News-Record.com

Recently, all Democratic members of the state Senate voted in favor of SB 954, a bill that will cheat state voters out of our say in presidential races. All Republicans voted no.

SB 954 will give our Electoral College votes to whichever candidate wins the nationwide popular vote, regardless of who wins the North Carolina vote.

This bill declares null and void North Carolina's voice in the choice of our president. Presidential candidates will only have to campaign in large states such as California, New York, New Jersey, Michigan and Illinois.

The Electoral College system protects the rights and influence of smaller and medium-size states. The Democratic Party and Democrats in the state Senate have figured out a sneaky, deceitful way to give people the middle finger.

Robert L. Simpson
Burlington

The writer is chairman, Alamance County Republican Party.

In discussions about global warming, nobody denies warming is taking place. Debatable is the cause.

It seems that lately, scientific empirical evidence has taken a back seat to politics, specifically liberal politics.

Anyone who tries to articulate an alternative theory is attacked personally and publicly, called names and otherwise insulted. This is indicative of people who know they might be wrong.

There is credible scientific evidence that solar activity is more responsible for warming than human activity.

If you can't blame anyone, there are no politics. Also, it is demonstrated that carbon dioxide is a result of warming, not a cause. Hmmm!

The video, "The Great Global Warming Swindle," by British network TV4 addresses these issues, is informative and not hosted by politicians. Type the title into your Google search to view the video on computer. Remember, Al Gore is a politician and lawyer, not a scientist.

I urge all to view this informative video, educate yourselves to all sides of the issue, and then make up your minds based on facts. Don't blindly swallow propaganda. That is what happened in Nazi Germany.

Daniel Waldschmidt
Greensboro

To folks complaining about high gasoline prices, don't blame Exxon, Shell, BP or the local gasoline retailer. They furnish the fuel. You burn the fuel. It's called supply and demand.

Who is to blame? Look in the mirror. Soccer moms sit in big SUVs with engines and air conditioners running while watching their children. Drivers wait in line and idle engines at drive-throughs. Park and walk in. It might do you good. Try driving the speed limit, not 10-15 mph over.

You have choices. Complaints without action won't solve anything.

Jerry I. Smith
Greensboro

The Department of Housing and Community Development has proposed a 33 percent ($200,000) reallocation in funding for emergency assistance that helps poor families stay in their homes.

If reallocated, the funds will go to the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness in Guilford County.

Four agencies now receive funds from the city to help poor people in emergency situations with rent and utilities. These are older adults and working people, many with children, who have lost a job, had their hours cut, had an illness or other emergencies over which they have no control.

Cuts in these funds will seriously impact poor people in Greensboro and will contribute to many becoming homeless and needing shelter.

Studies show that the cost to society for having just a few of these people homeless can be far greater than the $200,000 to be cut from emergency assistance.

Robbing Peter to pay Paul is not the answer. Reallocating this funding now will be counterproductive to the agencies providing assistance, to the Ten Year Plan and to the hundreds of poor people who need this assistance.

Skip MacMillan
Greensboro

Last month, I had the privilege of going to New York to see the Broadway musical, "The Color Purple," starring our hometown girl and 2004 American Idol winner, Fantasia Barrino.

The show was enjoyable, enlightening and very entertaining. It takes you on a spiritual journey. It teaches you that through the trials of life, with love of self and family, you can still have victory.

I must give Fantasia a standing ovation for her performance again. It was excellent, for lack of a better word.

I read an article in the News & Record celebrity news (May 19) that The New York Times writer Charles Isherwood says that she is terrific, that with Fantasia the musical is more effective and affecting than when it opened a year-and-a-half ago.

I also want to say that Fantasia does the Triad and North Carolina proud.

Carol Williams
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Alida van Bronkhorst

Since I have been an area homeowner/taxpayer for less than two years, but did teach more than a thousand kindergartners in New York State public schools for 15 years and several hundred learning disabled children ages 5 to 21 in a New Jersey accredited school for 18 years, I was much taken aback by your front-page story about the fire at Eastern Guilford High School (May 20).

Obviously, I don't know all the history of educators in North Carolina, but out of millions of teachers, or millions of any other profession, including news reporting, we know there will be some jerks or even criminals.

By the specific reference to "a bitter teacher" as a possible source of the Eastern High fire, and all the ensuing heartbreak and extra demands of time and energy by all concerned -- not to speak of those who served that day and the financial losses which face us -- I had to believe that past North Carolina experience with murderous "bitter teachers" made this option tenable to those in the know.

I did not see any editorial to the contrary, or any explanation as to why that reason was suggested by the area paper as a viable cause.

My thanks to Charlie Abourjilie for his Counterpoint. As a taxpayer and as a mom, grandma and retired teacher, I am glad to know from his words, and from other reports on TV (even some in your paper), that we have area teachers who give appropriate, conscientious attention to their students and the academic atmosphere around them.

That is the spirit I understand after 33 years as a teacher in three different school systems.

The writer lives in McLeansville.

Like every employee who ever worked at First Home Federal Savings and Loan, I read the article recently about the vindication of our alma mater bank ("Failed lender triumphs in court," May 16) with a wide range of emotions.

Those feelings started with satisfaction, then gratitude for those who didn't give up the fight to prove us right, and finally a certain amount of sadness over what could have been had we been allowed to work our way out of the circumstances.

Ask any First Home Federal employee, and they will tell you that First Home had a unique spirit of camaraderie, a unanimous commitment to do quality work and a daily mission to provide stellar service to every customer.

Ask former customers and they will probably tell you that if you wanted to feel welcome and special, bank at First Home Federal.

First Home had so many good people that have gone on to successful careers, many in banking, many in related industries. Some are enjoying a well-deserved retirement.

Even though we are a scattered family now, we still run into each other and always say the same thing about our First Home Federal years: "Those were the best."

Lisa Brown
Greensboro

As I watched the television on Memorial Day, I saw John Edwards use that day, of all days, dedicated to honor those men and women of many American wars, to continue his political campaign.

It should not be a great surprise for a man of his caliber to put his own desires ahead of those millions of Americans who spent the day remembering the men and women who gave their lives to protect their homeland.

John Edwards has said that he wants to be a great help to the elderly and poor of the country. Perhaps he can invite many of the poor and needy to visit him and his wife in their mansion.

Benjamin E. Wilson
Greensboro

Apparently the News & Record is no longer a newspaper for the masses, but instead is focusing all too often on N.C. A&T State University. I have no dog in the fight with N.C. A&T, but it seems there is too much focus on it.

The headline on Thursday, May 24, read "A&T decision 'shameful,' trustee says." Two days later, the headline on Saturday, May 26, added: "A&T audit finds financial abuses."

I am sure there was no overpowering national news that was more important. If you are going to call yourselves a newspaper, then give us more news that qualifies as such on the national level.

Perhaps you should rename the paper The A&T Times.

W. Wayne West
Greensboro

In response to your editorial, "Keep online predators away from your kids" (May 25), may I call attention to a book being published on Aug. 14, and written by Susan Shankle and Barbara Melton, "What In The World Are Your Kids Doing Online?"

Susan is a graduate of Grimsley High School and Greensboro College. The book is a "how to" book for parents, to help them deal with cyberspace matters: the Internet, cell phones, text messaging, bullying, etc.

The changes in children's lives presented by electronics contain both blessings and pitfalls.

Parents need to take notice and this book can be very helpful. As you say,"The first line of defense continues to be parental involvement."

That begins with knowledge.

Celia Shankle
Greensboro

The writer is the mother of Susan Shankle.

For an article extolling the virtues of civic trust, Greensboro College professor Dan Malotky's May 23 column ("Leave your guns at home") shows a surprising lack of trust in gun owners. People who have a license to carry concealed weapons are more law-abiding than the general population, but Malotky trots out the spectre of the "irate woman ... digging through her handbag," assuming that his fellow citizens are inherently untrustworthy.

I was pondering this when my neighbor's son came by -- carrying a rifle. I trust this young man to use his weapon responsibly, and if needed, I would trust him to protect me with it.

Malotky apparently doesn't.

What I don't trust is Malotky's assertion that defensive gun users are more likely to have their gun used against them than to repel the assault. Those old "studies" were debunked more than a decade ago by people like Harvard professor John Lott, whose book, "More Guns, Less Crime," exposes the fallacies of anti-gun mythology.

The only "paranoid vision" I see is that of anti-gunners who argued, incorrectly, that concealed-carry laws would lead to Wild West-style shootouts. Malotky's argument seems to be based on a personal dislike of guns rather than facts, which should be an untenable position for an academic.

Jeff Pickett
Franklinville

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Torrey Dixon

I disagree with your editorial (May 20) opposing the National Popular Vote plan recently approved by our state Senate. We know from great experience with gubernatorial elections that campaigns where every vote is equal are far fairer than North Carolina's current system.

There are three particularly serious problems with the "unit rule" method used by North Carolina and most states to allocate electoral votes since the 1830s:

First, a candidate with fewer votes should not defeat a candidate with more votes. Our message to the world about the virtues of democracy is undercut when we fail to honor the principles of majority rule and one person, one vote.

Second, we now have a two-tier democracy where voters in a few states matter and everyone else does not. In 2004, young adults under 30 were fully 36 percent more likely to vote in the 10 closest states than in the rest of the nation.

Third, presidential candidates ignore the views of most people. George W. Bush's campaign never polled a single person in two-thirds of states from August 2002 through the 2004 election. It wasn't worth wasting a dime talking to any North Carolina voter not considering a campaign contribution.

Seven in 10 Americans want a national popular vote, and North Carolina has the power to join with other states to make it happen. The Senate should be applauded for accepting its constitutional responsibility to allocate electoral votes in a way that serves the interests of its people.

The writer lives in Durham and is the director of FairVote North Carolina.

Recently, I was reminded once again of the cruelty and inhumane attitude of people. I stopped to help remove a dead dog from the middle of the street. I was told by a man playing golf that she had been hit twice and neither person stopped. I understand that animals get in the street sometimes and, unfortunately, they do get hit by cars. I do not understand, however, how someone can hit a dog and not stop to help.

If the first person had stopped, the dog might still be alive. Even if you do not want to put the injured animal in your car, call the police or try to reach the owner. But leaving an injured animal to fend for itself is cruel. And I feel the same way toward the person who could not be bothered to stop playing golf long enough to come help, either.

This was someone's beloved pet, not just some "animal" as so many love to say. People should at least have the decency to stop and try to help. A moment's effort after an accident can make all the difference.
Kelley Kidd
Greensboro

This is in response to the letter, "Compile annual report on racial disparities" (May 23). Evelyn Smith and Kay Doost requested that the City Council instruct the Human Relations Commission to publicize an annual report showing progress on erasing racial disparities in the city.

The Human Relations Commission is already working on several fronts to facilitate projects to address racial disparities and to gather information that can be compiled in an annual report next year. The commission started working late last year with a dedicated group of community agencies and individuals around disparity issues.

Earlier this year, we teamed with other organizations in a process that will engage individuals in a project to identify community issues and develop plans of action to help improve race relations. Through these and other efforts, the commission is addressing issues listed in the letter related to trust and racial disparities.

The Human Relations commissioners are indeed taking an active role in exploring and identifying issues that divide our community, and we are taking steps to build bridges among the diverse residents in our city.
Maxine Bakeman
Greensboro

The writer is vice chairwoman, Greensboro Human Relations Commission.

"They perform the work no one else will do." This is the No. 1 excuse given by Congress and big business promoting the passage of the amnesty legislation for the benefit of illegal immigrants from Mexico. Isn't the reason for this quite obvious?

The American laborer fought for decades for a decent wage to better his lot in life. Now, we have an influx of workers willing to work 10 to 12 hours a day for a sub-standard hourly wage. Along with this, no health benefits. (I have witnessed this firsthand.)

This is eroding all the progress the American work force made over the past 40 or 50 years. Am I the only one who thinks that this might be killing the incentive of the citizens of this country? Naturally, big business is promoting amnesty.

Let's not forget who lines the coffers of the elected officials in this country.

Eileen Thiery
Stokesdale

As a student at UNCG, I would like to apologize for the disrespectful and abhorrent action of the university choosing not to recognize the sacrifices of the men and women in our armed services this Memorial Day. This decision by the chancellor and the Board of Trustees is an embarrassment to our university.

Memorial Day is intended to recognize the service and sacrifice of the military families past and present to America. It is not just a day for students to get out of class, or employees to take extra vacation time. It is a time to reflect on the sacrifices that have been made to protect and defend freedom, liberty and justice. UNCG not honoring and recognizing this day is a slap in the face to our military, past and present.

My grandfather is a proud World War II veteran; he served this nation with pride and courage. He placed his life on the line to fight for what we all stand for and believe in. He is a part of "The Greatest Generation."

As a student at UNCG, I would like to thank our military, past and present, for defending America, the country, the values, and the ideals. May God continue to bless the United States of America, and may He watch over our brave men and women defending freedom.

Michael Kennedy Garrett
Greensboro

The News & Record recently has run several articles and editorials related to speed enforcement on our roads. While it is easy to over-sensationalize a few extreme cases, you have missed the real issue with speed limits.

The majority of our speed limits have been set too low. These speed limits have made our roads less safe and less productive. Studies have consistently shown that the safest speed limits are those set at the 85th to 90th percentile speed of free-flowing traffic.

Unfortunately, misinformation abounds and traffic enforcement seems to be more about revenue than safety. Speed limits are set low, a "cushion" is given most of the time, and then periodic enforcement raises money from those safe drivers unlucky enough to be in the wrong place. Perhaps it is fortunate that certain judges understand the system well enough to not further penalize safe drivers with greater penalties and insurance surcharges.

Yes, this whole system undermines the credibility of traffic and other laws. However, the solution is to raise speed limits to proper levels, not strictly enforce flawed regulations. If you are interested in truthful, unbiased information about speed limits and traffic issues, take a look at www.motorists.org.

Len Ebright
Greensboro

I was watching my husband play a football game, and on this game they show football players' salaries. It got me to really thinking.

If all professional football players gave just one percent of their earnings to battered women's shelters, it could give a lot of women and their children good homes, a way for women to get on their feet to get good jobs, good education for their children, food and nice clothes. But, most of all, they could live with a sense of security. They could live without fear.

A lot of children would grow up without phobias about being beaten, or maybe they wouldn't grow up to think beating women is OK. Little girls could grow up and know better than to get in the same kind of relationship their mom was in.

What better way to spend just a little pinch of their money? And, surely, what pride they would feel when they got letters from families they actually saved.

Frances Webb
Reidsville

Thank you for your May 15 editorial, "Greensboro's canopy gives it the right shade." Greensboro was blessed with one of our nation's most beautiful locations.

On the rolling hills of the Carolina Piedmont, many varieties of stately trees shaded early settlers. These canopy trees were more than just "ornaments of life." They cleaned the air of pollutants. Their roots caught rainwater, which soaked into the soil, replenishing the groundwater and sending clean water into the streams.

In the 1900s, rather than respecting nature's gift, developers got into the bad habit of clear-cutting trees and bulldozing hills to make flat sites for building. Between 1984 and 2000, Greensboro had a tree loss of 18 percent (800 acres a year on average). Only a tiny percentage of these trees has been replaced. Your suggestion of replacing every fallen canopy tree along a right-of-way is certainly doable.

It was heartening to read Malcolm Kenton's, "Balance development with quality of life" (May 23), where he urges saving "green infrastructure" as one of the best strategies for ensuring long-term prosperity. With young people like him, there is hope for Greensboro. Most of us would love to see our tree canopy preserved and restored.

Emilie and Tom Sandin
Greensboro

On May 16, the News & Record ran an article, "PTI rejects apartment project." The article stated that developer Roy Carroll wanted to build apartments on 28.4 acres owned by PTI.

Airport authority members began raising red flags immediately, the biggest being that airport noise at that site could be 60 and 65 decibels, considered the highest range for residential building. PTI refused to sell the Ballinger Road property to Carroll because of the apartment project's close proximity to the airport.

The truth finally came out. Why didn't the airport authority wake up to these facts before now? The Greensboro politicians and PTI authority ignored the concerns of Greensboro citizens earlier regarding intense noise when FedEx was first presented to the area. PTI pushed hard for acceptance of FedEx. Why was 60 to 65 decibels OK then and not OK now?

It was a bad decision to locate FedEx at our airport. The people of Greensboro located near the airport and 10 miles out will suffer the consequences. FedEx and high-density residential areas will once again prove to be a bad combination.

Alfred Ihrig
Jamestown

In his May 30 letter, "Which president faced impeachment?" Steve Kroll-Smith's final question was: "OK, what's your guess?" My guess is that Kroll-Smith has conveniently left out the perjury and obstruction charges which led to President Clinton's impeachment.

Kroll-Smith falls into the simplistic leftist mantra that "it was all about sex." Hardly. The pernicious lies and obstruction by Clinton and his staff shook the very foundation of his presidency and the office itself. We now have someone leading our university system who was part of this travesty.

Rather than the incessant whining of the left and the pure and utter hatred of President Bush, they should use their Democratic majority and immediately move to impeach him. Believe me, it will get nowhere.

Russ Cummings
Greensboro

Over the next few weeks, the various high schools will be having commencement services. My son will be graduating this year with honors and plans to attend UNCG in the fall.

I should be excited about watching him graduate along with my family and friends, but I am almost dreading it. Why? Because of the rude people who attend graduation ceremonies. Whenever their student's name is called out, they scream, jump out of their seats, and cause such a commotion that it is very distracting.

In addition, it delays the procession of the commencement service until these people can settle back down. I don't mean to play the race card, but basically it is the black community who behaves this way, and it's not fair to all the other people who are there to honor their students.

So, please, try to express your excitement outside of the ceremonies and allow everybody the privilege to enjoy this milestone in their child's life.

Sharon Davis
Gibsonville

The recent diatribe by Thomas Sowell, "Push aliens to deport themselves" (News & Record, May 24), makes me both sad and angry -- and for the same reasons. Sowell vilifies undocumented aliens, spitting out "criminals" and "fugitives from justice" ad nauseam, and he misrepresents both why they have come here and the effect of their coming.

Most of the undocumented people in our country came here either as refugees from war and political chaos, or in a desperate attempt to feed and clothe their families. A large percentage of those from Latin America come from the most impoverished parts of southern Mexico and Central America. Their cruel situation has been made worse by U.S. government subsidies to agribusiness under NAFTA, which have made it impossible for these small farmers to compete and survive.

As a volunteer teacher of English as a Second Language, I have had the privilege to get to know a few of these immigrants. I find them to be hard-working, gracious, family-oriented and genuinely joyful people, who have much to offer to enrich our communities. Let us try a little kindness, friends, and follow the Scriptures, which tell us to open our hearts to the stranger and those less fortunate. We will all be the better for it.

Thomas Sowell is not interested in shedding light; rather he seeks to inflame. He doesn't measure up and should be dropped from the paper.

Paul Mitchell
Greensboro

Doug Clark's May 27 description of the cooperation and congenial relationship between the leaders of two rival hospitals in Guilford County gives me hope. Perhaps next their example will inspire two of our county commissioners.

As Billy Yow and Skip Alston personify the cultural differences between rural and urban, and white and black people in our county, their views understandably clash sometimes.

But, if these two leaders were to find common ground and show they can respect each other as individuals, it might help ease the racial misunderstandings and city/county divisions that often hinder Guilford County's progress.

Perhaps these gentlemen could try sharing cultural interests, like food or sports or even
music. Yow could listen to A&T's 90.1 radio station for a week, and Alston can tune in to a country station like 93.1. Then they could explain some of the lyrics to each other and laugh over a plate of barbecue or a game of golf, celebrating the diversity that many think is a positive feature of Guilford County.

As a resident of District 5, I ask my commissioner, Mr. Yow, to be the first to step forward.

Sharon Shepard
Jamestown

The Guilford County Board of Education is to be commended for naming a school after Ronald McNair, who is a perfect role model to inspire our children. The board should be applauded for turning away from directional names and place names to names that personify educational excellence.

I have talked with more than 50 Guilford County residents and no one thought that this was not a great name for this new elementary school. We should all thank the Board of Education members for a job well done.

Joe R. Stafford
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Hosea Butler Jr.

While the May 26 article by Lanita Withers, entitled "A&T audit finds financial abuse," is disturbing, there are some curious aspects surrounding this whole process that may give rise to some questions about its credibility.

Normally, audits, as well as investigations, are conducted with maximum confidentiality and away from public view and comments. This is done to ensure that any future administrative or prosecutable actions are not compromised. Yet the issues concerning the Division of Technology and Telecommunications were batted around the public domain before the audit was completed. The matter of the audit and possible wrongdoing have been dribbled around Aggieland and the communities, giving rise to all types of speculation.

The cited article seems to have the same problem the Board of Trustees had in not being able to draw a defining line between alleged criminal behavior and possible administrative errors within the university's financial department and the A&T Foundation. In addition, the premature publicizing of the audit and so much "wrongdoing," combined with the building naming fiasco, has polluted the environment until the whole matter is a mess. People make mistakes, but all mistakes are not criminal. Even those who find mistakes and point them out make mistakes.

This is where I see a glimmer of Aggie Pride revealed. The present chairwoman of the Board of Trustees stated in the article, "I personally take responsibility for the board not doing its job." Regardless of what is alleged to be wrong, how it got started or where it will end, the chairwoman, an Aggie, has taken a step toward restoring Aggie Pride.

The complicity of the board, the interim people, the staff, the past administration, the foundation, the accused, as well as the UNC staff, has yet be determined. It is unfortunate that all the hoopla preceded what should have been an orderly process -- a process where a reasonable person could reach a conclusion based on established facts and not ambiguous assertions.

The chairwoman of the board refers to the previous chancellor's "management and leadership style." We all have our individual styles. Whose is better? It is in the eye of the beholder -- as long as it is not criminal. Look around the campus and what do you see?

I ask the chairwoman to work with all Aggies to restore our Aggie Pride. She, a dedicated Aggie, appears to have taken the first and right step -- taking responsibility for the mess. There is this glimmer.

The writer lives in Hialeah, Fla., and is a 1958 N.C. A&T graduate.

The following is a Counterpoint

By J.B. Leonard

Reedy Fork Elementary School has been discussed for at least four years. It is scheduled to open in August. Why should they want to change the name now?

I live at Reedy Fork Ranch. We are a happy, friendly neighborhood of various ethnic backgrounds of all ages and from all walks of life. I love my neighborhood. People I have talked with think Reedy Fork Elementary School is the perfect name. It's located on Reedy Fork Parkway, near Reedy Fork Creek. The developers plan to make tremendous future contributions to the school. This will save all taxpayers of Guilford County lots of money. If they choose not to, the children, principal, teachers and other school employees will suffer.

Why would the school board want to start naming schools after people when most rural elementary schools have been named community names? A person's name on a building does not inspire knowledge. Children learn from their teachers, principals, family members and others who work directly with them. A person's great deeds and accomplishments should be printed in books for all children to read about. There are too many qualified people to choose from. There aren't enough schools available to credit the many people who have stood out in history.

An elementary school is the first formal school for many children. Having that first school named after the area where they grew up, and will remember for the rest of their lives, will always be special. It's more important to have an elementary school named for the community where the children live than for any particular person. That way, all children can have the same sense of belonging and pride as they learn and grow together. As they become adults, there will always be a tie to the community -- by name, not someone from our past.

School staff invited nominations for names. Ten were suggested. Only three were submitted on the required forms. A public meeting was held, all names discussed and votes taken. The name Reedy Fork Elementary had the most support (the developer's representatives did not vote). Reedy Fork Elementary was submitted for board approval. On May 24, the board announced that the findings of May 10 were wrong and that the name Ron McNair, submitted by a man in the southeast district, had the most votes. I was at the May 10 meeting. We need an explanation.

We hope the board will listen to the wishes of the people of the northeast areas of Guilford County, especially those areas surrounding the new Reedy Fork school.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Does this explain President Bush's behavior regarding the war in Iraq? Is he simply insane? Is he incapable of making a balanced decision toward getting the United States’ troops out of Iraq and ending the carnage and our shameful complicity in it?

A.O. Brown
Greensboro

Lorraine Ahearn's column (May 27) on "the miracle diet" of food stamps highlights a huge problem in the United States and Greensboro area -- the fact that even today, people in this "land of plenty" go hungry and lack nutritious food. This week, 10 percent of the population in North Carolina will wonder where its next meal is coming from. This is shocking because 20 percent of the food grown in the United States literally rots in the field -- enough to feed 49 million people. There is enough food for everyone -- the problem is waste and distribution.

The Society of St. Andrew, a nationwide hunger relief ministry with a gleaning network in the Greensboro area, fights hunger in a direct and simple way. We work with local farmers and send volunteers into the fields to glean the edible produce that would otherwise go to waste.

We get that nutritious food to hungry people and agencies immediately. Last year, volunteers for Society of St. Andrew salvaged more than 7 million pounds of fresh produce in North Carolina alone. Society of St. Andrew deeply appreciates Ahearn shedding light on the reality of hunger.

Tuesday was National Hunger Awareness Day, and Society of St. Andrew was proud to join individuals and agencies nationwide in this day of education and work.

If you would like to play a role in ending hunger locally, please contact gleantriad@endhunger.org.

Emily Reeve
Greensboro

The writer is coordinator, Triad Area Gleaning, Society of St. Andrew.

This piece of property is located at 8400 West Harrell Road, Oak Ridge. This old house is not only an eyesore and degrading to the community where it stands, but it also has delinquent property taxes of about 15 years. Winds from past storms have torn off pieces of the roof and porch. The loose tin, boards, bricks, etc. are just waiting to become dangerous projectiles during future storms.

This house should be condemned, torn down and hauled away. The house is not safe for my family and property because of the possibility of flying debris damaging someone or something. We have called the health department and the tax department. The land was supposed to be foreclosed on several years ago, and nothing has been done. We have kept the yard mowed and debris picked up for about 15 years and would like to own the land.

Your investigation into this property and any advice on what could be done about it for the safety of the surrounding community would be greatly appreciated.

Jason Nuckles
Oak Ridge

Where were you, Walter Milosky (letter, May 22), during the Clinton administration when our deficit was low or almost naught? When people had jobs, the economy was so much better, gas prices were low and we were not at war over "weapons of mass destruction."

When we were not sending billions and trillions of dollars to Iran and Iraq with people sleeping on the streets a block from the White House.

Where were you, Mr. Milosky? Our national debt has now doubled to at least $10.8 trillion since the Bush days came into play. We are funding foreign countries and wars when our senior citizens here can hardly afford food and medicine.

I'll bet you live in a fine home, have a good job and no worries because Republicans are the rich looking after the rich.

Have you lost a loved one in the war? You must have been asleep like Rip Van Winkle.

Clinton made a moral mistake, but he certainly ran the country well.

Maggie Alston
Greensboro

As the state legislature works through the ominous process of building the state's budget, let us not stoop to using the proposed home transfer tax as a means to generate additional revenue.

Yes, the state has critical needs. Always has. Always will. We can find a way to meet these needs without taxing homeownership.

Homeowners, individually and collectively, are the very reason we have such a high quality of life in North Carolina. Homeownership means strong families, strong communities and strong economies.

The proposed home tax would force homeowners to pay one percent on the price of their home when they sell their property. That's $2,000 on a $200,000 house.

This home tax would single out one group of citizens (those choosing to sell their homes) to pay for infrastructure and services that benefit everyone. These are not newcomers but current residents who have been paying property taxes already.

This home tax is not fair. Simply put, it's a bad idea. This is one legislator who will vote "no" on taxing our homeowners in this state. I hope my colleagues in the legislature will join me.

To learn more about this important issue, people can visit the Web site www.itsabadidea.org.

Jerry C. Dockham
Denton

The writer represents the 80th House District, Davidson County.

Regarding "Congressional mailings run $1 million" (June 5):

The Associated Press reported no bulk mail spending by Rep. Howard Coble. But, he did mail me several boilerplate nonresponses to e-mails I'd sent him on such things as support for the arts, public radio, sex education and other issues he does not want to deal with.

Coble or his staff could have responded to my e-mails with an e-mail back to me, but it's certainly easier to slip a form letter into the mail -- and at our expense, too.

Mark Gottsegen
Climax

The following quotes are in response to Steve Kroll-Smith's quotes in his letter (May 30):

"… We are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line" (President Bill Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998).

"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear, we want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program" (President Clinton, Feb. 18, 1998).

"Iraq is a long way from here, but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face" (Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Feb. 18, 1998).

"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology, which is a threat to the countries in the region, and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process. The responsibility of the United States in this conflict is to eliminate weapons of mass destruction, minimize the danger to our troops and to diminish the suffering of the Iraqi people" (Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Dec. 16, 1998).

Robert Flowers
Summerfield

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Janet Tharpe

In response to Judy Stierand's Counterpoint, "Rude behavior from so-called Christians," I would like to say that I'm sorry she felt demeaned by the Christians who booed her at the homeowners' association meeting. Perhaps there was a more respectful way to tell her that the Constitution does not protect her from the sight of plastic reindeer (or a plastic creche, for that matter), and a more diplomatic way to object to her attempt to stamp out Christmas.

In answer to her question, "Is there a day for Muslims?": In Muslim countries, I expect there are several. The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah has always been observed alongside Christmas in the month of December.

As for the other "more than 365 religions" she mentions, I am quite sure that if they each took a day to decorate the entrance to her subdivision, it would be hailed as great, open-minded multiculturalism. But, let a Christian try to put up a Christmas decoration and the same minds would slam shut faster than a screen door in a high wind.

The point is that Christmas is both a Christian holiday and an American one. In fact, the first "American" Christmas was held on board a ship bound for the Jamestown colony.

We have chosen, as a nation, to make the birth of Jesus a holiday, and no matter how it has been secularized with everything from Santa Claus to Mistletoad, the singing Christmas frog, it is still the Christ Mass we celebrate every Dec. 25.

Finally, I would like to tell Stierand there is proof that God exists, and she's made a good start to getting to know Him by dumping the doctrine. All she needs to do now is to ask Him and He'll reveal Himself to her. Furthermore, I respectfully disagree that men have not found heaven or hell. Untold millions have found one or the other but failed to return with a report since it was a one-way trip.

And, as for Christmas, I thank God that we still live in a country where Christians can celebrate legally and publicly.

However, should the world strip away every vestige of the holiday celebration, it would find, like old Mr. Grinch, that Christmas would come anyway. For, it's not about all this "stuff" we find to disagree about, but about God's gift of love and redemption sent to us in his Son Jesus Christ. Our Christian charity may be found lacking, but never His.

I thank you for respecting my opinion, and I hope you will consider the facts.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Marilyn Wolf

Peter Brown misses the point in his column, "Edwards' 'everyman' image cracks" (Ideas, June 3).

True, John Edwards is walking a thin line. He denounces the inequalities between the rich and poor and then buys $400 haircuts, lives in a $6 million estate, and still tries to represent the average guy.

He's trying to have it both ways. But we can't have it both ways either. We can't expect our presidential candidates to be wealthy enough to spend millions of their own dollars on their campaigns and then act like they're not rich.

We don't criticize candidates for spending enough money on their campaigns to feed, clothe and educate hundreds of Americans, but jump on them with both feet if they spend too much money on their personal lifestyles.

Why has Brown singled Edwards out? He doesn't like where Edwards' financial support comes from -- rich people. Does he think Edwards can raise the kind of money he needs from groups like Goodwill Industries and the Salvation Army? The poor people Edwards is determined to help can't afford to contribute to his campaign. So what should he do? Run a campaign on a shoestring so he can be more like the people he wants to represent?

Maybe everyone is picking on Edwards because he is willing to address the uncomfortable issue of what to do about the poor in this country. But because Edwards is not poor himself and spends money like a rich person, Brown, like many others, suggests that he can't be genuine in his beliefs.

If Edwards agreed to drop the issue of the poor from his platform, would we like him better? If he were to say, "You're right. I live like a rich guy, so who am I to care about the poor?" -- would we find him more desirable?

Edwards wants to win. So does Clinton, Obama, Giuliani and McCain. Are we critical of the sources of their financial support? Have we checked to see how much they're spending on clothes, manicures, and other personal things? Do we criticize them for how they live?

The obvious answer is, "No, because they're not raving and ranting about the poor."

So, I guess we'd rather have a presidential candidate who doesn't care about the poor. Or perhaps just one who cares about the poor but lacks the financial means to win and do something about it.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

I read with great interest the Counterpoint by Charlie Abourjillie (May 25). I looked back to the original front-page story (May 20). It stated, "Did one prankster or a group of students ignite the first flame? Maybe a bitter teacher is to blame. Or a school visitor who slipped unseen into Room 221, next to the stairwell off the upstairs hall."

Does the News & Record think so little of the Eastern Guilford staff or teachers that it would allow such an insinuation to be printed?

I am insulted and incensed by this affront to reputable journalists as well as dedicated teachers. At the very least, the News & Record owes the staff of Eastern Guilford a public apology. At such time as an arrest is made, a true news story can be written.

John L. York
Sandy Ridge

In response to Jo-Ann Peck's letter (May 31), I would like to say she and the others in this neighborhood bickering over some decorations need to see how silly they are.

First, we as Christians are not told in Scriptures to celebrate Jesus' birth. We are told to proclaim his death until he comes (1 Corinthians 11:26). Most Christians won't follow this plain Biblical teaching when they meet.

As for taking prayer out of school, Christians never should have been alarmed because parents have the right to home school. Then, you can pray all you want. Scripture says for fathers to bring their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Instead of wasting money on decorations and making Wal-Mart richer, take the money and be good stewards. Do what Jesus told us: Give to the poor and needy. Samaritans Purse, World Vision and other Christian organizations do a lot for the starving around the world in Christ's name. Or give to Answers in Genesis, responsible for the new creation museum that refutes evolution.

Let's quit "straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel."

Thomas Johnson
Reidsville

Why hasn't the government enforced the 1986 law regulating illegal border crossings?

Why are illegal immigrants allowed to protest anywhere, any time? Freedom of speech allowed by our Constitution applies only to American citizens.

Why are babies born to illegal immigrants allowed to become American citizens? Why punish Border Patrol officers for doing their jobs?

Once, we were America. Once, we made the laws. Once, we could enforce them. Why not now?

This is our country. Speak our language, follow our laws and customs or go home. If you want to be a citizen, do it the right way.

Marilyn Gideon
Greensboro

The June 5 edition of Inside Scoop contained the following tongue-in-cheek comment: "Who needs constitutionally enshrined principles separating church and state, anyhow?"

Please note this is not a constitutionally enshrined principle. The phrase "separation of church and state" is derived from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to a group identifying themselves as the Danbury Baptists.

Related to this issue, the First Amendment to the Constitution simply states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

It is widely accepted that the writer's original intention was to prevent the government from mandating a national religion that would require everyone to be Catholics, or Lutherans, or Baptists, etc. So, it was intended to preserve freedom of religion. The phrase "separation of church and state" has been tossed around so much that people believe it is part of the Constitution. It is often misused by groups attempting to remove any and all aspects of Christianity from American public life.

Frank Bell
Summerfield

The residents at Reedy Fork Ranch have always been told that the school will be named Reedy Fork Elementary. There have been billboards on Highway 29 for months stating this fact. I have lived there for four years and the name has never been an issue.

Ronald McNair is a great man, but he has other honors in Greensboro. The school should not be named after any individual.

Reedy Fork Ranch developer Starmount donated the land for the school, and this should be taken into account.

Michelle Laws
Greensboro

While I applaud the state's efforts to enforce the seat-belt (Click It or Ticket) laws (more than 9,843 tickets were issued at more than 4,000 checkpoints statewide), I wonder why people are allowed to ride in the backs of pickup trucks with no restraints. The driver and his passenger inside must wear seat belts. The people riding in the back do not have seat belts.

This was brought to my attention recently as I rode on I-40, in four lanes of traffic, bumper-to-bumper. A pickup truck with the driver and his passenger strapped in their seat belts passed me. I noticed that the children and a dog in the back of the truck were not restrained. I thought: There goes death on wheels. If the driver had to make a quick stop or swerve, the children could be thrown out and killed instantly. They could not survive a serious accident. What seat-belt law protects the children?

Pollard Stanford
Greensboro

How much longer can the sane world permit the horror that constitutes daily life for the people of Darfur? First, the Sudanese military and their cutthroats, the janjaweed, bomb the villages; then they kill the remaining men, gang-rape the women and do what they will with the children. This genocide has been going on for four years. Aid groups estimate that 400,000 human beings have been slaughtered and another 2.5 million driven from their homes, cast to the winds or refugee camps.

What to do? Although sanctions and divestment can slow Khartoum's architects of the final solution for Darfur, something has to occur on the ground now. The Bush administration and the drowsing European Union must pressure the Sudanese government to admit the 22,000 soldiers authorized as a peacekeeping force by the United Nations. This has to happen fast. Almost half of all Darfurians have been killed or uprooted. A gradual approach to the bloodlust of the Sudanese government will lead to extinction for most of the rest.

Michael Gaspeny
Greensboro

I encourage Jo-Ann Peck (letter, "Christians are now a persecuted majority," May 31), and others who agree with her to re-read that letter but substitute non-Christian or nonbeliever at every point where Christian is stated. Perhaps they will then understand the importance of respect for minority opinion. This basic principle upon which our country was founded is in no way persecution of the majority.

Tom Rafferty
Summerfield

I want to commend the Starmount Co., its board of directors and the Benjamin family for their recent decision to forgo a request for rezoning of the property between Green Valley Road and East Avondale on the south side of West Friendly from low-density residential to general office. Starmount, in my experience, has always been a responsible developer. This request, which would have breached the natural barrier of Friendly Avenue for commercial development and placed the Junior League in a difficult position, was not in keeping with that reputation.

At the same time, my committee, Save Our Neighborhoods, and the Starmount Forest/Hamilton Lakes neighborhood must be vigilant in following the progress of donation to the Junior League and of the remaining area to a suitable nonprofit. The process of rezoning and donation raises many questions.

For instance, what happens if rezoning occurs -- and the Junior League finds it cannot afford to renovate the house? Or if the city declines to accept the park and no suitable nonprofit can be found to accept the parkland? Or, having acquired the rezoning that it originally wanted, Starmount changes its mind and donates neither tract?

Jerry Weston
Greensboro

The concept of an "education" lottery sounded like a great idea. However, I didn't support the lottery because I believed the funds would go back into the pockets of the government and administrators. I like to be right, but this time I hoped to be wrong.

I found out recently that the special reading teachers at Irving Park Elementary, who exemplify excellence, have lost their jobs due to "lack of funding." Where are the funds from this billion-dollar lottery? I'm sure the combined incomes of Mrs. Chumbley and Mrs. Kreger pale in comparison to what the Guilford County administrators make who made this ridiculous decision.

My son came to Irving Park during his third-grade year reading below grade level. He ends his fourth-grade year reading on grade level due to the combined efforts of Mrs. Chumbley and Mrs. Kreger. Would he have obtained this without their help? Probably not, because they specialize in this area.

I know the funds are there. If you look hard enough I'm sure you'll find someone's pockets bulging with a raise, extravagant lunches and dinners, "education" conferences, etc. Unfortunately, those someones aren't the men and women educating our children.

Paula Wilder
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Charlie Patterson

In response to Fred Burke's recent Second Opinion article (May 30) regarding the location of the ACC Hall of Champions:

I think it is important to note, as he pointed out, that the NCAA Hall of Fame is indeed located in downtown Indianapolis, not far from an IMAX theater, the RCA Dome (Colts, Final Fours and numerous other big-time events) which are also located in downtown Indianapolis.

In addition, there are a number of other tourist/visitor attractions in that downtown area. Unless we move our coliseum downtown, Indianapolis is not the same situation as Greensboro.

A year ago, a private fundraising study for the proposed ACC Hall was conducted and potential major donors were asked about the location of the facility. Those interviewed overwhelmingly liked the Canada Dry (coliseum) location over downtown. They saw that location as one already attracting thousands of visitors to Greensboro versus downtown, which hopes to attract visitors.

But it should be noted that many of those potential donors asked, "Why not Charlotte, Atlanta or Washington?"

So, while Greensboro debates, discusses and sits on the $2 million in state funds already available to us, let's hope leaders in one of those other cities don't decide they want the Hall, as they would "just do it" because it would be good for them.

Could the city present a proposal to the Canada Dry property owners to consider a tax-advantage bargain sale (combination gift/sale), so together we can move on and do something good for Greensboro before some other city decides "to just do it"?

The writer lives in Greensboro.

The best suggestion in a long time is Irwin Smallwood's ambitious idea (News & Record, May 30) that we dismantle the facade of Memorial Stadium and rebuild it brick by brick as the entrance to the Greensboro Coliseum parking lot where it would serve as a public and proper reminder of the military heroes who have died in wars serving their country. The elegant facade should live on, not crumble and fade away through disregard and neglect as it surely will if left where it is.

Charles Young
Greensboro

I lifted my 5-year-old son up the other day so he could put the recyclable garbage in the right container. He got excited and animatedly chatted as he threw it and watched it tumble in. But then I began to wonder if others were also recycling.

I write this letter to encourage all restaurants to recycle. Which restaurants are recycling? Which restaurants are encouraging patrons to recycle?

I re