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 fe