News-Record.com

I really enjoyed the article published a few weeks ago on the Civil War and Greensboro. It reminded me of a walking tour I completed last year at UNCG through its master's program in history.

I thought many of the readers of the News & Record might be interested in using our walking tour because it deals with almost every aspect mentioned in this article. The tour is online available through free download either as an MP3 or through iTunes. In addition to the audio, a site map can be downloaded and printed as well as a supplemented tour of other sites in Greensboro that relate to our Civil War past.

There are other tours related to Greensboro's history on the site, and we would love it if the community was aware of our research efforts in light of this year's bicentennial celebration!

Visit http://library.uncg.edu/dp/walkingtours/

Ashley Black
Oak Ridge

I don't understand the new math. Oil goes up from $99 a barrel to $100 a barrel (a 1 percent increase), and the price at the pump immediately goes up 20 cents (a 7 percent increase).

I guess that's what I get for using a calculator not made by Exxon/Mobil.

Dan Flak
Greensboro

We were disturbed to hear that Michael Berkowitz would no longer conduct the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra Pops program. His ability to conduct, play the drums and, most importantly, his vast experience in the Pops world outside of North Carolina has led him to select superior talent for our Pops program. The programs have greatly improved under his leadership, and we felt he energized the orchestra.

We looked forward to his last program and were not disappointed. Liz Callaway and the Pops orchestra were terrific!

We wish we could say the same for the Pops administrative organization. We anticipated that Mr. Berkowitz's contribution and abilities would be recognized and appreciated.

There were no flowers, no token of thanks or remembrance, no opportunity for a deserved standing ovation -- not even a "thank you." If the Greensboro arts community wants to attract superior talent in or out of state, a lot more class has to be shown than was exhibited that night.

Jack McCorron
Greensboro

"We're losing our religion, survey says," it's reported in the News & Record (Feb. 26), and I'm wondering if there's any relation between this loss and the 87 percent of all white U.S. evangelical Christians who reportedly supported President Bush's decision to go to war against Iraq (for no readily apparent reason) in 2003 and those on your editorial page even today who support the torture of unindicted prisoners not long ago presumed to be innocent until found guilty by a jury of their peers.

Religion lost, indeed. And what kind of personal faith in what kind of mysterious deity or higher power has ensued?

The Rev. Charles M. Hawes
Greensboro

Sometimes I will watch ballgames on TV from the very beginning. You know ... when they play the national anthem. Most of the time the players are doing anything but paying attention to the moment. The same could be said of a few of the fans ... maybe even me sometimes.

On a recent evening at the Koury Center, it was a different story. Part of the N.C. A&T marching band played the national anthem. Not only did they sound great, but their faces just seemed to be beaming with pride. It sent chills up my spine.

I cannot imagine how I'll feel when they play America the Beautiful. Now there's a national anthem.

I thank those young men and women for reinvigorating a part of me.

Warren Romaine
Greensboro

How refreshing it was to read positive information about one of our schools on the front page of newspaper (Feb. 19). The gospel singers of Ben L. Smith High School deserve a huge congratulations for receiving top honors at the Gospel Choir Olympics and representing Greensboro so well.

Jennifer Long
Oak Ridge

While reading "Closed animal clinic a vital resource" (Feb. 18), I became sad and frightened.

This is the second time a veterinarian has left that site on West Wendover Avenue. Dr. Jeff Corville relocated the Piedmont Communities Spay/Neuter Clinic & Wellness Clinic to 1910 N. Church St. This clinic provides low-cost spay/neuter services.

One unaltered cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats in seven years. A female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in six years.

The leading cause of death for dogs and cats in the U.S. is euthanasia. Roughly 10 million to 12 million animals are euthanized each year. This does not include animals scraped off the streets or found in the woods.

Spaying and neutering are necessary. Rabies shots are necessary. Routine care is necessary. Costs can get high quickly. Pets aren't cheap, and there is no such thing as a free dog.

A woman in the article said low-cost spay or neutering could swing her decision. Most Triad rescue groups spay or neuter. Breeders do not.

Be smart. There's a reason why an adoption fee is not $15. The adoption fees include spay/neuter, microchips, shots, deworming, exams and flea/heartworm prevention.

Emily Harris
High Point

Barack Hussein Obama is always preaching change, change, change.

If he is allowed to implement all of his socialist programs, that is exactly what we taxpayers will have.

Just a little change left in our pockets.

Hank Powell
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Joan Garner

The situation involving the Great Pyrenees who was "orphaned" by the tragic loss of his master (Lorraine Ahearn column, Jan. 16) should point out some very salient needs for changes in the Guilford County animal care system.

The most obvious question is why the shelter has a policy to hold a dog in Raleigh's situation in its care at all if there was an owner's family member or rescue group that could do a more thorough and humane job when the shelter is overcrowded and the staff so overloaded?

A recent letter to the editor seemed to imply that the "sensibilities of the larger public" were secondary to the realistic limitations of the shelter. I, for one, would like to see the sensibilities of Guilford County residents come to the forefront and demand changes.

The euthanasia numbers, overcrowding and lack of cooperation between the shelter and rescue groups need to be addressed. The county commissioners seem to focus all of their time and our resources on corporate incentives, school funding needs, and jail overcrowding with bond issues and other remedies. Having contracted out the management of our shelter, they now look the other way.

I would suggest that a new shelter be constructed, more like ones in neighboring counties, which should have an area for rescue groups to be involved in the placement of pedigreed dogs. Lack of interest in non-pedigreed dogs was a stated reason for the refusal of Guilford County's shelter director to release pedigreed dogs to be cared for by rescue groups because she believes the pedigreed dogs are needed in the shelter as a drawing card.

We need a shelter advisory board and action by the county commissioners to elevate our animal care facility to true "shelter" status, and not remain a county pound. I am proud to say that I am the kind of person whose "sensibilities" are offended by what the conditions are every day in what we call our animal shelter.

The writer lives in High Point.

Council representative Goldie Wells was quoted as saying, "People are feeling very badly about not knowing whether they're going to have their jobs or not," referring to city employees and the call for a work-force reduction. Welcome to the real world.

Wells' comments show just how out of touch government officials and employees are with the realty of today's economic situation. How does she think the textile and furniture people have felt for years? Government employees seem to think they're recession-proof and their job is some type of entitlement. Unfortunately, the elected officials treat them as such.

Government employees need to understand that they have a stake in this economy like the rest of the folks and are subject to the same harsh realities of a declining economy.

David A. Hudgins
Greensboro

Religious clubs should be allowed to meet at schools just like all the other clubs. Our children need more positive role models among their peers.

We all must do our part to shield and protect our children from every harm and danger. Studying the Bible is the best way to save lives. It is the source of all our needs. Why? Because where there is prayer and studying of the word, God is present. Where confusion is, God is not there.

Yes, there are others who don't feel that way, but that's their prerogative. But I know everyone can agree that peace in the school will solve lots of problems.

Bible study gives us access to unlimited knowledge that saves lives as well as souls.

Cheryl E. Chavis
Greensboro

In response to the letter, "Parents should pay cost of their kids' health care" (Feb. 15), my thought is that those of us who see ourselves as pulling ourselves up by our own bootstraps must have forgotten the fact that very few individuals make it alone. There's help along the way, whether we are fully aware of it or not.

I see no compassion, no love, in this letter. I wonder what it would be like to have the writer as a next-door neighbor or down-the-street neighbor. When will we learn that we're all in this together?

What a harsh judgment: "... I do not see why taxpayers should pay for health care of illegal aliens and the children of other irresponsible parents.”

Nell Hedrick
Greensboro

I'm amazed by the daily barrage of "entitlement"letters recently published, particularly from UNCG students. It seems everyone wants something from government, from free tuition for a single mom to city bus transportation in Burlington.

The Feb. 22 letter from Emily Lawing, "Birth-control prices must be affordable,"however, won grand prize. Lawing complains that birth-control costs are too high and asks readers to contact their representatives about this travesty in the name of "reproductive rights."Since when does government have the "right"to use our tax money to subsidize the sexual activities of Lawing and others?

If this mentality is indicative of the next generation that will run our country, we may as well adopt European-style socialism now.

Tom Imbus
Browns Summit

During a recent television presentation, one of the current aspirants for the office of president emphasized that the United States of America is the greatest country in the world. Then the candidate continued to declare that, "A vote for me is a vote for change.”

Still there are those who say that there is no such thing as an honest politician. How dare they!

John Sparks
Greensboro

In reference to the numerous blogs and editorials regarding the outbreak of fights at Grimsley High School, I think that even though the situation was severe and totally out of line, the students who were involved should be punished but not subject to expulsion.

Even though what they did was wrong and inexcusable, they still need to get a nourishing education that they wouldn't be able to get if they were out of school.

With that being said, there are plenty of other schools that they could attend in Guilford County besides Grimsley.

Joseph Johnson
Greensboro

The naysayers are out in full force. Bill Burnett's letter (Feb. 22) is another one from the group denying there were ever problems in Greensboro, and blaming it all on former county commissioners ("the clowns"). How dare they try to bring these problems out in the open in order to fix them!

Obviously, these naysayers aren't listening to the voters and many business owners in Greensboro, but instead want to stick their heads in the sand hoping that nobody notices the problems with the police, fire, parks and recreation departments and the manager's office, to name a few. What are they trying to hide?

It took three former county commissioners to admit that all is not rosy in Greensboro city government and attempt to clean it up. I suggest that the clowns are people like Bill Burnett who want to cover up problems by letters to the editor disparaging those who are doing what they were elected to do -- serve the citizens of Greensboro, not those with agendas that benefit only themselves.

How ironic that Burnett's letter was on the same page as the editorial opinion, "Fire department issues require attention now" and not in John Hammer's paper. Perhaps his next letter will disparage the News & Record for also printing the truth.

Phyllis P. Gibbs
Greensboro
The writer is a former county commissioner and co-owner of a business in Greensboro.

If ever there was an abuse of power, Fire Chief Teeters has shown it to us. His use of his own men to work at his houses is an absolute misuse of his power and position. What he has been doing is tantamount to stealing. It doesn't matter if he paid them or not. The man needs to be fired immediately. Not only should he be fired, I think he needs to be jailed. Or better yet, let him go work on his employees' houses.

Good luck. Pigs will fly before the chief does something for one of them.

Does anyone think that when the chief asks one of his men to work at the chief's house, that the employee is going to say, "Sorry, chief, I have my own life to live"? The employee doesn't dare refuse, knowing he will likely be overlooked for promotion.

Dusty Leigh
Stoney Creek

I assume Helio Salvador (letter, "Race makes a difference in presidential election," Feb. 25) meant to make a point to a particular audience in his ramblings.

Where did he obtain his data when he can say, "every one of them had a rotten excuse for not voting -- too hot, too cold, too windy ..."?

But thanks, Mr. Salvador, for solidifying my choice with your next assessment of the political arena: "This time, because blacks see there are chances for one of them to be nominated, they are voting with such an enthusiasm, risking to nominate a black person who, by virtue of his race, is not yet electable in this country ..."

Gail Stroud
Greensboro

Regarding Alexis Paskalides' letter (Feb. 21) concerning the ballooning number of children in foster care in North Carolina, there is a program that would help reduce that number significantly. It is the One Church-One Child Program currently in place in 32 states.

This program was introduced in Rowan County through the Rowan County Department of Social Services by its placement support manager, Jon V. Hunter, in November 2006. Since then, many of Rowan County's churches have come on board. Together, the local DSS office and these churches have made a tremendous difference in the lives of children in foster care as well as in the lives of the children's biological parents in that county.

If the state agencies and public agencies in North Carolina would partner with this program, the lives of countless children in foster care would be forever changed for the better.

M.E. Sneed-Ellington
High Point

The article, "Closed animal clinic 'vital' resource" (Feb. 18), brought to my concern all those faced with spaying/neutering their pets at a high cost and the impact that the closing of the low-cost spaying/neutering clinic had made. This is a vital part of having a pet, and in my experience volunteering with the Guilford County Animal Shelter, many new cats and dogs come in because of their owners' inability to spay or neuter (or ignorance). The costs of this clinic were a help to many families looking to get a pet to complete their family.

I hope that the Humane Society looks for a new vet and would consider establishing more clinics of this kind all over the Piedmont Triad to place animals into loving families. This investment would protect the average citizen from all the strays that wander the street causing disruptions and prevent the animal shelters from reaching overcapacity and having to kill animals. It would truly be an investment well worth the community's donations and support.

Isabel Chasse
Greensboro

Amen to Doug Clark ("Kearns: soft heart, tough skin," Feb. 27)!

Thirty-four years of public service -- wow!

You can disagree with her methods and oppose her votes, but nobody has more concern, or has worked harder, for our children, their education and their future than Dot Kearns.

Harriet Mattes
High Point

As a 25-year, veteran teacher, I have to say that I am baffled by the concept of education reform. "Raise the bar," they tell us, "teach with rigor," yet hours of our instructional time are gobbled up with "practice" tests, our every move is tightly scripted, our methods controlled to assure we are teaching to the "test."

The arts (vital for training the right side of the brain where creativity is learned) are restricted or eliminated, PE and "recess" (which help the student focus during study times) reduced in favor of more "academic" pursuits.

Children (and parents) are stressed to the point that "learning" is becoming painful.

Guidance counselors and curriculum coordinators cannot do the jobs they're trained for because they are overwhelmed with prepping for, evaluating and giving those legions of practice and end-of-grade tests.

Administrators fear for their jobs, and the weaker ones put terrible pressure on their teachers, staff and students, effectively turning everyone against one another in a struggle for "survival."

Education reform? Children first? Whom are we kidding? Educrats, politicians and selfish business interests, back off! Give us back our classrooms and give children back their childhood!

William Toth
Greensboro

I was delighted to read the article in the Guilford Record (Feb. 24) reporting the success of the presentation of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado" by UNCG students for Guilford County fifth-graders recently at the Carolina Theater.

I regret to say, however, that you neglected to mention that the Greensboro Opera Company, in collaboration with Guilford County Schools, sponsored this event, as they have annually for many years, for the benefit of Guilford County fifth-graders.

It has been, and continues to be, one of the Greensboro Opera Company's Educational Outreach missions to bring opera to the children of Guilford County. I hope you will take the opportunity to acknowledge the Greensboro Opera Company for making this annual event possible.

Barbara A. Peters
Greensboro

The writer is president-elect, Greensboro Opera Company.

Well, here we go again.

Every time the Democrats get caught with their hand in the cookie jar, the News & Record trots out and calls for a nonpartisan election.

I speak of the editorial (Feb. 26) calling for a nonpartisan election for state auditor.

Before Leslie Merritt, our state finances were the playpen of the likes of Jim Black and his cronies. Why this sudden call? Could it be that Merritt is doing his job?

When Republicans began to be elected as judges -- because most voters see them as being more law-and-order than their counterparts -- here comes the News & Record to call for nonpartisan elections.

After running this state for more than 130 years, the Democrats just can't give up their corrupt power and sense of entitlement.

Don't fool yourself. There are no nonpartisan elections. The former state Democratic chairman has bragged about pumping money into mayoral races to get Democrats elected in nonpartisan races. (As an example, the mayoral race in High Point.)

Come on, News & Record, can't you be honest at least for once?

Marcus Kindley
Greensboro

The minimum wage was first implemented in 1938 at 25 cents per hour. If businesses paid a fair and decent wage on their own, the government would not have had to intervene.

In Greensboro, certain City Council members act as though they were elected into office by the business community. Our constitution says the government is by the people, for the people and of the people. If that is the case, why have Mary (Rakestraw), Mike (Barber) and Trudy (Wade) then chosen to violate the constitution?

When is the last time Mary, Mike, Trudy or Sandra (Anderson Groat) had to decide whether to buy their medicine, pay the rent, buy milk, gas or see a doctor?

In a city with as much wealth as Greensboro, it is immoral to have 20,000 people living below the poverty level. Does it not enrage you?

How would these City Council members fare if they had to live for one month with their families on $6.15 per hour? Could they survive living in substandard rat- and roach-infested housing, having no medical benefits, feeling helpless and hopeless, standing in lines at the soup kitchens?

The citizens of Greensboro have spoken and made it clear that they want a chance to vote on this referendum.

Deborah Compton-Holt
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Betty Lomax

Regarding UNCG economist Christopher Ruhm (Short Stack, Feb. 18), who discovered that our economic downturn actually has an upside: The obesity rate should drop? Ha! Fat chance.

Don't try proving that fact to those of us who are living off the "dollar menu" at McDonald's. Those buck-apiece double cheeseburgers settle into our stomachs like lead balloons. They fill our arteries with cholesterol and fat even quicker.

Due to that lack of affordable health insurance, we will be a drain on health care services during what would have been our golden years. As for our kids and the McNuggets they gulp, they'll be left to fend for themselves until they, too, can look forward to more of the benefits of the failing economy.

According to Ruhm, fewer people drink or smoke during an economic downturn. He may be right ... but we also eat Excedrin like candy when we can afford them. And what about all those out-of-work bartenders?

Deaths connected to traffic accidents decline? Why? Well, yes, I guess there would be fewer cars on the road once we can no longer afford to pump gas into those old heaps. But what about an increase in the death rate of poor pedestrians who just simply need to walk to the nearest McDonald's? What about the risk of assault or worse? Even if we could afford a trip to the Dollar Store, it really isn't incentive enough to brave the dark, desolate streets you tread on to get there.

Ruhm neglected to calculate the risk of death for those of us who couldn't keep up with utility bills and have no service so we seek to heat our cold houses with barbecue grills. How many people die each year just trying to stay warm? Try finding the silver lining to that cloud.

From my position here at the very bottom of the economic totem pole, it is very hard to understand Christopher Ruhm's cheerful outlook. He must be getting paid a handsome salary to dig up stuff like this to make us feel better about our sad situation.

Man, I wish I could find a job like that!

The writer lives in Greensboro.

It was with a sense of shame and regret that I read about mental health reform in North Carolina and how it had gone to such waste. We cannot out-source people who have real problems.
Whether former Secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Carmen Hooker Odom was, or was not, responsible for the mandates bringing questionable concerns, the buck stops in the governor’s office. Gov. Mike Easley is responsible for signing off on programs that require spending money.

I represented the developmental disabilities populations for 17 years on the Guilford County Mental Health Board, and I know concern for this population is going wayside, yet they, like others, are living longer than imagined.

I am appalled that the state not only wasted such an amount of money, but that the money was to have gone toward helping those who depend on the mental health system. This system includes assistance for mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse.
For shame. For shame. I hope those responsible can live with themselves.

Ann Gibbs
Greensboro

Great article in your Feb. 20 newspaper about Aycock Middle School’s mentor program and teacher Luke Neal. I am impressed by his efforts to guide young boys from rough neighborhoods and his positive influence on them.

Daily your front page has faces of wanted criminals and news of robberies, stabbings, assaults and other illegal activities. We also read that prison costs keep climbing, and new jails must soon be built to house more lawbreakers. It seems to me we all should applaud this courageous teacher; more importantly, he needs our help.

There must be churches, Sunday schools classes or civic groups all over this city looking for a way to fulfill their "missions." Well, get involved in some preventive medicine!
Mr. Neal says funds are so short he may not be able to help rising sixth-graders the next school year. Reach out, make a donation, pray for his mission. Even better, start a group at your child’s middle school.

This man is doing God’s work. A story like this should be on your front page any time, but especially during Black History Month. This hero is single-handedly keeping jail cells empty by helping young boys become upstanding citizens. I salute you, Luke Neal. My check is in the mail.

Anita Beard
Greensboro

In the United States, between 12 percent and 15 percent of the population is considered to be impoverished. As an intern social worker, I see these people every day. I know them and I want to help them.

But I am sick of hearing about how bad the United States is. I used to think we had it rough, then I spent 21 days in the township of Mabopane, South Africa.

South Africa is one of the wealthiest countries in Africa, but living standards there make the sub-par trailer parks stateside seem like the Garden of Eden. I was appalled at the garbage flooding the roadside and children who were unable to afford public schools rummaging through it. We are poor?

"Relative poverty" means we should judge our socioeconomic well-being based on those in proximity to us, as opposed to all people. America seems to be the breeding ground for self-absorbed narcissism. We choose to overlook the rest of the world when determining our financial status. Otherwise, we might step back and see a larger picture. We might see how "poor" we truly aren’t.

I am no flag-waving patriot. I believe our country has problems, but let’s stop embellishing and exaggerating them with "relative" measures.

Ben Parker
Greensboro

The News & Record has done a great job in the past few weeks clearly spelling out the large cost of the proposed bonds to taxpayers.

If the voters of Guilford County are dumb enough to pass themselves a tax increase of this size in these tough economic times, they cannot say they were uninformed.

All of these bonds should be paid for through the Guilford County budget process. If my household costs go up, I make cuts in my budget to afford it. The county should do the same.

Jeff Lehmann
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint column.

By George D. Martin Jr.
If absentee votes are admissible, allow me to cast one for trolleys in the Triad, as proposed by Al Mankoff, "Why not here?" (Ideas, Jan. 20). I am a native son whose career took him in a different direction, but I have never lost interest in Greensboro. My brother there keeps me informed, particularly on rail and transit matters. I have been interested in electric traction ever since the day in 1934, when I saw one of Greensboro’s new trackless trolleys on its delivery run, being towed from High Point at highway speed by a power company truck. Since the coach had top speed of about 35 mph in service, it may never again have moved that fast!

Much has been written and said about traffic congestion and soaring gas prices, but most of the suggested solutions, such as more lanes or ethanol fuel, are only symptomatic; what is really needed is a fundamental change of direction. I have reviewed Mankoff’s proposal in detail and endorse it as an excellent plan for returning electric transportation to the Triad. My credentials include electrical engineering (N.C. State, 1951); several years as a subject cataloger in the Library of Congress, handling engineering and railroad works from the entire Western world; and 20 years as an electrical engineer with the Army. During my Army years, I enjoyed frequent access to Germany, allowing me to see and ride its modern and well-integrated transportation system.

Despite the merits of electric transportation, the public is not likely to demand it spontaneously. Mankoff wisely starts at the beginning, with a multi-faceted program to build community awareness. Skipping some of the intermediate steps, that awareness will finally translate into the political will necessary to commit money and build.

Transit planners in the Triad would be well advised to consider, and maybe emulate, the experience in San Diego, where the modern trolley renaissance got its start. To their credit, the people of San Diego chose not to involve federal money and the intrusive "strings" that come with it. Instead, they built what they could afford with local funds, making use of existing railroads in places, and track in the street where it made sense. The system, known as the "San Diego Trolley," is very successful and has been extended several times.

Given the independence, resourcefulness and love of excellence that are natural for Tar Heels, I am optimistic that the Triad will likewise have a system exactly suited to its special needs.

The writer lives in Springfield, Va.

The following is a Counterpoint::

By Ruth Mary Weston

Refusing to understand another's point of view is not the same as refuting it, Charles (Davenport column, Feb. 17).

Since you write, "We don’t know what economic justice is," here's a clue from the Encarta Dictionary online:

* economic: "relating to or affecting material goods and financial resources."

* justice: "fairness or reasonableness, especially in the way people are treated or decisions are made."

It's a social contract, Charles, with rules that apply equally to everyone. It entails compensation commensurate with the physical, mental and monetary investment required to do one's job right.

Here's our disagreement: You want Darwinist rules; I want the Golden Rule.

If it were true that one's income depends on "education, skills and experience," "qualifications and work ethic," then a 95-year-old with a Ph.D. in engineering who works daily from dawn to dusk digging ditches by hand would make six figures. The 18-year-old dropout bodybuilder who's late to work, but digs thrice the ditch in half the hours would make minimum wage. Oh, wait! He does!

Each job has an established pay range, minimum (and, in the real world, maximum) qualifications and a list of duties.

Pay scales for jobs reflect social attitudes and the relative power of employer/employee to shape the rule book.

Somehow, it's legal for U.S. businesses to open P.O. boxes overseas, send their U.S. revenues there and avoid U.S. income taxes. Anybody working at Deere-Hitachi wanna tell us how you're exempt from withholding on the Japanese part of your pay?

CEOs can receive unlimited income in the form of stock options and defer all income tax on their value. Of course, if I dig you a ditch in exchange for accounting advice, we both owe income tax, now, on the value of our barter.

Moneyed interests use their assets to buy favoritism in the law, and we all know it. When employees try to leverage the availability of their labor to raise compensation (unions, folks), they're demonized and legislated against.

Holler "Socialism!" all day long if you want to. I'm past being scared of that bogeyman.

But it sure is interesting how much economic justice seems to scare you.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

Historically, raising minimum wages has never been effective in reducing the gap between rich and poor. A 52 percent increase ($6.15 to $9.36), as some proposed in Greensboro, would do nothing but promote greater inflation and put hard-working people out of jobs they really need.

We would be less than honest with ourselves if we feel companies are going to reduce their profits to pay additional wages; they are going to increase prices to maintain already strained profit margins, which will lessen the buying power of the employees -- those whose wages have been increased as well as those not affected by the increase.

If the goal is to provide real, long-term, tangible help to lower-income families, then work on economic development through attracting new businesses to the area that pay greater wages. Provide retraining to the work force and find ways to better prepare students for the workforce. Implement entrepreneurship programs to create opportunities for energetic, innovative people to go into business. Be responsible in your efforts to help the underprivileged, by providing long-term, real assistance.

Edwin Lewis
Greensboro

We have lost a very great man. In a world where everyone has a shot at 15 minutes of fame, no matter how rude, vulgar or ill-mannered he or she might be, William F. Buckley Jr. was famous for more than half a century because of his intellect, vocabulary, wit and, above all, class.

Buckley used to write that "we stand on the shoulders of giants." He was, of course, referring to others, but no truer words could be written about him.

The world was better because he was in it and is worse off because he has departed.

Paul Daniels
Greensboro

Now that the county commissioners have approved placing the five bonds ($671 million) on the May ballot, what does that mean to retirees?

If all five items are approved, a home valued at $200,000 will see a tax increase of $75.90 the first year, increasing to $246.68 the fifth year, for a total of $958.96 over five years. And you can add to that burden the proposed 1/4 percent increase in the sales tax.

As retirees on a fixed income, we considered the Homestead Property Tax Exemption but learned that an income limit ($20,500 in 2006) determines whether you are eligible. This limit includes all income, even Social Security and investment income.

Why is it not structured on a graduated scale, where one would receive the full benefit up to the $20,500 income level and a reduced benefit at each additional increment of income?

Also, food and clothing should be excluded from the sales tax. This would benefit seniors, since they are less likely to purchase other, more expensive items.

Without some relief from the ever-increasing tax burden, many fixed-income retirees will be left with no other choice than to leave Guilford County and possibly North Carolina altogether.

Walter Noetzel
Greensboro

I am a new resident to Greensboro and I have heard and read a lot of slams to our police department. I, for one, would like to give a hearty well-done to our police. A recent burglary resulted in no loss of property and one arrest. Way to go! What a great job!

Larry Painter
Greensboro

I have read, with more than casual interest, the recent spate of comments about current events in southeast Guilford County. I'm glad everyone seems to finally recognize that the Forest Oaks community supported the local PGA Tour event and helped ensure its survival until it once again became fashionable for regional businesses and the local newspaper to publicly recognize its existence.

As conversation and debate spring up about the increasing pace of residential and commercial development in our pleasant area of the county, please remember that, while the Forest Oaks community has been good neighbors of ours for quite a while, they are only one neighborhood and do not necessarily provide the identity for all of us who choose to live and work in the area.

Daniel Donovan
Greensboro

Serious mental-health disorders affect many people. It is frustrating that lawmakers are unable to come to a consensus on this issue.

The new mental-health initiative is not addressing all of the problems that mentally ill patients face, and many of them are falling through the cracks.

Some people with serious mental-health problems are homeless and unable to obtain adequate care due to their lack of ability to advocate for themselves. Many of these people could use the professional care that would be provided at a state facility but instead are given a quick fix for a short amount of time.

Lawmakers should not be so concerned with saving money but with providing mental-health patients with the professional care they deserve and need.

Jekeitha Cummings
Gibsonville

Not too long ago, a story about mistreatment of cows was aired on the evening news. After watching the clips that were collected undercover of cows being dragged by their feet, pushed over by forklifts, beaten constantly, and poked with various objects at Hallmark Meat Co. Slaughterhouse in Chino, Calif., I was devastated.

In the article, "Recalled beef wasn't served to students," Morgan Josey Glover describes that the beef from those abused cows was for many North Carolina school districts, including Guilford County.

Fortunately, the beef was recalled, but what can we do to make sure that this wouldn't happen again? How long was this corrupt activity going on before authorities were notified?

Guilford County students could have been exposed to a variety of diseases. It's important that the government watches these slaughterhouses to make sure that nothing this terrible happens again, for the sake of the children.

Nortina Simmons
Greensboro

At a recent spirited debate, Sen. Clinton criticized Sen. Obama for his "17-year association with an indicted slumlord." What incredible chutzpah.

What do Jim and Susan McDougal, Jim Guy Tucker, David Hale, Webster Hubbell, Dan Lasater, Johnny Chung and (commodities broker) Robert "Red" Bone have in common? They are close associates of the Clintons and are all convicted felons who have done prison time.

So, please, no more of this double talk. No more Travelgate, Filegate or Gravegate. No more Hillary!
Al Shumard
Greensboro

Regarding the letter of March 1 by the Rev. Charles M. Hawes, who writes that people might be leaving their religions because of an unjust war: God only knows, but I think it is deeper than this.

We seek bliss, inner peace and happiness and look for the spiritual realities that provide them. Just as we can never control what others feel or think, we can control what we think. Jesus teaches us to give and forgive. Can there be a higher spiritual truth within ourselves?

Mystics view all religions with one "language" and think all will someday unite as one. I think it is soul-seeking that's going on.

Christians might want to look into the excluded "Gospel of Thomas" for what might unite them with others. Scientists can split atoms, but the soul is like an acorn with an oak as its final destiny -- like bubbles returning to their original ocean.

Ray Hylton
Greensboro

Unless I'm mistaken, and I love history, when Iraq invaded its neighbor, we put Iraq in its place. I would assume that means that, at that time, we destroyed any chance of Iraq developing weapons of mass destruction within the near future.

I served in the military at that time and I knew, with no doubt, we were doing the right thing. We took a stand against a bully and prevented the persecution of an entire people and the occupation of a wonderful country (remember Kuwait?).

When Bush decided to attack Iraq and dispose Saddam, I was confused. We had not been attacked by and faced no threat from Iraq, yet there we went.

The fog of my confusion was cleared with the first report of profits from the oil industry. Our actions have made the entire world suffer, excluding those who own stock in Exxon and BP (no, I'm not targeting Exxon or BP, but those are the gas stations I'm buying gas at right now).

I think this country should have used its resources in Afghanistan, not Iraq. Just my opinion.

Jim Stallings
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Marche Clarke

I am disappointed, but not surprised, with the article, "Huge fight erupts at Greensboro restaurant" (Feb. 25). My first observation was that your headline called Gabriel's a restaurant, but by the end of the article it was lumped into the category of a "club."

To set the record straight, Gabriel's is an upscale, well-maintained, beautifully renovated banquet hall and events center that provides a service that is professional, upstanding and attractive. I have attended several events there. Each one has been such a good experience that it influenced my decision to return.

Your obviously biased depiction of the facility, the altercation (though unfortunate and an exception to everything I know about this facility) is a misrepresentation and an attempt to incite a negative opinion about Gabriel's. When African Americans gather for a protest march and the numbers swell to the thousands, the numbers are downplayed by the media. However, when 500 to 700 African Americans gather for a party or entertainment event and there is the slightest altercation, the crowd becomes "overwhelming," "out of control," "overcrowded."

There are so many holes in this story. I hope the proprietor demands a retraction. I don't understand how you send two officers to cover an event for crowd control of more than 500 when your policy is one officer per 100. It seems that the application/intake process the Sheriff's Office's off-duty deputy section uses would allow making the decision about the number of officers to assign.

There is a lack of accountability that does not rest with Kim Lovelace (a professional and beautiful young woman) but should rest on the shoulders of those who dropped the ball.

As a postscript to the implication that Gabriel's is a "club," I don't do clubs. I do attend events at Gabriel's and will continue to do so.

Greensboro, wake up. This is not the way to encourage small business development and is a misrepresentation of a minority-owned business that has hosted many events without incident.

To the News & Record, be fair in your reporting and remember, "Just the facts, ma'am."

The writer lives in Greensboro.

Your recent article reported that the N.C. Bar Association planned to have lawyers throughout the state evaluate their local trial judges. However, there was no mention of the work done in this area by two Greensboro organizations.

For the last 15 years, Court Watch of North Carolina Inc. and UNCG have been pioneers in judge evaluations. Four times UNCG professors and Court Watch volunteer attorneys conducted judge evaluations and shared the results with the public.

Their first evaluation in 1992 covered only Guilford County judges. Then, from 1994 to 2007, they conducted three multicounty evaluations, which covered 228 Superior and District Court judges in 68 counties. Court Watch is proud of having taken a leading role in this important work. We are pleased that now the N.C. Bar Association is committed to continuing this valuable service.

Stanley Sprague
Greensboro

The writer is a Court Watch board member.

Two letters in News & Record (Feb. 23) caught my attention. One letter referred to prizes to encourage students, and the other was an appeal to help North Carolina schools.

I am a retired high school principal visiting family in Greensboro. I have experience with a process that can help Greensboro's students. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a process that is used in schools on a national basis. The school where I was principal was a traditional high school. In five years, office referrals were reduced by 35 percent. Test scores improved. The number of violent incidents was reduced by one-half. Using PBIS, we created a school environment that was conducive to teaching and learning.

PBIS is a K-12 program and has a track record of improving student behaviors, allowing teachers more time to teach and, as a result, increasing learning opportunities, which results in improved test scores. The cost is minimal. It is a change in culture that is specific to the school in which it is developed.

If someone has questions, they can contact me (dmerrick12953@earthlink.net) or just go to the Internet and check it out. If you are looking for ways to better serve children, socially and academically, this is the direction to go in.

Don Merrick
Malone, N.Y.

As federal funding for cancer research continues to decline, philanthropic support of research becomes even more crucial. Triad Golfers Against Cancer (GAC) recently awarded a total of $270,000 to a number of local organizations including the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Through the support of the GAC, Duke Oncologist David Hsu, M.D., Ph.D., can continue his work to explore genomic strategies so that physicians can more precisely identify which treatments will be most beneficial to colorectal cancer patients based on the genetic make-up of their tumor. Duke researcher Robert Wechsler-Reya, Ph.D., will also benefit from GAC support as he continues to investigate new and improved treatments for medulloblastomas, one of the most deadly forms of brain tumors.

On behalf of the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center and our more than 375 members, I would like to thank the GAC for its support and ongoing commitment to supporting research that will lead to new and improved treatments for patients with all types of cancer. We are partners in this battle, and we feel fortunate to have GAC on our team.

H. Kim Lyerly, M.D.
Durham
The writer is director, Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The Feb. 27 letter by Natalie Culnon, "Nursing homes should treat their staffs better," really stood out. I strongly agreed with this letter.

I am a nursing aide and have been doing this kind of work for about 10 years. We are definitely overworked and underpaid. We are very much burned out because nursing homes and assisted livings are not paying enough, so it is very hard to get good people to work or to get people to stay for years. Some of these jobs offer no incentives or even praise from employers. Most nursing aides I know have to work two jobs just so they can live comfortably.

I don't understand why some people can't see that we are the backbones to most of these elderly communities and that if there is no us, there is no community.

Michelle Shepherd
Greensboro

The following is a Countepoint:

By Hank McGovern

I felt joy reading "$9.36" (Jeri Rowe column, Feb. 23), as it stimulated a restoration of my faith in our government for its capacity to do the right thing.

As a pizza delivery person in 2002, I taped three articles from The Charlotte Observer to a piece of cardboard to persuade customers from all neighborhoods, including "the hood," to sign a petition for raising the minimum wage. The headlines tell the stories: "Feed the hungry; fight for just wage" (Sept. 12, 2000); "Raise the minimum wage, hike would restore workers' income to its 1968 level" (Sept. 21, 2001); and "Raise wages to help economy, current federal minimum wage ... is obsolete" (March 8, 2002).

While we have made a little progress, I want to reassert the basis for stating the raise is right. The end of the 2002 article reads, "It is also a moral issue. No Americans who work full time should live in poverty." This seems evident if we want a nation based on values such as fairness and reasonableness. Other inherent values for such a society include compassion, respect and peace. These must be applied to all people regardless of class, wealth, power and education. The larger issue pertains to the kind of society we want to create.

If we are to have compassion for the working poor, we must make it possible for them to meet their needs by the wages they earn. The current minimum wage doesn't just involve a financial insufficiency; it also conveys disrespect. As I put myself in the shoes of many robbers and thieves, I can imagine having the attitude, "Things are unfair for those who have. That's disrespect for me. I'll show them what it's like to feel dissed."

I predict that, as we have an increase to $9.36, we will have a better employment rate and a slight decrease in related crimes. Our compassion and respect will be morally correct and will have a cash value.

As we decrease the disparity between the haves and have-nots, we will be on a path of enhanced unification in our country. Sure, small business will feel an effect, but it will be worth it. In a recent article on happiness, Denmark ranked No. 1. The explanation includes less competition and greed and more cooperation.

We can choose to create a more peaceful, happier country, and we have the freedom to do so. Raising the minimum wage to $9.36 would facilitate our progress.

The writer lives in Asheboro.

The following is a Counterpoint.

Every day we see and hear messages dictating what size we should be. People punish themselves when their body types do fit into the thin ideal. Many of us hold on to a pair of "skinny jeans" in hopes they will fit someday.

Part of the shameful self-punishment includes unhealthy fad diets or even starvation to try to meet society's skinny standards. These diets promise failure and usually more weight instability.

Instead of continuing this cycle, realize that much of your body type is determined by genes passed on from your parents. Stop putting your body down because it may not mimic the thin ideal. Realize we are diverse creatures and thus we are diverse in size.

Do not regard your food choices as degrees of moral failures. Food can be enjoyable, and that is OK. Like body shapes, food should not be regarded as good and bad. Be good to your body.
Allow yourself to eat when you feel hunger. Stop when your hunger goes away. Do not judge your hunger as a dishonorable signal from your brain. Trust yourself and do not try to trick it. You are receiving it because your body needs the fuel.

Participate in movements that are fun for you. Do not feel like you have to exercise on the hamster wheel of treadmills or machines (unless you enjoy them). Instead, find activities and clubs that allow you to move your body in a way that is fun and healthy, not punishment.
It is normal to struggle with accepting your natural shape. We live in a world where it is tough to escape this pressure. Support each other by recognizing the beauty among the differences. Support yourself by donating your "skinny jeans" to a charity clothing drive. Those jeans are really not your genes. Find some jeans that fit and, therefore, demonstrate the beauty of the genes only you can call your own.

Be comfortable in your genes ... and jeans.

The writer is a dietitian and counselor. She lives in Greensboro.

Let's set a high bar for approving rezonings that could damage our neighborhoods permanently. I believe that recent rezonings in northwest Greensboro have shown that an added layer of protection for affected neighbors is needed.

For 36 years, the people of Greensboro have not had the citizen recourse of a protest petition enjoyed by the citizens of Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Winston-Salem, Fayetteville, Wilmington and Asheville.

A protest petition allows citizens to force council members to muster a 75 percent "supermajority" for approving rezonings that are protested by a petition signed by 5 percent of the adjacent neighborhood property owners.

We lost that right when, amid a host of controversial rezonings in northwest Greensboro in 1971, the N.C. General Assembly amended the city charter to exempt Greensboro from this law. It is time to reinstate it.

If the City Council is persuaded that a contested development plan is reasonably fair to all concerned and is best for the city, it will be approved. The safeguard of a 75 percent supermajority would not halt such a development.

But if a controversial plan does not measure up to this high standard, it should be voted down.

Anne Hummel
Greensboro

I was dismayed to learn that the city of Greensboro was reducing its recycling pickup to every other week. Nowadays, when taking care of our environment is more important than ever, this seems like a shortsighted effort to reduce costs.

I understand that the city needs to make some cuts, but should they be from a program that is going to do a greater good for our residents in the years to come?

Yes, you can take your extra recyclables to one of the city's drop-off locations, but most people won't do that. Instead, they will toss those extra recyclable materials that don't fit in their brown cans into the trash.

This is a shame. I hope the city rethinks this plan in the near future for the sake of the environment.

Ginny Gaylor
Greensboro

I agree with Dorren Chapel's letter, "Employers requiring too much education" (Feb. 22).
Whatever happened to old-fashioned experience? A person used to be able to walk into a business and put in an application, get interviewed and be hired or not.

A lot of baby boomers, 50-plus years of age, don't have a degree but can offer experience and hard work to get the same job done.

Regardless, age does play a part and even more so without a degree. Some job offers with a degree pay a little more than minimum wage.

What has happened to our society?

Are we so greedy and money hungry that we have no compassion for the average, hardworking class? We want to work and make a decent living like everyone else.

Employers, please give us a chance.

Kay Sigmon
Greensboro

The city of Greensboro "fathers" never cease to amaze me. How can they be so blind all these years?

Favoritism has always existed in the Fire Department.

I was a Greensboro fireman from 1967 until 1970, and I know favoritism was there then as well as now.

Oh, I'm sure some have been legitimately promoted up the ranks because of their ability, but if they weren't in the proper "clique" of firemen, captains and chiefs, the chances of promotion were slim and none.

I am surprised this favoritism has gone unaddressed all these years. The "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" mentality will continue to exist until the city of Greensboro goes outside of the Greensboro Fire Department ranks to choose the next chief.

Lee McKinney
Summerfield

Sunshine prevailed today. The weather was beautiful and so was the local news. Jim Schlosser will return!

It just doesn't get any better than that.

I have learned much from his writings, and a great deal of this information involved friends and families in the African American community in which I grew up. Mr. Schlosser has provided the entire community with information that might otherwise have been lost to us forever.

In this Bicentennial year, it profits us well to discover all of our yesterdays, reflect upon where we are today, and utilize this knowledge to ensure meaningful tomorrows.

Jim Schlosser has given us a glimpse into our past. Let us use this information as a lighthouse to the future.

Thanks, Jim. I can hardly wait for your next article!

Crystal McCombs
Greensboro

The students at Grimsley High School who were not the main offenders involved in the fight that turned into a riot in December should be allowed to return to school.

As for the students who were the main cause in the incident, they should be placed in an alternative school or some sort of program where, if they want to continue their education, they can still have a chance to learn.

One thing is certain: Expelling that many students is not the answer in ensuring that they have completed their punishment because ultimately you're punishing their minds and not their actions.

Ulylisa Frazelle
Greensboro

This is to answer and clarify a statement published in a letter, "It's time to reinstate the military draft" (Feb. 26). The writer did not recall the use of the National Guard in Korea. When I was sent over there, I was assigned to the 623rd Field Artillery Battalion, Kentucky National Guard. Our unit was awarded a Navy Unit Commendation for supporting Marine units.

There were many Guard units activated during this period. The High Point unit had many of its personnel assigned as training officers and NCOs.

On Dec. 13, the National Guard celebrated its 371st birthday. The first unit (still active) was founded Dec. 13, 1635.

George Grant
High Point

Our patriot forefathers meant that all men were created equal ("Health care coverage should be equal," letter, Feb. 13) in regard to natural rights granted by God at birth and opportunity. They did not mean to include Indians or Africans, among others, at the time.

Equality of opportunity is a foundation of this republic, but there is no guaranteed equality of outcome because there are diversities in talents, abilities, self-discipline, and yes -- income and wealth. Equality is a naive utopianism.

Marxist communist societies preach about moving toward equality. All have failed. Health care in America is the world's greatest; health insurance coverage is the problem.

Insurance is a choice of purchase. Employers do not have to provide it; it is a benefit. The government does a poor job providing it. It has no constitutional right to do so. That is part of a socialist agenda. There is no entitlement to insurance in the Constitution.

Constitutional republican government was successful for 150 years; socialism has failed everywhere attempted. The question is which direction do we go from here?

Derrick G. Hinson
Walkertown

Amen to Quentin L. Richardson's suggestion that the GI Bill cover full college expenses for our veterans (letter, Feb. 27). It certainly makes more sense than giving children of illegal immigrants a free ride at North Carolina's community colleges.

Our veterans are offering the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. Isn't a college education the least we can do? A small price to pay for such service.

I have forgotten the reasoning behind the offer to educate offspring of illegals, but I'm sure it couldn't possibly be this worthwhile.

Judy Godfrey
Greensboro

I am concerned that N.C. A&T is holding students' refund monies and these young adults are being displaced because of this. This is money that has to be paid back by the students, and the school is earning interest off their money.

I believe that all schools of higher learning governed by the state should have a set mandatory release date no later than one week after the first day of classes for financial aid refunds. Most of the students who receive financial assistance rely heavily on these funds to help with living expenses as well as academic costs and fees.

So when a university holds these funds, it is causing unnecessary hardship and legal issues for these students. I hope more students band together to help change this system that A&T has going on. Two years of this should be enough.

Antoinette Simmons
Greensboro

I find it interesting that Terry Grier decides to look for another position on the other side of the country just before we discover that many crimes committed on campuses have not been reported to the proper authorities. Surely, Mr. Grier was aware of this.

What other improprieties are going on in the Guilford County school system that no one in the general public is aware of? Just how much of the taxpayers' dollars are being misspent? No one will ever know for sure.

Geralyn Cox
Greensboro

My 86-year-old parents and I were discussing politics. We came up with an idea: Why not let people 64 and under vote?

They will be more affected than we will. They evidently don't need our wisdom.

Judy Crutchfield
Kernersville

Recently in Winston-Salem, I entered a store where an employee costumed as a 6-foot chimpanzee handed me a banana. "Thank you, Mr. Justice Souter," said I, feeling more cheerful than I had in days.

Kelso Shields
High Point

Regarding Sheryl Edge's letter (Feb. 29): Do the math. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how much money a single person on minimum wage makes. For a 40-hour week (before taxes), $244, or $11,712 a year (52 weeks with no vacations), which is taxable at 15 percent by the IRS, 6 percent by North Carolina and 6.2 percent by Social Security. That leaves the grand net sum of $8,526.33.

Now let's see, he needs a place to live ($500 a month, if you can find something like that in Greensboro). We now have $2,526.33 minus $480 a year for bus passes. This person obviously can't afford a car.

That means he has only $2,046.33 left for food, telephone, utility bills, medical bills, etc. (This person has no medical insurance; God forbid he gets sick). Yes, there is an Alternative Minimum Tax, but I doubt that gets anyone much back.

Shame on you, Ms. Edge, for forcing this minimum-wage earner to live in a shelter and eat at the soup kitchen. You are paying for his housing and his food. Why don't you give him more money so he can stand up tall and pay for them himself?

Christine Willard
Reidsville

Wednesday is the national birthday of Girl Scouting, and girls and adults throughout our area are celebrating the Movement's 96 years of service to God, our country and all of our communities.

Girl Scouting began in Guilford County in 1917, with African-American girls joining in 1937. The oldest Girl Scout troop in North Carolina was formed in 1914 in Leaksville (now part of Eden in Rockingham County).

Girls in the 13-county Tarheel Triad Council rock. They provide thousands of hours of service every year, whether by cleaning up a neighborhood or by making pillows for cancer patients at Wesley Long or by serving meals at Potters House — or by monitoring the Little Girls' Fun Run and handing out water at the finish line of the Women's Only Race in Greensboro.

Girl Scouts are generally fairly quiet about what we do, but I'd like to give a shout out to all of the 13,000 girls whom we serve and the 6,000 adult volunteers who make this organization work. I began volunteering with Girl Scouting in 1977 because I needed something to do with my spare time. It was the best decision I've ever made.

Lynn Burnette
Colfax

The writer is vice president, marketing and communication, Tarheel Triad Council.

Michael Crouch (letter, Feb. 20) shows how inconsistent and intolerant a conservative and a true believer can be toward opposing points of view. Crouch is concerned about Supreme Court appointees by a Democratic president, who might interpret the U.S. Constitution differently than authoritarian Republicans would like.

While his concern for the Constitution is touching, perhaps he should be reminded that, for more than seven years, a right-wing Republican has been in the White House and he has shown nothing but contempt for the Constitution.

King George W. has, in fact, attempted to set up an unconstitutional monarchy, answerable to no one. Bush has violated the letter and the spirit of the Constitution through flouting habeas corpus, warrantless wiretaps, unlawful torture of prisoners of war and claiming executive privilege when asked to cooperate with congressional oversight committees exercising their constitutional duties.

Conservatives hold six seats on the Supreme Court as opposed to one moderate and two liberals. Radicals are not satisfied with anything but total domination, which is the authoritarian mind-set of right-wing Republicans and true believers. Fair-minded people would want all sides heard.

Danny Glenn
Greensboro

Well, I see Nelson Johnson and company are at it again. They keep bringing up the shootout in Greensboro in 1979. It seems they want to blame someone other than themselves for the trouble they asked for and got.

Johnson, get over it. You lost and that is a fact.

Richard H. Vanderford
Siler City

Consider: You are facing a very serious operation. You have narrowed your choice of surgeons to two, both well qualified. Would your choice be determined by the one who had much more experience or the other who had the best bedside manner? Would race or gender matter?

Remus Turner
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Walter J. Sperko

Your Feb. 20 editorial made all the usual mealy-mouthed excuses for congressional earmarks. After all, some projects were very worthwhile and deserve funding. Some risk of abuse, appearance of corruption, but — oh well! Congress-critters gotta take care of them folks back home!

A famous document says something about powers not in the Constitution being reserved to the states, or to the people. An insightful editor would have excoriated all congress-critters, noting that not one of the projects listed — not one! — should be funded by the federal government. They are all local projects that benefit local organizations and they should be funded locally.
Consider: The High Point Police Department? The YMCA? Elon Law School? Sandhills Teen Challenge? Are these within the purview of the federal government? No, not one!

Your Feb. 21 editorial on water delivery was all wet, too. You gave a pass to the grossly incompetent Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority. Don't those people know that the Triad has a drinking water shortage? Did they not know that Randleman Dam was completed a couple of years ago and is filling up with drinking water? Did they not know that you need a water-treatment plant to filter and sterilize drinking water? Those heads would have rolled had this project been privately financed, but you let them duck — perhaps because they are all big names from local governments (see www.ptrwa.org). They all should be summarily dismissed and the commission dissolved — if we can find the water to accomplish that worthy goal.

Finally, your tirade about the beef (also on Feb. 21) reeked of hyperbole. The United States produced more than 11.5 million tons of beef in 2007. This recall — 143 million pounds — is about .5 percent of the beef produced. I note that this recall occurred because some slaughterhouse violated USDA procedures, not because the beef was bad. If there had been mass illnesses and death caused by our food supply, I could understand your call for more regulations and regulators. But there aren't, so you cranked it up with your silly references to "playing Russian roulette" when we eat.

So let's have more rules, more regulators and more panic recalls so we can jack up the price of food more for no benefit when we have the safest food supply in the world already.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

I was impressed with the article regarding substandard bridges in the county. Impressive that five of the state's worst bridges are here but that only one will be repaired in the foreseeable future.

An adjoining article was about spending $26 million on a four-mile city greenway. I'm not sure how many would use this greenway, but we do know that hundreds of thousands of people use our bridges weekly.

A third article on the same page concerned City Councilman Robbie Perkins pushing for the purchase of the Canada Dry building for several million.

The city recently annexed 10,000 people (most against their will), and doubled their taxes. It will force many to hook on to its water system. Apparently, the fact that we do not have enough water to support the activities of our current residents seems lost on some. Also, we will provide police protection for the newcomers, but the city is short on police officers.

Would someone in city and county management step up and explain all of this to us? I simply cannot understand any of this mess other than mismanagement.

Jerry C. Poole
Greensboro

Keeping America's promises? Whatever the "promises" are, you've been in office long enough to have kept them! Taxpayers know that more "hidden agendas" and "movements" will surface after the election, right?

We, the taxpayers, are fed up with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and the rest of the political bunch that's selling America out a job at a time. Our once-stable American economy has gone bye-bye, thanks to your so-called promises! American people of all races are suffering, thanks to politicians like you. There's absolutely no more money for health care, schools, jails, prisons, social and welfare programs, your salaries, your six to eight offices and all your freebies. Do you think taxpayers should continue to pay since you sold America out and gave their jobs and security away?

Being a minority and growing up in the South, we were taught to be frugal. If we didn't have money, we didn't spend money. What a concept! We grew our own food and raised our own chickens, cows and pigs. We were taught if you couldn't keep your promises, don't make them! Remember, folks, these promises and words are what made you who you are today.

Wake up, Americans! It's time to take responsibility for yourselves.

Shirley deLong
Jamestown

Columnist Leonard Pitts' abject hatred of the South, its history and heritage, is so vitriolic that he is unable to separate fact from fiction. His affront should be ignored.

One could not permit his latest diatribe, which equated the Confederate flag and Nazis, to go unchallenged (March 3).

It is futile to attempt to change the views of one so filled with prejudice and ignorance, but such an outrage must be challenged.

While space will not permit extensive coverage of the decades-old antagonisms between North and South that ultimately led in 1860 to Southern secession and formation of the Confederate States of America, it was hoped and expected that peace would prevail between the sections.
When the new federal president took office (Mr. Lincoln), he ordered a military invasion of the South to force restoration of the Union. For four tragic years, Southerners shed their blood in a desperate defense of their homeland.

Southerners knew the North would attempt to label this national catastrophe as a "war to end slavery." This fiction is shattered by two simple statements:

1. Slavery remained perfectly legal in the Union until after the war. Why not just remain in the Union?

2. Union President Lincoln stated, "If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it."

W.K. Oden Jr.
Greensboro

I write this letter with a heavy heart. I went to the Guilford County Animal Shelter to look for my kitty. I was shocked and stunned to see four rooms full of cats.

Please go and adopt, adopt, adopt these precious babies before they are put down. They look so sad and need loving homes. Please go today and adopt and save a life that will give you unconditional love for the rest of your life. Please do it today!

Phyllis Gordon
High Point

The following is a Counterpoint.

By the Rev. Julie Peeples

On March 5, the News & Record ran a cartoon concerning the United Church of Christ and the IRS. Since there had been no reporting of this story in the paper, I have received numerous calls and e-mails asking what this is about.

Basically, the UCC's leadership received a letter from the IRS informing them of an investigation into Barack Obama's appearance last June at our biennial gathering in Hartford, Conn. The IRS is considering revoking the UCC's tax-exempt status because of it. There are important issues at stake, among them the upholding of the principles of separation of church and state, the freedom of the church to engage in dialogue and education about faith and the public/political sphere, the freedom of speech and association. These are matters of great importance to members of all faith traditions.

I am no expert on tax law, but I attended the June event and can attest that all attendees were emphatically instructed that this was not to be a campaign event. No posters, chanting, buttons or any such campaigning were allowed. Campaign volunteers did set up a table outside the arena, where church officials had no jurisdiction.

Obama, an active, 20-year member of a UCC congregation, had been invited to speak a year before he became a candidate. Other candidates have made similar appearances at various churches and denominational gatherings. I am confident that the IRS will conclude the UCC acted within the law.

With this story, as with all developments in this election year, it is crucial that people obtain information from reliable sources. More information on this particular issue and Obama's actual speech can be found at www.ucc.org, as well as the Web sites for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Washington Post. There have been several spurious e-mail efforts seeking to discredit Obama, casting aspersions on his faith, his church, even his pastor. No doubt this latest story will be used, distorted in ways that suit the anger of some rather than serving the truth.

My greatest hope is that we will keep the focus on the issues that truly matter, allowing our values, our faith to inform our decision-making and the way we exercise our freedom. How amazing it would be if these coming months could bring out the best rather than what is most destructive and hateful in our society. Our faith demands such; our nation needs and deserves such.

The Rev. Julie Peeples is pastor of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Greensboro.

A recent letter complained about the school bonds requiring a "tax increase of this size." The student population of Guilford County's public schools is increasing at 1,300 students each year. Providing a safe place for these children to attend school requires building the equivalent of one new high school or two new elementary schools every year.

On May 6, the voters will be asked to approve $457 million of bonds for schools ($45 million for 1,100 students at Eastern High School and $412 million for 5,900 students in five other new schools, plus renovations/expansions to 15 existing schools).

Repaying these bonds does require a tax increase. Although the tax impact will be lower in years before and after 2012, the maximum property tax impact will occur in the year 2012 when all of the $457 million of school bonds have been issued. In that peak year, Guilford County officials estimate that the school bonds will increase the taxes on a house valued at $200,000 by $160 per year.

That is about the same amount of money as one Big Mac from McDonald's per week or one latte from Starbucks per week. Providing good, safe schools for 7,000 students is certainly worth that amount.

Frank Kendall
Greensboro

Righteousness! Where is it?

Recently I was let go from a job because I tried to hold onto an item that a shoplifter was stealing. I was told it is company policy to let shoplifters go because otherwise it may have put employees and customers in harm's way.

The policy was set because it would cost less to let the robber go than pay the legal costs to prosecute the person and to handle any legal action from the accused, if that person were harmed in any way.

This sends a clear message: Steal all you can; it won't even get reported to the police! As the greed of corporate America continues in this direction, the standards of this wonderful country continue on a downward spiral.

Where will it end?

Corporate America, it's up to you. Whose side are you on?

Pete Geisen
Greensboro

The Clinton-Obama nomination race is now on to the wire with Clinton running second so far. The race may degenerate into attack strategies, as recommended already by some candidate advisers.

Clinton may be already defeated by her failure to campaign as the woman she really is. And some say she has a millstone named Bill around her neck that she could but won't drop.

Obama continues to have problems showing he is more than a "purty face with naught behind it." His somewhat hysterical momentum will not carry him to the convention. He now is stuck with having become another politician, not the original inspiration he came on as.

So it may well come down to what the superdelegates will do at the convention. That probably depends, come August, simply on who they think can best beat McCain, a political judgment.

Disappointing, isn't it, to foresee two pretty worthwhile candidates maybe turning into mere pawns?

But fun to watch.

Dick Wharton
Greensboro

After more than 400 years, why does the color line still divide Americans?

Many believe that we have overcome this issue of racial separation, but it is obvious that after all the fighting for equality, we still have some more battles to win. The issue has been brushed away and hidden under the sand, but due to presidential hopeful Barack Obama, it has been brought back to the forefront.

What makes me highly upset is when people say they are going to vote or not going to vote for Obama because he's a black man. What does the color of the man's skin have to do with his presidential platform? Let's base our decision on something more than the pigmentation of the man.

Sometimes I believe that the gift of eyesight was a poison to mankind. The gift of seeing only leads us to judge without any knowledge of the person. Why can't we take the old saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover," and live by it as we do with the Ten Commandments?

In the 2008 election, let us learn how to hear and listen instead of see and judge.

ZuQorah Williamson
Greensboro

The Democrats sure are screwed up.

First, they say, "All votes must count," per the 2000 presidential election. Then Florida and Michigan don't count.

But now, wait. Maybe there is a way to make them count.

Get ready for the lawsuits.

They have a primary and the people vote or caucus and the delegates are counted. OK, then, the one who gets the most delegates gets the nomination, right? Not so fast.

We have a collection of high-ranking "superdelegates," who will now tell the people how they should have voted.

Most of these superdelegates are now part of Congress and in the last 14 months haven't passed one piece of meaningful legislation. But they will tell the loyal party supporters how it will be.

Hey, this is a primary. If they can't do this right, how can they expect the rest of us pawns to put them in office?

I don't think so.

John Trovato
Greensboro

I would like to tell Greensboro what is right in our school system. It is all too often that we hear about discipline problems, attendance woes, etc. in our schools.

On Feb. 28, my wife and I attended a dance/choir recital in Ben L. Smith's auditorium given by the Ben L. Smith Gospel Choir and dance classes. This choir and dance troupe provided a chance for the public to see an award-winning choir/dance recital that was beyond compare.

The choir was just back from its travels where it had just won two competitions in New York. Its singing, syncopation and obvious joy in performing were felt by everyone in the audience.

The singers had the audience up on its feet and participating for almost the entire show. My wife and I were truly moved by the range, power and musicality of the choir. The student director, Dominique Wharton, was a choir leader of ability far beyond his age. His enthusiastic and commanding performance were a true vision.

Many kudos to Dion Clark for fostering and developing such an excellent choir. Ms. Rasbury's dance class showed what can be accomplished in a short time.

We left the auditorium enthralled and entertained by this amazing group of young people.

Peter and Silvia Moser
Summerfield

As noted in your story, "Officials rethink development process" (March 11), Marlene Sanford suggests that the state should look at repealing protest petitions altogether. Why stop here?

Perhaps Sanford and the Triad Real Estate and Building Coalition should lobby to repeal the entire First Amendment.

It may be time to look to move to one of the "free" cities in North Carolina where no such petition restrictions exist. My house will be on the market listed "FOR SALE BY OWNER," no Realtors, please.

Sharon Kalbaugh
Greensboro

The article by Edward Cone (News & Record, Feb. 10) concerning the Civil Rights Museum echoed my thoughts exactly. Please allow me to take it to another level.

I have always felt that Skip Alston has tried to make this solely an African American museum. You can't divide the citizens of this great city and then expect financial support from them.

Greensboro is a unique and diverse city. We have closed the gap on many injustices. No one can deny the importance of the stance these four young men took. Their act of bravery spread across this nation. And to think it started here in Greensboro. That's quite an accomplishment. No, it wasn't easy and changes didn't happen overnight. It was a combination of the best of us -- black and white working together to do what's best for this city.

We need only to look back for the purpose of moving forward. The Civil Rights Museum belongs to all of us -- black and white, along with plenty of green (donations) to make this dream a reality.

For those still waiting for your 40 acres and a mule, you might want to "pony" up, look to the future and profit from the past. We owe it to the Greensboro Four.

Shirley J. Wright
Greensboro

National security is a priority to protect the people, but the Protect America Act should be called Protect America Telcos Act. Warrantless wiretapping is a violation of the people's right to privacy (please read the Fourth Amendment).

The House blocked the new bill based on Telco immunity. Good for them since the actions of the Telcos that illegally helped in wiretaps should not be given a free pass. Illegal actions are just that, illegal, regardless of who does it or why.

When we remove checks, balances and oversight of what our government does, we have lost our rights as Americans.

When an administration takes an oath of office and then acts in an irresponsible manner, ignoring that oath, those corporations and/or individuals who assist must not be "forgiven."

Skeeter Durham
Greensboro

The Republican solution to any domestic problem is to cut taxes. This has become their single most important issue. But getting it right eludes them.

Cutting taxes dominates their campaign rhetoric. Read my lips: Taxes are a necessary evil. It takes money to run a government. Things don't happen in a vacuum. You have action, reaction -- cause, effect. Cutting taxes without a corresponding reduction in spending is unconscionable. Spending and taxes are like a tooth and its ache. You treat the tooth to get rid of the ache. The road to lower taxes is through fiscally responsible spending.

If Republicans had guts, they would preach spending cuts. It takes guts to confront special-interest groups and lobbyists. Entrenched government bureaucrats are also a problem. It's politically expedient to offer a small tax cut to a gullible electorate while granting huge tax breaks to corrupt corporations. There is no quick fix.

We may need a black man or white woman, separate or together, to right the ship.

We the people. The truth and soul of this country. Peace.

Max Roseman
High Point

For several years, most people have agreed the IRS is a terrible way to collect money from American taxpayers.

A better idea is using a small postcard, simple, easy enough that a literate person could read it accurately, sign his or her card and put it in the mail.

Using this method would save millions or even billions of dollars toward a treasury surplus.

It is past time for the House and Senate to get off their duffs and pass it as a gift for all Americans.

Benjamin E. Wilson
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Richard Mearns

Gas prices are on the rise again, and while price swings will continue, the long-term trend is nothing but up.

There are plenty of "villains" with their hands in the cookie jar, but the fact is the world's maximum productive capacity is fast reaching its peak (virtually every Western industrial nation already has and the Middle East is not far behind).

Soon, rising demand will outstrip world supply and $4 gas prices will be fondly remembered like the nickel candy bar.

Many Americans seem unable to accept or deal with this new paradigm and its straightforward solution: Reduce miles driven and/or switch to a higher-mileage car. While some are slowly and grudgingly coming to this realization, many still have one last defense: "I can't afford to trade my gas-guzzler for a more efficient vehicle, I'll lose too much money," or "I've already paid off my loan, I can't afford a new car."

If these are your excuses, consider this: If you own a big truck or SUV, it is depreciating rapidly (for example, a basic $31,000 Ford Expedition purchased in 2004 currently has a Kelley Blue Book "private sale value" of approximately $13,000). That $18,000 is gone forever. In fact, if gas prices continue to rise dramatically, the loss of the remaining $13,000 isn't far behind.

What can you do? Trade the Expedition for a fuel-efficient alternative. If you can see your way to a midsize (buy a trailer if you move big stuff occasionally), a Chevy Malibu of comparable age and mileage has a private sale value of $8,000.

If a large vehicle is really required, a comparable Dodge Grand Caravan also carries a private sale value in the $8,000 range. Such an exchange via private sales offers the opportunity to make money, and purchase from a used-car lot at least to break even.

Both the Chevy and the Caravan would be cheaper to maintain, depreciate less and yield significant gas savings. At 15,000 miles per year and $4 per gallon, the Malibu would save $1,328 a year and the Caravan $709. Coupled with less maintenance and depreciation, annual savings would likely be approximately $2,825 for the Malibu and $2,100 for the Caravan, or $235 and $175 per month respectively.

Is the SUV really that cool?

The writer lives in Greensboro.

Eve Marie Carson could have gone to school anywhere. Eve chose North Carolina. We, the people of North Carolina, owe Eve. We owe it to her to act on her behalf for what happened. We must act now and every day to ensure we do more than moments of silence, memorial services and ribbon wearing.

Newspapers should devote space every day to inform us what legislators, law enforcement, media and educators did today and every day to serve, protect and prevent what happened instead of what some silly celebrities did. Publish photos of criminal suspects every day until apprehended.

Judges, state and local representatives should end parole, ensure sentences are served and get prisons built. Build prisons like those in Maricopa County, Ariz., to hold criminals -- no excuses about cost or conditions.

Educators and parents should encourage and promote law-enforcement cooperation, awareness, education, appreciation and action.

Eve Marie Carson set an example -- an example to be aspired to, an example of what is great about America and what America has to offer. We owe it to Eve, our families and America to act. It is our responsibility to demand action. Will you act or will you forget Eve Marie Carson?

Tom Farrand
Greensboro

Regarding the front-page article about the arrest of the men in the death of Eve Carson: I am grateful for the excellent police work involved. I feel grief for Carson's family and the UNC community. And, as a Christian, I am also deeply grieved for these two young men and their families.

What does it say about the help our justice system gave these individuals after their first arrests (in one case a felony)? This event has caused three lives to be lost -- and so many others affected. I pray that we can seek to understand what broke down for these men and find the strength to change a system that fails so many.

Kathryn Larson
Greensboro

A protest petition, which forces council members to muster a 75 percent supermajority to approving rezonings that are protested by a petition signed by 5 percent of neighborhood property owners, should never be allowed.

And the reason why is this: No one should have to have a 75 percent supermajority to get anything approved. Whatever happened to the most votes count?

If you want your property taxes to go sky high again, then leave business and industry out of the equation. Then you will see how fast Greensboro hits rock bottom.

So council members and commissioners, do the right thing and stay the course.

Robert Bingham
Greensboro

With the recent resignation of Gov. Eliot Spitzer, David Paterson is being celebrated as New York's first African American governor. He's also being touted as the nation's first blind governor. However, I beg to differ. Blindness is not only a physical condition, but also a figurative closing of the mind. The history of U.S. political scandals reveals bribery, extortion, racketeering, substance abuse, financial and sexual misconduct, cover-ups, perjury and manslaughter.

Corruption among our elected officials has permeated all levels of government, and it appears that many of the men and women we have chosen to represent the interests of America are ethically blind.

"For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them" (Acts 28:27 NIV). America needs healing. Here's to David Paterson -- and 20/20 vision!

Susan Boskat Murray
Walkertown

Will someone please explain to me why we are celebrating Kosovo's independence? True enough, "secession" plucks many a mind string down here in North Carolina, but something is terribly amiss with this one.

Kosovo was a province of Serbia (former Yugoslavia) in which the Muslims are the majority and the Christians the minority. The "ethnic Albanians" of Kosovo resorted to terrorism against their Christian neighbors, I suppose, because Allah told them they needed to live under Sharia law.

The slaughtering of Kosovo's Christians triggered the Serbian central government's intercession to put down the terrorism. France and NATO entered the fray on the side of the Kosovo Muslims, and the United States joined them. As a result, we have another Muslim state … part of the greater global caliphate.

Little matter that the aging queen of Political Correctness, Christiane Amanpour of CNN, and the rest of the media still insist on calling those Muslim terrorists in Kosovo "ethnic Albanians." It does not alter the facts.

What we have is another Muslim state suppressing its Christian minority. Pray tell how we ended up on its side?

William Northrop
Greensboro

Though it's located in the heart of downtown, the Old Presbyterian Church Graveyard, adjacent to the Greensboro Historical Museum, is an often-overlooked part of Greensboro's history.

Among the 300-plus graves are those of influential people from Greensboro's early days: Gov. John Morehead, the Rev. William Paisley, founder of First Presbyterian Church, soldiers from four wars, and names such as Armfield, Caldwell, Dick, Gorrell, Lindsay, Porter and Rankin.

The earliest readable gravestone dates from 1834; the last burial took place in 1926. The church moved to its present site in 1929.

Two years ago, efforts began to restore the damaged and scattered monuments and surround them with a garden. Much work has been done, and final repairs and landscaping are under way. Instead of grass, 74 varieties of ground cover and flowers, totaling 11,000 individual plants, are being planted.

On behalf of the work committee, I would like to invite citizens to experience this special place on Easter Sunday at a 7:15 a.m. sunrise service. The cemetery will also be open for tours during Greensboro's Bicentennial Festival.

Chip Calloway called the graveyard "an urban oasis for the 21st century." This historical landmark is a source of pride and pleasure for Greensboro citizens.

Jake Michel
Greensboro

Is it not a big deal that teachers directly affect the future, through the influence they have on our children? If so, we should have a regular article commending educators instead of just every now and then.

But when the praise comes, it is nice to see that teachers are still in the hearts of people -- even though they do teach and raise students for six hours a day, 180 days of the school year. I know that it really isn't much, but who is actually counting?

I aspire to be an educator one day, having the privilege of preparing kids for their futures, and hopefully then we are going to have our own page in the paper.

Some dispassionate, distant person would say that the only thing teachers do is teach. That person does not understand that teachers not only teach but advise, mentor, listen and love. Still, they get paid little compared to politicians and judges.

That is something that ought to make you think!

Joshua Jones
Greensboro

To my surprise and wonder, I have just become eligible for Medicare! At the same time, the doctor in the practice where I had been going for more than 15 years retired.

I decided to look for a smaller practice and, after asking friends and colleagues about their experiences, I identified another practice that had those characteristics. When I called to ask if they were taking new patients, much to my delight I was told they were. Then, when I was asked about my insurance coverage and told them I had Medicare and a well-known secondary insurance, much to my surprise and frustration they said they were not taking "new" Medicare patients.

As one who has worked (and continues to do so) all my professional life with some success to help others obtain needed medical services, you can imagine I felt very rejected and, quite frankly, "old."

In this exciting political season when one of the main issues is health care, I wonder, unless there is a single-pay system in the future, whether Medicare-insured citizens will continue to be treated as second class when applying for the medical coverage they need.

Bonnie Miller
Greensboro

Barack Obama has garnered a lot of attention this election for his support from educated voters and the youth. Well, as a 22-year-old college graduate and law student, I fill both of these molds … and I am supporting Hillary Clinton.

I concede the point that Obama is an inspiring speaker. But underneath the roaring rhetoric and the whimsical words, who really is Barack Obama and what does he stand for? He says he's a new kind of politician. But these past weeks have revealed otherwise, with double speak on the Iraq war, NAFTA and even public financing.

I am cognizant that all politicians break promises now and then. But Obama has based his campaign on being different, yet he has consistently said one thing in public and done another once the lights and cameras are put away. He argues judgment over experience, especially on Iraq. When he ran for the Senate a mere four years ago, he promised to vote against Iraq war funding. He broke that promise to the tune of $300 billion. Judgment does matter. But it's difficult to judge one's candidacy when he continually changes his position on the issues. That is not change we can believe in.

Andrew Murphy
Durham

Shame on the Burlington Animal Shelter! Would it have "killed" the shelter to wait a mere 24 hours before killing Petey? At least this poor dog would have had a prayer of being adopted had he been given these extra 23 hours — since apparently he was killed within an hour of Lee Dickinson dropping him off there.

I would advise all animal lovers, indeed all humanitarians, to deluge the shelter with letters demanding that it adopt a 24-hour no-kill policy as is practiced by the Guilford County Animal Shelter. There is nothing remotely humane about sending a pet to a premature death within one short hour of being left by his/her owner in the hopes of the shelter finding someone to adopt him/her into a better home.

Hopefully, this excruciating experience for Dickinson has served the purpose of opening the eyes of pet owners and that they will be vigilant in asking questions and getting everything in writing when they are dealing with any animal shelter but, sadly, most particularly the Burlington Animal Shelter.

Deborah W. Stanton
Greensboro

The writer is a former resident of Burlington.

I'm appalled at the press coverage of the Jerusalem seminary bombing. The victims were studying and learning about the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They were young students, not young rock throwers at the border making life miserable for people. They were trying to make life better for people. The press makes one side look innocent but not the other.

R.R. McKenzie
Jamestown

The second female soldier since World War II is to be awarded the Silver Star for valor. She used her body as a shield to protect injured soldiers and moved them to a safer place. Our women are engaging in close combat, and hundreds have been killed or wounded. I pray that she doesn't share their fate.

The number of military personnel is close to 1.3 million. Women make up more than 200,000 of these. So here's to all you "tough" gang bangers, bikers and other macho guys. The 19-year-old girls have got you covered. You just keep playing your kiddie games.

Ed Philpott
Greensboro

Four local foundations that work closely with the school administration on several improvement programs for Guilford County Schools thank Terry Grier for his energetic, innovative and dedicated performance on behalf of our children during the past eight years. Our schools have made progress in several major categories every year since Dr. Grier has been superintendent.

These programs include reduction of the achievement gap, innovative programs, success in reducing dropout rates, greater retention of teachers, increased Advanced Placement and Baccalaureate programs, performance by our brightest students who outperform their peers nationwide and more.

When leadership challenges an organization to try the sometimes unknown and untested to make improvements, everything attempted does not always work but the overall results can be positive. We would like to thank Dr. Grier, the staff and all the teachers in Guilford County for their very productive work on behalf of our children. We all continue our commitment of working with the new superintendent and the staff toward helping make Guilford County public schools better each and every year.

Jim Melvin
Greensboro

The author is president of the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation. The letter was also signed by Susan Schwartz, Cemala Foundation; Cathy Levinson, Toleo Foundation; Skip Moore, Weaver Foundation.

I had to respond to the writer (letter, March 3) wanting Fire Chief Teeters' head on a platter.

I am almost sure in any fire or police department, they do similar work without any problems. These men and women are close friends, and this does not interfere with that relationship.

I do not know Teeters personally, but I do know from being a policeman once and working part-time recently with firemen that most of these men and women work 12- and 24-hour shifts. In their off time, they do yard work, electrical work, carpentry, odd jobs and volunteer at their churches.

The part-time jobs are done for extra income, even if the mayor, chief of police, fire chief, city councilman or even you or I called to have work done.

Everyone's money is good, not for fear or reward, but for income from their work. The fire chief has receipts for work performed at his homes, and I'm sure lots of others have the same from where they paid their bill and were happy with the results.

Why this person wants Teeters fired or jailed is beyond me. Seems he has an ax to grind and no facts to back it up.

Jerry Stanley
Reidsville

An article on the News & Record Web site recently discussed how rape victims have to pay for testing that will find the rapist. Charges range from $50 to several hundred dollars. This is adding insult to injury.

The state Department of Crime Control and Public Safety offers a reimbursement of up to $1,000 for the hospital bills submitted by the doctors of rape victims, but charges often are higher, leaving the victim to pay a few hundred out of pocket. This is not right. Forcing a person to pay for justice when they are the victim of a horrible crime is cruel and unusual.

The Constitution protects a criminal from cruel and unusual punishment, but apparently the doctors took advantage of the fact that nothing is said for the victim.

Something must be done. Rape is a terrible crime, and offenders should be punished without requiring funding from the victim. Some charity organization for the payment of the leftover cost of testing should be created. Or perhaps the police force could become involved.

Either way, we are supposed to heal the victims, not tear the wounds open further.

Forest Hill
Greensboro

The newest section of the urban loop (I-40/I-74) is now open. While that may be convenient for the traveling public, it is an unrelenting noise nightmare for those forced to live next to it without the benefit of noise-abatement walls.

Federal funding is made available to each state for the erection of noise-abatement walls. More than $30,000 is allowable for each impacted residence. The neighborhoods of Sedgefield Lakes, Beechcroft and Oaks West were developed before the roadway route was selected and are eligible for funding to build the walls. The Human Environmental Unit of the N.C. Department of Transportation, responsible for approving noise-abatement wall placement, ruled that our requests were not persuasive but managed to erect such protection for some woodlands and open fields less than a mile past our location.

Because of the failure of NCDOT to provide any form of noise abatement in our area, those individuals living next to this roadway are subjected to constant noise and vibration, significant loss of property value, possible long-term health issues and the inability to enjoy our homes and properties as we once did. The NCDOT grossly underestimated the sound level of the urban loop, and this problem needs to be corrected.

Arthur M. Ihrig
Greensboro

Frank Kendall's letter ("Student needs worth price tag of bonds," March 13) on bonds and taxes does not begin to show the complete picture on our tax situation. He seems to have forgotten our tax increase this past summer, our probable tax increase this year (I think around 9 cents), and the revaluation of property on the horizon.

If this all takes place, that $160 he mentions will greatly increase.

E.L. Spivey
Greensboro

Regarding "The choice is yours" (letter, March 11): When faced with a serious operation and asked to choose between surgeons, I certainly would not choose the one whose claim to experience was based on having been married to a successful surgeon.

Anna Clare Allen
Greensboro

It seems "conservatives" like Hank Powell (letter, March 1) spend most of their time worrying that a "liberal" president would give all their money to the undeserving poor.

Why, then, do they not speak out when our current administration takes their money and gives it to the undeserving rich and greedy oil companies, or when the taxpayers pay $440,000 per year for each Blackwater security guard when it costs one-sixth of that amount per American GI?

I didn't see any of Powell's letters when $10 billion in charges from private contractors for Iraq reconstruction and troop support — including $2.7 billion in charges from Halliburton — were found to be excessive or unaccounted for.

We have a choice in the upcoming election. We can continue "trickle-down" economics (corporate welfare) that has proven twice not to work and keep borrowing money from China to make the rich fatter. Or we can elect a government with some fiscal responsibility (when Clinton left office there was a budget surplus, remember?) who will tax the rich proportionately and end this $8 billion-a-month debacle in Iraq.

America's needs should come before the greed of corporations and before starting baseless wars.

So it's either billions more for the already rich plus endless war under McCain or a redistribution of the wealth toward the drowning middle class and a chance for peace under a "liberal."
For an intelligent person, the choice should be easy!

Michael Northuis
Greensboro

The governor's and General Assembly's record on mental health care in North Carolina is deplorable, and the governor's recent "proposals" will do nothing to fix a broken system the state managed to make even worse.

A state-commissioned study gave them a blueprint to fix it, but no elected official could stomach the multibillion-dollar price tag. Cutting state costs is not going to help. Centralizing management will not help when the resources are not there to manage.

Privatization has so far meant the state stepping back and praying that the private sector comes up with some ideas that will fix the mess. That won't happen, because the private sector can only act as far as client care can be paid for.

There are plenty of clients who could be productive citizens with the proper help, but if they can't work because of mental illness, they can't get the help unless they have assistance, or are a danger to themselves or others.

This has to start being an election issue, or else the failure to act will sabotage citizens, parents, families, the prison system, providers, managers, hospitals and assisted-care facilities for decades to come.

Nicholas Ackerman
Greensboro

I am a lifelong Democrat and, until recently, I would have never thought of voting for anyone except the Democratic nominee. I have voted Democratic in every presidential election since I cast my first ballot in 1968.

It saddens me to say that I cannot vote for Hillary Clinton under any circumstances. The reason is simple: She will go to any length, including splitting the party wide open, to secure the nomination.

The examples :
1. There is no way she can surpass Barack Obama in elected delegates without more than approximately 60 percent of the vote in the remaining 12 primaries. That means, through superdelegates, she wants to get the Democratic nod in a non-democratic way.

2. She wants to change the rules by letting the already ruled-out delegates in Florida and Michigan be seated.

3. She is using the kind of language toward Obama that will hurt him tremendously, if he is the nominee.

4. She has refused to release her tax returns or to get her main supporter (Bill Clinton) to release a list of donors to his presidential library.

We need independents and Republicans to win in November. Her campaign is making that a much more difficult task.

Ansley Brown
Greensboro

Socialists among us want Greensboro's minimum wage raised from $6.15 per hour to $9.36 per hour — well above federal and state minimums. Federal and North Carolina minimums rise to $6.55 per hour on July 24 and to $7.25 per hour on July 24, 2009. The former equates to $13,624 per year for full-time employment, the latter to $15,080.

The 2008 federal guidelines define $10,400 as the family-of-one poverty level, $21,200 for a family of four. Many (most?) minimum-wage earners aren't the primary breadwinners in their households, and many families have more than one person working.

Basic economics says there will be more jobs available at under $9.36 per hour than if the minimum is raised to that level. A $9.36 minimum will be inflationary, will increase unemployment and will promote the migration of jobs away from Greensboro — effects magnified by the current economic downturn. This idea feels more like Western Europe than Greensboro. It should be defeated.

Gaines Wilburn
Greensboro

The past three months have brought us bad news about rising rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and global warming — all linked conclusively to consumption of meat and dairy products. This was topped by last month's announcement that the USDA was recalling 143 million pounds of beef from potentially sick animals.

This week brings good news about the advent of spring (March 20), sunshine, flowers and the Great American Meatout (www.meatout.org). Fashioned after The Great American Smokeout, Meatout provides a superb excuse to turn over a new leaf, kick the meat habit and get a fresh start with a wholesome, nonviolent diet of vegetables, fruits and grains.

It's a diet touted by major health advocacy organization and leading health authorities. A diet facilitated by the rich selection of delicious meat and dairy alternatives in our local supermarkets. A diet supported by free information from www.goveg.org, www.tryveg.org and www.chooseveg.org.

Nathan Ross
Greensboro

I'm sick and tired of hearing the same old lines from the liberals: "Bush lied, kids died," "We invaded Iraq over oil," "Bush lied to America," and the list goes on. Let's try and put some perspective on this, and step inside the president's shoes for a moment.

Sept. 11, 2001, the worst tragedy on American soil, happens under your watch. Investigations are done to see if we had knowledge that such an attack could've happened. Turns out our intelligence groups had some (albeit not enough to go on) prior information. Then, months after, that same intelligence comes back to you saying Iraq has WMDs and, given the chance or opportunity, will use them against us. What do you do? Sit back and wait to get attacked again? Wait for months on end for the United Nations to get involved?

Now, I'm not saying that Bush is the greatest president we've had. Probably far from it. Hindsight is always 20/20, but given these circumstances, I believe the right choice was made.

So, please, if you want to gripe about the war in Iraq, come up with something new. Everybody already knows your conspiracy theories, and, quite frankly, I'm sure I'm not the only one tired of hearing this drivel.

Craig Silver
Kernersville

Dear Mr. Pitts:

I've been reading your column since it's been published in the News & Record. "How can a man do such a thing to his family" (March 13) brought me to out-loud laughter. And then I thought, but it's a serious "man problem," isn't it? I don't know why men do it any more than you do — I've even known intelligent men who have done it — and I am continually amazed at what idiots we have among us. So thanks for the laugh, the lesson and the reminder.

Mark D. Gottsegen
Climax

The following is a Counterpoint:

By: Stan Gilliam

Lorraine Ahearn's interesting column, "Bad blood runs deep in Vietnamese delegates' visit" (March 9), provided many of the reasons that local Montagnard refugees picketed representatives of the Vietnamese government on their recent visit. Here is more information to help explain the Montagnards' bitterness toward their former government:

The Montagnards are the indigenous people of Vietnam. Their land was invaded by the Viets from southeastern China several hundred years ago. The Viets succeeded in capturing the coastal areas and drove the Montagnards into the Central Highlands. One might compare the Montagnards' history to that of Native Americans.

Because of their hatred of the Vietnamese, the Montagnards were eager to help U.S. Special Forces during the Vietnam War. After the United States left Vietnam, those who had helped the Americans (including South Vietnamese) were imprisoned, including many of the refugees who have settled in Greensboro. Ethnic Vietnamese who settled as refugees in the United States hate the government as well.

In recent years, because of the population increase in large Vietnamese cities, the government has confiscated much of the land formerly owned by the Montagnards to settle Vietnamese there. It has bulldozed vegetable farms in the Highlands and forced the farmers to grow coffee for export. It even has placed agents in Montagnards' homes to watch them.

The Montagnards are mostly Protestants. Vietnam's communist government is opposed to religion and has persecuted Buddhists and Roman Catholics, as well as Protestants. In the Montagnard villages, many churches have been burned and many have been beaten, imprisoned and killed for holding services in their homes. Or, as the Vietnamese government puts it (as quoted by Ahearn), "Hundreds of organizations from province to grass-roots levels have been discovered and eliminated and thousands of illegal persons related to FULRO (the long-defunct Montagnard freedom front) have been seized, educated and converted."

The United Nations grants refugee status for good reasons. The Montagnard refugees in Greensboro are fearful of reprisal against their families in Vietnam. They are regarded as criminals and would be subject to arrest if they returned because they have broken the law against escaping the country. Vietnam's government has one of the world's worst human rights records.

That Beth Robertson, executive director of the Piedmont Triad Council for International Visitors, would express surprise at the protests seems naive for someone in her position.

The writer lives in Oak Ridge.

The recent news about former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's reported use of a high-priced prostitute is just another example of what's wrong with society today.

Because the MySpace page of the woman in question, Ashley Alexandra Dupre, was posted on every media outlet's Web site, she managed to garner well over a million hits and received radio airplay in New York City! There is now talk of her getting an album deal.

All the while, there are thousands of musicians trying to do it the right way; working day jobs so that they can afford to take low-paying gigs at night and on weekends; blogging and updating their MySpace, Facebook, garageband and personal Web sites to keep people coming back, hoping that they will get their big break.

MySpace and other social networking sites use the number of hits an artist's page gets to determine which artists and which music gets featured on their sites.

The mainstream media have, in essence, rewarded Ashley Alexandra Dupre for her illegal behavior. (The last time I checked, prostitution was still illegal.)

Is this really the message we as a society want to send out?

Lisa Hazlett
Greensboro

There are several reasons you should be opposed to a settlement of discrimination lawsuits brought by a group of Greensboro police officers:

• Many citizens believe that the lawsuits are without merit.

• Settling would not give the public the opportunity to hear both sides of the issue.

• Settling these kinds of lawsuits without a public trial establishes an environment conducive to frivolous lawsuits being filed.

• Settling now and later having the courts find in favor of individuals accused would not be popular with the voters.

George Kennon
Greensboro

Regarding the letter by Doreen Chapel ("Employers requiring too much education," Feb. 22), about how much education is required to find a job, I would like to ask: By what standard and by whose judgment is one considered qualified for an advertised position?

As an example, I have served a seven-year apprenticeship, received a journeyman's ticket, spent 20 years in industry and 10 years as a consultant but have been told I can't fill certain jobs because they require a degree.

So much for practical education instead of a rag-tag sheepskin.

If an undergraduate degree is required, how many hours are spent in a class for four years as compared to 2,000 hours per year for seven years of apprenticeship?

What is required now in order to get a job? A master's degree? A Ph.D?

Ask Andrew Carnegie, Alexander Graham Bell and Benjamin Franklin.

Ron Best
Greensboro

Imagine what would happen if we truly intended to integrate our neighborhoods, churches and schools.

There would be pandemonium in the streets.

As a child of the 1950s, I used to wonder why Thurgood Marshall thought he could change the hearts and minds of a nation with legal beliefs and arguments. What temerity to think his intellectual powers could match the cynicism of "separate but equal"?

I'm still amazed by the audacity of this future Supreme Court justice to try to dissuade nine others of their racist predilections and, through them, those of the nation. But I am even more amazed that anyone thinks he did.

"With all deliberate speed" is now called "choice," and our choice is segregation, or as little desegregation as possible. President Clinton famously said of another act of bad faith that he did it because he could.

This is the worst kind of hypocrisy. Unfortunately for our children — for our future — apples don't fall too far from the tree.

Thomas Jefferson, a true integrationist in practice and in preachment, believed that a democracy can only work when we are willing to set aside short-term, selfish motives for the long-term good of all.

Justice Marshall knew this.

Richard A. Davis
Pfafftown

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Jacqueline Phillips

I try to have an open mind and be respectful of people's opinions, but the March 5 column by Doug Clark ("Natural causes won't do on death row") so appalled me I couldn't rest until I wrote. Actually, I had to wait two days to respond to it lest I write something I might regret.

In this article, Clark could not tolerate the fact that a man named Gary D. Greene, who was on death row, had the audacity to die before he was executed. Clark went on to rant about how this man who murdered his father cheated everyone, from the people of North Carolina to the justice system.

How dare him to die!

Clark quoted a line from Scripture, "Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord," and went on to say murderers like Greene should not die except from the hand of the executioner of the state.

In other words, how dare the Lord take him before North Carolina got a chance to carry out their vengeance! I guess Clark did not quite understand the quote from Scripture that vengeance was the Lord's.

Now I understand that Clark's motive for writing this column was to show the unrealistic length of time before a sentence of death takes place, but in today's reality some prisoners have been found innocent during this time.

Clark pointed out that other death row inmates died of suicide or natural causes while waiting their fate just like Greene. He stresses the point by stating, "No one should dodge his fate by dying first."

If I wasn't so disgusted by this man's angry, vengeful mind set, I might have rolled over laughing! Do tell, Mr. Clark, how does a person bring about his own death aside from suicide?

But the last statement was the most ironic and I again quote Clark, "At the very least, if an inmate succumbs to natural causes prematurely, he should be given a shot of lethal chemicals immediately thereafter. Better late than never for a deadly dose of justice."
How sane is that?

Not only are we living at a time when society carries out death sentences every day by killing human beings by abortion, euthanasia and the death sentence, but this caustic column strengthens the "culture of death" in America. Since we repudiate the dignity of life and the "right to life," it is no wonder some do not really believe that the Lord meant it when he said vengeance is his.

The commandment, "Thou shalt not kill," has also fallen by the wayside and some Bible-quoting people do not see or understand where this dark culture is leading us.
God help America!

The writer lives in Greensboro.

What a beautiful legacy left by Eve Carson, UNC-Chapel Hill student body president, who was murdered in Chapel Hill on March 5. Even though I did not know her, everyone who spoke of her praised her for being "a star of the universe," who could have changed the world for all mankind.

This brought to mind one of my favorite passages from Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," Act III, Scene II. Juliet is speaking about Romeo.

Give me my Romeo, and, when he shall die,

Take him and cut him out in little stars

And he will make the face of heaven so fine

That all the world will be in love with night

And pay no worship to the garish sun

Mary G. Elam
Greensboro

A News & Record front-page article necessitated my taking an aspirin. The headline read, "Young voters: Sign us up" (March 9). It spoke of the many newly registered voters under age 25.

In the same edition was a column about our failing government schools. The last thing we need is these recently released inmates from our left-wing indoctrination camps voting. That's what destroyed Europe! For most of their impressionable years, these malleable minds have been under the spell of mostly liberal/ progressive/socialist indoctrinators. When you listen to the parolees speak, it's obvious that the indoctrination worked!

An A&T student said he "fell in love" with the Obama campaign. He failed to mention which Obama policies he "loved." I suspect that Obama could have stood on stage at A&T for an hour saying nothing, and the inmates would have "fallen in love" with his campaign.

Mrs. Clinton first brags that she is the candidate of change, then without hesitation drones on about her 35 years of experience in politics. Well, her financial situation has drastically changed!

I was not surprised by the reporter's failure to ask the inmates a single question about the policies of their "beloved" candidates.

Tony Moschetti
High Point

I was astonished to see Mark Bowden's opinion piece in the March 9 Ideas section ("Democrats need to realize Iraq can be a success story"). I was astonished to see the happy picture of children shopping in Fallujah. I was astonished to see the bold headline, "Democrats need to realize Iraq can be a success story."

Upon reading the opinions of Bowden, I was astonished to note that someone so partisan and so wrong could get so much ink (68 column inches) in the News & Record.

Bowden asserts that 40 U.S. military members killed in January indicates success. Could the recent headline that 68 Iraqis were killed in one attack in Baghdad, and six more in an attack in Mosul suggest that continuing this war is insane? I think so. How many more "Mission Accomplished" assertions do we have to endure before we realize that we are engaged in a foolish endeavor that is bankrupting our nation's financial and moral position in the world?

Bowden's facts were, of course, spun and largely wrong. The only reason that would matter would be if the News & Record editorial staff wanted to present a balanced view of the election and the war. I'm personally glad that the Democrats are offering an alternative to Bowden's views.

Eric Eno
Greensboro

The March 18 News & Record reported that both Democratic presidential candidates are coming to North Carolina before the May 6 primary. The Republican nominee will probably come before the general election. All likely will talk about health care reform.

For everyone wanting to prepare questions, let me suggest "Your Health, Your Money, Your Vote," a series of programs sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad and the Moses Cone-Wesley Long Community Foundation.

At the March 11 session, Dr. Jonathan Oberlander, health policy expert and professor at UNC-CH, introduced these key voter issues:

* Health reform is viewed by experts as necessary.
* Reform will be difficult because of deeply ingrained failings in our current system.
* Meaningful change depends on those who are insured understanding the widespread economic costs of the underinsured and uninsured.

The community has three additional opportunities to become informed:

* March 25 -- Addiction, Mental Health and Mental Reform.
* April 22 -- Your Health Care: Who's the Decider?
* May 13 -- Determinants of Health: Is it ME or is it WE?

All sessions are 7:30-9:30 p.m., free and held at Wesley Long Community Health Education Center, 501 N. Elam Ave.

Willie Taylor
Greensboro

It is shocking to me how Israel continues to flout any attempt at reaching a peace settlement with the Palestinians, moderates or otherwise, with impunity. According to Isabel Kershner's report in the March 10 edition of The New York Times, Israel continues to build settlements. This, in spite of United Nations and even United States condemnation of these policies.

It is precisely all the policies of Israel relating to the West Bank and Gaza -- its settlement policy; its collective punishment policy on the people of Gaza, Jenin and so many others; the wall of separation and the barriers between the various Palestinian cities -- that cause untold physical and economic suffering on the Palestinian people.

The world should unite and demand Israel's complete withdrawal to the 1967 borders, its complete dismantling of all settlements and the internationalization of East Jerusalem. The Palestinian refugees who were forced out of their land in 1948, due to Jewish settler/Israeli acts of mass terrorism/ethnic cleansing, must be compensated. No peace can be achieved without all of these factors being taken into account.

The continued unconditional support by the United States for Israel can only spell disaster for the Middle East, the United States and the world.

Farid P. Wissa
High Point

I want to inform North Carolina citizens how the Fair Tax can better their lives. The Fair Tax is a new tax system that has been introduced into the House of Representatives and the Senate.

It will throw out our old, complicated system and replace our imbedded taxes with another one on goods and services. This tax system gets rid of income taxes, payroll taxes, capital gains taxes, death taxes and any other ones you can think of. It will allow people to go home with 100 percent of their income.

The Fair Tax will take a lot of power away from the government and put it into the hands of the people. It's time to give American producers and consumers a break by passing the Fair Tax into law.

I would encourage readers to contact Americans for Fair Taxation toll free at 1-800-FAIRTAX to learn more about the Fair Tax or to visit www.fairtax.org

Darren Foster
Burlington

The Natural Science Center of Greensboro has recently completed a remarkable achievement worthy of major recognition. The accreditation earned makes it the only such institution in the state with the challenging AZA and AMA accreditations and puts it in the elite 10 percent of all licensed zoos and aquariums in the United States.

The center is quickly changing from Greensboro's "best-kept secret" into a vibrant regional destination for science education and entertainment.

Glenn Dobrogosz and staff spent countless hours insuring the facility earned accreditation on first attempt. Accreditation opens opportunities for exciting conservation and endangered species exhibits. It insures exciting work will continue for years. Greensboro should take special pride in this outstanding achievement and the opportunities it will create for our region.

David Hammer
Greensboro

At 35 years old, I am too young to have heard with my own ears Kennedy's "Ask Not" inaugural address. Or Dr. King's "I have a dream," or FDR's "The only thing we have to fear ..." And certainly no one of us was around to hear Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address."

One thing we can easily forget about such ageless words is that no one knew the words would be ageless until they were spoken for the first time. They expressed something that needed to be said, but which no one knew how to say.

They reached inside the American people and struck a chord that resonates down through time. But in the instant beforehand, we had not known just what it was that so desperately needed to be said, and we certainly had not expected to hear them then and there.

I'd never understood the power of such a moment until I heard Barack Obama's "A more perfect union" speech. Now I do.

Steve Bird
Greensboro

Your placement of candidate Obama's minister's condemnation of the United States -- low on page seven -- was surprising but typical. You may remember the front-page headlines of Republicans' short visits to fundamentalist universities -- calculated to attract more opposition than support. As a captive victim of the national networks and press, I am astounded by the contrasts in approval and rejection of opposing campaigns.

I confess to deep-seated partisan judgments different from yours. We share the responsibility and privilege of living in the world's most enlightened nation and the most free. Give a sidelong glance, now and then, to us who have no national public radio or newspaper to tell it our way.

Maxine Garner
Liberty

I recently had several needs addressed by Allan Williams and his excellent staff at the water department. The service was superior to any in the private sector.

I am grateful for the quality, level of respect, courteous service and prompt response. They responded on a Saturday and dug without stopping for over four hours until the problem was solved. Kevin Green and Justin Reynolds never took a break or left my home until they found and corrected the sewer problem. My yard was reseeded and sank over the winter. They addressed that within one day of my inquiry. My yard was repaired again and reseeded.

I had e-mail communications with Mr. Williams, and he responds quickly with specific details.

We always hear what's wrong with city government. I want Greensboro to know we have an outstanding water department.

Michelle Borland
Greensboro

"What does the color of the man's skin have to do with his presidential platform?" asks ZuQorah Williamson (letter, March 13). Plenty.

In a preliminary sense, the color of the man's skin has strong predictive value: Politically, black America is almost socialistic.

"There's a feeling that the government is the vehicle that's going to lift us to equality, and without the government, we'll never make it" (Shelby Steele, African American scholar, Hoover Institution).

In sizing up Sen. Obama, a voter who isn't socialist would be wise to look for evidence of deviation from the socialist orthodoxy of the black community. Such evidence is scant. Obama was rated the most liberal senator in 2007 by the National Journal. Speeches about hope and change -- with little substance -- obscure a political belief system that is perfectly in line with what one might presume from the color of the man's skin.

Tom Shuford
Lenoir

The following is a Counterpoint:

By John R. Dykers Jr.

Dietitian Julie Duffie Dillon mixed some good common sense with some important erroneous assumptions.

The headline, "The thin ideal might not fit your genes" (Counterpoint, March 9) certainly reflects the truth that we are all genetically different and a reasonable variation around the "normal" weight is to be expected and accepted with grace and compassion. And surely food choices are not "moral failures."

It is important that we not lose the pleasure of eating. Life has precious few pleasures, and eating should be one of them. But the amount we eat should not be the source of the pleasure. Her error involves allowing ourselves to eat, "when you feel hunger."

Hunger is not "a dishonorable signal" but is misleading. And the hunger signal is genetically determined to often be accompanied by feelings of irritability and the sense that one needs to correct it.

The problem is the hunger signal is slow to turn off. We are also fortunate to live in a world where food is relatively plentiful. Our foods are easy to eat; the meat is tender and the potatoes mashed and the vegetables cooked.

We can get much more than we need for proper nutrition and still be hungry. We've all done it. We've stuffed at the Thanksgiving dinner until we were about to pop, but the sweet potato pie still tasted good.

This is why we trick our hunger, 70 to 90 percent of which is thirst and can be alleviated by being well hydrated. This is also why many cultures eat meals in courses. We start with a hot soup that can't be gulped, and having been eaten slowly tends to take the edge off hunger.

Follow that with a salad with lots of volume and low calories and you've had a pleasurable sensation and enjoyment of eating and not consumed an excessive amount of fattening food. Then have your vegetables, a piece of meat and a tiny dessert. By spreading this out over time, the hunger signal has an opportunity to go away, and one is happy and pleasantly satisfied, well nourished, and not overfed and fat.

Be comfortable in your genes, "everybody's shape is different." And buy your jeans with a little extra room for comfort, and wear suspenders. You can lose pounds without buying new pants for every inch.

The writer lives in Siler City.

Let me weigh in on the Obama controversy. I listened to his entire speech (live on CNN) and admire what he had to say and how he said it.

The furor that followed must have come from those who dislike Obama for whatever reason or those with more open minds who didn't hear or read the speech.

Media coverage of the black minister's sermon concentrated on the irrational, racist diatribe -- virtual sound bites that we have seen and heard over and over. What the rest of the sermon was about I really don't know.

Obama took exception to the remarks without "disowning" his church or minister. His approach was to give a personal statement that transcends politics, race, religion and the divisiveness that separates so many today.

I applaud him. As a strong John McCain supporter, I regret that it might not be Hillary in the general election.

Bill Beerman
Greensboro

Although Barack Obama "decries" the way race is dividing the Democratic primary, his own (white) strategist, David Axelrod, has been fanning the flames by misquoting, de-contextualizing and deliberately misinterpreting statements by Hillary Clinton, Geraldine Ferraro and Bill Clinton to suggest they are racist. Even after these suggestions are debunked by media critics, they continue to circulate and cause real harm.

It is devastating to see professional spinners run roughshod over people who have worked so hard to heal the divisions of race in America, and it is irresponsible of the media to repeat negative interpretations without first going to the original source to get the exact quotation and complete context of controversial statements.

Ferraro, for example, never said that Sen. Obama is "lucky to be black," but rather said, in response to a question, that he is "lucky to be who he is." "Who (Obama) is" -- his identity -- is complex: he is male, biracial, was raised in multiethnic Hawaii by his white mother and grandparents, and has an Ivy League education.

Some folks have felt that he "transcends race" because of "who he is." But you can't transcend race and spin it at the same time.

Elizabeth Keathley
Greensboro

As a resident who lives on the border between Forsyth and Guilford counties, I am opposed to a new north/south connector (FS0707B) proposed by N.C. Department of Transportation. I fail to see the need for another connector when we already have north/south highways: Union Cross Road, 109, 66, 52, 311 (Future I-74), 68 and 220. This would result in spending highway construction moneys that are desperately needed in other areas.

Furthermore, it is the constitutional right afforded every citizen under our system of government to expect our elected officials to represent the will and interests of the majority and not cater to the special interests of a few. Mandated land-use plans prepared by special-interest groups result in employment of eminent domain to take our homes and land.

The individuals, supported by elected city officials, who have developed land-use plans for our area are also real-estate agents and developers who will realize direct financial benefit from these plans. This is emphatically a conflict of interest, and allowing these people to direct and guide the planning process is unethical and a miscarriage of justice.

Say no to the north/south connector, the Piedmont Parkway extension, and the inappropriate use of eminent domain for development and unethical political officials.

Laura H. Hamilton
Kernersville

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Homer L. Mason

The Israeli-Palestinian situation is sad. There are good people on both sides just trying to get by and to protect their loved ones.

Bad things happen on both sides. Speaking of the 1948 conflict in Israel/Palestine, David Ben-Gurion is quoted in "The Israel Lobby" as saying, "It is impossible to imagine general evacuation (of the Arab population) without compulsion, and brutal compulsion." The Jewish forces in 1948 drove out up to 700,000 Palestinians, according to the book.

After the war, Ben-Gurion is quoted, "We must prevent at all cost their return." This exodus resulted in 531 Arab villages being destroyed and 11 urban neighborhoods being emptied.

In 1967, per the book, Israel expelled between 100,000 and 260,000 Palestinians from the newly conquered West Bank and 80,000 Syrians from the Golan Heights. To give Israel a more defensible map, they, over recent years, allowed expansion into the West Bank, thus pushing out more Palestinians.

During the early years of Israel's history, Ben-Gurion is quoted as saying, "If I was an Arab leader, I would never make terms with Israel. This is natural: we have taken their country. Sure, God promised it to us, but what does it matter to them? Our God is not theirs. ... There has been anti-Semitism, the Nazis, Hitler, Auschwitz, but was that their fault? They only see one thing: We have come here and stolen their country. Why should they accept that?"

My point is that there are good people on both sides and people on both sides have done regrettable things, as it was with our early history. Is this area to fester for 400 years, as did the English and the Irish before they put their past behind them to build a future in peace?

If we cannot agree about the past, if we cannot agree that good people on both sides have betrayed their best values and beliefs, can we agree that each of us has good within them, so that this will become the foundation for peace?

The writer lives in Greensboro.

It certainly would seem that this year's presidential election is going to finally address our country's centuries-old problem with discrimination. That's as it should be. Discrimination against anybody and everybody who threatens our own personal inner fears results in an attitude of smash 'em, hate 'em, kill 'em, get 'em the hell out of my America! Such thoughtless emotional responses attempt to elevate personal fears to an aura of inspired righteousness. How terribly, terribly sad.

Henry James once wrote, "Three things in human life are important: The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. The third is ... to be kind." Is it really that difficult? At what price to the greater good of our country and humanity do we insist on squaring off and throwing stones at one another?

In this Easter season, it would seem -- at least to those who truly revere the example of Jesus of Nazareth -- that we continue to crucify him daily. Be kind. Love unconditionally. Make bridges, don't destroy them. Wishing each of you a joyful Easter season, because that's our only hope.

Lonnie Groendes
Greensboro

As we celebrate Greensboro's Bicentennial, it is appropriate for us to recognize our new mayor, Yvonne Johnson. Mayor Johnson is the right person for the job. She comes to the office with vast experience in government and a fresh, new vision for this city. She has a multitude of ideas and proposals to help improve the city's image. The economy, reduced street crime and youth gang involvement, jobs, public confidence in city government are all areas where improvement is sorely needed.

As we celebrate the birth of this great city, it is also time to recognize a first in the city's history. For the first time, Greensboro has a black mayor, as well as a female mayor, all in one. This is significant in that it shows that Greensboro is destined for a new day, new leadership, new ideas and a new direction for the future.

Mayor Johnson served this city with distinction as a member of the City Council. It is hoped that she will continue that outstanding service in her new position as mayor.
Congratulations, Mayor Yvonne Johnson. Happy Birthday, Greensboro.

Pollard Stanford
Greensboro

My husband and I had been looking forward to March 16: We attended the Daughtry/Bon Jovi concert at the Greensboro Coliseum.

On our way, we hit concert traffic on Freeman Mill Road at 7:20 p.m. The concert began at 8, so we were unconcerned. Unfortunately, 7:20 became 8:30, but we were nearing the main parking lot. Then we were told the main lot was full and were re-routed to the overflow lot. Soon we discovered even that lot was full. There was no more parking for hundreds of cars! Parking attendants told us to go home.

The Greensboro Coliseum should not be allowed to get away with this practice and should be reprimanded. To not provide places to park for that many paying customers is ridiculous and unacceptable. We missed all of Daughtry and saw some of Bon Jovi only by having relatives come pick up our car so we wouldn't get towed.

We should get our money back, but what I really hope is that the people in charge of the coliseum are held responsible for such poor planning and that this is prevented in the future.

Megan Conrad
Winston-Salem

When I choose a church, I choose one where the people have the same spiritual and mental ideals that I have. I choose it because the minister presents a message that I believe in. A message of love and not hate, a message of Jesus, not a vitriolic tirade.

Sen. Obama made his choice. He obviously enjoyed that choice for 20 years. Time reveals the true character of people, and Sen. Obama has been revealed.

Those of you who grabbed his coattails because of the word "change" (although he has yet to reveal just what that "change" would be) should be careful what you wish for.
God bless America!

Fay Pegram
Greensboro

Capt. John Wolfe, who commands the division that includes Greensboro's six-month-old Gang Suppression Unit, says gang-related crimes are down since the group's inception. He also says that gang members have moved away from Greensboro because the squad was formed. "When you hear about three or four little groups picking up and moving out, that makes you feel good." Well, it doesn't make Greensboro's neighbors feel good.

Where does Capt. Wolfe think these groups are picking up and moving out to? Are they heading down I-40 to neighboring cities like Winston-Salem, Durham and Raleigh? Criminals need to be apprehended and prosecuted, not nudged along to set up shop somewhere else.
Along with the article about the Gang Suppression Unit, the March 14 edition included news of the capture and arrest of two young men from Durham, one of whom has been charged in the shooting murder of a Duke grad student and both with the murder of the UNC-Chapel Hill student body president.

While Durham and Chapel Hill grapple with these crimes, it is disturbing to think that Greensboro's Gang Suppression Unit seems to be satisfied to disperse gang members to other communities.

Denise Doolan
Chapel Hill

On March 18, Barack Obama gave what I hope will be remembered as one of the most important speeches of the 21st century. Years ago I remember trying to explain to my daughter why there was so much black anger in her high school. I remember coming to the conclusion that our country would probably never be able to heal the wounds originally created by slavery. That lack of hope has stayed with me until Barack Obama's campaign, and more particularly his incredibly courageous speech on Tuesday.

I am a 55-year-old white woman, and there are many just like me who support Obama's candidacy. Neither Hillary Clinton nor John McCain has the temperament or vision to lead this country out of the quagmires we face today.

They are both entangled in the very forces of those quagmires.

I pray that very soon Sen. Clinton will recognize the will of the voters and give her support to Sen. Obama's campaign. He has won in blue states and red states, has inspired and won white voters and black voters, and is ready to devote his considerable gifts to healing this country and this world. She needs to step aside.

Patricia Black
Greensboro

Christine Willard (letter, March 11) chides the author of an earlier letter to "do the math." Ms. Willard then "figuratively" proceeds to walk us through the dilemma faced by a hypothetical single minimum-wage earner, citing numerous amounts that erode the individual's paycheck.

The problem is that Willard fails to follow her own admonition. A single taxpayer making $11,712 in 2007 would not be subjected to a federal income tax of 15 percent ($1,757) or a North Carolina income tax of 6 percent ($703), as Willard states. Because of the federal standard deduction ($5,350) and the personal exemption available to a single filer ($3,400), Willard's hypothetical taxpayer would actually pay $230 (1.96 percent) for 2007 to the federal government and $374 (3.19 percent) to North Carolina.

Oh, by the way, it is my understanding that her hypothetical taxpayer will actually receive the $230 federal tax money back in May because of the recently passed economic stimulus bill.
My point is not to make light of the difficulties facing anyone working for the hourly minimum wage. However, if you want to sway my opinions about any topic using mathematics, you must first be accurate.

Todd Robinson
Greensboro

Nicholas Kristof (column, March 11) says that religion shouldn't be a factor in the presidential campaign. I respectfully beg to differ. I am greatly bothered by Obama's religion. Not the claims of him being a Muslim, but his membership in Trinity United Church of Christ, a blatantly racist and anti-American church. They gave their equivalent of a Man-of-the-Year award to none other than Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam. Their pastor, Jeremiah Wright, preaches that the country was founded on slavery, prospered because of slavery, and continues to practice slavery. He preaches that black culture is superior to white culture. They have a Web site if you don't believe it (tucc.org).

Barack Obama has been a member of this racist organization for 20 years. Perhaps 20 years of listening to Pastor Wright is why his wife was never proud of this country until a few weeks ago. If Obama agrees with the positions of the church, he shouldn't be president. If he disagrees, he should have resigned long ago.

Robert Hudson
Pelham

Both Democratic Party presidential candidates represent firsts for our nation's political choices. Obama made a resounding and emotional speech to the nation explaining his views and feelings about racism. I agree that it has to play no part in the electoral process.

How refreshing it would be if Obama could simply state he is an American, period! And that he does not seek or want the votes of African Americans for the sole reason that he is one.
Hillary Clinton should declare that she does not seek the vote of the American female solely on the basis of like gender.

My father always warned me to not vote for my own kind solely because they were my own kind, otherwise I would deserve everything that I got.

Michael Rabinowitz
Jamestown

The Greensboro Police Department has had a lot of negative press lately, and deservedly so. But we should keep in mind that the entire department is not to blame, and they do have some fine officers. I think it is useful for the public to know that. I recently had occasion to work with Detective Matthews on an unpleasant matter, and I was very impressed with his professionalism, responsiveness and thoughtfulness. The department would be a much better place with more officers like him, and I wanted some kind of public forum to express my appreciation and the appreciation of my family for his assistance. So thank you, Detective Matthews, and thank you to all those in the department who are able to rise above the murky waters of departmental politics to serve the public.

Jeffrey Lackey
Greensboro

That was an interesting approach they took concerning the Pomona Cotton Mill razing recently featured in the News & Record. The contractor meticulously disassembled every timber, beam and fixture of this historic landmark but took a chain saw to the three beautiful oaks lining the building's west side, trees that the original builders clearly took pride in preserving.

This happened only in the past few days. Recently, I counted rings on the stumps and ran out of heartwood at 142. That's more than 142 years old. The trees were saplings in 1866 and mere teenagers at the turn of the last century.

Back in the mid-1900s, before air conditioning, I assure you that generations of mill workers enjoyed bagged lunches in the shade of those healthy giants.

What's wrong with a society that deems it acceptable to erase this kind of history with no more concern than wiping one's brow? Wake up, folks.

Tobe Sherrill
Greensboro

Barack Obama's pastor's hate tapes hit TV screens March 13. It has been major news since. I could find no mention of it in the News & Record until March 18, and finally a glowing editorial on Obama's speech on March 20. Obama first denied and finally admitted he was aware of Wright's inflammatory and obscene remarks while attending his church for 20 years and exposing his children to them.

Institutionalized racism no longer exists except in reverse with affirmative action and political correctness, yet Obama's speech and the News & Record editorial justify the pastor's remarks and indicate this is the message being preached in black churches. If this is the message being preached in Greensboro's black churches, no wonder we cannot advance race relations.

The majority of Wright's congregation appeared to agree with him, and Obama gave major financial support. While you and Obama seem to condemn some of Wright's words, you seem to justify that he condemns America for long-past sins of slavery and segregation. Someone said, "A con man's job is not to convince skeptics but to enable people to continue to believe what they already want to believe." He did not have to do much to con the News & Record.

Ed Preston
Greensboro

When did stop signs become slow-down-and-keep-going signs? I have seen more and more drivers completely ignore stop signs and red lights and just drive on through. I cannot believe the number of people who fail to stop or even slow down. Please leave for your destination a little earlier and obey the traffic laws. The next accident may be your own.

Elizabeth Pittman
Greensboro

I would like to respond to Christine Willard's letter, "Minimum wage-earner gets the bare minimum" (March 11), regarding the amount of taxes paid by minimum-wage earners.

Willard wrote, "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how much money a single person on minimum wage makes." Willard is obviously no rocket scientist herself. Her third-grade arithmetic is good but her knowledge of federal and state tax law is seriously lacking. No minimum-wage earner pays 15 percent federal tax or 6 percent state tax. After the standard deduction and personal exemption, the combined tax rate for both federal and state would amount to about 6 percent. One pays taxes on net taxable income, not gross income. The minimum-wage earner would pay 6.2 percent FICA taxes, and the employer would pay that amount also.

She goes on, "Why force this minimum-wage earner to live in a shelter and eat at the soup kitchen? Why don't you give him more money so he can stand up tall and pay for them himself?"

How can anyone getting a gift of even more unearned money feel proud and stand up tall? One feels proud and stands tall by earning his way.

Jerry I. Smith
Greensboro

For those of you who may need to place a loved one in a nursing home in the future, do your homework now.

In 2001, the News & Record published a special report, "Piedmont Triad Nursing Homes," which I found very useful. It provided much-needed information that I could use in my search for the nursing facility that would become my mother's home for the rest of her life. During your search for the right nursing home, here are some points to remember:

Do not call in advance when you plan a visit; unannounced visits will give a true picture of what to expect.

Do not limit it to one visit; make numerous visits during the week as well as the weekend.

The staff's attitude is very important. If they are happy with what they do, then that helps you to have peace of mind when your loved one is in their care.

Keeping my mother at home would have been my choice, if possible, but since that was not an option, I had to find a place where she would be treated with respect and dignity. And I did just that.

Shirley Wyzga-Johnson
Greensboro

There is a story about a brilliant executive in a large corporation who is successful at everything that comes his way. The CEO calls him into the office one day out of the blue. The CEO says to the executive, "I'm going to have to fire you and I'm sorry about that because you are so good at what you do here."

"What in the world?" exclaims the executive.

"You see," the CEO says, "I have discovered that you have been having an affair while your wife and your family are your first responsibility, and if you could do such a thing to those you are supposed to love most, breaching that sacred trust, what in a pinch would you do to this company?"

Infidelity is the worst breach of trust. Faithfulness and loyalty to a promise is a character check of first order. When someone is to be entrusted with public power, we should all look for the best of the best, the most honorable and of highest character.

Now we have one former president, a former governor of New York, and his replacement ... all three admitted adulterers.

What are we thinking and where are we headed?

Chris Corry
Greensboro

How much do we value our children? They attend schools in portable classrooms, rooms with no air conditioner or heaters, and in classes held in storage closets converted into classrooms.

If our employers offered these same environments, there would be an outcry from workers and investigations by OSHA. Yet, we expect our children to succeed in such situations.

Yes, our schools are overcrowded and out-of-date, but the voters have shown their commitment by approving bonds in 2000 and 2003 to build new schools and renovate others. We now have an opportunity to continue that progress.

Our property taxes increased a bit and another bond on the ballot will increase them only a little bit more. But how much do we truly value our children? We can't allow a very small tax increase to stop us from providing our children with the environment they need to succeed.

Join me in showing your support for our children by voting yes for the two school bonds on May 6.

Kara Walker
Greensboro

The writer of the letter, "Young voters clueless in candidate choices" (March 20), would do well to shift his focus from the described "inmates" under the age of 25 who are voting in the upcoming election and concentrate on opening his own imprisoned mind.

He chides the college-age electorate for not knowing the policies of our "beloved" candidates but fails to promote the policies of his own.

As one of the under-25 college students under attack in his piece who has actually taken the time to research the candidates, I find his hasty generalization quite offensive.

The only thing more offensive perhaps is the pot-and-kettle philosophy with which he compares the most educated minds in this country to prison inmates. It's particularly offensive since, after all, it's left up to my generation to transcend the old politics and policies that the Republican Party has used to effectively imprison the American people.

It seems as if the real prisoner is incarcerated by his own misconceptions of a well-informed, well-educated and open-minded young electorate ready to bring about the fresh start this country so desperately needs.

Paul Raker
Kernersville

When I vote in the general election, there won't be a candidate about whom I'll know everything. I'll push that button partly on gut feeling, for the one who has consistently presented substance behind the rhetorical idealism. For the one whose talk is aligned with proven actions. For the one who truly represents a fresh break from the fear-based innuendoes of political hacks who seems to live to rule, rather than to serve.

I won't be thinking of the blandishments of columnists like Mona Charen or Cal Thomas, whose output consistently nurtures the links between Corporate America's interests and the proliferation of public fears. My educated confidence in my chosen candidate will not be undermined by shills whose skills are aimed at undercutting what might be this nation's first break from dynastic chief executives for almost 20 years.

And beyond that, a break from entrenched patterns of cultural and economic arrogance, reflexive lying as the way to do government's business, dumb military muscle over intelligent head and heart, short-term cleverness instead of comprehensive, long-range vision.

I am gagging on the toxic Bush and Clinton legacies. I will happily, proudly, eagerly vote for Barack Obama if he should be the Democratic candidate.

Jack Stone
McLeansville

The Opinion pages present columns and letters, sometimes mine, which often focus on the dark side. The evening news is mostly bad. But the sun still shines, and spring is here.

Most people are good-hearted; they open doors for me and my walker. In spite of a stupid war, massive deficits and a recession, most of us manage to find some happiness nearly every day.

So, there is dark and there is light.

But we need to improve the ratio. We must elect a president who is more dove than hawk and can steer us competently through troublesome domestic and foreign affairs, if there is such a person.

Our immediately preceding president avoided significant military conflicts and turned a large deficit into a surplus. Though the situation is much worse this time, maybe a turnaround somehow can be done again.

So what do we do in the meantime? Live our lives as best we can and try always to find the bright side. We are citizens of the world, and if we all accept appropriate responsibility, maybe good things will happen.

Dan W. Maddox
Greensboro

Pastor Ken Massey's column, "Coverage of Obama's pastor disappointing" (March 22), states members of the congregation do not necessarily have to agree with their pastor — which is quite true.

But if Massey did not see the loud shouts of approval from the congregation at Rev. Wright's church and how his words inflamed them, then he did not see what everyone else saw. If he thinks that words do not have an impact, I think he is in the wrong profession. Does he not remember the impact Hitler's words had on the Germans?

The footnote to his article said Massey predicts many of his members will disagree with his column. I am sure that is correct and also sure that many people who are not his church members will disagree with him as well.

Anna L. Myrick
Greensboro

On March 20, the N.C. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to expel Rep. Thomas Wright, a Democrat. Rightfully so; and this was done by a legislature with a Democratic majority.

When the Democratic Party is at is best, it does the right thing and thereby helps restore a semblance of confidence and trust in our political system.

Now it's time to look to the future and move forward with the hope and expectation that all elected officials will transcend party labels and find common ground as Americans in order to address constructively the many perplexing and difficult problems we face today.

Polarization and division are unproductive and prevent us from achieving the great ends we can achieve together as a people of faith and higher purpose.

Bob Kollar
Greensboro

This Saturday, March 29, from 8 to 9 p.m. is being recognized throughout many major cities as Earth Hour. Continuing with a program started in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, major cities (businesses and individuals) around the world will join in turning off the lights for one hour. Let's put some more green in Greensboro.

This is your opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint for a common cause and think about making a bigger impact. Turn out your lights and use the time to replace your light bulbs with more energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. Enjoy the solitude.

After the big party on Friday night, let's give something back to Mother Earth.

Barbara Boyd-Bowman
Greensboro

Race in 2008 presidential politics was inevitable since the Virginia primary but it's a distraction from critical issues.

On March 18, Obama exemplified courage: He knowledgeably spoke about racial realities with kindness and depth; he answered sarcastic questions, then elaborated beyond expectations for darker days ahead.

His amazing speech challenged us to look beyond ourselves and practice the Golden Rule. Obama is needed for his compassionate leadership, vigor, intellect and vision.

Obama admitted hearing Rev. Wright's inappropriate messages at times but like 99 percent of parishioners, he did not leave church during the sermon. Most peculiar is any candidate explaining snippets of his or her minister's sermons and not the person who actually spoke the words. Elitist media moguls accuse, distort and ridicule to destroy and repeat half-truths over and over for gain. Real patriots change for good and live beyond fears and biases.

Only Obama is worthy of my vote in May and November.

E.A. McGirt
Greensboro

The War on Terror deserves the utmost attention from our next commander-in-chief to move America forward and keep our homeland secure. The people of North Carolina recognize that our soldiers, sailors and airmen are everyday heroes worthy of our support here at home for the sacrifices they make abroad.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have shown both by their rhetoric and their actions that they place their political fortunes ahead of the best interests of the brave men and women serving our country in the military. In this critical juncture in the war, we need a president who will take the reins and guide our troops to victory while establishing a secure government for the Iraqi people.

Our country deserves a leader who is straightforward and steady on the issues of the Iraq War. Sen. John McCain will answer that call as commander-in-chief with his wealth of experience on military issues and foreign relations.

He is the only presidential candidate capable of leading our country forward in the war and ensuring safety and victory for our troops and allies.

Ric Killian
Charlotte

The writer is representative, District 105, N.C. General Assembly.

One evening, the late William F. Buckley Jr. said to me ...

(How's that for name-dropping? It's not as if we were close friends. When I was a university freshman, he was the visiting lecturer for a week, and he lived, for some reason, in my fraternity's house. So I did have a few meals and one long evening discussion with him. I asked if he ever worried that his awe-inspiring vocabulary was beyond the ken of his listeners. He said, and now we return to the opening sentence) ....

"I am aware of the challenge, of course. However, because no two words in English mean the same thing, I simply try to use the correct word, and then let the listeners do with it what they will."

Good advice, which he practiced, um, I need the right word ... .

Mike Clark
Greensboro

Thomas Wright stated he is innocent of criminal charges (March 24). Not in my eyes, he isn't. There are no big "I's" and little you. Many think they are above others and the laws.

You do wrong, you will eventually be caught, and you should pay. How can one be corrected with reprimand? Why not just take a vacation? You don't have to work. You will get paid. Do your own thing.

My, my! What a world we live in. A reprimand does nothing for correction. To make a wrong right, someone has to pay and not by a slap on the hand and go free. Paying for the wrong should stay in one's memory.

Ruby Merritt
Greensboro

I am writing this in response to Richard A. Davis' letter, "We have turned our backs on integration" (March 20). Somewhere in his letter he mentioned that Thomas Jefferson was a true integrationist.

Thomas Jefferson was a slave owner. So much for that theory!

Ray Miller
Greensboro

On March 23 you ran a column by Dani Doane of The Heritage Foundation on her personal experience illustrating the dangers of fluorescent light bulbs.

How convenient that she would have this accident that so perfectly dovetails with the conservative Heritage Foundation's anti-regulatory stance on energy and other issues. I looked on the foundation's Web site, and her article is just one of several postings that call into question the logic of requiring fluorescent bulbs.

I'm not saying Doane is a liar. I don't know. I just find it ironic that she is paid to espouse an anti-environmental stance, yet she decides to use fluorescent bulbs and has a frightening experience with them.

It might not be a good idea to require fluorescent bulbs or to use them if you have kids around. But I think I'll make a decision based on independent research and opinions of people I trust, not someone who makes a living arguing for one side or the other.

Jay McIntosh
Greensboro

Regarding the consideration by some states of reducing the legal drinking age from 21 to 18:
Why would a state want to pass a bill so teenagers could buy beer at 18? They will be in the 12th grade, or maybe the 11th, if they are still in school.

Is it to help other companies that make the beer, the store that sells the beer, or the bars?

God have mercy on a state that allows gambling, calls it a lottery and wants to sell beer to teenagers.

Carolyn Corbett
Climax

Last week, I attended a peace march at UNC-Chapel Hill and applaud those who organized a peaceful protest of war and oppression. However, I was troubled when I noticed two men videotaping.

One was wearing a shirt with an "ISAAC" logo on it. I asked him who ISAAC was, and the very vague response was, "We collect information about events going on in North Carolina." When I asked for a little bit more information, he stated that, "We work with local law enforcement."

A little research revealed that ISAAC is the Information Sharing and Analysis Center. According to its Web site, ISAAC's purpose, in conjunction with Department of Homeland Security, is to "protect the safety and security of all citizens from acts of terrorism."

As a researcher of social movements, I know government surveillance of protest is nothing new. But it baffles me that the federal and state authorities found it necessary to use taxpayer money to conduct surveillance of a relatively small, peaceful, university-approved, student-sponsored event.

It never ceases to amaze that those exercising their rights are considered terrorists or criminals, or that our tax dollars can't be spent on protecting citizens from real threats.

Billie Murray
Whitsett

With vast oil sources available, why should there be such demand for fuel from corn and beans?

We heard recently of 800 North Carolina workers laid off by a poultry plant because of high prices of grain engineered by government ethanol subsidy.

Huge oil sources are available in an Alaska wildlife preserve of a million acres. We are told oil wells would hurt the caribou. I have seen herds of 10,000 grazing caribou move 30 miles in a day. One hundred oil wells might displace them, but they could move to other places in the huge preserve. It is like saving foxes near Oak Ridge by prohibiting construction in all Guilford County.

Granted, our Pacific and Gulf beaches are prettier without oil wells two miles off shore, but is this cosmetic effort worth our gas prices?

Our government should encourage drilling for Alaskan and offshore oil and promote new refineries, or have the self-proclaimed environmentalists so taken over our country that all of us must suffer for their ideals?

Dick Douglas
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Robert E. Sevier, M.D.

April marks the retirement of one of the area's finest health care professionals, Elaine Button, R.N., C.D.E., as director of Inpatient Services for the Moses Cone Diabetes Program.

Since arriving in Greensboro, Mrs. Button has served continually as a certified diabetes educator in the community.

Beginning in 1976, she led the Community Diabetes Services, initially at the United Way and later under joint hospital and Health Department sponsorship. When the Diabetes Treatment Center opened at Wesley Long Hospital in 1987, Mrs. Button was named its program director for in- and outpatient services.

With the merger of local hospitals into the Moses Cone Health System, she moved to serve until her retirement as director of Inpatient Services for the program.

Mrs. Button's tireless service, an inspiration to all, has been characterized throughout by excellence in the education provided, strong leadership of staff, effective coordination with physicians and other health care providers and by compassion, sensitivity and empathy toward the thousands of patients she served.

All the while, she found time skillfully to parent her own child with diabetes and to support and volunteer generously in both the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and American Diabetes Association.

Elaine Button will be sincerely missed by the community's patients and health care providers, who wish her the best in her well-deserved retirement.

The writer is a Greensboro endocrinologist, recently retired.

North Carolina has one of the highest stroke death rates in the country. As both the father and husband of stroke survivors, I've seen firsthand the devastation stroke can cause.

Legislation recently passed the Senate health committee that would improve stroke awareness, prevention and treatment across the country. But the STOP Stroke Act is particularly important in our state, where the death rate from stroke is 20 percent higher than the national average.

Both of North Carolina's senators should be commended for supporting this legislation that could save thousands of lives. As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Sen. Burr has been particularly helpful.

I encourage my fellow North Carolinians to support the STOP Stroke Act and to take steps to protect themselves and their loved ones from the nation's No. 3 killer: stroke.

Jim Purdy
Greensboro

Nowhere but downtown Greensboro can you find on a Wednesday evening an assemblage of a family-friendly crowd gathered to celebrate the 200th anniversary of a city.

The crowd represented the diversity of the city and enjoyed every minute of the event. There were musicians, munitions and the occasional train whistle. The bicentennial torch made its appearance on time, and the statue of Gen. Nathanael Greene was unveiled -- all made possible by many volunteers with the support of civic leaders.

What we need now is a similar statue of Cornwallis at the roundabout on North Elm, looking south toward the city. Cornwallis would have his fighting face on, staring down Gen. Greene. The best part is we know the outcome.

We need a corporate sponsor like VF or Lincoln Financial or the Bryan Foundation again to pull this off. How about it, Greensboro?

John Reames
Greensboro

In anticipation of the visit of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to Greensboro this week, Mayor Yvonne Johnson read from a prepared statement.

She mentioned that his visit would help Greensboro and North Carolina play an important role in securing our party's nomination. Huh? Did I hear correctly? Our mayor, speaking for the city of Greensboro, saying the Obama visit would allow Greensboro a role in securing our party's nomination. Say what? I thought Greensboro's government is nonpartisan.

This rekindles a thought I have harbored for some time now, particularly since I made a run for City Council last year. Would a change to partisan government help move Greensboro from its stagnant position by challenging a status quo power structure that calls the shots in tandem with the powerful Simkins black voting bloc?

Say what you will about the county commissioners, they seem to have accomplished more in an open government setting than the City Council is capable of doing.

Charlotte has partisan government; just look where it is today compared to Greensboro. Maybe it's time for us to debate whether we are being served best by our nonpartisan City Council, or whether we would fare better under a partisan setup.

Bill Knight
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Yoram Lubling

While the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict is tragic, it does not help when writers misrepresent the facts. Homer L. Mason's "Build on goodness found in Mideast" (March 22), is a good example. Using an intentionally biased anti-Israeli book ("The Israeli Lobby") as his source, Mason goes on to quote questionable facts and numbers as if they were established realities. Adding that these facts are "according to the book" misses the point since he already inflamed the discussion.

It is a known fact that Israelis and Palestinians (and their supporters) will never agree on the historical facts of the conflict, but a short research into documents by international organizations might provide some objectivity. According to the U.N., as a result of the 1948 war that was started by Israel's Arab neighbors, between 350,000 and 700,000 Palestinians were "displaced." Indeed, some were "driven out" by the advancing Israeli forces but most fled, and even a larger number of Palestinians remained in Israel. Conveniently, Mason neglects to mention that more than 1 million Jews were literally expelled from Arab countries as a result of the 1948 war.

Furthermore, Israel did not expel Palestinians after the 1967 war; again they fled as a result of a war that was forced upon Israel by Arab nations. In the weeks leading to the pre-emptive attack by Israel, Egypt imposed a blockade over the Straits of Tiran and together with Syria and Jordan amassed millions of soldiers and military equipment on Israel's borders. The Arab states were also not shy about their intentions, and Egypt's president at the time, Gamal Abdel Nasser, predicted that the water of the Mediterranean Sea "will be red with the blood of Jewish children."

Finally, there are indeed good people on both sides who would like to move forward through an honest dialogue and establish two flourishing communities living side by side in peace. However, Counterpoints such as Mason's, whose sole purpose is to demonize the state of Israel, only promise to inflame emotions and eclipse the efforts of such good people. Any fair-minded person will recognize that logically and practically, one side cannot always be wrong and the other always right.

The writer teaches in the Philosophy Department at Elon University.

Concerning your article, "Save a boy's life" (March 22), congratulations to Greensboro Day School for having automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) and trained staff available to immediately address life-threatening events that may occur at the school. This focus on safety resulted in a young life saved.

As was the case of the Greensboro Day student, AEDs in combination with proper training are saving lives across the nation on a daily basis. The public safety facts are clear: AEDs should be available in all settings that draw together large numbers of people, including public and private schools.

In one of North Carolina's largest public school districts, Wake County, WakeMed Health & Hospitals has donated an AED to every public high school and middle school. AED donations to all public elementary schools will follow.

Other organizations across North Carolina may want to make similar life-saving donations to their own public or private schools. It is not a question of whether an emergency will occur; it is only a question of when it will occur. Steps taken today can save a life tomorrow.

William K. Atkinson
Raleigh

The writer is president and CEO of WakeMed Health & Hospitals.

Whether or not it was your intention, your recent article on the 460-year-old longleaf pine drove a holly stake into the heart of the "global warming" vampire ("Tree's warning: Get ready for more dry spells," March 22). Jason Ortegren's research merely reiterates what any honest climatologist or weatherman bold enough to speak up could tell us: There have always been swings and cycles in the weather. What have we heard lately about the "New Ice Age" scare of the 1970s? Nothing, because only warming is politically correct these days. Yes, there is global warming (due to normal cycles). Did we cause it? Can we fix it? No, due to normal cycles.

James Andrews
Siler City

In her usual millimeter-deep analysis, Mona Charen's March 22 column questioned who the "real" Barack Obama is. Charen attempts to answer by labeling Obama's recalled emotional reaction to his white grandmother's fear of black men a "cheap shot." Charen's suggestion that Obama was judgmental of his grandmother but tolerant of his pastor completely missed the point of understanding how past experiences shape current perceptions. Obama's call for the recognition of America's "different stories" and "common hopes" is the right direction for this country.

Furthermore, just as our country needs to engage in a long-overdue dialogue about race, we must sincerely return to the global roundtable. After eight years of paying lip service to climate change concerns, disregarding Geneva conventions and putting forth shifting justifications for launching a pre-emptive war, a new voice is necessary.

Who is Obama? A man who is demonstrating his qualifications to be that voice; not just for the United States. Obama is also the American president the world needs.

Kim Madden
Greensboro

Guilford County is growing, and so is our need for school classrooms. School construction must be funded through voter-approved bonds, and on May 6 there will be two bonds on the ballot totaling $457 million to build six new schools and expand and/or renovate 15 additional facilities.

Good schools prepare our children to be successful adults and attract the kinds of businesses and development that generate well-paying jobs and economic vitality for our community.

Good citizens, like good parents, understand that an investment in education is an investment in the future.

Voters across the state and across the country are voting "yes" for the children of their communities. We can afford to do no less!

Vote "yes" for schools on May 6.

Sallie Clotfelter
Greensboro

The article in Good Friday's edition of the News & Record, "For Obama, it's guilt by association" (March 21), needs very serious consideration.

The founder of the religion that a number of us espouse was himself on various occasions involved with that issue. "He doesn't know what kind of woman this is who anoints his feet, otherwise he would not let her do it" (a paraphrase, but it might sound familiar to you).

Let us consider this seriously. Do you find yourself rejecting a person or people who have different views, worship differently, dress differently than you?

Sister Gretchen Reintjes
Greensboro

Seldom would I sit for 90 minutes for a TV broadcast. However, I decided to put to work my UNCG speech communication second master's degree during the Barack Obama presidential campaign speech in Greensboro.

As an educator, I wanted to compare what I heard to the media accounts of the next few days.

I was disappointed with the March 27 News & Record headlines, photos and well-written article by Mark Binker. Each focused on what I'd call 10 percent of the speech and questions: race and campaign "jawing!"

Ninety percent covered topics and proposals to address pressing national and international concerns. The speech included the history of the candidate's campaign, relying on individuals' contributions without PAC lobbying funds.

Lastly, during the female-male rotation of asking questions, the candidate answered one about his religious beliefs. His statement included basic tenets affirmed by Christians. He emphasized his need to treat others daily as he wanted to be treated.

Firsthand experiences may be different for different people. Yet, I still prefer to listen to a speaker in a speech or conversation. Positive result: The article helped me double-check what I heard!

Gloria T. Best
Eden

I just finished my North Carolina taxes, and now I'm really feeling abused. Did you know that if you pay your taxes online (which the state recommends) by credit card, they charge you a convenience fee of $2 per $100 of taxes owed? In my case, the convenience for me and the state would have cost $24. What a rip-off!

Therefore, I paid the old-fashioned way. I wrote a check. Thank you, North Carolina Department of Revenue, for making my life so easy. Sorry I didn't make it more convenient for you.

Thomas Martin
Greensboro

Rather than continuing to fuel a growing conflict that could lead to costly litigation involving the expansion of the current landfill, why don't city planners consider purchasing undeveloped acreage with the option of future enlargement miles out in the country? This move would be cost-effective in terms of taxes, gas and acreage. The existing landfill would, in all probability, be available for future development, which would recoup acreage cost.

I encourage our city planners to determine the essential priorities and use any resources that are essential in establishing an effective solution to this issue. I believe that our elected officials will act in behalf of all involved so that we may face a functional future.

Elizabeth Breazeale
Greensboro

Thank you, Stephen Curry and gang, for introducing to the nation one of the best higher-learning institutions! Not only is Davidson a place where academic rigor is expected and desired, it is a place of community and generosity.

As a modest-income family of six, we received an ecstatic phone call from our daughter saying she was going to the Sweet Sixteen for free. The trustees at Davidson provided something for the entire student body that not all the students would have been able to afford. The entire community at Davidson has shown the nation that you can be bright, athletic and generous.

Go, Wildcats!

Ann Mebane
Archdale

Cheers for the Rev. Ken Massey's analysis (Second Opinion column, March 22) of this current flap about Barack Obama and his now-retired pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Massey has supplied ample response to Thomas Sowell's column blaming Obama for what his pastor has said in sermons. I need not add to his well-considered article.

One factor noticeable during this entire presidential campaign, where religion is a key issue constantly raised to praise or attack a candidate, is the basic ignorance of the media about such matters.

Without a clear understanding of theology or biblical interpretation, or church dynamics, the media have plunged eagerly, and ignorantly, into the fray. It's as if uninformed committees were examining candidates for ordained ministries, not the office of president.

If only the media would end such stupidity and instead focus on those issues crucial to what is required for governance of this nation.

Jean Rodenbough
Greensboro

I found interesting your article last week, "U.S. pays high price for Iraq war." It pointed out how, five years ago, our president launched a war with Iraq that led to costs we did not anticipate.

The war has now lasted longer than World War I, World War II or the Civil War. Four thousand Americans have given their lives, thousands more have been wounded and the war is currently costing American taxpayers $12 billion per month. And, where are we for all this sacrifice?

We are less safe and less able to shape events abroad. We are divided at home, and our alliances around the world have been strained. Eighty thousand Iraqis have been killed, thousands made homeless, and the vast majority of people in Iraq want us to go home.

According to the most reliable opinion polls, 70 percent of Americans now believe this war was a mistake. It has taken a long time, but maybe we are finally seeing the light.

Wilkes Macaulay
Colfax