News-Record.com

Anita Campitelli's claim (Dec. 12) that the "Official English" movement is xenophobic was inane and her attack on Charles Davenport was contemptible.

The U.S. has always been a country of many languages, but the common language is English. My mom tells of my immigrant grandparents ignoring her if she spoke to them in Croatian – that's how important learning English was to them. It was key to being sure that their children could succeed in their adopted country.

While the U.S. has always been a country of many languages, it has never been a country of two languages. Witness the Sears clothing department sign "Men" with the inimical "Caballeros" underneath. Go to south Florida or southern California and find enclaves generations old where young adults cannot speak standard English. These are not immigrants of the same ilk as my grandparents.

Aquinas said it best: "Diversity of language alienates men from other men." Communication is hard enough without language barriers. Immigrants come here for better lives; a key to getting that better life is learning English. Providing government services predominantly in English is a positive motivator in that direction, not xenophobia.

Walter J. Sperko
Greensboro

"American melting pot needs many languages" (letter, Dec. 18) has got to be one of the most inane letters to the editor this year.

Olsen's obvious anti-American stand against the English language being the "official" language of our country clearly places him among the plethora of those seeking any means to weaken our country and, in general, set various ethnic groups on one another. We waste millions of dollars every year printing all sorts of documents in Spanish to placate Hispanic groups, many in this country illegally. Why are we not printing these documents in Swedish, French, German, Chinese and so on? After all, it is only fair to do so in order to not insult our other ethnic groups. Political correctness demands it.

If you come here seeking the freedom this country offers, then join the rest of us to make and keep our country strong. If you want to keep your "old country" and your "old language" to heart, then go back where you came from.

Ian A. Millar
Kernersville

Melanie Rodenbough's "Why you should be an angel" on Dec. 24 touched me.

Yes,it is easy for some of us to buy a Christmas gift for a child in a children's home. But is it easy to change the laws to give the poor a "living wage" for their employment so that they would not have to send their children to children's homes?

Crimes might go down. Stealing may not be necessary. With a "living wage" people would be able to feed their families and brain cells would benefit from good nutrition.

Not all children who enter children's homes are from broken homes. Some children have lost their parents altogether but this is a small portion of the whole. Some of their parents want the children. Most do not have the means.

Why should they sacrifice for the whole?

Judy Stierand
Whitsett

My questions are: What do all of the residents of Pleasant Garden want the future of Pleasant Garden to be? How do we, as a town council, gather information, research and investigate to find the answer to this question?

The next step is to make connections, be open to all new thoughts and ideas and create theories outside of prior knowledge. Then we come to the community-building process where all is shared and discussed.

Continuing this learning cycle, we need to take time to look back at the question, reflect, draw conclusions and find pathways to solutions. Most times this leads to new questions and the dynamic, ever-changing factors allow for an organized and logical process that includes all of Pleasant Garden, not a small minority.

I believe in the people that are the town of Pleasant Garden and will continue to work as hard as I can to make informed decisions for what is right for our town.

I remain faithful to you and proud of what we are creating.

Anne Kearns Hice
Pleasant Garden

With the result of the last election, Americans have presented an edict to all of our elected U.S. Senate and House members.

That edict is to get out of Iraq, secure our borders and not approve a "guest worker" program.

Such a program would give amnesty to illegal immigrants.

Those officials who do not follow this edict should be recalled from office for supporting that which is illegal and for not supporting the will of the American people.

Immigration, properly controlled, is a part of the American tradition and good for America. But it must be legal and it must be controlled.

There are many immigrants who have spent much time, money and effort to become citizens of this great country and they are still waiting for their turn.

Permitting illegal immigrants to jump in front of them would not be ethical.

William Joseph Colozzi
McLeansville

By Eleanor E. Greene

The following is a Counterpoint.

I was saddened to read Joy Brightwell's "Let's Spread the Word on SIDS" article (Dec. 17, Guilford Record) and to learn that her grandson died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Unfortunately, her family is not alone. Last year, SIDS claimed the lives of 105 North Carolina babies, seven in Guilford County.

I support Ms. Brightwell's plea for better SIDS education by physicians, nurses, and hospitals and for an informed public. The N. C. "Back to Sleep" campaign, a partnership between the N.C. Division of Public Health and the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation, promotes infant safe-sleep and SIDS risk-reduction strategies like putting babies on their backs to sleep and creating clutter-free and smoke-free sleep environments.

Understandably, families who experience SIDS seek answers or products to prevent these deaths. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics cautions that home monitoring devices should not be used as a strategy to reduce SIDS and families should avoid commercially marketed devices.

Ms. Brightwell's call to action is timely. Later this month, the N.C. Child Fatality Task Force plans to ask the General Assembly to appropriate funds for a statewide safe-sleep and SIDS risk-reduction campaign. All Guilford County citizens should voice their support for this initiative.

Dr. Eleanor E. Greene, M.D., M.P.H., lives in High Point and is secretary, Board of Directors, the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation.

In a recent interview (Dec. 17, News & Record), Gov. Easley responded to a question about state workers negotiating contracts: "The state cannot strike against itself." But don't North Carolina's teachers deserve to have some say in the rules that govern their relationships with their supervisors?

When anyone suggests teachers — the largest body of state workers — be allowed to negotiate contracts, an old fear is wheeled out about schoolchildren languishing while their teachers strike.

"We must put our children first!" it says in quavering tones — as if that's ever happened in this state.

I don't think changing state law will solve all problems, and, yes, the governor has to enforce laws passed by the legislative branch, but I hope he will consider these questions:

Don't most states with strong teachers' unions have a surplus instead of a teacher shortage?

As long as there is a shortage, won't students in poor districts always be at a disadvantage?

Will raising teacher pay be enough to address this issue?
What about the connection between teacher morale and student performance?

And does North Carolina have anything to brag about yet?

John York
Greensboro

We often set goals for ourselves at the start of the New Year. As parents and grandparents, we should encourage our children and grandchildren to set goals as well.

We hear of poor academics, obesity, drugs, and the overuse of Nintendo, X-Box and the Internet by our youth. Set positive standards of reinforcement to encourage good study habits, good exercise and eating habits, wise choice of friends who do not exert negative peer pressure, and allocated time on the Internet and game playing.

Never ever give up on your children or grandchildren. Team with their teachers at school to reinforce good study habits in the home. Obtain suggestions from the school for books that your child should read. Education is the equalizer. Have family meals so you can talk over how everyone's day went.

Encourage and plan activities that build self-esteem. Today's youth are our leaders of tomorrow. Have a healthy and happy 2007.

Joe Plante
Summerfield

This week we have seen the passing of another U.S. president, Gerald Ford.

When Ford assumed the presidency following Richard Nixon's resignation, he said, "My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over."

Hopefully, in January 2009, when another new president takes office, he or she may be able to borrow this statement from former President Ford, as George W. Bush leaves the White House.

Joy Bolling
Stokesdale

Greensboro has been searching for a title and identity. I suggest "Greensboro: City of Placards."

Many business owners and residents feel entitled to post signs proclaiming low cost mortgages, post office hiring now, learning centers, cash for your house, etc. Invariably these signs appear on the public right-of-way and in the dark of night.

Some time ago a representative of the streets department told me city workers try to remove illegal signs when they are able. The signs appear in bursts and workers don't have time to pick up all of them.
The signs are an eyesore and rapidly become litter underfoot, in the street, in trees and even in our streams. There are legitimate ways to advertise.

A recent sprouting of green signs touted a learning center. Think of the message this sends to students: Be irresponsible, break the law, stick a sign up anywhere. It's making a buck that counts for them. It's easy to solve the problem.

Take down illegal signs when you see them.

Ernie Schiller
Greensboro

I am glad to see that City Councilwoman Sandy Carmany has brought common sense and reality to the council. Specifically, she proposed in December a motion that disabled riders pay standard bus fees for riding the SCAT routes for passengers with special needs.

This issue has boiled since a biased committee of City Council, SCAT and GTA decided what changes in fares were needed. Without seeking enough input from the disabled community, a decision was made that enraged citizens and required council reconsideration.

GTA and SCAT proudly proclaim that all SCAT services are paid from local funding and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

It is too bad that they didn't take time to read the North Carolina Persons with Disabilities Act.

This law reads in part (NCGS168A-8): "... public transportation systems may use alternative methods to provide transportation for persons with a disability, as long as persons with a disability are offered transportation that, in relation to the transportation offered to other persons is ...in similar geographic area ... for fares not greater in price ...with reasonable response time ... with similar hours of operation."

If Carmany's proposal is adopted by the GTA board, GTA finally would be complying with the law.

James Wells
Greensboro

We should come together, regardless of our political affiliations, and celebrate our core values and establish a Bill of Rights Day. I would like to urge our town to celebrate The Bill of Rights for several reasons.

First, the Bill of Rights declares the idea that makes America unique. We have rights as individuals, it says, and government must respect them. Most other countries do not have a constitution with such a clear statement.

Second, our Constitution would not have become the law of the land without the Bill of Rights. Several states refused to join the Union unless the Bill of Rights was included. When Virginia ratified the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, only then could the United States become a new nation.

Third, our military people have served, fought and died to preserve the Constitution and our Bill of Rights. To celebrate Bill of Rights Day on Dec. 15 would annually remind us of how their sacrifices preserved not just "the country," but some very specific guarantees of liberty.

Fourth, an annual Bill of Rights Day would remind all members of government -- policemen, prosecutors, bureaucrats, judges and politicians -- that government exists to serve, not to rule, the people. Our civic core values lie in the Bill of Rights. What American could oppose the concept of preserving all of the Bill of Rights for all citizens?

Jack D. Wyatt
Greensboro

I am writing in response to the letter, "I am my parents' child, not their adopted child," by Lisa Bernard (Nov. 28) concerning the Senate's vote to open adoption records in birth certificates.

The rights of both the biological parents and the adoptee are sacred, and to try to place value on either party's rights is preposterous.

The biological parents of the adoptee have a right to the privacy of their identity, particularly if the parents do not wish to have their identity or reasons for adoption revealed.

Their reasoning for this secrecy can be for many things, including well-being or protection of both parties.

The only advantage of having this information available would be for biological history, which at this point can only be attained with parental permission.

Autonomy also plays a factor in the parents' rights as it requires the capacity to integrate the past while making decisions about the future. The parents should not have to feel threatened by invasion of privacy and instead, be able to write their own life stories while handling their situations accordingly.

Caroline Deal
Burlington

I recently read the comments (Dec. 12) from T.L. Froning concerning the accountability of parents at Dudley. Amen.

When did we charge our school systems with the responsibility of raising our children? This accountability starts at home. So many children these days are raising themselves with little help from parents, and this causes issues at school.

As in my household, children should be taught how to act in school, to show respect, and should understand that repercussions will ensue for bad decisions at school.

I have two teenagers in high school, both of whom have never been in trouble, never been pregnant and also understand what is acceptable in our household concerning grades. It simply starts with standards, values and morals obviously much higher than these children at Dudley are getting at home.

D.K. Young
Oak Ridge

Now that the Democrats are back in power, maybe now we can see what their plan is to win the war on terror, win the war in the Middle East, secure our borders, north and south, stop global warming, and make the world a better and safer place. And what is their timetable for doing this? We know how much they love timetables.

I think six months is plenty of time for a party that has had six years to think of a solution. We all know they told us once in those six years, because they have whined and complained and called the other party incompetent and stupid. We can finally see what they can do, now that they control both houses and will be writing all new bills and controlling the purse strings of the government.

Makes you wonder why it has taken six years before they waited to help tackle these problems — because now your security and livelihood depend on them doing what is right for this country, and not just for their party.

Bobby Cole
Randleman

The northwest part of Greensboro is smothered under many tons of leaves sitting on the curb waiting for the city to pick them up. We were promised that if we put the leaves on the curb by Nov. 2, they would be picked up by Dec. 21.

The city manager, Mitchell Johnson, hasn't had time or is incapable of taking care of this mundane task. But he has had time to falsely accuse the chief of police of racism and lock him out of his office. He has even had time to hold city meetings to ask the public what they wanted in the next police chief.

What we want is a chief left alone to do his job and a city manager who will stay out of the chief's business.

Al Myrick
Greensboro

The Iraq Study Group speaks ominously about "dire and deteriorating" conditions yet states that, "We agree with the goal of U.S. policy in Iraq."

With misleading statements such as " … subject to unexpected developments in the security situation on the ground, all combat brigades not necessary for force protection could be out of Iraq," one could almost forget that more than half of our forces in Iraq are not combat brigades, that many of those supporting troops must have force protection, and that the phrase "unexpected developments" leaves much room for equivocating.

Moreover, the study group wants the "withdrawn" troops to be "redeployed" either inside or outside of Iraq.

On Nov. 7, did we vote for troops to be transferred to "permanent" Iraqi bases or to increase troop levels?

This administration, if it knows history at all, is condemned to repeat it. Three years and 60,000 deaths after repelling the North Korean invasion of South Korea, we negotiated a settlement of the status quo. Following a failed policy of Vietnamization, we left Vietnam after 10 years, 55,000 dead, and again a status quo.

Defense Secretary Gates and Grigori Rasputin seem intent on repeating our tragic foreign follies in Iraq.

Gerald W. Meisner
Greensboro

It appears the cat is finally out of the bag concerning our reason for invading Iraq ("Saddam’s execution ends feud with Bushes," Dec. 31). What a revelation to know that 3,000 American troops have given their lives because the Bushes had a burr under their saddles over Saddam Hussein's hatred of them. All the drivel concerning weapons of mass destruction, mushroom clouds, threat to the security of the United States and on and on was really just to cover up the real reason, getting rid of Saddam because of his threat to kill Daddy Bush and Barbara and Laura. The jury is still out on the accuracy of the threat, according to the article in the paper.

Will the American people ever get their bellies full of these people and demand accountability for the irresponsible conduct that has caused such harm to our country and our young men and women who serve in the military? We can only pray that the day of reckoning is fast approaching. January 2009 cannot come fast enough for me.

Betty Edwards
Greensboro

"Saddam hanged, death spurs demonstrations in U.S., abroad." Respectfully, I must submit that, while the technical definition of the word "demonstration" fits, in common parlance it has a generally negative connotation. I must say, I fail to find any negative in this development, nor did I find any reference to mass demonstrations of those unhappy with this development. Instead, I saw Iraqi-Americans dancing in the streets.

I would suggest that a more appropriate headline would have been: "Saddam hanged, mass celebration in U.S., world."

Tim Tessier
Greensboro

"Generations in the workplace" (Dec. 31) is dead on. This is the first time in history that we have had four generations in the workplace, and according to USA Today, more than 60 percent of employers say they are experiencing tension from employees from different generations.

Generation Y, the most recent group to join the work force, has its own attitudes, beliefs and expectations about how work should be done. This generation comes with a can-do attitude that can be difficult for traditionalists or baby boomers to accept, especially when they challenge the status quo.

How can employers bring harmony to a generationally diverse group of employees? Let me offer a few suggestions that have helped me:

• Don't stereotype others because of age; creativity doesn't have any age limits.

• Place emphasis on goals and what people share, and how differences can create learning opportunities.

• Younger workers, don't dismiss the abilities of older co-workers.

Employees are forcing organizations to return to basic management principles, and though it is important to understand how to retain and recruit Generation Y, employees must apply "best practice" management, which works for all employees.

Phyllis Avery
Madison

The following is a Counterpoint
By John Beaman
There have been recent letters to the editor and even a "wish" from John Blust, our representative in Raleigh, complaining about Greensboro's traffic-light coordination system as being nonexistent or flawed. This is simply not true.

Greensboro has the best traffic-signal control system in North Carolina and probably South Carolina. Charlotte's is a nightmare and Raleigh-Durham's is a complete nightmare. Chapel Hill-Carrboro does not have or want such a thing since they hate cars, people and any sort of growth.

Thanks to the great planning of Greensboro in the late 1950s and 1960s, a "Thoroughfare Plan" was created and has been largely carried out by the Greensboro Department of Transportation.

GDOT was the first in the state to have a computer-controlled traffic-light system in the 1970s, and it is still the best in the state. There are more than 200 lights under this control.

One can drive north-south and east-west on Greensboro's major thoroughfares without hitting a red light. These include Friendly Avenue, Market Street, Smith Street, Battleground Avenue, Holden Road, Freeman Mill Road/Eugene Street and Wendover Avenue. However, there is a trick: You must drive the speed limit of 35 mph. The vast majority of Greensboro drivers do not do this, or even close. The computer control system is set for 35-39 mph. Go over this and you will hit one red light after another. Drive 35 and you will make them as they change. Early morning and afternoon rush hours are an exception, of course, as there are so many cars in storage lanes at lights, they cannot start moving before the oncoming cars arrive. However, at other times, drive 35 and you will rarely hit a red light.

West Wendover is a problem. There are so many cars all the time, and people speed. They hit lights. However, drive this at non-peak times, drive 35, and red light hits are not common.

Speeding is an epidemic in Greensboro. Have you driven on any thoroughfare lately at 35 mph? You will be run over and glared at. Places like Cone Boulevard, Holden, Elm Street, etc., are jokes. People drive at least 10-15 mph over the posted limits.

So, slow down, make the lights and lower your frustration level. Don’t blame your speeding on the traffic-light control system.

The writer is a retired city employee and lives in Greensboro.

Lately, the Greensboro Police Department has gotten a bad rap. Well, in the event of the mall shooting, I would like to say how impressed I was with the city police. As a mall employee working the evening of the shooting, I couldn't believe how fast and effective the police were at getting everyone out and locking down the mall.

On the other hand, even though the mall security did help get everyone out, they did not help all of us to our cars safely. I really hope that the mall and police get things together and do whatever is necessary to install better safety.

We all remember what happened to Carolina Circle Mall.

Brooke Strickland
Greensboro

I am a sixth-grader writing to disagree with Gary Marschall's letter (Dec. 28).

First, yes, our founders were Christian, but without the Indians helping them get food, they would have died out before they lived one year here.

Second, a small party of Jews landed here in the 1500s. So, not everyone here in the 1700s was Christian.

In this wonderful country, you have to remember that we have more than one religion, more than one cultural type, more than one language. I believe we should try not to offend any one of them.

Alexander Jacobson
Greensboro

This is in reference to Ernie Schiller's letter (Jan. 2) about illegal placards.

Our main intersection of Alamance Church Road and Southeast School Road at Alamance Elementary School is constantly being inundated with signs, and our neighborhood is vigilant about removing them on a regular basis. Neighborhoods have to protect their areas from self-indulgers.

For anyone's information, we check with the authorities. North Carolina's General Statutes, Chapter 136: Roads and Highways (paragraph 32), specifically prohibit erecting signs. Violators face a Class 1 charge.

We also checked with Duke Power, and they do not grant permission to attach anything to their poles citing the safety issue. In fact, they wrote us that we are doing them a favor by removing the signs and the nails. (Telephone service in our area is underground.)

So, neighbors and neighborhoods, take charge.

Gail Feddish
Greensboro

The article about "new" tests being no more effective at predicting heart trouble (Dec. 21) is just as misleading as Dr. Wang's commentary in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Of course, the standard risk factors — high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history, age, smoking, obesity, lack of exercise and diabetes — are all accurate predictors of heart disease.
Most importantly, they are all additive. In some combinations, they are exponentially indicative of increasing risks.

C-reactive protein and homocystine are only modestly additive, and this study did not even include ferritin and fibrinogen, which are also additive.

Beta natriuretic peptide (which was originally derived from brain tissue and is produced by a dilated heart) is much more important in diagnosing and managing heart failure than in predicting heart attacks.

The economic implications of insurance company limitation based on this study are all population statistical analyses.

One in a million doesn't matter if you're the one, and we deal with one patient at a time, and those algorithms and paradigms have to be applied to individuals. Population studies are only a starting point.

John R. Dykers Jr., MD
Siler City

While doing the annual property tax filings, I was reminded that Guilford County taxpayers maintain two separate tax departments, two courthouses, two register of deeds offices and no doubt two of something else.

How many other counties in North Carolina do the same?

Bill Franklin
Jamestown

Saddam Hussein did not bedevil the Bushes. Both father and son allowed him to become an irritant that, particularly with George W. Bush, became a misguided obsession.

What they wanted and still want is unhindered access to Iraqi oil. The son wants to rape the rich resources and prostitute the population of Iraq.

George W. blundered into an unwinnable war and paved the way for the unconscionable murder of Hussein. It wasn't Bush's call whether Hussein should remain in power or be removed, and it was never his call to determine if Hussein should live or die.

Our government epitomizes the wrongs attributed to the late Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi people. If Hussein, as a recent article claims, bedeviled this father-and-son duo, it's because they took his every move, comment and action personally.

Now that he has been murdered for crimes against humanity, what have we to show?

The current Bush administration is also guilty of crimes against humanity. This president has become a poster boy for foreign policy failures, war mongering, deceit and clumsy, ill-advised efforts in modern day imperialism.

Theresa Bennett-Wilkes
High Point

The following is a Counterpoint column.

By Tom Phillips

Your recent editorial, "A need for leadership" (Dec. 31), misses the point. Yes, we do need "great clarity of vision" and we need to decide "What it is we want to do?" But we shouldn't blame the failure of some of the bond proposals on a lack of leadership.

Frankly, many of the bonds deserved to fail. I believe that our citizens are telling us that they want Greensboro to be a city that lives within its means. They want a government that will focus on needs rather than wants.

The War Memorial Auditorium bond was one that was specifically mentioned as failing because of a lack of commitment.

I personally supported the bond because the facility desperately needs renovation, but I also knew that this would be a hard sell. Most of our citizens view this as a special facility that they do not use.

Other cities that have similar facilities rely on full or partial funding from private sources. Greenville, S.C., Charlotte and the new Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville are good examples.

I would point out that when the public voted to renovate the coliseum, the so-called "leadership" in the community was opposed to it after they had failed not once but twice to get it passed.
During the past 20 years, while we have supposedly "just sort of got the lights on each day," we have seen a lot of changes that have had an impact on what we can do.

Gone are the days of federal revenue sharing, and state funds have been cut while state and federally mandated programs have grown.
During the same time, we have lost several major corporations that not only provided jobs and tax base butalso provided support for community "wants."

While we need to decide what we want to be, we can't continue to try to be all things to all people. Bill Cosby said, "I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." Sometimes leadership requires saying "no."

The writer is a member of the City Council.

I have to respond to Bob Slone's letter (Dec. 31). He complains of Wendover Avenue traffic problems and how "residents of New York City would never put up with the disgraceful way traffic flows in Greensboro."

I am a fifth-generation native of Greensboro and am so sick of people moving here just to complain about how much better it is where they used to live. Mr. Slone, here is a little advice that might help you: Go back. I remember a lot of things that were better here before our traffic increased. I am not upset with people moving here from other states unless they are just going to complain that it's not like where they used to live.

In my job, I have traveled to 31 states and have driven in New York City traffic. I'll take Greensboro any day for many reasons. In case Slone has not noticed, we have more serious problems than him getting to Costco late.

I wonder how many of our local leaders are from somewhere else that was so much better than Greensboro. I think we had a police chief recently from somewhere north of here who destroyed our police department. However, a Greensboro native was not acceptable as a chief.

Lane Roberson
Greensboro

Recent state and national coverage of medical advances and disease-management programs have raised the public's awareness of the need for effective health management. As a business owner, I know that having a healthy work force is critical. At Asheboro Elastics, we need healthy people.

That's why I am so dedicated to helping North Carolina find new ways to encourage "health care" as opposed to "sick care" for our citizens. Asheboro Elastics has created and implemented programs to help our employees to better manage chronic disease and their general health, since we all know that disease can rob us of our ability to live long, happy and productive lives.

There are many ways that every person in our state can get involved in making a difference. I encourage every member of our community to begin by joining me in being active in the North Carolina Coalition for Healthy Solutions. This coalition is collecting data for an economic impact study that will help us understand the cost of disease compared to the cost of prevention and management. We need your input now. Please visit www.ncchs.net to find out how you can help.

Keith Crisco
Asheboro

The writer is president of Asheboro Elastics.

Regarding the letter by Taffy London ("Feral cats are menace to birds, neighborhood," Dec. 19):

I believe many readers would be shocked at the number of cats living on our streets. I, too, am upset at the irresponsible owners of cats and dogs who allow their pets to roam our streets. Many pets are thrown away like trash and allowed to have litter after litter, causing problems at our animal shelter and for our rescue groups. I am a member of a rescue group in Greensboro, and it is the people, not the animals, causing these problems.

Responsible owners keep their animals safe and spay and neuter them. I, and many friends, feed feral groups daily. We also capture as many animals as we can. We socialize and adopt out the ones we can. The cats that are too wild to be adopted are spayed and neutered so the cycle will not continue.

If London wants to help stop the problem, she is encouraged to join any rescue group. Help get the word out. The rescue groups try their very best to do what they can to educate people as well as help the homeless animals.

Beth Thomas
Greensboro

Anyone else in touch with the irony in President Bush's elegy for Saddam Hussein? "(He) was executed after receiving a fair trial — the kind of justice he denied the victims of his brutal regime," Bush is reported to have said.

Which of President Bush's prisoners in Guantanamo has received a fair trial? What does this have to say about the nature of President Bush's regime?

Charles M. Hawes
Greensboro

The media are about to ram down our throats that the 3,000th soldier has been killed while serving in Iraq. A little perspective? The city in which most of these reporters reside has seen more than 3,600 murders in the same time that our soldiers have been deployed in Iraq. Granted that New York has nearly 2 million more residents than Baghdad, but then again, the "insurgency" in New York isn't using roadside bombs — yet.

Jim Sartwell
Liberty

Sixty-three percent of Guilford County Schools students graduate in four years and Terry Grier is quoted as saying, "If it takes five years, that's fine" (News & Record, Jan. 4). This underscores the problem with third-party payers.

As a taxpayer, I think it is wasteful of the limited dollars and seats to have a student spend a fifth year in high school, especially when it might be 37 percent of high schoolers. Suppose the taxpayers agreed with Terry Grier and said that five years is fine, but you're only going to get four years of dollars to do it. Maybe more students would graduate in four years.

Libby Thompson
Greensboro

Sonja Elmquist is reporting only one side of the story in "New law is a boon for tenants' rights" (Dec. 30). Whom should the landlord contact and collect from for the following damages?

 Doors torn off hinges; jams ripped out.

 Slit or pushed-out screens; storm doors warped by wind.

 Holes in sheetrock.

 Ceiling fans hanging with dirt and grease.

 Won't change heat filters, resulting in furnace repair.

 Carpets soiled beyond cleaning that have to be replaced.

 Electric ranges beyond cleaning.

 Knives and forks stuffed in disposal unit.

 Used sanitary napkins tossed in corners.

 Urinating in heat ducts, requiring new ducts.

 Feces left in unflushed commodes.

 Bathtubs and showers never cleaned.

 Ripped-out towel bars and paper holders.

 Tampering with electric meters, attempting to get free electricity.

 Parking on the lawn rather than paved pad.

They can't pay rent, but they have a big-screen TV and cable in every room. It takes 30-plus days for the eviction process while the tenant lives free in your property and leaves the water bill unpaid. There are good landlords providing top-notch rental properties, but because of disrespect and no help from the system, it's becoming impossible.

Edna Fields
Climax

The anti-impeachment faction of the Democratic Party seems to be arguing that if Congress holds the administration accountable through impeachment it may prove detrimental to the party. This "party first, country second" thinking is what characterized the previous Republican Congress, to the detriment of the nation.

Many arguments have been put forward against this constitutional remedy, all of them rationalizing why we shouldn't do the right thing. To those who fear the cry of partisanship, should the promoters of the Clinton impeachment now be rewarded by the de facto abolition of impeachment? No future president is likely to achieve the standard set by this one. Their act, while failing to remove Clinton, appears to be the only thing standing in the way of justice now. What a pity.

If presidential misconduct is allowed to stand, all future presidents will act in the secure knowledge that they, too, can send Americans off to die for their own agenda, or any other abuse of power they choose if unchecked by Congress.

There are thousands of inmates in our prisons who are guilty of less damaging offenses than those of this president and vice president. Why should the latter be immune to accountability?

Scott Smith
Greensboro

What a fabulous article on Salvatore Matthews (Jan. 4)in Go Triad. You caught Salvatore's most intimate thoughts regarding his passion and expressed it so well.

Being the owner of a small business/restaurant, I can really relate to his thoughts that you reiterated so well.

From my perspective, the opening and closing paragraphs were so right, and the body of the article was very enjoyable.

I look forward to seeking out Carla Kucinski's columns in your paper. Congratulations, News & Record, you have quite an enjoyable writer on your staff.

Ben Roberts
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint.
By Kaye Gable and J. Laurence Ransom

We are writing in response to the Dec. 17 article, "Let's spread word on SIDS," by Joy Brightwell.

The sudden or unexpected death of any infant is tragic and devastating to the family. Any medical professional involved with a case of SIDS mourns for and with the family. Unfortunately, the article has significant inaccuracies that will unnecessarily add guilt to the grief these families experience.

Brightwell states, "What has driven me to write this is the lack of information available to patients and virtually all infants are at risk. I was outraged to discover that the hospital did not discuss with parents what we do and don't know about SIDS." She adds, "I made the heartbreaking discovery that there is a monitor that could save lives of these infants, but no one knows about it." The monitor Brightwell refers to is the Babysense V Infant Movement Monitor.

Readers need to know that, despite extensive clinical studies over the last several decades, there is no scientific proof that home monitoring can prevent SIDS. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is the recognized authority on much of what is considered standard of care for infants. This body of physician scientists has published numerous policy statements on SIDS and has made specific reference regarding the role of home monitoring. In the journal "Pediatrics" Vol. 111, No. 4 (April 2003), the explicit statement is made that, "Home cardiorespiratory monitoring should not be prescribed to prevent SIDS." In a more recent policy statement, the Committee on the Fetus and Newborn of the AAP (recommendation No. 9) advises: "Do not use home monitors as a strategy to reduce the risk of SIDS ... there is no evidence that use of such home monitors decreased the incidence of SIDS. Furthermore, there is no evidence that infants at increased risk of SIDS can be identified by in-hospital respiratory or cardiac monitoring."

SIDS remains unexplained and is not preventable. Proven practices that can decrease the risk of SIDS to any given infant do exist. These practices have been part of the Women's Hospital postnatal teaching program for decades. Such practices include using a supine sleep position, a safe sleeping environment, encouragement of breast feeding, and the elimination of prenatal and postnatal exposure to tobacco smoke. In contrast to the lack of scientific data on home monitors, the above-recommended practices do have a scientific basis and have been promoted by the AAP.

Dr. Gable is chief of pediatrics for Moses Cone Health System and medical director, Normal Newborn Nursery, Women's Hospital of Greensboro. Dr. Ransom is medical director of Neonatal Intensive Care, Women's Hospital of Greensboro.

How appropriate that Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn, should choose for his ceremonial swearing-in a Quran once owned by Thomas Jefferson.

While known for many things, Jefferson wanted only three of them noted on his tombstone — that he was the founder of the University of Virginia, the author of the Declaration of Independence and the author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.

That statute, which has been used as the basis for religious freedom clauses by other states and in the Bill of Rights, reads in part: "(N)o man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish enlarge, or affect their civil capacities."

Words worth remembering by all people of faith and especially by those who have spoken so harshly of Rep. Ellison and of our other Muslim brothers and sisters in recent weeks.

The Rev. Michael Cogsdale
Lenoir

The writer is president, North Carolina Council of Churches.

Here's a New Year's resolution for the media: Let's quit whining about the "victims" of Katrina. Bob Herbert, in his column (Jan. 2), sobs that poor blacks aren't welcome back in New Orleans. They aren't welcome anywhere else, either. Houston doesn't want them; the crime rate there spiked as a result of their arrival.

Herbert places blame on city, state and federal government — in short, everywhere but where it belongs. The "victims" have suckled at the government teat for so long that they are incapable of taking care of themselves. They will be parasites wherever they land.

It's no wonder they are unwelcome. Those with the gumption to do so have moved on with their lives — 16 months having elapsed.

It is not really the people themselves who are unwelcome. It is their culture of dependency. Forty-two years of the "war on poverty" have produced that culture, in which one never fully matures, but is dependent upon the government for all things.

Government leaders have done such a marvelous job of wiping out poverty; let's have them take charge of our health care next.

Robert Hudson
Pelham

Regarding the issue of parking fees in downtown Greensboro:

What about the needs of retired older adults? How about giving them an exemption from either parking deck charges or parking meters. This would also be a good idea for bus fares.

My case in point: After retiring a couple of years ago, I soon realized that I could not manage to live on Social Security alone, but I was able to find part-time employment with the same nonprofit I had retired from.

That's the good news. But parking was and is a problem due to the cost, either from meters, the parking deck or tickets.

The deck at $50 a month is out of the question; the constant running in and out to plug meters is a pain, and once in a while I get busy and forget, so then I get a ticket. (The holiday didn't seem to affect the city's good humor, though, and I got more tickets than usual.)

Old retired adults shop, too (as well as work), so I would think a more helpful attitude toward them regarding parking decks, parking meters, tickets and buses would help all of us.

Gloria R. Parrish
Greensboro

Not once in the past week or so have I heard the media state the principal reason President Ford lost to Jimmy Carter in 1976 — the 11 former Confederate states' fetish to have a president from the Deep South and east of the Mississippi.

Of these 11 states, the GOP carried five in 1964; five in 1968 (George Wallace had five and Hubert Humphrey just one); and all 11 in 1972, 1984, 1988, 2000 and 2004. In losing causes, the GOP got seven in 1992 and 1996.

But in 1976, the fetish resulted in Carter carrying all 11 Southern states except Virginia. Had Ford carried the same five as Goldwater in 1964, he would have won.

In 1980, having suffered greatly under Carter's recession and double-digit inflation malaise, these states went Republican 10-1.

Al Shumard
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Carl Monroe

Last week, my wife and I watched, remembered and gave thanks for President Ford as services were held and high tribute paid to him. Indeed, he was a great gift to our country and deserves greater recognition for his leadership than can be summarized or has ever been recognized.

During the years when he was a congressman from Michigan, it was my privilege to meet with him to discuss pending legislation concerning the labor and economic issues as they affected the construction industry. Our meetings occurred early mornings in Washington, sometimes over breakfast.

Congressman Ford would come to the hotel, rain or shine, and spend an hour, or sometimes two, giving me and several of my fellow contractors an update on pending legislation. He would frequently sit relaxed and fiddle with his pipe as he thoughtfully shared his insights into the challenging issues of the day. He would give us a heads up on what could be bad legislation, and he would lend support for good legislation. His soft-spoken, kindly responses carried credibility, and his predictions were always on target.

This kindly gentleman gave his time and talent to a few contractors far beyond his legislative district in Michigan. This, indeed, was the measure of a man destined to give much more in service to his country. I shall ever be grateful to him for his gift of time to me and the way it enriched my life.

It is my hope that as he has gone to rest, America will remain a grateful nation for one of her own who gave so much of himself to his country.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

My daughter and I had the worst experience at a large retail bookstore tonight. My daughter has a serious illness, which requires her to use a wheelchair to get around.

She has been so very ill the last few days, and the thought of going to the bookstore today to find a special book really brightened her day. Once we arrived and went inside this enormous bookstore, I was not able to take her down aisles to have a chance to look at all the books due to the aisles being blocked with merchandise. Many times I had to back her out of aisles and take the long route around just to end up at another dead end.

This is one reason why you don't see the handicapped out in public. So sad.

Sheila Clark
Browns Summit

This long-winged turkey vulture was recently photographed flying over southeast Guilford County from a flock of 20 or more that was feeding on nearby carrion (dead meat). The turkey vulture (also known as the turkey buzzard) has many qualities that make this species one of nature's most fascinating birds.

Turkey vultures average a 6-foot wing span, weigh about three pounds and can soar up to 20,000 feet using the thermal currents (rising air) to maneuver in the sky. They can swoop up to 60 mph and can smell fresh carrion from more than a mile away, which is unique in the bird world.

Because of their eating habits, many have dismissed the turkey vulture as a dirty or diseased bird, but the opposite is true. The vulture's digestive system houses enzymes and acids capable of killing most bacteria and viruses that enter it. They spend up to three hours per day preening their feathers.

Turkey vultures, often referred to as "nature's garbage men," serve a very useful purpose as they clean up carcasses left on roadsides and eliminate the spread of disease by devouring these dead animals. For their service, this winged wonder is a federal protected species.

Bob Burwell
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint

By Hank McGovern

In his recent column, " 'Dogmatism' has become code word" (Jan. 1), Jonah Goldberg distorts perspectives consistently and reduces critical thinking, the essence of science, to silliness.

He begins with the ludicrous statement, "Have you heard the news? Belief is bad" and subsequently equates conviction and certainty with dogmatism. Dogmatism involves a rigid stance on truth without evidence for conclusions. Dogmatism is characterized by arrogance. Neither conviction nor certainty necessitate rigidity, arriving at conclusions without evidence or arrogance. Conviction can be a strong belief based on evidence, and certainty is probabilistic, i.e. a truth is highly likely to be true or valid.

The issue he addresses is not a trivial one. If more people used critical thinking in their everyday lives, the problems that plague our society would be substantially decreased. How many times a day do people jump to conclusions without examining evidence for their conclusions, only to get angry or depressed? How many social and international problems are based on knee-jerk reactions? Shouldn't the term "holy wars" be oxymoronic? What's so holy about them? The God with which I am familiar would be opposed to wars. Unfortunately, religious dogmatism serves as the fuel for the destruction of trillions of lives via war.

The survival of our species and our world depends on our beliefs. Our beliefs generate our behaviors. The most important focus needs to be on how we arrive at our beliefs and how we can make them congruent with our most vital values.

Goldberg disparages "Bush hatred" partially based on his "messianic certainty." One only needs to be reminded that Bush indicated to insiders that God told him to invade Iraq. Unfortunately, as Richard Dawkins states, it would've prevented a war if God had told him there were no weapons of mass destruction. If Bush were familiar with simple logic, he wouldn't have confused Saddam Hussein with Osama bin Laden. Now the world pays for the delusional quality of our president whose dogmatism and arrogance supersede his knowledge of logic exponentially.

In recent years the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler wrote a book, "The Art of Happiness." They posited that happiness is based on compassion. Much evidence was offered for their conclusion. Hence they were certain but not dogmatic. It was a proposition that could be tested and verified. Moreover, each individual person can perform their own experiment by defining compassion and happiness, behaving according to their definitions and observing the results. That kind of experiment involves a scientific approach and critical thinking and can lead to favorable outcomes.

The writer is a licensed psychological associate living in Asheboro.

It's time to decide whether to send more troops to Iraq or to scale down our presence and eventually leave. President Bush wants us to sacrifice and send in more troops. So far his actions have led us tragically the wrong way. So far we have been given too much disinformation and too many lies. I have learned not to trust my government and I am ashamed of my country because we torture people. My country is better than all this. "We the people" have spoken and it's time for a new direction.

Instead of blindly acting on what Bush wants to do, we should consider what the people of the country we invaded want. It is, after all, not ours or Bush's country, Cheney's, Halliburton's, the oil companies' or anybody else's except the people who live there. Our unthinking and blundering presence is a big reason for their unrest. The most we should do is help them achieve their goals and then get out of the way.

No matter which way we go, let's do it for the right reasons. It's the only way that we can once again hold our heads up high.

Scott Sellars
Greensboro

On Dec. 6, Cornelius "Corey" Williams took flight from this life, losing a battle with cancer. Corey was 16 and a sophomore at Dudley High School. His death has been referred to as a wake-up call for teens. This is a prime example of the fact that every day is not promised and you must live each day as if it were your last.

This has personally been a wake-up call for me because I now look at life in a different perspective, and I want to be right with God and everyone else before my times comes. Someone my age has died. Who says the same can't happen to me?

To all the teenagers out there, it's time to get right. We'll never know when it's our time to be called home.

Paris Smith
Greensboro

The writer is a student at Dudley High School.

Some suggested solutions for the traffic problems on Wendover:

• Post the speed at which lights are timed. People will drive at that speed, as they very quickly find out they can move through faster. If the lights really are computerized, vary the timing depending on traffic density, and post this on electronic overhead signs.

• Erect overhead signs for I-40, in both directions, like on High Point Road. Drivers constantly change lanes at the last minute because they cannot see the tiny signs on Wendover.

• Erect directional signs for the major stores so that out-of- area shoppers will know where to turn. Have the stores pay for the signs, which also would be good advertising.

Is anybody in authority listening?

Paul Levy
High Point

Thank you for making the case for substance abuse treatment in your Jan. 4 editorial, "Throw away the key?"

Throughout the nation, states facing budget shortfalls are pursuing alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent drug offenders. A study conducted by the RAND Corp. found that every additional dollar invested in substance abuse treatment saves taxpayers $7.48 in societal costs.

There is far more at stake than tax dollars. The drug war is not the promoter of family values that some would have us believe. Children of inmates are at risk of educational failure, joblessness, addiction and delinquency.

Not only do the children lose out, but society as a whole does too. Incarcerating nonviolent drug offenders alongside hardened criminals is the equivalent of providing them with a taxpayer-funded education in anti-social behavior. Turning drug users into unemployable ex-cons is a senseless waste of tax dollars.

It's time to declare peace in the failed drug war and begin treating all substance abuse, legal or otherwise, as the public health problem it is. Destroying the futures and families of citizens who make unhealthy choices doesn't benefit anyone. Drug abuse is bad, but the drug war is worse.

Robert Sharpe
Washington

The writer is a policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy.

My entire life has been spent at a 200-year remove from the advent of our nation's government, as outlined in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I hold dear amendments giving me the right to say what I mean and protecting me from being unfairly prosecuted for saying such.

When I leapt onto the wagon bound for a public hanging of the Duke lacrosse players, I fell off a corresponding wagon of sanity. My zeal to prosecute, as well as others' eagerness to point the finger at Duke University, embarrasses me now.

After 10 months, the accuser, a black woman, is unable to provide a coherent account of the alleged rape. No genetic material belonging to the three defendants has been found on the woman.

Elected district attorneys cannot prosecute on the weight of public opinion, but on facts. The accuser may have been stressed, during the night in question, to the point she created a scenario in her mind. It does not follow that young men who have been accused should be tried for a crime being built by the prosecution, and not on evidence.

Ian C. Hammon
High Point

The following is a Counterpoint column:

By Gerry Chapman

Recent letters to the editor confirm strong feelings that everyone who lives here should speak English. It is undeniable that U.S. culture, economy and society are based largely on a common language.
A recent editorial argues that learning English provides huge economic advantages to newcomers, citing supporting statistics. The statistics draw a striking contrast between Hispanics and those from other parts of the world: Hispanics are the least likely to be English proficient; Mexicans have the lowest English proficiency rates among the foreign born; Mexicans are least likely to become naturalized citizens.

Statistics tell us the "what" of a current situation, not the "why." To become a U.S. citizen, the applicant must have a green card for five years (three years if married to a U.S. citizen). The right to obtain a green card is denied to the vast majority of Hispanics who come to the United States to work.

Most have limited education, and they enter the U.S. to fill low-skill jobs. Our immigration system does not permit them to be sponsored for temporary work visas for year-round jobs. The only employment-based green card category for which they can qualify has a five- or six-year backlog. No employer can wait that long to bring in a low-skill worker.

So these workers cross the border illegally, and disqualify themselves from obtaining legal status of any kind. Little wonder that they rarely become citizens through naturalization. Our system welcomed such guest workers from 1942 to 1964 under the Bracero Program, but Congress let it expire. Very soon the Senate will reconsider a 2005 bill co-sponsored by Sens. Kennedy and McCain. It requires a worker seeking temporary work status to speak English at a basic level.

Opponents will argue that the bill would reward lawbreakers and people who do not want to learn English. The bill would do no such thing. It simply would conform our immigration laws to the law of supply and demand. It also would require basic English skills of applicants who now have every incentive to stay "under the radar" to avoid detection.

With legal status an option, the undocumented would have every incentive to learn English, integrate themselves into the community, and pursue the American dream.

The writer is a trustee, American Immigration Law Foundation; member, Essential Worker Committee, American Immigration Lawyers Association.

I was so uplifted after reading your article about how our Jewish friends helped us (Christians) at Christmastime, especially at Moses Cone Hospital, in order that we may spend more time with our families on such a joyous occasion. I am not even associated with the hospital, but, this spirit of kindness from the Jewish community warmed my heart and I just wanted those who volunteered to know it indeed was a "good deed" and appreciated. In the spirit of ecumenical reciprocity, how can Christians return this favor?

Doug Stewart
Greensboro

The media is out to attack Dudley High School with its negative exploitations. I am a student in the Education Academy at Dudley and I am disturbed with the articles published lately. They've torn Dudley down to merely nothing. In all actuality, the good outweighs the bad when it comes to the school. Furthermore, as a member of the Student Government Association and many other organizations at Dudley, I can attest to several community attributes that have not been acknowledged.

Concerning the article, "Graduation rates hide student weaknesses," Superintendent Terry Grier needs to own up to the destruction caused in schools. Redistricting and replacing students has placed most troubled students from all schools in Dudley. The article, furthermore, provides evidence as an attack on the school because it continued to say that Dudley is not at the bottom of the ranks, yet, there is still a need to bash Dudley publicly.

At the least, if graduation rates dropped from students not graduating on time, Dudley should be commended for continuing to encourage students to strive to complete their education rather than give up and drop out.

Morgan R. Graves
Greensboro

Your cursory reporting of the death of Dallas Herring is inexcusable. Dr. Herring was a giant of public education in North Carolina. He led the state Board of Education for years and was considered the father of the North Carolina Community College System.

Thankfully, other newspapers covered Dr. Herring's life and passing with the depth a person of his stature deserves.

Shame on you.

Robert Holmes
High Point

Little Georgie breaks his toys. Mommy and Daddy gave him lots of them, but he doesn't take care of what he has.

They gave him a college education, and he didn't show any responsibility to learn. But, his Daddy graduated from there and he finally got a degree too.

They kept him out of a war by giving him a nice place in the Air National Guard, but he broke the rules there and Daddy had to fix things for him.

His family gave him more toys. He got an oil company, but it wasn't what he wanted. He got a baseball team but he didn't keep that either. He got to be governor, and he broke a lot of things while he had that office.

So, then his Daddy and friends managed to give him the job of being president, and now he's gone and broken that. He has broken other things too, like the environment, and the economy, and the lives of poor people.

He also got his very own war, and he's breaking that all to pieces. Will somebody stop picking up after him and take away his toys before he breaks all of us?

Jean Rodenbough
Greensboro

Now I know why I can't vote for John Edwards (for anything). He just isn't smart enough.

In the Second Opinion page (Jan. 4), Edwards was shown "helping" in New Orleans by shoveling dirt at a volunteer project. However, he was using a square point shovel. Now, a farm boy from Robbins should know that you shovel dirt with a round point shovel. Three times faster with one-fifth the effort.

Next thing, he'll probably borrow John Kerry's camo hunting outfit to shoot ducks. Politicians and photo ops are just plain dumb.

Jack Cagle
Greensboro

A new law went into effect about teens not being allowed to drive and talk on their cell phones. If pulled over by a police officer, the teen will receive a $25 fine with no points on his or her license.

If they were going to pass a law such as this, it should pertain to everyone. How is the police officer going to be able to distinguish between a 16-year-old with a provisional license and an 18-year-old? This would be difficult to judge.

Also, any teen could easily lie when getting pulled over and say he or she was talking with his or her parent, which the law allows.

This is going to be an impossible law to enforce. I have spoken with a police officer and he said that carrying out this law will take too much time. Maybe they can make a few changes to this law.

This is a law that neither the teens nor police officers will follow.

Brittany Mose
Greensboro

The letter published Dec. 19 criticizing the efforts of the Feral Cat Assistance Program speaks tremendously to the intolerance and inherent lack of compassion many citizens in the community have for these neglected yet equally majestic animals.

As the proud owner of an adopted feral cat and a proud supporter of the ASPCA, I appreciate the effort being made not only by the Feral Cat Assistance Program but by other organizations that champion the cause for animal rights everywhere and that provide these animals not only with appropriate sterilization but also with an opportunity for them to live their lives free from the threat of senseless execution and the inhumane existence shared by many animals throughout the world as they endure senseless and barbaric laboratory torture and experimentation.

Perhaps more cruelly, suggesting that these animals be "humanely" euthanized simply because they are following their natural instincts not only shows incredible intolerance and insensitivity but also an overall lack of compassion many have for the homeless and often forgotten animals who hold a special place in the hearts of those of us who truly appreciate their beauty. It is our responsibility to become their voice and fight for their rights.

Benjamin Fair
Greensboro

Talk about "going off half-cocked."

It would serve every citizen if folks would learn a little about a matter before weighing in with strong opinions.

Jerry Simpson asserts ("Mall shooting prompts questions about guns," letter, Dec. 30) that Canada, Great Britain and Japan have less trouble with "gun-related" crimes than here in the United States. I don't have current data on Japan, but the United Kingdom and Canada, along with Australia, in recent years have essentially confiscated virtually all privately owned weapons and for their trouble have seen huge increases in crime rates as it is almost a safe bet criminals will encounter no resistance from victims.

Then there is the irrefutable evidence offered by Dr. John R. Lott Jr. in his book, "More Guns, Less Crime," an exhaustively researched book, with which none of the opponents of the Second Amendment wants to deal. I believe his research shows clearly that in every state where concealed-carry laws have been passed, crime has declined.
Criminals don't want to be challenged by a loaded weapon; they just want the money you worked to earn.

Richard J. Carrera
Greensboro

Everyone in the country instantly took sides when a young lady whose means of legally supporting herself and her children came under questioning after she allegedly was held against her will at a wild off-campus party in Durham.

Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong's ethics are being questioned by Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., and Thomas Sowell, an economist.

Of course, everything in this country is either black vs. white or rich vs. poor. Whom do we believe, an African American woman at a poor black college or Caucasian athletes, young men at a well-endowed private college?

Strange, though, that no one questioned the ethics of a Winston-Salem district attorney when they imprisoned Darryl Hunt. Nor did either of the two men earlier mentioned raise a peep when after 17 years Mr. Hunt was released when the DNA proved he was not guilty. Even the governor had problems offering Hunt a full pardon or forgiveness for a crime he did not commit.

Also, no one questioned, legally or otherwise, whether Sen. Strom Thurmond should have been tried for the rape of a 16-year-old girl in South Carolina more than 70 years ago. No one cries for the Darryl Hunts of America, at least the ones who make it to trial.

Mark H. Woods
Greensboro

As a student at Dudley High School, I feel targeted by the editorial, "Graduation rates hide student weaknesses" (Dec. 11).

Instead of questioning the validity of the number of students who actually earned their diplomas that year, why not congratulate Dudley on such an improvement?

I do regard the redistricting as a major factor in the change in Dudley's graduation rates. This action sent what were believed to be problem children to Dudley. If, in fact, they were a problem at another school, then surely they are going to be a problem at any school.

Since Smith and High Point Central high schools have lower graduation rates than Dudley, why is there not an article about those schools in the newspaper? Why is it that Dudley is always pointed out of the crowd?

Overall, would it not be better if the community chose to help our schools improve instead of demeaning them and their efforts?

Shani Collins
Greensboro

The writer is a student at Dudley High School.

The Jan. 3 article about Mears Fork highlighted one of Guilford County's special natural areas and the work of a farsighted Guilford County organization -- the Guilford Open Space Committee.

Purchasing a 48-acre tract along Mears Fork is a wonderful way to inaugurate the county's open space program. With our continuing growth, Mears Fork is one of very few undisturbed natural areas remaining in the county. It warrants special efforts for protection. The acquisition also builds on the partnership long enjoyed by Guilford Open Space and Piedmont Land Conservancy.

Under the leadership of neighbors John and Moni Bates, Bill Payne and JoAnne Smith, the Piedmont Land Conservancy has protected five tracts totaling 77 acres along Mears Fork since 1998, and we continue to look for new opportunities. We look forward to working in partnership with Guilford County's open space program.

The protection of our land and water along Mears Creek by our two organizations underscores the critical importance of protecting more of our remaining special places. North Carolina and Guilford County have wonderful natural resources that create a quality of place critical to our quality of life. We've done a lot, and there is much more to be done.

Palmer McIntyre
Greensboro

The writer is board member, Piedmont Land Conservancy.

One of the smartest and more useful fiscal steps the new Congress can take is a significant effort to close the huge gap between taxes owed and taxes paid. That gap, presently at some $345 billion a year and growing, amounts to a penalty of about $2,000 on each taxpayer who complies with his or her tax obligation.

The best way to close that gap and help reduce the nation's budget deficit is to invest in providing the Internal Revenue Service with more frontline workers for both tax enforcement and customer service.

IRS data show a steady climb in the number of tax returns filed, from 114.6 million in 1995 to 130.3 million in 2003.

In that same period, the number of IRS employees declined by nearly 18 percent, to 94,000, including precipitous declines of 40 and 30 percent in the two groups of workers most critical to reducing the tax gap.

This administration needs to ask Congress for more help for the IRS, and Congress needs to provide it. Any other decision on IRS staffing is counterproductive and serves our country poorly.

Craig Weeks
Winston-Salem

Referencing your editorial on Guilford County graduation statistics (Jan. 6), I always heard that figures don't lie, but liars do figure. I guess that especially applies to school statistics.

They taught us and our kids and now we're so dumb we'll believe anything as long as some "expert" massages the numbers. By the way, what credence can we put into that high-priced statistician they hired a couple of years ago if this is the best he can do?

Do we get what we pay for? Hey, I can calculate graduation statistics for free.

Think about what message that manufacturing these statistics sends to our students. Is there an ethics issue here? What are the real numbers and how do we know they are real?

And while we're at it, let's see some statistics on what percentage school system bureaucracy represents of total school spending.

Joe Wade
Oak Ridge

The question has arisen hundreds of times in my two years as museum director about installing an IMAX Theater. A Greensboro study group, about five years ago, looked into this and arrived at the same conclusion we have here at the Natural Science Center. Based on the cost of the theater, the costs of the film rentals and the size and demographics of our community, the risks outweigh the benefits at this time. However, thanks to the Natural Science Center's diligent Leadership Greensboro class of 2006, as well as start-up assistance from our wonderful Convention and Visitors Bureau, the museum is poised to install North Carolina's first-ever new MediaGlobe, digital, total-immersion theater. The space, plans and projection system are ready.

The museum's trustees and staff will be working vigorously over the next several months to find a family or business interested in naming rights for the "OmniSphere — Total Immersion Theater of the Triad." This "in-the-round," high-impact theater will use next-generation digital technology to take museum visitors on amazing journeys from the depths of the oceans to the farthest reaches of space.

Hopefully soon, Greensboro will have an OmniSphere Theater to wow citizens and visitors to this great city.

Glenn Dobrogosz
Greensboro

The writer is executive director, Natural Science Center.

OK, Democrats, you are in power in the Senate by a huge majority (one vote, and that is not for sure yet). Just what is the big plan you promised the Hollywood elite and the cut-and-run crowd?

The first thing you should do is change your jackass logo to crossed swords with a running shoe hanging from each end, as in cut and run.

We already have gridlock among the Democrats fighting for power among themselves. It is all about them. It's got nothing to do with our soldiers and our future. Here we go again.

Ken Sawyer
High Point

Politics aside, U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode's (R-Va.) comment regarding incoming Rep. Keith Ellison's (D-Minn.) swearing-in using the Quran left me speechless. It seems to me that his words reflected the exact opposite of what the founding fathers were seeking when establishing our government.

Ironically, the Quran in question belonged to Thomas Jefferson, from Goode's home state of Virginia and a founding father of our country. Leonard Pitts' column (News & Record, Jan. 8) expressed the exact words that I wish I could have said in response to Goode's and others' intolerant statements. Pitts' column, too, left me speechless, this time because of the lump that arose in my throat after reading it.

Dorothy Chappell
Greensboro

In the past two months or so, I have heard people talking about the effect skinny models and celebrities have on young girls.

Kate Winslet says a size zero is "unbelievably disturbing." Other celebs have said a size zero is "disgusting." As a young and healthy size zero, I take offense.

This backlash on thin girls has set a stereotype that says all girls who are thin have an eating disorder, are obsessed with their weight, and/or are physically and mentally sick. People don't realize that being deemed too skinny is just as hurtful as being deemed too fat. To think that every skinny model has an eating disorder is absurd.

As for the effect models and celebrities have on young girls, parents need to teach their children that a lot of what you see on TV or in magazines is not real. Celebrities and models have trainers and teams of people who make them look good every day. While I do think some stars are a bit too thin, it's not their job to teach young girls what is real and what is fake.

Lauren Cheek
Greensboro

The writer is a student at Dudley High School.

In America, we should feel very fortunate that we have a democratic history and a set of beliefs. Because of our basic unity, thousands of mourners waited hours to file past the flag-draped casket of former President Gerald R. Ford, all to say, "We're here to honor him." Ford was remembered as a man who was not afraid to laugh, who made tough decisions, who was courageous, a steady leader and who was special and needed at the right time.

The ceremonies and services were well-planned and beautiful. The patriotic songs and music brought tears to our eyes. It was good to see the flags flying, the 21-gun salute, the 21 aircraft flying over, the honor guard doing their walk with precision, complete in all respects. It was outstanding. Eight days of mourning and remembrance were good for our country.

I'm proud to be an American.

Thelma Dunman
Greensboro

Lynne Walter ("Challenge sexual violence in all its forms," Second Opinion, Jan. 10) does well to call foul on the "Saturday Night Live" parody of the Duke lacrosse team episode. But, her "challenge" falls short of challenging the misuse and abuse of crying rape for other purposes. In so doing, she weakens her own case by suggesting we listen further to the discredited, story- changing dancer or to the district attorney now challenged for gross ethics violations by the North Carolina Bar.

A dancer understandably angry at the boorish, inexcusable behavior of her clients, or a district attorney opportunistically using whatever means available to win re-election do not a case for rape make. The real victims of sexual assault deserve these distinctions.

Bill Yaner
Jamestown

While I may not agree with many of the views expressed in the "Faith Matters" section of your newspaper, I realize people of all religious affiliations have the right to express their views. However, in my estimation, on Jan. 6 the column reached an all-time low.

The column printed was not submitted by a person affiliated with any church, synagogue or religious group but was submitted by a self-proclaimed atheist. "Atheism" is defined by Webster's as "the belief that there is no God, or denial that God or gods exist." Although atheists may argue that atheism is their "belief or religion," the truth is atheism is the absence of belief.

To run such an article on the editorial page would be one matter, but to run it in the "religion" column is quite another. What a sad commentary on our times and on the News & Record.

Tom Brown
Summerfield

Robert Hudson's recent letter (Jan. 9) criticizes the people of New Orleans for being overly dependent on the government and not moving on with their lives since Katrina. It was not Katrina that did the major damage in New Orleans. It was the flooding that the failed, supposedly category 3, levees let into the city.

Those levees were shoddily constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers and not up to code or specs. Thus, it is the government's malfeasance that is responsible for most of the damage in New Orleans.

To compound matters, the insurance industry has refused to pay, or underpaid, homeowner claims. If you have to continue making payments on a mortgage for a house that has been destroyed as a result of government malfeasance and have received little or no insurance settlement for the house, it's going to be difficult to rebuild. Not one house has yet been rebuilt with government money.

I have been to New Orleans five times since Katrina and it's not just the poor who are struggling, it's everyone. Block upon block of houses — in poor, middle-, and upper-class neighborhoods — remain vacant. Government at all levels failed the people of New Orleans during Katrina and has failed them ever since.

Rick Reitzug
Greensboro

We hear of a troop surge, troop reduction, go long, go strong, go home. The only certainty is going home, either walking or in a body bag. This is something that Alexander the Great understood when he addressed his troops in 300 B.C. before going into what is now Afghanistan.

"Do you believe that so many nations accustomed to the name and rule of another, united with us neither by religion nor customs or community of language have been subdued in the same battle in which they were overcome? It is by your arms alone that they are restrained, not by their disposition and those who fear us when we are present in our absence will be enemies ... Accordingly, we must either give up what we have taken or we must seize what we not yet hold" (Quintus Curtius Rufus — History of Alexander).

Alexander began the Afghan campaign in 330 B.C. The opposition's stubbornness was such that when he left for India in 327 B.C., he left in Afghanistan no fewer than 10,000 infantry and 3,500 calvary, a fifth of his army, to keep the country from reverting to insurgency.

Some things never change.

John W. Taylor
Greensboro

I have lived in a condominium complex in north Greensboro that is governed by an association for more than 13 years.

I had my cat, Thergood, since he was a kitten. He disappeared over the Christmas holidays, Dec. 19. He was nearly 6 years old. He was a mixed Siamese. He looked like a Siamese. He was neutered at the right time, his shots were always up to date, and he wore a collar with an ID. The only thing was, I let him out to breathe the fresh air, to hear the sounds of the night. Now he is missing.

The association at the complex let three residents put out cat traps, unknown to me. It's against the law to take a neighbor's cat away with a collar and ID, but you have to have proof who did it.

I want to say this to the residents in the complex where I live and other complexes governed by an association: Don't let a few unfeeling individuals have the say about your community. I think a cat that is loved, has a home, is neutered and does not cause any real problems has the right to breathe the fresh air like we do without being cruelly taken away.

Janet Howard
Greensboro

The House speaker from the "Socialist City By The Sea" has asked the president to surrender in Iraq.

The land-deal challenged senator from the state of Nevada has asked the president to surrender in Iraq.

The electorate of the United States has forgotten the greatest generation. They want to be called the Addicted Generation. They are addicted to bloodless wars, handouts from the government, a faith without challenge and a land without morals.

What is to come next? By what staircase on what building do we flee the "green zone" because Americans listen to the witless Dixie Chicks and that arrogant George Clooney? They are the icons we worship today.

Let us all bury our heads in the sand and sing "Kumbaya." We are the "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" generation.

Sept. 11, 2001, never happened. The terrorists are never going to attack us.

Are you laughing? I'm not.

Jack Stratas
Denton

Not for the protection of our country but in the best interests of Israel and its U.S. lobby — which holds us in their pockets — the Bush administration has dictated the invasion of Iraq, dictated the capture of its president and facilitated his execution.

In the process, it has had 3,000 of our soldiers and dozens of thousands of Iraqis killed, thus adding to the 3,000 who died on Sept. 11., 2001, for which Iraq could not be blamed. Such crimes cannot and will not be left unpunished and we Americans, sooner or later, will be paying for it.

Meanwhile, as long as we will continue to function as protectors of Israel, our country will be under siege by threats with no end in sight. Nothing will change as long as Israel continues its invasion of Palestinian/Arab lands. The Arab/Muslim world may not be as sophisticated as ours, but has the stamina to continue fighting Israel and us, Israel's protectors.

As for Iraq, we are failing, no matter how many more of our troops are deployed and meanwhile dying. A Nobel Prize for stupidity and bullheadedness would fit well for Bush and our failed foreign policies.

Helio Salvador
Greensboro

Getting ready to fly on a commercial airline these days is more than a little annoying. It seems that everyone must be treated as a potential attacker, and that's understandable. But, changing things around every time a new threat is discovered is a little worrisome.

I think we need to cut to the chase and make commercial air travel 100 percent safe once and for all.

How could we do that? Simple. Re-engineer all planes to carry cargo containers only. Each passenger would be packed into a small container before takeoff, wearing only a Speedo or bikini, with enough water and food to last until arrival at their final destination. A bag for bathroom use could be provided at little extra charge. Any luggage naturally would be examined by a bomb squad and X-rayed before being loaded.

Sure, it wouldn't be a pleasant experience, but this way, no one would need to stand for hours in line and be annoyed with security screeners who rarely pass their TSA tests anyway. Talk about flying the friendly skies.

Eric Harrington
Greensboro

National Guardsman Chris Willard says it will be an "abomination against the soldiers we've already lost" in Iraq if we pull out now ("Buildup ordered," Jan. 11). The only abomination is that more soldiers are going to be lost because of the egos of three men: Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld. This war has to end now.

Paul Moscato
Siler City

Because National Environmental Day was Jan. 10, I feel compelled to write concerning the amount of litter in the Triad.

Having lived here for 10 years, I see increasing amounts of trash. I have seen a mop on Wendover, a kids Halloween bucket on Battleground. I've even seen entire bags of trash dropped on the side of the roads - one looked full of Christmas decor.

Whatever happened to "Keep North Carolina Green"? Why must you throw trash in the road? Don't be so lazy. There are lots of workers to pick it up at your front door. I'm not even bringing up the piles of furniture and debris located in woods and behind buildings.

People need to have respect. God states we are to be stewards of this world - that means take care of it.

This trash ends up in sewers and drains; then guess what happens? We can drink the water. The city has to charge us more money to clean up the waterways, as well as the ground.

Come on Greensboro, High Point and Winston. We need to do better and take care of this wonderful place that we have been given.

Vicki Fields
High Point

I see in your newspaper that we had global warming 75 years ago. In Jack Scism's column, "Remember When" (Jan. 7), there is mention of it. Quote: "Because of the unusually warm weather in the fall and winter, many farmers in the Madison area report they lost considerable quantities of pork meat because it went bad in their smokehouses and other storage places."

I guess we didn't have politically correct people back then to holler and scream that the United States is causing the world to warm up and that the United States ought to pay reparations to other countries not as advanced as we are.

Is it possible that global warming, which is happening, is a cycle of nature?

Bill Lawson
Stoneville

Friday marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Confederate Gen. Robert Edward Lee.

A Virginian, scion of two distinguished Colonial families, Lee considered it his duty to honor his famous father, Revolutionary War Gen. Henry Lee, by also pursuing a military career. Thus, following West Point graduation, Lee began a 30-year career in the United States Army, and by 1860, was a highly regarded officer. When the newly elected federal president, Lincoln, ordered an illegal and unconstitutional invasion of the Southern states in 1861, Lee was offered command of all Union forces. He declined, refusing to draw his sword against his native state.

He subsequently was given command of the legendary Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, which he led through three years of bloody warfare, ultimately being forced to surrender the tattered remnants of his once mighty army to overwhelming numbers and resources.

Though a brave, skilled commander when necessary, Lee was by nature a kind, compassionate man who loved his family, his soldiers, his country and his God. Like his fellow countrymen, he had sacrificed everything in defense of his homeland against a brutal invader and to protect constitutional government.

Lee died in 1870 while serving as president of Washington College, Lexington, Va.

William H. Oden Jr.
Greensboro

Whom do you choose? A man who brings sexual scandal to the Oval Office and questionable deaths during his administration (I could go on; he should have been removed from office)? Or a man of integrity and faith whose administration relieved the world of a dictator likened to Hitler?

A man who remains so gracious, despite great bashing, as he tries to clean up the problems left by the former administration. A man who is bringing dignity and maturity back to the White House while working against great opposition to keep terrorists from further harming us.

Research polls are written to coerce answers of the questioners' choosing, and thus we hear the results. The pollers want to show our president as incompetent and hated.

There are millions of us who believe in this good man, but our views aren't shown. Therefore, various sources report totally lopsided, opinionated results. And much of America buys it.

I worked at market research groups for years and saw how these polls are constructed. I refuse to be coerced into premeditated answers.

Appreciate a good man when you have one.

Elizabeth A. Jones
Greensboro

Certainly the decision-makers in Washington are privy to much more information - probably most of it correct - than the rest of us. Thus, it might seem presumptuous to take exception to their actions. However, it is incontrovertible that they have made some considerable mistakes, both of omission and commission.

I just read that John Edwards has announced his campaign for president. His statement that he will attempt to install universal medical care is most commendable. But the article then stated that he does not explain where the money would come from. It is obvious where it could have come from: the several foolish tax cuts and the disastrous venture into Iraq. He would certainly have a job on his hands trying to reverse these egregious errors.

I recently had a brief surgical procedure for which the charge was $2,215; Medicare approved $197.55. One wonders how many uninsured people could come up with $2,215, plus pay for regular medical bills and drugs.

Great Britain and Canada have universal medical care and are less affluent than we are. If we would tend our gardens and stop trying to be Big Daddy to the rest of the world, we could manage it too.

Dan W. Maddox
Greensboro

Sending more troops to Iraq is just the shot in the arm this war needs. Insurgency activity has increased in Iraq, and therein we find the critical element of the president's decision to send more troops.

We are working with a country that has a new yet very frail democracy. The Iraqis' ability to fight for themselves is improving but it, too, is very fragile. As defenders of democracy, it is our duty to defend and protect until the newly minted government can work independent of our help.

We should learn some lessons from our Vietnam experience. As we were pulling out of Vietnam, the communists were on our heels and taking names in the process. If we pull out of Iraq, the insurgents will be on our heels this time and the frail democracy will collapse. Iraq will become a safe haven for terrorists to arm, train and direct activities in the United States.

I hate the deaths caused by this war, but I know the deaths that will occur here will be much greater if we allow the terrorists to fortify and regroup. Let us win so that our soldiers' deaths were not in vain.

Cecil Pickler
Greensboro

The writer is a Vietnam veteran, U.S. Marines.

Deena Hayes says programs mixing white, middle-class children with black, working-class children are "like slaves mingling with slave masters." Her definition fits many of the district's magnet programs, which she apparently views as "exploitive."

It's alarming to compare her comments with changes made and proposed for Jones Elementary, which is in her district and which my white, middle-class daughter attends. How should white parents feel, not just Very Strong Needs parents, but all middle-class white parents with children in magnet programs? Our children are in these programs because we believe in their diversity and goals. Assuming Hayes accurately represents her constituents, is my child in school with students and adults who view us as slave masters? No child should mingle with that kind of hate.

People are wondering if they should withdraw their children from magnet programs, because the message we're getting is middle-class white children, especially those above grade level, are resented, not wanted.

An elected official who harbors such hostility for children of any race is incapable of spending our tax money wisely or positively influencing our children's education. Yet, parents who live outside a magnet school's district cannot vote for that school's board representative. How is that legal?

Mary Burritt
Greensboro

I hope it isn't paranoia, but are the television networks telling us something in their subliminal way? After the president's long-awaited speech on Jan. 10, CBS scheduled "Criminal Minds," Fox scheduled "'Til Death," NBC added "Deal or No Deal," and ABC "In Case of Emergency." National Geographic Channel, which elected not to carry the speech, scheduled in its place, "Seconds from Disaster."

Should we be listening?

Charles Rodenbough
Greensboro

"The social and political grandstanding the (Duke "rape") incident incited was reckless and irresponsible," laments Doug Clark. "Shame on everyone -- media included -- who gave it life." Hold on.

All had their roles to play. From a strictly performance standpoint, Jesse Jackson, the New Black Panthers, dozens of Duke faculty and much of the media acquitted themselves superbly. We were given memorable and telling displays of what they are made of, how they think, what they are after.

All in all, an illuminating spectacle. But for the wronged boys, I wouldn't change a single inflammatory word, sanctimonious full-page ad, or more-PC-than-thou editorial.

Tom Shuford
Lenoir

We really need someone to put a surge protector in the White House. With all the power abuse going on there, it is a wonder the entire country hasn't blown a fuse.

As JJ Cale said, "When this war is over, it will be a better day. But it won't bring back those poor boys lying in their graves."

We need to get out sooner than later.

Spencer Andrews
Greensboro

Why has race become such a major issue in the school system these past few years? As a student at a majority black high school, I see no reason why being diverse is a problem. I am writing in response to the Dec. 10 article as I feel it is an ongoing problem in today's society.

Growing up in a white neighborhood but attending school with children of my own ethnicity had never seemed to be a challenge until now. Being called an "Oreo" because I "act" white but I am of black skin color, or being tormented because I had nice clothes or traveled to nice places had become a constant embarrassment.

For the Supreme Court to allow schools in Louisville and Seattle to resegregate would not only be unconstitutional but would deprive students of the necessary learning environments children of the next generation should be exposed to.

Whether or not there is the presence of a child of the opposite race, children should be taught at an early age not to discriminate. As the Brown v. Board of Education case exposed in 1954 that segregation was unconstitutional, we as Americans in 2007 should not backtrack on our forefathers to adhere to racially divided classrooms.

Tekari Sellers
Greensboro

The writer is a student at Dudley High School.

To the folks who walk their dogs along Lake Jeanette Road, is there some reason you are not able to stoop over and pick up after your dog? Broken arms? Or perhaps you don't bend at the waist? Did you miss the class that teaches you that neat little trick of using plastic bags to pick up doggie excrement without even getting your hands dirty?

It's not the dog's fault. He doesn't know any better, but come on, folks; you know that what you're doing is wrong. Not to mention selfish, inconsiderate and lazy.

Here's a novel idea: Why not walk around your own yard until Fido does his business and then take him for a stroll on beautiful Lake Jeanette Road?

And while I'm at it, to those who like to drink and eat while you drive, there's a nifty little invention called a litter bag that works like a charm. It keeps all the trash that you so blatantly toss out your car windows where it should be. When the bag fills up, you empty it in your own trash can. It takes such little effort to keep the roads and neighborhoods that we all share clean.

Sandra Crossley
Greensboro

The headline "Bush makes rare admission of mistakes in Iraq" (Jan. 11) is very misleading. George Bush stated, "where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me." That is an apology for others' mistakes — not his own. It is as if he is apologizing for his staff or others.

If Bush had stated — "I made a terrible blunder by going after Saddam and ignoring the terrorists who attacked us on Sept. 11, 2001. I made a terrible mistake for pursuing a personal vendetta rather than putting borders and port security first. I made a terrible mistake by causing the death of thousands of American military. I made a terrible mistake for tearing up Iraq, creating an event that has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Iraqis. I am reminded of my terrible mistake every day I see the thousands upon thousands of disabled Americans" — this would be an apology.

George McManus
Greensboro

The News & Record's never-ending quest to exhibit the arrogance of liberalism continues with the editorial, "The struggle continues," (Jan. 15). The editors condemn parents for having the audacity to think they know better what is best for their children than liberal bureaucrats. Those who want their children in a school near their home are compared to segregationists. The editors are particularly annoyed that, gasp, black parents are on board with this "backward" thinking. This, after the liberals fought so hard to have children kidnapped, taken far from home while continuing to not learn in faraway bad schools.

The editors also speak of "socioeconomic" diversity. Huh? The liberal loons not only want to tell parents where they should send their kids to school, but where they should live. Will liberal bureaucrats, backed by the liberal editorial pages, attempt to do to housing what they've done to government schools? Will they demand that some wealthy folks live in public housing to begin fomenting "socioeconomic" diversity? I'm only half joking. The only thing the liberal editors don't seem to care about is actually using schools to educate children, as they admit that the achievement gap still exists after years of failed liberal policies.

Tony Moschetti
High Point

It's tiresome how predictable the liberal media are. While conservatives are portrayed as dimwitted, their guys are so highly intelligent.

If this is true, why is the focus so often placed on the charm and good looks of the candidates, i.e., Clinton, Edwards, Obama, instead of on their highly intelligent ideas?

Do the media think the electorate is really as shallow as they? Or are we?

Elizabeth Chandler
Summerfield

I believe President Bush is insincere when he claims we are fighting al-Qaida in Iraq and must win there to defeat the terrorists. If he believed that, he would propose a doubling, tripling or more dramatic increase in troop strength (requiring re-institution of the draft) to guarantee success, not the 22,000 or 15 percent increase which is risky and carries an unpredictable outcome.

I believe President Bush is as certain as Rep. Murtha that Iraq was a mistake and we should exit promptly. Perhaps he does not want to announce we will "cut and run" because that would mean he would lose face. He may be suggesting this modest escalation, knowing that it will be repudiated and Democrats will be left to cut off funds for the operation.

Bush may hope this will be as politically damaging to Democrats as it was when they withheld funds to end the Vietnam War. But, whether it's a clever partisan political ploy or to avoid losing face, this half-hearted effort to tweak troop levels will be rejected and we'll likely be out of Iraq soon. It's a shame we can't end the needless loss of life now.

Richard J. Rosen, M.D.
Greensboro

My name is Walter W. Alley. You have heard from me in a previous article. I have cerebral palsy. I am desperately advocating for myself and thousands like me. All we need is a little help.

The state legislative session starts Jan. 24. One issue they will eventually discuss is Medicaid eligibility requirements for this year. I know this usually just keeps up with Social Security's cost of living increase, but we as a state could do so much more.

According to the division of medical assistance Web site (http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dma), this fiscal year our state appropriated $2.6 billion for Medicaid. Medicaid ended 2006 $350 million under budget. So the money is there.

We are just asking for small things like attendant care and dental care, things that aren't covered by Medicaid. By expanding Medicaid, more people could live in their own home, rather than a nursing home which is more cost effective. I have been in contact with Sen. Elizabeth Dole, Sen. Austin Allran, Rep. Mitchell Setzer and Rep. Mark Basnight and they seem to sincerely want to help.

Please help me in uniting our state legislature on this issue and doing the decent and honorable thing in helping our state's most vulnerable citizens.

Walter W. Alley
Hickory

The following is a Counterpoint.

By Paige Woodward

My list is getting longer — of food manufacturers claiming to contain "no trans fats," or even "0 trans fats," or projecting themselves as good for you only to be deceiving us.

Those of us who have done more research know the ingredients to avoid. But my concern is everyone else — all the innocent people who work hard all day, and then go to the store to shop depending on the labels to be forthright.

The bottom line is that the guidelines are so loose that, yes, our favorite products are not telling it like it is. For example, products whose ingredients contain the words "enriched," "hydrogenated," or "mono and diglycerides" (to name a few) should be replaced with a healthier version.

And any product that has been manipulated, processed, or otherwise "moved away" from its most natural state has already begun to lose its health.

So, choosy mothers don't choose "Jif," they choose "Natural Smuckers" instead. High fructose corn syrup is a no-no, and there's no good replacement for real butter.

Other good advice deserves mentioning, such as choosing full fat items over their less healthy "low fat" replacements and avoiding foods made with refined carbohydrates. However, for more on healthy eating, visit www.westonaprice.org.

For 2007, I hope everyone makes a fresh start by supporting companies that make nutritious products and avoiding the ones that pretend to be something they are not.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

On behalf of Virginia Tech fans, I would like to thank the Eastern Guilford band that came to the Tech vs. UNCG basketball game Jan. 10.
Hokie fans traveled from all over North Carolina and Virginia to support our team and Greensboro's effort to attract the women's Final Four. They were made to feel so welcome by the coliseum staff and the pregame events, but the night was complete when the Eastern band, which we had adopted for the evening, performed Hokie fight songs.

When many of our visitors heard of the tragedy that these young men and women have endured, they were even more appreciative. We hope that the night was successful in attracting future tournaments and raising funds for Eastern Guilford High School reconstruction efforts.

Congratulations to a UNCG team that played hard despite being outmanned. Good luck to them and their spirited fans the rest of the season.

Mark Whitehouse
Greensboro

The writer is a 1980 Virginia Tech graduate.

Have you ever seen this sign? "Each employee's hands must be washed thoroughly, using soap, warm water and sanitary towel or approved hand-drying device, before beginning work and after each visit to the toilet."

Picture yourself in that restroom. If you do wash your hands, and nobody can prove you did, you dry your hands, and then what do you do next? You grab hold of that door handle. Everybody who uses that toilet grabs hold of that same handle to get out. That must be the biggest carrier of germs you can think of.

Now what are you thinking when you get your food? OK, Health Department, are you listening? It is now in your court. What do you think needs to be done? Now, I am no intellectual, but I think maybe that handle needs to be on the outside.

Will it cost to change it? You bet.

Now, let's see how much backbone you have. You cannot deny the conditions. You can leave it as it is, or you can change it. You have the authority to make it happen. Oh, by the way, the rating on the wall does not reflect what I am telling you.

Bennie Taylor
High Point

Concerning the protests Jan. 11, the subsequent article in the News & Record and the responses to it on the Web site: Part of the tragedy is the ugly, personal attacks that have been inspired by President Bush and the war.

Regardless of your feelings about Bush or Iraq, the fact is the American people have voted against the continuation of this war. Yet, the president continues down the road we've been traveling for nearly four years. Because he is unwilling to listen, hundreds of Americans and thousands more Iraqis will die.

We all love our country. Those who protest this war do so because they support the troops. They know our soldiers have been stretched to the breaking point and are being forced to continue a mission that has never been defined.

Why are we there? Not because of WMD, not because of any links between Iraq and al-Qaida, not to spread democracy, not for any of the reasons we have been given.

Our military and the American people deserve better than what this president has led us into. Protests will only get uglier unless action is taken to extricate us from the quicksand into which President Bush has dragged us.

Jo Boykin
Greensboro

One of the biggest challenges to having a productive discussion about race is that white people keep trying to change the subject.

A person of color will raise an issue of racial justice or fairness, for example, the impact of Very Strong Needs programs on other students at the schools where they are located. Pretty quickly, white folks in the conversation become uncomfortable, start to focus on "tone" rather than content, decide "I'm pretty sure someone called me a racist," and want to change the topic to how they feel about this perceived insult. The original fairness issue is dropped in favor of a discussion of the feelings of white people, calls for an apology, public sympathy for the "unjustly accused," etc.

About 15 years ago, I joined a group of white people who wanted to understand why race was still such a problem. As we realized how little we really knew about the history and dynamics of what was going on, we decided to trust and follow the experienced leadership of people of color. Our unofficial motto for ourselves was: "Sit down, shut up, and listen."

This was a very useful learning strategy. A couple of years of listening to people of color helped me to identify the repeating patterns of racial history and how I could use my own experience to "Stand up and speak out" against racism.

Terry L. Austin
Jamestown

Thanks go to the News & Record for keeping us informed of the business occupying our legislators. I was particularly interested to read about Marilyn Green's appeal to pass a law to have our cats and dogs spayed and neutered.

By now we ought to realize that the only way to achieve a high degree of compliance with this simple requirement to diminish pet suffering is to incorporate it as part of our county's ordinances.

As the owner of three beautiful, old and spayed and neutered dogs, I want to add my voice in the appeal to our City Council to pass the ordinance proposed by Green. I hope other Guilford County animal lovers will also join in.

Francesca Curran
Greensboro

I was shocked and saddened to read the comments of school board member Deena Hayes likening students in the VSN program at the Academy at Lincoln to "slaves" and "slave masters." It is hard to imagine exactly which qualities of 11- to 14-year-old children could have prompted this venom. Hayes' agenda seems to be to stoke resentment and hatred instead of addressing the real challenges of helping all of our children to excel. Her comments are inexcusable and must not be allowed to stand.

As an elected official, Hayes owes the community, and especially the children at Lincoln, an apology. If she cannot do this, the Board of Education should repudiate her comments and censure her. The voters must ultimately hold her and the board responsible. We must send the clearest possible message that every student in our school system is a person of worth and, therefore, worthy of respect. We cannot and should not tolerate the denigration of any group.

David C. Ribar
Greensboro

The letter from Jack Cagle (Jan. 12) was very interesting and to the "point." He stated that he couldn't vote for John Edwards because an earlier photo on the Second Opinion page showed Edwards helping out in New Orleans by digging dirt with a square-point shovel instead of a round-point shovel.

Cagle said that Edwards is not smart enough to be president, and I'm guessing it's because he doesn't know the proper shovel etiquette. Therefore, I can only assume that Cagle must have voted for the super-intelligent president we now have, who has shown the whole world just how well he can shovel it.

Paul Manzi
Greensboro

Even an idiot can tell that the Iraqi people want America to get out of their country. Bush has placed our country in such a sad light in the world, it is almost unbelievable. Get our people out of Iraq at once.

Kenneth Bravehawk
Browns Summit

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us that rules that do not apply to everyone do not apply to anyone. There's no such thing as a double standard.

Richard A. Davis
Pfafftown

I am writing in regard to the article, "N.C. flunks report on tobacco policies" (Jan. 9). I have to say that I am surprised to see that North Carolina received an F rating on all four subject matters, especially "Youth and Cigarettes."

Unlike some states that aren't using any of their tobacco settlement money for health purposes, North Carolina and the Health and Wellness Trust Fund created the TRU (Tobacco Reality Unfiltered) Youth Movement four years ago across the state. My son is involved in the Guilford County TRU Youth Advisory Board and has worked to make many great changes in our community.

Members of this Youth Advisory Board, who are high school students from across Guilford County, volunteer their time to educate their peers on the dangers of using tobacco, speak to elected officials about the effect tobacco is having on their families, and work to change tobacco policies at our favorite restaurants and hangouts to protect all of us from secondhand smoke.

We should be proud of the TRU Youth Advisory Board and be reminded that these youth are helping the rest of us in Guilford County to breathe easier.

Connie Foster
Greensboro

Longing for the good old days. The days when Saddam Hussein ruled in Iraq.

What in the world have we done? Did we depose one madman and create another?

God help us. Let us pray.

Max Roseman
High Point

Benjamin Fair (letter, Jan. 13) writes that the cats are following their natural instincts to hunt, but those natural instincts are native only to Africa. Recently, while watching "Nature" on PBS, as I frequently do, I marveled at the big cats' cunning, speed and beauty. I hope that the species endures, but I have no doubt that the domestic cat is not in danger of extinction should a few be humanely euthanized.

Fair says that people on my side of the issue show an "overall lack of compassion for the homeless and often forgotten animals." We cannot forget them; they are in our yards daily.

The homeless that we should consider are the human homeless. If as much care were taken to help the human homeless as is taken to care for stray cats, then surely we would have a better world.

Guilford County law, Sec. 5-7, "Animals running at large prohibited," states that "each person shall be responsible for his or her own animal."

In feral cat colonies, other cats that are not spayed or neutered may join the groups. Responsibility is not met. Overpopulation does not show compassion for our environment and is dangerous.

Horst Stierand
Whitsett

The trouble in the Greensboro Police Department began when the current city manager failed to back up Chief David Wray on a Police Department disciplinary matter. (He was more concerned with the exercise of his authority than with undermining the chief's.) Later, the city manager and the city attorney injected themselves into an ongoing departmental investigation of the conduct of certain officers, especially that of Lt. James Hinson.

What is obvious here, and from the cascade of events that followed, is that an ongoing productive investigation was blown before it was completed. Even so, more than enough evidence had already been uncovered to at least dismiss certain police officers. Instead of taking action against offending officers, the chief was locked out of his office, humiliated and left to resign.

It was only after the chief's resignation that Lt. Hinson was suspended for some of the very matters he had been investigated for under Chief Wray.

And what of Mitchell Johnson, the fearless city manager? He was praised and given a salary increase.

It will be interesting to see if anyone has the moral courage to order the reinstatement of Chief Wray, with back pay, thereby undoing a wrong.

Rossie G. Gardner
High Point

Many years ago, South Carolinians fired cannons at federal Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, beginning the American Civil War. In response, President Lincoln did not send federal troops against only South Carolina. He sent troops against all those declaring common hostile cause.

Initially, Lincoln sought to preserve the Union. By war's end, he embraced an additional goal, the elimination of slavery and a new birth of freedom. During that war, President Lincoln's goals were frustrated by incompetent generals, garrulous press that forecast federal military action to Southern opposition, photographs exhibiting the horrors of war, sympathizers and apologists for the Southern cause, widespread despair, and political opponents seeking different direction for the United States than the course chosen by the president.

Now we are engaged in a great global civil war that will test whether this nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all people are created equal, can long endure. History repeats. How many times must we be told?

James Parsons
Winston-Salem

Recently, a Jamestown resident from River Walk contacted his local public official with an urgent problem. The problem was that nerves were being shattered and homes were being damaged by the excessive strength of explosions conducted by contractors laying pipe for a new High Point sewer line routed through Jamestown.

This Jamestown official was contacted because the town manager was unavailable, and calls placed to the councilman went unanswered. When told of the problem, this official showed no interest in getting involved. He stated, "Why should we get involved? We don't have a dog in this show."

We find this type of attitude by public figures absolutely deplorable, especially when it involves health, safety and property issues. Therefore, we would like to remind all residents of Jamestown that if this attitude happened to us, it could very well happen to you.

We ask that you keep this in mind the next time you enter the voting booth, because we need individuals in government who are totally responsive to the needs of their community. After all, "taxation without representation" is still totally unacceptable, no matter what level of government you are relying on.

Ron Christie
Xavier Beard
Jamestown

The following is a Counterpoint.

By Jim Melvin

We read, with interest, your editorial (Jan. 7) concerning Greensboro needing a full-time mayor. The three of us object to this suggestion because it would destroy the current council-manager, weak-mayor form of government that has served Greensboro so well in the past.

All of the cities in North Carolina are under the same form of government, and there are no full-time mayors in North Carolina. A full-time mayor having an office in City Hall on a regular basis would soon be involved with the administrative decisions. This would make it virtually impossible for us to attract a high-quality, full-time professional executive to be the city manager.

To make a living as a mayor, the salary would have to be at least $40,000 plus expenses. As a result, the mayor would soon take over the duties performed by the city manager.

Another strong argument against a full-time mayor is that the weak-mayor form of government — which means the mayor does not have veto power over the council and has to work with the other members of council to develop a program — is very positive because it should build teamwork. At the present time, the council is responsible for hiring only one person, the city manager. If the council and the mayor start having strong influence over hiring many of the employees, then you get political influence, which hurts the efficiency of the city.

The bottom line is anyone who seeks to be mayor of our city needs a situation in which they do not have to make a living out of the job and are willing to commit the time necessary to be an effective leader.

To sum up this discussion, we think the old saying, "If it's not broke, don't fix it," is very appropriate.

In addition to Melvin, this article was written by John Forbis and Jack Elam. All are former mayors of Greensboro.

Animal Control is effective only if someone is available in times of need. A neighbor of mine in the Hamilton Lakes area had a raccoon in her backyard on Sunday morning. Being a good neighbor, she called all surrounding homes and informed them of the potential danger, and also called Animal Control.

She received gratitude from her neighbors and voice mail from Animal Control telling her to call back on Monday during normal hours. The police department told her the same thing.

I wish someone had told the raccoon, not to mention the rabid fox that bit three other neighbors the night before.

Jamie Newman
Greensboro

The parent of a high school senior, who attends who-knows-what high school, is not in the proper position to say why Dudley's graduation rates have dropped (letter, "Dudley parents need to be accountable, too," Dec. 12).

She writes that her child does not attend the "always on the front page for bad, never good, things" Dudley.

She voices her opinion that it's not the school's fault but the fault of the students and their parents for not being dedicated. The truth of the matter is that, as a student at Dudley, I am very dedicated to my schoolwork and don't appreciate the stereotypical accusations of all Dudley students.

The Guilford County school board continues to redistrict and to always find a way to send more "problem children" to Dudley. Then it expects things to improve because of the increase in population at the school. If the ones who increase the population are the same ones hurting the statistics then it's not helping Dudley at all.

This parent also writes that she has taught her daughter values and supports her in everything she does. Well, some students who attend Dudley may not have that same type of support; therefore there may be no one pushing them to succeed. So when things get rough, they quit, thus causing the graduation rates to decline.

I believe if Dudley as a whole had more support from "outsiders," then that could be motivation to the students. Everyone should stop highlighting the negative and start recognizing the positive within Dudley.

Sherdena Johnson
Greensboro

I am a 48-year-old state veteran. Twenty years ago, I sustained a broken knee. After my injury, I volunteered at my local hospital in Virginia. I moved here three years ago for a brighter and better future.

I can still work to earn an income toward my goal of becoming a business owner. I may have limitations in standing and sitting, but I have an A+ positive attitude and I'm a people person. I am willing to work for an income.

Yes, I pay taxes. I am a U.S. citizen. In November 2006, I applied for more than 20 jobs and received a no from each of them.

I have these questions:

1. Is the public hiring disabled workers?

2. What level IQ do you have to have to get a job?

3. Will a lesser IQ get you a job?

I am human, not a robot. Give disabled people a chance. If management thinks that a person is a potential team worker, let him or her do trial work.

In the future, where will the job market stand in hiring disabled people?

When the disabled military vets return home, how will they be judged in seeking part-time or full-time employment or in pursuing business ownership?

Kitty Hall
Greensboro

I wish to commend William H. Oden Jr. for his letter (Jan. 17) calling attention to Friday's bicentennial of the birth of General Robert E. Lee. President Theodore Roosevelt described Lee as "the very greatest of all the great captains that the English-speaking peoples have brought forth."

But Lee's greatness comes not merely from his military leadership, but also from his sterling character. Franklin D. Roosevelt called Lee "one of our greatest American Christians and one of our greatest American gentlemen."

In the state of North Carolina Gen. Lee's birthday is a legal holiday, though sadly there will be no effort from state or local governments to celebrate the memory and legacy of this American hero, under whom so many sons of the Tar Heel state served in defense of their homes and rights.

We should all take time to remember Lee's life and the example he set, still as relevant today as it ever was.

Alex M. Cheek
Winston-Salem

I was recently watching "American Idol" auditions. Degradation, humiliation and disrespect were the pride and joy of the show.

It was not difficult to see that the producers did not care about talent, but the absence of talent.

Among thousands of candidates, many individuals were meticulously chosen by their clear inability to assess their own limitations. Some showed obvious intellectual impairment or distorted perceptions of themselves.

As for the judges, it is very disappointing to see smart, wealthy and successful "celebrities" laughing at the less privileged.

In moments like these, the audience should educate the broadcaster and change the channel.

Zeca Silva
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint.

By Lee Widenhouse

Regarding the two dueling perspectives on the Duke lacrosse case on the Second Opinion page (Jan. 10) by Doug Clark ("Duke case prompted rush to judgment") and Lynne Walter ("Challenge sexual violence in all its forms"): Clark, as usual, got it right, and Walter got it wrong.

I say, "Shame on them all."

Shame on Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong. Thankfully, he will get his just desserts.

Shame on Duke University — especially President Richard Brodhead and the Duke Law School — where "political correctness" is more important than teaching the rule of law.

Shame on Lynne Walter for claiming that most of the "information" has come from the defense — when the district attorney early on was all over the news, print and television, and prejudiced this case from the beginning.

Shame, unfortunately, on the so-called victim. For heaven's sake, she had the semen of five different men (none of the accused) on her and her undergarments. There is no doubt in my mind she saw an opportunity to get rich.

Shame on the Durham black community leaders who allowed Nifong to play on their self-perceived notion as victims — and supported him — and, unfortunately, probably would re-elect Nifong again today.

Thankfully this Durham community will never have the opportunity to vote on the guilt or innocence of these Duke students — no doubt in my mind they would vote guilty, no matter what the evidence.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

A News & Record editorial (Jan. 12) called for Congress to examine President Bush's new Iraq plan carefully and "use its power to deny ill-advised expenditures." But what about the power of the American public. Where do they fit in?

In recent memory, the only place Americans fit in is their La-Z-Boy reclining chairs. Too many Americans moan about how they don't like the way things are going in our country but do nothing to change it.

Have we Americans forgotten what our First Amendment rights provide us with? We have the freedom to assemble in front of the White House and show President Bush that we don't like his decisions. We have the freedom to print our opinions in newspapers. And we have the freedom to speak out against the war in Iraq. Oh yeah, you can pick your own religion, too.

So, instead of whining about how much you don't like President Bush and his plans, go out and show him. Instead of telling Congress to examine President Bush's new plan, you do it. And instead of sitting on your butt watching this country fall apart, get up and use your rights to change the path we are currently on.

Brian Giuffra
Elon

There is no joy in killing. Americans who cheered the hanging of Saddam Hussein exist in stark contrast to the spirit of a moral nation.

Hussein was a cruel dictator who ordered horrendous atrocities. One justification for America's pre-emptive war with Iraq was to liberate Iraqis from their constant fear of Hussein. However, atrocities continue.

A recent study by Johns Hopkins University estimates 654,965 Iraqi civilian casualties resulted from violent conflict since March 2003. The United Nations listed 27,881 Iraqi civilian casualties from January through October 2006. Exact figures can never be known.

Bush declared the war a complete victory early in 2003. Still, large numbers of civilians are being killed daily.

Throughout Operation Iraqi Freedom thousands of Iraqi civilians have been "freed" from their lives. Regardless of which statistics one believes, the concept of keeping body counts marginalizes the immense suffering from this war and is a deception for anyone who claims to honor life.

With or without Hussein, the country we liberated is suffering horribly. If we can do no better than continue to argue over body counts of innocents and cheer the execution of those we defeated, perhaps Saddam Hussein and evil have won.

Chris Webster
Greensboro

On behalf of the High Point and Vicinity Minister's Conference and the United Way of Greater High Point, I would like to say thank you to the community for its generosity in the first MLK food drive. This was the first year these two organizations have joined together to sponsor a day of service in the Greater High Point area. Our goal was to connect citizens of all ages, ethnicities and religions with meaningful projects to make the first Greater High Point MLK Day of Service a celebration of uniting communities.

The first project of the Dr. King holiday, "A Day ON, not a Day OFF," was a food/toiletry drive. Thanks to the generosity of Food Lion, Harris Teeter and hundreds of individuals, we collected approximately $3,000 worth of food and toiletry items. The following agencies were recipients of the donations:

• Salvation Army
• Open Door Ministry
• Westend Ministry
• Carpenter House (Domestic Violence Shelter operated by Family Service)
• Triad Health Project
• Sickle Cell Disease
• Ward Street Mission
• COAT

Thanks to all those who contributed to this project. Your efforts will help so many in need.

The Rev. Tobias E. LaGrone
High Point

The writer is senior pastor of Christ "New Life" Community Church.

Moving back to North Carolina for family and health reasons recently, I was appalled by how much the food tax has grown. It affects both rich and poor and pets. Every human has to eat to survive.

I asked people what they thought about this food tax. Everyone said they didn't think about it, they just paid. And they didn't even bother to ask where all this money went. Somebody should know.

Gloria Schwabenton
Greensboro

Math problem? The Jan. 18 News & Record editorial, "Quantity vs. quality?" about "poor graduation rates across the UNC system" shows a bar graph with 22.7 percent of N.C. A&T students graduating in four years and 70.5 percent of UNC-CH students graduating in four years.

By my math, the four-year graduation rate at UNC-CH is more than three times higher than N.C. A&T's, and a 70.5 percent four-year graduation rate is certainly not poor. Some UNC-CH folks might understandably take exception to this generalization.

The curious message conveyed by a university regularly advertising itself in the News & Record Sunday funny papers doesn't add up, either.

Loie Priddy
High Point

Editor's note: The editorial stated that UNC-CH is an exception to the system's poor graduation rates.

Rosemary Roberts writes (Jan. 19): "But the war in Iraq is putting a huge hole in the federal treasury, and we've barely noticed."

The reason we have hardly noticed is that the U.S. Treasury has been borrowing from countries all over the world, including poor countries. The biggest debts are to Japan and China. We are putting the expenses on our national credit card; the debt will never be paid because it is too large to pay.

Doing this to the country is only one of the many follies of the current administration. Another is the attempt to replace gasoline with ethanol. It takes more energy to grow the corn and produce the ethanol than is in the resulting fuel. Converting edible corn to fuel will drive up prices of most agricultural products and will not keep energy prices low.

If the current president had only used his considerable powers of persuasion to convince the American public to accept nuclear energy (which he claims to favor, as many environmentalists now do), we might now, as in some other countries, be getting much of our energy from that source. Instead, we are involved in a completely pointless and expensive mess.

Tom Kirby-Smith
Greensboro

Thank you for the uplifting and encouraging article about the new Hungry Church (Jan. 15) and especially for putting it on the front page.

Walter Pilcher
Greensboro

Hold on to your purses. Americans on average are now spending $5,635 per year for health care, while leaving 47 million completely uninsured. That's two-and-a-half times the comparable $2,280 per person median spent by other industrialized nations providing "universal" coverage, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Meanwhile, American businesses — from corner shops to Ford Motor Co. — are crumpling under the weight of employee health care costs.

Hold on to your wallets. Each of us is now footing $346 per year for the Iraq war, according to a 2006 congressional analysis. Bush vows to sharply increase those costs soon.

If we adopted a universal health care plan that brought our health care expenditures into line with OECD nations, the cost of covering the 47 million uninsured would amount to only $357 per person each year, certainly less than Bush's escalating war chest will demand.

Here is a thought that ought to appeal both to social liberals and fiscal conservatives: What if we orchestrated a complete withdrawal from Iraq this year and put the savings toward a universal health care plan like those in place in virtually every other affluent nation on the planet?

Holly Stevens
Oak Ridge

President Bush's plan to escalate the war in Iraq has met with widespread disapproval. But has anyone besides the Iraq Study Group thought of a better alternative than "cut-and-run"? Actually, yes.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio has put forth a well-reasoned 12-point plan that is far more sane, humanitarian and viable than the president's. It allows U.S. troops to be withdrawn with dignity, replaced with an international peacekeeping force under which Iraqis can reconcile and rebuild their nation.

The beauty of Kucinich's plan is that it is based on cooperation and compassion, not confrontation.

"There is a compelling need for a new direction in Iraq," says Kucinich, "that recognizes the plight of the people of Iraq, the false and illegal basis of the United States war against Iraq, the realities which make a military resolution unrealistic and the urgent responsibility of the United States, which caused the chaos, to use diplomacy and international law to achieve stability ... solve the Iraqi problem (and) you solve the U.S. problem."

In these uncertain times, it's nice to know we have an elected leader who clearly sees and articulates workable solutions to pressing problems. Will we have the wisdom to follow him? Does our government have the will to implement Kucinich's excellent strategy?

Valerie Putney
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint.

By Carla Chambers and Allen Kimbro

As parents of seniors, we would like to thank the community of Eastern Guilford for being so gracious for the last two months. The students (as a whole school) have had few chances to be together since the fire, and the times they are together are enjoyed by all.

On Dec. 30, a school social was a time for the kids to have fun and see friends they haven't seen in a while. The hugs and smiles made it all worthwhile.

Generous donations included drinks, pizza, wings, door prizes and snacks made by EGHS parents (yum). Those donating were the Greensboro Coliseum (the Pavilion was perfect), Pepsi, Domino's Pizza, Rock 92, 107.5 WKZL, Ciao's Pizza, The YMCA of Stoney Creek, Curves gym at Stoney Creek, Bahama Breeze, Pat's Flowers and Gifts of Gibsonville, The Guilford County Hotel/Motel Association, The Wyndham Championship, Southern States, Chick-fil-A, Sky Nails, Wings to Go of Burlington, The EGHS PTSA, Friends of Chris Daughtry, Sara Knight and Martha Johnson. The music for the night was provided by the DJ Sam the Man.

A huge kudos goes out to everyone who helped with the event. The kids, faculty and parents all had a great time. It gave everyone a chance to come together as one again. We would like to graciously thank everyone who played a role in our social and to let you know you are a key player in a community where tragedy has turned into maturity for about 1,100 young people. Thank you.

The writers were co-organizers for the Eastern Guilford High School social held on Dec. 30.

Sorry, but I cannot appreciate what Elizabeth Jones (letter, Jan. 17) sees as "a good man" in the White House. Where is the "integrity" in leading the nation into war based on misrepresentations and shifting justifications, and attempting to stymie congressional and media efforts to fully inform the citizenry?

Where is the "graciousness" in reflexively attacking the patriotism of political rivals and any with opposing viewpoints? Where is the "faith" in a dispassionate conservatism that accommodates an insufficient federal response to natural disaster at home and the thoughtless abandonment of the moral high ground upon which America found itself in the world after the attacks of Sept. 11?

The pollsters that Jones vilifies have yet to knock on my door, but you may count me among the millions who see this president (and his vice president) as determined to restore the Imperial Presidency, replete with abuses of power akin to Johnson's Tonkin Gulf ruse and Nixon's dirty tricks squad. I see an administration of questionable judgment, whose hallmarks are secrecy and arrogance. What I do appreciate is living in a democracy where the governed have an opportunity to alter misguided policies and jettison ineffective leaders.

Kirby Wahl
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint
By Ginny Forestieri

In your Jan. 22 editorial, you wrote about the conflict between North Carolina law versus a policy held by the American Medical Association regarding the attendance of physicians at criminal executions.

You stated that the AMA's position is that a physician "as a member of a profession dedicated to preserving life when there is hope of doing so, should not be a participant in a legally authorized execution." Later on, you said the N.C. Medical Board's policy states that even if physicians are forced to attend an execution, they can't do anything to directly cause the death of condemned prisoners.

Your point was that you believe our state law should be repealed so as not to create an ethical dilemma.

If the above is true, and it is, then why do we allow abortions in this country? If the AMA feels so strongly about a physician "preserving life," then why have abortion opponents been fighting Roe v. Wade since January 1973?

If the AMA is so concerned about their physician members preserving life, then why don't they have a strong lobby in Congress to promote their views? What about the practice of partial birth abortions where a physician will puncture the neck of the unborn to cause a certain and painful death?

Could somebody tell me where is the AMA's or N.C. Medical Board's policy on protecting the life of countless innocent unborn fetuses? If you say it is because abortion is legal in this country, then so is capital punishment. Apparently, they feel the need to formulate a policy on the latter only.

The writer lives in Jamestown.

If you think the cost of war is high, consider the cost of appeasement and inaction (read "diplomacy") and isolationism. Not winning today in Iraq simply kicks the can of armed confrontation with Islamofascism down the road to future presidents and future generations.

And as far as cost is concerned, ask one of the "Greatest Generation" about the cost of waiting until the enemy has gained great power and strength.

And for Howard Coble, very sad to see you have gone wobbly on the war. Come on, Howard, act like a statesman. You know the right thing to do, take a stand for the security of the country.

If you need a primer on how to do it, check out the Jan. 20 editorial page in the Wall Street Journal. Joe Lieberman knows that we cannot afford to lose in Iraq, and Joe is not afraid to take a stand despite the naysaying obstructionism nitpicking and obfuscation that is the left’s "position."

Mike Crouch
Greensboro

At the funeral for President Ford, who was an Episcopalian, in the National Cathedral (an Episcopal facility) there was a comment not appreciated by the Rev. John Yates and Os Guinness. They wrote an article, which was printed in the Ideas section (Jan. 14).

They referred to five forms of faulty "revisionism." I inferred they meant the Episcopal Church interprets Scripture to suit its own whims.

On the contrary, many scholars and seminary professors understand God's word in Scripture more accurately by looking at the historical time and by looking at the cultural context of the issues being met. This scholarship does not repudiate Christian orthodoxy.

The Episcopal Church has for 300 years held to Scripture, tradition and reason. That intention is restated in the Anglican Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral of 1886, which states the church's commitment to four matters: Scripture, creeds, sacraments and ministry.

I personally regret that several churches disregard these qualities.

Rev. Tom Droppers
Greensboro

The writer is a retired Episcopal priest

Referencing "Living in Harmony"( Ideas, Jan. 21), professor Jay Lennartson brought up some excellent points regarding the importance of using a bicycle for transportation as a means for promoting sustainability, conserving resources and eliminating car expenses.

But he might be able to ride his bike to work longer if he starts wearing a helmet.

Karl Kunkel
High Point

I don't know where to turn with a situation regarding a neighborhood dog on a chain. I first called Animal Control with the complaint that the dog didn't have adequate shelter (it was a bare, chewed-up plastic crate) and had a bad case of mange. They said an officer would go out but when I called a few days later, the dispatcher said she couldn't give out any information regarding "the case."

Weeks passed with no changes. I then called the sheriff's department and told them nothing had been done and they simply told me it wasn't their job.

Temperatures were to dip into the teens, so I took our dog house to him with some bedding and started to bring him food everyday. And so it remains, me taking care of him because no one else will. If I call animal control now they'll see a dog house with a well-fed dog - there's no case anymore.

When animals need help and our laws don't protect them, what choices are left for law-abiding citizens that choose not to turn our backs to the suffering? It makes me wonder how many others have had to go through similar scenarios. And where does one go from here?

Barbara Germain
Julian

We take strong exception to the recent Get Tom On It reply about tire debris on our highways ("Highway Gators," Jan. 21). Highway Patrol spokesman, Lt. Everett Clendenin, said about tire debris: "Retreads are the majority of what's out there. A regular tire does not separate like that." That is not only false but very damaging to an industry responsible for producing a product absolutely as safe as a comparable new tire and far more environmentally friendly.

Tire debris is caused by improper tire maintenance (under-inflation, overloading, mismatching on dual wheel positions, etc.) and not by retreaded tires. Much of the tire debris on North Carolina highways comes from tires that have never been retreaded.

Retreaded tires are safely used by school buses, fire engines and other emergency vehicles, U.S. Postal Service, airlines and trucking fleets. It is a safe bet that your newspaper is delivered by trucks using retreaded tires.

To blame retreads for highway gators is the same as blaming a vehicle for an accident caused by a drunken driver. The blame is simply misplaced.

Harvey Brodsky
Pacific Grove, Calif.

The writer is managing director, Tire Retread Information Bureau.

Truth & Reconciliation: What is truth? The truth is that I am fed up with TRC headlines; therefore, I am cancelling my subscription to your paper. I do not trust your reporters and columnists to present the truth. The CWP tried to exploit racism to accomplish its goals in 1979. Twenty-five years later, the same agenda is still being promoted to cause mistrust between blacks and whites.

Wake up, Greensboro. Propaganda to push the race card hurts all of us -- not just David Wray and the police department.

Judith Henline
Reidsville

This letter is to the owner of a blue van who dumped at least five, possibly more, tame rabbits in Battleground Park on Jan. 23. I hope the authorities can do something about people such as you who think it's OK to just take pets and dump them out to fend for themselves.

No thanks to you, these five rabbits were saved from being killed by a car or a predator and, hopefully, will be adopted by caring people.

My wish for you, and others like you, is that someone take you and throw you out alongside a road to fend for yourself in the elements. If the law can't do anything about people like you, then I want your friends to know what kind of person you are.

Marilyn Stella
Greensboro

President Bush could immediately move our troops in Iraq to secure Iraqi Army bases and concentrate on training Iraqis. We could be on call to take out any visibly armed and organized insurgents via missiles or other conventional means, but only after the Iraqi forces identify them on the ground. In this way, we could find out how the war will play out, Iraqi forces vs. insurgents, without spilling more American blood but still preserving our options.

Regarding our Mexican border fence, I can hear President Reagan's voice echo as Putin jeers, "Mr. Bush, take that wall down."

Gerald C. Parker
Greensboro

I was shocked when I read your editorial, "A prayer for judgment" (Jan. 23). The newspaper has mocked God and prayer.

Was praying for judges supposed to be funny? Should I have a sense of humor and laugh about sending up a sarcastic prayer to God?

Although the media and your newspaper might disagree, some things should be sacred. God and prayer are two. This pathetic attempt at sarcastic humor by your editor is disgusting and offensive.

Mark Buckley
High Point

When I picked up the News & Record (Jan. 21), I saw the article where our glorious and illustrious school superintendent, Terry Grier, was wanting the already taxed-to-death citizens of Guilford County to pay for two-year college degrees for students graduating and qualifying.

I graduated from high school, not in top honors so to speak, but several of my classmates did. They could not, however, afford college, so they did not go. I say if you can qualify and pay for college, then by all means go.

Oh, yes, as a parting thought, what's wrong with the proceeds from our lottery financing? After all, education is what it was supposed to be for.

Otis A. Nunn Jr.
High Point

When we moved to Greensboro in 1999 from Washington, D.C., our downtown renaissance was but a glimmer of a dream. However, a lot has happened since that time and many millions of dollars have been invested to make the dream a reality.

Conversely, improvement of an old jail to the tune of $104.8 million in the heart of this urban renewal defies logic. When you do the math, each new bed is costing us more than $100,000. The opportunity to do the right thing at the right time is crucial to the urban renewal and future growth of this city.

Can't there be a better use of land and taxpayer dollars than this proposal for housing inmates? We certainly hope so.

Linda and Bob Lane
Greensboro

This is in response to a letter from Elizabeth A. Jones (Jan. 17).

I do not condone the sexual scandal brought out during the Clinton administration, but, at least it did not cause the death of a single American.

The current administration, in wanting to settle a personal issue with Iraq's dictator, has caused more than 3,000 American servicemen and women to be killed. Also, more than 20,000 have been wounded and an unknown number of Iraqi civilians killed, wounded or forced to leave their homeland.

Nothing about this war is worth the loss of life of the first American killed in Iraq.

Robert A. Blaylock
Jamestown

The Jan. 18 edition of Go Triad quotes the manager of TwoArtChicks Gallery, Melodi Fentress, as attributing to me, or someone in my shop, a sexually derogatory remark about herself and her fellow employee, Tracy Hayes. This attributed comment led to "dirty jokes all night" apparently at their opening reception for the new management.

I have worked to maintain and develop good relations with other businesses in my section of South Elm Street. In particular, I encouraged TwoArtChicks and have always felt our businesses were important to one another and to the area. Until the Go Triad story appeared, I had no personal opinions about Melodi Fentress, Tracy Hayes, or the new directions of their shop. I did not make the obscene remark attributed to me, nor did Molly Lithgo, who works here.

I consider the author of the story, Sue Edelberg, very remiss in submitting this material without at least checking it out, and the editor, Carla Kucinski, for printing it. I would appreciate apologies from all concerned.

James Gutsell
Greensboro

The writer is owner of South Elm Pottery and Gallery.

Recently, our nation's cancer authorities celebrated the American Cancer Society's report that the total number of cancer deaths declined by 3,014 (a whopping 0.5 percent), from 556,902 in 2003 to 553,888 in 2004. Biomedical researchers are certain to request more funding in their quest for the magic cancer pill.

Yet, cancer, like heart disease and other chronic illnesses, is a largely self-inflicted condition. Two years ago, the same organization estimated that 62 percent of all cancer deaths could be prevented by regular screenings, exercise, and quitting tobacco and meat products.

Smoking is associated chiefly with increased risk of lung cancer. But scores of scientific studies have linked meat consumption with cancers of the stomach, liver, kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder, colon, rectum, esophagus, lungs, breast, uterus, cervix, ovaries, prostate and testicles.

The mother of all such studies, the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), involves 521,483 individuals in 10 different European countries with widely varying diets.

Diverting a small fraction of the millions currently spent on the magic cancer pill toward nutrition education and healthful plant-based meals in schools would work magic in vanquishing this dreaded disease.

Allen Freburg
Greensboro

On Jan. 18, my neighbors and I experienced legislation with representation. Our Guilford County commissioners are to be commended for supporting protection of our environment and natural resources, while following ethical and legal guidelines as stated by the N.C. Board of Ethics and House Bill 1965, prohibiting the use of eminent domain for economic development, to increase tax revenue, or for private profit.

They unanimously indicated support for preservation of our environment by rejecting the High Point Metropolitan Planning Organization Major Thoroughfare Plan that would have crossed land conservancy easements and an N.C. Department of Transportation Water Mitigation Project on the west fork of the Deep River.

Future generations will be indebted to our Guilford County commissioners for their wise decisions. With respect and sincere appreciation from the Heart of the Triad, we offer our thanks.

Cathy M. Poole
Kernersville

I was excited recently to read about a new series that will be spotlighting diversity in our area. New York used to be the place to go to experience a variety of cultures in one city.

Today, we (in Greensboro) are able to learn about other countries and civilizations from our own neighbors and friends. I have lived in Greensboro for almost eight years and love it. While here, I met my husband, Geert (who is from Belgium) and we adopted our son Thomas (who is from Guatemala). I also have two biological children, Emily and Andrew (born in the U.S.A.).

I am happy to be a part of one of many multicultural families living in the Triad. I look forward to learning more from your series in the upcoming year.

Tammy De Coster
Greensboro

Regarding the Heart of the Triad plan to build roads, zone and develop 18,000 acres in the center of the three cities, we are actual residents of the targeted area, unlike members of the HOT Steering Committee.

The plan includes construction of two four-lane highways through the area. Inconceivably, the indicated routes for these roads would pave unspoiled farm acreage in land conservation and flood plain in preference to widening existing roads. Additionally, building roads in order to develop around them is beyond NCDOT's purview.

We have owned our farm for 29 years and have been good stewards, improving pastures and keeping 20 percent in forest habitat. In 2000, we placed our entire farm in a conservation easement with the Piedmont Land Conservancy, protecting it from ever being developed or exploited. Several years ago, we were approached by the state to preserve the west branch of the Deep River from severe erosion, protecting High Point's drinking water. This we agreed to do.

We are not anti-planning, but there's a good case to be made for conservation, clean air, clean water and open space.

Residents interested in the future being planned for their properties should attend the open meeting at 11:30 a.m. today at the Airport Marriott, where this plan will be presented to Triad governments.

Rafe and Marianne Royle
Kernersville

A portion of Bush's State of the Union address seems to twist John Lennon's words into "All we are saying is give war a chance."

So Bush has spoken and now the action must come from a new Congress willing to restore the system of checks and balances to force the president to bring the troops home.

Bill Burnett
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Rabbis Fred Guttman
and Andy Koren

On behalf of the Temple Emanuel community, the largest Jewish congregation in the Triad, we, as Rabbis, would like to express our sincere sympathy to President Kent Chabotar and the Guilford College community over the recent violence on their campus.

Guilford College, as a Quaker school, has always been known as a place of tolerance for its students. The fact that an act such as this could occur there teaches us all that bias, bigotry, racism and ethnic hatred lie beneath the surface in our society -- even in a place wherein one would be least likely to expect it. Therefore, the tragic violence there has implications for our greater Greensboro community and our nation.

It is our hope that there will soon come a day when we will all realize that all human beings are created in the image of God and that the spark of divinity exists in each of us. Only then will compassion overcome judgment. Only then will prejudice give way to love and mutual respect.

It is our hope that those responsible for this outrage will be brought to justice. May God, the one who is the source of humanity, grant to our brothers, the Palestinian students who were injured in this attack, a complete and speedy recovery and a return to their academic endeavors.

Our thoughts and our prayers are with the Guilford College community at this time. May the difficult work of healing and reconciliation take place and may we all come to a greater understanding of the tragic consequences of hatred.

Shalom Aleichem, Salaam Alaikum, peace be unto you, Guilford College.

The writers live in Greensboro.

I grew up in Greensboro, graduated from Guilford College in 1964 and became a rare white face among Guilford County African American students registering first-time voters in the early 1960s.

You can understand my shock this morning when my Washington, D.C., NPR station informed me that Guilford College, icon of Quaker values, is the alleged site of hate crimes. The staff and students I knew would have been more likely to have risked their lives to shield others than to commit violent acts. Has Guilford changed so much?

Then the next news detail caught my attention. Football players were involved. This is a common story nationwide. When I attended Guilford, the college had a wonderful sports policy. Instead of recruiting players pretending to be serious students, the old Guilford invested in activities to encourage all students to be active participants rather than spectators.

We never sent teams to the finals, but members of my class were players in a more important league when we sent students to the 1963 march on Washington. Perhaps it is time for Guilford to return to intramural sports and use the savings to educate students about peace and justice around the world.

James Upchurch
Frederick, Md.

In his State of The Union address, the president put forth several realistic proposals for the country. However, the Democrats didn't even wait for the speech to end before they condemned the president on every issue. Nonpartisan?

The News & Record followed suit in lock step with the Democrats by publishing biased opinions and information on the front page and elsewhere in the paper.

On the war on terror, perhaps most people do not understand we are in the fight of our lives, literally. We must win the war in Iraq and continue our strong efforts to defeat the terrorists. Quitting is not an option but that is just what the Democrats want. They fail to grasp the total seriousness of this war. It is either win or lose all our freedoms.

This is not a political game anymore. It is us or them.

Don Mulligan
High Point

Perhaps the next time the pacifist folks at Guilford College are moved to demonstrate against war and violence out on Friendly Avenue and New Garden Road, they'll consider adding an in-house demonstration.

Gloria Allen
Greensboro

Noticing your headline on Jan. 23, "Skeptical U.S. waits on speech," I am wondering if you have joined the Pelosi, Reid, Soros, etc., socialists in knocking our president? Do you endorse George Soros buying our elections with his enormous wealth, or perhaps you prefer Pelosi's far-out San Francisco constituency and their socialist views?

Seldom have Americans endorsed "quitters" of the "cut and run" stripe, yet this is what Pelosi seems to prefer and Reid seems to have a "me too" opinion.

If you think this crowd could run the U.S. better when for some time they don't seem to have had an original program, why don't you come right out and say it? Don't you understand that if we "cut and run," the very people who are blowing things up in Iraq will be over here setting off bombs again? Is that what you want?

Ralph F. MacDonald Jr.
Stoneville

Regarding an article in Go Triad on Jan. 18:

In this article, TwoArtChicks' manager, Melodi Fentress, repeated an offensive comment attributed to a neighboring business owner, Jim Gutsell, proprietor of South Elm Pottery and Gallery. Jim is a man of character. As a potter represented by South Elm Pottery (as well as an occasional employee), I have witnessed only the utmost respect towards others by Jim. It has always been his policy to direct his customers to the other establishments farther down South Elm Street, including and often specifically TwoArtChicks.

It bothers me that the reporter did not try to confirm that this comment was ever made. Young employees can construe flippant remarks as comical. But when representing a business, especially one that relies on the public for survival, it is important for these business people to maintain respect for one another and to practice proper business etiquette.

I believe Jim Gutsell deserves a retraction from the News & Record as well as a public apology from the reporter and the management of TwoArtChicks Gallery.

Jim Rientjes
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint.

By John Angell

Tony Campolo, a liberal activist and sociology professor, delivered the recent keynote address for Guilford College's Religious Emphasis Week.

Although he claimed his address was a plea for civility between liberals and conservatives, he spent the evening lambasting conservatives, Christians and patriotic Americans. Because Guilford is a bastion of liberal ideology, the audience clapped or cheered as he ridiculed those who oppose abortion or sexual perversion.

When Campolo said the U.S. is wrong in Iraq, the audience cheered. When he said he admires those in the military who serve in Iraq, the audience was silent.

Campolo reserved his most vehement attacks for Christian conservatives, saying they "demonize" their opponents instead of treating them fairly. He then proceeded to do exactly that with those who disagree with his liberal views, stereotyping them as gun-toting hicks, and reserving special venom for Southern Baptists.

Several times he twisted or misquoted the Bible. He insisted that Jesus never mentioned homosexuality, but Campolo ignored many clear statements that condemn it as sin, notably Romans 1:26-27 and I Corinthians 6:9.

The most impassioned part of his lecture was his challenge to help the poor in America and abroad. He told of boarding a flight in Haiti when a woman pleaded with him to take her sick baby, who would die otherwise. Campolo said, sadly, that he ignored her. He also ignored the 40 million unborn babies slaughtered in the United States by abortion since the Supreme Court forced its legalization in 1973.

Campolo said Americans are stingy. As proof, he said the American government gives far less than foreign governments to Third World development. Campolo ignored the fact that privately and individually, Americans give far more than any other nation, as Campolo's organization admirably proves.

Although Campolo was entertaining and humorous, he often used crude stories and sexual innuendo. In America's culture war, his call for more civility is sorely needed and seldom heeded. Unfortunately, Campolo gave no indication that he practices what he preaches.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

Voting is very important to us. When our sons reached voting age, they knew they had to register. In our household, it was understood if you didn't vote, you couldn't eat dinner at home. Our precinct is located across the street from us. We know a couple of volunteers personally, and they let us know whether to set a plate for the new voter.

We are Democrats. We never vote Democratic just for the sake of voting. We also vote on issues, not color. I guess that's why I was so anxious to read responses from our local leaders concerning President Bush's speech on Jan. 10. Elizabeth Dole, Richard Burr, both Republicans, commented exactly the way I expected. So did Mel Watt and Brad Miller, both Democrats.

Howard Coble, a Republican, did totally opposite of the others. Instead of going along party lines, he went along with what he thought is best for our troops and country. That explains why we have voted for him several times. He absolutely exudes honesty and integrity.

Thanks, Howard, for being a stand-up man for the people. You are a breath of fresh air.

Shirley J. Wright
Greensboro

Greensboro's and Guilford County's double tax is so unfair on property owners, plus the tax on groceries and clothes. You drive a car or buy anything - it has a tax on it.

This is very hard on seniors on fixed incomes and the young on low wages. It's not balanced fairly here.

Where are the elected officials who are allowing this? Where are the voters who should vote against this? Nobody stands up to be united and end all these taxes. Bring them down.

Where are the limits and overrides? This area is higher than the state of Massachusetts, which is known for being the highest tax state in the country.

Trying to get job here, you've got to be a jack all trades, and if you are lucky you get an interview. After that, you are done. Why? "I am a senior." I think there is a problem here.

The labor commissioner should send out an investigator posing as a senior. We seniors have a right for a job. Don't judge us.

D. Lee Jacobs
Greensboro

I am very proud of my three daughters (university students) and like very much to read the News & Record because it is just and objective all the time. But the cartoon about the crazy woman (Jan. 22), I consider, is sad, insulting and offensive for all women in this country.

Women are as smart and worthy as men. They can do every position with excellent performance. We need to remember the history of women like Margaret Thatcher, Golda Meir, Indira Gandhi and Elizabeth I of England. They have been so valuable.

We have to take off the stereotype, and prejudices about women. She is well as mother and professional in life, and we need to respect her.

Alejandro G. Moreno
High Point

Vice President Cheney continues to refuse to look outside his own narrow view of reality, and he asserts that critics of the administration's Iraq policy have no plan of their own - only criticism. I assume that he hasn't noticed that the "Iraq Study Group Report: The Way Forward - A New Approach" has been on the best-seller list of The New York Times for several weeks.

Also, he must be unaware of the many recommendations that have been put forward, including those of John Edwards, Joe Biden, Les Gelb and many others. He is correct that none of them agrees with the administration's plan.

Ultimately, it is not the responsibility of others to prepare a detailed plan for Iraq. It is the responsibility of the administration to take others' views and the views of the voters into account before developing a plan. Unfortunately, reasoned recommendations have been ignored, and military personnel who disagree with the administration's plan have been removed from the chain of command.

Stanley Wilson
Greensboro