-Wesley Long Community Health Foundation, the Duke Endowment and the Kate B. Reynolds Health Care Trust, we at Youth Focus were able to hire a full-time child and adolescent psychiatrist in October of 2005. Dr. Janardhana Jonnalagadda is a board-certified psychiatrist who completed his child and adolescent fellowship at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York City. Dr. Jonnalagadda is able to see patients at both our Greensboro office (333-6853) and our High Point office (841-6082).

Best of all, due to ongoing support from the United Way and other public funding sources, he is able to see patients regardless of their ability to pay a fee.

Chuck Hodierne
Greensboro
The writer is executive director, Youth Focus.

The fussy Fisher Park residents need to get over themselves. Now, I'm not saying all of them, just the bothersome few who are trying to stop progress. They complain about too much noise caused by the First Horizon baseball stadium that is located in downtown Greensboro. News flash: Downtown Greensboro is no longer the boring community it has been for the last 20-some years. The few residents of Fisher Park who don't like living next to a downtown setting need to move.

As Greensboro grows, their property value is going to go up, not down. I don't think you'll ever hear, “Those damn fireworks have reduced my $400,000 property value by 15 percent.” If they don't want to live in a downtown environment, then move out to the nice quiet 'burbs. Yes, Greensboro is growing 'burbs. There will be more and more people willing to live in your neighborhood because of what the city has to offer right next door. You can't have it both ways.
The last thing the Grasshoppers organization needs to do is apologize for anything. It should celebrate what it has done for the city. Turn up that PA system to 45 percent. It's hard to hear the announcer with all the cheering.

Chad Olmsted
Greensboro

The recent march in Siler City by a large group of Mexicans and others makes David Duke a hero because in February 2000 he told the residents of Siler City what was going to happen. Now it has come to pass.

I don't have a problem with anyone marching (I have done so many times), but the problem arises when most are not citizens of the United States. How are they supposed to ask for anything when they are not legal?

The government already gives them our money through giveaway programs like welfare, etc. What else do they want? The government won't protect our borders here in this country, but we will go across the world trying to tell some other country how to run its business when we can't run ours.

Richard H. Vanderford
Siler City

Your report on the president's and vice president's income taxes gives the impression that the vice president and his wife got a large, undeserved refund. Not until the last sentence is it mentioned that Vice President and Mrs. Cheney gave $6.87 million to charities. The headline should have read, "Cheneys donate 79 percent of their income to charities."

E.F. Anderson
Greensboro

The Guilford Education Alliance has as its mission to promote and support education, with particular focus on Guilford County Schools, with the ultimate goal of having our county become one of the best-educated in the country.

To achieve this, we see our role as being a "critical friend" of our school system, encouraging what is going well and holding the system accountable for providing a quality education for every child.

With our superintendent's decision to withdraw from the Mecklenburg search and come home with a renewed commitment to Guilford County, our county citizens have the opportunity to recommit ourselves to having high-quality schools. With Dr. Grier's leadership, we have begun this process with our Middle and Early Colleges, the increase in enrollment in AP courses and national recognition for our dropout-prevention program. Public schools belong to all of us as taxpayers and residents of this county. We must set high expectations for our schools and work together to achieve them.

The challenges before us are great. Our children, our economy and our future well-being are in our hands. It is up to us.

Jim Morgan
High Point
The writer is chairman of the board of directors, Guilford Education Alliance.

On Monday, tax day 2006, we lined up to pay our taxes. If it is patriotic not to skip out on taxes, then it is patriotic to make sure our tax dollars go where they do the most good.

Research by National Priorities Project tells us that the median household in North Carolina will pay $3,611 in federal income taxes; $1,348 of that will go for past and present military spending — up 20 percent since 2000.

Contrast this with the $12 for job training, $73 for housing assistance and $51 for the environment, all down about 20 percent since 2000.

Even veterans' benefits have dropped 2 percent to $134 out of that total of $1,348. This is while we spend billions on a misguided war in Iraq.

Some of us pay more than $3,611 in income taxes, some less, but all of us need to find ways to ensure that the 2007 budget spends more money on prosperity that includes everyone and less on war. As Dwight Eisenhower warned decades ago, you can't have guns and butter.

Linda Dunn
Elon

I take exception to Sarah Jones' negative review (April 2) of Angela Davis-Gardner's book, "Plum Wine." She's entitled to her opinion; however, I disagree and felt the review would unfairly discourage your readers from partaking of an exceptionally good book.

Booksellers all over the country are excited about this multilayered novel, set during the Vietnam War era, that explores the tragic bombing of Hiroshima and its aftermath with such sensitivity.

The book received "starred" reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist, was selected as a March BookSense pick by independent bookstores, and was highly acclaimed by many other reviewers.

I urge your readers to talk with your area booksellers before they decide against "Plum Wine." It's one of the finest books I've ever read.

Nancy Olson
Raleigh

The writer is owner, Quail Ridge Books & Music, Raleigh.

Our country cannot assimilate 30 million immigrants. This is why we have an immigration law with quotas that must be enforced.

Our representatives have made it easier to immigrate illegally than lawfully. Judge them by their record, not their gobbledygook.

Our obligation as citizens is to preserve and pass to those who follow us the country that was passed to us. Our options are assimilation and deportation. Assimilation includes oppressive taxes, crowded schools and jails, and drugs everywhere. The highways are deadly with novice drivers who cannot read the road signs. Medical services are overloaded.

In Alamance County, the cost for social services is second only to the school system. The requested budget includes 10 additional employees and exceeds $25 million.

The Army can secure our border. Only then can deportation, the other option, start.

Labor riots, like those in France caused by workers from North Africa, are in our future. This immigration insanity must be stopped.

These employers and politicians who sell our country for greed or votes must be treated as what they are, enemies.

James D. Williams
Graham

My teenage godson was recently diagnosed as bipolar and mentally handicapped, a condition he has lived with most of his life. He struggles daily to enjoy things most people take for granted.

For years, we searched, researched and basically begged for assistance in his diagnosis and treatment, and were virtually ignored until we found the Guilford Center. Before they became involved, this child was misdiagnosed, medically mismanaged and/or refused treatment — to his obvious detriment — by some of the area's most highly recommended physicians and medical centers. Only when he was treated at the Guilford Center did we see improvements in his condition and daily functioning.

I am thankful we found these amazing people to assist us with his care. Their dedication is obvious, and his progress under their care is remarkable, so hearing of the dramatic job cuts at the Guilford Center leaves me deeply concerned. Changing the level or continuity of care my godson receives inevitably will affect his progress.

The state must find a better way to address its fiscal issues — one that is less hurtful to those who need our help most.

Shanon Armfield
Greensboro

Thank you. Besides the local investigative reports, there's nothing better in your newspaper than The New York Times service.

Now, if you could just add "Boondocks" to the comics page.

William O'Neil
Greensboro

The Lenten season just finished with the celebration of Easter, a very holy time in the Christian calendar.

Again, as with Christmas, retail stores ignored the Easter holy day in favor of the Easter bunny and failed to acknowledge this holy day in any way.

Yes, the retailers ran ads for all types of apparel and toys, but without any mention of Easter.

Why is this so? Are there no Christians in the retail business? Did those folks attend their church's Easter service? If so, why? Can anyone tell us?

Don Mulligan
High Point

I will be graduating from UNCG with my bachelor's degree in social work. Although I am very proud of myself, there are a few people out there who have the wrong idea about what social workers do.

Some people think I work for the Department of Social Services and take kids away from their families. Others say, "You poor thing, you will never make any money."

Well, I am here to say that those people are wrong. Every social worker does not work for DSS. There are so many other fields, like schools, hospitals, nursing homes, colleges and, yes, even DSS.

But DSS does not only take children into custody. They provide services, support families, reunite families and provide foster care for children.

Unfortunately, sometimes children cannot go back home. But that is not all there is to social work. There is so much more.

As for the money, we are never going to be rich, but the average social work position right now at Guilford County DSS ranges from $39,316 to $43,346.

The point is, we are not in it for the fame or the money, but, please, don't feel sorry for us. We are proud that one day we might be able to help you.

Debra Perez
Randleman

I am so irritated with all politicians, from the president on down, that when I think about what's going on in this country, my blood pressure goes out of sight. Let's face it, the only thing that matters to a politician is getting re-elected.

In the Congress, bipartisanship is a dirty word. There is no such thing anymore among our elected representatives.

What with their huge egos and feelings of power, the consultants they depend upon to tell them what to say so as not to offend anyone, and the lobbyists who influence their votes, they are a sorry bunch.

And we elected them — shame on us.

Charles H. Ott
Greensboro

In a News & Record article, "Home-sale struggles continue" (Jan. 8), writer Richard Barron excludes important points in his story.

While the Triad's housing numbers are behind the national average, Barron fails to acknowledge the national average is skewed. With the booming housing market in the West and Northeast, housing prices have soared, which has had a direct effect on national housing market statistics.

An analysis by the National Association of REALTORS indicated little danger of a housing bubble occurring in the Triad. Instead of the great housing boom many areas enjoyed, the Triad has seen slow, steady growth.

The Triad is being positioned to experience an growth acceleration with the addition of Dell and FedEx, and due to our skilled work force and location on the East Coast.

That's why regional cooperation is so valuable. Barron correctly suggests neighborhoods play a factor in selling a home. He fails to illustrate that access to water and sewer, curb appeal, and location are all key factors in home sales.

I encourage you to remember that fundamentals of our housing market remain good. Interest rates remain low, and it continues to be a great time to buy real estate.

Kathy Carpenter
Greensboro

The writer is president, Greensboro Regional REALTORS Assoc.

Your editorial, "E-mail alerts would add peace of mind" (April 17), supporting e-mail alerts for sex offenders' relocating is, on its face, supportive of families.

Encouraging mass alerts for a sex offender moving into a neighborhood sounds like prevention but can also lead to group hysteria and denial of rights to those who have served their sentences.

E-mail is fairly ubiquitous for many, but not for all. How do the computerless find out? Are the offenders you'd support e-mailing about only those who commit crimes against children or all (including soliciting prostitutes)? What do you propose to do when an angry group attacks a neighbor through electronic misinformation or forged e-mail?

Why don't you also advocate e-mail notification for murderers, rapists, and other violent criminals who served sentences? It seems that the "child molester" threat makes us forget certain Constitutional rights that even the worst among us have after they serve their time.

Only an idiot would allege that I support child molesters. Critical readers will understand my position that when we are willing to cede the rights of those we despise, our own rights will become somehow justifiably next to go.

Sue Polinsky
Greensboro

A lack of DNA evidence is insufficient to exonerate Duke lacrosse team members from accusations of rape. We need Darryl Hunt's opinion on this case.

Ben Miles Jr.
McLeansville

Six retired general officers call for the secretary of defense to resign because of his arrogance and disregard of professional military advice. He dismisses this criticism with disdain.

President Bush issues a statement of support for Donald Rumsfeld. I cannot recall ever in U.S. history when six retired military officers called for a change in secretary of defense.

If the war in Iraq was a smashing success, Rumsfeld would be vindicated. But the opposite is true. Therefore, as the architect of this failed policy, Rumsfeld should be shown the door with a boot in the rear.

James Corey
High Point

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Annette Estrada

Here we go again. Whenever the Bush administration wants to run away from the real issues, it takes out one of the hot-button issues and throws it out into the public.

And let's be clear here, they are not talking about all immigration; they are talking about Hispanic immigration (specifically Mexican).

Before this immigration thing came about, the Bush regime was caught in the middle of another scandal. The investigation of the CIA leak was again under way. Another top member of the cabinet was resigning for unknown reasons. Not to mention pressing issues of rebuilding New Orleans, war in Iraq that presses on with no apparent objective and real leadership; poverty, the education crisis and rising gas prices, homelessness, etc.

The Hispanic population has risen in this country with the permission of the Bush administration. Are we that stupid as to think that so many Mexicans have crossed the borders, in such a short period of time, without assistance? Are we so insensitive to not acknowledge the risk immigrants put themselves through to provide for their families?

All immigrants come to the U.S. to work, not for vacation. The vast majority of Mexicans are law-abiding, hard-working individuals and hold strong family values.

When he talks to us about the "problems" of immigration, the president fails to mention that U.S. companies are involved with bringing immigrants over (because it is to their benefit). In fact, they go to Mexico to help recruit workers for their various entities. Mexican President Vicente Fox would not have distributed a pamphlet on how to cross the border without the aid of U.S. officials.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

I would just like to say hats off to Greensboro citizens and citizens of other counties who are pitching in to help our students. I was alarmed by the announcement of the possible school closings that Judge Manning made. Does he think closing schools is going to help our children?

A child will spend more than 1,500 hours in school in one year; however, that same child will spend a more than 7,200 hours at home and in their community.

Instead of threatening to close low-performing schools, how about some threats to make communities more resourceful for children? How about some threats to educate parents on how to be more proactive in their child's academic performance? How about some threats to fund more mentoring programs and community centers so that more children will have access to more caring, responsible adults?

Do some of our schools need to improve? Yes. But schools are full of children, not superintendents, not teachers, and certainly not elected officials. Schools are full of children.

Let's focus on how to help children perform better by supporting places and people that shape them the most.

Kenya J. Harris
Greensboro

I have just finished my daily reading of the News & Record in its new format. Format is fine. Change is always a matter of adjustment. I am glad to see that there is no High Point/Greensboro section.

But the paper you print upon nowadays is just too flimsy. For the past several days, I have been meaning to write and ask if you could not put some content into the newsprint. When I have to use two hands to hold the newspaper to keep it from flapping and collapsing, the cost reduction has gone too far!

Leo Gottschalk
Jamestown

How sad to read Deborah Waldner's last column (April 18) announcing its cancellation. But as usual she wrote about it with great humor (and an unusual touch of genuine sentiment). I will miss it.

There have been so many times that I felt as if I were reading about my own family (and my thoughts about them), and her column never failed to make me laugh out loud — a wonderful way to begin the day. I also enjoyed keeping up with her vaguely disguised son who has been a good friend of my own son for many years.

What I most admired about Deborah's thoughts, though, was how she managed to create a portrait of mild-to-extreme family dysfunction when, in reality, she and her husband reared three of the most interesting and successful children any parent could hope for.

Include me in the ranks of readers who are sad to say goodbye to "Our House."

Greyson Kuhn
Greensboro

It is clear that the News & Record, various business leaders, and several school board members are elated that Dr. Grier will remain superintendent for the foreseeable future. All have joined Dr. Grier's cries for building a diverse and equitable school system; the "silent majority" mentioned so many times has triumphed. Fine, then it is time to start walking this talk.

Diversity is not only for High Point schools; I expect Dr. Grier and the board to begin immediate diversification of Dudley, Northwest, Smith, Ragsdale, Southeast and Grimsley. Each of these schools is far less diverse than Southwest was before redistricting.

If we are to be a school system that treats everyone equally, there cannot be a delay in this strategy. Failure to do so violates the core values of this superintendent and school board.

The justification of some board members that "High Point is different" can no longer be tolerated; all schools must have as identical a mix of students as is possible.

So why are Dr. Grier and the board not acting on their own words right now? The answer is simple. The "silent majority" will no longer be quiet once this group comes for their children.

Jeff Peeler
High Point

The editorial, "Still blowin' smoke in the General Assembly" (April 19), was right on the mark. The scientific evidence for the dangers of secondhand smoke is as overwhelming as the evidence of the danger of lead in paint in apartments.

Even in North Carolina, with our economic ties to tobacco farming and manufacturing, there has been a steady trend of increasing smoke-free public places. From 1989, when a referendum in Greensboro made our large stores smoke-free, to 2006 when 447 restaurants in Guilford County are voluntarily smoke-free, this trend, backed by evidence, is steadily gaining momentum.

It is a logical step to ask legislators to make their workplace, the General Assembly buildings, smoke-free. Following that, lawmakers should see the need to repeal preemption that currently prevents any North Carolina community from restricting smoking in public places.

Richard J. Rosen, M.D.
Greensboro

The News & Record is correct in its assessment that the N.C. General Assembly should prohibit smoking in the N.C. legislative buildings, "Still blowin' smoke in the General Assembly" (April 19). In fact, they should prohibit smoking in all public places, including restaurants.

Our legislators do not just represent us. They serve as role models for our children. It is time they begin behaving as responsible adults. While some lawmakers fear a smoking ban in all legislative buildings is a slap in the face to the tobacco industry, the current situation is a punch in the stomach to all North Carolina citizens and those who visit here.

David P. Layton
Greensboro

Everyone, like, wants, like, immigrants to, like, learn English. Wouldn't it be, like, totally awesome if we, like, had someone who could, like, teach them?

Vickie Currin
High Point

We thought we were reading a fairy tale when we saw Sherry Tow's letter, "Low wages diminish local quality of life" (April 16).

We moved here from New England six months ago. Our house is slightly larger, newer and half the price of the one we sold. Our property taxes are four times less than they were up north. We shop at Super Wal-Mart and are amazed at how much less the grocery prices are here.

Our car insurance here, for the same two cars, with the same company, with the same coverage, is $600 less annually.

The people here are very kind and friendly, traffic and drivers are infinitely better here than what we experienced all our life up north, and the weather can't be beat.

In this current age, people tend to complain, complain, complain. If you don't like the wages, get a better job, get training or consider what we did and go into business for yourself.

The world is changing. Old jobs are disappearing and new skills are required. If you don't go with the flow, you get lost in the rapids.

Jim and Jan O'Malley
Greensboro

Three balls and two strikes. The bases are loaded. Terry Grier's at bat. Uh-oh. A majority of the fans are exiting the ballpark before the final out. Sound familiar?

1. Snarled bus schedules.

2. Ambiguous redistricting.

3. Seeking another job opportunity but simultaneously caring too much for current school district to leave.

4. Epidemic erosion of community support.

5. Possible closure of two schools due to poor performance.

6. Large segment of parents continually riled by cascading of multidirectional and uncharted educational venues.

7. Numerous advertising media promoting the ouster of educational leader.

You've entered the tangled web of Grier. Uh-oh. Back to the ball game. Strike three.

Here today, maybe gone tomorrow.

J.W. Scott
High Point

North Carolina's greatest natural resource is her children. Gov. Easley's 2006 education agenda illustrates this point. His plan to position literacy coaches in middle schools will improve reading comprehension and hopefully instill in our children the sense that reading can be an enjoyable activity.

According to the April 15 editorial, "The value of reading," this "program's price tag must be weighed against other needs." However, we must remember that by simply reading aloud to children we can make a valuable contribution to our greatest resource. And this costs us nothing.

When we read aloud to children, we act as a reading role model and help our children to associate reading with pleasure. Studies validate that children who read the most achieve the most. A foundation of reading, and enjoying reading, supports a community of valuable human resources.

Read to a child. If we all take the time to do so, someday a portion of the education budget will not have to be allotted to middle schools for the maintenance of literacy coaches. Instead, our children will already be avid readers who take pleasure in the activity as well.

For more information on reading involvement, visit www.readtomenc.org.

Jessica Jacobs
High Point

A heartfelt thanks for the wonderful tribute to Ralph Baldwin, troubadour and Vietnam veteran (April 2). I had the pleasure of working with Ralph when he volunteered to supply beautiful music for the ArtistsCare Art Auction for Hurricane Katrina.

Every single day, he called or came by to encourage me and the team. He was so positive and full of peace. When I attended his memorial a few weeks back, I was so pleased to see many people who I already knew, who also had a connection with Ralph. This service was perfect and inspiring for the living and for us to keep on dancing to the songs we have within us.

Thank you to Amber, "One String Over," and those who made it possible.

Larice White
Pleasant Garden

Regarding your elimination of the daily stock listings:

Please note that many "senior citizens" do not have access to a computer for online stock information and depend solely on the News & Record for information on stocks, plus local news, world news and sports.

Regardless of what the editor may think, some of us will probably be around for many years. Thank you for your attention to this.

Helen Macaulay
Colfax

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Karen L. Hornfeck

I have been a parent in both the Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Guilford County school systems. In both, we have been blessed with dedicated, highly qualified teachers. But there have been glaring issues in the Guilford County system that have amazed and disturbed me.

The lack of teachers' assistants in classes stands out as a primary issue, in particular at the early elementary grade levels. Ask any parent in the school system, and you will hear them say that this is a huge factor in the quality of education their children are receiving and that lack of teachers' assistants has a direct impact on the test scores. More importantly, ask any teacher. They will also quickly agree.

I thank those teachers who came out in force at the school board meeting April 19 to say this loud and clear. There have now been large groups of both parents and teachers saying this to those who make the decisions.

When will school board members and Dr. Grier hear the desperation in both the parents' and the teachers' voices and take this issue seriously? A lack of teachers' assistants is relevant to discipline problems, low test scores and teacher retention rates and yet, it is an issue that is continually swept under the rug. This discussion does not need to be a parents/teachers versus superintendent/board argument. We all care about our children in the Guilford County school system. We only ask that decision-makers hear the voices of those who are in the schools on a daily basis.

Please visit a classroom unannounced. Sit in a kindergarten classroom with 20 5-year-olds with only one teacher and a part-time assistant. Watch carefully as a dedicated teacher struggles to help one child go to the bathroom, while teaching reading to children with diverse learning levels, while also dealing with a discipline problem, while also helping a child who doesn't speak English well. Remember, this is not a low-performing school. Then think about a teacher doing this on a daily basis and being told that his or her pay will now be cut.

Good teachers are out there, as is a mass of parental support for schools. What is not there is the infrastructure to support teachers to enable them to actually teach. Please, on behalf of parents, students and teachers, hear the desperation in all of our voices and pay attention.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

Over the last few years, our family has grown almost as fast as the cost of fuel. We've been able to maintain our commitment to saving on fuel by not purchasing a gas-guzzler even with car seats stretching from one side to the other. But others don't seem to care about saving fuel even if they don't have kids. In turn, they cost us more at the pump.

We're on a tight budget and unable to make our dollar go further in regard to fuel savings. What I'd like to see happen is for those people who continually purchase high-dollar, gas-guzzling vehicles to pay a surcharge at the pump based on their vehicle's classification or gross weight. It's only fair since they are not considerate enough of others who do try. They seem to have the money to blow. Let them blow some more, but we're tired of paying higher prices at the pump for those who just don't care.

If we can do without a huge gas-guzzling SUV with three kids in car seats and one other child, then so can they.

K.L. Collins
Summerfield

Without warning, I've been nearly knocked off my feet several times by bicycles traveling at breakneck speeds on the narrow sidewalks that I and others use regularly near my HUD residence. Some of us use canes.

According to "Rules of the Road," bicycles must travel with the flow of traffic in the streets, not on the sidewalks.

With inadequate or no sidewalks, and rare but inefficient pedestrian crosswalks for the local streets — turned into major highways running through town — pedestrians must also contend with adults on bicycles racing to their destination oblivious of the pedestrians they pass on the sidewalks.

I've attempted to explain the problem. Some riders immediately turn into the street. Too many others claim no understanding of the English language. No one is exempt from their responsibility to know rules of bicycle safety and pedestrian rights.

To everyone who is able, I ask you to communicate to your neighbors the necessity of understanding the laws that apply to all of us. A little knowledge goes a long way.

Reva S. Moore
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By MARK McKEAG

As Duke University students, we are disturbed by the events that took place several weeks ago near campus and expect the guilty parties to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. These events prompted a portrayal of Duke that has relied on stereotypes to generalize the makeup and behavior of the university and its student body. This portrayal fails to discuss the real Duke.

The real Duke is comprised of individuals from numerous economic, racial and religious backgrounds. Approximately 40 percent of Duke's undergraduate student body is nonwhite while more than 40 percent receives financial aid grants.

Most importantly, the real Duke fosters meaningful relationships among this diverse group of students, allowing us to create bonds that continue to enrich our lives after graduation. The real Duke has been and continues to be committed to building mutually beneficial relationships with individuals and organizations throughout Durham.

For over a decade, through the establishment of the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership, Duke and its student body have worked with community members to improve the quality of life in Durham neighborhoods. The real Duke promotes respect and honesty and despises rape and racism. This Duke recognizes its shortcomings and strives continuously to improve racial tensions on campus and its relations with the Durham community.

It is a university with which we are proud to be associated and one we feel compelled to share.

This article also was submitted by Amy Murnick, Jeannie Lee and
Yogin Patel, all of Durham.

I am writing regarding the story (April 22) about excess suspensions for high school students. I have a solution that over time will produce great benefits.

Instead of another program to train teachers to be more sensitive, the solution is parent training. If the parents had taught their children respect for themselves, for others and for those in positions of authority; that actions have consequences and we are responsible for our actions; and the value of education, there wouldn't be behavioral problems that result in high suspension rates.

Instead of acting out, these students can learn and gain self-esteem based on their accomplishments. And with this climate in schools, there will be a greatly reduced need for SRO's. Administrators can plan and work with teachers, parents and students on learning, instead of spending inordinate time on discipline.

Pastors want to get involved in this problem. I believe this is an opportunity for them to work with the families in their churches to help parents parent, to strengthen families, and to preach these values from the pulpit.

Tom Skaar
Jamestown

The new business section — in one word, "stinks." If I sound mad, I am.

Where are the mutual funds? Why did you drop them? Sound like another cost-reduction idea. Don't you and your business editor know that more individuals own mutual funds than stocks? I tried to find mutual fund listing on your Web site but could not.

Let me put it direct and simple: I will cancel my subscription if you do not reinstate the old mutual fund information. I am 63 years old and have been a subscriber for 40-plus years.

Jerry I. Smith
Greensboro

Shame on High Point, the furniture market and their collective collaboration to rely upon the stone they once rejected. But that's nothing new.

Now, there is a call to taxpayers, who were denied bountiful benefits from the furniture market, to bountifully bail out the furniture market.

The owners siphoned off the cream leaving the dregs, if any, to the peasants. Taxpayers, the peasants, competed among themselves for those dregs.

Even market visitors were steered to selected communities to spend bountiful sums for temporary lodging, enabling the selected residences to enjoy expense-paid vacations, or, as I recall, one family's annual house renovation or addition.

When we learned of the renting benefits, my wife and I applied over the phone to the chamber for a "market visitor" offering two full bedrooms with separate baths. When I showed my face, I was told they could only pay $35 per night for the four people and only five nights. Strange, our neighbors received much more and provided much less. Accordingly, we declined the dregs.

Should city residences pay higher utility rates at the sacrifice of higher taxes, or are citizens required to contribute to elite private industries?

"Competition is good for business"?

Al Campbell
High Point

Former President Bill Clinton was impeached (charged), but not convicted by the U.S. Senate for lying concerning a sexual act to which he later admitted. President Clinton's action and response certainly were wrong and not befitting the high office he held, but lying in this circumstance does not fit the U.S. Constitution's language for impeachment.

Article II, Section 4 states: "The President ... of the United States shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors." It should be clear from this wording that removal from office is intended to be the result of a serious crime(s) committed against this country.

We do, however, have a president whose action fit this definition: George W. Bush lied to the American people by assuring us beyond any doubt that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction; and his actions have resulted in the death and injury of thousands of U.S. troops and tens of thousands of Iraqis.

His "high crimes" continued with the authorization of Lewis "Scooter" Libby, an administration official, to leak classified information that endangered the life of one of our own secret agents.

Bob Kollar
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Phyllis Picklesimer

I read H. Nolo Martinez's article, "Mending immigration: People's attitude is the real problem" (News & Record, April 23) with disbelief.

He cites the figure of $383 million as the "economic impact of local Hispanics in Guilford County for 2004." He does not, however, differentiate between legal and illegal Hispanics. He also does not give us the "economic impact" of illegal aliens for the same period in unpaid health care, school expenses and other services necessitated by a lack of ability to speak English and low income.

Recently, the News & Record told of an illegal who was given chemotherapy at a local hospital. Medicaid refused to pay, but the taxpayers of North Carolina surely will.

Perhaps his most frightening statements were: "Nothing will stop illegal immigration. It is the root of our dynamic economy. …We must focus on a 'makeover' of our nation's identity. It is about our culture. …" And his last paragraph, where he seems to express the idea the more illegal aliens that move to the Triad, the better off we all will be.

Parade magazine in the same newspaper stated that median U.S. household income declined 3 percent from 2000 to 2004. Rather than saying immigrants do the work legal residents will not do, would it be more accurate to say they will work for less than Americans? What part of that 3 percent decline has been due to illegal immigrants working for less money and benefits resulting in lower incomes for everyone?

Millions of people from Third World countries want to come to the United States. If nothing is done to halt this "transfer of population," immigration will cease only when the "tipping point" is reached and the United States is also a Third World country. No country can remain an economic power when its increased population is under-educated and under-skilled.

Those who feel that no amount of increased population is too much should visit India. It recently has been cited as a rising world power, but a visit there discloses a country with almost no infrastructure. Its increasing population makes each new road, power plant, etc., obsolete and inadequate before it is finished.

Most importantly, Martinez owes an explanation of when, if ever, he believes we will have enough illegal immigrants, and what he means by the "makeover" of our nation and "it is about our culture."

The writer lives in High Point.

There is a lot of hot air being blown by both sides of the immigration debate. One concern that many Anglos have is the inability, or unwillingness, of our new neighbors to speak the language.

My wife grew up in Quebec and spoke nothing but French until the eighth grade. She had to learn English to progress through her high school education. There were no "English as a Second Language" programs when she was growing up.

Almost all of us are descendants of immigrants, and our parents and grandparents learned the language. Being a law-abiding citizen and learning the language is the minimum we should expect of any of our neighbors.

Lastly, Lou Dobbs (CNN) or anybody else is not a racist for asking for everyone residing in this country to have arrived here legally.

Jim Galler
Stokesdale

I was a campaign worker in the 2004 election that involved Trudy Wade vs. John Parks. This election remains undecided.

The case is currently at the Supreme Court of North Carolina. The case has lingered there for some time. I believe the citizens of Guilford County and the state of North Carolina deserve an outcome to this 2004 election.

On April 21, I called the clerk of the Supreme Court and politely asked when the case would be heard. She was very polite and said she did not know. I then told her, as a citizen of North Carolina, I would like to express my concern that the 2004 election results had not been finalized. She said she would convey this information to the appropriate parties.

The Supreme Court's telephone number is (919) 733-3723. Hopefully, this election result will be finalized in the immediate future.

Bob Davidson Jr.
Greensboro

It is very unusual for the Guilford County court system to lose two long-time, highly qualified, dedicated members to retirement in the same week.

Carol Gray, a deputy clerk in High Point, and Debbie Burr, the trial court administrator in Greensboro, were honored last week for 30 years of outstanding service and were congratulated on the occasion of their retirements.

They served Guilford County and the state of North Carolina admirably, and the lawyers of Guilford County applaud them. They will be dearly missed by the bar, the judges, their co-workers and the public they have served for so many years. Congratulations.

Raymond A. Bretzmann
High Point
The writer is president of the 18th Judicial District Bar.

I am not exactly a person one would describe as a prude. However, I see no reason to use the words, "the knocked-up doggie bride," in your article (April 19) about the runaway dog. Do we really need this sort of language?

Marian Accles
Burlington

Many thanks to Deborah Waldner for the years she shared her family with all of us in her lighthearted column. She taught us that there is still f-u-n in the word dysfunctional and that we are not alone in our daily struggles with children, spouses, dogs and extended family.

The fact of the matter is that her three children are brilliant, successful and wonderful people. Her husband is, in fact, a brilliant educator and devoted father and husband.

Thanks to him and the children, as well, for being such good sports. We'll miss your wit and style, Ms. Waldner. Thank you.

Joe Kelleher
Greensboro

We Americans take justifiable pride in our history of assimilation, of welcoming immigration, of expanding our tent, of extracting the best in individual performance and contributions to society. We look with pride on "cultural" neighborhoods and celebrate customs from various places.

But we do not look with pride on times we intruded on individual rights and freedoms, or when we have been less than a lawful and open society, or when we have had narrow views on immigration.

Let us be sure, then, that in our current discussion of the important issue of lawful and practical immigration and our need to welcome talent at all levels to improve and sustain ourselves, we do not embarrass ourselves and our descendants.

David Haxton
Greensboro