News-Record.com

I was in a local grocery store the other day and noticed posters reminding people to celebrate "Family Day" on Sept. 25. The point of the ad was to convey to us to have one meal with our children, as a total family unit.

I cannot believe that it has come to having a "special" day to eat together as a family. We should be trying to do this as much as possible anyway. It makes meal time a whole lot more interesting and fun. I just thought it was kind of funny, and sad, that we should be reminded to eat with our children. After all, before we know it, we'll be eating alone. Would've, should've, could've ...

Michael Zales
Greensboro

This is in response to Rosemary Roberts' column, "Pope will learn to watch his words" (Sept. 22).

Conservative radio talk show hosts frequently talk about those "arrogant, liberal elites" who are always making sure the rest of us know our place and that we always watch our politically correct P's and Q's. How fortunate we are in Greensboro to have Rosemary Roberts to hold as a shining beacon to that pathetic and, fortunately, dying cause.

Now she finds herself unable to resist lecturing the pope, of all people, on how he must cure his "foot in the mouth" disease for speaking nothing but the truth about the violence of Islamic extremism. She suggests the pope receive "sensitivity" training, and that he just doesn't fully understand the nature of the problem. Poor dumb ol' pope. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

Roberts' arrogance shows why her extreme liberal views, and those of the Democratic Party that panders to her kind, are being rejected by the majority of people in this country. But, please, Rosemary, continue your silly rants so we can all be reminded why we never want Democrats in charge of this country again. You just don't get it.

Steve Gorden
Kernersville

Shame on the News & Record for the headline you placed on the Thomas Sowell column, "U. S. must not be squeamish about torture" (Sept. 21). Nowhere in his column did Sowell use the word "torture."

There is a legitimate debate on what means we can use to interrogate prisoners who do not fall under the Geneva Conventions, i.e., who do not wear uniforms and are not the soldiers of any country. There is a case to be made that terrorists will torture prisoners regardless of what we do.

There is likewise a case for the United States rising above the conduct of terrorists. There is a case that if a terrorist knows an atomic weapon is about to be detonated in a major U.S. city, we must do to one person whatever it takes to get that information in order to save hundreds of thousands of lives.

Sowell is not arguing for torture. Your headline inflames and causes some, if not many, to turn away from his column and the legitimate debate. Your bias is showing, and in this case it does a disservice to your readers. Shame on you.

Pete L. Little
Greensboro

I have practiced law in the District Courts of Guilford County since 1973 and have seen the District Court bench undergo a lot of changes. I tried cases in front of Judge Tom Jarrell from his appointment up until last month. Tom is an experienced, dedicated judge, and we very much need him to remain on the District Court bench.

In District Court, very important issues are addressed — placement of children, division of marital property, calculation of spousal and child support. It is not the place for on-the-job training.

I highly commend Judge Jarrell to your readers.

John Lunsford
Greensboro

The solutions for several of your most recent Cryptoquotes deserve a reprint. In my opinion, George W. Bush would be wise to heed their messages.

• "One of the best ways to persuade others is with your ears — by listening to them" — Dean Rusk.

• "It's a good rule to follow the first rule of holes: If you are in one, stop digging" — Denis Healy.

• "Don't throw stones at your neighbors if your own windows are of glass" — Benjamin Franklin.

• "If at first you don't succeed, you may be at your level of incompetence already" — Laurence Peter.

• "Managing success is a tough job. There's a very fine line between self-confidence and arrogance" — Jack Welch.

Dorothy Meehan
Graham

I was surfing the Internet and came across a story that the News & Record published on May 5, 2002, reporting on how well Berkley Blanks handled his duties at the American Hebrew Academy on a frightening day, Sept. 11, 2001. It was titled, "Berkley Blanks - A consummate street cop and leader," and written by Alex Wayne.

It spoke of how co-workers and the headmaster at the academy, Alan Mars, viewed Berkley's handling of a potentially dangerous situation that faced all of the Jewish students in the days following Sept. 11. This is how Mars described Berkley's actions on that awful day: "He knew what to do and he did it in a very professional, responsible, mature, almost methodical way. He just made it all happen."

It is this kind of leadership that would make Berkley Blanks an asset to any organization. How about Guilford County sheriff? Isn't that what we want in a sheriff, proven leadership? Leadership does make the difference.

Evaluation by his peers and superiors demonstrate that Berkley Blanks has what it takes to lead this county. Give him the chance to protect you, the citizens of Guilford County. Please, vote Berkley Blanks for sheriff on Nov. 7.

Sandy Russell
Pleasant Garden

Thank you to Brian Sowers for the Sept. 27 article about his son, "Why we can be proud of our soldiers." His next-to-last paragraph is so poignant: "No matter what our political beliefs toward this war may be, let's never forget the sacrifices being made every day by brave American men and women and their families for the freedoms we enjoy."

I would add, please give these young men and women your support. They are supporting the very rights you have to voice your various political beliefs. No one wants or likes this war or any other war, but let's not undermine what our troops are doing. They are doing their job and putting their lives on the line for you.

I am the proud mother of Cpl. William L. Dunst, USMC.

Carol Davenport Bowles
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint

By Josh Weinstein

At the play, "The Diary of Anne Frank," presented at Triad Stage, I noticed that some middle school students were not acting appropriately during several scenes. I would like to explain to them why my school didn't appreciate it when these students misbehaved.

My school is a Jewish school and Anne Frank was a Jew. That gives us a deeper feeling of connection and seriousness about Anne Frank. I understand that it's hard to take something seriously that you don't understand or don't have a personal connection to. The connection we have to Anne Frank is a very deep one. We Jews have gone through many wars, discrimination and times when our religion almost failed to continue.

One of the worst times was the Holocaust. In the Holocaust, Hitler aimed to completely erase the Jews of Europe, who numbered 11 million people. At first, people didn't take what Hitler said seriously and thought he was a joke. That was a very big mistake as Hitler killed more than half the Jews of Europe. He erased 6 million Jewish lives from the world.

Anne lived in hiding throughout the Holocaust and World War II. She was told terrible stories of what was happening to her old friends and people she knew. Eventually, Anne became another victim. Another Jewish life erased.

Some of us had family who lived through the Holocaust or were killed in it. This is why we have an incalculable connection to Anne Frank. This is also why we were deeply insulted by the misbehavior. It's almost like laughing at the murder of 6 million innocent people.

I hope this letter helps these students have a better understanding of Anne Frank and the play now.

The writer is an eighth-grade student.

In your Sept. 24 paper, Benjamin E. Wilson stated Democrats have been represented over the years by the jackass. I am 80 years old and I think FDR was the greatest president of my lifetime, and one of the greatest in history.

At the age of 17, I, too, must have been a jackass because I joined the Navy. My ship was a tanker that took part in the Normandy invasion. We then went to the Pacific and served in the China Sea, Philippines, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and into Tokyo Bay.

I salute a Democrat jackass, President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

George Stanley
Greensboro

Our congregation of Spring Friends Meeting, part of the Religious Society of Friends, earnestly appeals to the sense of humanity and justice in taking the moral high ground with regard to torture and the treatment of prisoners. President Bush has said that he would ask Congress to approve broad new powers for his administration - powers that the Supreme Court has said are unconstitutional. We find these proposals abhorrent to the dignity and sanctity of human existence. We believe that such proposed measures and past practices severely compromise the integrity of the detainer as much as it mistreats the detainees. We urge assurance that:

• U.S. law continues to outlaw degrading, humiliating treatment of detainees and outrages on their personal dignity;

• U.S. detainees are tried under rules that safeguard protections for fairness and justice; and

• U.S. agencies are prohibited from wholesale invasions of personal privacy.

In the interest of peace and justice, we urge rejection of the president's proposals. We voice our preference for the proposals sponsored by Sens. McCain, Graham and Warner as more just and effective measures for long-term peace and security.

Kara VanHooser
Snow Camp

He was accused of inciting insurrection and arrested surreptitiously. He was convicted in a military court, sentenced to capital punishment and turned over to endure extraordinary interrogation techniques to force a confession and to name confederates. His execution was brutal.

His confederates, a pitifully small band of frightened men, hid and cowered, afraid that they, too, might be seized by the most powerful government on earth and suffer the same fate as their lost leader. Then, miraculously, the Master returned. His instructions to his followers were amazing. He did not demand revenge or even condemnation of his persecutors. He forgave them instead and instructed his apostles to adhere to the principles of life he so carefully described during his lifetime. He instructed them not to waiver, even though as followers they would be subjected to torture and death for spreading this gospel of love.

For 2,000 years, his ministers spread his teachings to believers who would rather die than deny them.

Today, many Christians turn away and even condone torture, capital punishment and unprovoked war as long as their temporal government, the most powerful government on earth, asks them to. But then, they are not apostles.

Michael J. Scotto
Greensboro

Who saw the glorious sunset, crimson, purple, orange; was moved by the full moon before the rains came, thankful for the deluge holding the drought at bay? Was wakened by birds in song at dawn; quieted by the silky stillness of dusk?

Who caught fragrance of honeysuckle this spring? Who breathes with difficulty the pollution in our coal-burned air? Drinks bottled water to avoid that of the city; doesn't eat tuna and risk mercury; doesn't dare go out lest a mosquito bite; a snake cross the path? Who? I.

Thrilled to share the journey of a baby sea turtle struggling across footprints, over driftwood, from nest to sea. Anticipating the continued danger: Could it avoid nets of fishermen, motors of boats, "dead" spots in the ocean without oxygen to support its life? If it found a place to rest and be nourished, 30 years from now, it will return to that same beach, and on the anniversary of its birth, lay its own eggs in that same sand.

Who sees, hears, smells, knows the miracles of nature, the awesome acts of earth and sea?

Notice and revere, for these are sacred moments. Not too many left.

Gay Cheney
Browns Summit

A few years ago, I was involved in a merger study of Greensboro Fire and three departments within Guilford County. The concept of merging departments was not a new concept within other parts of the country, but was a new and volatile idea within Guilford County. Members of the departments involved were skeptical. They feared the loss of identity and autonomy within their departments.

Annexing a fire district out of business can be costly to municipal taxpayers and those county taxpayers recently annexed. The purpose of the study was to find ways to offset those costs.

One of the departments involved in the study was Pinecroft-Sedgefield, headed by Chief Vernon Ward. Vernon knew that participating in the study could endanger his role as fire chief. Without regard for his position, Vernon participated.

This is an example of personal sacrifice that Vernon will bring to office as county commissioner for District 9. Vernon is the type of individual that we all would like to have representing us at any level of government. He understands the responsibility of being a representative of the people he serves and will always do so with honor and integrity.

Bradley C. Cox
Greensboro

The writer is Greensboro Fire Department deputy fire chief, retired.

Bravo to the patriotic gay students who challenged the Armed Forces Recruiting Center in Greensboro (News & Record, Sept. 21). A military called on to fight for the principles of equality and free speech embodied in our Constitution should embrace those principles in its own ranks. May I join your nonviolent sit-in?

Recently Great Britain announced its Royal Navy will recruit gay citizens as do other European countries. The U.S. now has a bill in Congress to allow gay members to openly serve in our armed forces. The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in effect since 1992 has embarrassingly failed. The approximately 1,000 forced discharges each year of gay members have weakened our intelligence skills while incurring great costs for replacements. Our armed forces need qualified service personnel more than they need to pacify the fading prejudice against gay members. Imagine.

It is a grand irony that skilled, openly gay British sailors will soon help defend the freedom of Catholic and some Protestant churches that use freedom to apply their biblical homophobia to persecute and deny equal rights to gay citizens. It is past time for those churches to update their theology.

Bill Clinard
Little River, S.C.

Regarding Thomas Sowell's column, "U.S. must not be squeamish about torture" (Sept. 21): I read this title with the thought, "What an insult to all who have fought to preserve this great democracy and the standards it has upheld."

The United States, in its debate on the issue of treatment of people under its custody, has not exhibited "squeamishness" or weakness. Upholding the rule of law for exactly those who we want to exclude from it — people who really are barbaric — is what makes us a great country. Defending that principle is courageous. Sowell also does not mention that adhering to the Geneva Conventions is supported by a great many people in the military — hardly a "squeamish" group.

The central debate is not how reprehensible our enemies are. A focus on that is the beginning of terrible acts. The debate is upholding the rule of law, even when we are frightened or outraged. The rule of law is in place because many brave men and women have known, over the years, that in times of great national stress there will always be Thomas Sowells, writing from their desks, saying, "Go ahead, don't be weak."

David Talbot
Greensboro

I really enjoyed reading your articles about the Dunleath property on Chestnut Street and the Colonial Ice Co. on East Market Street.

My brothers and I delivered the afternoon paper on Chestnut Street during the late 1940s and early '50s. We remember that a family named Trotter lived there. This was a magnificent property at that time.

I worked at the Colonial Ice Co. during the summer after my sophomore year in college. I grew up on Fifth Avenue. When I went to work, I walked down Summit Avenue and along the Southern Railroad tracks until I got to the ice plant.

The company was known as Colonial Ice and Coal at that time. We heated our house with coal until 1957. The greater part of their business was cold storage and nonperishable food products.

Harry N. Young
Greensboro

Regarding Donald Shaw's letter, "No reason to be thrilled over the coliseum's red ink" (Sept. 2), we would like to offer some important facts.

First, we would like nothing more than to see the Greensboro Coliseum not operate at a deficit each year, but we understand the fact that large arenas historically do not make money, even those with professional sports teams as a tenant.

Second, similar to parks, museums, hiking trails and recreation centers, the coliseum plays a dynamic role in the quality of life in Greensboro. However, unlike the aforementioned amenities, the Greensboro Coliseum is the only one that serves as a major economic generator for this region. The economic impact to Greensboro from just the top eight of nearly 800 events the Coliseum Complex hosted during the 2005-06 fiscal year was more than $105.3 million.

Therefore, the deficit cannot be fairly judged without taking into consideration the tremendous impact the coliseum has on hotels, restaurants, retail stores and many other facets of our community.

Greensboro received tremendous exposure on national television throughout the coverage of the ACC women's and men's basketball tournaments and the men's NCAA tournament games. This type of exposure simply cannot be measured in dollars and cents.

Kevin Green
Harrison Turner
Greensboro

Green is chairman of the War Memorial Commission; Turner is vice chairman.

As a member of New Garden Friends Meeting, I wanted to respond to Arthur S. Lyon (letter, Sept. 24) regarding Quakers holding a variety of positions on issues.

He is correct that we do not always agree; however, in the case of the letter in question, we absolutely did. I was in attendance at the monthly meeting for business when this letter was presented for approval to the entire body. Without any hesitation, all present approved publicizing it in various ways, including sending it to the News & Record, and Sallie Clotfelter, as clerk, agreed to send it.

I am aware, also, that many (perhaps most?) other Quakers in North Carolina Yearly Meeting, as well as many other people of faith, are in unity with denouncing torture of prisoners of war.

Thank you for the opportunity to clarify this action by our Meeting about an issue that concerns us very deeply.

Kate Hood
Greensboro

We are but a few of the many retired Greensboro police officers who support Superior Court Judge R. Stuart Albright.

Our association with Judge Albright first began when he became district attorney in early 2001. Guilford County had not had a finer district attorney since his father, Superior Court Judge Douglas Albright (retired), held the position.

As district attorney, Stuart Albright was tough on crime, but he placed great demands on law enforcement officers to closely follow the law when fighting crime, and he was just in his prosecutions.

He brings those same high values with him to the bench. Please vote for R. Stuart Albright for Superior Court judge this November.

Mike Toomes
Greensboro

The letter was signed by eight other retired police officers.

Doug Clark's column (Sept. 27) reconstruction of his fictional annual checkup is quite correct except for one critical assertion: He can't speak for his wife. His assertion about his wife, "certainly not," is a belief, not a statement of fact. Also, his assertion about himself is suspect; sexual histories are notoriously unreliable. He may be certain about himself, but that is as far as it goes.

Also, if you knew someone had HIV, would you have sex with them with nothing but a condom to protect you? No one in my practice has ever answered that with a "yes." Wise. "Let's go get tested" is the only rational approach to a new partner.

In addition to HIV, include hepatitis B and C, syphilis and chlamydia, all in one profile. Sex should be premeditated. Marriage is the ultimate in premeditated sex.

Dr. John R. Dykers Jr.
Siler City

Regarding Jim Schlosser's article on developer Roy Carroll (Sept.10), I'm struggling to ascertain the correlation between his description of Carroll as "handsome, tanned, blue-eyed" and the term "successful." Did the writer intend to imply that these features in any way contribute to Carroll's success as a developer?

Study after study has demonstrated that statements like this only serve to subliminally reinforce stereotypical images of what is attractive, successful and desirable or preferred in today's society. I sincerely hope the writer's comments don't make it back to Donald Cogsville, another developer who is considering investing in Greensboro. Cogsville hardly fits the blue-eyed, tanned profile, yet I suspect he is no less "successful."

Further, should Cogsville choose to invest in Greensboro, his dollars will be no less welcomed by the local economy, regardless of his physical attributes.

Tamera Ziglar
Greensboro

"We all have a lot in common with Bill Wright" is the slogan for Wright's N.C. House District 60 campaign. Why, because it is true, at least for me anyway. Like Bill Wright, I have a job that keeps me very busy and a family that relies on me to provide for them. Like Bill Wright, I am not privileged; what I have, I earned.

Like Bill Wright, I believe everyone deserves the same treatment and respect, regardless of their skin color. Like Bill, I care, worry about the future and wish I could make a difference.

There is, however, one thing I don't have in common with Bill: I have not committed myself to helping others with the same level of intensity and passion as he. I wish there was enough time for every registered voter in District 60 to visit with Bill before the election.

Very quickly, most would realize Bill is not your average politician. He is just like those of us who are absolutely fed up with crazy behavior from our elected officials (Republican or Democrat) and want someone providing political leadership that is ethical, honest and fair. Please support Bill Wright Nov. 7.

Deena Perdicho-Todd
Pleasant Garden

Why does the pope or anyone else have to watch his words? Why are we so concerned with the sensibility of the Islamic world?

Why? Because Muslims need very little provocation to have their people in the streets spilling blood. Has anyone from the Islamic world apologized for the murder of close to 3,000 innocent people in New York? Has anyone from the Islamic world apologized for the countless journalists, civilian contractors and religious individuals who have been murdered in the streets or have been beheaded in the name of sensibility?

How dare some Pakistanis even mention that the "infidel pope" be handed over to Muslims. As a Catholic, my sensibility has been insulted and we should receive an apology from a country that receives millions of dollars in U.S. aid. There is absolutely no way that the Islamic world can be considered sensible as long as these types of violent behavior continue.

It is clear to me that the only peace that Islam wants is after the destruction of every "infidel" or "nonbeliever" in the world.

Dennis Muelker
Oak Ridge

Current law on surveillance permits immediate tapping with special court approval within three days. The administration ignored this law and, after being exposed, claimed presidential wartime authority that a court has judged unconstitutional.

It is disturbing that the Congress is currently negotiating with the administration to allow it more authority to spy on citizens. The behavior of the administration demonstrates a lack of respect for the current law. More authority is not justified.

The behavior of the administration in the handling of other related aspects of a person's rights as defined by United States and international law (prisoners of war) further demonstrates the need for caution. The performance would indicate the need for close oversight by the Congress and stricter enforcement of accountability. Past performance would suggest a greater danger to our way of life from our own administration than from attack by terrorists. Terrorists threaten us with physical harm. Attacks on our basic rights damage the foundation of our nation.

James Sheldon
Greensboro

We are writing to urge voters to support Stuart Albright for Superior Court judge. Stuart has a long and honorable history of public service and has proven himself through his past experience as a private practice attorney, Guilford County district attorney and Superior Court judge.

He is the only candidate who has direct courtroom experience in virtually every relevant area of the court. In addition, Stuart is committed to serving our community and does so with excellence and integrity. His accomplishments are many and include holding court in eight counties, reducing the District Court logjam, starting an environmental court, and increasing the number of convictions in Guilford County courtrooms.

Greensboro is fortunate to have a judge of Stuart's experience and expertise, as well as his boundless energy. We are proud to be supporters of Stuart and urge voters to join us in supporting him on Nov. 7.

Nancy Lindemeyer
Tim Goetz
Greensboro

Are we searching for a chief of police to replace Chief David Wray? Is Interim Chief Bellamy being made the permanent chief by default?

Come on, city leaders. Let us know what is happening to the mess you got us in.

Vernon Powell
Greensboro

During the same week that America debates the merits of torture tactics such as water boarding, a historical documentary aired on the Red Orchestra, a group of anti-Nazi Germans active in intelligence gathering for the Resistance during World War II.

It fell to Rudolph von Scheliha of the German Foreign Office to justify accounts of Nazi atrocities that resistance fighters struggled to report to the foreign press. German intelligence denounced anti-Nazi Germans as the Red Orchestra to portray them as Soviet-friendly and justify their persecution. Almost half of the resisters eventually routed out by the Gestapo for torture and execution were women.

The parallels with then and now are too frightening. Once we enter the business of justifying torture, we join ranks with the most infamous in history. Is this the business of democracy? Is this the rightful action of free people anywhere at any time?

Cynthia Adams
Greensboro

Greensboro is undergoing a renaissance -- new businesses recruited, old neighborhoods restored, new parks, playgrounds and athletic facilities added. A center for culture and learning, a beautiful city, Greensboro is a highly desirable place to live.

Greensboro is a place for wonderful music and dance, great theater, inspirational speakers. These stimulate great ideas that challenge our minds, lift our spirits and broaden and enrich our lives, appealing to that which is human in our beings. Ultimately, these factors have the greatest bearing on Greensboro's quality of life.

The War Memorial Auditorium is the primary center for symphony concerts, theatrical productions and speakers -- world-class events that deserve a world-class setting. And, Greensboro deserves a world- class auditorium.

Not having been updated but twice in 50 years, the War Memorial's lighting, acoustics and seating are sadly inadequate, and the lack of handicapped access to second- floor restrooms is illegal. Seating should be increased, lobby space expanded and parking made accessible.

But, however dysfunctional it has become, probably the most damning adjective for the War Memorial Auditorium is ordinary. The music, the speakers, the theater, the ballet housed in this facility are far from ordinary and deserve a setting that is inspirational as well as functional.

Mary C. Miller
Greensboro

I just read the letter to the editor, "Here's a thought: Just send Democrats to Iraq," written by Benjamin Wilson (Sept. 24). Forgive me, Mr. Wilson, but I'm confused as to why you are advocating to send "a large group of Democrats, all selected from the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, to Iraq …." Why Democrats?

Since you chose to be divisive, I had to write. Why not send a large group of Republicans, "all selected … " That makes more sense because it is your Republican president who led us into this war. In fact, George W. can lead the bunch.

While it is true what you say that "the Democrats have been represented over the years by the jackass," it is hardly true that it's "the wildest of all animals" as you say. I like to remind you, Mr. Wilson, that Republicans have been represented over the years by the elephant, an animal that flattens anything in its path (sounds like George W. and his presidency).

I do agree with your first sentence, however: "The political situation in recent months has reached a point of no return."

Robert Nunn
Greensboro

Regarding your article, "PTI’s passenger numbers down 17 percent" (Sept. 20), I wonder if there is correlation between this trend and my experience on Sept. 17.

I was at the airport to pick up a passenger on a Northwest flight arriving at 9:56 p.m. I was relieved to see the flight "On Time." People waited at gate 23. Confusion developed about 10:30 - no passengers and "On Time" still posted. Other flights on time eventually showed "Arrived." Then at 11, this flight disappeared from the board.

A security guard at the gate said he had no information on the flight but said I might find something out downstairs. Downstairs provided car rental personnel whom I was embarrassed to ask for flight information. I overheard someone say he had called outside the airport and found the plane's brakes had locked, making it impossible to get passengers to the gate.

We continued to wait at gate 23, and about midnight, I heard a passenger coming from downstairs tell someone, "They brought us in downstairs." No announcement was ever made; no airport or airline employee came to the waiting area. After finding our passenger and waiting another 15 minutes for the luggage, we were able to leave about 12:15 a.m.

Not a user-friendly experience.

Yancey Robertson
Asheboro

Editor’s note: PTI Airport does not keep records of flight arrivals. However, airport officials said individual airlines typically have personnel available at the airport to field questions when flights are delayed.

I heard Phil Berger Jr. say that people who are undecided in the Rockingham County district attorney's race should ask law-enforcement officials whom they are voting for.

I spoke with deputies, police officers and even members of the Highway Patrol, and each one I spoke with said they were voting for Phil. But that should not come as a surprise. People in law enforcement, like all citizens, are tired of the plea bargains Belinda's been handing out.

If you aren't sure whom to vote for in the DA's race, do what I did and ask the police officers who are in court on a regular basis whom they are voting for and why.

Chrissy Dalton
Stoneville

I appreciate your editorial (Sept. 26) on the sad toll of young lives. I agree that education is one way to combat these tragedies. However, until our judicial system becomes tougher on parents who "fail to secure firearms from minors," there will continue to be a sad toll on young lives.

Maybe North Carolinians Against Gun Violence could look at judges who allow parents to be found not guilty when firearms were obviously not secured. Or maybe they could look at local attorneys who represent these people.

You speak of legislation that was passed 10 years ago regarding gun storage, yet you fail to mention that this legislation has to be enforced by our court system. Rockingham County's legal system must be unaware of this. I guess some people just don't take accountability for anything.

L.C. Stewart
Reidsville

The writer is the mother of the child mentioned in Rockingham County who died from gun violence in September 2005.

The following is a Counterpoint

By Maureen Parker

Recent comments made by Pope Benedict XVI would have been better received and less incendiary if he had first admitted to and apologized for the fact that Christianity, as well as Islam, has historically been guilty of violent acts.

Though Christians may find it convenient to brush this unfortunate truth under the carpet and too easily exonerate themselves (ourselves), it remains true that Christians killed Muslims mercilessly during the Crusades; Christians killed and tortured dissenters during the Spanish Inquisition; Puritan Christians burned "witches" at the stake during the Salem Witch Trials; bloody religious strife erupted between England's Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots; Nazi "Christians" killed Jews before and during World War II; and Protestant Christians still fight Catholic Christians in Northern Ireland. Christianity, over the centuries, has caused much death. We Christians are not blameless. We've repeatedly participated in inhumanity and violence, and we must accept responsibility.

It is unfortunate, however, that militant Muslims chose to respond to the pope's statement, not with diplomacy, tact, complaint or discussion, but instead with acts of aggression, thereby providing additional fodder for those who are convinced that Islam advocates violence. Most of us are not won over by those who kill nuns and burn churches.

Nevertheless, I persist in believing that most people the world over want peace. They love their spouses, brothers and sisters, children, grandchildren and friends. They want to live according to their own traditions and precepts. It is the marginal few who cause turmoil and terror, and, unfortunately, everybody else suffers.

Pope Benedict simply intended to decry violence, but (as we learned from Bill Clinton) we must learn to parse our words carefully, considering every possible implication and interpretation. We must tell, not only the truth, but the whole truth, which includes history, background, context - and our own transgressions.

In turn, mainstream Muslims should speak out forcefully to denounce Islamic zealots and the misery and conflagration resulting from their warped reading of the Quran. Extremist Muslims are hijacking Islam and giving it a bad name.

For the sake of civilized people everywhere, moderate Muslims must take back their religion and publicly distance themselves from this rogue branch of their faith.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

As a former Guilford County Deputy and School Resource Officer, I am against issuing Tasers to SROs in middle schools. During my tenure, I was assigned to high schools and middle schools. I made more than 100 arrests, from a student in possession of a homemade bomb, to one with a gun, to others with knives.

Department-issued weapons consisted of a handgun, shotgun, aluminum baton and canister of pepper spray. I felt then, as I do now, that department-issued weaponry was sufficient to carry out my middle school assignment. I believe Tasers will be given less thought during confrontations.

My research shows their use can have lethal consequences, especially to those with medical conditions. The Taser is for non-deadly confrontations and not designed to replace a firearm when deadly force is necessary. To officers assigned to middle schools who believe they're not sufficiently armed to carry out their duty, I recommend a change of assignment.

Bill Martin
Greensboro

Your article, "Landowners clear pines to prevent birds from nesting" was one of the saddest pieces of environmental news I've read in a long time.

I cannot believe that people in Boiling Spring Lakes really think that they're coming out ahead by cutting down trees before the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could designate parts of their town as protected habitat for an endangered bird. This is ludicrous, selfish and shortsighted.

Where is the outrage? Why did the town issue logging permits condoning this senseless and panic-driven response?

Such reckless knee-jerk reaction will result in negative long-term environmental and economic consequences. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Jo Strack
Greensboro

Kudos to Jason Hardin for a great article on the volunteer fiasco at the animal shelter (Sept. 30). Thanks for that expose. It was superbly written.

Hopefully it will galvanize the community to do something about the Gestapo-esque administration of the shelter.

I am amazed that the fine citizens of this community don't clamor for improvements to that poorly run shelter or its incompetent staff.
Thanks for all your help.

Jack Red
High Point

Last week, I ate dinner at a local, high-end restaurant. Within a few hours, I was extremely ill. Although I talked with my doctor, I did not go to the hospital — mostly because I did not think I could make it without an accident.

I reported the problem to the restaurant the next day. On the advice of a friend, I also reported it to the Health Department. Elaine Layton of the Environmental Health Division was completely professional. She went to the restaurant and inspected procedures and ingredients used in my dinner. She called and gave a full report exonerating the restaurant.

I write because I did not understand the importance of reporting suspected food poisoning to the Health Department. It is their job to track possible food contamination. However, they can only do it if the public keeps them informed.

E.A. Bailey
Greensboro

I visit Greensboro recently and watched the county commissioners on cable. The topic was minorities getting a fair share of contracts. I was appalled to see how unprofessionally some council members conducted themselves.

The world is constantly changing and it seems some in Greensboro can't adjust or aren't willing to do what's right for all citizens to benefit. The voters who elect these individuals need to decide if they are effective.

Greensboro continues to fall behind other cities (Charlotte, Raleigh and Winston-Salem) because it lacks the leadership.
Raleigh is planning to spend $1.3 billion on its downtown. Charlotte downtown has attracted 10 condo projects, and Winston-Salem continues to grow.

I read where a developer in Greensboro wanted to convert an old ice warehouse into condos and it was denied. Imagine the tax dollars that project would have generated. Has someone in Greensboro lost his mind?

Greensboro continues to be conservative and never thinks big. Greensboro is 15 years behind the state's major metros. Look at downtown Greensboro for an example.

Ron Gant
Charlotte

The following is a Counterpoint column.

By Beverly Meredith

The young gay and lesbian patriots who were arrested at a Greensboro military recruiting center are to be commended for their courage. They stood up to the unjust and discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law.

Many soldiers believe that it is a privilege to put their lives on the line in service of this country and its principles. By that extraordinary commitment, the soldier declares that those founding principles are utterly more important than the life that he or she may lose in their defense.

It should be humbling for a society that, through the very denial of enlistment to openly gay and lesbian soldiers, has to face the unfairness of a law that strays so far from our country's character and is so undeserving of any soldier's sacrifice. There have always been gays in the military, and there will continue to be, but to wink and pretend otherwise dishonors their service.

We are a great country, but we are not perfect. We must honestly ask ourselves why we would deny rights of service, as well as other civil rights to men and women simply because of sexual orientation. There is no shame in homosexuality, only in the requirement that it be kept a secret. That goes for civil life as well, but can be particularly poignant when we consider our gay and lesbian service people. Are we comfortable as a country, asking young men and women to forgo their rights, while they embrace the privilege of defending ours? Even to the point of sacrificing their lives?

The only shame here is in a country that does not live up to its potential of justice and equality for all.

We have made similar mistakes in our military history — the segregation of black soldiers up through World War II and the absence of recognition of the services that they provided. We realize the injustice now and are a better country for it. The military subsequently worked hard to integrate soldiers and to become an example of institutional equality. Becoming a better country often requires us to look ourselves in the mirror and see where we could be better, and to recognize injustice when we see it.

We may be a great country, but we are not finished. Thank you, Matt, Jessica, Stacey and Alex, for holding up the mirror and reminding us that there is still work to do.

The writer lives in Liberty.

I'm so glad to hear you support the notion that a university student "who'd just rather not show up for class" should have the opportunity to buy a McLecture online (editorial, Sept. 28).

I suppose if one of your reporters just didn't feel like showing up for work one day, it would be OK to buy a story online. Why not sell a good paper to that student who doesn't feel like writing a term paper? Let the market decide.

Sadly, this is just another chapter in the commercialization of higher education. When I was in college, my best professors didn't lecture at us, and there were no "online" lectures. They showed us, through their caring presence, how to be good, thoughtful human beings, nurturing our hearts, minds and spirits.

Now, we can just do it all online, without any human contact. McHurray.

Christopher Poulos
Greensboro

Homeowners, beware. If your property is adjacent to the railroad, the North Carolina Railroad Co. is looking to take 100 feet of it. As you may have read, it is contacting businesses whose property adjoins the railroad. It wants us to sign over our rights to our property, pay an annual rent of $1,000 or more, and provide $1 million in insurance coverage.

Notice that I did not say it wants to buy our land. It intends to take it.

Even though our deeds clearly show our property lines, the railroad claims that a document from the 1800s establishes its right to take 100 feet on both sides of the track. It claims it needs the track in years to come for high-speed rail, additional tracks, etc. If that is indeed the case, why is it not contacting homeowners along the tracks as well? Will it not need 100 feet of homeowners' land as well as business property for this so-called track expansion?

This is nothing but a big money-making scam for the railroad, with you and I picking up the tab. Again, if your property adjoins the railroad, this will affect you. You would be wise to join us in fighting the railroad now, before it soon comes knocking at your door.

Jim Wiggins
Greensboro

We all are solicited by many worthwhile causes. The United Way is unique among charitable causes in that it is about investing in our community — High Point, Archdale, Trinity and Jamestown, the "neighborhood" in which we live and work, raise our children and care for our neighbors.

Approximately one of every three people in our neighborhood receives services at United Way's 29 partner agencies. The United Way allows us to reach out to our neighbors in Greater High Point and invest in each other, care for each other, and keep our community strong, safe and united. That benefits us all. The United Way gives hope to those who need it most. "Hope" is what Emily Dickinson described as "the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tunes without the words."

Our 2006 campaign goal is $4,200,600. If you are proud to be a part of the Greater High Point community, if you believe we have a responsibility to share our blessings with those in need or less fortunate, then you will be proud to support your United Way. Please give generously to your community. Together, we do what matters.

Kenneth W. McAllister
High Point

The writer is chairman, United Way of Greater High Point 2006 Campaign.

I applaud Bill Craft's answer to the bond issues coming up (letter, Sept. 28). Many citizens from around the state and out of state use the facilities in Greensboro that need money. Also, consider a surtax on ticket sales to pay for the improvements. The Carolina Theatre has a special tax when tickets are sold.

If these bond issues are passed, property taxes increase. And this tax will never be abated. Next time improvements are needed, another bond issue is voted on, adding more tax to the upcoming tax. Let the people pay who use the museums.

Charles O'Brien
Greensboro

On behalf of the Lawrence family, we want to offer our heartfelt gratitude for all who made it possible to return Alice's body back to Sudan. Her family held a funeral service on Sunday, Sept. 24, in Khartoum.

While this was a sad event for them, it meant so very much to have her back for burial and to be able to grieve together. Her brother, Jimmy, was there, along with his wife and young son. Your cards, notes and donations have touched their hearts — and ours.

We are also very happy to report that there were enough funds remaining to significantly assist Jimmy with his college education. He, in turn, will have a positive impact upon the whole family because of this. It is our hope we will someday see him again.

For now, please accept our deepest gratitude. This is truly a compassionate, amazing community. And, please, keep the people of Sudan in your prayers.

Terry Moore-Painter
Julie Peeples
Greensboro

Now that a year has passed, the Mississippi Gulf Coast is seeing the fruits of the labor provided by the many generous people who have tirelessly assisted in our recovery and rebuilding efforts.

We'd like to thank all of the members of the following Greensboro-area organizations that have given of their time, hearts and hands: Centenary United Methodist Church; Christ United Methodist Church; Gray's Chapel United Methodist Church of Franklinville; Pleasant Union United Methodist Church of Liberty; Tabernacle United Methodist Church; and West Market Street United Methodist Church.

We would also like to thank the countless others from your area who also gave of themselves to aid in our recovery. Words can't begin to express our appreciation.

As we continue to rebuild our coastal communities, we are inspired by the ongoing commitment of so many people around the country and in Greensboro. Because of this kindness, Greensboro has a permanent place in our hearts.

If members of your community would like to see how we're progressing, please visit our Web site at www.gulfcoast.org. Thank you again for all the hope you provided.

Stephen B. Richer
Gulfport, Miss.

The writer is executive director, Mississippi Gulfcoast Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Bailey, Colo., is now one of the infamous locations where disregard for human life has manifested itself. Columbine, Paducah, and others have witnessed the siege and attack on their educational facilities.

Politicians and so-called pundits can rationalize all they wish, but equilibrium must be maintained. If something is removed, something will take its place. God was removed from the schools to satisfy the need for separation of church from state. We now see the fruits of our decision.

Once we had fistfights, now we have gunfights and lives are lost. The icons of this country say, "In God We Trust," but do we really trust him enough to let him be our leader in the schools? We have seen the painful results when we don't. With prayer, all things are possible. Without prayer, the unthinkable is a reality. Make a choice.

William H. Wall
Archdale

By Bill Bencini

How amusing the headline was for the Sept. 28 article announcing the new CEO for the fledgling West Coast regional furniture market: "Vegas lures local exec."

To convince an unemployed furniture executive to take a high-profile position shouldn't require much "luring," especially when the position under consideration is located in the applicant's beloved hometown. The decision for Harvey Dondero was arguably easy, considering his family's history and high profile in Las Vegas. His mother served as a Clark County commissioner for 20 years and currently serves on the Board of Regents for the Nevada System of Higher Education. His father's name adorns the Harvey Dondero Elementary School. Then there is his daughter, Carolyn, the marketing and advertising director for Dondero's new employer.

Dondero's notably unsuccessful tenure as CEO of Broyhill might also contribute to his desire to return home. At Broyhill, he oversaw the elimination of thousands of jobs in North Carolina, along with the closing of six manufacturing facilities. Under Dondero's leadership, Broyhill was cited repeatedly as a significant drag on Furniture Brands International profits by Chairman Mickey Holliman.

Industry observer Ivan Cutler's comments on Dondero's hiring are equally amusing. To characterize the High Point Market's chief as a "technician" is not only incorrect but derogatory, in light of Brian Casey's lifelong success in the development and management of world-class trade shows.

As High Point's Market has grown through the years to include 180 buildings, our Market Authority chose an exposition industry specialist to lead us forward. The Market Authority board supporting Casey is comprised, in part, of successful furniture manufacturing CEOs.

They chose Casey through an extensive national search to develop strategies for strengthening High Point Market's position as the world's best. His hiring was based in large part on the realization that High Point requires far more than furniture industry "peers" to achieve its goals.

The Vegas market to be overseen by industry "peer" Dondero faces a decline in its attendance, even as it breaks ground for its third building. Vegas saw a decline in attendance from July 2005 to July 2006 "of about 12,000," the News & Record reported Aug. 17.

Best of luck to Dondero in his "total paradigm shift." It is doubtful that he will succeed in his self-described position as "supreme spokesman for the consumer," but perhaps he will be able to help the gambling business in Vegas if attendance at that market stabilizes.

The writer is a High Point city councilman.

In seven years as a regular volunteer at the Guilford County Animal Shelter, I have met hundreds, possibly thousands, of dogs there. I have seen dogs get adopted to wonderful homes. I have also seen dogs "disappear." Maybe the day before 70, 80 or even 90 dogs were surrendered or brought in by Animal Control.

The shelter does a really good job of trying to keep dogs until they are adopted, but sometimes adoptable dogs are euthanized because there is just no room. This is heartbreaking for everyone.

I firmly believe we need a licensing law that would promote spaying and neutering. For those of you whose hearts are not touched by so many innocent, adoptable animals being euthanized, let me appeal to your wallets. Each animal that comes in to the shelter costs the taxpayers money — the shelter needs at least $1 million each year.
Greensboro really needs to catch up to the rest of North Carolina and the United States and enact a licensing law.

It's too late for BamBam, Mutzie, Lisa, Jocelyn, Bagel, Tanner and many other wonderful homeless dogs, but it's not too late to do the right thing now.

Jan Grafton
Greensboro

Concerning Gene Owens' column (Sept. 30) about Yankees and Southern language, I'm thankful that the Stars and Stripes flies over Richmond. Otherwise, our language here today might be German.
Dankeschon and Aufwiedersehn, you guys.

Mary Underwood
Asheboro

How can we continue to buy gasoline from Citgo, which is a subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company, after the venomous things Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had to say about this country on our own soil? Instead of Harlem welcoming him, he should have been booed off the streets.

Let's live up to our name, "The United States of America," and stand united in showing Chavez that he does not come to this country to demean and ridicule us, the very country that is probably supporting most of the world with our dollars.

Let's get off our apathetic rear ends and start standing up to these dictators, tyrants and terrorists. 7/11 is doing its part. Why doesn't our government follow its lead? Why don't you? I know I am. Goodbye, Citgo.

Fay Pegram
Greensboro

Doug Clark's column, "HIV testing really isn't for everyone" (Sept. 27), entirely misses the point of the Centers for Disease Control's recommendations of routine HIV testing for everyone from age 13 to 64.

Even worse, Clark feeds into the still huge stigma of HIV by implying that heterosexual, married men have as much chance of contracting the disease as they do of getting bitten by a shark in their doctor's waiting room. Clark's analogy is all wet.

The truth is everyone who is sexually active is at risk for HIV. The CDC estimates that there are currently more than 1 million people living with HIV in the United States and that about one in four people who are HIV-positive are unaware of it.

Mainstreaming HIV testing will help identify infected people earlier, allowing them to access life-extending therapy and, through prevention education, learn how to avoid transmitting HIV to others.

The CDC's recommendations include strong language on informed consent to make sure no one is tested without his or her knowledge.

Finally, I wonder if Mr. Clark would have used such a satirical approach had he been writing about a disease like breast cancer.

Addison Ore
Greensboro

The writer is executive director, Triad Health Project.

Thank you for the major positioning of the review of "Kingdom Coming" (Oct. 1, Books Page) about the very real threat of "Christian" nationalism in the United States. This book should be mandatory reading for all voters.

The threat is not from Christianity, but from fundamentalists like Dobson, Phelps, Falwell and others who pervert the teachings of Jesus and fail to follow His precepts in their quest for power. They are perfect examples of the false prophets whom Jesus railed against in his time on earth.

Their goal is a theocracy — much like the Taliban. They are striving politically to gain control of our entire government, just as they have gained control of the current administration. But the theocracy is not the Christianity of choice — they would mandate only their brand of religion as the sole religion of our country.

Regardless of party affiliation, true Christians must not let that happen.

David Parker
Greensboro

Allen Johnson (column, Oct. 1) is a brave man. Like Juan Williams, the author of "Enough," and Bill Cosby, Johnson is willing to call out for authentic black leaders — those who could influence the blacks in this community to address today's core issues that rob all black people, especially young, bright, capable and immensely talented black people. Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King and Dr. Kenneth Clark knew that all black people needed to excel were the same opportunities that white people had. Witness Condoleezza Rice, Rod Paige, Clarence Thomas, Michael Steele and many others. These are black leaders who are true to the purpose of the Civil Rights Act, of whom all Americans can be proud.

The civil rights movement has been hijacked. Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and the like effectively prey on huge numbers of their own people, promoting a mentality of victimhood, convincing them that they still live in pre-Brown vs. Board of Education days of no opportunities. Everyone clearly sees the innate hypocrisy.

The good news is that many of the bright young black people are today laser-focused on taking advantage of that for which their forefathers struggled dearly. To whites and blacks alike, it's a beautiful thing to see.

Edwin Lyon Jr.
Greensboro

We should be outraged if a terrorist's feelings are hurt or he is humiliated when he is asked how they plan to kill us.

Outraged if a guard mishandles the terrorist textbook and is not properly punished.

Outraged if every terrorist is not supplied with an ACLU lawyer and given same rights as U.S. citizens.

Outraged if we do not provide terrorists with secret classified information to defend themselves.

Outraged if we trace their money or monitor their plans to blow us up.

Outraged if the suicide bombers killing innocent civilians in Iraq are called terrorists because there are no terrorists (only insurgents) in Iraq.

Give me a break. War has never been civilized or humane, and wars are not won by being civilized and humane. The Islamist fascists do not play by any rules. If we do not win this war, our children's heads will roll in the street or bow to Mecca.

It remains to be seen if enough moderate Islamists and pacifists will take a strong enough stand to prevent an all-out holy war, but make no doubt about it, we are at war. Wake up, America.

Ed Preston
Greensboro

By George Arnold

Your editorial "Asleep at the switch" (Oct. 3) encourages the school board to take a "closer oversight of construction costs." It has been my experience with more than 20 years in the construction industry that price instead of cost has been the primary focus of school construction. Price may get you in the door of a new or renovated school, but cost keeps those doors open without having to ask "Dad" (the taxpayers) to bail you out.

To have any success with keeping costs in line, the first goal of the school board must be quality. Some suggestions on achieving quality:

 Develop a clear scope of work for each project and then hire a design professional who is qualified to provide plans and specifications for this need.

 Negotiate with prequalified contractors to find a balance between price and cost. The practice of accepting a low bid almost always assures low quality.

 Review and relax some of the requirements of The Office of State Construction. The requirement to have three equal products encourages the use of cheap products that may keep the price lower, but it discourages the use of more durable and innovative materials.

 Allow design professionals to defend and enforce their specifications. This is a most important step toward achieving quality, keeping costs down and maintaining accountability.

 Consider energy and maintenance costs when designing new facilities. It has been my experience that energy costs are at least discussed during design but maintenance costs are rarely a consideration.

 Improve communication and cooperation. It is important that the owner, designer, contractor and supplier work together toward a common goal.

Requiring accountability for actual costs of construction, repairs, maintenance and energy efficiency starts with a requirement for quality.

The writer is president of TSA Inc. and a manufacturer representative.

Regarding Paul Daniels' letter (Sept. 18) about the racial protest: I completely agree with it. I don't consider myself a racist. I have precious friends who are African American, but certain people in every race can give a bad name to their race.

God made each and every person and He doesn't look at race. People who don't have the strength of God in their lives take out their frustration and anger in public, causing problems and perhaps violence.

Unfortunately, the African American and Mexican races are in the higher percentile of problem areas. If we focused on the individual and not the race, the anger would lessen.

African Americans did go through agonizing cruelty and prejudice in past generations, but now their anger is focused on the wrong generation. I did not cause what happened in the past and, while I am horrified at what they went through, don't blame me for what our fathers and grandfathers did.

Elizabeth Jones
Greensboro

I was appalled to read recently that the Guilford County Animal Shelter has a history of dismissing volunteers. For if there is a hell on earth, it is that shelter. Dismissed for "breaking a rule"? Anyone willing to venture into that stinking bedlam on a regular basis should be welcomed back every time.

The stench of the place knocks you down on entering. The pens are small. I saw aggressive dogs mixed in with meeker ones, who were forced to defend themselves constantly. The noise is deafening.

Stressed inmates quickly unlearn any house training. There are never enough volunteers to get the animals outside regularly. Even if there were enough volunteers, the outside grassy area is so tiny, it cannot accommodate more than a couple of dogs at one time.

Only by preparing myself mentally for days in advance have I been able to go there and adopt my last two dogs.

To paraphrase Mahatma Gandhi, a society can be judged by the way it treats its animals. Except for the handful of saints allowed to volunteer there as long as they don't make waves, what does that shelter say about us?

Barbara T. Nelles
Greensboro

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and has become a very "pink" month with the addition of everything from pink bagels (thank you, Panera Bread) to pink candy.

As we enjoy these wonderful treats and support all of these companies making donations toward breast cancer research, let us not forget some important information.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in the United States for women other than non-melanoma skin cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Approximately 211,000 women will be diagnosed this year and 41,000 Americans will die from it. There is much that can be done about this, and it involves you.

When you "think pink" this month, please think about the women in your life and encourage them to perform a monthly self-breast exam. If your mother, sister, daughter, wife or friend is age 40 or older, please encourage her to have a mammogram. In busy, hectic lives it is easy to put aside these tasks as one more thing to do.

Truly, self-breast examination and mammography save lives daily, and a little encouragement from a loved one might be what makes that happen.

Kathy Reid
High Point

The only unquestioned, absolutely charted bipartisan agreement on any detectable success of the Bush administration is massive profits for the oil industry. A war in Iraq that should never have happened, using distortion to justify it; a transfer of forces from the true war against terrorism in Afghanistan to Iraq; reports from all American intelligence agencies and those military officers who have "nothing more to lose."

America is in big trouble. Thank you, George W. Bush and associates.

Lonnie Groendes
Greensboro

Just a reminder to the citizens of the Piedmont Triad:

There is so much glitz and glamour surrounding the new shops at Friendly Center. Driving by, the parking lots for the restaurants are packed day and night. Good for new businesses.

But keep in mind, these are not Triad-based businesses. These are chains, beautiful, expensive, yes -- but not homegrown by people who need local supporters. For those of you with disposable income heading out to eat or shop today, please remember local business owners whose corporate support does not come from 2,000 miles away. Otherwise, your money will end up lining the pockets of people who may never come to the Triad.

Those of us who choose to buy locally can rest assured our support is very much appreciated.

Susie Roberts
Greensboro

Concerning the problem of the huge number of illegal aliens in the United States and what to do with them, perhaps Congress should pass a conscription law, forcing all illegal aliens between the ages of 18 and 35 to join the military for a mandatory two years of service. That way, they would certainly learn the price of freedom, get an education and a job with excellent benefits, appreciate a nation governed by and founded upon laws, and beef up the military in our war on terrorism.

After two years of satisfactory service, they could then apply for American citizenship legally, without breaking any of our nation's laws.

Andy Preston
Greensboro

How much politics is involved in the current drop in gasoline prices? Depending on who wins, we may find out after the November elections.

Those were great pieces by Thomas Friedman and Thomas Sowell on Sept. 28. Regarding the prisoners at Guantanamo, I'd bet that if they had been arrested by one of our terrorist enemies for suspected activity against that enemy, their tortured heads would have rolled long ago -- all without due process.

Let no one believe that name, rank and serial number were all our World War II enemies required as answers to their questions if the interrogator believed more would be gained by a little persuasion.

Bill Clinton claims he came closer than anyone else to erasing bin Laden. Is there any merit to have failed by a closer margin than did others? He still failed.

Suppose we had come close to erasing Hitler and Tojo, but failed. How much difference would the margin of error have made in their occupation of the free world? Could Clinton have been distracted by a female intern?

By the way, let's hope he never becomes First Gentleman of the U.S.A.

Francis L. Perkins
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Michael Northuis

The article, "Detainee measure boosts president's power" (Sept. 30), sent cold chills up my spine. The bill it refers to has effectively eliminated all the checks and balances that our constitution so wisely set in motion.

Bush and Cheney now have to answer to no one, not even the courts. The bill goes so far as to include American citizens as possible "enemy combatants." You or I could be whisked away in the dark of night and tortured and/or sentenced to death without knowing why.

The bill also contains retroactive protections for Americans that would be investigated and tried for breaching laws and treaties designed to protect prisoners from torture. Are Republicans afraid Democrats will demand accountability should they take a majority this fall?

The notion that torture is somehow keeping you safe is just the sales pitch for this unconstitutional power grab. Witness the fact that half of the "faulty intelligence" (pertaining to chemical weapons) that was used to justify going into Iraq was obtained through torturing one Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi until he agreed with everything his torturers wanted to hear. How many lives and billions of dollars did that "productive" little torture session cost us? Torture has been proven to be unreliable. Why does King George the Decider want to persist in this barbaric, inhuman and un-Christian behavior?

With this bill, America has gone from a democracy to a dictatorship. We are becoming just like the nations we preach human rights to. Jesus, protect me from people who say they are your followers but think that bombs, torture and goon squads solve all problems.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

The front-page article on Robert Callahan (Sept. 22) upset me very much. The article related the tragic death of this local young man while serving in Iraq.

I couldn't help but feel how insensitive and disrespectful the headline of the article was, and I will not quote it for those very reasons. There was absolutely no need to use that headline. Who hasn't made wrong choices during their youth?

I am thankful that the article stated that Army Cpl. Robert Thomas Callahan received an Army Commendation Medal for being a hero during his first tour in Iraq. It was good to learn about his marriage and family.

I will always remember Bobby and my son playing on the same Pony League baseball team many years ago. I will always admire his courage. Both my sons-in-law have served our country - one in Afghanistan and one in a lengthy tour in Iraq. I know how families pray for their servicemen's safe return.

I extend my deepest sympathy to Robert Callahan's family. His sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Diane Spoerlein
Jamestown

I was very saddened to hear of Lody Glenn passing away.

As a former student of Mr. Glenn's, I can say he was truly a person to respect. Mr. Glenn was a firm but reasonable principal of Grimsley High School. He led with integrity and with no hidden agenda or ego.
The late 1970s were difficult times for students as well as school leaders. Mr. Glenn had the knowledge, capability, self-discipline and the heart to handle all situations with grace and kindness.

Paula Hodges
Greensboro

As a young man, I joined other male heterosexuals in expressing my abhorrence of homosexuals and "queers." This homophobia was probably based more on our desire to prove that we weren't "that way" by expressing our adamant opposition to anyone who was.

I now accept that these individuals are not so much different than those born with other physical, mental or addictive handicaps. Of course, there are those who ignorantly claim that "it's their choice," even though homosexuality has been described as a genetic sickness just as alcoholism.

The Bible does not state that being a homosexual is sinful, just the act of homosexuality, as are the acts of fornication, adultery and drunkenness. God sees these sins equally. Many Christians discriminate against homosexuals more than those with other burdensome sins in their lives.

As Christians, we should take a stand and offer extra encouragement to these individuals who attempt to be good Christians even though they are burdened under heavy bonds of personal sin. Sin cannot be classified. Or should Jesus have said, "Let him with a lesser sin cast the first stone"?

Neal E. Hall
Reidsville

I write to express my displeasure and concern about your recent cartoon of Pope Benedict XVI captioned, "Shoes of the fisherman" (Sept. 22, Second Opinion page). Obviously, the cartoonist was referencing the violent responses of some Muslims to the pope's statements in Germany on the incompatibility of religion and violence, and his regrets that his reference to a 14th century quotation of a Byzantine emperor was misconstrued. However, the cartoon caricatured the pope as a bungling buffoon - my perception - with bulbous countenance, crossed eyes, huge ears and sandals stuffed in his mouth.

Adding to the offensiveness of the message is its placement graphically positioned within a Rosemary Roberts column, with a condescending headline above it: "Pope will learn to watch his words." Unfortunately, her column ends with the coarse and gratuitous remark: "He's new on the job, and I doubt he'll blow it the next time."

I would hope that the News & Record would be more sensitive toward issues of interfaith understanding and respect in these matters. In a world filled with conflict, you, the press, may I suggest, have an awesome and important role and responsibility.

Richard von Stamwitz
Greensboro

The repainting and additions to the downtown Reidsville mural are now complete. The store buildings in the mural are the old Crescent Milling buildings. The building with the flag is the Post Office built in the 1880s where the library is now, and the view of the American Tobacco building is from 1928. The tobacco barn and sign are from 1915. The house, intended to be the Governor Reid house, is now a little closer to its model.

Working on this mural has been a pleasure, and I want to thank everybody who gave encouragement, memories and advice. At Reidsville City Hall, I especially want to thank Mayor Festerman, City Manager Kelly Almond, Tammy Spencer and Libby. In the Maintenance Department, Danny Yount, Ronnie McDaniel and Lindsey Tuttle were all great to work with. I also want to thank the Reidsville Downtown Merchants Association for its support and hospitality. Special thanks to the Reidsville Library and to the Fenton Glass store, the Reidsville Theatre, Studebacker Antiques, Swann Paint and Cafe 99, among many others.

I hope the people of Reidsville will enjoy owning this mural as much as I have enjoyed working on it.

Kitty Williams
Madison

If the Republican leaders in Congress can't protect a 16-year-old page from a sexual predator in their midst who's stupid enough to send sexually explicit electronic messages, how can they possibly protect us from smart, crafty and determined terrorists who are scattered across the globe?

Susie Barnes
Greensboro

When was the last time you visited the Guilford County Animal Shelter? It would only take one visit for you to see the problems that exist.

In one visit, you could see the peeling paint, dank rooms and small fenced areas where the dogs are allowed for short periods. In one visit, you could see the staff try to answer phones while processing adoptions. In one visit, you could realize the shelter, staff and volunteers are overwhelmed and the shelter is, simply put, acting as the finger in the dike.

Thankfully, there are solutions. We could require licensing, develop animal welfare education and implement an aggressive spay and neuter program. Changing the course of this tide is not up to one group or one city in the county. It is not about past grudges or alliances. It is not political. It is about life, choices and right and wrong. It is about beginning a dialogue.

Nothing will change or move forward if we don't start discussions and work together. It is time to realize that the status quo is just not enough.

Paige A. Pinder
Greensboro

Can't believe you would drop Mona Charen's column (Oct. 7) in favor of "pithy" Pitts and "possum-grease" Owens, notwithstanding the "woolly" Woodward 6-inch-by-8-inch cartoon.

You say, "Mona's column will return." I say, "You can't keep a good woman down."

Jim Ellis
Stoney Creek

On Oct. 4, the Triad lost a true gem of a radio station. Oldies 93 has for years played the favored music of the baby boom generation.

They have switched to a country format, citing a lack of advertising revenue as the reason. By their own admission, they were one of the top oldies stations in the nation, yet they could not generate enough revenue to stay afloat. Apparently, the local advertisers did not see the need to market to the 50-something generation.

Yes, I hate to see Oldies 93 go, but the larger issue is the apparent lack of recognition by the business community of the baby boomers and the enormous buying power that we represent.

Another country station, just what the Triad needs — not. We already have too many.

Ron Newman
Greensboro

I had to laugh when I heard Mayor Holliday's suggestion to businesses in downtown Greensboro to pool money and hire off-duty police officers (at $28 an hour I might add). Greensboro is finally dealing with the problem of an aspiring nightlife, and rightfully so, it is about time. But we are definitely not the first city in the state to deal with these problems, more likely the last, but we can look to these cities for advice.

As a resident of Wilmington for five years, I experienced the nightlife and the couple dozen cops positioned downtown from midnight to 3 a.m., Thursday through Saturday nights, to deter the same problems Greensboro is now facing. They closed streets to divert traffic, they stood in the most populated and high problem areas of downtown, and even patrolled on horses.

Privatizing security is not the answer because this is the city's problem; these businesses are only here to help make it thrive. Please do some research next time, Mayor Holliday.

Downtown still isn't near as populated as almost every other major North Carolina city on Friday and Saturday nights, but this problem definitely needs to be dealt with before it is.

Amy Thomas
Greensboro

We are being asked by the City Council to approve 11 new bond initiatives worth $115 million. Also on Oct. 10, the News & Record reported the school board was considering $816 million in bonds for 2007. The total of the two bond requests is $931 million.

Are we sure all of this is necessary? The News & Record reports Greensboro has experienced a renaissance that has enlivened the streets and strengthened the economy. High taxes will darken the streets and weaken the economy. Be careful, we need to be good stewards of our money.

Neil W. Yeargin
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By CHRIS MYOTT

I hate to have to be the one to educate Lorraine Ahearn about North Carolina scuppernongs (column, Oct. 4), but here goes.

If the man who sold her the green grapes had not been pulling her leg, he would have told her all about scuppernongs.

If you want them straight off the vine in their firm tannish-green state, hard to the touch and sour to the tongue, then so be it. They will make fine marbles to decorate your counter or coffee table and to shoot in your slingshot at varmints.

But, if you want to savor the sweet juice of the true North Carolina scuppernong in all its glory, leave them on the vine until they're tawny in looks and gently soft to the touch.

The hulls will pop in your mouth and the juice will run down your chin and all over your overalls if you're not careful. Bring along a roll of paper towels.

A more magnificent taste of honey sweetness cannot be found. That's why Aunt Ollie used to preserve them for winter, cooking hulls and fruit together with added sugar and Sure-Jell, then packing the mixture in pint jars.

What a treat on a cold winter morning on a hot biscuit from the oven. Is it any wonder the scuppernong is the North Carolina fruit?

Aunt Ollie must be spinning in her grave at the cruel joke played on you. And she would be asking you to please not sample the "fresh off the tree" persimmons at the fruit market.

Please wait 'til they "fall off the tree" and then bake them in a pudding. We would hate you to lose face in your column on two of our best North Carolina fall delicacies.

The writer lives in Eden.

A team from the Natural Science Center just returned from the national Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) conference held in Tampa, Fla. With the construction of Greensboro's new Animal Discovery now 75 percent complete, our institution has begun working on the lengthy and complex accreditation application.

Once accredited, Animal Discovery will be in the top 10 percent of zoological facilities in the country. It is a big deal.

In fact, we intend to become the only American Association of Museums and AZA accredited facility in the state. Yes, right here in Greensboro. It is important for the citizens of this great city to truly understand the passion and impact that AZA facilities like the N.C. Zoo and the future Animal Discovery have in their respective communities.

With the present up-fit of Animal Discovery and a fresh focus on the museum's all-new Science City USA master plan, science education, tourism and ability to attract business will be the primary beneficiaries.

We serve you, our citizens, to improve the economic and intellectual vitality of this community. We understand that the status quo is no longer acceptable, and we look to you to share in our passion to meet and exceed national standards.

Glenn Dobrogosz
Greensboro

The writer is president/CEO, Natural Science Center.

At the risk of getting smacked down again, I want to thank the News & Record for publishing the AP article, "Portion confusion a weighty matter" (Sept. 28).

I wrote a letter in March pointing out that nutrition labels can be misleading, using the 20-ounce soda label as an example. When I read the responses on the blog, I was shocked at the overwhelming lack of sympathy for obese individuals.

Now, there is this small study reported by Vanderbilt University stating that one-third of volunteers correctly read the label of a 20-ounce soda.

Obesity (as opposed to being overweight 10 to 30 pounds) is a complex medical issue and, for some, a lifelong struggle. Portion control is one facet of managing weight. Exercise, stress, medication, smoking cessation, family history, socioeconomics and other medical conditions can also be factors.

At the next social gathering, I challenge bloggers Dan, Yellowdog, James D and other armchair nutritionists to portion out a 300 to 500 calorie meal, including your 100-calorie drink and find a way to graciously tell the hostess that you need to be on a diet to lose weight. Then, keep it up for the next few months, years, lifetime until you reach your "ideal weight."

Libby Thompson
Greensboro

It is good to have the Amish of Nickel Mines, Pa., show us another way to deal with tragedy, pain and loss. In the midst of their pain, their extension of forgiveness is a refreshing and loving example for us to follow.

Extending their care to the family of the gunman, an act of reaching out to others unlike themselves, shows they are a people who truly live from a place of peace.

The results of their actions will be remarkable in that we may never hear about them. The violence that they experienced will not be perpetuated by those who suffered loss if they are able to forgive and only react with loving deeds. If those related to and touched by the killings are able to practice a lifetime of forgiveness, the nightmare will end sooner, for no one will seek revenge. That would be great for all of us.

It seems to me forgiveness can only diminish rather than escalate violence. As Gandhi said, "An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind." I am thankful for the Amish, a people who appear to live in the past but are great teachers for the present.

Dawkins Hodges
Greensboro

Regarding Doug Clark' s column, "Lawyers pay for defying campaign tax" (Oct. 4), the State Bar is charged with protecting the public and maintaining professional standards for lawyers. The State Bar is neither an appellate court nor a mini-legislature. The State Bar cannot choose which laws it will enforce. If you are going to practice law in North Carolina, you are required to obey the laws of the state. This means obeying the laws you like and the laws you don't like. The courts and the legislature have opportunities to change laws. The State Bar does not.

Though many of us share James H. Jeffries III's dissatisfaction with the surcharge, most of the lawyers in this state will pay the surcharge under protest and place our faith in the rule of law. Like other citizens, we will rely on the courts and the legislature of this state to address the soundness of the legislation. The quickest way to get a bad law changed is to enforce it strictly.

Jan H. Samet
High Point

The writer is N.C. State Bar Councilor.

I just read the article, "Andrews falls short on tests for second year" (Oct. 6), and can't say I was surprised. Living in north High Point and having been a victim of the school board's socioeconomic redistricting, the fact that test scores would not rise seemed like a foregone conclusion. Simply shuffling students around never seemed like a way to raise test scores. Although the school board never said that was the reason for the redistricting, many people believe that was a significant underlying reason for the decision.

I know I will eagerly wait to see next year's test results for schools affected by redistricting. I expect that non-improvement or even lower performance will be prevalent across all the affected schools.

Perhaps this trend will help the school board to see that its decision to break up neighborhood schools not only impacted students and their families personally, but it also impacted state test scores.

Holly Labiak
High Point

I think it is time for the American people to vote against the big-government conservatives who control the federal government. I thought that conservatives believed in less government, but the government is bigger now than ever before (even bigger than during the Reagan/Bush years).

I thought that conservatives believed in paying off old debts and not acquiring new ones. But didn't the Republican-controlled Congress recently vote to raise the debt limit to $10 trillion?

Conservatives used to support term limits, until Republicans took control of the presidency and Congress. I thought that conservatives were against amending the Constitution, but they went against states' rights by trying to amend it twice. Conservatives used to say they wanted to get the government off of our backs and out of our personal lives. I guess they changed their minds. Big-government conservatism needs to go.

Chuck Mann
Greensboro

I know this is obvious and has occurred to almost everyone with a conscience, but I have to write anyway. I hope all people in the world, religious or not, will learn from the recent example of the Amish.

Instead of seeking retribution (in the form of violence or other means) for the murders of their children, they preach forgiveness for the murderer and his family. They attend his funeral and say that if a foundation is set up for their children, one needs to be set up for the murderer's family.

What if all the people in the world (Christians, Jews, Muslims and others, religious or not) were to lay down their weapons and forgive their enemies, whether they had been harmed by them or not? What a different world it would be.

Perhaps this horrible event will have some beneficial effect on others. Let us hope that we, like the Amish, can forgive those who have, or who we perceive have, harmed us for offenses that are not as grievous as murdering our children.

Nancy Walkowiak
Greensboro

Cal Thomas, in his column, "No place is safe from evil" (Oct. 7), promotes home schooling as the way to avoid the dangers of evils that lurk in public schools. He is writing about the shooting of the Amish schoolgirls in Lancaster County, Pa. I wonder if he is aware that the shooter, Charles Carl Roberts IV, was home-schooled?

Jean Rodenbough
Greensboro

Allen Johnson's column (Oct. 1) contained one small factual error. He closed by saying that the '60s "have been over for more than 40 years." Well, actually they haven't. Strictly speaking, they've been over for 36 years, nine months and two weeks. However, most folks who chronicle such things agree that "the '60s," meaning the era of radical social upheaval, did not officially end until Aug. 9, 1974, the day Nixon resigned rather than be impeached.

Also, I would disagree with Allen's closing sentence regarding the '60s, to wit: "Let them go." I say bring them back. I think some impeachment hearings and a forced resignation would work quite well here in the double-naughts. The only difference now would be that the second in command, aka Bush's Impeachment Insurance, would have to be removed as well.

Peace.

Ogi Overman
Greensboro

I lament with the gentleman who alleges the Almighty has been removed from the public lairs of learning, causing criminal encroachment by students. Upon that premise I interviewed local associates about His unexcused absence.

An aversion to Tasers, cell phones, iPods and pagers was suggested as one possible reason. Another reason given was a conflict with a school resource officer over a hall pass and leaving campus for lunch. Another reason could be jealousy as students may be required to recite a pledge to a flag (clothism), and allegiance to a republic (statism), that has a history of looting, plundering and coercing its citizens.

It's also rumored that the leader of the aforementioned republic invoked the Almighty to invade and occupy another country. Maybe it's low esteem, shame or just good sense that causes Him to excuse Himself from classes.

Chuck Atkinson
Greensboro

Former Deputy Bill Martin (letter, Oct. 7, "SROs at middle schools shouldn't have Tasers") states that each SRO is provided with a handgun, shotgun, aluminum baton and a canister of pepper spray. Quite an arsenal. Martin also feels that "department-issued weaponry was sufficient to carry out my middle school assignment."

While reports say Tasers have caused death in some instances, those reports also indicate that these deaths were not caused by the Tasers themselves, but by other health problems.

Law-enforcement officers are highly trained to "shoot to kill" in a situation that would require deadly force. Therefore, use of a firearm would almost certainly result in death. The instances of deaths actually attributed to Taser use have been in the miniscule percentages.

Do we want Tasers out of the schools and risk having a student or adult nearly assured of dying from a gunshot, or do we want to risk using the Taser and see them live to see another day?

Surely the Taser hurts, but we must ask ourselves whether it hurts more than the experience of a funeral. I think not.

Terry J. Cox
Greensboro

I read the David Hoggard column (Oct. 11) and agree with the gist: that he trusts the rank and file of the police department. The overwhelming majority of them are the finest our city has to offer.

I will, however, disagree with his statement that he trusts our city leaders. After all, these are the same folks who assumed operation of a minor-league hockey team without public input and who threw taxpayer money at Project Homestead with little oversight.

They're also the ones who hired David Wray to begin with and before that Robert White, neither of whom kept up the standards set by Sylvester Daughtry. Our police department deserves elected officials who believe in truthfulness, not like the mayor and council we have now.

It's time for voters to start paying attention. Throw them out wholesale and let's start over.

Roger Greene
Greensboro

Regarding recent negative articles and editorials about County Commissioner Melvin "Skip" Alston:

Skip Alston has been a great leader for not only the black community but for the overall community as well. Others can talk about him in a bad way, but my family and I can only tell you the good he has done.

For starters, the civil rights museum gave me something to look forward to growing up, not knowing my biological father, but knowing just a name. The museum will help me trace my family tree.

My daughter loves to watch Mr. Alston at commissioners meetings on TV. It just makes her day to know that she knows someone on TV and she can see him at a given time.

Every time I see Mr. Alston he always seems so cheerful, and I ask myself how he could be so cheerful after dealing with fools every day. He has been a role model for me to never let anyone kill my joy or spirit, no matter what.

Tonya Young
Pleasant Garden

Nearly 60 years ago, the Friends of the Greensboro Public Library was formed to help the public libraries carry out their mission to serve the community from cradle to grave with free and equal access to information, to foster lifelong learning, and to inspire the joys of reading.

In serving this mission, the Friends, with annual dues of only $10 a year, provide funds for "One City, One Book," "Poetry GSO," children's and adult programs, and author visits. The Friends support a Literary Laurel Award presented annually to an outstanding creative contributor to literature.

In cooperation with the Guilford County high schools, the Friends sponsor the Poet Laureate program in which one student in each participating school is selected poet laureate and honored appropriately in his or her school and the community.

This is National Friends of the Library Week, which the Greensboro Friends are observing by initiating a membership drive, "Ask Me About Our Friends." I am inviting community members to "Ask Me About Our Friends" at all library branches and to become library supporters.
Help our organization reach more children and adults through well-developed programs and other activities.

Marilyn L. Miller
Greensboro

The writer is president, Friends of the Greensboro Public Library.

My Webster's New World Dictionary includes in its definition of fascism, "a system of government characterized by a rigid, one-party dictatorship, forcible suppression of opposition, private economic enterprise under centralized government control, belligerent nationalism, racism and militarism, etc."

If this definition becomes as uncomfortably close to others as it does to me in describing the course of the present administration in Washington, I hope many will make a very special effort in the coming elections to vote for candidates who will conscientiously change our course, rather than "stay the course!"

DeWitt Barnett
Greensboro

Our federal government was formed under Article I of the U.S. Constitution: "The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators form each state, chosen by the legislature."

The process of choosing those who would serve in the House of Representatives was not so simple. The slaveholding and non-slaveholding states wanted to protect their interests. Neither wanted to be consistently outvoted.

Hence, the compromise: "Representatives ... shall be apportioned among the several states ... according to their respective numbers ... determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed three-fifths of all other persons." The "three-fifths of all other persons" refers to slaves.

On Nov. 7, African Americans, once known as "three-fifths of all other persons," have the right and obligation to elect local, state and federal officials. It is my hope that when our votes are counted, the results will show that we did not retrogress to "three-fifths of all other persons" by casting 60 percent or less of our eligible number of votes.

James W. Swindell
High Point

Guilford County projects a tax increase on property owners of 9.1 cents per $100 next year. Please explain to me how seniors who are on fixed incomes for life can pay this increase. We are paying taxes that are over our heads now, plus the city taxes.

You have very few tax breaks to offer to seniors, and what you have now have strings attached, so most of us can’t get them. Nice going. Where is a tax break without any strings? You make too much on your Social Security if you’re lucky enough to have a pension, and if by any chance you have a little part-time job to offset your medical expenses you’ll get nothing on tax breaks.

As of yet, not one person running for office has mentioned anything about what they will do to help seniors. I moved here from Massachusetts. There are very high tax rates and car insurance there, and I moved here to get away from all of that. That was the wrong move. The information I got was this — move to North Carolina, great for seniors. You lied, you lied. It’s not. You’re not fair to seniors, you’re not.

D. Lee Jacobs
Greensboro

In addition to other more visible evils, the long-term economic damage done to the country under the Bush administration will become evident through the next decade.

The U.S. government is maxing out its credit by borrowing from Japan, China and many others to pay for what is going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are not paying for this by raising taxes and by denying ourselves luxuries, as we did in World War II. Instead of selling war bonds to citizens, the U.S. Treasury has sold bonds to foreigners. Much of this debt will end up being inflated away. The dollar, in that case, will lose half its purchasing power.

Gasoline prices will go to $6 a gallon and all sorts of things will cost more. We will pay for our bad government by becoming poorer as a nation, as we have already begun to pay by our loss of what some people call our moral leadership.

Tom Kirby-Smith
Greensboro

If the economy is booming, as President Bush claims it is, then companies shouldn't have any problem paying their employees a little extra with an increase in the minimum wage.

If people are making more, that means they're contributing more to Social Security, spending more on our economy, and won't be as debt ridden as our country has become.

Hmmm, what a thought.

Andrew Murphy
Greensboro

As our community leaders try to get a handle on "branding" our city, I noticed the following terms have not surfaced in the conversations. Here is some food for thought for our leadership in this great city.

I would, first of all, disagree with some of our "experts" in that marketing a community is a little trickier than marketing a consumer product. Not really.

Two things they must focus on once all the research is completed:

* How to package our message to the world -- yes, the world. We are a global society. What is the key message we want to convey? This will open a lot of doors, whereas a logo opens practically no doors. This message has to attract any and all audiences. Hard job … but the right message will get our city the needed phone calls.

* Take an in-depth examination of our competition. How are these cities packaging their message? I think what you will find, in a lot of cases, is there's not a lot of difference in what these cities actually can offer versus Greensboro. What piques the interest of the audience is the "message" itself.

Doug Stewart
Greensboro

The writer is a retired sales and marketing executive with Hewlett Packard.

Concerning the situation with the Greensboro Police Department, the citizens of Greensboro have an opportunity to see local attempts at political damage control.

If it were the SBI or the FBI telling what are facts and what are myths, the news conferences would have more validity. Does anyone think that the city leaders are going to say anything or admit to anything that would point to their having made mistakes in their handling of this situation?

The question so obviously not asked is: Why did Chief Wray place the tracking device on the policeman's patrol car?

John W. Taylor
Greensboro

Thanks for the fantastic article on the next step the city needs to take to keep pace with downtown Greensboro ("As carousing crowds grow, more police will try to keep downtown safe," A1, Oct. 10).

Quite a few business people have invested way too much money for the city to let what has happened in other parts of town happen to its center city. Hopefully, this article will help prompt those responsible to allocate the funds necessary for keeping people and property safe on what is proving itself to be Greensboro's gem.

A big thank-you goes to Greensboro's downtown patrol for their efforts at keeping everything under control in our center city, especially with the minimal resources they've been given.

Ben Roberts
Greensboro

The writer is owner of Undercurrent Restaurant

On Sept. 21, 2006, I lost a friend -- Bobby Callahan. He gave his life for this country while serving in the U.S. Army. Bobby was 22 years old. We hung out in our high school years, but so much has changed since then. Back then we were trying to figure out who we were and what we wanted to do with our lives.

I never thought Bobby would die so young. He still had so much to accomplish. Bobby found his true calling serving in the military, where he died fighting terrorism in Iraq. I will miss Bobby, and with all my being, I salute him.

My father and uncles all served, and I love to hear their stories of the bonds they formed and how they learned a greater meaning to life. I respect all those who serve in the military. Thank you all for believing in our freedom and taking a stand.

Many soldiers have been killed since this war in Iraq broke out; too many. Bobby is the first person who has died in this war whom I have personally known. His death is tragic and holds a distinction I wish not to replicate.

Megan Pickler
Greensboro

School security in the Guilford County school system is a joke. Recently, I went with a neighbor to pick up her son, who had been slightly injured at school. When we got to the school, we went to the wrong door, which was locked. A custodian, I assume, arrived and let us in the door. We asked for the office and he pointed in the direction for us to go and then left us.

The entrance where we came in was near the boiler room. We easily could have gone down there and planted a bomb. He did not escort us to the office or question why or what we were doing there at all. We could have had weapons in our purses and seized some students or staff and harmed them. There is no security in this school in the least.

We should have been sent to the proper entrance, or at least escorted to the office, by this employee. When we got to the office they released my friend's son to her, without checking. She was not known to them at all. She is not the custodial parent. Dr. Grier needs to check his security arrangements.

Rosemary Rhinesmith
Greensboro

During this time of conflict and controversy concerning the administration of the police department, I would like to remind everyone that most of our police officers are effectively carrying out their duties.

I had the opportunity to witness Officer G.F. Pinson in action recently one evening when he responded to an accident that involved a drunken driver. He was professional, obviously well-trained and following procedure. His manner was such that the badly shaken-up driver remained calm. He was also a tremendous help to those who suffered property damage as a result of the accident.

I want to thank Officer Pinson for his continuing service to our city. I'm confident that most of our police officers would have acted in the same manner that he did.

R.W. Collins
Greensboro

Greensboro -- the education center. Our city is home to six universities/colleges; not many cities can match this.

The student population exceeds the population of most of the towns of our state. Students and faculty spend many millions of dollars annually and provide untold hours of wholesome opportunities for our citizens.

We should promote these centers of higher education, which enhance our city and lives.

Robert Caldwell
Greensboro

To Bill Martin, on SROs not needing Tasers in middle schools (letter, Oct. 7): Did you write your letter before or after the Amish school shooting?

Judyth White
Greensboro

I had to call Animal Control recently about a raccoon concern. I told Animal Control that we have several in the area of Hamilton Lakes and some were even out in my yard during the day. I guess I was hoping they would help, but that didn't happen. I was told that Animal Control did not have a license to trap wildlife and to call "Critter Control." Critter Control charges approximately $75 a raccoon.

So, if you have 15 to 20 raccoons in your area, either take a chance on yourself, your children playing in the yard or your pet getting bitten. No wonder there are so many rabies cases around. We have no help controlling this problem.

What good is Animal Control? After all, they are called "Animal Control," which means they should be able to trap wildlife, sick or not, and remove them from the city. All Animal Control is good for is to pick up a stray dog or cat and dump it off at the pound. So what can we do to get this under control?

It's against the law to shoot a gun and to trap wildlife yourself, and people can't afford Critter Control. Someone needs to come up with a way to control this problem.

P.A. Ruggiero
Greensboro

Thanks to E.L. Spivey for his letter (Aug. 28) concerning the noise pollution that reverberates throughout our Westwood neighborhood from the Lowe's on Battleground. The noise is constant all day and most of the night, sometimes until midnight. The only quiet time is from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m., then the lift trucks start. The Dumpster truck arrives between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. and proceeds to drag the Dumpster across the pavement, raise it up to empty, then drop it back down to the ground. Such noise, so early in the morning. Those are just a couple of examples of the noise pollution that has ruined our quiet neighborhood.

The city has a noise ordinance that covers the hours from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Is it ever enforced where Lowe's is concerned? If so, let the city speak.

The zoning of the former WBIG property fractured our neighborhood. Some residents believe that since this noise originates from "your side of the street," it is your problem.

All residents need to make known their concerns to the mayor, city manager and council.

When citizens and neighborhoods are continually ignored by the City Council, it leaves a lasting impression that should be remembered when voting time comes around.

W. Garland Cooper
Greensboro

Recently, we had inflicted on our minds the thought that our military presence in Afghanistan, and especially Iraq, has inflamed even more the anger of al-Qaida against the United States — and that if we’d never engaged them over there where they fester, things somehow might not be as bad.

That’s a clever wedge of propaganda to throw at an already divided United States, but one entirely without logic and one that is being given credence by much of a confused democratic and free people. Pray tell, we are to swallow that they weren’t equally angry when they struck our World Trade Center and Pentagon on Sept. 11, taking more lives in little more than an hour than we’ve lost on the battlefield in the years since.

Serious debate about the war? Sure. Discussion on how to improve our tactics or reviewing troop levels needed or required equipment? A perfectly legitimate forum in which to engage all Americans. But to allow these despots into our debate — butchers who slaughter women and children as if they were no more than livestock — insults human intelligence. Legitimizing these thugs merely encourages them to escalate the indiscriminate havoc they’ve already inflicted.

Ned van Buren
Greensboro

The corner of Westridge Road and Westminster Drive is the site of a potentially serious accident. When you reach the stop sign at Westridge going east on Westminster, you can barely, if at all, see traffic approaching from the left on Westridge. Motorists going south on Westridge cannot see cars pulling out on their right from Westminster.

Just a block to the west of Westridge on Westminster, Keystone Homes is in the process of building 64 single family homes, seven of which are currently sold and occupied. Traffic in this area is going to steadily increase as these homes are sold. There is also currently a lot of ''cut through'' traffic on Westminster (drivers whom, by the way, tend to speed, ignore stop signs and create an unsafe environment with their actions - this should also be investigated).

This dangerous situation was reported to the Greensboro Traffic Division about eight months ago. They reviewed the area, agreed it needed to be corrected, but no action has been forthcoming. Must people be killed, seriously injured, and lawsuits filed before corrective action is taken?

Please let us know what will or has been done to rectify these dangerous conditions.

Norman D. Franklin
Greensboro

Though a CPA, I have difficulty comprehending some of today's financial numbers. I have read that it is possible to be able to pay people more than they are worth. Don't know about that, but certainly many millions are paid less than they are worth.

Egregious examples, among many, of outrageous paychecks include some top executives who receive tens of millions annually, and movie stars who get $25 million or more per picture. A PGA golfer can earn more than $1 million for four rounds. One baseball player is paid $154,000 per game: several times as much as a school teacher per year. We have a funny sense of values.

Well, more power to them. After all, this is a free enterprise society. But maybe we ought to spread it around a little.
The billions we squander on a stupid war and on foolish tax cuts mostly for the affluent could have been used to even things up some. Much could be done for those millions who struggle day to day. And yet Congress even declines to raise the minimum wage above a paltry $5.15 per hour.

America was not meant to be a plutocracy or an aggressor.

Dan W. Maddox
Greensboro

Why is it so difficult to get a driver's license in North Carolina?

First attempt: Called Division of Motor Vehicles; was told exact forms to bring to DMV. Went to DMV; person said I had wrong forms.

Second attempt: Went to DMV with another set of forms and another person said I still did not have correct forms.

Third attempt: Another person said I had correct forms and set me up to take the exam. I did not pass the exam.

Fourth attempt: The next day with same forms, I passed the exam. But computers to take my picture were down. The person said call before coming in, as I just needed to have my picture taken.

Fifth attempt: Called DMV, computer was up. Went to DMV. Person said my picture cannot be taken; I did not have your forms. I said everyone here has seen my forms; I had to have them to take the exam. Person said, "Well, I did not see them."

Sixth attempt: Brought back forms, had picture taken.

It's amazing to me that North Carolina wants people to come and visit, yet it's nearly impossible to become a legal resident. I may have come from a cold state, but we have warm hearts and provide good service.

Renee E. Ryan
Greensboro

Federal senators and congressmen must be defeated in November who voted for or did nothing to prevent the war in Iraq. That ill-considered invasion has cost more than 2,700 Americans their lives; caused thousands of Americans serious injuries and thousands of innocent Iraqis to die; created a haven for terrorists and less emphasis on finding bin Laden, the real culprit of 9/11; and caused former allies to break ranks with America.

Other issues that were mishandled: a more than $9 trillion national debt; amnesty for “illegal immigrants” through the "guest worker program"; Social Security for "illegal immigrants" (it wasn't too long ago that the concern was what can be done to assure baby boomers their Social Security benefits); sending jobs overseas; veterans losing health benefits; companies taking away health and retirement benefits from employees; foreign countries taking control of security entry ports; high gas prices; and rising prescription drug costs.

The election of these people would mean amnesty for illegal immigrants and our borders will not be secure. Elect people who care about Americans and America.

William Joseph Colozzi
McLeansville

I would like to take time to point out something that many of us may not notice. I would like to point out the thousands of immigrants who are helping to build the city that I call home, Greensboro.

Immigrants – both legal and illegal – are building schools they cannot study in, apartments they are not allowed to live in, repairing roads that the government does not want them to drive on, working in restaurants they can't afford to eat in — all for a small taste of what we pride ourselves on — the American Dream.

It is time to stop saying those two words I hear so often: "Get out."

It is time to start saying the two words we learned as toddlers: "Thank you."

Thank you for building my school and my home, thank you for cleaning my clothes and washing my dishes, thank you for making the United States what it is today.

We can't afford to reap the benefits of these hardworking people while denying them fundamental rights of a human being. Let's say, "Thank you" and speak up for those that have bettered our nation.

Jessica Bowman
Greensboro

On Sept. 29, our family buried my grandson, Cpl. Robert T. Callahan, who was killed in Iraq.

We would like to thank everyone who shared our grief, but most especially the "American Patriots" who guarded and guided our funeral procession to Forest Lawn Cemetery. It was indeed a tribute to an American hero, for which we are all very proud. Thank you again.

Patricia Callahan Brody
Greensboro

After reading that Julian Bond and the NAACP are not going to lift the boycott of South Carolina, I would like to know if it has really made a difference.

I understand that the tourist industry has picked up every year since the boycott was put in place. There were also pictures in a South Carolina paper of black people partying in South Carolina at Myrtle Beach.

I believe that Mr. Bond and the NAACP are losing a battle they shouldn't have started.

Richard Vanderford
Siler City

From news reports, I have prepared a listing of responses available to me and my supporters if I ever serve in an elective office and am in need of damage control:

At this point in time, at the end of the day, the bottom line is … I did not break any laws. I have not done anything wrong. I did not have sex with that girl. I did not have sex with that boy. What and when he knew it … I will be completely exonerated. What the American people want is… Forget that and let's move on. I've checked into rehab. That being said …

God bless the United States of America. And protect it.

John Sparks
Greensboro

I work with wonderful people who were born in places around the world like Russia, India, Argentina, Cuba, Africa and Asia. My wife works with wonderful Middle Eastern people from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Turkey. The world has grown smaller, and we hear of the escalation in killings of Shiites and Sunnis in Iraq. We hear of the expansion of nuclear testing in North Korea.

There is bigotry, hatred, greed and a struggle for power and wealth across the world. There are also many who pray that world peace will someday prevail for all peoples. Perhaps one day the world will learn from the blind who cannot discern the color of skin, but rather the kind deeds of the soul. A passage states that it is more difficult for a rich man to enter heaven than it is for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.

In the past, there have been numerous examples of hatred being supplanted by calm between loyalists and revolutionaries, abolitionists and slave owners, Japanese and Chinese, and Protestants and Catholics. May all peoples learn that true leaders lead with their soul for the good of all.

Joe Plante
Summerfield

Regarding City Councilman Mike Barber's comments in the article about mounted police in Greensboro ("Barber proposes mounted patrols," Oct. 14):

Mr. Barber says the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Having been a New York Police Department mounted officer, I know there is a lot more than using "someone he knows" to training a horse for police work.

You just don't get a horse and train him. Many horses cannot be trained for such use. Does Mr. Barber know how much these horses can cost only to have to start over with another horse until you meet success? It takes lots of time to develop a horse to perform this function. A horse has to be worked every day for as long as the mounted unit exists.

After all this, you will need equestrians, not just simply a cop on a horse. The rider must know how to control a horse in the street and how to use him effectively in crowd control, not just charge into the crowd.

Now add the cost of purchase of horses, equipment, maintenance, feed and veterinary costs. All this means you just don't put a cop on a horse and claim you have a mounted unit.

Greg Brown
Greensboro

I have just read the article (Oct. 14) about the possibility of using mounted patrol in downtown Greensboro. I'm sure that this sounds like a good idea and, hey, everyone likes horses.

But don't be fooled by the vision of horses making everyone behave in the downtown area.

Having spent 30 years with the Greensboro Police Department and being still involved with law enforcement, I can tell you that, other than an air wing, horse patrol is the most expensive venture in policing.

The use of K-9 patrols is expensive but at least you get a lot more value for your tax dollars. I have researched the possible use of horse patrols for the Greensboro department and know the costs involved. You can get a lot more police downtown on motorcycles or bicycles than you will for the cost of mounted patrol.

Don't quickly jump into an expensive venture for the taxpayers for something that is visually pleasing but not particularly effective.

Al Stewart
Baghdad, Iraq

David Parker's letter (Oct. 10) on "Christian nationalism" was disturbing. How much contempt one must harbor to draw a parallel between evangelicals and the Taliban.

His rhetoric identifies him as a secular progressive whose agenda is to eradicate all Christian influence. Having no substance to bring to the moral/religious/political debate, such people resort to name-calling and denigrating better ideas.

Parker's letter convinces me that secular progressives like George Soros, Cindy Sheehan, Michael Moore and Mr. Parker, not evangelicals, would restrict freedoms if empowered, i.e., taking away protesters' freedom of speech in front of abortion clinics.

I challenge Parker to show where Dr. James Dobson's teachings contradict the Bible, God's word, our hope of salvation and revelation of God himself.

Parker speaks as though Bible believers are not true Christians, when in reality, they are the ones God's word acknowledges as "His own" for their obedience to his word.

Allen Bullard
Randleman

Now that the cat is out of the bag on how many warnings the Bush administration received about the danger of al-Qaida, and how the warnings were ignored right up until Sept. 11 by the likes of Rice, Cheney and Rumsfeld, it puts all of their lies about being left in the dark by the previous administration in perspective.

Now these people are claiming amnesia. None of them remember anything about the warnings that are a matter of public record.

The current Foley affair is just icing on the cake. These people need to be removed from office. They have betrayed public trust with their incompetence and corruption so much that it will take decades for this country to recover.

LaMotte Akin
Chapel Hill

On the morning after what was to be a night to remember in Greensboro by legendary R&B artist Etta James, I am in shock and disbelief. The concert was single-billed and scheduled to start at 7:30 (although the tickets stated 7 p.m.). The Roots Band did not come on stage until 8:30 and was joined by Etta 15 minutes later. She proceeded to sing six songs, only one of which was ever a hit single, and left the stage 50 minutes later.

Greensboro Coliseum management should not have to wonder long why Charlotte and Raleigh are leading entertainment venues with performances like this.

Cynthia Livengood
Greensboro

With the current level of national concern regarding violence in our schools, I think it is important to recognize local organizations that are working to keep the schools in our own backyard safe.

Win-Win Resolutions, a Triad-based nonprofit, has brought important conflict-resolution programs to schools throughout our community since 2001. Schools that have hosted Win-Win's unique, interactive workshops have seen as much as a 46 percent reduction in student code violations.

Win-Win's impressive results will soon be published in the National Journal of School Violence.

Win-Win has touched the lives of 30,000 students locally and continues to strive toward building safe and all-inclusive environments in which our children can learn and grow.

During these uncertain and often scary times, it is a vision we should all share and support.

Robert Ankrom
Summerfield

According to David Parker (letter, Oct. 10), anyone who takes a stand against homosexuality and unrestricted abortion or stands for traditional values is the moral equivalent of a radical, murderous terrorist who will strap explosives onto his own children and send them into a crowd of innocent civilians. Maybe Parker should read Proverbs 14:34.

Peter Hurley
High Point

It disappoints me to see what's happening to the Glenwood/Grove Street community. We have got to do something to take back this area. There are many places in the neighborhood that have proven to be hubs for crime. Although there are several churches in the area, it's still not enough.

New Birth Sounds of Thunder Christian Center moved to a new location in May and opened Jr. Tech and Robotics Academy at the church's old location on Grove Street. This business is actually trying to keep the children out of trouble and off the streets. But a lot of parents don't want to send their children there because of the reputation of the neighborhood.

It's time to get people saved by the blood of Christ and get them off the street. There is much that needs to be done, but not enough financial backing to do it. I know there are many rich men and women in this city who can do something to clean this place up.

If you really want to see this change, I encourage you to do more to make it happen.

Matthew Scarborough
Greensboro

It is encouraging to see the News & Record spotlighting Canadian efforts to stimulate clean electricity production ("Canada sees boom in 'clean energy,' " News & Record, Oct. 14).

The article states that Ontario has decided to phase out coal-fired power plants and has elected to stimulate renewable energy production. In short, Ontario utilities are paying a hefty premium to encourage businesses and homeowners to produce electricity from solar panels and wind turbines.

Unfortunately, the article suggests that the Canadian approach is not available here in the United States. Nonsense. In fact, an equivalent to the Canadian approach is available right here in North Carolina.

Our program, called the NC GreenPower program, works with utilities like Duke Energy to pay green power producers something extra -- the utilities meter the production and pay "avoided cost," while NC GreenPower pays the premium. For solar power producers, the total payment ranges anywhere from 21 cents to almost 30 cents per kilowatt-hour of production, depending on the time of day and time of year of production.

Four of my friends in the Triad area produce solar power and are paid to do so by the NC GreenPower program. How? Give me a call; I'm in the book.

Peter Kauber
Greensboro

Piedmont Triad airport chairman says Delta fares too high.

That's why you have to support low-cost carriers when they come to an airport near you. I never flew Delta or US Airways when AirTran was flying out of PTI, even though they both were playing their usual games of predatory pricing. As soon as AirTran left, they went back to their outrageous fares.

In my view, it is the uneducated travel public's fault for going along with their games.

If one day Spirit, JetBlue, Southwest, Allegiant or even AirTran come back to PTI, I hope we have learned our lesson. Stop blaming the airlines and start blaming the people who chose to fly Delta and US Airways (enticed by worthless frequent flyer miles and upgrades) over a great low-cost carrier like AirTran.

I bet that our neighbors in Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham support and value the wonderful service that JetBlue, Southwest and AirTran provide (and those incredible $39 tickets).

Constantino Ferrer
Randleman

Bush rejects talks with North Korea about the atomic weapons they made during his act. So? Smarmy the Clown doesn't need to play to Hamas, Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Venezuela or anyone else. They have the reprehensible habit of heckling him with razzing viewpoints he doesn't want to hear. What are lies but austere jokes?

Smarmy joked to us, the people, before he took office, when he favored limiting carbon emissions. He's joked through two secretaries of the Treasury, of State, and attorneys general. He's made jokers of our military officers and numerous intelligence agencies. What a sport.

Smarmy's joked to us about things from arsenic levels in drinking water, Every Child Left Behind, Faith-Based Payola, Ignorant Design, Medicare Prescription Price Gouging, national debt, budget-busting tax breaks and record trade deficits to Zogby-knows-what.

Smarmy's joked to weaken and discredit the United Nations, but everything's peachy keen now that our military's stretched thin. What a jester.

Christopher C. Tew
Greensboro

This is in response to the letter (Oct. 17) about Skip Alston being a good leader. I frequently watch the county commissioners meetings on cable access and I can tell you the man has no business in a position of leadership. He is quick to accuse, he rarely sticks to the subject at hand, and he almost always weights matters favoring the black community, no matter what effect it might have on other communities in Guilford County.

My advice to the person who wrote in is to watch Bruce Davis and the way he conducts himself on the county commissioners board. He’s a much better role model for your family. Alston is part of the problem, not part of the solution.

Mark Locke
Greensboro

I have attended school in Guilford County for 11 years, and I am presently a senior at Weaver Academy. SROs are admired and respected by the majority of students. Students who cause problems should not be the responsibility of the SROs or the faculty. If they are a problem to the point of having to use a Taser gun on them, the students should be expelled and the parents should be held accountable to deal with the issues following expulsion.

My dad told me in the third grade that if I caused any problem at school, punishment would be very severe at home. The SROs are here to protect honorable students from acts of violence. They should not be disciplinarians. I am against any sheriff who supports the use of Taser guns in Guilford County.

Buddy Patton
Greensboro

"The United States is willing to use its full military might to defend Japan," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said.

I am certain Marine reservists now being called up for an additional tour in Iraq are gratified to know the administration has developed the resources to fulfill this latest foreign policy commitment. Gawd. How stupid can we get?

Bill Thornton
Mebane

Greensboro has a vibrant arts environment, and I am proud to be a part of such a community.

While our city and county lend us considerable financial support, our Guilford County representatives at the state level in Raleigh deserve recognition. In recent years, they have secured additional arts funding that has resulted in increased funding to arts organizations and arts grants here in Guilford County. Kay Hagan, Alma Adams, Maggie Jeffus and Katie Dorsett have led these initiatives. We are fortunate to have strong arts advocates representing us in Raleigh.

Jean King
Greensboro

Why is it when one's country calls a young man to serve, and that call is answered, and the young man serves with honor, that when he suffers health effects from the calling, the very organization created by the U.S. government to assist him provides not assistance but strews the way with one obstacle after another?

For too long, there has been little hope for veterans getting assistance from the Veterans Administration for maladies and injuries caused by their service without miles of red tape and long years of waiting. Then, denied. Perhaps that is about to change.

I spoke with Craig Kabatchnick to ask for help with my Agent Orange exposure claim that has been denied. Not only was Craig extremely helpful, advising me how to proceed to the appeals process, but he exhibited genuine concern for my well-being as well. He told me what steps I should take and what materials I should try to acquire, and he asked that I keep him informed of the status of my appeal.

With men like Craig, there is hope for North Carolina's veterans. And that's much more than we have had for a long, long time.

Cecil Carpenter
Greensboro

There has been a lot of controversy about the lack of WMDs in Iraq. Many think the president lied about them, or at least misread the intelligence.

What nobody has noticed is that Saddam Hussein apparently thought he had WMDs. The United Nations imposed sanctions restricting his oil sales from 1991 to 2003 because he wouldn't let weapons inspectors into Iraq. Then he let the United States attack him in 2003, rather than give up the WMDs he didn't have.

It would seem that this kind of delusional paranoia would be the perfect insanity plea.

Think about this when you vote.

Edward Philpott
Greensboro

I am so glad that a lawyer who lives in Greensboro has dedicated his life to helping veterans with disabilities with their claims for benefits from the VA. He is Craig Kabatchnick and he is helping me.

He has served on the General Counsel of the VA. He knows the VA system and its claims process.

I served in the Army from 1967 to 1970. I was stationed in Korea on the DMZ from 1968 to 1969, where I started having problems with my left knee and later found out it was caused by arthritis of the corresponding hip. I am now totally disabled with total hip replacement of both hips.

I filed a claim in 1997. The VA regional office in Winston-Salem accepted opinions from its doctor of general practice over my doctors, who were specialists, to deny the claim. I appealed it to the Board of Veterans Appeals in Washington, D.C.

It has been remanded twice from the board to the VA regional office in Winston-Salem with no final decision rendered as of yet.

David E. Best
Fayetteville

In the Triad we could turn on the radio and listen to the real oldies, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Ella Fitzgerald, Jo Stafford, Nat King Cole, Doris Day and many others. Also great bands such as Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman, just to name a few.

These were all heard on station 98.3 FM but then they turned to country. So we switched to oldies on 93.1 FM; then they also went to country. I like country, but how about all of us senior citizens who have great memories of the big band era?

I can go to the Raleigh area, Charlotte, Wilmington, Roanoke Valley and others and pick up the wonderful oldies on the radio, but not here in the Triad anymore.

I do believe if we could get a station to play our songs I could find the advertisers, if that's what it takes. So until the real oldies return, I have gone to my second love, beach music on 920 AM out of Burlington.

There are also many retirement communities, such as Well Spring, Friends Homes Guilford, Friends Homes West, Heritage Green, River Landing, Twin Lakes in Burlington and many others that I have visited. They all are wondering what happened to that great sound of the years past.

William V. Nutt Sr.
Greensboro

Regarding the Oct. 17 story, "Refuge for bears reopened for hunt": North Carolina officials will allow bear hunting in one of 10 mountain sanctuaries for the first time since the areas were established.

Per Webster: "Refuge: a place of safety: shelter; safe retreat. Sanctuary: a reservation where animals or birds may not be hunted or trapped."

Am I missing something here?

Trudy Luman
Summerfield

Regarding the article, "Dental school plan lacks support" (Oct. 19), let me offer an opinion I share with many of my colleagues. Our problem with the proposed dental school at ECU is not the dilution of our patient base but the dilution of funding for the UNC program.

In the last two giving campaigns, dentists across the state have raised tens of millions of dollars for buildings and student/faculty support for our state-supported dental school because the state budget could not support the maintenance and improvements necessary to preserve UNC Dental School's history of excellence. How can the state now afford the huge expense of a second school? Why not spend to increase the class size at UNC, attract the highest-quality faculty and develop a track of studies geared toward working with the under-served community? Why not work to encourage another dental program in the appropriate private school? Why not address the retention of graduates, as many intend to be lifelong associates and do not plan to practice full time or purchase existing practices? But let's not end up with two mediocre dental schools.

Sharon Morgan
Greensboro

The writer is a local dentist.

Well, let's see now. How wonderful would it be to have horse-mounted police patrolling downtown? The value to the city would be so great! Let's check what we need to accomplish this:

1. Two to four horses;

2. four to eight trained officers;

3. a couple of farriers;

4. six to eight men with shovels to trot behind horses;

5. four stablemen;

6. four stall-barn and tack rooms (best place for it is the new city park);

7. special vehicle to transport waste;

8. pest control for flies;

9. several environmentalists to check when, where and how to dump waste;

10. a few inspectors to keep check on the condition of horses;

Yep! The increased taxes to support this might not be too great. May we count on your support?

Doug Osborne
Greensboro

I was saddened to learn that Tim Goetz is leaving the Greensboro Children's Museum. My twins are 6½ and have been using the Children's Museum regularly since they were babies.

I love the museum; it is the jewel of Greensboro. He has accomplished a tremendous amount in such a short time, going from empty space to 1 million visitors. When our children grow up, they will want to bring their children and grandchildren to the museum because they will have incredible memories of it. I can't imagine the museum will be able to find a replacement who can continue to keep it so great.

I may need to buy some American Express stock. They've just picked up a great asset.

Elizabeth Heard
Greensboro

I was amused at the News & Record's article purporting that downtown is regaining health simply because of the presence of a tower crane (A1, Oct. 25). The spin is wonderful, but one has to wonder exactly how the addition of luxury condos to the downtown neighborhood helps the city, especially when taxpayers are providing $2 million to help a private developer build these condos.

Since taxpayers from all of the Greensboro neighborhoods contributed to this project, wouldn't it have made more sense to take this building and develop it for a corporate office or other business, ultimately providing lasting jobs? If city officials and the proponent organizations of Greensboro were truly dedicated to improving the health of the city as a whole, they would focus on jobs, not pet projects. Instead, it seems they are focusing on getting the most value for their real estate speculation in downtown Greensboro. After all, why would they tear down office buildings in the middle of the city to make way for a park? The simple answer is to reduce inventory and increase their downtown property values.

With no appreciable population growth in Greensboro, projects such as these condos serve only to transplant people from one part of the city to another. They are not valuable economic growth initiatives.

My tax dollars should be going to education and building real infrastructure to support actual growth for the whole city, rather than bolstering the pockets of private concerns.

Steve Tanis
Greensboro

Was the primary purpose of the president's visit to the Triad to go to the two schools and Victory Junction or the Republican fundraiser? The reason I ask is that as I stood there and watched him drive by, I could not help but think of the huge expense of this, or any, presidential visit.

Given that such visits come at the taxpayers' expense, I am troubled to think our money is being spent so that the president can raise money for a party to which only some belong. Does the Republican Party foot some of the bill for the visit out of the $600,000 raised? The issue is not a Republican or Democratic one; it is just a sign of how wasteful and polluted our governmental spending has become.

Chip Bristol
Greensboro

Rosemary Roberts' column (Oct. 20) on corporal punishment hit real close to home — or rather my backside. Rosemary and I don't see eye to eye much, but with the hide of an alligator you gotta love her. I attended school in 1946 through 1958, also known as the Whipping Years. With a sense of pride, I deserved every paddling that came my way.

Here are some paddling facts you may not know:

1. A comic book inside your jeans will soften the lick or, if discovered, result in more licks.

2. Holes drilled in paddle will leave a funny mark.

3. Football coaches like to see your feet come off the floor.

4. The phraseology for assuming the paddling position is "bend over and grab your ankles."

If you are a non-paddler, just be glad I wasn't your son. My wife and I have three wonderful children, who share the experience of being paddled with love. I think "timeout" was invented by a 5-year-old.

Tom Naylor
Summerfield

I've been wondering lately what is on people's minds when they place "Support Our Troops" ribbon magnets on their cars. How do these people see themselves as supporting the troops?

Do they hope to support the troops by advocating that we "stay the course" in Iraq? If so, do our troops benefit from getting to stay in deplorable conditions that put them at great risk of coming home in a box or a wheelchair, or psychologically maimed?

Or do these people hope to support the troops by protesting the war and advocating that we bring our troops home now? If so, do our troops benefit by getting to come home alive to be reunited with their spouses and their loved ones?

Here's a simple question: Which person is supporting you: the one who is putting your life at great risk or the one who wants you safely back home?

Rick Reitzug
Greensboro