News-Record.com

On Oct. 18 in Raleigh, Rep. Earl Jones of Guilford County convened the third meeting of the N.C. House Select Committee on Stem Cell Research. Rep. Jones is chairman of this important study group, which will make a recommendation to the 2007 General Assembly.

This issue has great potential for all citizens, our internationally recognized research institutions and our economy. Rep. Jones and the committee were commended by Parkinson's Action Network and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International speakers.

H.R. 810 was passed by the U.S. House in 2005 and by the U.S. Senate in July of this year. President George Bush vetoed this legislation to relax restrictions on development of embryonic stem-cell lines using federal funding.

Broad public opinion validated by reputable polling organizations, votes in the U.S. House and Senate, and research experts tell us the American public does support embryonic stem-cell research and adult stem-cell research.

Advocacy groups and victims of Parkinson's, diabetes, Alzheimer's, MS, ALS, spinal cord injury, cancer and many other diseases and disabilities realize therapies will not come quickly. But caring families and the community urge legislators to listen, learn and act on legislation to advance North Carolina toward this promising medical frontier.

Barbara R. Teichman
Michael Jacobson
Greensboro

After seeing Rush Limbaugh mocking the involuntary movements of a national spokesman for Parkinson's disease, I hoped the president and the Republican leaders would have denounced his behavior. Limbaugh has, after all, been trotted up to Washington for special White House briefings before the election.

One would think his callous depiction of a human being afflicted with Parkinson's disease would infuriate the president and his religious base. So much for "compassionate conservatism."

John Graham
Greensboro

In the Oct. 18 News & Record, there were two very interesting articles concerning FEMA.

One told of the storm damage in Buffalo, N.Y. The city was still coping with snow, floods, downed trees, the loss of power for 101,500 homes. Schools were still closed and 12 people had died due to problems and conditions in the area.

Yet, it was reported FEMA offered little guidance on reimbursements and during a tour of damage, ignored the situation.

Another article concerning the earthquake in Hawaii stated the EPA reported there were no spills that merited federal assistance. Yet, 54 hours after the quake, FEMA spent $250,000 to fly 100 officials there. That was one of the biggest deployments since Katrina.

After finding no catastrophe, some found busy work driving vans or loading boxes. Of course, these officials needed housing and transportation at FEMA's expense.

I lived in Buffalo for 33 years and experienced many storms of ice and snow, but I doubt that any would equal this one in 2006. In 1973 I spent a week in Hawaii, where weather and sights were wonderful.

If I had a choice of flying to Hawaii or going to Buffalo during a storm crisis, I know what I would choose. What would your choice be?

Donna Torrico
Greensboro

The article on the former principal of Grimsley, Rob Gasparello, is absurd. It was filled with a bunch of speculation. Then the journalist interviewed some sophomores and juniors. Why not get the opinion of somebody who has been there for four years? It's ridiculous to bash the man when he did so many great things for the school. He was the best thing to happen to that school.

Why must this paper continue to be so biased?

Brett Bloomquist
Greensboro

In regard to Jessica Bowman's Oct. 21 letter suggesting we "put out the welcome mat" and say "thank you for our better nation" to illegal immigrants, I commend your compassion, yet I believe your neurotransmitters have failed you miserably.

This same humanistic ideal has the French culture in turmoil. Where once there were bistros serving French cuisine, there now exist restaurants serving Middle East fare.

Curry is France's most popular food due to the onslaught of Middle Easterners using France's shortsighted liberal mantra to essentially usurp the ambiance that was once France.

"La Conquista" is a sanctioned invasion of America by Mexico to garner the almighty dollar to better their economy without respect for Americans or their law.

Vicente Fox is neither altruistic nor humanistic. He's a desperate man residing over a murderously corrupt nation.

I lived in San Antonio and witnessed remarkable racism that disenfranchises "darker skinned" Mexicans through their more urban "upper class," which urged them to leave their country en masse because they're more useful to Mexico working in America.

Every day, more illegal Mexicans are driving on your roads (sometimes intoxicated) filing for welfare, suing Americans and smuggling contraband.

Goodbye America, hello East L.A.!

Parris Lee Patton
High Point

Thank goodness North Carolina has found a way to reduce the number of bloodsuckers in the state. I can only hope that those attorneys turning in their licenses rather than contributing to the judicial election fund are all civil attorneys.

One of the few good things done by our legislature (other than the lottery) was to take judgeships out of the hands of the country club members and restore a sense to the public that the judge on the bench is not the paid client of one of the attorneys in the courtroom.

And the Rusty Duke-Sarah Parker race is proof that the system works. Now Duke is no longer begging his fellow attorneys for money, knowing that he can't outspend Parker.

J.H. Jeffries III, Esq., enjoy your retirement. And get some of your fellow attorneys to follow your lead. Maybe my car insurance rates will drop.

Bob Lamar
High Point

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Billie M. Pierce

Consumers across North Carolina are transitioning from receiving many of their mental health care services at public, government-operated facilities to private providers' offices. These changing times can be confusing for consumers.

This letter provides clarification on what services will still be offered to Guilford County's consumers at the Guilford Center buildings at 201 North Eugene St., Greensboro, and 211 South Centennial St., High Point.

The Guilford Center will continue to provide psychiatric and medical services for both children and adults. Although many areas of North Carolina are reporting a shortage of psychiatrists, our county employs a team of 11 full- and part-time physicians to perform psychiatric assessments, prescribe/dispense medications, and monitor the medical management of our mental health consumers.

The Guilford Center is not divesting its Crisis/Emergency units. In fact, the center has been designated by the state as a regional crisis facility. In Greensboro, the Crisis/Emergency unit is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. High Point's unit is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, with after-hours services offered by High Point Regional Health System.

The Guilford Center's toll-free, 24-hour/7-day ACCESS telephone line for consumer information, support and referral services has not changed and will not change: (800) 853-5163 The Guilford Center has added a new TTY ACCESS number for deaf and hard-of-hearing consumers: (866) 518-6778.

In addition, the Guilford Center will retain specialized treatment programs that were originally scheduled for divestiture:

•Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services for Children and Adults;

•Specialized Treatment of Perpetrators (STOP) Program, a program for assessment and treatment of youth who have committed sexual offenses.

Some areas of the Guilford Center have been strengthened by mental health reform. The agency is expanding training efforts for providers. Consumers and their families will benefit from the enhanced program of customized trainings, continuing education courses and support offered to community providers and long-term care facilities. The center also employs best-practice specialists to work closely with community providers in assuring that treatments follow accepted standards.

Yes, the Guilford Center's role as a mental health service provider has changed. However, the center continues to provide many critical services at this crucial time.

The writer is director of the Guilford Center.

I am a 71-year-old woman who is disabled by multiple sclerosis. But you wouldn't know it just seeing me walk around, sometimes with a cane.

MS has many ways of affecting a person. Among those ways that affect me are hidden disabilities that create all kinds of grief when I try to work computers, electronic machines (such as voting machines), even the thermostat for heat or air in my apartment.

Coupled with the problem I have of standing for long periods of time, I had almost given up on voting.

Imagine my relief when it suddenly dawned on me that I have the option to vote by absentee ballot (paper ballot).

So I'm writing to urge anyone who has a reason to vote this way to do so in the future. All it takes is a phone call to the Board of Elections office to request the ballot. They'll supply the return envelope, and your postage is only 63 cents, a paltry amount to pay to exercise your right as a citizen to vote.

Reva S. Moore
Greensboro

The Grove Street Revitalization Task Force, part of the Greater Glenwood Neighborhood Association (GGNA), has been diligently working to address the types of problems Matthew Scarborough mentioned (letter, Oct. 25) on Grove Street, such as crime and a negative image. We have a vision for what we want to see on Grove Street and are actively seeking help from public and private sources to make that vision a reality.

If we want help from the Greensboro community, we must first demonstrate that we are willing to work hard and follow through with our plans. New Birth Sounds of Thunder Church has proven its commitment to our community by opening the Jr. Tech and Robotics Academy. But, much more needs to be done if we are going to turn Grove Street around.

As an organization that represents all of the residents of our diverse community, GGNA does not advocate any particular religious perspective. However, we are happy to partner with any person or organization with the desire to work toward a better neighborhood for all. I hope those concerned about the Glenwood community will attend our Glenwood Neighborhood Plan kickoff at 10:30 Saturday morning at Peck Elementary School, 1601 West Florida St.

Rebekah Kates
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint

By Ben Andrews

In response to your Oct. 14 endorsement of extending mandatory school attendance age, the "clear message that kids over age 16 belong in school" is the wrong place to start solving the dropout problem.

Students drop out at 16 because the education they have received from the sixth grade on lacks direction. Therefore, attendance after the 10th grade is a waste of time.

The fault lies not in the students but in the system that fails to show them they can have a place in our society. So, let's concentrate on re-tooling the system.

Public education needs only to turn our children into responsible, productive citizens. The following six steps should help educators move toward that goal:

1. Adhere to a stated philosophy that every child in every class is a potential responsible, productive citizen. The system's job is to help each child realize that potential.

2. Introduce a behavior grading system based on consideration for others and tied to the academic grade for each class to instill individual responsibility within the social group.

3. Test each sixth-grade student for an aptitude matrix, then focus the next four years on maximizing those individual aptitudes, leading to entrance into a wage-earning trade or profession.

4. After 10 years of schooling, each successful student would be awarded a secondary education diploma and enter a trade through an established apprenticeship.

5. Use as an incentive to succeed what is now a "right of passage" without any corresponding responsibility: a driver's license. No diploma, no driver's license.

6. Use the decreased need for 11th- and 12th-grade teachers to save money and provide smaller classes made up of students motivated toward professions requiring more rigorous schooling.

The value of our education system is measured by its ability to turn children into responsible, productive citizens. Our education system currently turns our children into students instead of plumbers, programmers, technicians, etc., and hence has little value to our society. Yet, its cost is escalating exponentially.

It is time to pull the plug and demand that public education employ methods to develop responsible, productive citizens. Until the system changes, the dropout rate will remain, regardless of the mandatory school age. However, if each school adopted these six points, we would see significant results in six to 10 years.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

As we know from history, political corruption and chaos from within brought the downfall of the Roman Empire.

With what is happening recently in our country and our involvement around the world, I wonder if this is perhaps the beginning of the downfall of our great country.

Let us all pray not. May God help us.

Lampros T. Megremis
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Jim Morgan

How somewhat naive the headline "Three cheers for Dondero's departure" in High Point City Councilman Bill Bencini's letter to the editor, published in your Oct. 9 edition.

Bill Bencini seems to express some level of personal frustration with Harvey Dondero and seemingly obvious extensive irritation with even the existence of the Las Vegas furniture market.

As a recently retired CEO serving the high-tech capital equipment markets for both the textile and furniture industries and as a 32-year resident of Greensboro, I strongly support the High Point Market and recognize its economic importance to High Point and Greensboro as well as to surrounding communities. On the other hand, I also recognize the potential danger of the lure of Las Vegas, which seems to be moving forward to dominate the trade show and convention business for most U.S. industries.

Let's face some facts:

1. It is the visitors who make the market a success, not the locals. High Point vs. Las Vegas?

2. Airline tickets into the Triad are expensive from most locations because we are not a competitive destination. To Las Vegas, there are bargain fares from virtually anywhere in the U.S.

3. Hotel rooms are another issue. It is normal for area hotels to increase rates for the High Point Market. In Las Vegas, there are first-class hotel bargains. I stayed at the Paris Hotel during the July 2005 Las Vegas market for $105 per night.

4. Car rentals are not required in Las Vegas.

5. Entertainment in Las Vegas, which can be an important draw to conventioneers, is without an equal in the U.S.

6. As overseas furniture manufacturers become more directly active in the U.S. market, emotional ties to High Point do not exist.

Harvey Dondero is a neighbor and a friend, and my wife and I hate to see his family move away. More importantly, I hate to see someone with 10 years of experience in the furniture industry and career-long experience in the home furnishing industry take over responsibility for the success and future growth of the Las Vegas market. An "exposition industry specialist" heading up the Las Vegas market without ties to both the domestic and foreign furniture manufacturers and with a learning curve ahead would be more desirable as it could delay potential success in Las Vegas.

Can we ask Bill Bencini to outline his recommendations as to how High Point can react to this financially dangerous challenge from Las Vegas?

The writer lives in Greensboro.

Regretfully, Eastern Guilford High School experienced a devastating fire that consumed the school on Nov. 1. Guilford County Schools would like to thank Principal Lisa Cooke and the school staff for their immediate and effective response. Their actions resulted in all students and staff being safe.

GCS would also like to express our gratitude and appreciation to all fire, Sheriff's Office and emergency personnel who responded quickly and efficiently and to the staff and members of Bethel Presbyterian Church who were so accommodating to Eastern students by providing a safe environment during the evacuation process.

The loss extended beyond the physical structure of the school. Teachers and students lost personal items and mementos. Offers of help and assistance are being received from many organizations and individuals throughout the community and from across the state.
With everyone's continued support, together, we will get through this difficult time.

Terry Grier
Greensboro

The writer is superintendent, Guilford County Schools.

Even though they are not registered voters, a very influential constituency has kicked off the voting in the American mid-term elections and they are voting a straight party ticket.
Yep, in case you haven't been paying attention, the Islamo fascists have been casting their votes for the last several weeks for the Party of Cut and Run.

Surely, you have noticed a significant "uptick" in the level of violence in both Iraq and Afghanistan That is al-Qaida and the Taliban, who along with nuclear wannabees Kim Jong Il and the Iranian mullahs are making their electoral choice known.

In trying to influence the American elections, they have redoubled their efforts to increase war-weariness and angst among faint-hearted Americans, hoping for a win by the limp-wristed and much more accommodating Democrats who they know will stop shooting, and try to "negotiate" with them and will undoubtedly try to "feel their pain."

Forget concerns about voting by illegal immigrant Mexicans. Keep in mind the choice of the Islamo fascists as you decide whether and/or how to vote this Tuesday.

Mike Crouch
Greensboro

I find Mike Lukovich's editorial cartoon in the Oct. 27 News & Record offensive, and your inclusion of it on your pages irresponsible.
It is de rigueur for the sycophants in the liberal media to spin for their own benefit; that is expected. However, did anyone on your staff bother to take the time to listen to what Rush Limbaugh actually said?

Or would the truth get in the way?

John Harrill
Greensboro

I found the article, "Grimsley principal quits to prep new schools" (Oct. 26), to be misleading and unfair. The title implies Rob Gasparello quit as principal, leaving Grimsley inconveniently in the middle of the semester. Yet in the first paragraph, the author states that "he has been tapped to prepare the opening of two Guilford County elementary schools," implying that he was perhaps promoted.

Which is it?

In contrast to one student's comment that "digging up the school garden" is a poor choice for discipline, I find it to be a clever way to help beautify the campus rather than having students sit idly in a classroom. Successful principals, particularly those with different or innovative ideas, rarely win popularity contests.

My son graduated from Grimsley in 2006 and, while we were not always in agreement with Gasparello, we both found him in most cases to be fair. Gasparello was unique in that he worked hard to establish relationships with the students — not as their "friend," but not as their enemy either. I think Gasparello is to be commended, not vilified.

Michele Hanley
Greensboro

In response to Rick Reitzug's question, "Which person is supporting you, (the troops)?": Whether you are displaying a ribbon of support or standing on the street corner protesting, void of personal action these demonstrations are nothing more than lip service.

Adopt a soldier and send him or her a letter of appreciation along with a care package filled with some tasty goodies and some simple necessities of life. Pray for them and give them a piece of America and a part of your heart! By doing so you will not only boost their morale but you also will demonstrate that you truly care for their well-being while they face dangerous challenges on a daily basis.

Robert Flowers
Summerfield

Recently the city of Greensboro lost a great athlete, Hall of Famer, coach, assistant principal, principal, community leader, family man and friend to all in Lody Glenn.

Lody was a terrific leader in chartering ideals, teaching, coaching and administration at Greensboro Senior High School (later Grimsley High School). He had a wonderful smile and a great laugh. He was a giant of a man.

Robert Clendenin
Greensboro

The writer is a retired principal, Page High School.

Just as we were starting to regain our health from that prolonged battle with cancer, we received the regrettable news that remission was short-lived and the disease still lives, striving to mutate in our society.

The News & Record, like most newspapers, is not able to ever put communism to rest once and for all. Just when some of us thought perhaps this time the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a lightly veiled personification of that glorious workers' paradise, had been consigned to the trash heap of history as another example of a failed system of slavery, up pops the article "Truth in Learning" (Oct. 26).
Of course, as freedom-loving people, we know well that this form of cancer does not succumb easily to treatment, festering just beneath the skin to re-emerge, propagated by people who would not know freedom if it bit them on the backside.

Now, the soon-to-come money grab and glorification of this group of communists is sequestered in the hallowed halls of ivy, academia, where it may be massaged by those students and professors who bathe in all forms of anti-Americanism.

Jovanovic's class is the blind leading the blind.

Ian A. Millar
Kernersville

In reply to William Nutt Sr. ("Triad's senior citizens looking for a radio home," letter, Oct. 28), our company, J&H Music Programming, has the great sounds of yesteryear, including the Big Bands and great singers that he mentioned. I totally agree. I like the country music; however, I highly prefer the Big Bands, and the great vocalists of the '40s, '50s, '60s and '70s. We have the music he is referring to, and I am sure it would go very well. It would bring back many memories of the past.

When I was a young man, I used to listen to Martin Block's Make Believe Ballroom that featured the Big Bands and vocalists of that era. When we were in syndication, we included middle-of-the-road, some contemporary, and leased it to radio stations around the country. We would love to start again and listen to it in the Greensboro area.

Joseph Gelo
Greensboro

The destruction of Eastern Guilford High School was not caused by fire. Yes, it burned, but the real cause is the folly of a bunch of ignorant, greedy clowns that call themselves a school board.

Voters have approved school bonds totaling hundreds of millions of dollars to renovate and construct schools. These projects are behind schedule, over budget, and our students still haven't the infrastructure we promised. Beyond those failings, does it require genius to realize that a chemistry lab must have proper fire suppression installed? I do not mean a tiny fire extinguisher hanging by the door.

Now with hundreds of millions of dollars at their disposal, these clowns cannot even spend a few thousand to insure adequate fire safety in a laboratory? This level of utter stupidity boggles the mind. No industrial lab would be allowed to operate without such safeguards, but the school board blithely places our children at risk.

Not only do we have a major school reduced to ashes, requiring millions of dollars to rebuild, but also the tremendous social, psychological, environmental and other consequential costs. And it all could have been prevented with a few thousand dollars and the common sense God gave an ant.

Michael Best
Greensboro

How in the world can a school (housing our most precious gifts, our children) be without fire sprinklers? With all the bonds passed and all the money allocated, why were sprinklers not included? Must a child die before the incompetents on the school board and county commissioners do something about this problem?

My praise goes to the principal of Eastern Guilford for getting all the kids out of the building unharmed. Her fire drills must be A-1.

Lenore Reinhard
Greensboro

The only joke gone bad is Sen. John Kerry himself. That he would ridicule our men and women in the U.S. military is far beyond his normal sleaze. It is a disgrace that a man who has spent his entire career pandering to the left wing is now ridiculing our military.

The fact that the people of Massachusetts now officially have the two biggest jerks in the U.S. Senate should truly make them ashamed. His sorry excuse of trying to say it was a botched joke is the only real joke.

I trust that the liberals are really proud of their two most recent presidential candidates. Al Gore and John Kerry have offered the United States absolutely nothing but disgrace in their never-ending spin of the facts. No wonder middle America is so fed up with the liberal agenda.

Hollis Bensen
Greensboro

You might have seen red as you drove down Wendover Avenue in Greensboro and Main Street in High Point. Car dealerships were taking a stand against drugs by participating in this year's Red Ribbon Campaign.

National Red Ribbon Week serves as a tribute to Special Agent Camarena, who was kidnapped and brutally tortured and murdered by drug traffickers in Mexico. This tragic event produced an immediate outpouring of grief but, over time, has generated a sense of hope across America. That hope is being kept alive through the hard work of thousands of Americans who participated in Red Ribbon events during the last week in October.

This tradition is stronger than ever as an increasing number of Americans are saying "yes" to a drug-free life. This was a great opportunity for all of us to send a clear and unequivocal message that drugs damage lives — whether it is through lost productivity, unfulfilled dreams, drugged driving incidents or addiction. And it was a chance for us to show that Kiki Camarena's spirit — and hope for a drug-free America — can never be extinguished.

Julie Westholder
High Point

As a proud alumnus of N.C. A&T State University, I and others want Allen Johnson to know that we truly enjoyed his heartwarming column (Oct. 29) about "The greatest homecoming in the world."

We certainly will continue to support our team, no matter what. That's what Aggies do. All of the activities this year appealed to all ages to enjoy. Aggie Pride is and will always be alive.

Myrtle Soloman
Greensboro

By Bruce Caldwell

I read with dismay Gov. Mike Easley's endorsement of a statewide "living wage" in his address before the state NAACP (News & Record, Oct. 14). If this proposal became law, the statewide minimum would more than double, rising from $6.15 (effective this January) to $12.32.

The effects of such a dramatic rise are easy to forecast. The number of available minimum-wage jobs would shrink, as firms cut back hours and jobs. On the other hand, the number of job seekers would rise. When more people chase fewer jobs, the result is a higher wage for those who get jobs, and unemployment for the rest.

Who is most likely to be in each category? Put yourself in the shoes of someone hiring a new worker. You will have your pick of many applicants. At that wage, you will probably prefer to hire adults with job experience, and some of these will be among those applying. The chief losers will be younger and inexperienced workers.

In August, the unemployment rate nationwide was at 4.7 percent. However, the rate for teenagers was 16.7 percent overall, and 28.8 percent for black teens. A living wage would make these numbers considerably worse. For teens who are still in high school or enrolled in college, the effects are negligible. The real losers are those who have limited options who get priced out of the job market.

The minimum wage is not an effective anti-poverty tool. Small increases like the one just passed have little effect because most entry-level jobs already pay above $6.15. Furthermore, those working at minimum-wage jobs are spread throughout the income distribution. A minimum of $12.32 would have real effects, but the negative ones would fall hardest on the most needy.

These effects are well known among economists, though not among the general electorate, where nearly 80 percent of voters support increases in the minimum wage. Following the votes, politicians often support increases, too: it would take a very principled politician to try to educate the electorate at the potential cost of losing votes. Even so, it is amazing that Gov. Easley would speak in favor of the living wage proposal, and that the proposal would be a major plank in Alma Adams' platform. Are these politicians ignorant, or aiming for new heights of political cynicism? And, why didn't the media, or members of the audience at the NAACP convention, call them on it?

The writer is professor, Department of Economics, UNCG.

By Robert O'Hale

I read with interest Doug Clark's column (Oct. 11) proclaiming that a person's race or gender shouldn't matter for a judge. Clark wrote it shouldn't matter if a judge is black, white, Asian or male or female for everyone to receive equal justice under the law. Clark recited that judicial candidates Patricia Timmons-Goodson, an African American; Sarah Parker, a white female; and Susan O'Hale, an Asian American, were somehow out of line in their belief that diversity is important on the bench.

In a perfect world, it shouldn't matter if the person being judged is a particular gender or race. It shouldn't matter that the person doing the judging is a particular gender or race. It shouldn't matter at all. But it does.

I have been a lawyer in the state and federal courts of North Carolina for 25 years. I started my law practice as an assistant district attorney in Johnston, Lee and Harnett counties. On one occasion, I was prosecuting an attempted murder case. The defendant, an African American, was charged with stabbing another African American. When I went to the judge's chamber at the end of the day to tell him I was sorry the case had taken so long, he said, "Don't worry about it. It's only a nigger cutting." I was shocked. That was only a little over 20 years ago.

Not too long ago, juries were composed of only white men. Not long ago, women couldn't vote or sit on juries. In a historical context, these events are quite recent. Our culture is slow to change. We've come a long way, but, we have miles to go.

In an idealistic sense, Clark is right. Race and gender shouldn't matter in the courts. In a realistic sense he is absolutely wrong. I am not so confident as Clark that we have put all our prejudices behind us. Parker, O'Hale and Timmons-Goodson have every right to proclaim their "diversity" as an important aspect of our judiciary. If we want justice, we should strive for a representative judiciary. The face of justice should be a reflection of all of us.

The writer lives in Greensboro and is married to District Court candidate Susan O'Hale.

We were all stunned as we watched the news coverage of one of our high schools burning to the ground. The loss in the community and to the students and staff is incalculable.

Not only did we lose a structure that was closely aligned with its community, but we watched untold investments by individual teachers go up in smoke. These teachers use their own hard-earned money to provide for their students and classrooms.

The Greensboro Regional Realtors Foundation donated $1,000 and agreed to head a fundraising drive to help teachers replace some of the items they lost in the fire. Your contribution is tax-deductible, and all funds collected in this promotion will be used for the Tools for Teachers campaign.

Please mail or deliver your checks to GRRF, 23 Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, N.C. 27407. In the memo line, please enter "Tools for Teachers."

If you have questions, call Nancy L. Nelson at 402-1000 or 346-1910 or Kathleen Sullivan at 852-9373 and 387-2275.

Help us help the children and teachers of Eastern Guilford High School. Now.

Nancy L. Nelson
Greensboro

That the superintendent and school board would put the students and faculty at Eastern Guilford High School at risk by not having water sprinklers in the chemistry lab nor in the rest of the high school is indicative of their total incompetence and borders on criminal negligence, for which all, superintendent and members of the school board, should be fired.

How many other students and faculty are at risk in our schools because of the incompetence and neglect of the superintendent and school board?

Anthony J. Chibbaro
Greensboro

With new aircraft delivered and on order, AirTran is looking to expand to new cities, and using a novel approach: potential passengers may vote for the new destinations. Greensboro is notably absent from the list and one might wonder how deep-seated is the resentment toward PTI after our airport embraced the now-defunct Independence Air.

AirTran left soon after Independence arrived. Showing that they may forgive and forget, Knoxville, abandoned at the same time as Greensboro, has made the list. Is our Airport Authority striving to bring AirTran back and restore some semblance of reason to the exorbitant ticket prices in Greensboro, or should passengers start a write-in campaign in the hope AirTran will notice us?

Brian Robinson
Greensboro

I live in the historic Warnersville neighborhood, the oldest organized African American community in Greensboro. Warnersville is the home of historic J.C. Price School, one of the city’s treasures. The school is the only link to our past after urban renewal in the 1960s demolished our entire community.

Again, we stand on the brink of devastation in the Warnersville community. Greensboro College purchased the J.C. Price complex several years ago and had the property rezoned under the premise that the property’s use would not change. Now it plans to demolish J.C. Price School to build a football stadium in our quiet neighborhood. This will be built within 50 to 150 feet of some residential homes.

Life as we have known it would never be the same with the invasion of Greensboro College into our community, bringing noise, bright lights, tailgating, traffic, litter, parking problems and additional infringements.

This is not the community for a sports complex by Greensboro College. The neighborhood does not welcome Greensboro College.

To destroy its treasure, J.C. Price School, and destroy the peace and quiet of this African American neighborhood would be a travesty.

Lynette Parks
Greensboro

New Jersey has made a step in the right direction. The state’s Supreme Court ruling is evidence that homosexuals can no longer be treated as second-class citizens. It doesn’t matter what your moral views are. Regardless of your feelings on homosexuality, right or wrong, our government long ago sanctioned heterosexual marriage. New Jersey has taken the right steps to ensure all citizens are treated equally.

Our government provided special rights for married couples long ago. The new ruling helps to ensure that those special rights are pushed aside and that equal rights are available to all people. Black, white, gay or straight.

Today New Jersey, tomorrow North Carolina.

The United States has long claimed to be the land of the free. Thank you, New Jersey, for proving that today.

Tony Hummel
Reidsville

Regarding the Oct. 28 story about the Triad Equality Alliance billboard campaign promoting gay rights under the slogan, "We are all equal in God's eyes. How about yours?":

Another billboard is in order for Greensboro. If we had a Triad Truth Alliance, it could post the following: "The Bible does indeed reveal that God views all mankind as equals; adulterers, gossips, murderers, homosexuals (aka gays), pedophiles, etc., are all equal. This includes everyone, for any of us not specifically mentioned above is in the "etc." group, and all are viewed by God as sinners.

However, fortunately, this is not the end of the story. For God, who is rich in mercy and love, poured out His wrath for our sin on the sinless Son of God, Jesus Christ, on the cross. Now, and only through faith in Jesus and thus our receiving Him as Lord and Savior, we can receive eternal life and the power to turn from our rebellion (sinning) against God.

The question we must ask ourselves is, "Do I desire to be equal or saved? Kept in the bondage of my sin or freed?"

Jesus said, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

Gary Marschall
Greensboro

Regarding President Bush's recent visit to Greensboro for a Republican fundraiser:

Wow. Isn't it something how a political party can raise money so easily for its own use. Let's see now, 600 dinner plates at $1,000 per plate equals $600,000. But they raised more than $900,000.

Wouldn't it be great if the people in this country could raise money that easily to help homeless and underprivileged people in our own country?

Recently, when I was downtown in Greensboro, I saw a man walking on the sidewalk in his stocking feet. I wished I had a pair of shoes to give to that man.

I can't see that we are going to have a good candidate to run for president next time in the Republican or Democratic party, and I wish money didn't play such a part in politics.

Then maybe, just maybe, if there were an exceptional person to run for president, he might just win. Wouldn't that be an awesome thought?

Mary Young
Pleasant Garden

Columnist Thomas Friedman says that "government's job is to set broad goals and standards, and then let the market reach them" (Oct. 23). That's an erroneous job description.

He exhorts Californians to tax themselves $4 billion to give energy research money to presumably intelligent universities, "educate" the public, and subsidize alternative fuels. I believe this sums up The New York Times and Democratic Party's beliefs in general.

Friedman laments the constant starts and stops in funding subsidies for "things like solar and wind power." I suggest the stops came because the expenditures proved inefficient. The starts came because they sounded so good.

Could it be that California suffers budget problems because its citizens believe government can solve so many problems only to find that the market solves them better?

The profit motive tempered by strong ethical standards allocates resources pretty well. Heaven may have a better system.

Meanwhile, in the short run it always sounds like government can decide issues better. In the long run, free markets provide more effective solutions.

I believe these perceptional differences delineate the core issues fed to us in the elections. Do you vote for the attractive or the realistic?

Jack Glenn
Greensboro

October brings geeks from across the country to Greensboro for the ConvergeSouth conference, which recently celebrated its second year at N.C. A&T.

Without the commitment from A&T, the Southeast's pre-eminent technology user conference simply could not happen. ConvergeSouth and Greensboro owe a big thank you to the hard-working staff at A&T, including Dean Michael Plater, Dr. Nita Dewberry, and their entire team, especially the indefatigable Willene Rucker. Our gratitude also extends to Laurie Harper, Bill Wood, Kevin Lupo, Sam Hamlin and the whole IT support staff, which made wireless Internet a reality for everyone at this year's ConvergeSouth.

There were 260 attendees at ConvergeSouth on Oct. 13-14. The positive image these people got of Greensboro through this conference has helped put our city on the map as a place that understands and welcomes technology and its diverse users. Thanks to our many volunteers and participants, the folks who traveled to be here, and the team at A&T for making it all possible.

Sue Polinsky
Ed Cone
Ben Hwang
Greensboro

The writers are ConvergeSouth co-coordinators.

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Bob Guertin

The pope's comments on Islam in September were well-received and not incendiary to his immediate audience and to thinking Christians around the world. The confrontational Muslims look for any straw they can misconstrue and spin to their self-serving agenda. How they can remain silent when the minority of their ilk have caused unimaginable havoc around the world is reprehensible.

Maureen Parker ("Pope should admit Christian violence," Counterpoint, Oct. 6) feeds right into their trap by delving randomly into history, keeping her head in the sand rather than facing the present and suggesting means for the future. It's a typical Democratic ploy. Criticize the present and past with no demonstrable solution for the future.

The Crusades were reprehensible as were actions of others but have no bearing on the present and certainly not on the pope's remarks. His remarks were included in a point of much larger proportions and were factual and not intended to impugn anyone present or within worldwide earshot. Simply a quote to make a point with no need to apologize.

One could make selective quotes from the full lexicon of recorded history to avoid addressing the simple point the pope made at a German university to a well-informed audience.

Bill Clinton is hardly a basis upon which Parker can make her point. He's a lying, corrupt, lecherous, impeached draft dodger, going down as perhaps the worst president in modern times, having degraded the image of the presidency to an all-time low.

Her remarks about the rest of Muslims are well taken. Her comments on the pope are ill-conceived and off message. Maybe she should read the pope's entire speech and intelligent comments thereon.

The writer lives in Jamestown.

A swift response to the loss of Eastern Guilford High School is necessary for the success of its students. Students need continuity.

I suggest using the Greensboro Coliseum for immediate needs. Points to consider:

* Large enough to sustain the entire student body, rather than dividing and overwhelming already crowded area campuses.

* Drama/theater and band classes could use War Memorial Auditorium.

* Physical ed/sports could use the arena.

* There are conference areas, restrooms and audiovisual capabilities, and even food service is already in place.

Graduation would be more special to seniors whose final year was in the same building. Granted, logistics would have to be well mapped, but this is an underutilized taxpayer-funded entity that presents potential as a valuable resource to the community at this time of need.

Laura Todd
Greensboro

Concerning Eastern Guilford High School:

Clean up the scene as soon as possible and establish a school made up of temporary structures. There is no reason why this can't be done in the space of one week.

Keep these students and faculty intact and give them the opportunity to watch a new school rise from the ashes of the old one. A school is not a building but rather the spirit of those who attend it.

One other suggestion. Eastern might want to consider a new mascot: the Phoenix.

Dave Stump
Greensboro

Reading the Oct. 30 Leonard Pitts column, "U.S. cuts, runs from stay the course," I recall how important it was that students read George Orwell's "1984."

We studied the book and debated its concepts. Much of what it proposed seemed to have seeds of probability. Students researched newspaper articles for evidence that "1984" was coming true. We found much evidence to support the affirmative. Pitts' column supports one of those Orwellian concepts -- rhetoric changed reality to be what the government said it was.

Thus, the statement "we're going to stay the course" changing to "we've never been stay the course" seems to be just the example that Orwell predicted.

In the year 1984 when I was teaching the book, one of my students said, "In 2004 you will have students still comparing this book." I said, "No, I will probably be retired by then." I was, but I thought how much more relevant "1984" had become.

Was Orwell only off by 22 years? If so, let's not become "probes," as did most of the citizens of the fictional Oceania. Read, think, be an informed voter, and save America from becoming Oceania.

Judy Crutchfield
Kernersville

I helped four senior relatives sign up in 2006 for the cheapest Medicare prescription drug plan for their mix of medications.

Like most people, I assumed it was a one-time event. But when I checked for one of them for 2007, I discovered that the plan that she had was no longer best for her. Not only was it no longer the best plan, it was one of the most expensive ones for 2007. Her drug costs in 2006 are $2,985 annually. Estimates for the same medications in 2007 in her current plan are $4,970. The best plan that I can find for her will be $4,159. So the best she can do is a 39 percent increase, and if she sticks with her current plan, she will pay a whopping 66 percent more in 2007.

I checked for the other three seniors and the story is the same. No one will be better off staying with the plan selected for 2006. Even the person who has only one medication needs to switch plans and will pay an additional 7 percent. And not a one of them has received notice that their monthly premium and/or co-pay are going up.

Ann Beck
Advance

Torture may destroy the spirit of the victim -- but torture always kills the soul of the torturer.

When our grandchildren come to us after studying the Iraq war in American history and ask us, "What did you do when you learned about the secret prisons, renditions and water boarding?" we'll hang our heads and say, "We let our moral values be bullied into silence."

There is now a campaign to scare us out of our decency. Our silence is being taken as approval. ("They're not speaking against our actions. They must be in favor of them.") Our silence erodes our spiritual core.

Every day we remain silent is another day when our souls suffer. In this short life, our spiritual journey is the priority we're called to. We make a terrible mistake for ourselves and for our country when we insist that the means justify the ends. That argument disregards our sense of moral goodness and our efforts to become better people. The "American way" has meant fairness, decency, honor and justice for all. Let's not let that slip away.

Tom and Emilie Sandin
Greensboro

Since when did it become fashionable to sit in your car and drive behind your children while they trick or treat on Halloween?

Parents: For the safety of your child and others, please get out of your car and walk with your child. I hate to think this is the way it's going.

I noticed one street in Adams Farm actually put up barricades to prevent what I just described. By the way, when you do not see lights on at the front of the house, that means either they are not participating in Halloween or they have already given out all their candy.

Kids: If you're going to trick or treat, at least bother to put on a costume.

We went through seven pounds of candy, turned out the lights and still had people ringing our doorbell.

Troyce Hood
Greensboro

Greensboro and the surrounding area lost a major advocate for older adults and their families with the untimely death of Ann Kernodle Umstead on Oct. 23.

Ann, over the past 20 years, helped initiate policies and services that significantly impacted the quality of life of thousands of local older adults. I had the privilege of working with Ann on numerous committees at both the regional and local levels. As a result, I observed firsthand her never-ending efforts to improve the quality of life of older adults.

Through Ann's boundless energy, her ability to form alliances, her leadership skills and her creativity, many older adults in Greensboro and the surrounding region have been able to maintain independent and vital lives in their families and community. Ann's leadership and service addressed the broad spectrum of later life needs. She was most characterized by modesty, a commitment to others, and a passion for creating structures in the community to address the needs of both advantaged and disadvantaged older adults.

Perhaps Ann's character was revealed best in her obituary: "The lives Ann has touched cannot be counted. Her positive outlook, her love, her guidance, her strength, and her courage will not be forgotten and will continue to touch the lives of all those who knew her."

Vira R. Kivett
Greensboro

Greensboro's past still pays great dividends for our sense of community today — to wit, the Carolina Theatre. Over the last couple of months, and among many other events, the Carolina presented three very different virtuosos: from bluegrass, Ricky Skaggs; from rock and blues, Robert Cray; and from '70s English folk/rock, Richard Thompson. All at reasonable prices, without parking problems, in a warm, beautiful space, and within a pleasant walk of downtown restaurants. Moreover, diverse and changing communities comprised each audience.

In the next months, the Community Theatre of Greensboro's wonderful "Wizard of Oz," "Man of La Mancha," the original, silent "Phantom of the Opera," "Miracle on 34th Street" and "The Embers" will appear at the Carolina along with many more community events.

We should honor and enjoy our past as we plan for our future. We can do so in a wonderful, 78-year-old, privately owned treasure — the Carolina Theatre.

Charles Brummitt
Greensboro

The writer is a board member, Carolina Theatre of Greensboro Inc.

The generosity of the Triad never ceases to amaze me. Your neighbors raised more than $290,000 for cancer research at the second annual Triad Dinner for Cancer Research, a Golfers Against Cancer event, hosted by TV personality John O'Hurley. Donations will fund cutting-edge research at the Comprehensive Cancer Research Centers at Duke, Wake Forest and UNC.

William Seawell Jr., our honoree of the year, thanked the Triad supporters for contributing more than $560,000 in just two years. Golfers Against Cancer nationally will raise more than $3 million this year with 100 percent of the proceeds paving the path to the cure.

Please join us as we continue to help speed the cure.

J. Bruce Lyon
Greensboro

The writer is chairman, Triad Dinner for Cancer Research.

Add my voice to the growing chorus against the change at Oldies 93 radio station. For well over a decade, it was my "go to" station. It woke me in the morning and had the first button on my car radio. It was an oasis of pleasant sounds in a jungle of cacophonous country and rap.

All of a sudden it's taken away and replaced with yet another country station. Forgive me if I hope "The Wolf" gets caught by a trapper.

George L. Hopkins
Greensboro

In response to the “We’re all equal in God’s eyes” billboard, what if it read, “We’re all sinners in God’s eyes, how about yours?” That’s just as biblical as the other and points out the logical flaw in the argument.

Equality and virtue are not the same thing; nor does being equal to others in God’s eyes (or men’s) turn our evil actions into good ones.

What about NAMBLA (North American Man-Boy Love Association)? Are they equal in God’s eyes and therefore entitled to everyone’s tolerant acceptance of their diversity? How about polygamists? Or bigamists? Or the incestuous? Or — but the list is endless.

The truth is that God hates sin too much to leave us wallowing in its misery and alienation. As a member of America’s last invisible minority, ex-gays, I testify that God’s grace can deliver us from the delusion that gay is good and free us from the degradation and despair hidden behind the proud facade of the gay “lifestyle,” which I lived for 15 years.

Come to Jesus, who “made them male and female” for a good reason, and leave your idolatrous worship of your own image.

Stephen G. Wessells
Greensboro

This is a response to the Bob Lamar letter (Nov. 2), in which he apparently refers to attorneys as “bloodsuckers” and believes that if more attorneys retired, his car insurance rates would drop. Would that Steve Crihfield still received this fish wrap so his erudite response could be here rather than mine. But here goes.

Hey, Bob, here’s hoping that we “bloodsuckers” remember your name when you call us to get you out of trouble, or draft a contract or a will, or when your sister or son has some legal difficulties, or a loved one passes away.

Inform yourself, Bob: Insurance companies have more money than Carter has liver pills. Your rates have nothing to do with attorneys. I suspect your driving has a lot to do with it.

John Lunsford
Greensboro