News-Record.com

Ed Preston (letter, March 25) asserts that "institutional racism no longer exists except in reverse with affirmative action and political correctness." With regard to his latter point, I would suggest that he read "When Affirmative Action was White" or "The Color of Wealth."

If there is not a long and current history of institutional racism, then what are we to make of the fact that white median household income is 1.6 times that of black while white net worth is 5.7 times that of blacks? Wealth accumulation occurs in the context of institutions that favor its growth.

For the vast majority of households, the largest single asset is their home. If there is no institutional racism in the home-loan industry, what accounts for report after report finding that, when matched for income and credit score, blacks were much more likely than whites to be subject to predatory lending? Racial disparities in lending also were revealed a few years ago when black farmers won a lawsuit against USDA for its farm loan practices.

While whites' willingness to vote for a black presidential candidate may mean we are moving into a "post-racial" era, institutional practices that continue to favor whites are still very much with us.

Lawrence B. Morse
Greensboro

The writer teaches economics at N.C. A&T State University.

In July 1992, Congress enacted the SYNAR Amendment aimed to decrease youth access to tobacco. This requires that each state enact and enforce laws prohibiting sales to minors. If states do not have a compliance check of 20 percent or lower, meaning that fewer than 20 percent of retailers sell tobacco to minors, they could lose up to 40 percent of their federal Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment funding.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the national weighted average rate of tobacco sales to minors reported by states and the District of Columbia in their 2006 report is now 10.8 percent -- the lowest in SYNAR's 10-year history!

Right now, North Carolina has a 14.8 percent noncompliance rate. Great strides are being made, but there is still a lot of work to be done. Encourage retailers to move all tobacco products behind the counter. Let them know they are doing a great job when they ask for ID. Support local and state efforts concerning tobacco and access to minors. Let's strive for a healthy North Carolina.

Julie Westholder
Greensboro

Farid Wissa (letter, March 21) has this backward: Israel isn't the obstacle to peace. Since Israel vacated Gaza in 2005, the number of rockets launched from Gaza at Israeli civilians has increased. Israel hasn't responded proportionately.

Pre-1967 borders? Ehud Barak offered Arafat almost all of that. Arafat's response was the intifada.

Ethnic cleansing? Again, backward: There are still Israeli Muslims (even in the Knesset) but no Jews living under the Palestinian Authority because the Arabs practiced ethnic cleansing on Jews in 1948.

Compensation? The number of Jewish refugees in Israel driven out of Arab countries exceeds the number of Palestinians who left Israel, yet Syria, Iraq, Yemen, etc., never compensated Jews.

Israel faces a double standard, getting criticized more than countries with worse human rights records. Why is Israel the only country in the U.N. that can't serve on the Security Council? As Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union of Reform Judaism, put it: How patient would we be if civilians in Michigan were dodging missiles from Canada? A whole lot less patient than Israel has been.

Steven Taub
Greensboro

I must admit I was surprised and disappointed at the letter, "Skin color does matter" by Tom Shuford (March 21). While Shuford quotes two excerpts from journals to justify his claim, it is a thinly veiled attempt to stereotype the African American community. Come on! What year is this?

If you look at Hillary Clinton's political agenda and that of Barack Obama, they are almost exactly the same. So, let's take this a bit further. … All white women are socialists too, right? I'm sure I can dig up some inane article in some journal to support this also. I'm sure Shuford was attempting to make a point in his letter, but I failed to grasp anything more than someone attempting to spread fear.

Mr. Shuford obviously lives in fear: fear of change, fear of listening, fear of understanding, fear of accepting. I'm not too impressed with the News & Record for validating this point of view by printing Shuford's letter. I'm sure they get plenty of letters with inflammatory viewpoints, and use their better judgment to not print them. What happened here?

By the way, I'm a Republican, white and retired military. I just happen to have an open mind.

Gerry Smith
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Dorothy Schoolfield

I have just thumbed through your edition, "A Bicentennial Celebration -- Greensboro 1808-2008." I became a resident of Greensboro 60-plus years ago, so I find the pictorial history very interesting, but I am puzzled at what has been omitted. There is not one reference to any place of worship. I find this very disturbing.

I am referring to one particular church: Buffalo Presbyterian Church. Established in 1756, Buffalo is one of the oldest churches in the Piedmont. When "the North Buffalo Church," as it was first named, was organized on the present site (16th and Church streets), it was then in Rowan County, making it 14 years older than the county of Guilford. It is 33 years older than our U.S. government and 52 years older than the city of Greensboro.

There have been 15 pastors during its 252 years. David Caldwell was the first pastor, serving for 55 years until he was 95. He was a member of the first state convention at Halifax in 1776 that framed the first state constitution; and he was a member of the state convention in 1788 that approved the federal constitution. A physician at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse and beloved teacher, Dr. Caldwell is buried in the cemetery with his wife Rachel and several members of their family.

The Rev. Dr. Jesse W. Bledsoe serves as our 15th pastor.

One of the great strengths of Buffalo today is its past -- a past that has come down to the present through many families who have been part of the church for decades. This has made for a family church.

However, this has not precipitated an exclusiveness; rather, the church has persistently reached out to involve others in the Buffalo family.

I really can't see how you can celebrate 200 years of "city of Greensboro" without recognizing landmarks such as Buffalo Presbyterian Church.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

In her March 28 letter, "A lower drinking age helps bars, not teens," Carolyn Corbett raises the issue of a lower drinking age. Her only argument against lowering the drinking age to 18 is that a person could buy alcohol while in high school.

What she does not include is that at 18 a person is a legal adult. At 18, a person can live by himself, fight in the military, vote in general elections and get married. So, some people are not allowed to sip champagne at their own weddings. In North Carolina, a 16-year-old can be charged as an adult for committing a crime.

The lower drinking age would help teens by giving them a choice on how to run their lives.

Edward Krasula
Greensboro

First off, I want to thank everybody for my 200th birthday. So far, it's been really good because you've given me nice things over the years, like a baseball stadium, a downtown park and a new-looking Southside. And I thought the downtown roundabout was so awesome, but I didn't know it came with a statue!

Now that I'm a big boy I've been thinking a lot ... like about the Dell factory I wanted so badly. It's OK I didn't get it.

Now I think I should ask for grown-up presents because that's what I want to be. I think I need an urban growth plan and better zoning laws. I think I need sidewalks and good public transportation and your help, 'cause when I try to do it myself, I make a big mess. I want a civil rights museum, too, because a really long time ago, when I was little, I thought stuff like slavery, segregation, disenfranchisement, ignorance and poverty were good because that's what all my other city friends were doing. When I was a baby I did baby stuff, but now that I'm a big boy you don't have to give me baby presents anymore.

Andrew Young
Greensboro

Barack Obama's speech on forming a more perfect union is an amazing, unifying challenge to Americans of all races. That Sen. Obama denounced his former pastor's words while refusing to denounce the man and the friend definitively proves that he practices the Christian faith he espouses. I applaud him for displaying the integrity to do what he believes is right rather than a "do anything to win" attitude.

Who among us does not have a life experience involving some kind of racial prejudice? How refreshing it is to hear a politician invite us to join together in the hope of racial unity for all of us. Obama is far more than talk. He backs up those words with action, leading the way for positive change for our country.

Linda Orren
Greensboro

In light of the recent New York governor's sex scandal and the Detroit mayor's sex scandal, I wonder how people of such low moral value could be elected to such pivotal positions in our society.

Are we as voters not truly evaluating the quality of the candidates being set before us? Or are we being deceived by these politicians?

If they can lie under oath before judge and jury surely they can lie to us, the gullible constituents.

In this pivotal and historical election year I find myself wondering if I have the capabilities to judge a candidate's public and private integrity. Of course, we are all human, and it is not my place to judge; however, in casting my first presidential vote, I want to know that the candidate I support is true to himself or herself and is an upright citizen. If this is possible, I'm not sure, but I will use my best judgment to determine which candidate has my best interest in mind.

Aisha Shealey
Greensboro

I've been closely following the controversy surrounding Sen. Barack Obama and his former minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. I find it interesting that there has been little mention of Sen. John McCain and his religious affiliations.

On Oct. 5, 2007, on Bill Moyers' PBS program, I saw a segment of Sen. McCain appearing with the Rev. John Hagee. I was concerned by this appearance because Hagee promotes attacking Iran to keep Iran from invading Israel. Hagee also indicated, after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, that it was because of the people's sinfulness.

In 2006, Sen. McCain campaigned at Liberty University and sought the endorsement of the late Rev. Jerry Falwell. When Sept. 11, 2001, occurred, it was Falwell who said it happened to us because of the way we lived.

I believe it is unfair to hammer one candidate to death on his religious associations while we never hear anything about the other.

Yvonne Kane
Asheboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Shirley Vann

I have been answering the telephone for the National Alliance on Mental Illness/NAMI Guilford County since October 1996. NAMI offers support and education to mental health consumers and their families. It also brings the needs of the mentally ill to the attention of local, state and federal officials in an effort to improve treatment and access to treatment. Additionally, we promote research into the causes and treatment of brain disorders.

Families in the throes of mental illness frequently call NAMI to inquire about good group homes for their loved ones. Sadly, the answer to this question is slim to none.

For this reason, persons diagnosed with serious mental illness are often warehoused in homes for the elderly, as was Anthony Zichi. Sadly, this young man, through no fault of his own, developed schizophrenia at age 20.

There were several young people with this diagnosis enrolled in a recent NAMI "In Our Own Voice" class on public speaking. With proper treatment, many who are so diagnosed go on to live fruitful lives.

Not so with Anthony Zichi. The prayers and pleas of his family for long-term, meaningful treatment fell on the deaf ears in our state's mental health system.

North Carolina received a "D" for service in NAMI's "Grading the States 2006" report on care for those with serious mental illness. Yet, as new and improved medications become available, the outlook for persons diagnosed with serious mental illness is brighter than ever before.
Treatment works.

It's very sad that so little help was made available to the Zichi family as they knocked on doors until their knuckles bled. Mental illness strikes one in every five households.

A robust young man recently told me he would never develop a mental illness because he worked out daily in the gym. When I handed him a list of 15 famous sports figures diagnosed with serious mental illness, he was strangely silent.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

I read with interest recently where Sen. Hillary Clinton admitted to misspeaking for the first time in 12 years. Really? Only once in 12 years? I find, as a normal human being, that I misspeak fairly regularly.

I am ecstatic to know she is so near perfection.

Tony Hummel
Reidsville

Many citizens in Guilford County may be unaware of how great the need is for new schools and how necessary school improvements are to our older schools. Building new schools for our growing community and providing needed funds for school improvements are of paramount importance to the future of Guilford County Schools and Guilford County itself.

My daughter's school, James­town Middle, is 170 students over capacity and shares a campus with Ragsdale High School, which is 279 students over capacity. Making the overcrowding worse is the fact that Ragsdale High School was built in 1959 and last saw improvements in 1969. Visitors to Ragsdale are often shocked at the condition of the campus.

It is time for our local leaders and our citizens to fully support our public schools. Excellent public schools provide a strong foundation for the entire community, young and old. Well-educated citizens have options, and in a world where change is happening at an accelerated pace, options are essential. We must strengthen the foundations of our Guilford County Public Schools. It is vital to the continued well-being of our children and our community that we pass the school construction bonds on May 6.

Lora Farlow
Greensboro

A petition is circulating purportedly to convince the Pleasant Garden Town Council that citizens want the ability to recall elected officials. Have the signers actually read the bill?

The previous council did not before it voted on it last May, yet this flawed legislation was on the fast track to become law.

I carefully read it before making a motion in February that directed the General Assembly not to pursue this legislation. Some gasped when I dared call it "ridiculous." But I truly believe this is a "Bill to Recall Elected Officials" in name only.

It virtually eliminates the possibility of ever holding a recall election because it requires signatures of 33 percent of the registered voters gathered within 30 days. This is more than twice the number of votes that either of the winners received in the 2007 election.

I propose that, following completion of the budget, the council begin to develop a legislative package to submit to the 2009 Guilford delegation. This realistic time frame will allow for input, research and discussion. If citizens and the council truly want a means to recall elected officials, it will be included and we all will have done our homework.

Nancy Jo Smith
Pleasant Garden

The letter regarding the fee for filing state taxes (March 31) raises a few interesting points. The gentleman is right to feel abused, but his anger is misdirected. It is not free for the North Carolina Department of Revenue to accept payment by credit card. Like all retailers who choose to accept credit cards, they must pay the credit card company a fee of roughly 2 percent of the transaction plus a usage fee (typically about 35 cents per transaction).

If the N.C. Department of Revenue did not pass this fee along to taxpayers they would be losing 2 percent of tax revenues every time our credit card-dependent population chose this payment method. As taxpayers, we should be thankful this fee is passed along directly to people who use this service.

It's unfortunate all retailers do not choose to pass this fee directly along to consumers who pay via credit card. Instead it is just another cost of doing business that gets buried in the price of their product. This means we all pay higher prices so people can pay via credit card. If you don't like the fee, take it up with your credit card company. It's their fee.

Colin Streng
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By: Neil M. De Stefano, M.D.

Regarding the recent closing of the Annie Penn Birthing Center in Reidsville:

The spin is that this is all driven by doctor shortages. I disagree. The majority of births were not delivered by doctors, but by two midwives. Family Tree Obstetrics employs two midwives and a nurse practitioner, all of whom are involved in vaginal deliveries.

This recent move by Cone Hospital has dealt a death blow to the hospital and the community.

Cone maintains it has done everything possible to keep the center open. With the prestige, power and money that Cone has, it could have solved this problem. Cone recently announced a relationship with N.C. Baptist Hospital, an institution loaded with residents in every facet of medicine. Surely, OB/Gyn residents could rotate in service at Annie Penn. This would benefit both hospital and residents.

It is interesting that many small hospitals in North Carolina are adequately managed and maintain birthing centers, as does Morehead Hospital in Eden, which, by the way, has two OB/Gyn doctors.

I have been on the surgical staff for the past 45 years. I closed my office in December 2006.

Until recently, I have been assisting at surgery. For years, there was sufficient surgery to enable us to have a full-time pathologist. When I arrived in Reidsville in 1963, a pathologist came to Annie Penn Memorial Hospital one day a week. Now, with a much greater volume, we've fallen back to 1963. I honestly feel that the grand plan is to close down most of the services in Reidsville, perhaps leaving a new, very large emergency room, an urgent care center and probably a day surgery for "light" surgery, the rest being transferred to Cone for "intensive care and surveillance." Even now, activities in the Intensive Care Unit at Annie Penn are electronically monitored at Cone. I envision that, over a period of years, most of the medical care for Reidsville patients will be in Greensboro.

Naturally, I am angered by this decision. This involves my colleagues, my former patients, all the patients who have depended on this hospital for years.

The hospital, like a church, is a center of the community. Life begins and ends here.

Businesses always ask about medical facilities before deciding to come. New doctors won't want to become involved where there is a failing hospital. The citizens, for years, have pointed with pride to their physicians, to their hospital.

As you can see, there is much more to the story you presented.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

I recently attended meetings of concerned citizens from the Irving Park, Browntown, Kirkwood and New Irving Park sections of Greensboro. Everyone is understandably concerned about the increase of auto and home invasions, and particularly the recent vicious murder of a young woman in her home. The mayor, assistant police chief and other city officials attempted to explain why this is occurring. Inadequate funding of law enforcement agencies, the lack of Neighborhood Watch groups, etc., are not the source of our present crime problems.

The lawlessness we are experiencing today is the result of 50 years of embracing an expanding progressive/permissive agenda in America. This progressive political agenda, espoused and promoted by the majority of the mass media, the academic community, the entertainment industry, etc., has penetrated to the core of our society.

How has this agenda greatly contributed to the increased criminal activity in America?

Now that we have our economic stimulus payment notices (sent at great cost), you may be marveling, as I am, at the unfairness of giving money to people who have it and not to people who don't: people who earn less than $3,000, people who are disabled.

Maybe like certain friends of mine, your distaste for the Economic Stimulus Act takes the form of deciding to give that money that comes to you unearned and unasked for to someone you know who can really use it: a man on SSI who gets $10 in food stamps a month, a shy woman who house sits for a living.

If you don't know any people like that, you might consider passing your tidy bundle on to one of many charitable institutions in Greensboro that goes: the Beloved Community Center, Faith Action International House, etc.

Just a thought.

Mary Wakeman
Greensboro

A lot of people probably missed a great opening day in Chicago. Ernie Banks was honored with a statue at Wrigley Field. Along with Mr. Cub was Hank Aaron, one of the greatest ballplayers, and two other Hall of Famers. If anyone thinks baseball is dead, tune in a Chicago Cubs game. Fans there are one of a kind. I congratulate Chicago TV station WGN for coverage of this event and the pregame ceremonies.

Much has been said about racial divides and tensions. There was none at the opening day's ceremonies. And what a wonderful, refreshing change that was. We need more of this in our messed-up world. Maybe we need to get back to basics, buy a ticket to a local ball game, sit down with a hot dog, and root for the home team.

If you aren't able to take in a local game, join me in tuning in a Cubs game in the comfort of your home, courtesy of WGN. I truly hope this is "their year.''

M.E. Sneed-Ellington
High Point

As the son of a Muslim immigrant from Turkey, I would like to say the editorial cartoon published March 28 about the not-so-recent Danish cartoon flap upholds the ridiculous notion that all Muslims are terrorists and barbarians.

But, rather than go through with the predictable liberal rhetoric of how blatantly offensive this is, I suggest that you have the courage to publish Ted Rall's cartoons, which depict the war in Iraq as an act of imperialist aggression.

If you are going to publish extreme right-wing cartoons to appease your fringe Yosemite Sam readers, why not publish extreme left-wing cartoons to appease readers of "The Nation" and those who think Hillary Clinton is a closet Republican?

If this isn't possible, perhaps you should change the name of your newspaper to "The Rhinoceros Times -- Daily Edition."

Tilly Gokbudak
Reidsville

We may have a few problems with our Police Department, but if we had more officers like J.D. Sturm, Greensboro would be a much better place to live.

I had the pleasure of meeting Officer Sturm when I requested help with a problem on Old Oak Ridge Road.

He was very professional, courteous and extremely efficient. He solved the situation and left me with the feeling that Greensboro was a lucky to have Officer Sturm.

Thank you, Officer Sturm.

George Smith
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Barbara P. Sloan

Mona Charen commented on Barack Obama's book, "Dreams from My Father" (March 8), and Michelle Obama's statement that she'd never been proud of her country until its people began to support her husband.

Charen "suspect(s) that beneath the book's soothing talk, there is bitterness in the man that we'd best learn more about before voting."

A 74-year-old white woman, I, too, have not been proud of my country since conservatism came to power. Conservative disdain for government led to Reagan-era scandalous epidemics of theft in HUD, the EPA and bid-rigging defense contracts when more than 100 administration officials were indicted, convicted or expelled on ethics charges (1981-1989). Today, we find $9 billion unaccounted for in Iraq and fraud in no-bid Haliburton contracts.

Republican demands for fewer rules to control business have seen the rise in unsafe food, medicine and toys. Failed regulation of the financial sector has led to the subprime mortgage mess, low wages, job loss, creeping inflation and recession.

The South went solidly Republican when Reagan played the race card, condemning busing for school desegregation and calling welfare recipients (meaning poor black women) welfare queens and blaming the poor for their poverty.

Obama, whose world view shoulders the pain of the black man, shows the love of his free-thinking white mother and understands the Asian world of his stepfather, would be president to overcome bitterness and bring hope and peace to a fractured world.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

We at UNCG in the School of Health and Human Performance appreciate Taft Wireback's article, "Biking advocate seriously injured" (April 2), the story of our public health education faculty member, Mark Schulz, who was seriously injured in a car-bike accident because of a driver text messaging while she was on the road.

I am glad that you highlighted the seriousness of professor Schulz's injuries and the fact that he will likely be in rehabilitation for quite some time. However, the News & Record story listed "bike safety tips" beside the news article. Professor Schulz could be the poster child for bike safety!

You did review all the safety precautions he used, but it would have been nice to see "driver safety tips" accompanying the article as well! The driver's inattention to her task (text messaging while driving!) was the cause of the accident, not anything preventable by the bicyclist.

Thanks, and we all appreciate the community support that professor Schulz has received.

Celia R. Hooper
Greensboro

I do not understand why the article, "Biking advocate seriously injured," contained a sidebar about "safe cycling." It is clear the young lady in the article caused the accident by way of her unsafe handling of a motorized vehicle.

A more appropriate sidebar would have contained tips on how to safely operate a motorized vehicle when encountering a cyclist -- things like "concentrate on one thing -- driving"; when passing a cyclist, make sure to give plenty of room; if you cannot pass without giving a cyclist adequate space, wait a few seconds for traffic to pass and then do so.

Mary Crowe
Greensboro

A recent Gallup poll shows 28 percent of Hillary Clinton supporters say John McCain would make a better president than Barack Obama.

Nearly 20 percent of Barack Obama supporters say if their man isn't the nominee, they'll vote for McCain rather than Clinton.

An obvious conclusion to this idiotic reasoning is a "protest vote" against Obama or Clinton by voting for McCain.

If Democrats do this, the consequences will be disastrous: A vote for McCain will be a vote for four more years of dead American soldiers and live Islamic jihadis in Iraq; further weakening of our military; worse economic deterioration; more crippling foreign debt; fewer rights and less privacy; more tragic disintegration of our country's infrastructure; four more ruinous years of Supreme Court appointments like Roberts and Alito; and who knows how many years of war with Iran (recall McCain's 2007 "American Idol" moment, when he laughingly sang, "Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran" to a VFW gathering at Murrells Inlet, S.C.).

The citizens of North Carolina have already lost 94 soldiers (http://icasualties.org/oif/) and wasted more than $14 billion (www.nationalpriorities.org/) on Bush's war. If you believe we must change how we do business, please vote Democratic in November.

Portia R. McCracken
Greensboro

I write in support of the Guilford County school bonds on the May 6 ballot. As a parent and a substitute teacher, I have witnessed the dire need to construct, renovate and rehabilitate Summerfield Elementary.

When I substitute at Summerfield, lunch may be anywhere from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. The mold issues make even a non-allergenic person feel poorly. I have witnessed a boy soaked with mud from puddles that form on the sidewalks. I can testify to the amount of time taken away from education as the kids prepare for their outdoor walk to specials, lunch, the library and certain classes.

Once, a teacher told me how grateful they were that their classroom had been upgraded from the 61-year-old building with no restrooms or sinks to the 49-year-old building that has leaks and mold. Something must be done to contribute to a better learning environment for the kids at Summerfield Elementary.

Please join me in supporting the Guilford County school bonds. Our support, ultimately, will provide a much-needed improved learning environment for the children who are the greatest resource for everyone's future quality of life.

Kristie Lano
Summerfield

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Tom Sparks

As the approval rating of Congress bobs somewhere between the IQ of a Brussels sprout and legal drinking age, it becomes increasingly difficult to remain optimistic that anything meaningful will be accomplished about the problems our country faces, regardless of who becomes president.

This is especially disconcerting because many, perhaps even most, individuals in the House and Senate are informed, articulate and well-intentioned. But put all their efforts together, and you have something with the backbone and direction of a plate of spaghetti.

Each of us could come up with our own list of issues facing the Untied States. But almost everyone would agree that terrorism, health care, Iraq, energy independence, the economy, education, Social Security and Medicare, and infrastructure repair belong somewhere on the list. Raise your hand if you feel confident that Congress will act in the next four years on any of these problems with vision or courage. On the other hand, I'm sure we will find time to squeeze in two weeks each on the future equivalents of Elian Gonzales, Terri Schiavo and Roger Clemens.

A Democratic senator was asked recently on one of the Sunday morning news shows what accomplishments Congress has had in the last three years. The answer was increasing the minimum wage and ethics reform. This is change? Wow! The minimum wage affected fewer than 1 percent of workers, and the ethics reform package has holes you could drive through. And the Republicans are no better. Eight years of Republican leadership have resulted in absurd increases in the deficit and in earmark projects.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans living today were not alive when the Beatles had their first hit in the early '60s. And what are the significant accomplishments of our Congress during this 40-plus year period? A pitifully short list to be sure. This means that for an overwhelming majority of Americans, the House and Senate have combined to provide a lifetime of huffing, puffing and dysfunctional partisan blather.

Success is measured not by achievement but by blocking the other party's proposals. The Republicans take pride in blocking a flawed health care proposal, and the Democrats take pride in blocking a flawed Social Security proposal. Meanwhile, nothing gets done on either problem. And on we move to the next issue, nothing but a pile of fractured hopes in the rearview mirror.

We can only pray that I have been wrong about everything I have said in this letter.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

In 2007, my husband and I traveled to Ohio and Maine by automobile.

The roads in North Carolina are generally the best to travel on with one exception. The people of North Carolina use the sides and medians of our highways and byways as a garbage dump!

We did not find this to be true in the other states we passed through.

Why are the people of North Carolina so thoughtless and unconcerned? Do they treat their homes the same way?

The solution is easy. Keep a plastic trash bag in your vehicle and use it. Dump it when you get home or in one of the trash receptacles furnished by the state.

"Keep North Carolina green and clean" is a great idea.

Mary S. Ward
Madison

The key to education is a teacher who engages students'minds and excites them about learning. For teachers to be effective, they must have an appropriate environment in which to operate.

The number of children in Guilford County continues to grow, and we need to provide a healthy, stimulating environment for education. This means safe, permanent space. At a minimum, this means adequate classrooms, gymnasium, library and cafeteria space.

At Grimsley High School on rainy days, hundreds of students sit on the floor to eat in an academic building because there is no room for them in the cafeteria. (If it’s just plain cold, they still eat outside.) Throughout the county, 672 trailers are in use instead of safer permanent classrooms. Many of these schools don’t have the number of bathrooms, library or gym space to support the number of students at their school.

We need to support both school bonds on the May 6 ballot. Safe classrooms for 7,000 students will be added in various areas in the county.

Jean Pudlo
Greensboro

Blood donations are given every day by individuals as a gift for people in need. These gifts have the capability to save a person’s life. With that point understood and the rising need for blood donations, it seems that no one would deny blood from a volunteer.

Yet, the Food and Drug Administration is successful at turning people away and not allowing them to donate blood because of their sexual orientation.

In 1985, the FDA banned men who have had sex with another man since 1977 from giving blood and believe that this policy will eliminate blood-carrying AIDS or HIV. Statistics from Seaton Healthcare Network show that AIDS/HIV disease is carried by men and women regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, place of residence, etc. Why risk saving a life just because of disagreements concerning sexual orientation?

I would like you to imagine if the life of someone you care about depends on a blood donation. Would you care if blood given to save your husband, wife, child or friend was donated by a person who is homosexual? Consider it.

Angela Critz
High Point

I agree with Kay Sigmon’s letter, "Hard work, experience are worth a degree" (March 9).
The baby boomers are worth a whole lot more than they are given credit for. Their experience and knowledge are worth more than any of us will ever know. You can’t put a price on experience and knowledge.

Our society needs to understand that those older than 50 contain the survival of our future. We learn from those most experienced. Experience and knowledge are to be passed on from one generation to the next.

The only way to preserve our future generations is to respect and honor our elders. Honorary degrees are in order. We must not forget where we came from and who helped us get there.

Cheryl E. Chavis
Greensboro

The presidential primary system was devised to replace the "smoke-filled rooms" where a few politicians picked the candidates.

The primary system is not working well. The campaigns started much too early, need much too much money, and drain candidates of energy. If they kill themselves before the election, then what?

Meanwhile, they are too tired and distracted to do the jobs they have already been elected to in the U.S. Senate.

It would seem that if the superdelegates end up choosing the candidates, we are returning to the "smoke-filled rooms." And all this effort has been wasted. Help!

Elizabeth Hounshell
Greensboro

We are so very fortunate in Greensboro to have many beautiful parks and recreation areas to enjoy, either alone or with family and friends. Within just a few days, I have been privileged to enjoy the Greensboro Natural Science Center, the Centennial Gardens and the Bog Garden.

However, while walking recently in the Bog Garden, I was appalled to see two families deliberately breaking a rule of the garden. I refer to the very large signs at each entrance requesting that people enjoying the garden do not feed the Canada geese. In each case, the children throwing the bread were not old enough to read the signs, but their parents certainly appeared to be intelligent, caring individuals who probably could read.

In Centennial Gardens, I had to avoid two "doggie deposits" on the sidewalk. True, dogs have accidents, but once again, it is the responsible adult who should follow the rules of common sense.

Wake up, Greensboro, and take care of these beautiful facilities.

Abbigail Wheeling
Greensboro

President Bush has responded to the situation in Iraq much like a desperate gambling addict. He swears that with only a little more time and money and the loss of a few more American lives, we will reverse our fortunes and be winners in Iraq.

Like a compulsive gambler, Bush can't stop borrowing more and more to support his addictive habit. This is borrowing that drives us further into serious debt, which we leave for our children and grandchildren to pay.

We need to end Bush's addiction because he will never quit on his own. Support our troops by bringing them home.

David Walker
High Point

Those who wish to learn about and understand Barack Obama should read his first book, "Dreams from My Father." It is his fascinating account of his youth.

You will learn about his parents' meeting and marriage, his childhood in Hawaii and with his grandparents in Kansas, his early work organizing in Chicago, including his involvement with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and his lengthy trip to Kenya to meet the African side of his family.

You will find many of your questions answered, and the book is fascinating reading!

Virginia Achey
Greensboro

As a newcomer to Greensboro, having moved from Chapel Hill after 20 years, I have embraced the history and diversity of my new home. In a desire to keep informed of the local happenings, I look forward to receiving the daily copy of the News & Record at my door.

The New & Record does a good job of covering local issues and national politics with opposing views from various opinions. One thing that, as a new resident, I would like to do is register to vote. I think it would be a good community service if the News & Record would publish how a citizen can accomplish this in the paper on a regular basis during an election season. I have found it difficult to obtain this information elsewhere.

Richard Riddle
Greensboro

Editor's note: The best source of information about voter registration is the Guilford County Board of Elections. Its number is 641-3836.

Nearly 30 years ago our merry-go-around started. Mark was a model student and two-time Ohio state wrestling champion. During the spring of 1979 Mark ended up in a mental hospital. There were no halfway houses for the mentally ill.

We moved to North Carolina November of 1979, leaving Mark in the care of his mother. When Mark got restless and needed a change, we brought him to North Carolina.

Schizophrenia is not only hell for the person it affects but also the family. Either the devil or God was telling Mark what to do. One afternoon God told him it was OK to walk into the path of an oncoming car; he escaped with just a few bruises. Doctors had told us Mark was suicidal.

He tried several times. The way he succeeded in ridding himself of the demons that tormented him was one bullet to the temple — one month before his 21st birthday. We feel fortunate that Mark didn't physically hurt anyone, as Anthony Zichi did, but he could have.

Most families, no matter how hard they try, are not equipped to deal with schizophrenia.

Karen Rubish
Thomasville

Regarding the western loop of Painter Boulevard:

Thank you for your coverage of the situation.

I bought a new condominium at Charlestowne Square in 1987. We were overjoyed at finding a home in such peaceful surroundings. It simply was too good to be true.

With so many of us first-time home buyers, a nice community was hard to find.

The property sits on the old Coltrane farmland and a creek runs through it. In the beginning, it was so quiet you could hear a rooster crowing at early dawn. A short distance away was a large lot with a couple of horses grazing.

Working at a local bank, I could come home for lunch, put my feet up and read a little while watching the birds outside my living room window.

Soon progress via Wendover Shopping Center appeared and things went downhill. Traffic became worse, then we began to hear loud noises as work on the western loop began. Now, we get all the noise and auto exhausts that one would expect in a lifetime every day. With only a chain-link fence between them and us, this is not a comfortable situation.

The state should buy our property or put up decent barriers to decrease the noise and the noxious fumes.

C.K. Merrell
Greensboro

Proverbs says "train up a child in the way he should go." We're asking why some children have no conscience, don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, classmates and themselves.

Parents are too busy for their children. They leave the training to the TV, the video game, the schools and peers. By not training them, parents are inadvertently training their children to become irresponsible, disrespectful and violent.

Where is your child right now?

Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children. Now we complain the justice system doesn't work and we need better tracking.

Atheist activist Madeleine Murray O'Hair said get the Bible and prayer out of schools. The Bible teaches us not to steal or kill and to love our neighbors. A friend recently asked, "Why does God allow such things to happen?"

In Anne Graham Lotz's words, "For years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"

Michael Madren
Rural Hall

I think there was a typo in one of the letters to the editor (April 2). A portion of it read: "The lower drinking age would help teens by giving them a choice on how to run their lives." Seems there was an "i" missing in the word "run."

Don Byers
Greensboro

Do you count your pills when you get a refill at the pharmacy? Are you sure you are getting all the pills you are charged for?

After an argument with the pharmacist at one drug chain over being short, I switched to another pharmacy. I have four prescriptions for pills that I get refilled once a month. At least one of the four is short one pill every month, and it is usually the "robotically picked" pill. Not significant?
How long will it be before you are two weeks short on your medication? Based on the pharmacy's computer, you have enough pills. Try to get the prescription filled early; your insurance will not pay if you are 15 days early.

Do you count your pills when you get a refill at the pharmacy? Are you sure you are getting all the pills you are charged for? If you don't, you just gave the pharmacy a 100 percent profit to its bottom line for every pill you are charged for and don't receive. What I pay in Medicare

premiums and my supplemental insurance is more than my monthly cost for prescriptions. I can't afford to pay for something I did not receive.

John Coley
Greensboro

At its March 10 meeting, the Greensboro Zoning Commission heard the request of attorney Barbara Silver-Smith and Crystal Rhoades to grant a special-use permit for them to establish a federal prison halfway house at 3107 S. Elm-Eugene St. After hearing these two women and the many neighbors who were opposed to this request, the commission agreed that such a facility wouldn't be in the best interest of the neighborhood and businesses in this area. The women appealed this decision to the City Council, which will hear this appeal at its April 15 meeting.

The neighbors of the Woodlea, Woodlea Lakes, Woodlea Ridge and other housing communities in that area and the Randleman Road area business owners who are opposed to this request have met and discussed ways to impact the City Council decision in their favor. One of the business owners has put up a large sign in front of his business that reads "Stop the Prison." This sign expresses the thoughts and wishes of the homeowners and business owners in this neighborhood.

We are publicly asking the City Council to uphold the recommendation of the Zoning Commission and deny the special-use permit to place a federal prison halfway house in the midst of this very stable community as requested by these two women.

Ronald O. Smith
Greensboro

Congratulations, Greensboro!

Great news was announced in March: The Natural Science Center is now the only dually accredited AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) and AAM (American Association of Museums) facility in North Carolina. The Greensboro community should be incredibly proud of this fact. Just 10 percent of all USDA licensed zoos and aquariums in the United States are AZA accredited, with the AZA being the premier national accrediting body in the country.

Accreditation ensures the highest operational standards and forces transparent accountability at all levels of our institution. It also opens new doors for the Natural Science Center in terms of educational partnerships; local, national and international conservation; and endangered species breeding programs. Not to mention a fantastic perk for all Natural Science Center members: free or reduced admission to hundreds of other AZA- and AAM-accredited facilities nationwide.

On your next visit to the Natural Science Center, you'll experience Animal Discovery, the brand new Omnisphere digital dome theater and all the educational and fun exhibits in our museum while knowing you are in a one-of-a-kind attraction in our state. Enjoy!

Bethany Duggins
Greensboro

The writer is chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of the Natural Science Center.

As to who will be our next president, "May the best person win."

I believe it will be someone who will be more for the people than himself. It will probably be someone who will bring our troops home.

That war in Iraq should have been over a long time ago. By the way, it has lasted longer than World War II. Already, 4,000 or more troops have been killed, and many more wounded.
It wouldn't hurt to pray about this election.

Think on these things.

N.R. Smith
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint column.

I realize a newspaper has little editorial control over legally mandated notices, but it saddened me to read the "Notice of General Primary May 6, 2008, “published on March 27 in the News & Record informing the public of “a county-wide Democrat, Republican and nonpartisan primary election," along with other useful information about who is running for office, how to vote and so forth.

It further stated that "Voters registered with the Democrat party may vote in the Democrat primary." However, to my knowledge, there is no such political organization which calls itself a "Democrat Party."

Forgive an old English teacher for expecting James R. Turner, chairman of the Guilford County Board of Elections, to know the difference between the proper noun “Democrat” and the adjective “Democratic.” However, I would think that a chairman of a board of elections would be aware of the existence of the Democratic Party with its national committee located at 430 S. Capitol St., SE, Washington, DC 20003. It has local, affiliate organizations which use the same name. I’m sure he must have heard about them.

A commentator for The New Yorker, Hendrik Herzberg, once wrote that “There's no great mystery about the motives behind this deliberate misnaming. 'Democrat Party' is a slur, or intended to be -- a handy way to express contempt. Aesthetic judgments are subjective, of course, but 'Democrat Party' is jarring verging on ugly. ..."

The official Web site for the Guilford County Board of Elections (www.guilfordelections.org) states that the office “is committed to ... conducting efficient, fair, honest and impartial elections at a minimum cost to the electorate,” and it makes clear reference to the existence of a “Democratic Party,” not a "Democrat Party."

We must therefore conclude that Turner is simply does not know any better. There is no shame in not knowing, if one is willing to learn.

The Conservapedia, a Web site that heralds itself as "The Trustworthy Encyclopedia" (www.conservapedia.com), correctly identifies the “Democratic Party as one of the two major political parties in the United States of America,” and that “Member(s) and supporters of the Democratic party are known as Democrats.”

I hope this will assist Turner in carrying out his official duties.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

Thank you, Mike Barber.

In 2001, Greensboro's City Council voted to close the award-winning White Street Landfill to municipal solid waste. That vote, spearheaded by the council's minority members and enthusiastically supported by their white toadies, was made over the strenuous objections of the city staff who realized the cost to the city would be enormous. Now that a transfer station has been built and the bills are coming due, Councilman Mike Barber (courageously supported by Mary Rakestraw and Trudy Wade), asks that the staff do an honest review of the costs involved for council.

Bowing to public pressure, including the false claim of "environmental racism" (which even this newspaper's editorial staff has questioned), the other six council persons reiterate that White Street will remain closed no matter what the cost. Suppose it is $10 million per year? What if it's $50 million? How about $100 million? No matter, so long as the minority community is appeased.

What a shame that Greensboro's citizens have to pay for the poor decisions and lack of courage by some of our elected officials.

Thank you, Mike, for having the courage to ask for a reckoning.

Robert B. Skenes
Greensboro

Regarding the article, "Biking advocate seriously injured" (April 2), concerning the bicyclist hit by an inattentive motorist: I commend the inclusion of safety tips for bicyclists. Considering the circumstances, the article also should have included a list of safety rules for drivers. A few suggestions:

• Obey speed limits and traffic signs.
• Maintain clear distance when following another vehicle.
• Keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

Driving a car is not watching a movie or playing a video game. It is a real thing happening in real time to real people. Two tons of moving steel and plastic, even at 35 mph, can cause tremendous damage to life and limb.

The next time you steer that comfy, powerful machine out onto the road, remind yourself that you're no longer in your living room. In those few seconds when you look away from the road or take your hands from the wheel, you're inviting tragedy.

When you're tempted to bully the slowpoke ahead of you or ignore that inconvenient red light, remember: It's better to get there late than not at all. Let it sink in.

There's no reset button on life.

Christopher Dillon
Jamestown

Clyde L. Hunt Jr. articulates well in your journal (column, April 3) a common opinion that it's the progressive liberalism of our society which has spawned today's high rate of crime. Were that the root cause, however, could we expect those countries having an even more liberal politic and culture to be experiencing a proportionally higher crime rate?

Even allowing for the inherent problems in measurement, most of the comparisons you can reference consistently show Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland — those bastions of socialism — way down the list in violent crimes per capita. On the upper end one sees most commonly the United States, Germany, UK, Russia, France and South Africa.

Might a more reliable corollary to a nation's crime rate be its disparity in wealth, from the richest to the poorest, rather than its liberal distribution of wealth through progressive taxation and strong safety nets? Might the shocking rate of high school dropouts, released last week, and growing isolation of inner cities provide us a more fundamental root cause for criminal behavior in our nation than our political and social bias?

Bill Yaner
Jamestown

Lawrence B. Morse (letter, April 1) asks what else can explain the disparity of predatory lending practices between blacks and whites, if not institutionalized racism.

Right off the top of my head I can think of another possible explanation: Economics teachers who profess to their students the economic hopelessness of inevitable fiscal fail