News-Record.com

On Jan. 23, I watched President Bush deliver his State of the Union speech to Congress. I love my morning newspaper at breakfast, and I looked forward to reading the speech on Wednesday and public comments.

My first look should have warned me. Your lead story came not from the Associated Press or some other professional source but from The New York Times, generally understood to be the core of anti-Bush prejudice. Before I could turn to an inside page, I saw comments elicited from four college professors. I dislike generalizing, but aside from Democrat officials, I do not know of any group more generally perceived to be opposed to anything Bush proposes than college professors. All four quoted by you found fault with the president's proposals.

I think in seeking local comments, you might have consulted Greensboro business or professional people, unless you were actually wanting adverse comments.

I will still enjoy my breakfast newspaper but will question your distinction of editorial and objective reporting.

Dick Douglas
Greensboro

I'm neither a Quaker nor a Guilford College graduate, but I had the privilege of serving on the Guilford Board of Visitors for several years. We were confronted with an incident where a student had stuffed the ballots to ensure the election of a favorite candidate for a special annual award, and it was discovered.

The board sat together at a table in utter Quaker silence. There was perhaps meditation, contemplation, prayer and serious thought. What I do recall about the long-ago event was that it all seemed to be quietly resolved with no rush to judgment.

Watch Super Bowl coaches Dungy and Smith. Despite all the violence on the field, they are a quiet picture of dignity, serenity, civility and leadership. Winston Churchill said to see an opportunity in a problem.

Tom Ward
Greensboro

"Internet addiction" -- now that sounds like something I might be suffering from. Time after time, I've found myself sitting in front of my computer, chatting online and playing games like many other Americans, but I never thought this could be considered a disorder.

According to your article, Internet users average about 3 1/2 hours online each day. It's also become so common that the American Psychiatric Association might consider listing Internet addiction in the next edition of its diagnostic manual.

While reading this, I felt that maybe calling it a disorder is taking this way too far. A disorder is something you can't help. Being mentally disturbed or being bipolar are both disorders. You wouldn't call smoking a disorder, so why call an addiction to the Internet a disorder? If ever I wanted to stop spending countless hours on the Internet, I could.

Becoming addicted to the Internet might hurt your connection with the outside world, but it's nowhere close to being a disorder. If one really wanted to stop spending so many hours of his life online, it would just take some discipline. Counseling isn't needed.

So let's stop hyping up situations that aren't that serious and focus on more important things, like world peace.

Colette Waddell
Greensboro

The writer is a student at Dudley High School.

I was fortunate to be selected as one of 24 responders to the "Two on Two View and Response" art exhibition which was highlighted in the News & Record's Go Triad section on Jan. 18, "See if this exhibition speaks to you, too."

I offer kudos to the N.C. A&T Henry Clinton Taylor Art Gallery and the Department of Visual and Performing Arts, especially professor Donna Bradby, for their efforts in bringing the Paul R. Jones Collection to the Triad area.

The innovative and novel objective of the project was profoundly realized, based on my observation and observations of those with whom I personally interacted. It initiated a renewed interest in the arts on a perspective heretofore untapped. It simply took art appreciation "to a whole nuther (sic) level."

I highly recommend this exhibition to all, especially if you feel your interest is little to none.

Virlen R. Jessup
Greensboro

A News & Record reader wrote in to Tom Taylor's column, "Get Tom On It," asking what to do with used books. Two very good destinations are the Beth David Synagogue at 804 Winview Drive and St. Francis Episcopal Church at 3506 Lawndale Drive. Both will provide receipts for you to document your donation for tax purposes.

St. Francis' yearly book sale, held the first week of May, uses its proceeds toward outreach projects in the community and the world. This will be the book sale's 49th year of serving the Triad community.

Over the years, Greensboro has been very good to us by donating books throughout the year (donations can be left by the garage), enabling us to grow to over 40,000 volumes for sale.

Thank you, Greensboro, for continuing to support this outreach mission through your continued patronage.

Ellen Lyon
Greensboro

Diversity is in. Like my thinking these days:

Iraq: The big question with no right answer. Stay the course, with or without more troops? Or begin the withdrawal? If the Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds can't get it together soon, let's make it crystal clear that we've gone many extra miles to help. Now it's their turn.

I respect President Bush. He is intelligent, honest, and will do the right thing. History will treat him better than we do.

Al Gore: His environmental movie, "An Inconvenient Truth," is a major contribution to understanding what we are doing to this planet.

And by the way, go see "Happy Feet" for a related but warm convenient truth.

Greensboro Police Department: It's way past time to clear the air, restore confidence and move toward first-class law and order. Please, city council and city manager, get it together and get it right.

Politics: The shift in congressional power is a genuine opportunity to practice government for the people. Partisanship has a place when values and principles honestly differ, but compromise can be the soul of democracy. Try it, you elected people.

Bill Beerman
Greensboro

The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives has delivered on the people's call for a new direction by passing the following seven bills within the first 100 hours of business:

Minimum wage: Increasing the federal minimum wage to $7.25 per hour.

Prescription drugs: Requiring the government to bargain with drug companies for lower Medicare prescription drug costs.

Student loans: Cutting the interest rate on needs-based loans in half, to 3.4 percent.

Homeland security: Strengthening the nation's security by requiring more inspections of cargo containers on planes and ships and improving grants to high-risk states.

Ethics: Banning lawmakers from flying on corporate jets and accepting meals and gifts from lobbyists.

Stem Cell Research: Providing federal funding for research on stem cells from embryos which would be discarded by fertility clinics.

Energy: Rescinding $14 billion in tax breaks and subsidies for oil drillers and reserving the money to develop renewable energy resources.

The Democratic Party again has demonstrated that it is the party of the people. Support from each of us is important to make certain these bills become law, in order to bring hope to those in need and to ensure a brighter future for coming generations.

Bob Kollar
Greensboro

Revolutionary concept? Not if you are a taxpayer.

Increasing our tax burden by $9.6 million to $21.3 million per year is not the silver bullet needed to give our graduating seniors a college education.

We should look to our neighbor to the south, and use the "Educational Lottery" for the purpose it was meant for.

Let the millions from our lottery put our graduating seniors through community college, not the backs of taxpaying citizens.

Anthony Norbut
Greensboro

I would like to thank those responsible for including horse trails at Northeast Park, which recently opened. There are more horses in Guilford County than in any county in North Carolina, but there are precious few public parks here that allow horseback riding.

Trails are being cleared for housing developments everywhere we turn and many people no longer have safe places to ride near their homes or farms. Trail riding is my favorite stress reliever on the weekends and it is wonderful to have a new, beautiful, safe place to ride in Guilford County.

The trails are well marked, the trailer parking lot and arena are top notch, and the staff is helpful and courteous. Kudos to everyone involved in making this happen.

Garland Graham
Summerfield

The following is a Counterpoint.

By William James

Having paid nearly $60 apiece for our tickets to Saturday's "Dancing with the Stars" at the coliseum, one can honestly say that there was much to the production that fell woefully short.

First, about 20 percent of the show time was devoted to video clips from the ABC television series. How exciting to pay $60 to watch TV.

To add insult to injury, about 10 or 15 percent of the audience were in seats (ours included) from which the viewing screens were not even visible.

Second, the show did not include a live orchestra (a point your Jan. 29 reviewer apparently did not notice). The music was provided by two percussionists, a quartet of singers (who did very well) and a couple more people at keyboard synthesizers. No horns. No strings. No woodwinds. Cheap.

The other aspects of the show might be described as sexy, glitzy, frenetic, athletically impressive, but most of all, extremely loud.

It remains a mystery why people think that the decibel level defines the quality of the entertainment, or how gut-pounding, seat-shaking, head-splitting, disco-style pulsing bass is supposed to define the subtleties of various dance rhythms.

There was little or no difference between a cha-cha or a rumba or a foxtrot the way most of the music was played.

Except for Harry Hamlin's lovely and elegant waltz with his wife Lisa, and one or two other numbers, the most genuine ballroom dancing Jan. 27 was that provided by the local contestants in the brief competition which was part of the entertainment.

How sad to see the rock concert-MTV style dominate the occasion — and at what a price.

The writer lives in Reidsville.

I differ with state Sen. Phil Berger on a number of issues, including the death penalty, which has seemingly done more to get politicians elected than to protect any of us from heinous criminals.

Nevertheless, I feel that I must strongly speak out against his legislative efforts to tighten regulations concerning content for films shot in North Carolina (News & Record, Jan. 28).

I think Berger, who represents my jurisdiction, and people who support his measure have casually overlooked the economic impact of films like "Junebug, " "Bull Durham" and "Nell," all of which were shot here. There's no need to take extreme measures over one scene in one film ("Hounddog").

The last major film that was shot in Rockingham County, a 1997 remake of "Lolita," was itself controversial. Everyone who might have had initial concerns about it has likely become preoccupied with other matters. I think Berger needs to as well.

Tilly Gokbudak
Reidsville

Regarding the article, "Case rocks Guilford's Quaker foundation" (Jan. 28): The story raised questions about Guilford College's commitments to Quaker values and President Kent Chabotar's intention to apply them to the college's response to the Bryan Hall courtyard incident of Jan. 20.

In fact, the application of Quaker values is at the heart of the college's response to this incident, and this is in line with Guilford having reaffirmed and strengthened its Quaker commitments in recent years. President Chabotar is leading a team of administrators who are responding to the incident with these values continually in mind.

The college's current strategic plan, developed under the president's leadership, calls for strengthening relationships with the wider Quaker community; developing training materials for orienting all in the college community to the normative Quaker principles; increasing the number of Quaker faculty, staff and students; and applying Quaker testimonies to such issues as race, stewardship of our natural resources, justice and integrity.

Meanwhile, we continue to investigate this unfortunate incident, and will try our best to act judiciously on our findings and heal our campus. Updates are available at www.guilford.edu.

Ty Buckner
Greensboro

The writer is director of college relations, Guilford College.

Regarding the article, "Illegally parked tractor trailers upset residents" (Jan. 22): My dear Ms. Feddish, I cannot believe your words, "It just looks terrible," or your reference to caring about the area's reputation. And here we go again with "race."

Truckers work hard; they deliver everything you have and anything you buy. They are my son, my brother, my brother-in-law and some of the dearest friends a girl could have.

You cannot park these huge trucks just anywhere -- truckers need their rest. It's sad, but with the world's prostitutes, robbers and druggies/alcoholics, they try to park where they can actually sleep and not worry about some idiot robbing them and/or hurting them.

Maybe you should try to understand their situation. I would feel safe it they could park near where I live and, Ms. Feddish, I am also a senior citizen.

Rachel L. Strouth
Elon

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" -- Mahatma Gandhi.

If this is true, then what my husband and I picked up off the road last Saturday night is a poor testament to our moral progress. With temperatures falling to the mid-20s, and a forecast of iced rain and sleet the following day, we question what immoral being could abandon three lab mix, 8-week-old puppies on our road. This was not the first time, nor will it be the last, that people throw out pets as if they were garbage.

When will the moral fiber of such beings realize that to have a pet spayed or neutered is the answer to the unwanted pet population, so that those with a conscience do not have to go around cleaning up their mess?

David and Jacqie Stansfield
Climax

While I applaud his concern for the environment, Jay Lennartson ("Living in Harmony," Jan. 21) lost me instantly when I saw the photo of him riding his bicycle without a helmet on busy Spring Garden Street. It is irresponsible for anyone, especially a college professor, to ride a bike anywhere without a helmet. Apparently, his definition of sustainability doesn't include health and its economics since most severe brain injury victims eventually require Medicare/Medicaid (public) funding for their care.

I feel that I am qualified to comment on these issues as past and founding medical director of the Moses Cone Brain Injury Rehabilitation programs and a daily bike commuter. I'll leave the inadvisability of riding with a heavily laden backpack (rather than rack bags) for another time.

Dr. Sam Pelligra
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Ann Witt

In response to Robert Bell's article (Jan. 28) about the recent disturbing events at Guilford College, I am here to state that I stand behind my alma mater all the way.

I graduated from Guilford in 1994, and those four years were the most formative and challenging of my life.

Guilford does embody the best of its values -- values that are Quaker in nature and that the school encourages you to take with you, to make universal. These attributes, the "peace and community, diversity, equality, integrity and justice" cited in the article, are taken seriously by the college.

I have never enjoyed, and will probably never enjoy again, the level of integrity found in my professors and many of my fellow students, in the school's overall day-to-day functioning.

Were these values found in everyone? No. Is Guilford a perfect school? No. Am I the same person I was when I graduated at 22? Most assuredly not. But the foundation the school gave me has been invaluable.

What allegedly happened to these Palestinian students is a tragedy and a terrible wounding for all concerned. There must be open dialogue and healing for the school to find its way forward. But this incident should not mar Guilford's reputation for years to come, for indeed it could have happened anywhere.

Unfortunately, it happened at Guilford. Yet, I have every faith the school will respond appropriately, that the people who make up a uniquely special community will do the right thing. This healing must and will be encouraged. I am proud to be a member of this community.

The writer lives in West Hartford, Conn.

Thank you for your recent article on Wayne and Annette Watterson. They are dear friends of ours, and they lost everything in their house fire Nov. 5. I can't think of anyone more deserving of help from the community than these two people.

They have been ministering to others for years, taking their Sidewalk Sunday School into the projects of Greensboro, teaching the young children, giving out turkeys at Thanksgiving and toys at Christmas — many times giving out of their own pocket to people in need.
It is gratifying to see the community give back to them. They deserve every bit of it and so much more.

Kathy and Cal DesVoigne
Wilmington

As a graduate, I am troubled by two things in regard to the incident that recently took place on the campus of Guilford College:

1. Only arrests have been made — there has been no trial. The community of Guilford College, with the help of the News & Record, apparently has tried and convicted these students. It seems that the public has not learned anything from the alleged rape in Durham. As in Durham, there just might be another side to this story that has yet to come out.

2. In addition to the assault charges, the men were charged with ethnic intimidation. I guess that means that if these men had only told the victims they loved them prior to the beating, they would have been absolved of their purported crimes. If that were the case, then the wife-beater would almost always be absolved. How was this assault worse than assaults with other motives?

If the men are tried and found guilty, they should be punished in accordance with the law, but I find it difficult to believe they will be able to get a fair trial in this county.

Dan Holsenbeck
Greensboro

On behalf of the board of the National Conference for Community and Justice of the Piedmont-Triad (NCCJ), I would like to commend Replacements, Ltd. on receiving the Human Rights Campaign Foundation 2007 award as one of the best places to work. NCCJ praises Replacements, the only company headquartered in the Triad to be on the list, for finding a way to combine sound business practices with an inclusive working environment.

Equality for all people is more than a motto for Replacements. It is the way it does business and invests in our community. Gary Palmer, Replacements' assistant vice president for community affairs, is actually charged with promoting equality in the community. We are proud Gary is a member of our board. Gary is known for his flurry of voluntary activity.

As chairman of the Piedmont's NCCJ, I have had the pleasure of working closely with Gary. He helps us in our mission to promote understanding and respect among all cultures, races and religions. He is a tireless volunteer and valuable board member. Our board is grateful that Gary and Replacements continue to show such civic leadership in our community.

Carl C. Ashby
Greensboro

Sen. Phil Berger has expressed his outrage at the depiction of a child rape in a film. He's right. We should all be outraged, but not at the film.

The rape scene was in the film because it is in our society. The very week he raised his concern about the scene, a 6-year-old Arizona girl was abducted, sexually assaulted and left by the side of a road in a strange town. The telling of that incident was two paragraphs in the paper. It will be forgotten by the end of the week.

The arts are a reflection of the culture that produces them. They represent our lives back to us, showing us who we are in our highest and in our lowest. The arts come from the core and are felt at the core, which is why Berger has reacted so strongly to the film.
The film is the messenger — it did not show an actual rape; it showed the telling of a rape, much more effectively than two paragraphs in a newspaper. Be outraged, but not at the messenger.

Anne Willson
Greensboro

Count me out. Not one penny of my tax money will be used to fund GTCC scholarships until Guilford County stops subsidizing the lives of illegal immigrants. How much does Guilford County spend annually to support the lives of illegal immigrants?

While the students may be deserving of our assistance, the illegal immigrants are not.

Evi Ginn
Greensboro

I want to say thank you to Mayor Holliday for his support of banning smoking in public places and protecting the health of the citizens of Greensboro. Secondhand smoke is not a "nuisance" as some would say; it is a health risk.

There are so many regulations that protect workers; exposure to secondhand smoke should be included. White-collar workers are more protected than blue-collar workers and the service industry.

Let's not turn this into a debate or a "rights" issue. Let's understand the health ramifications when exposed to secondhand smoke. Let's take into consideration the asthmatic child, the person on oxygen, someone with a heart condition or the pregnant waitress.

Julie Westholder
High Point

Recently, as we (father, brother and I) were leaving Cici's Pizza, I looked on the back of a minivan and it said, "Hey rag head, knock it off, Allah called, He's out of virgins."

Now let's get a few things straight. First, I am a Muslim. Second, where on earth did this lie, "If a Muslim kills a bunch of people then he will go to heaven and have 1,000 virgins," come from? That is complete nonsense.

I have been in college at UNCG for about three years and I'm set to graduate in May 2008 with a biochemistry degree. I have seen my fair share of racism, from the soccer field to the campus of Guilford College. Why should I stand for any of this racism? Why should I sit here and be ridiculed for being who I am? Please, keep your racist remarks to yourself. I'm pretty sure I have other things to worry about than what others have said about another culture.

I come from a very educated family. My father, a chairman at N.C. A&T State University, has always inspired me to be active when I need to. This is the first step. We all need to realize the things we say do affect people and should not be taken lightly.

Sam Hamoush
Greensboro

I take exception to the article, "McDonald's employee kills man trying to rob store" (Jan. 27).

The article is about an armed robber's attempt to hold up a McDonald's restaurant in Charlotte. The robber entered the store with a pistol and was killed by an employee who was armed. The article states, "An employee with a handgun started a shootout."

That is a blatant misstatement of the events. The dead robber, Donte McFadden, started a shootout by entering the store with the intent to rob it at gunpoint. The employee was only defending himself and the other people in the restaurant at the time. The district attorney's office should be preparing an award for the employee, not deciding if charges are to be filed against him. There is one less criminal to clog up the court system and to pass through the swinging doors, out onto the streets to act again.

We all should thank people who are willing to defend our lives and safety.

Mac McAtee
Oak Ridge

The Board of Education named the new elementary school on Pleasant Ridge Road after E.P. Pearce, former superintendent of Guilford County Schools prior to merger. It was a great moment, with the room filled with enthusiastic citizens. The naming was a turning point for the Board of Education, which moved away from directional and non-inspiring names.

The News & Record devoted two sentences containing 34 words to this happening. The paper's coverage of local news is spotty to say the least.

Joe Stafford
Greensboro

The writer is a frequent speaker on school issues at Board of Education meetings.

I am simply amazed to know that some people are so totally ignorant concerning just what is going on in this country. How some people can defend the president and his actions is beyond belief.

This is quite probably the most corrupt administration in the history of our great nation. If you will stop listening to the spin doctors and try to learn just what the truth is, you will be amazed.

Try reading two books, "Worse than Watergate" and "An American Dynasty," both written by Republican authors. You will learn just how deceptive and untruthful our so-called (good) president and his family are and have been. You will learn how this family has been involved in all kinds of shady deals, both at home and overseas.

You will also realize that President Bush is not running this country. Nor has he the know-how to do so. He is only a figurehead for the forces that are getting filthy rich because of government contracts, defense spending and other shady deals.

I urge all to try to find out the truth and to start using our own brains to determine just what the situation has become.

Howard A. Carter
Reidsville

It's morning, I am just reading the paper and am furious at someone in this county but don't know who. I read Barbara Germain's letter (Jan. 26) about the dog left chained in the cold with no decent house, and I am sure no food or water. Who is responsible for overseeing this problem?

I'm so tired of our (and they are ours because we, the taxpayers, pay them) county employees passing the buck. If she complained to Animal Control and nothing happened for weeks, how dare they refuse to give her information on the case?

I, too, would like to know where the buck stops, and how to volunteer to assist with this problem. I've been a guardian ad litem for children; maybe we need a similar program for animals

Carolyn Lassiter
Greensboro

There can be no doubt about the exercise of free speech in this fair land. Note these words about our president and vice president in Maureen Dowd's column in the News & Record on Jan. 30:

"Has anyone in the history of the United States ever been so singularly wrong and misguided about such phenomenally important events and continued to insist he's right in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary? ... It is W. and Vice who learned no lessons from Vietnam, probably because they worked so hard to avoid going ... They are consumed by the fear of looking as if they don't have guts, when they should be compelled by the desire to look as if they have brains."

In many countries, those statements would land you in prison or worse. Long live the United States of America.

James R. Hunter
Greensboro

North Carolina laws do not protect anyone, not even children, from more than 4,000 chemicals, 50 of which are known to cause cancer or to be toxic to humans. In fact, some legal experts interpret a current North Carolina law, passed in 1993, as disallowing local governments from prohibiting smoking in public buildings. This law favors the tobacco industry at the expense of our health.

Tobacco smoke does not change chemical composition just because it's called "secondhand," and it is no less harmful to humans. Recently the U.S Surgeon General reported on the health hazards of secondhand smoke, many of which had been reported in 1986 by a prior Surgeon General.

The Surgeon General also determined that there is no safe amount of tobacco smoke.

Therefore, smoking around nonsmokers puts those nonsmokers at risk, and no amount of air filtration or dilution makes it safe, according to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Unfortunately, many smokers refuse to believe the Surgeon General and reputable scientists. For this reason, there ought to be a law that would protect us.

Stan Meyer
Greensboro

I have read the News & Record for many years and have seen numerous letters about the liberal media by conservatives complaining about various editorial writers. I'm surprised that no one has commented on Mona Charen. Her column must come right out of the president's public relations material.

I suspect that every war in history has had citizens that did not favor it. So what is different with Iraq? Yes, it does give the enemy some hope that we are a house divided, but that is our privilege as Americans. It's time that we decided if this war is a benefit to America and worth the sacrifice that has been made and will continue to be made.

Congress is just taking the position that its constituents have elected their representatives to do. Are you listening, Elizabeth Dole?

C. R. Hendrix
Colfax

Isn't there something wrong here? The United States goes into the Iraq war and shares in the cost of annihilating and destroying the country under the guise of saving the country from itself? Then we are compelled to share in the rebuilding of the same country to the tune of billions of our dollars.

Isn't there a saner approach? Perhaps we should be using our own tax money on our own people and social problems that are crying to be addressed.

Ann O. Brown
Greensboro

One of the most puzzling elements in the truly distressing events now unfolding around the football players and Palestinian students at Guilford College is, why a Guilford College official, in violation of the school's policies of open debate and support of diversity, would write a letter only to students of "color," as stated, and religious and cultural difference. That letter, already in public record, would appear to be almost inflammatory. How very, very sad.

This is a campus that upholds public discourse and traditionally values differences of opinion. What better spotlight for dramatizing racism, prejudice and religious outrage on a campus that decries all of those faults. It happened once before. Remember 1997, when a student "staged" her own mugging as being "racially motivated"?

I have little doubt that Guilford College will handle this matter with the grace, aplomb and heartfelt concern for "justice for all" that it has exhibited throughout its truly admirable history.

Lonnie Groendes
Greensboro

The controversy about the Guilford College situation is pathetic. Why is everyone focusing on how this could happen at a Quaker school? This should not have happened at any school, anywhere. Racism is wrong, period.

If this had been N.C. A&T and a bunch of black football players beat up a few white people, we all know how this would end up.

No matter what color anybody is, this should not have happened and the penalty should be expulsion for those who are guilty. Maybe then they would know that life has consequences.

I think Guilford College should go back to Quaker qualities that have obviously been lost. Athletes should live among all the students so they do not feel as if they are different or better. They are not. All should be there to get an education. I hope the school does the right thing and shows others that nothing like this will be tolerated at that school or anywhere else.

Felicia Wright
McLeansville

The following is a Counterpoint.

By Bill Tidwell

I enjoy the cartoons on the editorial page, but one appearing Jan. 26 was so off base I need to respond. It showed a couple strolling with their baby. The father says they need to buy some health insurance so they can get a big tax cut. The wife responds with "We don't pay taxes."

Politicians have convinced almost everyone that our "progressive" tax code does not tax anyone until their earnings reach a certain level. Baloney. Everyone pays tax on income from the first dollar earned.

Payroll taxes of 7.65 percent are withheld beginning with the first dollar earned. Approximately 15 percent of the price of any product or service includes embedded taxes companies have added to cover taxes they have to pay (and you thought companies paid taxes; only people pay taxes). Thus, almost 23 percent of every dollar goes to taxes before a worker makes enough for the government to start withholding.

There is a bill before Congress that would allow every wage earner to receive 100 percent of what he earns (less local and state deductions). HR25, The Fair Tax Proposal, eliminates income taxes, FICA taxes, gift, estate and capital gains taxes and replaces all of these revenues with a national sales tax on new goods and services at the retail level.

To make HR25 progressive and provide for low-income wage earners, a prebate would be paid each month to every person who has a Social Security number, to offset the amount of tax he would pay for goods and services up to the poverty level.

HR25 already has 39 co-sponsors including Rep. Sue Myrick from North Carolina. I have written Congressman Howard Coble several times. He responds that he can't co-sponsor the bill because he isn't a member of the committee with tax jurisdiction. I don't believe a representative has to be a committee member to sponsor a bill. I will continue to urge his support.

You can get more information about HR25 at Fairtax.org. I am a grass-roots volunteer for the tax and can be reached at (336) 656-3992 or at bbtidwell@yahoo.com.

The writer lives in Browns Summit.

Uncontrolled growth outstripping its support system…

Dysfunctional growth harming its surroundings…

Unwelcome growth benefiting only itself…

To physicians this defines cancer.

To homeowners this is the Westridge Road rezoning request.

An inappropriate change at the request of a speculator will be decided at Monday's Greensboro Zoning Commission hearing. Near-universal neighbor opposition is mounting to a proposal to cram as many townhouses as legally possible onto two scenic lots, a zoning change unlike anything within about nine square miles.

The most important fallout of this request is not just unwelcome, out-of-character change in a stable neighborhood, but the legal precedent that requires approval of similar requests all along Westridge. Then, similar changes are more likely along other signature Greensboro byways.

As Westridge opens for over­development, crowded new houses will require expensive water/sewer/traffic upgrades. Widening two-lane Westridge will be more costly and difficult than the prolonged mess that is West Friendly. Claxton and Jefferson Elementary schools may be buying lots of trailers. Historic neighborhoods only arise when they are defended. Preserving character and renovating homes preserves the health of a balanced neighborhood.

Join in opposing shortsighted overdevelopment. Learn more at StopWestridgeRezoning.com.

Larry Puzio
Greensboro

This letter concerns John Edwards running for president.

He is an embarrassment to the people of North Carolina. What did he do for us besides using us as a steppingstone in his quest to conquer the world? He led us to believe he would do the best for North Carolina, but what did he do? And, oh yeah, when we were attacked on Sept. 11 and protecting America was popular, he was all for the war in Iraq. Then he, like all Democrats, had to choose between what's right for America and what would make him popular; he chose the latter.

Sounds a lot like a Clinton or maybe even a Kennedy.

Jeff Marshall
Greensboro

I have only one comment. I believe anyone as self-centered as Dianne Bellamy-Small appears to be should not be holding a public office that is supposed to be representing the people of her district. She behaved like a spoiled brat regarding the selection of the office she would be using.

Annette Clark
Greensboro

In recent letters from William Oden (Jan. 17) and Alex Cheek (Jan. 23), Robert E. Lee was put forward as a hero. If Lee was a hero, one must consider him a Confederate hero, not a hero of the United States of America.

Lee served in the U.S. Army for 30 years, yet in 1861, when Confederate forces fired on the forces of the United States, Lee turned his back on his nation and became a Confederate. Lee sent captured American soldiers to Andersonville prison and directed operations contributing to the deaths of more than 400,000 men fighting for the United States. After meeting Lee at Appomattox, Gen. Grant said of Lee that no man ever fought for a worse cause.

Two other Virginians, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, founded a country based on the philosophy that all men are created equal. Lee fought to create a country based on a system of inequality. When the Civil War started, the nation was half-slave, half-free. With the defeat of the Confederacy, slavery was over. Lee fought to prevent this change. He was no hero.

Jim Brooks
Archdale

Recently, letters have been published supporting President Bush's decision to invade Iraq and his rationale for continuing our presence there.

It is puzzling how people can do this in the face of mounting evidence about this ill-advised war. It is abundantly clear it was started under false pretenses and has been ineptly pursued.

Now, the president seeks to escalate it in the face of congressional and public opposition. He has tried to mold public opinion by obfuscation and outright lies in the past. He is continuing now. The cost to the nation of this manner of leadership has resulted in a loss of faith in government and in the people who were elected to lead us. The ultimate cost, though, has been in the lives of those who chose to put country first.

If the supporters of Bush and his administration tuned in to the "The NewsHour" on PBS and watched the parade of fallen military personnel often shown at its end, they might rethink their position. If they thoughtfully considered the loss to society of these, our most dedicated citizens, they would decide to hold our president and his party responsible rather than to blindly support them.

R. Allen Walton
Ruffin

As a senior college student, I see engagement season on the horizon for many of my peers. Although this is a joyous time and one worth celebrating, I can't help but think about the reasons behind their decisions to get married at such a young age. In my opinion, anyone who feels the pull to get married right out of college is stuck in society's fairy tale about rings, weddings and marriages.

At a young age, girls start thinking about their future husband and their wedding day. They are fed images and lies by media and family and, poof, the fairy tale has sprung into their minds and won't budge. As adults, too many women unconsciously believe that once their fairy tale has begun, their problems will disappear, as if their fairy godmother was there with her magic wand.

The truth is marriage just doesn't work that way. Pay attention to the marriages that surround your life and you'll see firsthand that divorce rates are up.

So here's my proposal to my generation who feel the urge to get hitched, pop out babies and grow old with someone: Take the time to think about how you define marriage and how you want your story to go. Don't accept society's fairy tale definitions and ideas. Create your own and turn the trend of divorce rates around.

Chrysecolla Taico
Greensboro

I am a Democrat. I never voted for Bush and was against going to war from day one. I believe he lied to us and had his own agenda in mind.

At work, everyone was upset with me because I spoke out against the president and said he had no idea what can of worms he was opening. Terrorist, everyone cried. Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, I said.

That can of worms is open, however, and I do not believe that we can cut and run. If we do, we will see more bloodshed and tyranny than we can imagine. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I believe we should send more troops. That region must come under control and if we leave it, it will explode into a mess that only another evil person like Saddam Hussein (or worse) will try to gain control of.

Shame on Bush for putting us in this position. He should be impeached for his actions, and I have no doubt will be tried for war crimes when he leaves office. Nonetheless, we cannot leave. Not yet. The world's security depends on what we allow to happen there.

Patty Murphy
High Point

Is there some particular reason why you interviewed our elected representatives in Washington but failed to ask a single question about why some of them voted in a manner contrary to our best interests?

After all, we know Howard Coble voted in favor of allowing oil companies to pay below fair market value for oil extracted from public lands. What we don't know is why Howard thinks Big Oil should not fairly compensate taxpayers for their property.

Why did Dole and Burr not only oppose raising the minimum wage but also vote to abolish the minimum wage completely?

Since we taxpayers pay them a generous salary of around $76 an hour, why do they oppose paying us one-tenth of that hourly wage?

I think these are questions we have a right to have answered. Any word when you will start asking them?

David Allen
High Point

Another demand and childish behavior by Dianne Bellamy-Small prompted me to write in response to her refusing to cooperate with other members of the City Council again. They, the council, tried to do the right and democratic thing in determining office space available to each of them by drawing numbers. Available is the key word here.

Bellamy-Small decided she did not even want the corner space given to her by Tom Phillips. No, she wants an office that is already occupied.
She refused to take a lie-detector test like the other members. Now she refuses to take the offered office.

When will the City Council and the city of Greensboro wake up? What has she done for those she is supposed to be representing? How dare she demand another office occupied by someone else?

It is time to call for her resignation so progress can be made without her bellyaching. All that her actions prove is that she is a demanding, self-centered, illogical person whom the council no longer needs.

Come on, Greensboro, stand up for what is right. Demand the removal of Bellamy-Small. It is way past due.

Ellen Simmons
Greensboro

I'd like to respond to the Jan. 17 letter, "We should appreciate Bush while we can."

It's amazing to me that anyone could still believe that it was justified to go into Iraq, that polls are simply wrong and that millions still support Bush. The letter stated, "Whom do you choose?": the sexual scandal of Clinton, or Bush, a man of integrity.

It seems the sexual indiscretions of the previous president pale in comparison to the undermining of civil liberties, condoning of torture, not to mention thousands of lives lost. Bush is not a man of integrity. The ego and arrogance of the Republican Bush/Cheney years have been a disaster.

The Republicans believe they know what's best for the rest of the world and that it's our job to change it, by force if necessary. Millions of people continue to be killed by dictators and lawless regimes. Surely, true Christians can't believe it's our job to correct the entire world's violence with more violence.

Extremist Muslims don't hate us for our freedom. They hate us because extremists in this country have taken a blind position of support for Israel and a stance against Muslims. This religion-based political policy has led to thousands of lives being lost.

Randy Barnes
Greensboro

Interesting to read about the decision of the mayor and the white members of the City Council not to accept the work done by the Human Relations Commission on the report from the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission. I am confident the HRC spent some valuable time working on its recommendations.

I was present at the informal City Council meeting last summer, as were about 30 others, at which eight of the nine council members were present (Florence Gatten was attending her sick mother in Florida).

When following a discussion about acknowledging the acceptance of the report, the mayor asked John Shaw, also present, to take the report to the Human Relations Commission. The HRC was to return with the recommendations from that group they thought the city should act on.

The council members present concurred with the mayor's request to Shaw. What has changed between then and now?

Barbara P. Walker
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Tony Watts

Leonard Pitts Jr. made a recent but feeble attempt (column, Jan. 22) to compare Muslim taxi drivers who refused to "carry passengers carrying alcohol because Islam frowns upon liquor" with Christian pharmacists who refused to fill requests for the "morning after pill," the now popular "abortion pill."

Now, I'll be the first to agree that analogies are great tools and the writer who uses them properly is all the better for it. What I don't understand is how anybody, including Mr. Pitts, can compare a taxi driver's refusal to give someone a ride with a pharmacist's refusal to take part in the death of an unborn child.

Well, forgive me if I think for myself here; but Pitts made the same categorical error that a friend of mine once made. Our discussion at that time centered around Fred Phelps, the pastor of Westboro Baptist Church, who set up camp near the funerals of fallen military personnel and shouted anti-war slogans at the mourners.

There's a lot you can say about such activity; but speaking from a pastor's perspective, it's just plain stupid. I understand the anger that such foolishness engenders and at that point my friend and I were on the same page, even adding a few labels of our own to express our outrage.

All such agreement disappeared, however, when this same friend equated Phelps' activity to that of the murderous "Taliban."

I just didn't get it. In my mind, a rogue preacher was a far cry from a Talibanic murderer. In fact, I saw absolutely no comparison between hurling words at a group of people and chucking grenades at the same group.

Pitts' analogy is just as absurd. A cabbie's refusal to give a ride to an "alcohol carrying customer" in no way compares to a pharmacist's refusal to aid the destruction of innocent life. Both are refusals and both are religiously based, but that is as close as they get.

In keeping with such stretches of the imagination, I can think of a few more of Pitts' worthy analogies. Try comparing a four-year old, back-talking toddler to the horror-movie-doll-turned-killer "Chuckie;" or, Pitts himself to Rosie O'Donnell. After all, except for their hair, race and sex, they're identical.

No doubt, the proper use of analogy can serve a writer well. But as Pitts' improper use reveals, a bad analogy is as distorting as its right use is enlightening.

The writer lives in Thomasville and can be reached at twatts2@triad.rr.com.

To all Greensboro citizens who are or hope to become homeowners in neighborhoods zoned for single-family residences: Your neighbors on Westridge Road and surrounding areas need your help.

A developer wants to rezone some RS-15 and RS-12 lots to RM-5, which means multi-family housing. Please support us in objecting to their request. Duplexes, condos and apartments would not be compatible with the character of the Westridge area. If this rezoning happens in our area, it will happen in yours.

Let your city and county representatives and the news media know of your opposition to these requests.

Please show up at the Feb. 12, 2 p.m. Zoning Commission meeting in City Council chambers. Thank- you from your Westridge area friends and neighbors.

Bob and Marge Powell
Greensboro

Yes, we will have to build a new jail. Yes, we will have to pay for this jail. No to paying for it with bonds or certificates. Both methods will lead to only property owners covering this project and paying interest on the loan. Here’s the real question: How many prisoners in jail are property owners? My bet is a very low percentage.

So, why will property owners be asked to shell out more money? A pay-as-we-go sales tax is the only fair option. Everyone, including criminals, purchases products in Guilford County. This way we all share in the process, as well as visitors who expect law enforcement while in our county.

The excuse that the state will never approve a sales tax increase is the wrong attitude. If citizens contact the Guilford legislative delegation and push this request, it can happen. Do this or pay for the jail costs, plus interest, with your property taxes for the next 20 years. Let inmates sleep in your jail for free and never contribute to the process.

Sales tax is a bad word, but not as bad as property tax.

Carl Allen
Gibsonville

Praise the Lord. The prettiest sights I’ve seen in quite a while are the new working stoplights in the heart of Colfax. It took many years of pleading, scary moments, wrecks and praying, but the Highway Department finally came through. Hopefully, this will slow down those who have their speedometers set at 55 to 65 no matter where or what. There are 35 mph signs visible all through Colfax.

My heartfelt thanks go to each and everyone who had a hand in getting these put up. The turning lanes are lifesavers, also. I certainly feel safer.

Patty Potts
Colfax

Now that the N.C. Council of State has met to discuss the involvement of physicians in the process of executing condemned criminals, an interesting thought comes to mind.

It appears that state law and court rulings require that a doctor be present to ensure that the condemned do not suffer during the execution process. That requirement appears to be at odds with a 2006 N.C. Medical Society ruling that prohibits physicians from participating in executions.

I expect it may have slipped the minds of the members of the state council, and if it ends up that physicians indeed may not participate in executions, that the same reasoning should apply to the hundreds of physicians across our state who make handsome profits operating the bloody abattoirs of the N.C. abortion industry. Of course, executing those who have not had a chance at a full-term life is just too lucrative a business to stop. Perhaps we could get around the problems of executions by referring to them as late-term abortions. Who would care — and the money would continue to flow in.

Ian A. Millar
Kernersville

I am glad that your column (David Hoggard) comes with a picture of you smiling, because you are definitely a joke.

Your column, “Let’s stop playing the race card,” (Jan. 30) had me rolling on the floor from laughter. Anyone who knows the history of the racial relationships in the city of Greensboro also knows the race card is comparable to the big joker in a spades game.

Stop hiding the race relationships in Greensboro and maybe the proper reflection of accord will exist when it pertains to housing, education, and unemployment … just to name a few.

However, I doubt that it will ever happen because of the relic majority of people who share similar views.

James Witherspoon
Apex