News-Record.com

My mother always said, "You are known by the people you associate with." I am glad to see John Edwards associating with Nelson Johnson, a known and admitted communist.

Coincidence?

Joe Wade
Oak Ridge

Editor’s note: Nelson Johnson calls himself a former communist.

As the July 4 holiday approaches, I would like to remind all Americans what the Independence Day holiday is all about.

Our forefathers, many years ago, with great courage, brought forth a document declaring independence, freedom and a will for peace. It was founded in and by "In God we trust." It was not founded on Buddha, Muhammad, etc.

God gave us America, and God can take it away at any time.

Please, fellow Americans, remember our roots. Take pride in America and don't forget to thank God for America.

William A. Long Jr.
Randleman

In reply to Francine DiMicele's letter (June 26) requesting clarification of requirements when a vaccinated pet encounters a potentially rabid animal, the following is from the North Carolina Manual for Rabies Prevention and Animal Bite Management (April 2007):

When the local health director reasonably suspects that a dog or cat has been exposed to the saliva or nervous tissue of a proven rabid animal or animal reasonably suspected of having rabies that is not available for lab diagnosis, the dog or cat is considered exposed to rabies and shall be destroyed immediately by its owner, the county ACO or a peace officer unless the dog or cat has been vaccinated against rabies in accordance with this Part and the rules of the Commission more than three weeks prior to being exposed and is given a booster dose of rabies vaccine within three days of the exposure. As an alternative to destruction, the dog or cat may be quarantined at a facility approved by the local health director for a period up to six months.

Linda East
Greensboro

The writer is a veterinarian.

Citizens, beware. In a few months you will be asked to pass millions of dollars in bonds. Every individual should ask their state representative to pass a law that requires cities and counties to have a beginning and ending date on all bonds. All bonds have to be used exactly for what they were voted in for, and all cities and counties should be required to reduce taxes equal to the tax increase or greater at the end of the bond. Each department head should be held responsible for seeing the bonds are used properly.

Now is the time to vote no on all bonds until something is done to keep the county commissioners and city council in check. Home and business owners are in the process of having a tax increase to pay for bonds that were passed when we were told a tax increase would not be necessary. Support a business-run government and not a giveaway government.

You work hard all your life and live on a fixed income. Any increase in retirement is eaten up by taxes to pay for excessive spending by the local politicians. Trim the fat.

Buddy Cato
Greensboro

The column by Charles Davenport, "Schools must return to basics to succeed" (June 24), left me questioning several of his points. Accusing public education of being a "failure by any objective standard" is a harsh statement. Further, criticism of Guilford County Schools' budget and their programs is not entirely substantiated.

When meaningfully analyzing Terry Grier's quote, "developing a culture where our employers identify with and understand the feelings of our students and parents and their colleagues," one relevant point needs to be established. Schools are expected to create positive learning environments where all stakeholders, from parents to employees, work toward a common goal. Without the right environment, learning is curtailed.

There is a need to integrate students from various income levels, cultures and backgrounds. Teachers don't control this variable. They adjust to it and accept it as a reality. GCS Connects is a program designed to promote trusting relationships. Students being suspended and repeatedly failing in school contribute to delinquency.

More value placed on programs designed to integrate and not isolate is to everyone's benefit. I firmly believe the majority of citizens value what teachers do to help students be successful.

Jennifer Burnett
Greensboro

Regarding the June 27 column by Joseph R. Bag O'Doughnuts III, anyone writing such a scathing attack on the value of social workers in public schools should have the courage to use his real name.

However, I agree with his point that public schools should not have to provide services that are the responsibility of parents, local governmental social agencies, etc.

Frankly, with tax rates increasing regularly in both the city of Greensboro and Guilford County, at some point we need to step back and examine just what the role of government should be today.

For example, why do we need to expand the zoo section of the Natural Science Center when the fine North Carolina Zoo is only 40 minutes away?

But I do want to say to Mr. O'Doughnuts that the schools need more resources to teach little Johnny to read. Therefore, I encourage him and others to volunteer to assist.

Communities in Schools' Great Leaps Reading Program has been very effective in improving the reading and comprehension ability of primary grade children in our community. So step up and be part of the solution.

Keith Hoile
Greensboro

Leave Lorraine Ahearn wherever she is, Georgia, Florida, Mexico or Canada. The comments relating to the local school system by Joseph R. Bag O'Doughnuts III were the most agreeable piece of writing I've seen in the News & Record ever.

The school system wasn't meant to be a social club but an educational facility. Learning to deal with life is as important as math and English. Forget trying to fit everyone into the same mold and allow the cream to rise to the top. If children don't want to learn, behave and contribute to society, send them home and let them go find a job somewhere.

For years now, the school system has been lowering the standards so everyone can pass and everybody can be happy. Guess what? The real corporate world is a bit different, and the children might as well become acclimated to it in school rather than later.

Bag O'Doughnuts has written more truth in Ahearn's column in one writing than she ever has.

Charles C. Lane
McLeansville

Seven years of Bush, five years of war, 19 months of greed, idiocy and mayhem to go (unless martial law extends the Bush-Cheney regime indefinitely).

Stem-cell research was dealt another blow this month. The number of Iraqi dead is unknown but possibly 100 times that of American soldiers and contractors. Any pre-election withdrawal stunt will result in a dramatic rise in civilian deaths.

Remember Nixon's 1972 withdrawal while bombing escalated in North Vietnam? The 14 American soldiers who died in one day last week would have been big news four years ago. As constant violence inures us to this tragedy, the Middle East-Mesopotamia debacle spirals into a bloodbath.

The Democrats lack all conviction -- they will wait on 2008.

Howard Zinn calls for people's impeachment hearings to "bypass Congress and restore power and sanity to our government." Zinn quotes from the Declaration of Independence: "Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends (life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness), it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it and institute new government."

There will be a people's impeachment hearing in Greensboro on July 15.

James Quinn
Greensboro

Recently, Peter Fessel criticized the Vermont secessionists (letter, June 24) and stated that one foundation of his political philosophy is that "our union is indivisible." Reworded, his philosophy is: "We are all enslaved to one another."

Apparently Fessel abhors the American Revolution, which was secession from Great Britain. Or perhaps he admires it but somehow believes, contradictorily, that Vermonters have no right of secession from America as Americans had a right of secession from Great Britain.

In any case, he repudiates some of the founding ideas of this country, which are that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed and that when government becomes destructive of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it.

I ask Mr. Fessel: Of what value is a union held together only by the point of a gun? Would a marriage held together in like manner be desirable? Only tyrants value such unions because it means, for them, power and profit from those whom they shackle to themselves.

Should Vermont actually secede, I hope that Fessel, at least, will not, like Lincoln, demand the murder of those with whom he desires union.

Paul Elledge
Greensboro

Kudos to Jason Hardin for his article concerning the disappearance of trees in Guilford County (June 24).

Let me begin by stating that I'm not a "tree hugger." However, it is sad to drive around this county and see forest and rural areas turned into more unneeded housing developments. I think that corporations should look into the redevelopment of existing unused properties like what Lowe's and Wal-Mart did with the old Kmart and Carolina Circle Mall properties.

Citizens should not look for any help from most of the zoning commission, city council or county commissioners. They are just rubber stamps for any developer that comes before them with a rezoning request.

As a "veteran" of several hearings before these "deities," I am winless. Anyone seeking local political office should think of running on a land conservation platform. I think a lot of frustrated voters would support a candidate who would strike a balance between conservation and development.

Or, if the politicians who are now in office would read Hardin's article or bother to listen at these hearings, maybe they could grow some spines along with some trees.

Keivin Smith
Greensboro

Now that "SICKO," Michael Moore's new "comedy about 45 million people with no health care in the richest country on Earth" has opened, I am more and more convinced that our health care system is truly sick, over-run with profit motives that, like aggressive cancers, are waiting to eat us alive.

I urge all of us to adopt a justice-oriented approach toward the debate on reforming the health care system. Using this lens, our goal is to create a health care system that works for equity in health, not merely creating insurance for the uninsured.

To do this, we must be willing to advocate for change of the for-profit machine that runs our health care system, including not only the industries involved (pharmaceutical, insurance, biotech, device manufacturers), but also the health care workforce (physicians, administrators).

Other solutions, watered down to attack symptoms, to appeal to potential voters, and to appease the corporate interests funding the politicians and feeding the doctors, simply will not do.

Anthony Fleg
Chapel Hill

Guilford County schools administration is proposing to cut 40 of 62 social workers to address next year's budget shortfall. This misguided plan will lessen Guilford County's economic development prospects.

Social worker professionals are essential to our investment in desirable education results. A better workforce requires that our students find identity, meaning, and purpose in life through connections to the community.

School social workers operate as a link between school, the students, their families, and the community's social services. They work with students in their homes and in their schools and focus on family and community factors that influence their performance in school.

If the board of education chooses to eliminate social workers, negative results are guaranteed. Some will likely include: increases in the number of school dropouts, worse coordination of agency services for students and their families, and cutbacks on strategies to prevent school violence.

If we shortchange students from a complete schooling experience, our community's economic development potential is weakened.

H. Nolo Martinez
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint

By Earle Bower

Charles Davenport Jr.'s column, "Schools must return to basics to succeed" (June 24), is right on the mark.

When core values of the school system are diversity, empathy and equality, you know we're in serious trouble. As Davenport suggests, the emphasis should be on reading, writing and arithmetic. I'd suggest geography, history and science as well.

In getting back to basics, computers and cell phones should be sharply restricted in schools. Computer use should be limited to students who have demonstrated proficiency in the basics. It should be a reward for performance, not a substitute teaching aid.

A recent study showed that for high school students, 40–50 calls or text messages daily was considered light usage. Heavy usage was over 120 messages per day. That's over 7 calls per hour or more than one every 10 minutes during the waking hours. Some students text messaged friends across the room in class.

No student needs a cell phone in class. They should be left in lockers or turned in to the administrative office each morning. Students who need to make a call could retrieve their phone, make a call from that office, and then return it.

It would also be beneficial for students to do research in a library, as opposed to using Wikipedia. The student would learn a good deal more that way than by clipping an article from an internet source.

If the school system can't deliver on the fundamentals, it must go back to basics.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

Is it any mystery how and why the United States is on the road to destruction? When does logic permit the proposed payment of $1 million to an individual who has been charged with a crime, placed on probation, who has violated this probation, and been sent to jail for this violation, to tell about her "jail experiences"? And this proposed payment to be made to someone who least needs the money.

I would suspect anyone who has committed a crime and been placed in jail would gladly tell their "story" for $1 million. Besides, who cares about Paris Hilton? She would do us all a favor if she would take her money and disappear from the face of the earth. When is enough going to be enough?

I would rather use this money to bring our soldiers home. One more soldier lost is one more too many.

Keith Ebbs
Greensboro

Ann Coulter would benefit from an old fashioned remedy. Many years ago, adults had a dramatic deterrent to manage what came out of the mouths of children. On the occasion of any inappropriate language and utterances, a dose of soap to the mouth quickly got the attention of the offender, indelibly imprinting on the individual's memory that there are consequences for inappropriate language.

For wishing that presidential candidate John Edwards would be killed by terrorists, for making fun of the loss of the Edwards' son in a tragic car accident, and for the myriad tasteless attacks that have emerged from the mouth of this so-often misinformed news-hag, Ann Coulter (and indeed, most of American society) would benefit from a strong organic flush through that vehicle of vehemence she calls her mouth.

Joseph Saldarini
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Dave Holland

Regarding your June 25 Monday Clipper, "The rules of the road":

By using the word "rules" several times before mentioning that these are actually "tips," you mislead the reader into thinking these are rules of law.

Also, your use of the terms "driver" and "bicyclist" are not clarified. Your statement"“while drivers have to share the road" applies to all drivers of every type of vehicle.

Some of the bicycle rules/guides/tips you posted are not the law but an incorrect interpretation of the law.

Your tip No. 1 (the law applies equally to all vehicle drivers) contradicts tips 4 and 5. The idea that a bicyclist should "give way" to a vehicle giving an audible signal is very misleading. The bicyclist isn't required to yield any more than any other vehicle. A passing vehicle is required to signal every vehicle it passes on a two-lane road, and every vehicle being overtaken is required to not impede the passing vehicle.

The N.C. Department of Transportation DMV states the correct information as follows:

"A bicyclist staying to the right in their lane is accommodating the following drivers by making it easier to see when it is safe to pass, and easier to execute the pass. Drivers wishing to pass a bicyclist may do so only when there is abundant clearance and no oncoming traffic is in the opposing lane. When passing a bicyclist, always remember the bicyclist is entitled to the use of the full lane."

Additional laws that may apply are for slow-moving vehicles. Also note that the driver of any vehicle should have a clear view of 500 feet ahead to overtake another vehicle.

For more insight into the problem of misleading information from NCDOT visit http://humantransport.org/bicycledriving/library/lawguide_critique.pdf.

Everyone needs to read, understand and obey the law. The roads are open to many legal forms of vehicular and pedestrian transportation.

The writer lives in Browns Summit.

Shame on the Board of Education for not knowing its own rules and practices and subsequently creating the controversy surrounding the naming of the elementary school in Reedy Fork.

Shame on the board for criticizing citizens who showed up that night to speak.

And shame on everyone who was for or against the name solely because of race.

I am not surprised at the condition of Guilford County schools now that I have observed the condition of the Board of Education.

Justin Pond
Greensboro

Regarding Lorraine Ahearn's column June 28 ("Modest proposal: First, lay off the social workers"):

We need to address the learning needs of the whole child. Consequently, more than classroom instruction is needed to attend to the academic, social, emotional and metal health deficits of our students.

Firing student support staff, school social workers, psychologists, counselors, exceptional children's specialists and nurses will certainly save money, but will it enable Guilford County schools to achieve excellence?

Without this support, the teacher turnover rates in North Carolina schools will remain high; student dropout rates will hover around 30 percent; unmet health and mental health needs, estimated by some to be 10-20 percent of the school population, will seriously inhibit students' ability to "read, write, add and subtract"; and the critical student social skills required to productively join the American labor force after graduation will remain dysfunctional.

Consequently, poverty, prisons, poor health and mental illness win. Children and families lose.
Guilford County Schools' social work program is viewed as a model by many school districts in our state, due in large part to its excellent leadership and the support of its superintendents and school board members. Why dismantle it now?

Gary L. Shaffer, Ph.D.
Chapel Hill

The writer is an associate professor and school social work coordinator, UNC-CH School of Social Work.

The infrastructure and resource challenges outlined in "States should plan now for surging population" (letter, Brian A. Roth, June 28) have a root cause:

"Population growth is the primary source of environmental damage." (Jacques Cousteau, French oceanographer)

Moreover:
"U.S. population growth is 95 percent driven by foreign immigration, which is discretionary, chosen by Congress. Cap annual U.S. immigration at about 300,000 and in time the nation's population growth stops. And North Carolina growth problems then become very small, i.e., relocating Americans from a stabilized national population." (Otis L. Graham, immigration historian, professor emeritus, UC-Santa Barbara)

To preserve North Carolina's quality of life, citizens and their representatives must confront the elephant in the environmental room, high rates of immigration: Each year 1 million legal immigrants and 880,000 illegal aliens take up residence in the U.S.
That's because on immigration Congress has for decades heard exclusively from narrow interests — business and ethnic.

NumbersUSA and the Federation for American Immigration Reform are broad-based groups that are helping lawmakers see the elephant.

Tom Shuford
Lenoir

The Peace and Social Concerns Committee of Friendship Friends Meeting concurs with the Parents and Citizens for Truth in Recruiting that high school students and parents need to be made more aware of their rights to withhold personal contact information from military recruiters.

A 30-day period after school starts is a short period to allow for such requests, especially when so few students and parents even know of the requirement in the No Child Left Behind Act.
At a minimum, students and parents should be notified immediately after school starts that their phone numbers and addresses will be made available to military recruiters unless the student or parent requests annually that this information be withheld. Also, the student should be given specific information on how to make such a request.

The commanding officer for recruiting in North Carolina says he is concerned that students will graduate from high school without knowing anything about the military. This seems unlikely when our society is permeated with such news regularly.

If it is becoming necessary to reach into such young ages, a better solution to the recruiting shortage would be to withdraw our troops from places where we are overcommitted.

Marilyn White
Greensboro

I was totally disgusted by the front page story on June 30 concerning scholarships awarded by the N.C. Legislative Black Caucus Foundation. It doesn't take a rocket scientist or multiple committees to figure out that giving scholarships to family members of the officers of an organization is an ethics issue. To hide behind the need to "wait on advice from the legislature's joint ethics committee" is a cop-out, plain and simple. The only reason you need some committee to draft rules is so you can see just how close to the line you can operate.

I'm a proud member of the Summit Rotary Club. We give multiple youth scholarships every year and one of our most basic requirements is that a recipient not be the child of a Rotarian, plain and simple. We also send youth on cultural exchanges to other countries and again, a recipient can't be a Rotarian.

I've got a suggestion for every North Carolina political leader, foundation officer/member or anyone else concerned about ethical behavior; adopt Rotary's four-way test for all you say and do; is it the truth; is it fair to all concerned; will it build good will and better friendships; and will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Ask those four simple questions and you will have gone a long way toward resolving the need for ethics committees and the like.

Steele Smith
Jamestown

Yes, yes and yes! Finally, the subject is being addressed seriously. I know elderly people who are not taking all their meds because they cannot afford it even under the new Medicare "Plan." I know wives who have full time jobs instead of staying home with their children in order to have insurance for their families because their husband is self-employed and cannot afford to buy health for the family. I am on my way to see "Sicko" tonight. Go Dennis Kucinich and Michael Moore!

Mary Mondon
Greensboro

May I congratulate you on the editorial cartoon in the June 28 paper? This cartoon was a stroke of genius. I wonder how many readers picked up on the great similarity between this and one of the first scenes from the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey?"

The difference between us and our understanding of present day technology is as great as the vast gulf between the ape throwing the bone into the air and the rocket it became would have been to the apes of that time. In fact, much of our behavior and understanding is in line with that of the ape's.

John W. Taylor
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint

By Mary McCandless

Thank you, Sen. Burr, for trying to legislate by voting for more debate on the immigration bill.
And thank you for voting against the final bill when it was evident that the power brokers were not going to allow for meaningful amendments to this "compromise" legislation.

The American people have a crisis in confidence, doubting that our leaders -- congressional, judicial and administrative -- will enforce the laws already on the books. Sen. Kennedy's last immigration legislation let in 12 million-plus illegal immigrants.

The administration has prosecuted and imprisoned our border guards for doing their jobs. It "allows" employers to hire illegals. It likes the "extra" money coming into Social Security (when it is paid) that will not be claimed in the future by illegals. The Congress has failed to pay to build the border fences already approved in existing law. The Justice Department fails to deport those illegals it does prosecute.

All this leads to overcrowded schools, collapsing emergency rooms, declining wages, and an American public that is mad and not going to take it anymore.

Which does not excuse those who called and were rude, threatening, and menacing to our elected leaders -- they serve us, but we can't abuse them. I talked with one (unpaid) intern on the Hill who said they cried about the hateful calls they received. There is no excuse for incivility. How will we ever get decent people to serve us if we treat them so?

And why are our religious leaders silent on this issue? I have yet to hear a sermon on how we should proceed on this pressing issue. What would Jesus do about the foreigner in our midst? Forgiveness is another form of "amnesty," and the Good Samaritan in all of us needs to find the compassion (and compromise) needed to solve this problem.

The writer lives in Winston-Salem.

Photo by H. Scott Hoffmann / News & Record

I refer to the photo of "impalas' in the June 27 edition. Please note that these are in fact Thomson's gazelles.

Erik Tasseron
Ruffin

A visiting South African

I urge my neighbors in Greensboro and the Triad to consider the ramifications if we do not prepare for the "population tsunami" that is coming to North Carolina in the next 25 years. Think about the growing pressure on our schools, transportation systems, sewage systems, and housing -- and most of all, on our water and natural areas.

When I contemplate what makes our state so beautiful and livable, I am immediately drawn to our rivers, streams, forests, farms, scenic vistas, parks, and historic places that are so unique and precious. These places need special protection during this time of unprecedented growth.
It is unthinkable what will become of our state if we do not invest in these places that matter so much to all of us.

I am urging my legislators to allow us all to vote on a bond that pays for this crucial investment, and I hope you will join me. We must encourage them to stay in Raleigh until they have agreed to invest in protecting our water and land, and to get ready for what’s coming.

www.landfortomorrow.org

Carolyn Allen
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint column.

By Paula Pile

My husband and I watched Michael Moore's new movie "Sicko" with some excitement, only to be disappointed for a couple of reasons. I think that his heart was in the right place, but he missed the boat at least twice.

Moore produced a long segment on managed-care companies and their huge compensation packages. What he did not address as adequately was their impact on health care providers. I have been a panel member for several managed health care companies for more than 12 years and none of their reimbursement rates have gone up in over those years.

The N.C. State Employees Health plan decided to offer its members an option of one of two managed health care plans. The amount of reimbursement to the mental health care providers was reduced by roughly one-third. This means my pay for treating these patients was one-third less than it was one year ago. Most people in the private sector would not be happy with no raises in over 12 years and, in fact, a reduction of income due to fewer people with indemnity plans and the need for more secretarial help to do the massive amount of paper work required.
Moore's segment on the Cuban health care system was very inaccurate.

He missed out on an opportunity to deal with how our blockade has hurt the Cubans' access to medications. I have traveled to Cuba six times on mission trips with First Presbyterian Church. We brought much-needed medications to the Cuban citizens. The churches in Cuba gave those medications to citizens in their communities under the supervision of physicians who are church members. Plenty of the dentists and physicians we have met are unable to work due to the lack of medicines and supplies that result from our embargo. We took catheter bags and sterile gloves to a hospital that had none for its doctors and patients.

All I can say is that the ailing 9/11 rescue workers Moore took to Cuba for treatment must have been seen in Fidel's hospital by his personal health care providers. This is not the situation for your typical Cuban.

The writer is a licensed marriage and family therapist who lives in Greensboro.

For the first time in 11 years, I am glad that my daddy is dead. His heart would be broken because the President of the United States has all but admitted that he is in collusion with Lewis "Scooter" Libby, and in contempt of the Congress.

My daddy, as a veteran, would have felt personally betrayed. He would be angry and ready to fight back to recover America's reputation. And, in doing so, would restore our dignity and a world order we could trust. I currently have much pessimism. I'm searching for a leader. Whom may I trust?

The Bush administration has shown itself corrupt and fetid, oozing slime over the people because it can. He is the self-proclaimed "decider" of all and everything, because he says so. We know our emperor is naked, but he parades before us daring us to do anything about his immorality and crimes against our country. Bush has commuted the sentence of his pal "Scooter" because he says it's excessive and Libby's wife has suffered long and much.
My father and uncles laid their lives on the line and also suffered long and much. They would be so ashamed that our country has sunk into this abyss.

Wait, is that fiddling I hear?

Brenda Lowe Stewart
Greensboro

I am appalled that the president has commuted the sentence of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. He is sending the message that if you have friends in high places, then the law does not apply to you. This undermines the credibility of our criminal justice system that promotes a standard of equal justice for all.

I am looking forward to the next national election where I will vote for a party that has a higher standard of integrity. In my opinion, our president has lost his moral direction.

Ann Sullivan
Liberty

So President Bush just commuted Scooter Libby's sentence because it was "too harsh." I'm trying to imagine what the fallout would have been if an active CIA agent had been outed during the Clinton administration, particularly if that outing had blatantly political overtones. The difference in reaction would have been huge.

In spite of the evidence, I had hoped that this administration's subversion of law for politics had limits. I was naive; it apparently extends to treason. Valerie Plame had associates still in the field who could have been (and probably were) exposed as agents due to her outing. Those consequences, of course, remain classified. I pray that none of our agents lost their lives over this.

I guess the cost of treason remains $250,000 and a suspended sentence — at least if you have the right boss.

Steven Taub
Greensboro

I have read your paper for something over seven decades, and even carried the evening paper for awhile. I also served as editor for several years of a civic newspaper with a 2,500 circulation. Thus, I feel fairly qualified to judge the News & Record as excellent.

The whole tone of your paper is straightforward, fair-minded and constantly improving. I am amazed sometimes about how good — even great — your captions and headlines are. The format and make-up are pleasing to the eye and well-organized. Your special features and extra sections are much appreciated.

Though I don't agree with all of them, your op-ed columns are topical and well-chosen, with pertinent comments on the city and world in which we live. Your staff writers are excellent. I particularly like your sportswriters. Ed Hardin can be flamboyant and dogmatic, but he can really write. I marvel sometimes at how well they all write on deadline.

On a more personal note, I greatly appreciate your policy of placing the paper at the front door of handicapped persons. I then begin each day by reading it pretty much beginning to end. Starting the day off right.

Dan W. Maddox
Greensboro

I would like to thank the News & Record for the affirming feature story about our mayor (July 1). It has been my privilege to be with Mayor Keith Holliday on a few occasions and have always found him to be gracious and engaging. I am sorry his schedule does not allow him to continue in this role.

I do not know anyone who loves Greensboro more than Mayor Holliday. The people of Greensboro have been very blessed these years by his leadership.

I trust many will join me in saying thank you for a job well done.

Don Miller
Greensboro

The writer is the senior pastor, Westover Church.

As a graduate student in historic preservation at UNCG, I have found the news regarding the Guilford commissioners' dismissal of the county's historic preservation specialist disturbing, to say the least.

While every local government faces difficult budgetary decisions, the action taken by the commissioners will no doubt negatively impact Guilford County's ability to protect and promote its valuable historic resources. Study after study has shown the value of historic properties in enhancing property values and sustaining local tourism, ingredients for a healthy economy.

The commissioners' action once again reinforces Guilford County's already damaged reputation among preservationists because of its callous approach to historic preservation. And while the dismissal may seem minimal or insignificant compared to other budgetary decisions, the action undermines the public's confidence in the commissioners as proper stewards of our local cultural resources.

Perhaps when elected officials finally see the obvious direct correlation historic preservation has on creating a vibrant community, more consideration will be made when making future budget cuts.

Adam Ronan
Burlington

To quote the letter of Joe Wade (July 2), "My mother always said, ‘You are known by the people you associate with.' I am glad to see John Edwards associating with Nelson Johnson, a known and admitted communist. Coincidence?"

And here's another "coincidence," Joe: George Bush invited Vladimir Putin to his family's Maine compound. Seems like more than one American is fraternizing with the enem ... er ... communists!

‘merica, beware! The communists are taking over our politicians.

Mary Coyne Wessling
Greensboro

Did you know that on our city lakes/water sheds, the City Council has decided for us that we cannot properly supervise our children under 16 in our own single person paddle boats? They have taken away our right to teach our children how to kayak/canoe independently.

Who learns how to ride a bike independently if restricted to a tandem bike until they are 16 years old? The same is true with boats. Can we look forward to no single person bikes allowed on public property (which by the way means our streets)? After all, biking is responsible for more accidents per year than kayaking.

Oh, then all of a sudden, 16-year-olds can go out with no supervision on the lakes in a boat. I'd rather supervise my kids for years -- somehow I think that's a little safer.

Karen Hanf
Summerfield

Michael Moore's movie, "Sicko," about our health care system, is excellent. I saw it. Everyone should see it. You might just want to move to Canada, England, France or Cuba afterwards.

It may seem like a dry, boring subject, but it is not. Moore did a fantastic job with this film. He is to be greatly commended. Go see it! You'll be glad you did.

Arden Kirkman
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Fran Pearson, Ellen Jones and Billie M. Pierce

On behalf of mental health and substance abuse consumers across Guilford County, we would like to thank the News & Record for the outstanding editorial on state mental health parity legislation which appeared in the June 29 edition. The author's thorough analysis of the Proposed Committee Substitute (PCS) for House Bill 973, passed by the Senate Health Committee on Wednesday, June 27, offered readers a clear understanding of the need for equity in physical health/mental health insurance along with a broader perspective on the bill's shortcomings and anticipated outcomes.

As was pointed out in the editorial, substance abuse and certain other treatment areas are slighted by the proposed policy and will present a complex set of challenges for providers in treating consumers with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. The article also noted a controversial exclusion in the requirement for small businesses to comply with the legislation.

We agree wholeheartedly with your conclusion: Although PCS House Bill 973 is not a perfect piece of legislation, it is imperative that it is enacted. Your point that "fine tuning"can take place once it is passed is well taken.

Those of us working in the mental health field appreciate your newspaper staff's efforts in promoting public awareness on policy-making decisions related to behavioral health care. Mental health parity encourages consumers to seek and maintain treatment so that they can lead happier, more productive lives. This, in turn, has a positive impact on the quality of life for all Guilford County residents.

Pearson is executive director, the Mental Health Association in Greensboro; Jones is executive director, the Mental Health Association in High Point; and Pierce is director, the Guilford Center.

I am writing regarding a cover story, "Fountain frolic" (June 28) by Donald W. Patterson, photo by H. Scott Hoffmann) regarding the sanctity of Center City Park.

We, as a growing city, cannot afford to underestimate the importance of public spaces. The photo of youngsters cooling off in the spray of Action Greensboro's precious fountains reminded me of Chicago's Millennium Park, where Anish Kapoor's "Cloud Gate" is designed to be touched, where Jaume Plensa's fountains are designed to be frolicked in -- and where hundreds of Chicagoans do so. Should not all public art be accessible?

While kids in the Center City fountains present developers with a "real headache," their use is foremost an encouraging interaction between the fabric of the city itself -- concrete, bricks, water -- and its population. Is this not the point of public art? A place of congregation is something to be cultivated, not chained off.

Save stifling restrictions for the false jungles of corporate lobbies; our parks belong to all Greensborians.

Travis Diehl
Greensboro

There used to be a time when a jihadist was proud to stand tall for his religion and was not afraid to show his face in battle. Today's jihadist skulks in the shadows and wears a ski mask.

Daniel J. Flak
Greensboro

Recently, at a gas station in Greensboro, a gentleman in his late 40s or early 50s asked for a pack of cigarettes. The attendant inquired about his date of birth before he accepted payment.

As I was paying for my gas, I (who am also decades older than 21) asked the attendant whether he would have asked me for my date of birth as well before selling me cigarettes. His response: "Yes, it's company policy," and he would not have sold me any if I hadn't told him.

I walked away, shaking my head in disbelief. Is common sense completely disappearing from our daily lives? Do companies, in their attempt to cover their "legal behinds," rule what we can or cannot buy in clear view of the obvious?

Societies seldom explode or implode upon themselves all of a sudden. There tend to be many small, seemingly innocuous, rules, policies, and/or practices that make us numb and unaware that something is going increasingly wrong with our state of affairs. Could this senseless request for our date of birth be one of those little rules?

Michael H. Hoppe
Greensboro

Recently, someone ran a stop sign in our area into the passenger side of a small car carrying an 8-month old baby boy. Thankfully, his mother escaped with minor injuries. However, paramedics had to perform CPR on the baby, who was flown to Brenner's Children’s Hospital, where he was placed on life support.

Daily we see a growing pattern of traffic violations around us. Yet, I know of a major city in another state where it's awesome to drive. There are hardly any tailgaters and most drivers stay within the speed limit. Either the people there are better drivers or their roads are better patrolled.

North Carolina is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation. We have to make accommodations for this growth, especially on our roads and highways. Some of the most repeated violations in our area are tailgating, not signaling, speeding and running stop signs. More highway patrols could help curb problems and save lives.

As the grandmother of the baby who was in the wreck, I pray that our roads are made safer so others don't have to share the same experience.

Mary Underwood
Asheboro

The story on July 1, "700 rally to put 'Jesus' in [High Point] council meetings," ended with this quote from an attendee: "We feel the ACLU is trying to deny us our rights." It is just the opposite. The ACLU is trying to protect my right -- and the right of every citizen of High Point -- to a City Council that respects our Constitution.

The First Amendment requires every government entity to remain neutral with respect to religion. Nobody's rights to pray are violated when the City Council acts in accord with our Constitution. But everyone's right to a government that does not favor any religion would be violated if those who demand that a Christian prayer be offered were to be successful.

I thank the ACLU, of which I am a proud member, for its efforts to protect all of our rights.

Ellen W. Gerber
High Point

"Readin', 'Rite-in' and 'Rithmetic." There it was in Charles Davenport's column -- that century-old phrase as a refrain throughout. The sounds of my grandfather's voice echoed. Yes, the newspaper's banner read June 24. Yet, Davenport reiterated views of someone born in the 19th century when local schools served students whose futures were much the same as parents and parents' parents.

Today, we live in an information-driven, globally connected world where economies of developing nations impact and alter markets and employment patterns.

Considering it's impossible to imagine the next five years of innovation, a narrow emphasis on readin', 'rite-in' and 'rithmetic is shortsighted and potentially crippling to youth.

The 3 R's are tools for supporting the mind's work and need repeated drill and practice throughout K-12. Diversity, empathy, equality, innovation, and integrity are states of mind that enable the future and hopefully become habits of mind.

The challenge is to do it all. Our youth need to be taught tools of thinking and multiple ways to think so they will lead the future, not mop it up. If they learn how to think they'll go beyond what they know, or their parents know, or their parents' parents know.

Patricia Gray
Jamestown

As a retired Navy man, I was happy to spend 20 years helping to keep our country free and providing the legal immigrants an opportunity to come to my country and enjoy freedom and the chance to improve.

Now with all the political correctness going on, and because we can't call illegal immigrants what they really are, criminals, I find that I have to declare if I want to use English or Spanish to withdraw money or use my credit card. Is it too much to ask that an immigrant learn our language?

James Hamilton
Greensboro

In response to Mike Pugh's quest to put prayers to Jesus back in City Council meetings ("700 Rally to put 'Jesus' in Council Meetings," July 1), Pugh and others seeking to put Jesus in a public forum should consider the words of Matthew:

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:1, 5-7, NIV)

Richard Samul
Nampa, Idaho

The dropout problem you write about is certainly not unique to North Carolina. It is a national problem, one hidden by school districts everywhere.

If not hidden, then why isn't every district publishing online its annual enrollment numbers by grade going back 20 years? Such a report, with the number of diplomas given out each year, gives the most easily available image of dropout rates.

Such a report makes it impossible to claim a 2 percent dropout rate while the number of diplomas is only half the number of ninth-grade students.

If you Google "dropout cure," the first hit is the Middle School Archive Project at www.StudentMotivation.org. This "rotating" time-capsule project encourages students to plan for their own futures.

They write a letter to themselves the last week of eighth grade about their history and their plans. They place this letter into the School Archive, a 350-pound vault bolted to the floor in the school lobby.

They know they will be invited back in 10 years to retrieve their letter and speak with the current eighth-grade class. What will they have learned in 10 years? Would they do anything differently if they were 13 again?

Bill Betzen
Dallas, Texas

Here's my question: Why do the hard working, taxpaying citizens of North Carolina have to subsidize all of the other 49 states? Could it be that all of the other states have better representation in Washington than we do? It certainly seems so to me.

According to the latest figures available, North Carolina ranks last in receiving money from Washington for pet projects. Alaska, which has about the same population as the Triad, received $l,044 per resident and North Carolina received barely $25.

Our state, which ranks among the 10 most heavily populated states, and which is growing at about 475 new people each day, deserves better. In fact, North Carolina, one of the premier states in our country, doesn't deserve to be last in anything.

So, the next time you vote for someone to represent us in Washington, let's select a person who thinks of us as first, or certainly in the top 10, not dead last.

James H. Pate
Greensboro

Just last week, while watching the national news, a big story broke on the bald eagle and its removal from the endangered species list. The story went on to warn, however, that killing the bird or tampering with its eggs still carries stiff federal penalties.

Fine. Great! So be it, whether it's the bird or some obscure mudskipper in a swamp somewhere, the cause is noble. Why then, is not the same stiff federal penalty imposed on the wholesale disposal of human eggs/fetuses through the completely immoral act of abortion?

Approximately 4,000 babies per day are killed or "tampered with," with no more forethought or afterthought than disposing of a used handkerchief. The stench of such an act reaches all the way to heaven, you can be sure, and the eternal price for murder will come due and be paid.

As a nation, we need to follow the advice of the Apostle John. Repent. Now.

Joe Hughes
Oak Ridge

This is in regard to the article, "700 rally to put Jesus in council meetings" (July 1). I think that the world would be a better place if Christians were to practice what Jesus preached. It bothers me when people twist (or ignore) his words to promote their particular agenda.

According to Matthew, Jesus said that people who pray in public are hypocrites and that when people pray they should go home, shut the door, and pray to the Father in secret.

Jesus also said, "Render unto Caesar (the government) what is Caesar's," and he warned about serving two masters.

High Point City Council member Mike Pugh says he answers to a higher power. If he really wants to follow Jesus, but not leave the government, then the first thing he should do is give his money to charity. Then he should spend the rest of his political career trying to help the poor, sick and dispossessed, and standing against war. He should also stand against the death penalty. I am pretty sure that Jesus was against torture and executions. We need separation of church and state, not public prayers.

Chuck Mann
Greensboro

After Sept. 11, rather than defeat our enemies in Afghanistan with the full force of our military power, the support of allies and world opinion, this administration chose to initiate an ill-advised, ill-planned war in Iraq. The divisiveness this created in our country can only be compared to Vietnam.

If any citizen dared question the wisdom of that war, his patriotism was "suspect" in order to stifle dissent. This can only be likened to the McCarthy era -- a shameful period in our history.

Now we are confronted with another "Watergate." This secretive, arrogant administration believes that it is above the law and accountable to no one. "Scooter" Libby will not be "Deep Throat" in this saga as his silence has been guaranteed with the president's commutation of his jail sentence. We can only hope that all the secrets of the president's men will eventually be revealed to us.

For now, I find inspiration in our history this Independence Day. Have we not yet learned our lessons from Bush/Cheney, or do we wait for a constitutional crisis before we say enough?

Carol P. Stevens
Greensboro

Slow down, please. I do not expect you to creep, just do the speed limit of 35 mph. Jefferson Road is heavily traveled with bikes, motorcycles, cars, about any kind of truck you can name (beer, soda, pickup, dump, grocery, etc.), trailers with large pieces of equipment and lawn supplies being hauled, moving vans, runners and babies being pushed in strollers.

On the straightaway going south from Friendly Road to New Garden Road, there have been auto accidents (one speeder passed the car in front of him on the right of the driver because he was going so fast he could not stop), dogs killed and injured, and the daylights scared out of me as I step off the curb to open my mailbox.

From my driveway, I have observed drivers going south down Jefferson Road run right by a stopped school bus that is letting children off who live on both sides of the road.

So, my plea is: Slow down, please. A reminder has been posted in the event you forget.

Donna Leonard
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Meredith Millard

Charles Davenport Jr.'s column, "Schools must return to basics to succeed" (June 24), had several valid points. However, I take issue with his statement that teachers don't require planning time: "Teachers have about two months of 'planning time' every year."

Davenport misses the crucial fact that teachers are paid on a 10-month basis. That's why their pay appears so low. A starting teacher with a four-year education degree, passing difficult Praxis tests and gaining teaching licensure, starts at about $28,000 annually. Since teachers work 194 days a year, at a minimum of eight hours daily, they receive about $18 hourly.

However, this is only a part of the story. Teachers routinely work 10 or more hours weekly outside of their teaching day. Gov. Mike Easley's statewide Teacher Working Conditions Survey reveals that 57 percent of teachers routinely work five to 10-plus hours weekly for free; 65 percent of Guilford County teachers work the same.

Go to any swim, soccer, football, wrestling or basketball match; you will see a person with a huge bag, grading papers. She/he should be cheering on their child, but they need the time to "plan." That off-the-books time takes their salary down to $14 an hour. No wonder there is a teacher hiring crisis.

The governor's survey reports that 68 percent of state teachers receive 0-3 hours of weekly planning time, versus 74 percent of Guilford County teachers.

"Planning time" probably includes parent/teacher meetings, collaboration with peers about specific student needs, grading papers, preparing lesson plans, photocopying and principal-called team meetings. You obviously cannot perform these duties in the summertime by yourself.

As a substitute teacher, you can count on routinely losing your "planning period" in middle/high schools, so that you can teach another class that didn't get a substitute. You write apologetic notes about why you couldn't clean up the room, grade the class work or photocopy the pile that was left for you to do.

It is commendable that teachers expend so much of their personal time for free; perhaps Davenport would like to write four columns for free (two months worth of "planning time") and see what it feels like.

On behalf of many grateful parents, thanks to all the teachers who continue to teach our children despite low pay, testing pressures, language issues, security concerns and lack of planning time.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

Back during the 1950s, Charlotte and Winston-Salem had nice golf courses for their black citizens.

When this city was asked to build a golf course for blacks, it refused. Two years later, it decided to do so.

Where did Greensboro build it? Twenty-five feet from the sewage treatment plant. From the trailer placed there to pay green fees, one could look out and see 40 or 50 piles of human sludge.

We asked the city to build a park for blacks. Where did they build it? On top of that same abandoned sewage treatment plant.

Before they built Barber Park, many black citizens were using the area between Florida and South Benbow Road and Southside Drive. It was a nice place for a picnic.

Because Barber Park is closed due to toxins in the soil, my friends and I went down there for a picnic. Tall weeds cover half of the area. Snakes, rats and other animals have infested this once-beautiful place.

We spoke with the neighbors. They said they asked the city to clean it up, but it has refused.

Enough is enough of these flagrant acts against black citizens. The next step is up to those in charge.

Hershey Crenshaw
Brown Summit

The following is a Counterpoint

By Edward Ray Hunt

Regarding your editorial (July 4) on the commuting of Lewis "Scooter" Libby's sentence by President Bush:

Your opinion stinks. Your editorials have gotten better but sometimes you sink back into the Democratic mode and lose your objectivity. It is far more honest to label such editorials as "Our Democratic Opinions" than "Our Opinions."

I would love to read one independent newspaper without a Republican or Democratic slant. Why must newspapers present only one side of an issue in their editorials? What driving force prevents them from presenting both sides? I know what you are going to say? "That is why we have Letters to the Editor." Hogwash! Such letters do not carry the force of your editorials, nor can you escape your responsibility to present independent thought.

I knew the president lacked the guts to pardon Libby. I am surprised that he found the nerve to commute his sentence. Whether the president's action was based on loyalty or politics or some other purpose, I don't know. It was correct and the righteous thing to do.

The illegality you speak of is a lie to the grand jury or an investigating officer. You supported and even defended the lie in the case of President Clinton. In fact, it was President Clinton and the Democratic Party that advocated and taught that it is OK to lie. While impeachment charges were considered, no charges were ever brought to the courts regarding his lie. You were right then. He should never have been impeached or prosecuted. You are inconsistently wrong now.

Should not our wrath be directed against special prosecutors such as Kenneth Starr in the Clinton impeachment case and Patrick Fitzgerald in this misdirected case? Like Nifong in the Duke lacrosse case, both men were out of control and cost the taxpayers millions of dollars.

They do not seek the truth but seek only to prosecute somebody. Both men lack credibility. The judge was unduly harsh in the sentence; there was absolutely no reason not to allow time for appeal, except to remove any chance of pardon. The judge was politically motivated and I hate such judiciary behavior. Our eyes are always focused on the executive and the legislative branches of our government. It is time to take a long hard look at our judiciary.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

I believe strongly that we must have limits on media consolidation. The large companies such as News Corp., General Electric, and Clear Channel are destroying the localism and diversity by focusing on their private profit motives. We must not forget the First Amendment, and if we do, we risk our freedoms and democratic way of life.

Matthew Amick
Greensboro

The earth is like a giant terrarium. There is only so much land and resources to go around.
I have always wondered when we would realize that life might be more about quality than quantity. Equilibrium for the planet is something we must understand. We should be working toward achieving a balanced ecosystem that includes humans.

I wonder how many people the Earth can sustain at the level of consumption we Americans enjoy? Why not act as though we want to continue living here? Why not use our science and technology to help us understand how many of us the Earth can support perpetually and at what common denominator quality of life?

If you place a male and female fruit fly in a milk bottle with nutrients, then close the top, in less than a month, the population will explode, food will be exhausted, and all the flies will die in their own wastes.

Unlike the fly, we have the ability to think about that kind of future.

We must manage the Earth and its limited resources to sustain a dignified life for all.

We know how, but do we realize its importance and have the selflessness and will to do it?

Chris Corry
Greensboro

Every year on the fourth day of July, we celebrate the anniversary of our nation's independence, a cause that many brave men (and boys) fought and died for against insurmountable odds. We owe our daily existence to those people, and how do we honor them? By calling the holiday "July 4th"

Everyone, I want you to think about it. The holiday is called "Independence Day" for a reason. Calling it "July 4th" takes any and all meaning out of the holiday's purpose and makes it stale and generic. Also, I believe it is incredibly disrespectful to those who gave their lives for our freedom so long ago.

Many Christians like myself have problems with "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Xmas" to describe Christmas. I see these issues to be a parallel and synonymous. This will print after Independence Day, but please try to remember next year what this holiday means and to name it accordingly. Let's celebrate independence, not a date.

Eli Oklesh
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint

By Phillip Lovell

The article, "Dropout study reveals an alarming problem" (July 3), highlights an important issue -- low graduation rates ­-- but states that it's "all but impossible" to "save" low-performing students once they're in high school if we didn't get the job done in elementary school.

This is simply not true. Thankfully, some of our leaders are working to address the needs of high schools as Congress debates the renewal of No Child Left Behind.

Nearly 2,000 of the nation's high schools produce about half of our dropouts. North Carolina has about 70 of these "dropout factories" -- high schools where the freshman class shrinks by almost half by graduation day. We know where these schools are. The question is, do we have the will to help them?

Fortunately, some of our leaders do.

Sen. Richard Burr is leading two efforts in Congress to turn the nation's dropout factories into diploma factories. The Graduate For a Better Future Act proposes to target schools that have a graduation rate of no more than 60 percent and provide them with the assistance they need to increase their graduation rate. And the Graduation Promise Act would support high school accountability and improvement systems in each state.

Yes, we can help struggling students graduate. What we can't do is let schools and politicians off the hook because it's hard and expensive. It's the only thing to do for our economy, and it's the right thing to do for our students.

The writer is vice president for education at First Focus, a bipartisan advocacy organization in Alexandria, Va.

On July 1, Allen Johnson, editorial page editor for the News & Record, reported on his participation in a gathering in Canada and, in my opinion, misrepresented the reactions of our City Council members to the Truth and Reconciliation report. I believe Johnson and the News & Record have been the main supporters of what I would dub the Half Truth and Condemnation report.

Johnson apparently told this gathering that the council did nothing regarding the report. In fact, a majority of the City Council decided after reviewing the report not to proceed with further public discussion. A decision not to engage in further discussion is a decision, whether Mr. Johnson agreed with it or not. And I don't recall a major negative reaction from the public regarding this position.

While I am sure Johnson and the News & Record, as well as a number of council people, disagreed with this position, he misstated the facts and should be ashamed for portraying Greensboro in this manner. While I don't expect an apology, the people of Greensboro should wonder about Mr. Johnson's objectivity.

John A. Mullins Jr.
Greensboro

Here in the United States there is difficulty finding physicians to witness executions of convicted capital felons, and Dr. Kevorkian even served a substantial sentence for what some would consider merciful assistance to terminally ill patients. In contrast, some Muslim physicians are masterminding terrorist plots.

While I doubt that Muslim physicians take the Hippocratic Oath, one would hope they swear to some ethical equivalent. Among fanatic physicians in that religion, the desire to rid the world of "infidels" apparently overrides both reason and ethical commitment.

Americans and the remainder of the free world, Christian or otherwise, would do well to observe and reflect upon this striking contrast as we attempt to sort out and confront the problems of our troubled world.

Robert E. Sevier, M.D.
Greensboro

Your newspaper goes further to the "left" every day. You have already started your negative Fred Thompson stories. Where are all the stories about Sen. Clinton and her questionable activities during her time in the White House? What about the 140 pardons given out by President Clinton, including real criminals such as six members of the FALN?

Every 5-4 decision by the present Supreme Court is described as a victory for the "Radical Right." When it was a 5-4 decision in the past, it was a victory for the people.

Remember, "fairness" is a two way street.

Barry E. Gauffreau
Greensboro

To those suggesting Canada's health care is great, I have news for you. I have a daughter who has lived in Canada for 30 years and has a dual citizenship. If you need to see a doctor there, you go to a clinic, which she compares to a visit to an emergency room here on a Saturday night. She just waited 18 months to have surgery for a major rotator cuff tear. They don't get in a hurry up there.

Once, she had a growth on her foot and was concerned. The doctors there would not do anything. While she was visiting me, I took her to my family doctor, who, after examining her foot, made her an appointment with a foot specialist. He recommended that a biopsy be done. She went back to Canada, told the doctor there what the American doctor said, and he immediately did a biopsy.

Oh, and by the way, the free health care is not really free. She and her husband pay a monthly fee to the government for their health care. If you want to believe "Sicko," go for it. Just keep in mind who made the movie and his purpose for making it.

Bob Herring
Liberty

Kevin Green and Matt Brown: How can anyone run for City Council at large and make claims that he will support the city of Greensboro, but take his graphic business out of state? Not only out of Greensboro and Guilford County, but out of state. That's an insult to the business community. Go figure, people.

Is this what we want leading the charge for our city? We must take back our local government.

Power to the people.

Edward Keohohou
Greensboro

For a long time, I've known that our health insurance industry has placed a priority on maximizing profits over providing legitimate health care coverage for the American people.

I've also been a supporter of universal health care for all Americans. However, after seeing "Sicko," I have a new understanding of the complete and utter failure of our current system.

I urge my elected representatives to support H.R. 676, the health care reform bill by Reps. Dennis Kucinich and John Conyers.

It is far past the time for this country to provide real health care coverage to all American citizens.

Ben Thomas
Greensboro

The remarkable thing about the recent immigration fiasco was the surprise of political elites at outrage over the bill. Amnesty proponents alleged racism, but class was a more relevant factor.

For business owners, illegal immigration is wonderful, providing a supply of cheap, compliant labor. For working-class Americans, it is a disaster, depressing wages and increasing competition for government services.

Adding to working-class anger, the bill duplicated the 1986 bipartisan bargain providing amnesty to 2 million illegals along with a promise to secure the border. The new bill promises border security if we allow 12 million to stay.

Enforce existing laws. Employers can't be experts on document forgery, but when multiple workers use the same Social Security number, someone should go to jail. When I see food company CEOs doing the "perp walk" on TV, I'll believe the government is getting serious about illegal immigration.

Political, business and media elites talk to each other in a closed loop that excludes working Americans, which is why they were surprised by opposition to this bill. They shouldn't have been. It's a simple case of "fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me."

Jeff Pickett
Franklinville

It was blatantly obvious from day one that Lewis "Scooter" Libby was promised if he took the fall for Cheney and Rove, they'd see to it that he'd go scot-free. Hence appears their puppet, Georgie Shrub.

Since that ploy was always in place, it certainly didn't come as a surprise. But what continues to blow my mind is why the majority of Americans, time after time, allow Cheney and Rove to just walk away from their unconstitutional and treasonous exploits. They're the ones who, at the least, belong in jail. How about Guantanamo Bay?

J. A. Hunt
Greensboro

The phony outrage letters by Brenda Lowe Stewart, Ann Sullivan and Steven Taub over the Scooter Libby sentence commutation makes me laugh at their hypocrisy. For starters, Richard Armitage from the State Department outed Valerie Plame. Secondly, she was not covert but a glorified clerk at the CIA. Patrick J. Fitzgerald (alias Nifong) knew this at the start of his investigation, but he wanted to nail someone at the White House and settled for Libby.

Where was the outrage from these writers when Bill Clinton was selling pardons to Mark Rich (whose crimes made Libby look like a Baptist preacher in comparison), and hundreds of others, including a gang of Latino terrorists so Hillary could get the Hispanic vote in New York? How about the pardon for Clinton's brother? No outrage? How about Clinton's perjury charge? No jail time? Where was the outrage?

Scooter Libby deserved a pardon, not a sentence commutation.

Dave Derence
Greensboro

I have written before about what a dead town this is for sports, and it still hasn't changed. Matt Brown is happy with the ACC tourney every two or three years, a tractor pull and women's basketball. However, he still doesn't have a permanent resident at the coliseum, unless you call that indoor football fiasco a permanent resident.

We have heard all the malarkey about ice hockey, and it keeps getting put off until next year. If a person has been found who wants to put a team here, what in the heck are we waiting for? The baseball team draws like crazy. That's good; however, the owners are too cheap to put a higher classification here.

I lived in the Chapel Hill area prior to moving here, and they had Triple A baseball. Other entertainment in that area was also miles ahead of this area. Hopefully, something will be done to get hockey and at least Double A ball in the near future; however, I seriously doubt it.

Don Edwards
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Gregory Meyerson

For a variety of reasons linking my research and my life, I've hooked up a couple of rain barrels at my house so I can water my garden without using city water -- important to do during a drought.

And it looks like our region may be drought-prone, as predicted by global climate models. I have watered my vegetable garden and compost heap for most of the summer without turning on city taps.

The other day I was at the Cultural Arts Center. It was lightly raining, and it occurred to me that a gutter and rain barrel system would be easy to hook up to capture roof water.

From one downspout at home making use of 20 feet of gutter, I can capture 500 pounds of water in about a half an hour with a 30-minute rain of average summer intensity. Multiply that by the gutter feet capturing all the rain on that huge roof and you can imagine the efficiency and the savings.

That water could be used to water an urban demonstration garden that could easily be set up on the grounds -- there's plenty of grassy area that could be converted. The food grown could be donated to Urban Ministries, and an N.C. A&T student could monitor and run the project (with participation from local farmers).

Part of the garden could be normally watered, while the remainder could be used as part of A&T's research on drought-resistant vegetables. People could see it in action, in the middle of the city.

Given the necessity of going green, this could be part of the promotion for the "Cool Cities" campaign involving many of the country's mayors.

The main drawback to what I propose involves a possible clash between the organic gardening method that would be the basis of the urban garden and methods involved in producing drought-resistant products.

Perhaps there is no incompatibility, and even if there were, it would be interesting to compare organic gardening in drought-prone areas where you conserve water to a more energy-intensive growing process that may or may not be involved with producing drought-resistant strains.

The writer teaches in the Department of English at N.C. A&T State University.

The following is a Counterpoint:
By Judith S. Moore

Regarding Jason Hardin's article on trees in Greensboro (June 24):

Every time I drive down Friendly Avenue and see the disastrous result of "progress," I am reminded of the two years that I lived in Berlin. I noticed that, along all the sidewalks in that beautiful city, every tree had a numbered metal disk. It seems that Berlin's history caused this. During World War II, the residents had to cut down trees to use as fuel. By the end of the war, hardly any trees remained.

Today, Berlin's city authorities have the force of law behind them to require anyone who wants to cut down a tree, whether on public or private property, to replace those trees. This includes property within city or utility rights-of-way. In advance of any tree-cutting, the city's inspectors visit the site and make recommendations as to the type and number of trees to be planted to replace those being cut down.

Maybe Berlin's officials got it right after all, but for different reasons than they intended. In this time of global warming, when we could use as many trees as possible, perhaps the city of Greensboro, through Greensboro Beautiful and its wonderful volunteers, ought to ante up and plant seedlings along Friendly Avenue. I know I'd volunteer to help.

City and county officials ought to correct the city ordinances to force builders to stop clear-cutting the land before building those cookie-cutter properties and smart builders would recognize the benefits to themselves of saving some of those trees; after all, as noted in Hardin's article, houses with trees are more valuable than those without.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

I enjoyed last week's Fun Fourth celebration in downtown Greensboro immensely. As I was going up and down the streets in my power wheelchair taking in all of the sights, I wondered if the able-bodied community would ever accept persons with disabilities as a natural part of our culture.

Wheelchairs are viewed by our society as confining, but in reality they are liberating. Wheelchairs improve the quality of life for many persons with disabilities by providing freedom of mobility, not confinement.

I'm very happy that downtown Greensboro has removed so many of the architectural barriers that once would have prevented wheelchair users from participating in events.

However, attitudinal barriers are much harder to eliminate. We have been socialized to believe that being in a wheelchair is so terrible. This attitude has made our society shy away from persons with disabilities because they associate having a disability with being ill.

Our cultural ideology needs to be redefined so that it is realized that architectural and attitudinal barriers are confining, not wheelchairs.

Dennis Burgess
Greensboro

Your recent article on the new smoking policies in the hotel industry in Greensboro (“Hotels sniff out signs of smokers,” July 7) shows how our city is moving swiftly toward a healthier environment for our citizens.

Our state legislature also is attempting to clean up our indoor air in all state-owned and -leased buildings as well as in state colleges and universities. We should applaud and thank them for their efforts.

And, for those of us who want to reward our local businesses for their efforts, smoke-free lodging and dining sites are listed at www.smokefreeguilford.org and www.tobaccofreeguilford.org.

Teresa Bratton
Greensboro

North Carolina should have laws to guarantee that sexual assault survivors are not denied health care options no matter where in our state they live or to which hospital they are taken following an assault.

Proposed bills in the state legislature would ensure that sexual-assault victims are offered emergency contraception in hospital emergency departments. Such contraception involves a high dose of birth control that can greatly reduce a woman's chance of getting pregnant if it is taken soon after sex.

Encourage your representatives to vote “yes” for Compassionate Care Legislation (House Bill 96 and Senate Bill 968).

Jeanne Irwin-Olson
McLeansville

Thanks for your editorial about trees. Here are two other thoughts:

First, more development is unnecessary. For houses, lots can be found without trees. There are enough stores now. (Why is it that hospitals have to obtain certificates of need before building, while retail stores don't?)

My second thought is that cutting all those trees on West Friendly Avenue between Holden Road and Westridge Road was a terrible and foolish mistake that cannot be undone. Traffic engineers are capable of designing other ways of making streets safe and passable without having sacred old trees cut. I wonder how many other trees will eventually die from damage done to their roots.

Thank goodness for those who saw to it that the Guilford College woods were declared historic and thus not in danger of cutting and for those who saw to it that the property around the new Kathleen Clay Edwards Library has been preserved with its trees and lovely trails.

Thank you again for drawing attention to this terrible problem that could so easily be solved and could have been avoided by leaders with courage and ethical convictions.

Jim Prevatt
Greensboro

In a recent article about the increased activity in Rock Creek Center, I was referenced in a quote about one of our finest tenants in the park, Focke & Co. I am disappointed your paper chose to use this in an article about the current status of the development of the park.

As the first tenant in Rock Creek Center in 1986, Focke & Co. has been very important in the successes of Rock Creek Center since its inception. Focke & Co. employs 65 and produces machinery for Fortune 500 companies, which in turn brings valuable attention to Guilford County from companies worldwide.

Focke & Co. has been the trailblazer of international companies that have chosen Rock Creek Center and Guilford County to establish their U.S. operations. We appreciate their presence and the assistance they provide in recruiting companies to the area.

Any negative reference of this fine company that may have been implied or interpreted is unfortunate and I extend my apologies to its employees, management and owners for this unfortunate event.

T. Richard Beard Jr.
Greensboro

The writer is a partner with Simpson Schulman & Beard LLC.

In the News & Record July 8, Lorraine Ahearn ("Boy gets lost in a ‘model' system"), described one more human tragedy resulting from the dismemberment of the mental health system. Daniel Woody has been abused and subjected to illegal handling by therapists licensed by the new and improved human services kludge. This 10-year-old boy suffered behavioral decay under this "treatment plan."

Some months ago, I was advised by an official in Guilford County that, "You have to give the providers a chance," and "The system is designed to get good providers into the system and to keep bad providers out."

The system has failed in that regard. My son is now nearly a year into his search for the services that he has been authorized to receive. Good providers have been identified but cannot be used because of the licensing process. Bad providers (the incompetent and untrustworthy) are many and available through the system. We experienced this type of "service" under the "model system's" protection.

Don Ward
Stokesdale

In reference to Lorraine Ahearn's article, "The reform maze" (July 8), I am concerned that Ahearn has had access to the child's progress notes ("But progress notes from Daniel's file ...") and that her article is informed by what is usually confidential information.

It has always been my understanding that these notes are available only to privileged professionals or when subpoenaed by a judge. In my experience, the client himself might have difficulty in securing even limited information from such notes. It seems odd, therefore, that a staff writer appears to have had access to Daniel's privileged information.

Our present new and improved mental health system is suspect enough without it and the newspaper possibly compounding this child's apparent disservice with an information security breach.

David Lane
Reidsville

Editor's note: The progress notes were subpoenaed as part of Daniel Woody's lawsuit against the state and were given to the newspaper by the Woody family.

Thank you for your recent article about the upcoming distribution of quality refurbished computers at Hairston Middle School. We will need the community's support of computer donations for this and other projects. Our volunteers, people with various disabilities who complete all of the refurbishing, pride themselves on providing quality computers.

As a Microsoft authorized refurbisher, we are aware of concerns about potential exposure of private information. HandyCapable Network reformats all hard drives in compliance with DOD standard 5220.22M, which conforms to HIPPA regulations. Any hard drives that do not meet our size or quality tests have holes drilled through them and are disposed of appropriately.
In order to have a greater impact in our community, we have established donation guidelines. We accept computers from 2001 and newer (Pentium 3 or better). We also accept working 17-inch monitors and printers. For older equipment and nonworking monitors, we suggest Goodwill's Reconnect program, which dismantles all donations into components for recycling. We are grateful for the tremendous ongoing support from the community, which has enabled us to put more than 578 refurbished computers back into use in the last three years.

Barbara L. Davis
Greensboro

The writer is executive director, HandyCapable Network.

It is amazing to me how all the liberals so quickly forget that their favorite president, Bill Clinton, could have been convicted of perjury, according to independent counsel Robert W. Ray, and obstruction of justice. In 1998, Clinton lied before a federal judge ("The New American," by John F. McManus, April 8, 2002). How much time did he spend in jail? What was the amount of his fine? How about all the FBI files that were missing and later found on Hillary's desk, by accident, of course? How about all 90-some prosecutors whom ol' Bill fired? How about all the people he commuted sentences for who were his old pals?

Also, I have been wondering: If Hillary is elected (God forbid), will she return all the things she took from the White House or just come back for another load?
I am a Democrat, and as I look at the possible candidates from both parties, it really scares me.
May God have mercy on us all.

J.G. Smith
Greensboro

The polluted Jordan Lake and Greensboro's disappearing tree canopy show that local governments must improve natural green space preservation. Supporters of the Heart of the Triad development plan loudly boast that HOT preserves one-third of its area as open and green space. They must answer a simple question: How much existing green space in the HOT area faces destruction to preserve the selected green space that supporters promote?

Narrowing stream buffers, draining wetlands and bulldozing trees will increase air and water pollution. With two critical watersheds in HOT, the polluted Jordan Lake is the predictor of things to come. Are the forecasted economic gains from HOT worth risking our environment and water supply?

The possibility of living in a brick-red, gray-concrete and black-asphalt world, a 6,300-acre septic tank, and breathing air not purified by vegetation should not be an option. Without protection, nature's green will be harvested and placed in the pockets of a selected few, while the leftovers are maintained and kept clean by the green of taxpayers.

HOT residents' lifestyles and the pristine, beautiful open areas will be sacrificed to satisfy the egos and greed of businessmen and governments.

Jimmy Morgan
Colfax

I have to take issue with a part of your "Short Stack" section (July 2). I'm referring to the paragraph relating to the American bald eagle.

North Carolina, like many states, is now enjoying a resurgence of this noble and magnificent bird. But, for years, Alaska was not the only state that had bald eagles thriving within its borders. There was one other.

In the lower 48 states, Florida had nearly 800 pairs of registered nesting bald eagles. Today, it has well over a thousand -- one of only a handful of states that can make that claim. We can thank both Alaska and the Sunshine State that the bald eagle is doing so well in our country.

The eagles you see today were probably the result of introduction from either Florida or Alaska. Since we have the Southern bald eagle in our region, maybe we should at least thank our neighbors in Florida for helping us out by restoring this great bird.

As a former Florida resident and native, I am proud to point that out. We have more than just gators -- the 2007 Final Four notwithstanding.

Wayne L. Smyth
Fieldale, Va.

The secondhand smoke hysteria continues. Hotels have now found a way to make it pay. Fining individuals for smoke contamination. Forcing them to do such things as steam-cleaning carpets, washing bedspreads and changing drapes.

Americans who stay in motels and hotels are bathing in a filthy bacterial soup. Vacuumed carpets do not remove bodily fluids. The mattress and pillows are filled with skin mites. The bedspread itself (unless washed) is smeared with urine, male and female fluid secretions, fecal smears, nasal drainage and saliva. We would be smart to smoke in every room we occupy; at least then you have the chance at a clean room.

Everybody is sure that secondhand smoke is dangerous, while cars and diesel trucks belch fumes. The very solutions used to clean the bathrooms are toxic.

Edward Philpott
Greensboro

Watching the current Republican presidential candidates feels a little like Bizarro World. They seem to be trying, and failing, to be as politically calculating as Bill Clinton. But Clinton triangulated away from his personal convictions to become slightly more centrist. The Republican candidates have abandoned their party's traditions and common sense entirely. Instead, they compete for a dwindling base that seeks more: more spending, more war, more torture.

All of the candidates, except one. In his life and public service, Ron Paul has never wavered from his support of the Constitution, individual freedom, limited government and the free market. I encourage everyone to visit ronpaul2008.com and, if you like what you hear, support the Republican candidate whom Ronald Reagan would vote for.

Greg McClinton
Greensboro

Thank you for printing the Michael Smerconish column (July 9). How true it is. Where is justice in the Duke lacrosse case? What message is there for anyone who wants to make accusations against another?

Charles O'Brien
Greensboro

George Bush is a great president. This statement is really a matter of priorities, which often have an impact on your perspective. Let me illustrate.

If you are a giant oil company and want to maximize your profits by drilling in historical environmental protected areas, then George is your man. If you are a weapons dealer, manufacturer or contractor like Blackwater or Halliburton and make a huge profit off our soldiers dying in our generation's version of Vietnam, then George is your man. If you are a CEO of a major medical insurance company and your perks include your own Lear jet because of our government's inability to provide to its citizens the basic need of health care, then George is your man.

These are individuals whose money and influence got George elected. If you weren't mentioned on this list, you probably want King George impeached.

David W. Ashby
Greensboro

Approaching London Heathrow Airport, the pilot announced that the British Airways terminal building was closed. We taxied to the cargo area where we remained for three hours before a bus took us to the terminal building. Upon entering, we were met by a horde of angry men, in uniform, carrying automatic weapons with fingers on the trigger. They screamed at us to get out of the building.

The nightmare began.

It actually started a week earlier. Three terrorist incidents in London and Glasgow. Threat levels raised. Security people nervous and tight. So, when they confronted a quirky passenger at Heathrow, they overreacted. They canceled all flights and evacuated the terminal. Thousands of adults and children out in the cold, rainy London weather.

When we got back into the building, people searched for space to rest or sleep. Those men with guns and harsh words kept prodding us to move. Treated like cattle or homeless people. No food or drink, disgusting toilets, stench of unwashed bodies. We endured 36 hours before getting a flight out.

The treatment from British Airways people was unforgiveable. They showed zero concern and offered no help. Bottom line: Thank God, it wasn't a bomb -- this time.

Max Roseman
High Point

This is in response to all the media concerning the naming of the elementary school at Reedy Fork. It made me think back to 1980 when my father purchased a small convenience store in Reidsville on Lawsonville Avenue.

Everyone said name it after your family's last name, which was Craddock. Then it would be called Craddock's Grocery, but my father wanted to name it Lawsonville Grocery to include the whole community, which is exactly what he did.

We were in business for 18 years until my father died in 1998. It's so hard to believe that after nine years, I can hardly go anywhere that someone doesn't stop and tell me how they miss my father and my family. Mostly, the comments come from our black customers. We had a great business, and my dad was a kind and generous man who made a decent living without robbing his customers with outrageous prices.

Ron McNair will not be forgotten, and his legacy will be spoken about often. Why not post a sign in memory of him and all his accomplishments outside the school? I sincerely believe this is not a "race" thing.

Phyllis Craddock
Reidsville

I noticed that the school board wants authority to levy its own tax. If that bunch of Keystone Kops known as the Guilford County school board gets that authority, very few people will be able to afford to live in Guilford County.

Norman Welker
Greensboro

I was quite pleased to read that the General Assembly is adopting a requirement that mental illness be treated on a par with physical illnesses and injury. This discrimination was one of the worst practices in the health insurance field.

As early as 1970, I sought to push the legislature to adopt a parity bill in North Carolina. And in 1976, when I sought the office of commissioner of insurance, parity for mental and physical illnesses was one of the major platforms planks that I proposed.

The adoption now is a big step forward, although the issue of alcohol- and drug-abuse treatment remains. Early intervention for both alcohol and drug problems would save society a great deal, economically and socially. It is my hope that the legislature will move to include these illnesses in the requirements for coverage in the near future.

Joseph E. Johnson
Greensboro

Your lead editorial (July 8) calls the recent Supreme Court directive to remove race as a factor in school student assignment "numbing and dispiriting."

In writing for the majority, Justice Roberts said, "The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race." Might you kindly have your editorial writer inform us how refraining from the use of race to discriminate is "numbing and dispiriting"?

Guy Sinclair
Graham

I am so glad to see that the Guilford County school system is putting some energy into something I feel is very important, SMOD, Standard Mode Of Dress. This is an idea that I feel is long overdue.

As a parent of two teenage girls, I know a lot of emphasis is placed on what to wear to school and how you look. I am tired of seeing more undergarments and midriff exposures at school than I do in my own home.

This dress code will put all students on the same playing field and not allow them to mistreat each other based on what they wear or are able to afford. That should help redirect their energy toward education, which in turn will prepare them for our competitive world.

Michael Nanney
High Point

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Nicole Henigin

I am responding to the front-page article, "Pricey attempt to reduce kids' obesity failing" (July 8). I was disturbed that the article did not address solutions to grant implementation problems and did not provide encouragement for grant writers to continue writing grants.

I write and implement grants, focusing on nutrition and other health education issues. I coordinated a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, and it was very successful, not only with the students, but with the teachers. I have seen schools write grants, obtain funding and not use it all. This is a clear sign that grant coordinators are not being aggressive enough in their efforts. The solution?

Any health educator and grantor will tell you that reinforcement and sustainability are solutions to influencing both adult and child health programs. It is not enough to teach people about nutrition in school. Restaurants, grocers and churches also need to get involved to encourage people to maintain their health behavior. That is reinforcement.

To sustain a program, strategies must be incorporated during grant implementation to add value to the program. Here is the key: Strategies must be continued even after grant conclusion. Incentives are not effective in the long term.

People must learn value through repeated health messages wherever they are. When schools get these grants, they can integrate health into math, science and English classes (free of charge) to strengthen and sustain grant efforts. This article makes a needed case for the importance of focusing not on how big the grant is, but on how well the money is used.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

Reading Meredith Millard's Counterpoint column (July 10) about teachers who do their planning on their own time, I was stuck by her suggestion that "perhaps Davenport would like to write four columns for free."

Am I to understand that the News & Record pays Charles Davenport Jr. for the drivel he produces?

Frank Wells
Asheboro

I just want to say thank you for the little article in the July 11 paper about The Avett Brothers playing at the War Memorial Auditorium in September. They're a fantastic band and this show is going to be big and will bring in people from across the state. It's nice to see it mentioned in this paper.

Megan Westbrook
Greensboro

As usual Charles Davenport Jr. hits the nail on the head with his column, "A victory for legal Americans" (July 8). There is only one cure for the illegal alien and that is to find them, arrest them and deport them. This weak-kneed excuse that it would be impossible to do so is just so much wind and smoke.

We are not the ones with the problem; the illegal alien is. They are here taking benefits from legal citizens to which they are not in any way entitled. They are bringing us additional criminal behavior, when in fact we have more than enough homegrown crime. Each of them invades this country with the potential of bringing us diseases like TB.

The government could begin by locating Mexican President Calderon's relatives living in the U.S.A., ascertain their legal/illegal status and, if illegal, load them up and send them back. In addition we should be billing these foreign countries for every penny we have to spend supporting illegal aliens. We have a choice -- send them back or goodbye U.S.A.

Ian A. Millar
Kernersville

I read recently about a Supreme Court decision. Here's what happened.

1. The losing defendant was a lifelong partisan Democrat, a personal friend of Lyndon Johnson.

2. A Nixon-appointed chief justice presided and voted with the majority.

3. A Nixon-appointed associate justice wrote the majority decision.

4. A Kennedy-appointed associate justice wrote a vehement dissent.

5. The decision deprived tens of millions the first right in the Declaration of Independence.

Given the above, logic would dictate that Democrats rise in outrage about it. But most of them do not; rather, it is one of their favorite court rulings.

Its name? Roe v. Wade.

Al Shumard
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint

By Fred Darby

I would like to know how to address the city and county about passing an ordinance to ban public sloppiness.

That is the wearing of baggy pants down below the waist line and those oversized T-shirts. The only real purpose I see those clothes serving is the concealment of contraband or weapons.

Has anyone seen how these folks have to walk wearing those clothes?

There have been several occasions when going down Florida Street past Smith Homes that I have had to stop my car so folks wearing baggy, below-the-waist pants and thigh-length T-shirts can get across the street while trying to hold up their pants and talk on the cell phone.

You would think with the recent violence by and against our youth that we would have already addressed the "gang attire" issue. I suspect only a few of the folks wearing those clothes know that craze started in prison, and it means that you belong to another, more "dominant" inmate.

The only reason I know that is because of an article in "Final Call," the Nation Of Islam publication. I am not Muslim, but I do read articles concerning community improvement. The clothing promotes violence and is frankly disrespectful of others. Who really wants to see your underwear in public? Belts don't work. No one is going to hire you at any meaningful employment dressed that way.

If stores can refuse to serve shirtless, shoeless customers, then we as a community should be able to ban this style of dress.

A city in Louisiana has passed such an ordinance, I understand, making it a fine for appearing in public dressed that way. Sure, it may crowd the jails even more, but that's where that attire started and that's where it should stay. Citizens, let's clean up our streets.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

Lewis "Scooter" Libby was found guilty of making false statements, sort of, kind of, maybe. Some people feel he should be sharing a cell with Charles Manson.

I don’t. Why? Because, and this is as clear as mud, he might have said something maybe about Valerie Plame, who was last seen crawling through a rain forest to assassinate Hugo Chavez.

No, actually, she was sitting at a desk in Washington with a rubber stamp in her hand authorizing the use of White Cloud in the ladies rooms. What we have here is another nonevent, similar to the Alberto Gonzales case. I didn't just fall off the pumpkin truck, but for the life of me I can't understand how a boss can't just fire someone.

I just read in a letter on your editorial page that the Bush administration oozes slime (July 6). Come on girlfriend, get a life. If you don't feel this president and all other presidents are trying to do their very best for the American people, then for you all humanity is lost. And for you, I am sad.

My father was a veteran but he would be upset over Sept. 11, not about a guy amed "Scooter."

John Craig Logan
Greensboro

The N&R Editorial staff today introduces a new blog.

It offers insight into Editorial Board discussions and asks for input before editorials are written.

We'll also seek feedback on other Editorial-Opinion features, including letters to the editor.

Please check it out and tell us what you think.

When one of Doug Marlette's good friends called to give me the tragic news that he had been killed in a car accident, it was difficult not to show my emotion. Mr. Marlette had visited our book shop twice in the past six months. In between those visits, he called just to see how our book shop and my family were doing.

His visits were unlike those of most writers, especially one of his level of genius and accomplishment. He had a folksy and affable style, coupled with a sharp wit. He had no airs about him, and all those who came in contact with him felt the same. I will truly miss him and his visits here. It was an honor to know him; he was a friend.

A scholarship fund has been set up in his name. One may contribute by contacting:
Douglas N. Marlette Memorial Scholarship

c/o Bank of America, Private Banking

101 South Tryon Street

Charlotte, NC 28255

Attn: Richard Immesberger

Gail Griffith Behrns
Kernersville

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Fred Gregory

I started thinking about the Michael Moore film,"Sicko," after reading David Hoggard's June 20 column. Hoggard said, "The main point Moore made to me through his movie is that we take the least care of those who need it most."

Hoggard got taken in by Moore's use of elisions, anecdotes and flawed claims. He concluded by urging his readers to see the movie, get angry and change things. Hoggard is, no doubt, suggesting that the United States exchange a great deal of its excellent health care for more access to more people. This paean for universal health care is a bargain I am not willing to make.

I assumed the News & Record's editors would provide some balance in the days to come. Was I ever wrong! Go Triad June 28 featured a flattering review of the film. In the same edition on D1 was a puff piece interview of Moore. It was unquestioning and obviously the work of an incurious journalist. The following day, the Clarence Page column fawned over the film.

I was still looking for something even remotely in disagreement with the conventional wisdom at the News & Record, and the July 1 Ideas section caught my eye with two columns juxtaposed above a photo of Moore and large bold fonts, " Critically Ill," which raised hopes for a dissenting view on the movie. I should have known better. All the same vacuous stuff warmed over.

Moore has used exaggerations, omissions, trickery, cinematic sleight of hand and falsehoods to score his points in his other works. Despite what we haven't seen in the News & Record about "Sicko," there has been a torrent of criticism of both Moore's techniques and his advocacy for a single-payer system from a broad cross-section of diverse media outlets.

For examples: The Washington Post ("Filmmaker, heal thyself"); USA Today; The New Yorker ("Do No Harm"); Reason magazine ("'Shticko': A clumsy piece of agitprop which will win few converts"). Even MTV's Kurt Loder mercilessly attacked the film, asking, "Is Moore's prescription worse than the disease?" One of these columnists labeled the one-sided documentary, "Moore's Anemic Checkup."

The film has been widely panned, and there were many contrary viewpoints available, but for some reason the News & Record has chosen not to touch them.

Well, folks, in the words of P.J. O'Rourke : "If you think health care is expensive now, wait 'til you see what it costs when it's free."

The writer lives in Greensboro.

I have been reading numerous letters protesting the high property tax burden on Greensboro home-owners. It is not difficult to understand that our City Council has failed to protect hardworking people from being taxed out of their homes. It seems their main concern is how to please developers and big business by tax breaks and other incentives. If the City Council gave us the same benefits, Greensboro property owners wouldn't be struggling to pay their taxes.

There is a solution to this problem, in addition to voting our current City Council out of office. Let's put a proposition on the ballot to restrict property taxes to no more than one percent of current property value. This would force our City Council to adhere to a budget with specific guidelines.

If enough volunteers get enough signatures, we won't need the City Council to approve a limit to property tax increases. It was done in California in 1976, and we can do it here. I'm ready if you are.

Sherry Tow
Greensboro

Budget negotiators in the state House and Senate are working to come to an agreement on next year's budget and taxes in North Carolina. The House budget includes a five percent refundable earned-income tax credit (EITC) for working people with low and moderate incomes.

Members should be recognized for their decision to give money back to those who need it most -- the group that pays the largest percentage of their income in sales and other taxes.

The Senate has not yet come to an agreement on this issue. Some senators are working diligently to persuade their colleagues that the five percent refundable credit promotes a tax system that is fairer to all North Carolinians, and they deserve our thanks.

The League of Women Voters of North Carolina encourages all senators to consider the benefits and vote to include the EITC in their budget. It has been proven to work. It returns money to those most in need to help cover expenses like rent, food and gasoline.

The League supports a progressive tax system for all. The passage of the five percent refundable EITC is a welcome step in that direction.

Judie Burke
Pittsboro
Mary Klenz
Charlotte

Burke is president, League of Women Voters of North Carolina; Klenz is Tax Committee chairwoman.

Thank you for running the article, "Is Greensboro's tree canopy disappearing?" (June 24).

Hopefully, many city and county residents, like myself, read and were enlightened by the article.

As a follow-up, could there be an article that focuses on local developers (if any) that try to preserve as much of the environment as possible when planning a development? These individuals need to be commended for their efforts. Also, could practical suggestions be offered as to what the public can do to help limit unnecessary developments that needlessly destroy so much of the environment and wildlife (e.g. Proehlific Park)?

I understand growth is necessary and inevitable for a city to prosper. However, those governmental bodies in charge of regulating development need to consider the impact on the environment, not only on how much money can be made.

Nancy Morse
Greensboro

Here we go again. Racism and Nelson Johnson raise their ugly head again, like the boy who cried wolf.

Johnson and the Pulpit Forum draw that word like a sword and wave it around every time a situation comes up they don't like, whether it's true or not.

In this case, you are wrong again. The people have spoken. Dianne Bellamy-Small has been weighed in the balances. Well, you know the rest.

The process has been followed. People in her district have said she needs to go, plain and simple.

So sheath your sword, Johnson, and come back to draw it again when a real case of racism rears its ugly head.

Ernie Andrews
Greensboro

The Heart of the Triad Steering Committee is a coalition of developers and businesses with a biased financial self-interest. If all elected officials on the committee voted no, it would still proceed.

Residents were denied representation at the onset, and it is an insult to expect any of us to perpetuate this flawed plan.

Condemnation of personal property and destruction of our natural resources is in violation of the Guilford County Comprehensive Plan.

Our nation faces an oil import crisis. PART should be focused on the imminent need for regional rail services instead of promoting an explosion of new highways and creation of the "New Center City of the Piedmont."

HOT plans indicate a worsening of air quality by 3.5 percent. Brilliant. Air quality non-attainment is a medical, environmental and economic disaster.

Land-use and transportation planning must be made by individuals with a responsibility to ensure that their decisions are in the best interest of North Carolina as a whole.

We must provide a legacy of clean air, clean water, forest lands and sustainable agriculture production for current and future generations.

Cathy Poole
Kernersville

My thanks go the creators and sponsors of the Summer Solstice celebration in the Arboretum on the evening of June 21.

There were diverse people performing and attending, and such harmony, you could feel it in the air. We wandered the park appreciating the earth, the music, the dance, children's activities and healing arts. Fairies and flower-costumed children abounded. I could not stop smiling.

Oh, how great it is to live in Greensboro, where people of good will respect each other and walk gently and gratefully on the earth.

Cathie H. Holcombe
Greensboro

In past letters, I have suggested that the Constitution contains the seeds of its own destruction, which probably labeled me a fringe heretic.

In the nearly six years since Sept. 11, I am even more convinced that its writers, fresh from a war for independence and flush with empowerment to build perfection, would see these seeds starting to produce destructive fruit.

The record confirms the corrosive effect of the last 50 years. It has come with permissiveness, the degeneration of parental control, the decay of education, the disrespect of the judicial process, the worsening of political hypocrisy, entitlement for noncitizens, the failure to provide for the common defense and the hijacking of "diversity" as a shallow, fashionable slogan rather than the beating heart of a successful democracy.

I submit that the writers of this majestic document would support some amendments that would possibly save "this blessed plot" from those who are unwaveringly determined to destroy it.

Perhaps the whiners who confuse civil liberties with conveniences should take notice of what they have while they still have it.

Bill Smith
Greensboro

I am running for the City Council in District 4 because there must be changes in the way Greensboro does business and to protect taxpayers.

District 4 should be represented by a person who supports fiscal restraint while delivering city services by the most efficient means possible.

I am also concerned with the U.S. Supreme Court cutting back on the public's privacy rights. The city councilman from District 4 must be an outspoken advocate of homeowners' rights and cautious against any attempts by the city to take private property through eminent domain.

As a businessman who deals with the city, I am very committed to fiscal reform of city spending and the rights of property owners. I certainly will not vote to increase taxes because increasing taxes will harm the very economic development our city is trying to institute.

The District 4 seat is definitely winnable. I intend to run a strong grass-roots campaign focusing on the support of voters who want a conservative member on the council.

David Crawford
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By David Morrow

In response to the July 12 article, "Black's sentencing casts shadow on lawmakers," I am elated to see that Jim Black is receiving some sort of punishment for his illegal activity while being a publicly elected official.

As a tax-paying citizen of North Carolina, I am tired of seeing North Carolina public officials participating in corrupt and illegal activity.

It was only a few months ago that we were beginning to discuss the allegations against Jim Black and other legislators' involvement. It is clear that North Carolina is in desperate need of campaign finance reform laws.

Did you know that 90 percent of all campaign donations to North Carolina candidates come from one percent of our state's population?

Essentially, our publicly elected state officials are listening to one percent of North Carolina's people. A change in North Carolina's campaign finance laws needs to occur.

Currently, there is a bill titled "Voter-Owned Elections Act" written by Reps. Jim Harrell and Linda Coleman that addresses this dilemma. If passed, this bill will provide a public-financing option for candidates. It will allow for North Carolina citizens, like myself, and the general public, to run for office by providing an alternative to privately funded campaigns.

The "Voter-Owned Elections Act" allows for candidates to spend more time listening to the voters' concerns and less time attending to the needs of donors and large corporations' issues.

A voter-owned election system puts elections in the hands of the voters and gives all qualified candidates a level playing field.

The writer lives in Burlington.

I commend the High Point City Council for holding to its practice of nonsectarian prayer. To open public meetings about the public's business before elected officials with a prayer that is prayed in the name of Jesus Christ or addressed to the Lord Jesus carries a clear message that only those who believe likewise are welcome.

High Point has been blessed with a diversity of inhabitants, and our city and county are the richer for the many beliefs they espouse and proclaim. As inhabitants of a proudly independent nation whose 231st birthday we recently celebrated, we should be ashamed by actions of government that presume to exclude.

Beth Woodard
Jamestown

The writer is a divinity student.

My health care is my own responsibility, not society's.

I have many choices. I can go work for a company that either pays for part or all my health care needs.

I can join the military and get health care there.

My family can help pay my bills as I would help pay theirs. I can even pay for my own. It is not your responsibility to pay for mine or my family's health care.

Are there sacrifices? Sure there are. No cell phones, new cars, cable TV, PlayStations or anything else I don't need, and I have to live within my means.

If we look hard enough at the health care system we have now or at the universal health care plan, we can find problems with both. The question is, can we trust the government?

Look at education, immigration, taxes, Social Security and any other government program. I say I have the right to choose. If I choose badly then I, alone, pay for it.

Are there exceptions? Sure there are; the people who truly can't afford health care need help.
Other than that, leave the system alone. Let me make my own decisions and I'll let you make yours.

Michael Blanchard
High Point

For your news department editors, interesting that placement of the most important news from Asia in a very long time, that North Korea was allowing international nuclear reaction inspection teams back in, was placed in Section A, page 11 of the News & Record's July 15 edition rather than on the front page of Section A. Even MSNBC reported it as a major U.S. diplomatic triumph.

Still, I guess, your readers were fortunate that it even appeared.

Harris Johnson
Greensboro

I'm writing in response to the letter, "Dress code for students needed and welcome" (July 17). I totally disagree with Michael Nanney's views on the need for SMOD (Standard Mode of Dress) in Guilford County schools. He claims the use of SMOD will stop the mistreatment of students based on the clothes they can afford to wear.

First of all, schools promote student individuality; this is completely taken away from students once everyone is forced to dress the same as everyone else.

As far as cost-saving, my daughter is tall and slender. Finding appropriate SMOD clothing is nearly impossible without going to a school uniform store where the prices are three to four times higher than other fashionable clothing she buys. Also, the SMODs are appropriate for school and usually no place else, which means you are now forced to purchase two wardrobes.

If the schools were stricter in their current dress codes, there would be no need for the SMOD program.

Students who choose to wear inappropriate clothes to school should be sent home with a call to their parents. Students who choose to bully other students regarding their choices and affordability of clothing need to be dealt with in the same manner.

Michael Silverman
Greensboro

It's sad to say, but I suspect there is an exclusive criminal hideout in our nation's capital -- at the White House, in the Oval Office.

Bill Burnett
Greensboro

The column, "Too many holes in HOT plan," by Joe McDonald (July 18) brings up many serious problems with the Heart of the Triad Plan, particularly the lack of controls for sprawl.

In connection with this, why hasn't our mayor signed on to the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which has been signed by the mayor of Winston-Salem and 11 other cities in North Carolina? This agreement includes a commitment to prevent uncontrolled growth and preserve the forested areas that make Greensboro so green and lovely.

We need to start controlling and planning for climate change at the local level.

Susan L. Phillips
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By William E. Jackson Jr.

Regarding the editorial, "Dole's new statement on Iraq adds little to critical debate" (July 12), my hat is off to the News & Record editorial board for not being snookered over Sen. Elizabeth Dole's alleged change in her views on America's military occupation of Iraq.

Almost every newspaper in the state ran misleading headlines accompanying the news stories about Republican senators' evolving positions on withdrawal legislation now being debated in Congress -- from The Charlotte Observer ("Dole: Start bringing U.S. troops home in '08") to The News & Observer of Raleigh ("Dole says troops should start to come home from Iraq in 2008").

The fact is that Sen. Dole, R-N.C., talks the talk but does not walk the walk when it comes to removing American troops in Iraq from harm's way. There has been no substantive change in her position. All she said was: "It is my firm hope and belief that we can start bringing our troops home in 2008." That is a nonstarter that could have come out of the mouth of President Bush.

No, Sen. Dole, on the eve of a re-election race, remains a stay-the-course apologist for every new rationalization of the Bush administration's disastrous occupation of Iraq: "The troop surge was completed just a couple weeks ago, so it is too early to declare the ultimate success or failure of this strategy." This statement is absurd on its face following the three bloodiest months of the war for our troops, more than four years into that largely civil war.

For a member of the Armed Services Committee, Dole comes across as a powder-puff senator taking her lead from the White House. Moreover, she almost always speaks in written statements, or through an aide. The voters will demand more next year.

The writer lives in Davidson.

In your lead editorial July 14, the editor bewailed the Navy's "ill-conceived plans" to build an outlying landing field in Washington and Beaufort counties. His thesis was that it would defile a wildlife refuge and disturb migratory birds.

Isn't this the same editor who promoted the installation of an air-freight hub in the heart of this million-plus population center, costing taxpayers millions of dollars and forever disrupting the sleep and general comfort of tens of thousands of people (humans, not geese)? Isn't it curious that he is now wringing his hands over something that might disturb birds whose habitat is more than 200 miles away?

Apparently unconcerned by the dichotomy, he wants to keep those birds free from all that "ear-splitting jet noise" he now so plaintively bemoans.

Otis Cox
High Point

Poor News & Record, your wheels are coming off. First Rosemary Roberts, columnist and mouthpiece for the Democratic Party, begs someone to run against U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C. (June 29), and then, as always, you find fault with what Dole does. Dole asks President Bush to withdraw our troops from Iraq, and you get upset in an editorial (July 12) because she did not call him a name.

The News & Record is for political correctness and allows name-calling only if it concerns Republicans, conservatives and Christians. You and old Rosemary take your orders directly from liberal Democrats. No wonder newspapers as a whole are losing circulation. Where is your middle ground?

If Rosemary is worried that Sen. Dole will run unopposed, why doesn't she run? She is a liberal Democrat. She even parts her hair on the left side.

Jack Stratas
Denton
Editor's note: Sen. Dole did not ask the president to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq. She stated her "firm hope and belief that we can start bringing our troops home in 2008."

Regarding "Black citizens get Greensboro's leftovers" (letter, July 11), there is such a thing as volunteering — black and white. Why can't some of you clean it up? Sure would help the taxpayers who foot the welfare system's load.

What's wrong with people that just sit by and let a nice place become a dump? Depend on yourself and the neighbors of this community. Habitat is volunteering its time and money for better neighborhoods; so can you.

Stella Mabry
Reidsville

We the people of the United States are busily shooting ourselves in the foot. While those elected to Congress haggle for days over mandating 35 miles per gallon at some too-distant date, the technology exists today to achieve 40 to 50 miles per gallon!

What should be mandated now is that all auto manufacturers adopt Toyota technology for power trains and pay Toyota some fee until patents expire or they develop superior technology.

Of course, there will be those who say it cannot be done, but anyone who observed the industrial conversions as we geared up for World War II can report that it can be done. Others might say auto makers cannot all use the same technology, but observe the vast similarity rather than differences in most power trains of the day.

We have declared war against many things, so let us declare war against pollution and oil dependence and get on with waging it.

Thomas L. Harmon Jr.
Greensboro

President Bush in a Saturday radio address informed us that "Democrats are failing in their responsibility to make tough decisions and spend the people's money wisely." How can he, in good conscience, make a statement like that when his administration is spending money like there's no tomorrow?

Twelve billion dollars a month for a war that was shoved down our throats with lies about WMDs, and now they are trying to con us by saying we are fighting al-Qaida terrorism instead of the truth that our military is in the middle of a civil war.

Who's kidding whom? That half-trillion dollars over the past four years could have solved a lot of problems right here at home: health care, education, the homeless, you could go on and on. But worst of all are the lost lives and wounding of our military and the tens of thousands of Iraqis. It's time to scale the surge down and bring our troops home.

As the radio personality Earl Pitts says, "Wake up, America."

Bill Jones
Greensboro

Thank you for interviewing me for your recent article on rabies and the six-month confinement of my two dogs. My purpose in coming forward with my story was to ensure that the public fully understood that rabies, when contracted by humans, is a virtual death sentence. Fortunately, I was home when my dogs got attacked and we were able to take appropriate action. The dogs received their booster shots within the 72-hour window.

I shudder to think that if the fox had not entered my home, I would not have called 911. I would have not known the fox was rabid, and everyone and every non-vaccinated animal that came into contact with my dogs could very well have contracted rabies. I am now aware that rabies vaccinations for my pets protect my dogs, my neighbors and me. You know what they say about an ounce of prevention, so please take the time to get your animals vaccinated against rabies.

Serenna Linnell
Greensboro

There's been a lot of political hoopla over the pending North Carolina population explosion causing stress on infrastructure; however, the South has been expanding since the reconstruction.

The true underlying concern is the tidal wave of Yankees hitting our state, diluting the traditional Southern identity. As the cost of living skyrockets in the North, our Yankee friends see North Carolina as a beacon of hope to their wallets, just as Ellis Island was to European immigrants seeking freedoms at the turn of the last century.

This influx of Yankees, or, as I call it, Yankification, will bring more money and development to our state at the expense of Southerners losing hold of Southern identity. Consequently, Yankees will no longer be satisfied with expensive Northern containment communities like Cary.

No, they will bleed into the less-costly areas, bringing development. There will be more upscale strip malls and increased traffic and squabbles for parking spaces. There will be more Grey Poupon and less Dukes Mayonnaise on our store shelves. There will be more bagels and less biscuits, more shopping carts and fewer buggies. So bring us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free of the oppression of the North.

Peter Triggiani
Reidsville

Maxine Bakeman, chairwoman of the Human Relations Commission, wrote (June 3) that the commission would be working soon on a race-relations report. We commend this.

The HRC hears individuals' complaints about police, landlords or employers, complaints they believe are linked to race. We expect that the HRC report will catalog the frequencies, types of complaints and outcomes.

We believe, however, that the city should shift focus from individual complaints to more structural matters. For example, police actions are not only acts of individual officers but also reflect a system of police values, practices and unwritten policies. As has been recommended in the past, an independent citizen review board with subpoena power (which the HRC does not have) should be established to fully serve the community.

In considering what the report would contain, there are details that would be helpful to know: What indicators will be included in an annual report on Greensboro's progress in reducing racism? Before it gets too far along, will the commission seek out grass-roots groups, neighborhood associations, church groups and others and work with them to develop useful indicators? What aspects of institutional inequalities that impact individuals and our community would the HRC monitor?

Claire and Larry Morse
Greensboro

Once we were proud of our "government of, by, and for the people." Our democracy was an example to the entire world. What happened? Today our government is all about money -- big money -- in place of "the people."

Megabucks are now at the core of politics. Money buys politicians, who may be well-intended, but their efforts fall short when they are obliged to vote for their financial supporters. Example? The Jim Black case in our own North Carolina. On the national scene, the situation is worse.

It is past time for us to fight for free elections. One place to begin is by restraining lobbyists, who play a key role in money dominating political functions. The link between lobbyists and legislators, statewide as in Congress, is critical. Legislators' dependence on lobbyist fundraising and "gifts" must be markedly reduced. This can happen by more stringent lobbying/ethics laws and banning lobbyists from raising unlimited money for campaigns.

Concerned citizens must work to rebuild "the democratic way." Support candidates who acknowledge that money in politics is as important an issue as immigration, health care and our deteriorating environment. Urge all legislators to support the people in place of the big-money givers who now control our government.

Pearl Berlin
High Point

As referred to by letter writer David W. Ashby (July 16), yes, we the people, who are not a part of the in-crowd elite, would like to see our King George impeached.

Yes indeed, George Bush, along with his leftover from the Nixon administration Vice (and I do mean vice) President Dick Cheney, should be held to account for the direction in which they have led this country.

If they are not impeached, all of their anti-constitutional actions will be legitimized, and we will have a country of which we cannot be proud.

Remember Nixon saying, "If I do it, it's legal." Well, our current "leaders" are outdoing Nixon, who had the grace, forced as it was, to resign.

K.K. Mersereau
Greensboro

The Preamble of the Constitution reads, "We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

It does not say, "We, the businessmen of the United States, in order to maximize profits at all costs ..." unless you make the argument that "secure the blessings of liberty" means the liberty to take advantage of a system designed to encourage investment, not enrich opportunists and wheeler-dealers.

When I hear people like Congressman Eric Cantor say that private equity fund managers' compensation should be taxed at the capital gains rate lest it have dire consequences for the working class (he never says, how, exactly), I don't know whether to laugh or scream.

These managers aren't risking their capital -- they are managing other people's risk and making themselves extremely wealthy in the process. And for this they claim the privilege to be taxed at a lesser rate than the gal slinging hash at the local diner, or the mechanic who maintains their BMW?

Sandi Campbell
Silver City

Regarding the tiny Associated Press gossip item on Martha Stewart's attempt to trademark the name "Katonah" for her line of products (July 19, A2), I am compelled to make a teensy comment.

Katonah is a village four miles north of my hometown of Bedford Hills, N.Y. (as opposed to the higher-class Bedford, N.Y.), which itself is four miles north of Mount Kisco, N.Y. Mount Kisco, like Katonah, was named for a native American, Chief Kisco. There's even a polychromed statue of Kisco at an intersection in Mount Kisco.

A good thing: Ms. Stewart should move back to Greenwich, Conn., where she belongs among the horsey set, and leave the Katonah natives alone. The English and the colonists have already done enough damage.

Mark D. Gottsegen
Climax

As a GTCC student, I am writing on behalf of all college students who use HEAT passes about the removal of these passes for the summer. This was a shock to many students on the first day of enrollment for the summer semester.

Students, both able bodied and disabled, were stranded on the college grounds. I took it upon myself to help some of the students on that day by giving them money that I really did not have to give. I understand what they feel when they try to accomplish a goal and they are blocked by something as simple as a bus pass.

These students are trying to get ahead by working hard. The enrollment dropped for summer classes because some of the students were not able to pay for transportation. People who live on a fixed income have less flexibility to pay for unexpected costs.

I am going tonight to the Greensboro Transit Authority board meeting with more than 130 signatures of both students and teachers. We are asking GTA, the Greensboro City Council, and all of the colleges in the system to continue the HEAT passes through the summer semester next year.

We all deserve your support to accomplish our goals.

Kreston Vincent
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Bob Goodman

It seems that the majority of political letters that appear in the News & Record are negative toward our president, our foreign policy, our economy and anything else you can think of in America. It's kind of depressing seeing this day after day.

A recent Reuters/Zogby poll says that 64 percent thought America was on the wrong track, 66 percent thought our economy was on the wrong track and 76 percent felt our foreign policy was headed in the wrong direction.

But wait, this same poll says 82 percent personally feel very or fairly safe from "threats from abroad" and 70 percent feel very or fairly secure in their jobs.

Also, 90 percent rated their personal finances as excellent, good or fair.

There is more. The stock market is at an all-time high and 70 percent of Americans are invested in the market in some form. Unemployment is at 4.5 percent, which is historically low, and job growth is exceptional. Since August 2003, more than 8.2 million jobs have been created. Our economy has now added jobs for 46 straight months.

Nearly 70 percent of Americans enjoy the satisfaction of owning their own home. Since 2002, the rate of minority ownership has risen above 50 percent, and more than 2.5 million minority families have become new homeowners. Finally, the economy has now experienced more than five years of uninterrupted growth, averaging 2.9 percent a year since 2001. Real GDP grew a strong 3.1 percent in 2006.

But wait, there's more. Rasmussen Reports says that 53 percent want a withdrawal of troops from Iraq within 120 days; however, 51 percent say we should wait until September when Gen. Petraeus reports to Congress before deciding whether to make any policy changes.

I'm confused, how about you? Here's the deal. You are hammered daily by liberal, negative news media that rarely report anything favorable about our president, our country or the direction we are heading. The Democrats in Congress don't want you to know the positives and just keep hammering the negatives as they perceive them.

So, consider this. No attacks since Sept. 11, 2001, the economy is outstanding, jobs are plentiful, and opportunities to make life even better are available. We live in the best country on earth, so appreciate, stop criticizing, and consider yourself lucky.

The writer lives in High Point.

Just when I thought we had exhausted the "Duke case," another series of letters appear, calling for more retribution.

There is one factor of this tragic affair that I have not seen mentioned.

Yes, the district attorney was wrong. Yes, school officials were wrong. Yes, the accuser was wrong. Yes, the two African American clergyman were wrong.

But where did this all start? What was the root cause of this whole sorry affair? It began when some young men, from a sports team, organized what may have been an annual event, a drinking party. They invited to this affair a young woman to strip for their lewd pleasure.

Had they not done this, none of the following events would have taken place.

I have not seen, in print, where anyone has addressed this immoral party. I trust that the school officials, coaches and parents have counseled these young men and taken the proper steps to ensure that this will not happen again.

There is a Bible verse that says, "…be sure your sin will find you out."

Edward Carmichael
High Point

Watching Fox News last Thursday morning (sitting in McDonald's, looking at their big screen, no sound), I see Barack, Hillary and a few others swaying back and forth, arm in arm at what looks to be a Democratic gathering. The caption underneath says they are courting religious voters.

I have news for them and any other swinging, swaying contenders for my vote: Start telling the truth and stop hiding behind lies and half-truths.

Last election, the Democrats criticized President Bush for using his faith to gain votes. Now the Dems want to talk religion? Well, if you aren't talking about my freedom of speech as a God-fearing, Jesus Christ believing, hand on the Holy Bible in court, no abortion, right to life, prayer in schools believing Christian, then you can stop a' courting.

I am personally offended that Hillary and her ilk believe the American people can be so easily swayed by the Dems' newfound religion.

And by the way, I don't practice religion. I am a Christian. There is a difference.

All Christians better stand up and speak up this election -- before you lose your right to do so.

Carla Atkins
Greensboro

Too bad the U.S. Senate didn't take off the month of July -- like the Iraqi parliament plans to do in August. We would have been spared the all-night spectacle which, at best, was much ado about nothing.

John McCain, one of the few coherent voices that night, termed the show theatrics. And a poor substitute for statesmanship it was.

The methane gas generated by the marathon session would have (by my conservative if not scientific estimate) provided the energy needs of 41,678 households for the next 12 months.
Surely the senators are fortunate that smoking is forbidden on the floor.

This nation is beset with many serious problems, needing the best minds available to help chart reasonable, workable solutions. We can hope and pray the next 12 months will identify the leaders we need.

Bill Beerman
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint

By Tommy Guyer

Open letter to Leonard Pitts Jr.:

In your column (July 12) about Ann Coulter's remarks concerning Sen. Barack Obama's middle name, you are right -- neither Ann Coulter nor any of the rest of us need be concerned about his middle name. You are right, too, that if we want to vote against him, it should be because of his ideology or his plans.

Ann Coulter is not running for president. What she says really is not that important. Sen. Obama, on the other hand, is running for president. What he says is important.

What has he said? You reported part of what he said at the 50th anniversary convention of his denomination: "Somewhere along the way … faith got hijacked partly because of the so-called Christian right who've been all too eager to exploit what divides us."

Here's Obama’s full statement:

"Somehow, somewhere along the way, faith stopped being used to bring us together and faith started being used to drive us apart. Faith got hijacked, partly because of the so-called leaders of the Christian Right, all too eager to exploit what divides us. There was even a time when the Christian Coalition determined that its number one legislative priority was tax cuts for the rich. I don't know what Bible they're reading, but it doesn't jibe with my version."

What is his version? The King James says in Exodus 20:16, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." The Christian Coalition was never for "tax cuts for the rich." They were for tax cuts across the board.

Jesus, in Matthew 10:34-35, says, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."

Jesus is, of course, for unity. He prayed to the Father in John 17:11 that we might all be one, as He and the Father are One. But that means unity in the faith. In Matthew he plainly spoke of division. Jesus was and is what divides us.

We're not divided Republican/Democrat, white/black, conserv­ative/liberal or right/left; but, right/wrong, according to what Jesus said.

And, because of that, you are right again when you say that "the election of 2008 may well be the most important of our lifetimes."

The writer lives in Thomasville.

Regarding John Craig Logan's letter (July 18), in which he called the Scooter Libby case a "non-story":

I would suggest he do a little more research before reaching that conclusion. If he did, he would find that the CIA first brought the case to the FBI for investigation because Valerie Plame was, in fact, a covert operative working on nonproliferation of WMDs. That fact was made clear in the Libby trial testimony, despite attempts, such as Logan's, to paint her position as a clerical paper-pusher.

What Logan ignores here is something our current president's father said in a speech made when he was our president. He said that anyone who leaks information about the identity of a covert operative is guilty of a "treasonous" act.

What Libby did was obstruct the investigation of who was ultimately responsible for the leak by lying to the grand jury.

Like Logan's father, I am a veteran. I was upset over the events of Sept. 11, 2001. But I also get upset over a cover-up protecting perpetrators of treasonous acts for political gain. I'd bet your father would also, Mr. Logan.

L.F. Rappaport
Greensboro

The July 11 column by Lorraine Ahearn contained inaccuracies that the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) would like to correct.

First, there was no rule change July 3. The Army Blood Program director recently reinforced that blood drives should be limited to military installations and federal sites. There have been blood drives that did not adhere to this policy in the past.

Also, ASBP collections have always met the needs of our troops and military treatment facilities without infringing upon civilian needs.

Even now the ASBP collects a mere fraction of what civilian agencies collect (this year approximately 170,000 units of blood by the ASBP, and more than 13 million units by civilian blood programs). The need for blood is heard loud and often, mainly due to its perishable nature.

Finally, the cameras directed at field hospitals in-theater reflect the serious struggle of our military medical personnel to save lives, not the blood needs. The ASBP can get blood anywhere in the world within 72 hours. At times, surgeons call for fresh whole blood, in addition to the stock they have, because the coagulation factors in fresh whole blood can be of great benefit to the severely wounded.

We sincerely thank you for your interest in the military's blood program and look forward to working with you in the future.

Michael Libby
Falls Church, Va.

The writer, a commander in the U.S. Navy, is director of the Armed Services Blood Program.

I have been living in Greensboro for one year now. I moved here from New York City. I like this town very much. It's nice, clean and a great place to live.

But I have only one thing to say about Greensboro: When is the City Council going to stop people from talking on their cell phones while driving? I almost got hit two times. I think hands-free phones are in order. If people can walk in the street with an earpiece, then they can drive with one.

I know this is not the big city, but please, does someone have to get hurt before something is done? I look both ways before I cross. Are the drivers looking at the road and talking at the same time?

Janet M. Johnson
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint

By Shashi Sethi

A recent article sang the praises of our health care system and cited cases of delays in care in Canada. I doubt if any of these people have ever lived in those countries and experienced the system. I, as a physician, have worked in all three systems of care over the last 40 years. The three systems are:

1. Pay as you go. Patients are responsible for all care, outpatient and hospital. It restricts the care for the poor, who tend to depend on the generosity of physicians for care. Hospital care is usually provided by charity and/or government-run hospitals with shortages of personnel and medications. Preventive care is available only to those who can afford it.

2. National health service system, as in England and other European countries. It provides cradle-to-death care for all, including long-term care, based on taxes paid by every individual. As the demands of health care have increased, they are under strain, with waiting lists and shortages, thus restricting care. All the same, all have access to preventive and long-term care. There are waiting lists for routine/non-emergency surgeries. Overall, most people are satisfied. They can improve with more spending.

3. Our insurance-based system. Forty-seven million are without coverage. A lady died recently in the emergency room at a Los Angeles hospital while waiting to be seen. This is an example of the failure of our system. Our emergency rooms are flooded with patients, and they wait for hours to be seen. Reports of patients being dumped on the street after being seen in the emergency room were seen on TV. HMOs/insurance companies deny coverage for cancer and other treatments. Children go without immunizations, prenatal care is not available to millions. The elderly have to choose between medications and food or heating, etc. Our infant-mortality rates are worse than Third World countries. Long-term care is a fiasco. Paperwork is drowning the physicians and hospitals. Medicare has approximately 30,000 pages of regulations.

Our rates of chronic diseases, like obesity, heart disease, diabetes and hypertension are higher than in Europe. Our life expectancy is lower than many developed countries.

No system is perfect, and one can find flaws in each. Eventually, we shall have to develop a system that can provide care to all and emphasizes preventive health care. Until then, we shall see people suffering or dying in our system, which is the most expensive in the world.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

As a Nigerian, I commend Uzodinma Iweala's stout outspokenness ("Africa working to save itself," Second Opinion, July 20) against all so-called philanthropists, official or private, who selfishly exploit the poor of the world, including the "my-country-first" economists, starting with the Henry Kissingers and the crop of fanatical television evangelists since the 1970s.

But Iweala should be among the first to acknowledge that he cannot tar everybody from the West working in Africa with the same brush. And he cannot leave unscathed the endless succession of African leaders, starting with officials as high as national presidents, who should be the foremost patriots but instead drag their countries' names (not to speak of Iweala's and mine) in the mud with their greed and corruption.

It is not too late to start helping our countries in Africa realize their full potential if those of us smarting at the wrongs perpetrated on them from both within and without organize to reform from within, recruiting for this purpose not only the handful of Soyinkas still (hopefully) helping internal reform, but also genuinely altruistic outside contributors like the Ford and Gates foundations when under proper internal management.

Mark Chijioke
Greensboro

Regarding a recent reader's comments about the Grasshoppers, he is 100 percent correct. We now have a first-class facility in First Horizon Park, but Class A baseball is not where we need to be. A city the size of Greensboro deserves better.

It is my opinion we should now be in AA or AAA baseball. It would cost the owners more at the start to go to a higher classification, but it would pay big dividends in the future for both the owners and the city of Greensboro.

As it would take time for this change to develop, the owners should now be considering this change -- for themselves, the city of Greensboro and, above all, the loyal fans.

John Pearman
Greensboro

The High Point City Council did the correct thing in allowing only nonsectarian words before meetings (News & Record, July 17). Prayer is and should be an extremely personal matter.

For John Allard to state that prayer before government meetings is a "serious issue" is absurd and consistent with many religious folks (in this case Christian) who insist that others follow their belief system. People are free to believe what they want to believe, but I am repulsed by those who try to shove their particular brand of religion down the throats of others.

If prayer brings you comfort, then by all means do it. But don't harass others (in this case the City Council) and insist that they follow your religious doctrines.

Peter Allen
Greensboro

I was saddened by William S. Meyer's article (Ideas, July 22) on the healing power of saying sir and ma'am. I recently turned 60 and have been saying sir and ma'am since childhood.

I was taught respect by a two-parent home and a parochial school education where respect was expected and given. My wife (younger and a career social worker) learned respect in a two-parent home and a public school education in Baltimore. We were both taught that all people, regardless of title or position, should be treated with respect until they proved otherwise.

It is sad Meyer didn't learn this simple adage during his formative years in Chicago. It is a sadness it took him 30 years as a social worker to realize the inherent value in people -- regardless of color or job.

It is not just a Southern thing, Mr. Meyer. It is what people who are taught respect do. Period.
There is one more sadness. Meyer is now showing respect by using sir and ma'am as reparations for his 50 years of social ignorance. They may sound nice to you, Mr. Meyer, but they are merely meaningless words if from the conscience and not the heart.

Len Docimo
High Point

In response to the review of the Tim McGraw and Faith Hill concert, I feel the News & Record missed the mark.

The production was excellent, surpassing any I've seen in years, including Elton John. The opening act was dynamic and fresh. Faith was not as country as Tim. Her music is more crossover. Both were fan-friendly, taking time to shake hands and sign autographs. The duets were powerful and well-staged, so all of the audience could feel their chemistry. The only drawback was the silly animated clip showing their history.

The crowd appreciated the differences in Tim and Faith's styles and music. And, the mostly female crowd understandably reacted wildly to Tim in his skin-tight jeans and muscle shirt.

After returning to the stage twice at the end of the show, it was obvious that they truly enjoy performing and entertaining the crowd, and did so for three-and-a-half hours. This was the most concert I've received for my money in years.

Maybe your reviewer would have preferred some totally self-centered performer who feels they are doing us all a favor just by showing up.

Lisa Shumake-Wright
Mayodan

I read July 19 that former City Councilman Robbie Perkins has decided to run for election again. I also read June 24 that this city has lost almost 20 percent of its canopy trees in the last 18 years. Perkins is a fine man, but the last thing this city needs is another council member, and a developer at that, voting in lockstep with other developers and their attorneys.

We need people such as Joel Landau, who will consider long-term consequences of their votes so we don't continue in this destructive direction. We can balance growth with protection of natural resources. As clichéd as it is, we need people who will attempt to keep the green in Greensboro.

Kent Tager
Greensboro

The cartoon on the July 22 Opinion page by Piraino reflects an obtuse and insensitive attitude unworthy of the News & Record. The message, that the Pulpit Forum, an organization of African American clergy, has one response to every issue, playing the "race card," depicts the truth of what it ridicules. The narrow-mindedness of the cartoon is publicly exposed, revealing racism is so deeply embedded in our society we fail to recognize it when expressed.

To display such a cartoon does not demonstrate this newspaper is open to diverse opinions, but rather that it is all right to deny and disparage a truth well understood by many in our community. Such disrespect for the concerns of those most subject to the effects of racism in our midst is inexcusable.

Jean Rodenbough
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Carol Aderholdt Harris

The arts are alive in High Point, Winston-Salem and North Carolina. In 2006-2007, we were fortunate to enjoy amazing theater in "Romeo and Juliet" and "Footloose."

Thanks to a grandfather who loves the arts and his granddaughter, we partook of "La Boheme," "Harvey," "Our Town" (play), "Our Town" (opera premier), the Grandma Moses exhibit, "Pride and Prejudice," "West Side Story," "The Full Monty" and "First Fridays." "Monet in Normandy" and "Impressions on Monet" in Normandy completed our year.

Nobles, Camel City Café, Mellow Mushroom, Salem Tavern and Blue Ridge restaurants also benefited from grandfather's belief in the importance of the arts experience. Economic impact studies give us data that are usually informative and sometimes insightful; it is not rocket science to connect the arts with food establishments or advertising media.

My review of bank and VISA statements to enlighten my 16-year-old regarding where our dollars went this year revealed a surprising monetary fact. Our arts economic impact is small in the money spent on the performance or the accompanying meal, ice cream, coffee; it is all of the other money spent to and from these events.

In Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Chapel Hill and Raleigh, clothes, school supplies, jewelry, books, greeting cards, gas, food (remembering the ice chest), and toilet paper were purchased.

The economic footprint of the arts was clear: Our essential and nonessential dollars were spent on paths between and around events.

The 2007-2008 year promises the joy of "Reynard the Fox," "The Comedy of Errors," "The Crucible," "Cry Havoc," "Look Homeward, Angel," Kathleen Battle, Yo-Yo Ma, "Cinderella" and more.

For economic viability, High Point needs an arts district, an arts center and accompanying accouterments that denote the intellectual and financial security of a viable city. The arts are big business -- at our house, all of our business.

The writer lives in High Point.

I was very disturbed at an article I read (July 24) in your newspaper regarding former TV anchor Tolly Carr. I have a child entering high school, and the thought that this drunken driver might be "lecturing" my child in the classroom is appalling. If anyone is to lecture here, let it be the family of the young man killed, as that would truly be an eye-opening experience for students.

Is every drunken driver in the county going to be allowed the same opportunity by Guilford Schools Superintendent Terry Grier? Carr is a very educated man who had great potential and opportunities before he chose to do the unthinkable. Let's not allow his classroom speaking tour, as Grier is promoting.

He needs to serve time and think about what he did and what he could have been. Now, that would be a much bigger lesson for our kids to learn.

Tolly Carr should serve time but not with our children.

Carolyn Southcott
Greensboro

Tolly Carr is not the kind of local celebrity I want my children to hear. I can think of other local celebrities who would be more inspiring -- Sandra Hughes, Jeff Davis or Ricky Proehl -- who would have a positive message to share.

Carr's actions were the result of his poor choices. I would rather have my children learn the advantages of making better choices from those who have lived their lives making better choices. I have to wonder how the Bokhoven family feels about Dr. Grier's decision.

As some of our community leaders rally behind Carr, I wonder where they are when this kind of tragedy strikes someone other than a "celebrity." It will be up to a judge to decide how the law will handle Carr, and until that decision has been made, we should all, including Grier, focus on keeping our roads safe and our children inspired.

Once Carr has paid his debt to society and the Bokhoven family, he can offer to volunteer in our schools. At that time, Grier can decide if Carr has a message of more value to our students than our many community heroes.

Boyd Stanley
Greensboro

Charles Davenport calls for colorblindness in race relations and then caustically castigates people by race (column, July 22). He calls for individualism and then groups people by tribe and exposes his own racist attitudes. He does not deserve space in your paper because he blatantly continues racism in his writing.

Dan Mosca
Browns Summit

The Mental Health Parity Act recently passed by both houses of the state legislature requires health insurance companies in North Carolina to provide equal coverage for physical disorders and mental/psychological disorders.

While this is a step forward in access to care for people suffering from mental and psychological disorders, the word "parity" is a misnomer in this instance.

In addition to excluding alcohol and drug addictions, this legislation only applies to nine of the more than 150 psychiatric diagnoses in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Thus the great majority of people in need of mental health care in this state are still being deprived of parity in their heath insurance benefits. True parity will be achieved when people with all mental/psychological disorders have the same insurance coverage for their mental health treatment as they do for physical diseases.

Until that time, the majority of people with mental and psychological disorders will continue to face discrimination in their heath care plans.

Bob Milan
Greensboro

I wish I could convince the Guilford County commissioners that cutting funding for the arts is not in the long-term best interests of their community ("Commissioners say no -- yet again -- to nonprofits," July 20). Studies, including the local findings from our recent Arts & Economic Prosperity III, cited in the article, demonstrate that the nonprofit arts industry is an economic driver that supports jobs, generates government revenue and tourism.

In my travels across the country, business and government leaders often speak about the challenges of funding the arts and other community needs amid shrinking resources. They worry about jobs and the economy. How well are they competing in the high-stakes race to attract new businesses? Is their region a magnet for a skilled and creative work force?

I am continually impressed by the commitment to doing what is best for their constituents and to improving quality of life for all. Again and again, local elected officials across the nation are choosing to invest in the arts as part of the answer. I truly hope that Guilford leaders, who I'm sure care deeply about community and economic development, can one day soon feel good about choosing to invest in the arts.

Robert L. Lynch
Washington, D.C.

The writer is president and CEO of Americans for the Arts.

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Michael Riggs

I and many other swim families are very disappointed in Robert Bell's choice of topics for his front-page article (July 13) about the Community Swim Association. For those fortunate enough to miss it, the article focused on the rumor mill and "illegal recruiting" by swim clubs. With hundreds of kids swimming every year, his most recent known instance was in 2004, and much of the article loosely alluded to as long as 10 years ago.

Front page -- and this is the best you could do? What about the hundreds of kids involved in the CSA or the fact that the entire organization from the Board of Directors all the way down to the Tuesday night meet workers are all parent volunteers?

How about the $2 million raised for The American Cancer Society over the past 35 years? How about the food drives of 2005 and 2006?

How about the fact that the City Championship is closing in on 50 years old or that many parents also swam in CSA events?

How about 11 dual meets, involving hundreds of kids all over Guilford County, that are held in alcohol- and tobacco-free environments every Tuesday night for five weeks?

If Bell wanted or needed to be negative, at least he could have picked a topic that might have a positive result, such as the lack of minority swimmers or the lack of suitable community/public pool space, which most likely go hand in hand.

However, I would like to take this opportunity to give kudos to Bell for finding the negative needle in the haystack. It couldn't have been that easy.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

I was shocked when I read the article on the twilight catch-up schools proposal in the News & Record (July 20). In the article, Julie Kimsey, a teacher at Ferndale Middle School, stated she had taught immigrant students as old as 21 in middle school. Mixing 21-year-old students with middle school students is asking for trouble.

My main question is why our public school system is even teaching 21-year-old students. Does Superintendent Terry Grier, with his illusions of grandeur, think he is entitled to teach anybody at any age in our school system? I believe in education; however, 21-year-old students do not belong in K-12.

Olen Caldwell
Greensboro

Your editorial (July 24) regarding the punishment required for someone convicted of felony death by vehicle is incorrect. For someone like Tolly Carr, who has no prior record, the punishment range is from 15 to 47 months. The sentencing judge has absolute discretion in determining the length of the sentence, as well as whether all or part of that sentence should be suspended and whether Carr be placed on probation.

Clearly, the state legislature intended to give a sentencing judge the option of placing an offender like Carr on probation rather than sentencing him to an active term in prison. Had the legislature intended felony death by vehicle to be punished only by an active sentence, the statute would indicate that a suspended sentence and probation were not authorized.
Ultimately, the decision as to whether to place Carr on probation rests with the sole discretion of the sentencing judge. That judge will consider evidence submitted by the state and Carr in making that determination.

Whatever the sentencing judge decides, be it an active sentence, probationary sentence, or some combination of both, that decision should be accepted by all concerned as the appropriate disposition of this case.

Wayne Baucino
Greensboro

There was a wonderful picture in the July 22 edition of the News & Record (A12). It was titled, "Studying by streetlight." It showed young Guineans (in Conakry, Guinea), sitting under dim parking lot lights at the G'bessi Airport, studying because only one-fifth of the 10 million people there have access to electricity. Students there long ago discovered that the airport is one of the few places where the lights never go out. It appears to me that lack of money or electricity has not stopped their passion to learn.

We taxpaying citizens here are continually being asked for more money for schools so the kids have top-notch equipment and conditions. And we are forced to pay up. Why then is the failure rate so high?

Sometimes I wonder how some of us old folks learned so much in school about reading, writing and arithmetic with just books, paper, pencils, blackboards and chalk. Continuing to throw money at the schools is not the answer. Anybody want to take a few guesses as to what some of the answers might be?

Maybe enlarging that picture, getting enough copies made for every classroom in Guilford County, framing them and hanging them in front of every classroom might get some folks to thinking. You think?

Diane Speaker
Greensboro

I would like to address Ernie Andrews' letter (July 20), in which he claims racism is not involved in the Bellamy-Small debacle.

We witnessed a white council member on the steps of city hall call for Bellamy-Small's resignation based on a series of non-issues and allegations that she does not play well with others. A white guy from outside Bellamy-Small's district spearheaded the drive for her recall election. There were clear racial elements in the still hotly debated police department investigation, around which all this swirls.

Andrews, you are in the eye of the hurricane denying the storm. Greensboro's own Edward R. Murrow said, "No one can eliminate prejudices — just recognize them." The people of Bellamy-Small's district have not yet spoken.

Claire Holmes
Greensboro

Well, hallelujah. The News & Record printed a great article (July 22) worth reading. If you missed it, folks, dig out the H section article titled, "Personal reparations" by William S. Meyer before it gets thrown out.

Thank you, Mr. Meyer, sir. I always said the South would rise again.

Marion J. King
Greensboro

This is in response to the article regarding the Guilford County Animal Shelter (July 25).

I do not feel "fortunate" to have a poorly run shelter in our area and do not feel we are doing our best. There does not seem to be a sense of community at our shelter. Instead of being guided by compassion and an advocate for the animals' needs, I feel the shelter is just a poorly run business.

What the county commissioners need to do is either get the United Animal Coalition, which runs the shelter, out of power or hold it accountable for showing the community what efforts are being made to make the shelter a better place. We can all donate money and supplies, but if nothing is being done to fix the problem, nothing will ever change. We need better education and supportive programs, and we need to seek out shelters that are successful so we can implement some new and innovative ideas. Not all ideas cost money.

If the community can see transformation at the shelter, it will feel better about supporting their efforts and maybe then we can start to make a difference in the lives of these wonderful animals.

Diane Maas
Oak Ridge

One of my favorite places to visit and occasionally house-sit is a farm on Squires Davis Road. It is a place of renewal, contemplation and quiet enjoyment of nature. Its owners love their property and have placed it in the Piedmont Land Conservancy to protect it from development and ensure its viability into the next generations.

So I was appalled to discover this farm and others, and small homeplaces, some handed down for three generations, 6,500 to 18,000 acres, are the target of the Heart of the Triad Steering Committee. Plans call for four-lane, divided highways ("development corridors"), around which the committee plans retirement homes, a "town center," and business and industrial sites. It boasts of 30 percent green area in the plans but considers stream setbacks and golf courses to count as the green area.

This steering committee has excluded residents of the planning area, nor does it include environmental, air and water, conservation or agricultural specialists. Its membership is heavily development-oriented -- Realtors, developers Chamber of Commerce representatives, bankers and others, many of whom provided seed money to the committee for a seat at the table.

Where is the democratic process in all this?

Terri Nunn
High Point

Regarding the article by Thomas Friedman on the environment and going green (July 17), I recently read that Al Gore, the main national figure on the environment, spent $500 a month on heating his pool house alone (more than our three-bedroom home to heat). Of course, like John Edwards, he has a mansion, too, which wouldn't be eco-friendly or cheap. Too, he uses his plane to go here and there, here again not environmentally expedient.

Also, to the local writer who promises to "go green" while "dissing" the Christian lady because she was waiting for that "glory train," I would hope he doesn't think Christians in general aren't aware or don't have environmentally friendly habits. (We have driven medium-small cars for years, sold our bigger house when kids left home, and have recycled for a long time.)

It's really amazing to me how people, particularly politicians, say one thing and do another. However, what they do speaks louder than their words.

Carol M. Pulliam
Oak Ridge

In June, at my yearly checkup, I was informed that I had prostate cancer. After exploring all alternatives, I decided on robotic surgery -- least invasive, best chance for a complete recovery.

On July 17, Dr. Hall, with the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, removed my prostate. On July 23, I had a follow-up. The cancer was contained in the prostate, did not spread to the lymph glands, and is totally eradicated.

The reason I am sharing this is that prostate cancer kills far too many men. Unfortunately, many men do not have regular exams, and the cancer is not detected until it is far more difficult to treat.

If you or someone you know has not had a recent check-up, please urge them to do so. For me, the treatment has been a positive experience: little pain, no serious side effects, cancer gone.

Andy Cain
Greensboro

Recently my husband and I spent three weeks in Nova Scotia visiting friends. We talked to many Canadians -- farmers, shopkeepers, random people in Port Hawkesbury, Halifax and smaller towns about their health care system and the higher taxes necessary to support it.

Only one person we talked to had a complaint -- a transplanted American. The rest were proud of it and happy they did not have to cope with a system like ours. They felt that the triage system in Canada was eminently fair: Those who need immediate attention receive it; those who do not wait a bit longer. They all insisted they had never had to wait more than a week or two for an appointment.

We were also told that, while longer waits of several weeks were sometimes necessary for elective surgery, emergency surgery was done immediately.

We Americans are impatient. When we want something, we want it right now. Those of us who are fortunate enough to have good insurance coverage can fulfill that desire most of the time, but what of those who have no hope of doing the same? In Canada, we were told, the playing field is level.

Virginia A. Tucker
Greensboro

We recently had to call on the Water Resources Department of the city of Greensboro to repair a storm-water drain that crosses the entire width of our property on Westridge Road. There could not have been a more accommodating crew of workmen. They were very considerate and respectful of our property. The crew performed the necessary work and left our yard and landscaping looking great. Everyone we have dealt with concerning this matter, whether on the phone or in person, has been extremely helpful and courteous.

Our thanks go out to Erik Glover at the Stormwater Management Division and his crew, which consisted of Danny Fleming, Jeremy Morgan, Gary Currie, James Griffin and Tim Kota. Since it's rare these days to see anything positive written about city workers in general, we would like to take this opportunity to let these guys have their 15 minutes of fame. Our thanks to all involved in this project.

Ken Garrett
Dave McClay
Greensboro

What we don't need on the City Council is more developers or real-estate czars like Milton Kern (mayoral candidate), Robbie Perkins and Kevin Green (at-large).

On Nov. 6, let's vote for candidates who are concerned about preserving Greensboro by monitoring the growth of this city with common sense. Stop cutting our trees, stop converting our green areas into concrete and building unnecessary housing, and commit to the fight against global warming.

Rosemarie Andrews
Greensboro

Thank you, Andrew Brod, for your story on the High Point furniture market (Ideas, July 15). It was so refreshing to read about the positive side of what High Point does have to offer to the furniture industry, its designers and buyers.

I have worked at several of the Vegas markets and can tell you that the Vegas market has more issues to resolve than High Point does.

Yes, there is plenty of entertainment and restaurants to enjoy, but the actual market cannot compete with the quality of our showrooms and our transportation system.

There is a positive side, as you have pointed out in your article. We have the full integration of the industry.

Germaine Mahoney
High Point

Thank you for running the AP story on pit bulls (July 25, page B-3). The article was very informative and presented a broad picture of this wonderful breed.

I have been blessed to own a pit for seven years, and she has been my best friend and a comfort to me during tough times. I urge everyone to research Sgt. Stubby, the pit who saved American lives during the first world war. His story is amazing and is representative of this brave and friendly breed. Unfortunately, the constant loop of video being shown by cable news channels portrays pit bulls as vicious beasts when, in fact, the real beasts are the awful humans who fight them.

Britt Whitmire
Browns Summit

The filing period to run for City Council ended at noon on July 20, and the News & Record immediately picked up where it left off during the 2005 campaign.

The big names get the coverage; the other candidates are out of luck. July 20, 21 and 22 -- each day there was an article highlighting one or more of the big names (those who hold office or have held local office). This amounts to a de facto endorsement of these candidates since these names get ingrained in people's minds through repetition. But as Allen Johnson wrote July 22: "Those of you who are former council members and commissioners aren't necessarily more qualified than newcomers."

Please, News & Record, do your civic duty and report on all the candidates this time around so the voters can decide who the most qualified are. You might list the campaign Web sites of those who have one, so interested voters can check the candidate out thoroughly. Mine is www.JoelLandau.com.

Joel Landau
Greensboro

The writer is an at-large candidate for Greensboro City Council.

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Ruth Mary Weston

Cal Thomas' column (July 14) calls on President Bush to "battle his foes aggressively." Unfortunately, Thomas sees "Democratic politicians ... conducting (an) insurgency against a weakened president ..." as those foes. He insinuates that those who believe the Iraq war is hampering the global war on terrorism would "mortgage the nation's future in exchange for a few more years in office."

That accusation of self-serving politics is flung at and from both parties and has the ring of truth in both cases.

But to urge President Bush "to open a second front -- a surge -- in the propaganda battle" sounds like Thomas deplores political maneuvers only by Democrats.

We can't have a democratic, representative republic without electoral politics. I agree we've let the campaign/fundraising/pork barrel system get way out of the people's control, but both parties sent it there. So let's quit the one-sided cynicism and listen for the possibly useful in opponents' ideas.

Let's start with Thomas' idea "to embrace victory, rather than defeat." I agree. Vietnam taught us the immorality of sending soldiers to die without a true and full commitment to victory.

Thomas challenges us to present a plan "should ... Iraq devolve into chaos and become a base for ... terrorists ..." That plan was submitted by military and State Department leaders pre-invasion: overwhelming force to crush the enemy (that's my definition of winning) followed by reconstruction of the institutions required for civil society. This was a plan to win the "free and democratic Iraq" President Bush now says we're fighting for.

Tragically, what has become "the central front in the war on terrorism" was seen in 2001 to need nothing beyond "regime change." The war began as a narrowly defined mission against a weak Iraqi military. The "nation-building" plan Middle East experts knew would be required was impatiently rejected.

The result is today's oh-so-predictable situation: internecine chaos, terrorists learning to defeat our military tactics, agonizingly slow reconstruction, and destruction of ordinary Iraqis' already-minimal quality of life. We have a moral obligation to fix what we broke, so I still advocate overwhelming force for Iraq and Afghanistan. It's not available. Our commander-in-chief won't request a larger U.S. military or negotiate for troops from NATO unless they waive command.
Without President Bush's commitment to crush our enemies and help the war-weary civilians, even if it means using some opponents' ideas, tactical retreat to preserve our troops is the only right thing left to do.

The writer lives in Greensboro.