News-Record.com

In response to David Hoggard's recent lament (Nov. 22) about voters not wanting to spend their tax dollars on renovating War Memorial Stadium as a limited-use facility: I grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., where I used a collection of fields at the Parade Grounds of Prospect Park to play many a ballgame, both in organized leagues as well as of the "choose-up" variety.

Why not consider preserving the front gate area of the present stadium as a memorial to those who have served, to maintain its original intent, and converting the remainder of the facility to a series of open ball fields? Just as the Parade Grounds were available to all comers, the resultant "War Memorial Park" could service both organized groups (on a reservation basis) as well as neighborhood kids just looking for a pickup game. A couple of the fields could even have a small group of stands for spectators.

Utilizing the facility in this way might well involve less expense and at the same time be a lot more beneficial to the public it is supposed to serve.

Charles Ganz
Greensboro

Say hallelujah. What a relief. The Baptist Convention has passed an anti-gay rule. North Carolina's largest religious denomination will no longer affiliate with churches that embrace openly gay members. This follows the secession of some Episcopal churches protesting the appointment of an openly gay bishop, and the recent proclamation of Catholic bishops that gay relationships are "disordered."

I suppose the next logical step is to disaffiliate with churches that embrace convenient liars, smiling hypocrites, corporate pirates, petty thieves, murderers and jaywalkers — sinners all. The irony to me is that all of us would qualify in one or more ways. To those who have concluded that homosexuality is a sin, I ask: Who would choose to be a homosexual? Who would choose to incur the hateful, exclusionary reaction of so many of us? Are all gays and lesbians crazy? If not, maybe sexual orientation is not a choice. Maybe it's the way people are wired. Sinning is not about wiring. Sinning is about choice.

With the justifiable furor over the global impact of Muslim extremists, how comforting it is to live in a place where the American Taliban is right around the corner.

Walt Gavin
Greensboro

Regarding Chief David Wray's resignation and the circus that has been created around some very questionable behavior by our city leaders:

It appears our city officials have decided that questionable behavior by any black person is acceptable. No one can challenge any activities out of fear of being labeled a "racist." The black criminals and black racists are feeding off this like sharks in a frenzy. James Hinson and his supporters are not being judged by the color of their skin. The public is judging them by the content of their character.

The mayor, City Manager Mitchell Johnson and the rest of our city officials who have allowed this cowardly behavior and policy should resign immediately. They no longer have any credibility. They have neutered the police department.

Liberal apologists with their political correctness are destroying every American value. Liberal apologists call political correctness civility. My parents raised me to tell the truth. I am sorry theirs did not.

Greensboro's reputation has been soiled again by incompetence. I do not want to hear, ever again, why people will not get involved in the political process in Greensboro. It is a lost cause.

Larry York
Greensboro

I recently read that the destruction of Eastern Guilford High School might have been prevented if the building had been outfitted with a sprinkler system. But alas, the problem is money — about $800,000 is needed but not available. This money can easily be made available immediately and at no increased cost to the taxpayer.

Eight hundred thousand dollars represents about $500,000 in direct salary. The school system can easily eliminate a half-million dollars in salary by cutting out much of the very heavy administration and such positions as guidance counselors, etc.

I'm 70 years old and was in public school in the 1940s and 1950s. Our "guidance counselor" was the paddle in the principal's office. It worked for me and I think I turned out pretty well with no apparent psychological hang-ups.

Let's cut all of the excess in the schools. Install the sprinkler systems, keep taxes down, protect and educate our children and possibly even whack an errant kid on the bottom every now and then. Maybe they will grow up to be a good guy like me.

Paul S. Watson
Jamestown

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Keith Peddie

Queen and country?

To see a very intimate film ("The Queen") about the nation that one lived in for more than 40 years is an interesting experience. On one hand, one is a voyeur; on the other, one says, "Ah, yes!" That's how it is.

Since I am a total, absolute fan of Helen Mirren, I knew I would enjoy the film even if she just walked around, silently, for two hours on screen. Of course, she is a consummate actress and, to my untrained eye, did not put a foot or even a face muscle wrong. The film is worth the price of admittance just for her.

But, I often wonder about these films that purport to show us something unknowable. For example, "Amadeus" was just a figment of an imagination, "The Da Vinci Code" the same.

Interesting ideas, good stories, but were they true?

In the same vein, did we hear the verbatim conversation that took place between the characters in the film? I think not. No doubt the queen (Britain's figurehead) could well have been condescending to Tony Blair (the prime minister, the power literally behind the throne), but it surely is one person's guess as to what was said and, more importantly, how.

The film certainly brought out (albeit tangentially) the then-very unusual grief of the Anglo-Saxons, not known for open weeping, short of losing a limb or a family member.

I well remember calling my friends in London a few days after the princess' death. I was told that the whole country was in mourning. One, a good friend for many years, had closed his business, taken to his bed and sobbed inconsolably for three days. Even his family could not understand his response. Paradoxically, he was not in the habit of visiting his widowed mother living only a few miles away and when she became seriously ill did not go at all.

Even as an Englishman, I cannot explain such anomalies. I suppose that eventually psychology will branch out into psychoanalysis of entire nations when such matters will be explained or at least dissected interminably. But until then, do see the film. It will give you a very interesting snapshot of a statue crying.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

By Anne Snoek

City Manager Mitchell Johnson mentioned in a column in the News & Record on Nov. 2 that his first core value was honesty. It doesn't look like the core is inside of him: where is his honesty?

There are different ways of lying to people. One is to tell a flat-out, linear lie: I was driving 95 mph and I tell the cop I was driving 65 mph.

The form of dishonesty I want to address is Johnson's form, which creates illusions by putting two or more things together in one phrase that don't belong together.

In the News & Record article Johnson says, "After I reviewed the RMA report, I decided I had to ask (former police Chief David) Wray to explain the differences between what I had been told by him and the documented information in the report. Rather than respond to my questions, Wray instead resigned." That is called creating an illusion.

What really happened was that Johnson had the locks on Chief Wray's office door changed on Friday, Jan. 6. Wray, having had his power systemically weakened for the past two months by being robbed of his ability to hire, fire, promote or demote, could not even get into his own office to do any more work. Powerless and humiliated, he resigned on the very next business day, and went to get help for the police department.

To use an analogy: Someone tells us that Julie screamed when the sun came out. Julie may well have screamed when the sun came out, and Wray may well have resigned after not responding to Johnson's questions. But to pursue our analogy, Julie did not scream because the sun came out; she screamed because she dropped a can of peas on her foot in the kitchen.

And Wray did not resign because he would not respond to Johnson's questions but because he was locked out of his office.

So Johnson's statement, though not containing linear lies, is full of illusion. And that is why the public has become deeply suspicious of him.

Who is to know when he is creating illusions elsewhere?

The writer lives in Greensboro.

Regarding the Nov. 17 story, "God still in the game," about high school football teams that pray:

"As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools." Whoever wrote that was a genius because it definitely is true. Prayer will never go away from schools even though it is technically against the law. It goes on whether you know it or not. Kids pray before tests and even before competition.
Prayer has become so strong that even school officials such as football coaches around the Triad are joining in and encouraging the players as well as fans to pray before and after games.
I appreciate the fact that people are not straying away from their morals just to conform to some idea that America, a country founded on Christian principles no less, has put on us. Why is it such a bad thing for a team and a community to pray together and thank a higher power just for allowing them to be together?

I applaud these coaches, players and fans for taking a stand and not being ashamed to break a few rules and pray. It is a beautiful thing when people can come together and do something positive.

Kelli Gary
Greensboro

Allen Johnson suggests in his Nov. 19 piece about sectarian squabbles of Guilford County that the main school office be moved near the airport because it's a central location.

I thought Greensboro was the center of Guilford County. That's why it's the county seat.

Since the school office already is in the county seat, why move it?

Lauren Davis
Greensboro

Regarding Christian Arevian's Counterpoint, "Terrorists prevail in Republicans' defeat" (Nov. 18):

Bush has been commander-in-chief of the armed forces and the architect of this nation's foreign policy for the past six years. The fact that the war in Iraq has gone badly is due solely to his incompetent leadership. He could have had more troops in Iraq at any time. He could have changed our strategy and tactics in this conflict at any time over the past six years, but he utterly failed to do so.

To blame the "liberal press" for such a monumental failure, and to call the recent election results "an unexpected humiliation" that will "give aid and comfort to the Islamic terrorists" is just unreal. The "humiliation" of the Republican Party and Bush, in particular, was richly deserved. It was the American voters, not the "liberal press," who finally said it is time for some accountability in our conduct of the "war on terror."

Kent Boyles
Greensboro

Accountability. That's what I want the Congress to obtain from this administration. Hearings, investigations, special commissions — whatever it takes to ferret out the whole truth of how we were led into war in Iraq dishonestly, illegally and immorally. And then I want justice.

Many are saying that what's important is not how we got there but what to do now in Iraq. That is important, but it's more important for us citizens to understand precisely how and why it happened so that we might prevent another repeat.

I say "another" repeat having in mind Vietnam, where I served as an Army officer. That war, too, was based on lies. When the debacle was finally over, we seemed to have learned the folly of such military misadventures, but all too soon we forgot. And after Sept. 11, understandably fearful and confused, we fell for the empire-building designs of the neocons — giving away our democracy for phony security.
We need to pay more attention to our history and learn from our mistakes. We need to keep closer tabs on our politicians (whose interests may be quite different from our own). And we must never again be cowed into silence.

Paul Mitchell
Greensboro

The stance of High Point Regional Health System regarding the Moses Cone facility in north High Point, while interesting, is based on flawed assumptions.

Why should any health-care provider be granted a monopoly by state bureaucrats? Thinking the public cannot make quality decisions concerning their health needs appears as hubris.

Or, maybe there is a fear of competition. Competition has helped make this a great nation and maybe a little more in health care choices would improve our health-care delivery system.

Citizens of western Guilford County deserve the option of deciding where to get their health-care services. Artificial monopoly barriers only serve the institutions, not the population.

For the record, I retired after serving 30-plus years of my career in health care administration (seven of those years at Moses Cone Health System).

Michael Lopez
Summerfield

The world lost a bit of its heart and soul last month with the death of Ed Bradley.

I met Ed in 1977 when I was an intern in the press office at the White House in Washington. He was the White House correspondent for CBS News at that time. Ed loved young people. From taking me to gallery openings to "teaching me the ropes" of journalism at its finest, Ed became my friend and my mentor.

Everything the tributes have said about Ed is true. He lived his life with great integrity, passion and compassion. And with great style and humor. To someone who was just starting out in her career, he taught me the importance of reaching out to everyone we meet on life's journey and treating everyone the same, no matter how great or small. Everyone has a gift to offer, if we are just open to it.

I saw Ed for the last time in Durham several weeks ago. Despite his weakness, his eyes and his smile were still as warm as ever, and I was so glad to have the chance to let him know that I haven't forgotten the lessons he taught me by his own example those many years ago. It is my hope that I'll always be one of his best students.

R. Ross Harris
Greensboro

I read the Motley Fool column about dividends being taxed twice, but the writer didn't go far enough. He failed to say that the consumer actually pays the corporate tax through higher prices for the goods or services purchased from the company. This is a hidden tax that most are apparently unaware of. You can't tax a company; only people pay taxes.

This is one more reason we need to completely abolish the current tax code and get one that is fair and completely transparent like the proposal currently before Congress, HR25/S25. If you are not familiar with it, go to the Web site at Fairtax.org and then write your congressman asking him to support it.

Locally, there is a community coordinator for the fair tax who can give a presentation to any group that would like more information and answer questions anyone may have. He is a CPA/CFA and is well qualified. I am a grass-roots volunteer for the fair tax. I can be reached at 336-656-3992.

William Tidwell
Browns Summit

I was dismayed to read in the News & Record that the coyote in the Lindley Park neighborhood was trapped and killed. Surely, we can find a better way to manage our wildlife than deliberately baiting and killing animals who have not presented a known threat.

Relocation would have been a much better solution and should have been used, absent any evidence that this coyote was an immediate threat to the public or had shown evidence of being rabid. I understand why a trap was set for coyotes in Battlefield Park earlier this year, since a coyote, suspected to be rabid, had been seen acting aggressively toward park visitors.

I do not believe killing the Lindley Park coyote was justified, however, under the circumstances. Humane relocation of this animal was a better option. Based on the information provided in your article, the euthanizing of this animal, and I certainly hope it was merciful, was the wrong choice.

Anne Harris
Greensboro

Let's get the record straight: The vote at the Baptist State Convention did not exclude anyone from coming to church to worship. All are welcome.

The news media have not reported the whole truth but slanted the press release to leave the readers with the idea that worship attendees will be screened at the door.

The Bible is specific, Old and New Testaments, concerning church membership, and that's what the convention decreed.

Charles O'Brien
Greensboro

By Latimer Alexander

Your editorial, "Work-force weaknesses hold back local economy" (Nov. 28), was an interesting perspective. Somehow the editorialist felt that the economic incentives for Polo.com by High Point, Guilford County and the state of North Carolina should have been invested in greater education and preparedness of our work force in High Point.

I can assure those concerned in Greensboro that High Point is working very hard to assess our community's work-force skills and to enhance our citizens' ability to meet the job skills required for the head-of-household jobs in the 21st century. Our work-force development program is moving forward with broad community support. We are nearing the end of the second phase of assessment. The third phase of the process will begin in early 2007, where an oversight body will be created and a director and staff hired to implement the directives of the oversight body.

With respect to attracting world-class companies, High Point has enjoyed a wonderful 2006 in the area of economic expansion. High Point and its citizens have been blessed to attract more than 12 new companies. High Point is very proud of Ralph Lauren Media/Polo.com opening a new $40 million distribution center in our core city. Drawing 250-plus new jobs paying more than $34,000 per year is an excellent example of High Point EDC's continuing success.

We in High Point continue to work hard to make our community the fastest growing in Guilford County. We continue to work hard to make our household income levels the highest in Guilford County. We appreciate the concerns of the editorialist, but High Point will continue to do both, to educate and empower our citizens and attract world-class companies. We wish to encourage every community in the Triad and wish them great success in empowering their citizens with greater levels of education and job skills as well as attracting world-class business opportunities.

The writer is a member of the High Point City Council.

By Craig M. Kabatchnick

North Carolina is expected soon to have the fifth-largest veteran population in the country. Many veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan will have service-related disability claims, especially post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. It is anticipated that many reserve and National Guard personnel who have served bravely during multiple tours of duty will suffer from PTSD due to urban combat, which exposes military to close-in combat, civilian casualties and the devastating effects of road-side bombs.

Reserve and National Guard personnel are especially vulnerable because their training was initially less extensive than that provided to active-duty soldiers.

I handled veterans' appeals for five years as an associate special assistant and senior appellate attorney in the Veteran Affairs General Counsel's office, and have since spent 11 years representing veterans in claims against the VA.

The VA has hired few, if any, trained psychiatrists and psychologists during the past four years to handle veterans suffering from PTSD. Furthermore, no new mental health hospitals or clinics have been constructed in North Carolina; the three major VA medical hospitals, in Durham, Salisbury and Asheville are adding no beds, wards or trained mental health personnel.

Without the assistance from the VA to treat mental health disorders, especially PTSD, the burden will fall upon private and county health facilities. The cost for mental health care is often not covered by private health insurance, leaving returning veterans to bear the expense. Much of the cost will then fall to Medicare or Medicaid, passing the expense on to the public.

The VA must recognize that action needs to be taken now to deal with the inevitable mental health crisis.

The VA must not be allowed to simply stick its collective head in the sand and ignore this serious problem.

The writer lives in Greensboro and will be director of the Veterans Law Project, N.C. Central University School of Law, beginning in January 2007.

The recent article, "Change to law outrages disabled adults' parents," raises concerns with North Carolina's Medicaid program. Parents, who are also the legal guardians of their disabled adult children, are distraught with the state's new policy that prohibits payments to legal guardians for providing Medicaid services to these children.

Several years ago, North Carolina secured approval from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to use Medicaid funds for providing home- and community-based services to people who otherwise would need nursing home or similar long-term institutional care. North Carolina now wants to suddenly stop parents, who are legal guardians of adult disabled children, from being their child's paid caregiver.

There may be legitimate concern that guardians who are paid caregivers could influence the adult child's plan of care for personal financial gain. However, state health officials ignore the decent parents who forfeited good, paying jobs with health insurance to remain home and care for adults who depend on the constant attention of a compassionate caregiver.

North Carolina's new policy is a classic example of government "throwing out the baby with the dirty bath water."

John Ansbro
Greensboro

The writer is executive director, The Arc of Greensboro.

Regarding the letter of Walter Milosky (Nov. 21) about blaming the Democrats for "everything" now, beginning with his power outage the day after the election, he may want to wait until January when the Democratic majority in Congress becomes a reality.

As for blaming President Bush for "everything," it has been well documented from many sides that mistakes have been made regarding "everything" from Iraq to the response to Katrina. It would be refreshing to hear "someone" own up to blunders, but we'll have to just do with the "resignation" of Rumsfeld, and the bipartisan government report, "A Failed Initiative," on the delayed and inept response to Katrina, as "apologies," I guess.

The arrogance of the current administration and staunch defense by the likes of Limbaugh, etc., will continue, but, I hope our leaders —Democratic, Republican, and Independent — will focus on the real issues.

Kent Benfield
Greensboro

What were you thinking when you decided to publish the picture of the dead deer with its blood spilling out announcing the opening of deer hunting season (A thousand words, Nov. 21)? It was in very poor taste. Do you think your readers appreciate seeing something so disturbing?

Also, what was the meaning of the caption, "A Thousand Words"? Did it take that many words to describe how the poor deer was killed?

Lorraine Moretti
Burlington

Theodore Roosevelt said, "It is not the critic who counts."

City Councilwoman Dianne Bellamy-Small is an invaluable asset to Greensboro. She has worked for the needs of her constituents and Greensboro citizens throughout her time on the council. Let her constituents decide her value and get on with important city business.

Claire Holmes
Greensboro

Kudos to the Guilford County sheriff for proactively taking child predators off the street and to WFMY (Channel 2) for partnering with him to capture and broadcast the chilling images.

Unfortunately, one partner in this story is a victim of sensationalism. The Triad Apartment Association (TAA) wants you to know that despite what the creepy, spectral images of "Apartment X" on ads and billboards might tempt you to believe, apartment communities are crime-fighting partners with local law enforcement. In fact, the owners of "Apartment X" were partners in the sting.

Many local apartment communities participate in crime-free and neighborhood watch programs. They get regular neighborhood crime updates from local police departments.

Many also provide subsidized housing for law enforcement officers living in their apartments who help their neighbors protect their community. Further, most (70 to 80 percent, I think) professionally managed apartment communities perform criminal background checks on all prospective residents.

Finally, TAA urges all of its members and neighbors to register with the Guilford Sheriff's Office to get e-mail updates when a registered sex offender moves into your neighborhood. Visit www.TAA.bz for that sign-up link.

Clarke Martin
Greensboro

As Rose Furniture prepares to close its doors after 81 years of business and service, I would like to say a public "thank you" to my good friends Jean and Bill Kester, to the entire Kester family, and to the Rose Furniture employees for their support of our community, and of our United Way in particular.

Over the years, the corporate leadership and personal philanthropy of this family and their employees have enriched Greater High Point in innumerable ways, and we are grateful for their generosity and compassion.

Like so many others in our community, they chose to share their blessings with others, and what a wonderful difference it has made.

At this difficult time, we thank them, and wish them all good luck and Godspeed on their new journeys.

Kem Ellis
High Point

The writer is chairman of the board for United Way of Greater High Point.

On the radio recently, I heard a politician claim, "Americans have fulfilled their responsibility to the Iraqi people.'' It was a way to plead for a much-needed withdrawal.

But "fulfilled their responsibility to the Iraqi people" is a staggering denial of U.S. violence: 150,000 to 655,000 Iraqis now estimated dead, unsafe water, unreliable electricity, scarce medical treatment, bomb-shattered neighborhoods and lives, a civil war unleashed, bitterness and resistance increasing.

Too many in government want to deny what has happened and keep us living inside a Hollywood World War II movie. As much as we need to withdraw our troops from Iraq, we need to admit what we have done. We violated international law and started a war, unprovoked. We have caused massive destruction from which more violence has spiraled. The bravery and sacrifice of our soldiers has been misused again.

We owe it to all those whose lives have been shattered or lost to face the truth about what war does and admit the need for reparations and reformed U.S. policies. Sen. Biden wisely advises a conference to enact a regional nonaggression pact. If only we had started there, with the United States, top military power and No. 1 seller of arms, an active participant.

Anne Cassebaum
Elon

Where did Karl Rove find James Sherk (column, "Pundits crying wolf on wages," Nov. 6)?

The big problem that Sherk ignores is the national debt and $260 billion added to that debt last fiscal year alone by this administration and Congress, and they are still spending a billion dollars a week, with borrowed money from China and others, in Iraq.

Our soldiers in Iraq are being kept alive and fighting with borrowed money. These debts will not be paid by our "government." These debts will be paid in the century ahead by the American workers, not the profiteering corporations -- big oil, pharmaceuticals and health care providers.

It doesn't take an economist, nor a student of the Center for Data Analysis at The Heritage Foundation, to explain who will pay these debts.

John Kincaid
Reidsville

"Woman honored for being mom to kids in need" by Tom Steadman (Nov. 19) was a heartwarming story. To open the Sunday paper and see an article such as this makes a person proud.

The woman is truly a shero (hero) in her own right. She took in children that many people had given up on, turning them into a family that they still love.

This is one of hundreds of local hero stories that need to be published. Great credit goes to Steadman for publishing this article.

On the other hand, it is sad that it took this long for her to be recognized. This goes to show that the problems of the world are focused on so hard that the good things that are being done to preserve this great place we call America are being over looked.

Tiffany Balmer
Greensboro

The electorate obviously wants a change in government. And about time. Undoubtedly, this administration and this Congress have made more mistakes than any in memory. Of course, the question is whether we will see any improvement. Have we elected some statesmen this time?

Obviously, it will be a Herculean task to reverse our current direction. It will be difficult to disentangle ourselves from Iraq, and, of course, there is no way to compensate for the lives and property that have been so wantonly destroyed.

And it is almost necessary to conclude that we will never be able to repay the gargantuan deficits of the last six years. But the best thing the new Congress can do is to get us out of Iraq, raise taxes and at least begin.

Maybe we have made a good start. We will see. But the big test will come in 2008. I see no savior on the horizon. No Truman or Clinton. Well, maybe one Clinton. At least, she would have the benefit of some good advice (he left a surplus) close at hand -- and presumably no problems with interns.

As Chicken Little shouted, "The sky is falling!" Well, maybe not yet. But maybe soon.

Dan W. Maddox
Greensboro

My husband and I were invited to see our twin grandsons in the Eden nighttime Christmas parade. We're not young anymore and I have problems that don't allow me to stand for any length of time, so we left an hour early from home, got a good spot on the curb, and expected to see the boys as they came by.

We overheard that the Reidsville parade had banned the throwing of candy. But, as the first floats came by, all the people who got there after us and were standing up behind us rushed out in front of the people seated on the curb and blocked our view. We tapped a guy on the shoulder who had two kids in tow and asked him to move out of our view. He told us, "This parade is for kids." My husband told him, "You don't look like a kid." The kids could have sat on the curb, but he kept shoving his kids out into the middle of the street each time candy was thrown. Several times it was in front of a moving vehicle. His attitude was, "We're the only people who count, not those others." He never considered that the parade was for everyone or that someone might be seated might because they had physical problems. We left before the parade was over. We won't go to another parade.

Why am I putting it in the paper? Reidsville and Eden are not the only places parades happen. I hope folks see themselves in this and think about their behavior the next time they go to a parade and block someone's view.

Eden, ban the candy before someone gets hurt. Parents, learn to respect others. Your kids are watching.

Carolyn Nittler
Reidsville

I find myself being astonished at Christian churches taking an anti-gay stance (News & Record, Nov. 15). Do they actually know any gay people? Do they really think gays choose to be so? If so, who would choose to be so discriminated against, even hated? Ask Ted Haggard. The church leaders should ask themselves when they "chose" to be heterosexual, to understand the absurdity of their stance.

Studies and anecdotal evidence (ask a gay person) suggest that these people were born that way, just as others are born with traits they did not choose, like skin color. This is discrimination, pure and simple, something we as a culture can grow beyond.

Where is the compassion that is fundamental to Christian teaching being demonstrated by these churches? What are they afraid of? Gay contagion?

And if there is anything like a "gay gene," the means to its removal is to accept homosexuality as a variation, even a mutation, beyond the control of the individual. They need compassion and acceptance, just like the rest of us, if not more, because of such ignorance and prejudice.

These churches have larger and more serious issues to see to rather than to ostracize "the least of these."

James R. Jackson
Reidsville

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Joseph E. Turner

I was struck by your editorial on interpreters in the court system (Nov. 17). Your opening hypothesis concludes: "That happens (not knowing what has been said in court in English) more often than you think, especially in a place like Guilford County, whose residents speak more than 100 different languages." Actually, that has not happened in Guilford County for many years.

As of Feb. 24, 2005, Guilford County's courts formalized a procedure that had been in effect informally for several years. We also formalized a contractual relationship with two certified part-time Spanish interpreters who are present in the courtroom every day in Greensboro and High Point.

We have a judicial assistant who obtains all other interpreters. She has developed relationships with translation services in the county, the state and the nation in order to provide accurate, simultaneous translation for all of our non-English-speaking citizens upon reasonable notice.

Your editorial said, "The new system (of providing court interpreters) ought to bring greater accountability and increased efficiency." In fact, the state's plan is being modeled after the salient features of the Guilford County plan, including certification. Your editorial concludes that courts overspent the budget for interpreters last year and "That's inexcusable in any language." The fact is the Administrative Office of the Courts requested $775,000 and the legislature budgeted $0 for a service that is mandated by the Constitution.

I believe your opinion was based on a statewide news release reported several days earlier. Your readers and our fellow citizens would have benefited more if the editorial had provided a local context of what is happening in our courts. Then, perhaps you would have formed the opinion that we should not be required to fix what is not broken but actually works economically, efficiently and effectively here in Guilford County.

The writer is chief District Court judge.

Open letter to Guilford County planners: Thanks for the invitation to attend the updating of your 1989 Plan for Southwest Guilford County ("Growth overtakes area plan," Nov. 27).

If I understand your current situation, it's that the combination of developers, annexation and the paving of roadways for our transportation hub has rendered what was once an excellent, well-thought-out plan obsolete. So now it's time to dust it off and bring it up to date with reality so that we can move forward. Only here is where I struggle.

If the county's been pretty much gobbled up by those ignoring the first plan and doing just what they want, what exactly will the function be of this new and improved plan? Pardon my asking, but don't you planners feel a little, well, silly sometimes going through these motions with a straight face?

I think I'll just read a good book that night as it's probably a better use of my time.

Bill Yaner
Jamestown

In response to letters from Cris Elkins ("Prejudice toward gays cruel, insulting to God," Nov. 21), Stephen Wessell ("Equality in God's eyes doesn't create virtue," Nov. 10) and Gary Marschall ("Billboard about gays doesn't tell whole story," Nov. 8), I simply say that we are all God's children. Period, end of report.

It matters not what religion you are, what political party you belong to, or what you do behind closed doors. We are all viewed the same in God's loving eyes. "He that is without sin among you let him first cast a stone at her" ( John 8:7).

Carla Strickland
Pleasant Garden

I love small retailers like the one featured by the News & Record on Nov. 19, "A most Ungeneral Store."

Maria Johnson nicely captures the charm of the University General Store, depicting why its many features really earn it the reputation as an "Ungeneral" country store.

Unfortunately, one aspect really does place the store outside of the mainstream: the retail sale of single cigarettes. Selling cigarettes individually is a violation of federal law: 26 CFR 296.166 states that all cigarettes offered for sale must be in proper packages that bear the Surgeon General's warning.

Additionally, the sale of "singles" has been shown to increase youth access, providing an inexpensive way to start smoking without the worry of hiding a pack of cigarettes from parents and teachers (Action on Smoking and Health).

I truly want to see stores such as the University General Store thrive, but we need to help it do so without the sale of "singles," and not at the expense of our youth.

Robert Strack
Greensboro

I was pleased to see the article (Nov. 20) on a Purdue University program aimed at improving the quality of personal fitness trainers. This article correctly points out that there is no universal educational standard or certification for personal trainers. Some trainers receive their certification following a few hours of online training and, therefore, may have limited skills or knowledge when it comes to prescribing physical activity. Perhaps more importantly, they may know little about contraindications to exercise.

An instructor affiliated with the Purdue program is cited as believing their program is the first of its kind in the United States. I wish to point out that we have had such an undergraduate program in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at UNCG for many years. This Fitness Leadership program is endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine, the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. We currently have several hundred students enrolled across the four-year curriculum. Our students receive training in exercise testing and prescription. They have hands-on experience with older adults and other target groups of individuals.

Consumers need to have confidence that the activities prescribed by a
personal trainer are appropriate to their age and health condition. There is an excellent program here in the Triad aimed at that specific goal.

Kathleen Williams, Ph.D.
Greensboro

The writer is professor and head, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, UNCG.

I am second to none in admiration for the growth that U.S. railroads have shown in the past several years, so I was pleased to see your feature on Nov. 28 titled, "Guess Who's Hiring? Railroads."

However, your figures are way off track. You state, "Overall, employment in the industry is up from 36,500 in 2003 to more than 40,000." (This is clarified somewhat later on in the article as being the data for the BNSF railroad.)

The Association of American Railroads states that the total employment for U.S. railroads in 2005 was actually 162,438, up 7,739 from 2004. If you are going to praise this vital sector of U.S. transportation, then please do so factually.

Clarence Phillips
Greensboro

"Storm fells trees, causes wrecks," in the local section of the paper (Nov. 23) contained an error regarding what was pictured with the caption, "Water spills out of a manhole cover near Buffalo Creek along Latham Park Road."

That isn't a manhole but a sewer and what was spilling out of it certainly wasn't water. It also wasn't the first time that happened that week. The city continues to ignore this unsanitary problem, paying fines to the state with each spill and covering up the problem with a little lye the next day.

A little rain is an OK story, but how about writing about a problem like this? That would be news worth reading.

Amy Hoefle
Greensboro

On Nov. 5, you published an article regarding a young lady who was a Hispanic immigrant being deported by Homeland Security because of a series of legal missteps in documentation ("Heavy hands, cold heart"). Sara Lenna was gainfully employed and married to an American. It seemed a gross injustice that someone so ingrained in American culture and seemingly the opposite of a security risk would be singled out for deportation while so many criminals and drug traffickers of Hispanic background are permitted total freedom in our country.

One can wonder if this is not by design. If the administration's desired policy is to permit a continued influx of cheap Hispanic labor, then certainly deportation is not their preferred policy. What better way to bring about a halt to such deportation than to pick a test case which to the public appears a travesty of justice? This would paint the entire program as revolting to the American conscience. Bingo. An end to the whole idea. They might view the sacrifice imposed upon Lenna as the necessary price for ending the concept of sending illegals home.

Charles C. King
Siler City

Lisa Barnard's letter ("I am my parents' child, not their adopted child," Nov. 28) perpetrates a common myth regarding the fabled "assurance of privacy" for birth parents.

According to the history of North Carolina adoption law, birth parents were never guaranteed absolute privacy under any circumstances. Absent statutory language to the contrary, there is no contractual obligation on the part of North Carolina toward maintaining birth parents' privacy from their children; nor is there is any state or federal constitutional right to privacy for birth parents.

Adoption records were originally sealed to prevent birth parents from interfering with the statutorily created family. Adoption law in North Carolina was created to protect the adoptive family rather than birth parents whose rights have eroded steadily over the years.

Persons adopted prior to legislation that requires birth parents to complete medical history forms have no other way to gather their family medical histories than through the names on the birth certificates. Should birth parents eschew contact with adoptees, the adoptees can use those names to pull death certificates and cobble together a genealogical medical history for themselves and their children.

Until adult adoptees are allowed equal access to their medical histories and personal records as non-adoptees, we truly are "less than" non-adoptees.

Teresa Frohock
Reidsville

The city of Greensboro is advertising for a police chief through the International Association of Police Chiefs. At one time this job would have been one of the premier chief of police positions in the country. But why would a professional, progressive, ethical, moral, honest, dedicated, tenured, educated, competent, experienced, committed law enforcement leader and administrator seek this position with the knowledge of what happened to just such an individual as David Wray?

Byron Jones
Hernando, FL

The writer is retired from the Winston-Salem Police Department.

I read with interest the letter by Tom Ward ("Needs of U.S. citizens must take top priority," Nov. 27). Ward states that we need to give priority " … first to our own people." Perhaps Ward is an indigenous Native American and therefore is one of the few people who should be allowed to remain here. I, on the other hand, am a descendant of immigrants.

One was John Witherspoon, a 1768 immigrant from Scotland who signed the Declaration of Independence eight years later. Another ancestor was President Ulysses Grant, whose forefathers came from England. Immigrants traveled here hoping to fulfill the promise of a better life for themselves and their children.

The vast majority of immigrants arrive here today looking for that same promise. They work hard, save money, get educated and obey the laws. The fact that Homeland Security has made its mission the deportation of law-abiding, tax-paying immigrants is the real issue with which Ward should be concerned.

As a moderate Republican, I share Ward's fears of illegal entrance into the United States. President Bush's logical program for guest workers and reasonable amnesty for current illegal immigrants would greatly improve our current situation and reduce costs.

Meredith Millard
Greensboro

I have been extraordinarily distressed over your story of Sara Lenna, a Peruvian lady who was picked up at her work place and handcuffed like a common criminal by Homeland Security agents.

Recently, I read with joy of her release from prison and her eligibility for a green card. I am so grateful that there really are people in authority in this country who are able to make humane judgments.

When the issue of immigration to this country by people looking for a better life is constantly in the news, we need to know that there are many more hardworking "Sara Lennas" who are not quite so lucky.

Bonnie Miller
Greensboro

In response to the article by Mark Sills ("Every one of us is a child of God," Nov. 25), it is obvious that Sills has an agenda and begins the article by making some ridiculous allegations.

No, the earth is not flat but it is 6,000 years old. But he would rather believe theory than truth. His real message is to justify the homosexual lifestyle.

Are we to believe that the church should accept the adulterer and still allow the person to continue cheating on his spouse? Or say to the thief, it is all right to rob as a "lifestyle"?

This sort of ideology is permeating today's church, which is no longer preaching repentance and turning away from sin. It's one thing for the secular society to accept this type of behavior, but not the church.

We have already seen the effects of taking God out of the public schools and the murdering of more than 40 million babies. Now the acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle will be the last straw before God removes his restraining grace (Romans 1).

To say that there is overwhelming evidence that someone is "born gay" is as ludicrous as believing the earth is flat. We have become like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Rick Fife
Kernersville

The good news is that Sara Lenna, a taxpayer and apparently a decent human being, will be spared deportation to Peru, allowed to stay in Greensboro to pursue citizenship and remain with her husband. The bad news is that hundreds of similarly decent Triad illegal immigrants will not have the same support when they get caught.

The good news is President Bush might come up with a practical plan for immigration reform by working with Democrats; the bad news is he promised this years ago.

The good news is that fiscally conservative Republicans might get their party back; the bad news is they may not be electable without the religious right.

The good news is that fundamentalists are disgusted by their political advocates' buying meth and being caught in corruption; the bad news is that N.C. Baptists would prefer serial killers or pedophiles in their congregations over tax-paying, law-abiding gays.
The good news is that Greensboro is looking for a catchy slogan to embody our sense of purpose; the bad news is that we're still having to look.

Andrew J. Young
Greensboro

Of all the reasons, excuses, rationalizations, and outright distortions being offered to validate the continuing loss of American lives in Iraq, the one that chills me to my soul is "saving face."

Over the past few days, the phrase has been bandied about by a prominent luminary (President Carter), cable news interviewers (Chris Matthews and Tucker Carlson) and newspapers, domestic and foreign (Washington Post and Manchester Guardian), and other pundits, as one of the reasons the administration will not withdraw our soldier kids from the killing fields. What's worse, none of the commentary condemned outright such a heinous self-interest.

That even one young life should be sacrificed so that some politician or general avoid embarrassment is an obscenity. To be willing to have thousands more sacrifice their lives or have their bodies irreparably maimed to perpetuate the delusion of competence in conducting the war is a sin against God.

No matter how the argument for withdrawal of troops from Iraq (and I would do so immediately) progresses, I pray the "save face" element plays no part in the final decision to stay or withdraw. If it does, then God help us all.

Michael J. Scotto
Greensboro

Political movements, conservative and liberal, generally run in 15- to 20-year cycles, as noted by Sen. Joe Biden, David Gergen, George Will and other political analysts.

The most recent conservative movement that began with Ronald Reagan's moderate platform and later was joined by the evangelicals and ultra-conservatives ran its course until their arrogance, corruption, scandals, incompetence and self-serving interests, led by big corporations and the wealthy, finally caught up with them even as Republicans' memories of why they originally sought power faded.
Americans said that they had enough and voted the Bush conservatives out. The conservative Republicans actually lost the elections more than the liberal Democrats won them. Americans sent a strong message to the politicians in the elections: You work for us, not the other way around.

Biden, Gergen, Will and other analysts pointed out that the same trend happened to the liberal Democrats in the 1970s and early '80s. They also pointed out that a great thing about our great country's two-party system is that when a political party gets too far left or right, and forgets to listen and take care of the middle class and the poor, it eventually will be voted out of office.

Now it is the turn of the liberal and moderate Democrats, working with the moderate Republicans, to begin trying to correct the mess our country is in.

Good luck, and God bless America.

Wayne Veach
High Point

I just want to thank you for letting the community know what was going on with Sara Lenna. Thanks to your articles, many prayers, and Sara's husband and lawyer she is home. This is such a blessing.
Sara has been truly missed at work and in the community. She is a very important person to many people and has played such a big role in so many people's lives. Because of all the letters and prayers she is home. Thank you again.

Jennifer Barnes
Kernersville

Attacking Iran would be insane. "Bush the Crusader" would be a good moniker. We have neither the troops, nor the equipment, to open another front. And the present's "peacemaking" is bursting the budget.

James Deere
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Wanda Myatt

What a relief, now that Center City Park has replaced Fisher Park as our city's "green heart" (editorial, Dec. 2). Fisher Park neighbors can take a break. We no longer need to clean out streams, plant bulbs, prune, drag out dead limbs, pick up trash — things the city has no manpower to do. Parks and Recreation constantly tells us there is no money when we plead for broken paths and benches to be replaced. We need not fear the dead trees our park committee has marked and asked be taken down before they fall and damage live ones. One very large, very dead tree will fall at any moment on the monument marking Guilford County's center.

We have been under the impression that Fisher Park is our city's green center, a living legacy inviting and full of features worth discovering: gardens, trees, lawns, walkways, benches. It promises equal enjoyment for family picnics, quick getaways from work, senior citizen walking clubs — the features listed for Center City Park by the News & Record. Fisher Park already has these and a natural stream, a playground and parking. "Wow, someone had the insight many years ago to preserve this spot ... that's what legacies are all about," said our mayor during Center City Park's dedication. I say, "Wow, what insight Captain Fisher had to donate land for a park more than a 100 years ago."

The Center City Park gift horse's mouth was not even opened, much less looked into. The part of the package I am saddened over is the $350,000 of taxpayers' money to be spent each year to maintain this space. In past years, Fisher Park has been denied funds to maintain and refurbish, and now it and other older and much-used city parks will suffer even more. Done is done, proving that city officials would rather discard history and natural beauty to embrace a new pseudo, artificial park only blocks away in order to make themselves look good and satiate the misled, tasteless masses.

Fisher Park deserves better status than of a neglected stepchild.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

In reading the news reports about the plans for Eastern Guilford High School students, I have seen much comment on the plans in place, and coverage of those who feel other plans might have been better. It seems to me that not enough attention has been given to the big picture. I think it is absolutely incredible that an entire school and all its contents were destroyed, yet a week-and-a-half later all students were back in school, let alone in only two locations, rather than scattered to other schools.

I think the school administration, teachers and staff deserve much credit and thanks for a job well done. Credit also goes to many others who stepped up to help, especially GTCC, UNCG and N.C. A&T for facilitating use of their buildings. We so often hear people question the need for school administrators; this seems to be an excellent example of ours working hard and well.

Ron Pudlo
Greensboro