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Those in Greensboro who castigate the News & Record and discontinue their subscriptions should read carefully the paper’s coverage of local news.

Whatever our divergent political views, we need to know what is happening here. Local news is the glue that holds us together.

Can we ever forget the sudden and unexpected closing of radio station WBIG?

Read the Wall Street Journal but don’t depend on it for what’s going on here.
Support the News & Record before we lose it.

Richmond G. “Rip” Bernhardt Jr.
Greensboro

Ready for your close up?

If you’re a letter to the editor writer who’d prefer to be seen as well as heard, your time has come. The News & Record now accepts video letters.

A video letter is one you read before a camera for posting on our Web site. If, for instance, you’ve got a complaint about an eyesore, you could picture it. You may record videos on your own and e-mail them to us. Also, we’ll make occasional days and times available during which you can record your letter in our studio.

As long as you meet our taste and length guidelines, almost anything goes. But think visually. You don’t just have to sit there. Show us what you mean.

In the New York Times April 28, I was shocked by an article titled, “Dick Cheney for president,” and April 29, in my own News & Record, I was shocked by a letter to the editor titled, “Obama and Democrats want to destroy America.”

What is going on? Both the New York Times article and the News & Record’s letter to the editor seem preposterous to me.

Dick Cheney is on some talk show now trying to present torture as acceptable, even though we voted solidly against him and his friends and elected a new and different administration headed by Barack Obama, who absolutely puts our country first, no matter what letter writer Tony Moschetti says.

Obama inherited an almost broken country when he took office and slowly is changing everything to bring us back to the United States of America we knew when our Constitution was respected by our leaders and every country throughout the world.

K.K. Mersereau
Greensboro

The city of Greensboro should not spend millions for an ACC Hall of Fame or an indoor swimming pool at the Greensboro Coliseum complex. Last summer the city’s outdoor pools could not operate full hours because of a shortage of money for lifeguards. Our children must come first.

On the same subject of our money-losing coliseum, I think we need a new director, and I’m sure a qualified person with a business background could be hired at half the pay of our present director.

It seems that our priorities have become backwards because of a lack of good leadership that borders on unethical, if not worse decision-making by our elected officials.

G. William Scott
Greensboro

I read in your April 23 News & Record a wonderful article about a California town declaring “Random Acts of Kindness Week” and about what lots of kind deeds people did and could do.

How about our city and surrounding areas beginning Resurrection Day during Easter month and add some praying time?

We’ve read or heard about neighborhood sidewalk praying for people as you walk by their houses, so why don’t we pray for people as we drive by their houses and pray for other drivers and ourselves? It could cut down on road rage.

Then, we can have drive-by praying instead of drive-by shootings.

Eleanor Atkins
Greensboro

Counterpoint:

By Donald H. Brown

Last summer, then-Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue joined then-Gov. Mike Easley and the residents of Camden and Gates counties in opposition to a proposed landing strip to be used by eight new squadrons of the F/R-18 Super Hornets plus two squadrons at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station near New Bern.

However, during Perdue’s campaign for election she continued to state how hard she had worked to keep the total military presence in North Carolina. This flip-flop was essential for her to win the election for governor of North Carolina.

Hidden in all of this politicking was the intended use of this innocent-looking landing strip.
The strip was to be built for the sole purpose of training and retraining Navy and Marine jet pilots in carrier landings.

My brother, retired Lt. Cmdr. Richard B. Brown, flew 200-plus missions over Vietnam from the carrier Coral Sea during the Vietnam War. He stated that the most dangerous thing in flying off carriers is coming back from a mission late at night during a storm and short of gas. Only the best-trained could handle this dangerous portion of Naval air operations.

Now we have Gov. Perdue challenging the U.S. Navy, as reported, by signing a proposed law that denies the U.S. Navy permission to build a practice landing runway for Navy and Marine carrier pilots.

How many Navy and Marine pilots will be lost through the lack of training this facility would provide?

I urge all who read this article to immediately write Gov. Perdue and ask her to change her position and support this vital training facility.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

I am in disbelief at Virginia Foxx’s words in regard to what she said about Matthew Shepard’s murder. How can anyone possibly believe he wasn’t killed because he was gay?

She is a very ignorant person. It hurts my heart to think there are people who are so insensitive.
A young life was cut short because of hate. I don’t understand. How in the world can anyone do what those men did to another human, just because he wasn’t like them? It makes me sick.

Ann Latham
Eden

There are roughly 5.6 million state taxpayers and they should share the burden.

This 0.5 percent state worker pay cut, especially the retroactive part, is unconstitutional as far as I’m concerned. It singles out state employees to save the state $65 million all by themselves.

The fairer approach would authorize all employers to take one dollar per month from every person who receives a paycheck from a job that requires filing a North Carolina income-tax return.

It wouldn’t need to be retroactive and would collect $5.6 million or more every month that could be designated toward nothing but erasing some part of the budget deficit. At the end of 12 months, this would total around $67.2 million. This is based on 2007 census data, so the amount would certainly be more.

This tax would be the same for the rich and those with low incomes because one dollar per month isn’t burdening, even at the poverty level. This would be a more fair approach.

If something isn’t done, state employees should go on strike and let the governor get her accountants to add up the cost and see which would be more appealing.

Keith Bunting
High Point

Anyone else out there feel like you’re making subpar decisions more often than not?

Choosing the wrong highway lane or the slow line at the grocery store? I do.

From stock picks to office pool picks, no matter how good they look at the time, they always seem to turn around and bite me.

George Costanza, for you Seinfeld buffs, had it figured out. Always do the exact opposite from what your instincts tell you. I tried it. It works about 50 percent of the time.

In his first 100 days, President Obama seems to have perfected the system. With his record high approval ratings on the heels of his predecessor’s record lows, it appears that Obama is simply doing the exact opposite of what Bush/Cheney would have done. So naturally, I decided to apply this approach to my life.

Unfortunately, it’s not working as well for me. Now when pondering whether to switch lanes or lines, all I can come up with is to close Guantanamo Bay. Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Jeff Curley
Greensboro

Thank you, Danny Glenn, for your Counterpoint response to Charles Davenport’s “Where’s the outrage?” column. You certainly articulated what I have felt in the ongoing firestorm of Rush Republicanism. We are where we are because of the reign of Bush/Cheney. A follow-up question might be, “Where, indeed, is the Republican Party headed?”

Sheila Duell
Greensboro

The Following is a counterpoint.

By John Andrews

Regarding Allen Johnson’s Sunday column titled, “Here’s a novel solution to campus violence: Give everyone guns” (April 26):

As is the case with most liberals, he pretty much misses the point and spins the tale to his benefit.

A simple look at the facts will show the folly of his opinion. Philip Van Cleave is not saying to arm all students. I think every sane individual would agree on the craziness of that.
As the father of a college student myself, I would not allow him to carry a gun at this point in his life. He’s simply not mature enough.

Van Cleave is saying, however, that there are college students mature enough to take the concealed-weapons courses, pass the requirements, and those students should be allowed to possess those weapons on a campus just as they can on other property — legally.

And if one or two of the students, not every student, had possessed a weapon during the Virginia Tech shootings, then maybe, just maybe, some of those killed would be alive today.
He is not advocating that we “give everyone guns,” as Johnson’s title says. The criminal element will possess guns. Why not the law-abiding element?

I’m sure Johnson is one of those who also cried out in angst against waterboarding and the other non-injurious, nonfatal tactics taken by the Bush administration that have kept our country safe from attack since 9/11.

One other thought: Johnson claims to know what is in Van Cleave’s “heart of hearts” and makes several accusations based on his “vision” of Van Cleave’s philosophy.

Please, spare us. I could write volumes about what I suppose your philosophy is on many matters (and would probably be correct), but conservatives such as myself tend to give the benefit of the doubt on mind-reading. Van Cleave is 100 percent correct on this particular gun matter, and I hope Texas and every other state passes similar bills.

I do not possess a concealed weapon permit nor do I possess a gun — but I have no problem with those who follow the law and wish to do so.

I pray that one of them will be in the vicinity should I ever find myself in a situation such as that faced by the students at Virginia Tech.

The writer lives in Asheboro.

Editor’s note: The “heart of hearts” statement wasn’t conjecture. From The Washington Post, Nov. 14, 2004: “Van Cleave believes that every citizen should have the right to carry guns virtually anywhere, at any time, with no background checks, mandatory training or any other interference from government. 'If I do something wrong with a gun, put me in jail,’ ” he said. 'If I don’t, leave me alone.’ ”

Thank you for Kathleen Parker’s column (April 29) suggesting that President Obama respect Catholics and decline from speaking at Notre Dame’s commencement because “his abortion stance is in direct conflict with Catholic teaching.”

Parker’s insight that “the truest form of feminism” would respect “women’s unique life-bearing gifts” is emphatically understated in that Notre Dame is French for “Our Lady” — our Blessed Mother, the Mother of God. In this holistic context, it is an outrage that our president would speak there.

Parker writes, “We’ve somehow managed to convince ourselves that life is a mistake.” We have known that (life is a mistake) was obvious to our president when he mentioned that if one of his daughters made a mistake (got pregnant) that he would not want her “punished with a baby” (abortion).

With all due respect, our president, without having his father in his life while growing up, could be considered a “mistake” and he could carry that, deep down, as part of who he is. “Mistake is as mistake does,” to paraphrase Forrest Gump.

The article explained that “principled people encouraged respect, and helped us see that respecting life is right.” Catholics pray for our president and that this great country will respect life.

Randal Romie
Greensboro

Wow! I have recently moved to the Greensboro area from South Carolina and see that the News & Record appears to be a liberally slanted paper like the one at my previous home.

A character in the editorial cartoon on April 30 asks, after being told Sen. Arlen Specter has switched parties: “He’s a conservative now?”

This is a less-than-accurate statement, meant to make the conservatives among us look bad. Specter said in March, in a recorded interview, that he would not switch parties because the United States needed political balance.

But after political polls showed he had little chance of being re-elected because of his support of the controversial stimulus bill, he decided to change parties to save his job by hoping for greater support as a Democrat.

Truth is, the Republican Party no longer values him as a member, and Specter was really all about himself than what was good for the United States and its two-party system.

Mike Sample
Greensboro

We are concerned about safety in local schools. The problem comes from parents not knowing how to handle situations as they arise, a lack of reporting of incidents by school officials, and poor judgment on the part of some of our teachers.

We would first like to make it clear that there are still some great school officials and teachers left, but communication has broken down in recent years.
These safety issues slow learning and affect social skills. They hurt students’ ability to be individuals.

Finally, we would just like to be the first to say that cutting back in our schools’ staffing is not a good idea due to more gang activity, fights and shootings that have occurred in recent years.

We know some people will say these problems won’t happen in our county or private schools, but if we continue to cut staff they will!

One of us is a former Marine who never experienced the lack of discipline in our school system that has pushed some students to pursue GEDs instead of a diploma.

The power of concerned parents speaking, attending school activities and writing officials will get us back on track.

Jermaine Dawson
Bridgett Dawson
High Point

In response to the story by Meg Kinnard, “S.C. wildfire threatens to grow stronger” (Associated Press, April 24): I question why this reporter has such distaste for my city. Perhaps it is more a lack of knowledge. Regardless, I’m disgusted with her description of it being “a cheap spring break destination” with “miles of budget hotels.”

There haven’t been “miles of budget hotels” here in decades. Vacationers fill upscale, luxury hotels. I’m sure many N&R readers know this, as they are the ones paying the first-class rates each year.

As for Highway 17 being lined with “fast-food restaurants, beachwear stores and trinket shops,” we do have beachwear stores, and Highway 17 could compete with High Point Road regarding fast food; however, it’s also lined with world-renowned golf courses, multimillion-dollar neighborhoods, theaters and restaurants where tourists stand in long lines just to have a taste.

The Waterway isn’t just a “canal.” It doesn’t separate the “main drag” from homes. There are residences all over Myrtle Beach. The mayor of North Myrtle Beach did reassure people the beach was safe. Her statement, “You couldn’t even smell the smoke on the beach,” was true.

Kelly Renee Fentress
Myrtle Beach

The writer is a Greensboro native.

President Obama asked for ideas to tighten government’s belt. This was not heard: “We, the politicians who have driven America into bankruptcy, will cut our salaries and retirements.”

Government must run like a business. Some greedy politicians have too much time on their hands. Cut politicians’ salaries and retirements to $12,000 yearly. Take assets, pay off trillions they borrowed without taxpayers’ consent, and sell them a one-way ticket to Gitmo.

What an insult to the small businesses struggling to make ends meet. Salaries and jobs are cut! Therefore, it’s time for cuts and layoffs for politicians.

NAFTA and CAFTA ruined America! Without manufacturing jobs, taxpayers can’t afford housing, autos or anything. No more government bailouts, Freddie, Fannie, HUD, AIG, banks, automakers, social welfare or any organization in bed with government. These endless money pits must be cut.

A “Fair Tax,” to include property taxes, must pass. Americans must pay their fair share and stop making it the burden of the cash-strapped homeowner.

Until government changes the endless money pits and takes responsibility for the bad debts it’s created, it’s not solving the problem, it is the problem!

Shirley deLong
Jamestown

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central & Western North Carolina held its 2nd Annual Walk For Wishes April 18 at beautiful Proehlific Park in Greensboro.

We were able to raise more than $20,000, which will allow us to grant several wishes for children in the Triad. The great success of this event is due to a terrific support by our dedicated volunteers, corporate sponsors and donors.

Our mission is to grant wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. The average cost of a wish is $6,000, making events like this essential to ensure every child can have their wish fulfilled.
Since the founding of our chapter in 1985 by Greensboro’s Dr. Jerry Clark, more than 2,000 wishes have been granted. Sharing the power of a wish is an awesome experience for everyone involved.

We hope you will join and/or support us for our Third Annual Walk for Wishes in the spring of 2010. To learn more, please visit our Web site, www.ncwish.org, or contact Triad Director Don Timmons at (336) 403-1964.

Cameron Wannamaker
Greensboro

In her letter of April 29, Marcia James unfairly describes the experience of high school students at the N.C. Governor’s School. As a 2008 alumnus of the N.C. Governor’s School in Raleigh, I feel obliged to contest Ms. James’ negative depiction of Governor’s School.

She speaks of a bombardment of formidable challenges to the faith and core values of a family member who attended Governor’s School. In my experience last summer, I found that I and other students strongly appreciated the open questioning and dialogue rarely found in normal secondary schools today. For the first time, students are able to view the interconnectedness of knowledge and see how physics could be linked to philosophy or math can be linked to medicine.

Criticism of the program has come mainly from those terrified of the thought of a “liberal agenda” being pounded into the heads of high school students. However, it is not a liberal or conservative ideal to freely discuss morality, ethics or faith. I was never told what to believe but rather how to believe. Programs like Governor’s School afford bright students the opportunity to freely question and reason. When we teach our best students that they should isolate themselves from free and open discussion, we are doing them a disservice.

Connor Crews
Greensboro

Over the last several weeks, the following articles and editorials were published in the News & Record: “No-smoking bill heads to House floor” (March 25); “Tobacco’s troubles” (March 29); “Time to clear the air” (April 1); “House gives smoking ban tentative OK” (April 2); “Smokers fret as House OKs smoking ban” (April 3).

Foremost, my fundamental perception is tobacco companies have the constitutional right to produce legal products for sale.

For 37 years, I have operated a business on East Market Street seven blocks from Lorillard Tobacco Co.’s manufacturing facility. An appreciable number of our customers and friends are Lorillard employees. Prior to Lorillard becoming operational in 1955-56 and beginning to employ people, the East Market Street quadrant was a blighted area. Lorillard helped the area most significantly pursuant to employment.

I am exceedingly knowledgeable of the continuous discussions associated with health and smoking. My immediate concerns coincide with jobs and Lorillard’s published statements: “We continue to support our good jobs and support worthy community causes.” Moreover, Steven C. Watson, then vice president for external affairs of Lorillard Tobacco Co., stated in a Jan. 23, 2001, letter: “Our corporate policy is kids should not smoke.”

Finally, an overwhelming number of people were unrelentingly exuberant when billboards marketing cigarettes had to be taken down on April 24, 1999, pursuant to the 1998 tobacco settlement.
Earl Gill
Greensboro

The writer is the community consultant for the Lorillard Tobacco Co.

Kristopher Rawls’ letter (April 19) highlighted the necessity of time management for secondary students. Indeed, students are often unprepared for the challenges of college and professional life. That’s why High Point University created the President’s Seminar on Life Skills, which demonstrates HPU’s commitment to promoting not only intellectual growth but the practical skills that lead to success in all aspects of life.

Students enroll in college to learn critical thinking; gain exposure to different ideas; and learn to function — laundry, food, budget, love — all outside the safety of home. In other words, students also attend college to prepare for the Real World. In the midst of an economy that does not allow employers the time or money to teach practical skills, HPU students have a competitive edge. They are taught the science of goal-setting, the fundamentals of leadership, the importance of fiscal literacy and stewardship, as well as time management, effective communication and business protocol, by an internationally recognized business leader, Nido Qubein.

Should other universities follow HPU’s lead? Absolutely! As businesses become leaner, we should question traditional education. Parents and students should ask if they are getting a good return on their investment. Why spend a fortune on education if students graduate unprepared for an entry-level job?

Carole Bailey Stoneking
High Point

The writer is the dean of the David R. Hayworth College of Arts and Sciences at High Point University.

In a previous letter, I referenced President Obama’s re-introduction of Jimmy Carter’s windfall profits tax disaster. Now, the swine flu hobgoblin is showing its flat snout. Get your canoe paddles ready; killer rabbits can’t be far behind!

Ben Miles Jr.
McLeansville

Earl Gill’s relationship with Lorillard Tobacco Co. was misstated in a Monday letter. He does not consult for the company.

The “article” that recently appeared regarding the coming Windows 7 (Your Business, April 23) and the woman in charge of the program read more like something that should have “Advertisement” in bold letters above and below it.

If she is doing to Windows 7 what she did to Office 2007, then I fully expect W7 to be as big a disaster as Vista, if not more so.

I don’t know who is being polled for feedback on Office 2007. But nobody I work with likes it better than 2003.

In 2003, commands were easier to find than they are in 2007. Office 2007 is less intuitive and requires frequent use of the “Help” menu to find things that were easy to find in 2003.

In PowerPoint, any sort of manipulation of images is excruciatingly slow. Even Outlook hangs for 10 to 20 seconds at a time when attempting a simple e-mail.

I will not be buying any new Microsoft operating system for my home PCs. I already have converted one to Linux. And if all the applications I used at work were available for Linux, I’d be using all Linux there, too.

I predict Windows 7 will provide more material for Mac commercial writers.

Mark Kelcourse
Greensboro

Concerning the athletics recruiting brouhaha at Northern Guilford High School: I have written school board member Darlene Garrett, and my husband has tried to contact interim Principal Pat Spicer at Northern (without a response from either) to find out why this investigation was begun when students are preparing for the all-important EOGs. To have the principal resign (apparently under pressure), the articles (rumors) in the paper and all the other fallout from this makes the situation nothing but a distraction for students and certainly teachers during the most stressful time of the school year.

How could this not affect the students?

If the motto for Guilford County Schools is still “Children First,” when are they going to be?

What would have been the harm in waiting until summer to handle this? Is there anyone willing to answer a simple question?

Elizabeth Chandler
Summerfield

It appears that the only person who didn’t know Arlen Specter was a Democrat, was Arlen Specter.

Guy Sinclair
Graham

At one time, not long ago, there was a saying, “As GM goes, so goes the nation.”

Well, we have seen that even the powerful can allow selfishness to bring down an empire.

Now the local cable TV franchise is testing the waters of little competition with a plan to charge customers as much additionally for the Internet as it can get by with.

I was the first operating manager of Cablevision of Greensboro and then one of three regional managers for the parent company, Jefferson Pilot Corp.

We opened our service with the Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem channels and mandated WUNC educational stations plus the New York stock market ticker tape, news and weather (before News 14), as well as each Greensboro City Council meeting
Oh, and we had a music channel.

The present franchisee has temporarily shelved its additional charges.

Thanks to the citizens of Greensboro (and the area) for letting them know that you still pay their salaries and bonuses.

Jack W. Gourley
High Point

In response to the Quail Oaks front-page article on Sunday, May 3, and the editorial opinion:
Each transaction in a home purchase has two sides — the buyer’s and the seller’s. Home buyers should have qualified buyer’s agents represent their side of the transaction when purchasing real estate so they have someone looking out for their interests.

When a buyer walks into a shiny new model home in a subdivision, he or she is usually going to be “wowed” by an employee who represents the seller’s interest — to sell the property.
A buyer’s agent will ask the difficult questions and look for facts like proposed roads, possible environmental hazards, foreclosures, etc., and see beyond the beautiful model home.

Realtors, who are good buyer’s agents, will be concerned for their clients’ well-being in the future since a client relationship is worth more than just one sale.

Nancy Radtke
Greensboro

The writer is Realtor and broker for Allen Tate Realtors.

In response to the editorial, “By bouncing a few bouncers city night spots could be safer” (April 29): I agree that Greensboro police officers need to make regular visits to bars and nightclubs to ensure that their safety measures also comply with the law.

One incident where I found bouncers to be useful was when I was at a bar for a concert and a guy who kept coming near me was obviously quite drunk. He fell back into the guy behind him, who caught the man.

Well, the drunk whirled around and swung at the man who caught him, catching him right above the eyes, gashing his eyelid.

The bouncers quickly ran over and knocked the man to the floor, before picking him up and carrying him through the bar and throwing him out onto the street.

It would sure be a shame not to have that safety or reliance with this new information surfacing about bouncers’ problems with possession of drugs, guns without permits, etc.

A bouncer’s job is to maintain safety of people in the nightclub or bar, not aiding in a problem.

Emily Scott
Greensboro

Dr. Barnett Kramer, an NIH scientist, complains that PSA has not been shown to reduce mortality from prostate cancer.

The real problem from prostate cancer is not mortality but morbidity from the metastases to bone that hurts like hell for three or four years before you finally get dead.

The Associated Press article (April 27) was helpful in pointing out that many things besides cancer affect the PSA and it’s important that we use our brains and interpret the PSA rather than just doing a prostate biopsy to protect from litigation.

We’ve learned a lot from serial, annual or even semiannual PSAs in patients with a strong family history of the disease. As more of us get older, PSA becomes even more important in monitoring testosterone supplementation and improving the quality of life.

And the article is correct, the lower your PSA the better.

John R. Dyers Jr., M.D.
Siler City

On Jan. 15, you ran a story that there were “$2.2 million worth of unpaid parking tickets” for Greensboro. At a time when budgets at all levels are being severely cut, is there some reason why fines legitimately levied on identified offenders are being excused by default?

In my own neighborhood, I see very lax enforcement of parking regulations. Why should I pay taxes to subsidize scofflaws?

Why do I feed quarters into meters when I park, and why do I obey other regulations when there is no enforcement against those who ignore posted rules?

Tom Kirby-Smith
Greensboro

Five years from retiring from teaching family medicine, I see a single-payer health system as the only means to repair a health care system that spends so much more than comparable nations (all with national health plans) yet falls below 20th position on most ratings of health outcomes.

Expect the middlemen, particularly the insurance and pharmaceutical organizations, to spend millions in propaganda to maintain a status quo that benefits them so handsomely.

Most of the money to fund insured health care for all of our citizens will come from them. A nebulous malpractice threat must also be replaced with a system that compensates those who were injured while working openly to prevent recurrence of the causative errors.

The malpractice threat and interferences by intermediaries (e.g., pre-authorizations for medical treatments) have produced a fragmentation of care that results in expensive over-testing and over-treating with increasingly poor results for patient health.

Wayne Hale
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint.

By Chris Corry

Recently my wife and I took a short two-for-the-road trip to southern France.

We rented a four-seat Peugeot turbo-diesel in Lyons and headed for Gordes, speaking almost no French. It was slightly smaller than a VW Jetta.

I couldn’t help but be impressed with my rental car — the little diesel being quick and nimble. While driving, I noticed that almost all the other cars were turbo-diesels as well, including BMWs, Audis, Saabs, Volvos, Ford, Citroen, Mercedes, Renault, etc. Even the Range Rovers were diesels.

Fuel was about $4 per gallon, and my little car averaged 60 miles per gallon throughout the 900-mile trip. After returning home, I did a bit of research on the cars I saw, finding that almost all brands offer cars that get an average of 65 miles per gallon, combined city and highway.

The highway mileage ranged from 75 to 83 miles per gallon. These are clean-burning diesels that produce no smell or visible fumes. I was impressed and also depressed since I cannot buy or import one, and I am wondering why.

With our economic situation here and fuel prices being so uncertain, why is it that we have no choices in this matter?

Some say safety is the reason. Others say the diesels are not clean enough.
After spending nine days among them, I say hogwash. I believe there are people controlling what we Americans have permission to buy, and I want that changed.

We are still living in America, right?

If you would like to have the choice to buy a car that achieves more than 80 miles to the gallon, is clean burning, fast, and has an engine that lasts twice as long as a gasoline car, call up your congressman and senators and put them on the spot.

Everyone I know drives. Spending less than half of your present budget on fuel should be attractive.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

The tragedy of errors that is resulting in several northeast Greensboro residents losing their homes and being relocated at taxpayer expense (“In the Bull’s-eye,” May 3) shows the consequences of our elected officials’ failure to connect the dots and consider all the ramifications of their actions. The City Council in 2000 OK’d what became known as Quail Oaks, a housing development immediately adjacent to the Urban Loop’s future interchange with U.S. 29. Lots continued to be sold there five years later, even after it was known that the highway interchange would need to be rerouted right through the new neighborhood.

As a result, the dreams of many new homeowners have been thwarted, and large sums of taxpayer dollars wasted, while the developers and real-estate company are getting off scot-free.

Elected officials should balance the interests of developers with those of the community as a whole. One reason I am running for council is to make sure that our city better manages its growth.
Ironically, Quail Oaks represents the kind of urban sprawl that is perpetuated by planning centered around building roads like the Urban Loop. Zoning policies should encourage smarter development that takes advantage of existing infrastructure, reduces dependence on cars and enhances the livability of our neighborhoods.

Joel Landau
Greensboro

The writer is a candidate for City Council in District 4.

The 10th annual National Women’s Health Week will kick off on Mother’s Day, May 10. This week-long observance is a great opportunity to remind North Carolina women about the importance of taking charge of their health.

Women are frequently the caregivers for their spouses, their children and their parents but often are too busy to take care of themselves. Research shows that when women take care of themselves, the health of their family improves.

The recently released 2009 N.C. Women’s Health Report Card, by the UNC Center for Women’s Health Research, is a stark reminder of the many health care challenges we continue to face in our state.

North Carolina ranks 44th in the nation in infant mortality, and maternal health status is a major contributor to infant health. Diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol continue to increase while access to adequate care can be a challenge for many women.

Fifteen percent of North Carolina women live below the poverty level and 16 percent have no health insurance.

As we honor mom or a special woman in our lives, remind her to take care of herself by eating a nutritious diet, exercising and avoiding unhealthy behaviors like smoking.

Also, remind her to visit a health care professional for regular check-ups and preventive screenings.

Eleanor E. Greene, M.D., M.P.H.
High Point

The writer is a board member, N.C. Healthy Start Foundation.

Thank you for Taft Wireback’s detailed article in Sunday’s edition (“In the Bull’s-eye: Urban Loop to raze 15 homes in neighborhood”).

I would also like to personally thank former News & Record staff writer Lanita Withers and her husband, James Goins, for their time in regard to the Quail Oaks debacle.

First off, every taxpayer should be very angry. We ultimately will shoulder the added price to our Urban Loop simply because we have a communication problem on all levels.

As for who should have known what and when, I quote from the article: “An expanded interchange is necessary, DOT says, because of higher traffic projections than when roadway engineers filed their initial corridor map in October 1996.”

I know people will say, “Well that was 13 years ago.” But I say bull! Why did the Department of Transportation only get it wrong on this interchange?

Lastly, new homeowners should get their heads out of the sand. Ask the same questions Withers and Goins asked. Look at the package of information the subdivision puts out.

Still have questions? If you are using a Realtor, make him or her do some research. I know the N.C. DOT Web site’s maps are worthless, so you will have to dig a little deeper.

Carl Peltzer
Colfax

There is a serious concern in the area where I live relative to the potential industrial rezoning of Guilford College Road near Hilltop Road and Piedmont Parkway.

We have to wonder how do we put a stop to the over-expanding commercialism.

We already have a supermarket, a bank, a dry cleaners and office condominiums at this intersection. These are neighborhood-friendly establishments.

Any further development is a desecration to the beauty of Guilford College Road and the neighborhood, not to mention the safety issues of excess traffic and people walking on our new sidewalks.

County commissioners, please do not allow greed to be the driving force when making this rezoning decision.

Mary Dee Malek
Jamestown

The photos by the News & Record’s Nelson Kepley of the Bruce Springsteen show Saturday night are outstanding — some of the best I’ve seen.

Now, would you happen to have a picture of me giving my “STEENSBORO” banner to Steven, or of Bruce and Steven holding the banner up? Thanks!

(I actually was born in Winston-Salem. I hope that’s close enough to Greensboro to allow me to “rename” the city!)

Chuck Pattillo
Atlanta

Editor’s note: The sign did make a splash at the Greensboro Coliseum concert. But, alas, our photographer was not on hand to shoot it. News & Record photographers are allowed to shoot only during the first three songs at a concert and then are required to leave. The letter writer’s sign was hoisted near the end of the show. Sorry.

Update: Here's a photo of the sign

Counterpoint:

By Elwood Johnson

Why are our conversations so political in nature? John Andrews’ May 2 response to Allen Johnson’s comment about guns on campus was just that.

Yes, we have a natural and constitutional right to self-defense. I don’t hold cars responsible for the actions of drunken drivers, and I don’t hold guns responsible for the actions of those who illegally use them.

Does that make me a conservative?

However, I don’t believe any students, regardless how “mature” they are, should be able to carry guns on campus.

Does that make me a liberal?

I’m a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and earned two post-graduate degrees during my 30-year military career. I remember those spirited conversations with fellow students. I may have been more reserved in my comments, especially about politics, if I had believed a fellow student was “carrying” in my classes. Emotions can run high during those types of discussions.
But, that’s not why I disagree with Mr. Andrews.

The concept of “field of fire” is the main reason why I disagree with him. Just imagine the chaos that erupts on a campus in response to a rampaging gunman. Now, imagine a mature, but untrained, student trying to protect him or herself during the melee. Even the best-trained law professional would have difficulty with target acquisition during that type of scenario. In an attempt to minimize collateral damage, law professionals are trained to evaluate the eventual impact of the expended round in case they miss their primary target(s). Would a “mature” student be so critical in his shoot/no-shoot decision-making process?

The May 1 edition of the News & Record had a great example of this self-defense concept when a burglar kicked in a homeowner’s back door. The owner missed his target, but he had a much better field of fire than a “mature” college student would probably have on a terrified college campus. (Apparently, the homeowner needs some range practice time.)

Enough of this conversation, folks! We have too many other pressing issues in this country that demand our attention. President Obama has consistently stated that we must be held responsible for our actions. I have seen many guns in my life, but I have yet to find one that has the ability to exercise free will.

Only the human being holding the weapon can do that.

The writer is a Greensboro native who lives in Henderson.

I’m happy Obama was elected but I’m disappointed with the opposing views that the News & Record has chosen to publish. As a longtime Greensboro resident, I have an interest in the quality of our newspaper and its survival. I deserve a better argument against diversity than Charles Davenport’s recent column (“Diversity doesn’t trump standards,” May 3).

As a reader, I want to be challenged with and convinced by argument, not exaggeration. For example, Davenport claimed a university professor advocates the elimination of test standards because she had said women didn’t pass tests at the same rate as males. I read and reread the passage and could find nothing the professor said that supported his contention. Typical Davenport porridge.

If I’m a Democrat, I’m also a citizen who wants the best policies, solutions and ways to make a better country. I’m counting on Republicans and independents to come up with alternate solutions and policies, because we all know (now) that good government is based on credible, opposing voices.

I want the paper to print great writing by local writers who are thinking about new solutions.
Is Mr. Davenport entitled to his uninteresting views? Yes. Does he deserve publication? No.

Andrew Young
Greensboro

Regarding Charles Davenport’s May 3 column:

Once, even after black Americans had fought with bravery and honor to gain America’s independence and preserve its unity, blacks were deemed unsuitable to be combat troops.

Once, even after enduring discrimination in recruitment, insults in training, assaults on leave, curses in transport and misguidance by racist officers — after proving that they maintained the honor and bravery of their ancestors — the positive examples of black units’ combat achievements were slighted or ignored.

Once, Jews were stereotyped as avaricious profiteers unwilling to defend America.
Once, women were deemed incapable of defending themselves or exercising political rights.

These stereotypes were all misconceptions that endured only because our society minimized opportunities to create contrary examples. Today, residual discrimination and reactionary attitudes still minimize these opportunities wherever possible.

Insensitivity to, or sympathy with, such stereotyping leads some Americans to question the need for members of public safety organizations to reflect their community’s composition. The claim that making entry tests fair for all lowers standards ignores that those tests once served specifically to prevent some capable Americans from attaining public safety positions and that some of the most exclusionary standards still have nothing to do with performing valuable safety services.

Christopher C. Tew
Greensboro

As a Greensboro native, I pride myself on the quality of life my hometown and state have to offer. Now living in the Los Angeles metro area, I realize more each day why North Carolina is increasingly appealing to countless others. Just when I thought that pride had reached a pinnacle, I read the comments made recently by one Virginia Foxx.

The elation of fond memories suddenly fades into utter embarrassment by the thought that a U.S. congresswoman representing my home state has the audacity to make such harmful comments about a young man whose life was cut short because of ignorance and hate.

With all we know about Matthew Shepard and the events that transpired, Mrs. Foxx chooses to say his death was not hate-related. This is who the citizens of my native state elected to represent them. I certainly hope the voting public takes notice and does the only conceivable remedy — to end her political career. Turn the shame that some of us feel because of her into pride once again.

Tell the rest of the country that you don’t share the same ideology. Don’t let Foxx be the face of North Carolina and all the great things it represents.

John Allred
Los Angeles

If Notre Dame can overlook President Obama’s different opinion on the abortion issue, why shouldn’t he accept their invitation to speak at their commencement? That issue probably wouldn’t be the subject of his address. It’s not for “outsiders” to decide.

Elizabeth Y. Hounshell
Greensboro

As a teacher, I am confused about my paycheck being robbed. When I can’t balance my budget, I trim the fat. I pay my bills with the money that I have. If there are too many bills, I do without something. It seems to be the new norm that if one cannot pay his bills, he asks for a handout.

When I can’t pay my June and July mortgages, who will give me a handout? I’m tired of people being poor stewards of tax money. There should be more than enough money to balance an appropriate budget. Perhaps our leaders should review the budgets. Surely, there is some fat that could be trimmed.

I have to say “the American people have spoken.” Now we all have to live with their decision.

Ellen Jensen
Greensboro

It is insulting to my sense of fairness, as well as my business acumen, that Stanley Battle, chancellor of N.C. A&T, has announced his resignation effective June 30 and now proposes to go on “research leave” until Dec. 31, still receiving his annual salary of $273,156 per year. After his research leave, it is proposed he will be a tenured professor.

All of this while cutbacks are being made to the state’s educational facilities and professors at A&T are being laid off. He came to the school only a couple of years ago, and has resigned.

How could we expect him to honor any prolonged professorship on his return from his $136,000 research leave? Surely the UNC administration will not fall for this boondoggle.

Wayne West
Greensboro

In the Tuesday, May 5, News & Record, it appears that someone misidentified the cicada in the photo taken at Cascade Park.

Thousands of these critters appeared in our yard this weekend, and I sent a couple of photos to a cicada researcher at the University of Connecticut. She said they are almost definitely a periodic variety of cicada.

The dog-day cicada that you mention does not emerge until later in the summer and is not black with red eyes like the ones that emerged in the Cascade Park/Forest Valley area last weekend.

The researcher, Chris Simon, went on to say, “It is not rare for periodical cicadas to emerge in off-years. These odd emergers are called stragglers.”

Tens of thousands of stragglers generally appear four years prior to a 17-year cicada emergence. Four years from now would be 2013. That would be Brood II. Brood II occurs in North Carolina in Rockingham, Guilford, Stokes and Yadkin counties and possibly others nearby. I have seen Brood II in these localities myself.

Another expert on cicadas, Dan at cicadamania.com, said, “Looks like they are Brood II accelerated four years, or Brood XIX accelerated two years.”

Thought you might want to know.

Tommy Joseph
Greensboro

The Guilford County zoning board has seen fit to down-zone to industrial use a piece of residential property located on Guilford College Road immediately north of the Lowes Foods shopping center.

This rezoning is being appealed at the Guilford County commissioners’ May 21 meeting at 5:30 p.m.

This rezoning will be very detrimental to our community. It will be the first industrial zoning in a predominantly residential area. It will surely put at risk all the adjoining properties along Guilford College Road.

We have the convenience of some retail property in our area, but there is no reason to introduce industrial zoning.

It will do nothing but diminish the values of our homes and destroy the beauty of our neighborhoods.

I urge all residents along Guilford College Road and the neighboring areas to express their concerns by attending the meeting and by calling, writing or e-mailing all of the commissioners. Stand up and fight for the future of our neighborhood.

Mary Ann Agati
Jamestown

It seems every couple of years with the election of a new Congress, the News & Record brings up Lumbee recognition. Why politicians such as Rep. McIntyre or Sen. Dole would support a spurious claim is understandable — they’re looking for votes.

Go to the Crow Agency and hear Crow or Cheyenne. Drive on I-40 in Arizona and listen to Navajo on the radio and, yes, Cherokee is spoken in Cherokee.

Yet with 5,000 to 50,000 Lumbee, depending on which government agency is being petitioned, nowhere on earth is there a word of Lumbee language, nor any history, culture, artifact, etc.

There is a procedure through the Bureau of Indian Affairs for real Indian tribes to be federally recognized. Just meet any four of seven criteria and you are in.

For decades, to use your word, this has been available. Ironically, another of your words, the Lumbee barely meet one or two of these criteria.

Fair is fair, to use your phrase, or does the News & Record speak with forked tongue?

Donald Bradley
Danville, Va.

Jamestown’s Shirley deLong’s letter, “Cut politician’s pay first,” May 3, had the right idea, but I want to add a few more ideas to her list.

If we stopped Congress’ privileges of free mail services and free junkets to other countries (at least make them pay out of their own pockets for taking their wives and families along), free chauffeur-driven limousine service (let them drive their own car or take the bus to work), and if they miss a day’s work, dock their salaries, and we could gain a fairer exchange for our tax dollars.

Why must we treat these people like royalty?

Ken Layton
Carthage

Poor Katie Dorsett! Is it so difficult to propose a bill based on reason?

I had polio when I was a child and have worn a long leg brace for 60 years. I have used a knee brace on my other leg for 25 years. Canes are now used to help me walk. Any simpleton recognizes that I am handicapped.

Dear editors and Sen. Dorsett, find something of importance to endorse and propose.

Handicapped forever, I am

Richard O’Neal
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint.
By Billy Coore

I have been a proud Greensboro resident my entire life and have had the opportunity to watch businesses come and go. However, this interesting privilege has many drawbacks.

I was a kid in the early to mid- 1990s and would go to the old Carolina Circle Mall, shop at the many Kmarts, eat at Sally’s Hot Dogs and Western Steer on High Point Road, and play miniature golf at Putt-Putt Golf and Games. The ’90s were a very nice decade for our city.

Unfortunately, many of the places I grew up going to no longer exist. The only Kmart left has downsized considerably over the past years, leaving nothing but a shell of its former self. Where did Little Caesar’s Pizza and the store’s grocery section go?

There’s one place where you can still play miniature golf, Celebration Station on Wendover Avenue. Mini golf is a dying trend, but many people here still enjoy it. The problem is Celebration Station isn’t only dedicated to miniature golf, which just about ruins the feel.

I won’t forget going to Sally’s Hot Dogs for the first time in 1994. I remember my first footlong hot dog. They had a wonderful variety of food and a fun Pac-Man arcade machine. Unfortunately, Sally’s closed in the early 2000s. Some foreign restaurant uses its building now.

I remember Western Steer having just about everything, including a full buffet. It closed in the mid-1990s and was demolished. A doctor’s office is in its space.

And, of course, there was Carolina Circle Mall. I would go to the mall to ride the carousel many times a week, as well as eating at the large food court, shopping at Montgomery Ward, and seeing movies at Circle Six. The mall was demolished in 2005 and a Walmart is in its place, which includes no interesting features at all.

Greensboro needs some new businesses for people to hang out and have fun. Emerald Pointe is only open five months a year and costs $30. Think about that.

The writer lives in McLeansville and is a senior at Huffine Mill Christian School.

In light of the current economic conditions nationwide and resultant cuts to the schools, isn’t it time to look at where a large chunk of the money is going? The best chance any nation has for its future is the children, with what they learn now obviously impacting our nation’s future.

Instead of cutting faculty and/or resources, has anyone considered that now may be time to stop busing and paying high gas prices and bus maintenance, instead putting the money saved from busing into creating equal schools throughout each county? Increase the funding for after-school programs in the poorer schools, offer teacher incentives to teach in these schools. Reward the teacher with the overall highest class scores with resources to even further increase his or her effectiveness (computers or whatever resource is needed for the specific class).

The school the child attends should not be an issue if the financial and educational support is provided.

Kathryn Sherrill
Greensboro

Kathleen Parker’s column (April 29), Randal Romie’s letter to the editor (May 2), and, for that matter, former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican Mary Ann Glendon’s declination of Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal fail to recognize either the true nature of a Catholic university or Notre Dame’s role on the world’s stage.

President Obama’s scheduled appearance is not about supporting (or not supporting) either his pro-choice views or the pro-life views of many Roman Catholics; rather, it’s about Notre Dame continuing to open its eyes, ears and doors (and those of its student body) to all, in the true Catholic tradition.

And, importantly, it’s about having the first African American president in American history give the 2009 commencement address at the university and recognizing him with an honorary degree at the commencement ceremony. His presence will give a fuller meaning to the word “catholic.”

Hilary Rauch
Jamestown

The writer is a member of the University of Notre Dame Class of 1954.

There is a strange anomaly in the dispersion of the H1N1 virus. The last map I looked at showed no cases in the African continent or Middle East, except for Israel.

The World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control are constantly revising their data. The encouragement to stay home if sick and avoid public transport is a strangely strong response to such flimsy statistics. I would venture a guess that this is a terrorist exercise to evaluate effectiveness of biological weapons. It could also be a global test by WHO of preparedness for any such attack. Cases are extremely localized and are not progressing through a normal “cluster” around individual cases. I may just be crazy, but I advise a close watch on the continued aspects of this “pandemic.”

Ed Philpott
Greensboro

The cry “socialism!” is ricocheting around the conservative echo chamber like some dizzy pinball. “Socialized medicine!” “Socialized business!”

The one thing that truly has been socialized is risk. Wall Street has privatized rewards to the oligarchs and left us to deal with the risks. But according to the right-wing talk circuit, that’s the way it’s supposed to work.

The main argument in socialized medicine is control. “Do you want the government to tax you and tell you what doctor you can go to, or what treatment you can have?” Heck, no! I want Humana or Blue Cross to do it, just like they do now! If the payment for universal health coverage is a tax rather than a premium, is your homeowner’s insurance or life insurance bill a tax?

Most Americans with coverage have it through their jobs. With unemployment exploding, that means millions more uninsured. We are the only industrialized nation that forces people into bankruptcy because of a serious illness. You are not immune from disaster, even if you are covered.

The insurance companies’ goal is to maximize wealth for their shareholders and CEOs, not provide you excellent coverage. When they run the game, we lose.

Sandi Campbell
Siler City

The Quail Oaks fiasco highlights a major breakdown in how the Department of Transportation communicates with local government and how local government in turn communicates with developers.

According to the News & Record’s reporting (May 3), once the city of Greensboro was notified by the DOT about the updated path of the loop, the city could have informed Keystone that its previously approved plan placed them, to use the language of the article, “In the bull’s-eye.”

But the city said nothing to the developer and continued to issue building permits. Shouldn’t notification of this kind be a requirement, and not an option, as it is described in the story?

This episode also underscores the importance of using a qualified Realtor as your buyer’s agent. Treat the search for this agent seriously: Interview your agent and get references and referrals from people you trust. Only about half of the licensed real estate agents in North Carolina are actually Realtors. Realtors must abide by a strict code of ethics. Treat the decision as you would your choice of a doctor, lawyer or financial adviser. The person who helps you purchase your home should be just as important.

Bill Guill
Greensboro

The writer is the 2009 president-elect of the Greensboro Regional Realtors Association.

I enjoy solving the Cryptoquote every day and think the May 5 Cryptoquote is so significant for today. The Cryptoquote by Thomas Jefferson is, “A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have.”

Anybody listening?

Ann H. Collins
Madison

I am one of the biggest Steensboro fans in the world. I have seen Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band 15, 16, 17 or more times, and if you haven’t, you owe it to yourself. They are the best rock and roll band in the history of rock. Please bring him back.

Nelson Kepley did do a great job on the pics. Greensboro Coliseum, keep up the good work.

Martha Lund
Greensboro

The debate over the proposed smoking ban in public places has proponents for both sides. Professor Bruce Caldwell (May 6) has decided to defend the personal rights of smokers. Like any good debater, he has found an angle, however tenuous, and hammered it home. Unfortunately, his arguments are weak and miss the underlying purpose of the bill, which is to protect the majority of citizens from unnecessary and avoidable harm.

Everybody dies, as Caldwell astutely points out, and people who live longer may incur greater health care costs overall than their unhealthy and shorter-living counterparts. So that’s a sound argument for continuing to allow indoor smoking in public places? It’s a nice angle, but inherently weak.

The logical endpoint of the secondhand smoke argument is not to ban smoking in homes as Caldwell asserts, but to protect people from unnecessary health risks. To say a smoking ban would be a “massive infringement on personal liberty” is a pathetic justification for continuing to allow smoking inside public places.

Whenever my family and I leave a restaurant reeking of cigarette smoke, I’m reminded of how important this bill is. You’re supporting the wrong side of this debate, Mr. Caldwell.

Peter Allen
Greensboro

I feel appalled that Virginia Foxx would make a statement such as she did on the floor of the House of Representatives that hate crimes are a “hoax” and that Matthew Shepard, an openly gay man, was brutally beaten and slain in a robbery and not because he was gay.

Evidently, Foxx doesn’t know that his killers admitted slaying him and hanging him to a fence post due to homophobia. And it’s evident she didn’t watch “The Matthew Shepard Story.” People are not murdered like he was only to be robbed.

Mrs. Foxx, how would you feel if someone in your family were killed in this fashion? You are the hoax. And you don’t represent the majority of the people who have elected you. Shame on you. You should be ashamed of your heartless comments. It sounds like you are a hater. I didn’t realize until now that we elected another one, and it breaks my heart that you have deceived us.

What you said was not taken out of context, so don’t throw us that curveball. You meant what you said. You owe his family a public apology, and we owe it to ourselves to remove you from office.

Jackie Ray Nelson
Stoneville

I had felt both sympathy and pride for Elizabeth Edwards last year after learning of Sen. John Edwards’ affair during her battle with cancer. Despite the pain and humiliation she must have experienced, she chose to support him as he pursued his political dreams.

Now I have read the May 8 article about Oprah Winfrey’s visit to their home, when Mrs. Edwards says, except for “that piece,” she does have a perfect marriage, and in the same visit states that she doesn’t want to know if “it” (the child) is her husband’s because that fact doesn’t change her life.

Well, that fact can change her life if the child is indeed Mr. Edwards’.

Sadly, it is not a good time for Mrs. Edwards, but that baby has as much right to a father and all the fine things in life that her children have been blessed with, if indeed that father is her almost-perfect husband. The child is as innocent in all of this as Mrs. Edwards.

If she wants to ignore anyone, I would start a bit closer to home.

Rhonda Fallin
Madison

On May 21, the Guilford County commissioners will consider a request to rezone property located at 1226 Guilford College Road from residential to light industrial, for purposes of constructing and operating a self-storage warehouse facility. I am a resident in the Highlands development, which is next to the subject property of the rezoning request.

This letter is to voice my strong opposition to the zoning request. I chose to live in this area because the surrounding area was rezoned residential, and several beautiful neighborhoods have been developed with only very limited business in the area, which serves to support the neighborhoods. I fear that the self-storage facility will create more traffic and noise in the area.

The change in zoning will also open the area up to other industrial uses, thus ruining the beauty of our neighborhood and hurting our property values. Further, there are two self-storage warehouses within two miles of our property, and I see no reason to jeopardize the residential integrity of our neighborhood by allowing another to be constructed on land that should be allowed to remain industrial, or at least better than industrial.

Ruenell Stewart
Jamestown

Last week in the News & Record, I read of the passing of my friend and former associate, Bill Opdyke.

Bill and his wife, Doris, were indeed a class act. Bill would certainly be a role model for anyone because of his success in business, but at the same time he remembered the needs of those much less fortunate.

I had the privilege, as mayor, of working with him when he was chairman of the Greensboro Housing Authority. He saw that agency through some very difficult times and helped us lead the cause for public housing scattered sites.

What a wonderful example for all of us to follow of giving back to your community. Bill will certainly be missed.

Jim Melvin
Greensboro

Regarding Allen Johnson’s column (April 26):

I’m appalled. Shouldn’t we expect more from ourselves and our children as Americans? Where is a standard of behavior that treats others courteously, holds us to a disciplined lifestyle, and values the rights of others?

Where is the American dignity, self-reliance and strength of character that defines who we are? We have allowed ourselves and our children to become so childish and irresponsible that we can’t be trusted with a simple tool, which is what a gun is.

It is our inner character as a society and as individuals that guides how our tools are used: to build or to destroy.

If we imposed some character and self-discipline on ourselves, would we even need to have the conversation?

I’m a strong supporter of our Second Amendment right to bear arms. It is very wrong that we all are not educated and disciplined enough to use firearms properly. Guns are tools. Taking a life of an animal for our food or another person for protection is just a function of that tool. It is what is inside you that guides how it is used. Clearly we as Americans must not be as good on the inside as we used to be or why can’t we be trusted?

Dow Hurst
Greensboro

Here is a prayer you didn’t see on The News & Record’s National Day of Prayer front page:

I “pray” that the religious will realize they can pray wherever and whenever they want, and don’t need government involvement to do so.

I “pray” the religious will stop looking down my shorts and asking me about my own private activities.

I “pray” that the religious will learn to be moral people out of common decency and love, not out of fear of eternal punishment.

I “pray” that the religious will realize that abstinence-only education doesn’t work and only contributes to more abortions.

I “pray” that the religious will never have to be awakened on Saturday morning to hear a proselytizer from another religion – twice.

I “pray” that the religious will love their neighbors, and not be jealous and envious of them.

I “pray” that the religious will revel in the beauty of life and nature, and not obsess over death.

William Lyle
Greensboro

It was with that all-too-familiar amalgam of despondence and disillusionment that I was imbued after reading Donald Bradley’s letter (“Lumbees don’t deserve tribal recognition status,” May 9) in which he contends that the Lumbee Tribe doesn’t deserve “tribal recognition status” because the Lumbee have no language or culture.

As evidence, he suggests that he should be able to hear Lumbee language on his car radio the same way he can hear Navajo language when driving through Arizona.

He’ll have to excuse me if I am skeptical of his qualifications to render such an assessment. In the meantime, for his edification, I’d suggest reading Dr. Jack Campisi’s testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in July 2006, as well as chapter two of Fergus Bordewich’s “Killing the White Man’s Indian.”

I’m sure he’ll find these kinds of engaging analyses more sophisticated than what languages he does or does not hear on his car radio.

I’ve seen this before — unbridled conviction takes form in the written word, masquerading as enlightened manifesto, but upon closer inspection is revealed as myopic sophistry.

Fortunately for the Lumbee, we are afforded the opportunity to entrust our cause to citizens who remain free of the paralyzing shackles of prejudice and fatuousness under which some so unfortunately languish.

Chad Lowry
High Point

As someone who has worked both for union and non-union companies, I have witnessed safer and better working conditions at unionized workplaces.

My union has helped generate a healthier and happier work force, benefiting my family and our industry over all.

I am dismayed to learn that opponents of the Employee Free Choice Act cannot present their opposition without resorting to misrepresentation and lies.

They claim that the “secret ballot” voting rights are under attack. This isn’t true. Under current law, many employees avoid the election process because it is company-controlled, coercive and unfair.

But under the Employee Free Choice Act, if at least 30 percent of workers still want a secret ballot election, they can get one.

The proposed legislation amends the National Labor Relations Act system by modifying the already existing majority sign-up system.

The new legislation allows workers, not companies, to choose how they form their unions by eliminating the veto power that companies now have. The proposed bill also provides real penalties for breaking the law.

Let’s face it: America is hurting right now. We need protection against corporate greed. We need a level playing field for working families. We need the Employee Free Choice Act.

JoAnn Glover
Greensboro

If most other nations can compete internationally when they all have higher effective corporate taxes than the U.S. does, then we can certainly compete after the closing of corporate tax havens.

U.S. corporations have been getting by for years with tax-avoidance schemes that resulted in higher tax burdens on the middle class.

Contrary to the argument by large corporations that this will cost jobs, current tax law encourages shipping jobs overseas by not taxing foreign profits until they’re brought back here. So, if anything, this Obama change could stimulate jobs in this country.

Another result may be lowering CEO salaries from a median of more than $1 million. The Motorola CEO made $104 million last year, and the Chesapeake Energy CEO, $112 million. The average salary of a CEO in the U.S. is 400 times that of the average working stiff, compared with only 11 times higher in Britain and 10 times higher in Canada, and the disparity is even less in Japan.

With higher corporate taxes and increased individual taxes on the upper two brackets, we may finally see an income tax that is fair to the middle class.

Gary Parker
Archdale

When is 0.5 percent really 5.0 percent? When you take a year’s worth of salary reductions in one month and that year is only 10 months long.

Gov. Bev Perdue, the education-friendly governor, had a tough decision to make in cutting salaries of all state workers. She decided on 0.5 percent of the 2008-2009 annual salary, to get things started. It should be noted teachers are 10-month employees (no pay for summers when they take courses). This money will all be taken out of the last month’s paycheck.

That means teachers are actually getting a 5 percent pay cut for May. The announcement was too late to spread the reduction over two months.

Times are tough for the state, but couldn’t the governor have asked for a federal loan guarantee instead of transferring the losses to the little people?

Aren’t teachers and school staff at least as important as AIG employees?

Art Close
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint.

By Charles Rodenbaugh

Since she first ran for Congress, I have followed Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., because she represents a district which adjoins my own, a district in which I grew up, North Carolina’s 5th.
My first reaction to her was, “Where did she come from?”

Out of the 5th District, which includes Winston-Salem, could they not do better? Sooner or later, old milk curdles.

Virginia Foxx is old milk and she has finally curdled. So absurd were her comments before Congress on April 29, concerning HR 1913 that they were picked up by the national media and the talking heads as fodder for the extreme right and pure horse manure for the left.

She was heard characterizing the most egregious hate crime in recent memory, the beating and stringing up on a fence to die of University of Wyoming student, Matthew Shepard, in 1998, as a “hoax.”

Rep. Foxx said it in her statement before Congress and, ironically, before Matthew’s mother, who was in the gallery for the deliberation on a new hate crime law which bore her son’s name.
The right of Rep. Foxx to make any claim that she wishes is sacrosanct, but such speech as she exhibited exposes an ignorant, bigoted spokesperson for the very “hate crimes” that the Congress, by a vote of 249 to 175, agreed to appropriately criminalize.

The News & Record headline says, “Foxx Irks gays with comment on killing.”

I’m not gay and I’m outraged.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

Why would budget writers “slash” something as greatly needed and utilized as the Reading Railroad bus?

Too bad we didn’t know about this before deciding to build an expensive library in the Lake Jeanette area, where 90 percent of the residents can drive to any public library of their choice (I once lived in that area). I am not opposed to the new libraries, but I do feel it necessary to keep the Reading Railroad in operation.

If the bus is parked, at least place it in an area where less-privileged children can enjoy it.

Portia Munsey
Greensboro

I was very pleased to find a front-page article on Sunday, May 10, about a young man trying to earn his Eagle Scout award by doing a massive community service project. Thank you for making this a front-page story!

The story of Brant Taylor’s motivation and perseverance and his love for his brother, Austin, is certainly an inspiring and heart-warming story right here in our community.

It has been said that there are no great people, only ordinary people who do great things. This is a great thing that has been done by a young man in our community. Thank you for giving this remarkable story the time and space it deserves.

Larry E. Wallace
Greensboro

When will we learn?

This is in response to Bill Guill’s letter (May 11) about the fiasco in Quail Oaks. Remember the statement, “Buyer beware”? Well, it also applies to homeowners. This is not a Realtor issue, it’s a government issue.

Is this any different than what has happened with Painter Boulevard? Go into Kings Mill and look at the homes that sit 50 feet away from I-40 or whatever it is called now. It’s a disgrace.

No one can tell me that the state and local entities did not know that Painter Boulevard was going to be a super-speedway. When is the last time you traveled on a boulevard that was eight lanes wide and where traffic moved at speeds of up to 75 mph?

The state knew, local government knew, but it was kept from the general public for years. The same story with Quail Oaks, and next year it will be another development where houses will go down in value. Nothing changes.

Bob Slone
Jamestown

The News & Record has printed at least 20 derogatory editorials about the Education Lottery. As an ardent reader of your paper, I appeal for you to cease and desist. You lost, and you know it. It’s here to stay, and unless you can make $1 billion in three years, you need to duct-tape your lips. Also, please change the heading of the editorial column from “our opinion” to “my opinion.” The editorial board cannot agree on Mom and Apple Pie, let alone topics of interest to the general public.

Please sign your editorials and be proud of it.

Tom Naylor
Summerfield

Assault weapons like the AK-47, AR-15 and Uzi are a problem for public health and civil society. They can fire armor-piercing ammunition (endangering police officers) and they kill masses of people, including children in schools and people at work and in church. Currently, assault weapons smuggled from America inflame the Mexican drug wars.

Presidents Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton supported a ban, which was passed in 1994 and expired 10 years later. One thousand, one hundred police chiefs and sheriffs from around the nation called on Congress and President George W. Bush to renew and strengthen the ban. A majority of the American public agrees.

So what is the problem? Voters have allowed the National Rifle Association to hold our elected representatives hostage through threats (loss of votes) and bribes (campaign contributions).

Obviously, we cannot change the minds of the gun-fixated, but we can take a leadership role.

We can assure our representatives that we will support them with our votes and money if they support a renewed ban. And we can convince others that an assault-weapons ban will not violate the Second Amendment or infringe on reasonable gun ownership.

Not to do so is an example of social irresponsibility.

Jean Gordon
Greensboro

What in the world are Skip Alston and Steve Arnold thinking?

Cutting the library budget by $400,000 makes no sense. Libraries provide citizens opportunities to learn, computers for research and communication, newspapers, magazines, books, periodicals, music, movies, books on CD and tape, and informed and pleasant staff who offer help when needed.

Do members of the Board of County Commissioners realize that, for many, including visually handicapped people, the library is their major source of knowledge and entertainment?

Commissioners, please look more closely at the final budget and reconsider your initial intention to reduce the library budget. Taking from the public library seems shortsighted. There must be other areas where those dollars can be found.

And while you are at it, all commissioners need to make decisions for the people of Guilford County. Mr. Alston and Mr. Arnold were not elected to “rule” this county. Commissioners, it is past time to restore the democratic process in this county. Each individual was elected by his or her constituents to represent their needs fairly, so do it.

Lynn Bennett
Greensboro

Counterpoint:

By Betty A. Smith

I was disheartened on May 3 to read about the debacle several Quail Oaks residents find themselves in. No homeowner should have a surprise like this, and the apparent breakdown of communication on several sides makes the situation all the more frustrating. The accompanying editorial, however, makes a statement that needs to be addressed. “Realtors need to speak up,” the editorial reads. “The lack of clear, honest information to prospective buyers about pending road projects is, at best, unethical.”

The word “Realtor” does not appear in Taft Wireback’s story. Questionable statements about the roads project are attributed to “sales aides.” These aides are not identified by name, so their status as Realtors is not verifiable. Please don’t use the situation in Quail Oaks to cast aspersions on all professional Realtors.

I also question the implication that Realtors need prompting to discuss matters related to the Code of Ethics. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Realtor Code of Ethics is the topic of frequent discussion on the local, state and national levels. It is a living document, updated yearly through input from Realtor members. There are more than 80,000 real-estate licensees in North Carolina. Only half of them take that extra step to become Realtors, and they do it because they want their customers to know that they hold themselves to a more stringent ethical standard.

The Code of Ethics is the core of who we are as Realtors; consequently, we take it very seriously, and we have a long-standing internal process in place to hear ethics complaints. In addition, state law requires a licensee to disclose any material facts known about the property up for sale. If a member of the public feels that a Realtor has violated the Code of Ethics, they can file a complaint by contacting the Greensboro Regional Realtors Association at 854-5868.

The writer is the president of the Greensboro Regional Realtors Association.

Counterpoint:

By Laura Meagher

Thanks to the excellent reporting of Taft Wireback in the News & Record (May 3 and May 10), residents along the proposed northern section of the Urban Loop know what to expect when the road is built: unrelenting, unabated noise of six lanes of 18-wheelers, cracked foundations, poor planning and confusion.

All neighborhoods along the route of the proposed new section, including Lake Jeanette, the Bluffs, Camden Falls, along Lake Jeanette Road, Cotswold, Regents Park and many others will experience what the Kings Mill and Sedgefield Trails neighborhoods experienced.

Highway officials attempted to abate noise for those neighborhoods by trying to redirect motorists away from the loop after it was built. Redirecting traffic from our neighborhoods after the northern section is built won’t be an option.

The proposed northern section of the loop can only be justified as a “pass-through” for trucks and other traffic moving across the state.

It is true that the road has been planned for many years, but the proposed path should be re-evaluated.

Do trucks really need a third way to bypass Greensboro, through the backyards of this very heavily populated area?

It may seem to be years away, but we know from Sunday’s article that local officials have made the loop a top priority and, if funds become available, the northern section will be built much sooner.

As the News & Record editorial of Sept. 27, 2008, said: “The hard lesson learned: Vigilance begins before the bulldozers arrive. As the Urban Loop progresses, property owners affected by it should stay abreast of plans and possible impact. Relying on assumptions rather than facts, as did some western loop neighbors, could be a costly mistake.”

The writer lives in Greensboro.

In response to Peter Allen’s letter, “Personal health concerns demand highest priority” (May 11): First, I am not a smoker.

Mr. Allen, why take your family into restaurants “reeking of cigarette smoke”? There are plenty of family-oriented restaurants that don’t allow smoking.

You are infringing on the rights of adults who should have the right to go to restaurants or bars that allow smoking. Our Puritan legislature has decided to end this “sin.”

I read an article that suggested the irony of Sir Walter Raleigh introducing tobacco to our society. Raleigh is named after him. North Carolina’s economy is based on tobacco. While I realize health hazards are involved, I agree with another article that said, “What is next? Alcohol?”

Are we going back to the 1920s? Why don’t we put a prohibition on everything? How about fatty foods, ice cream and cakes?

If people could let others live their lives as they see fit, it would be a better environment.

Judy Crutchfield
Kernersville

Recently, President Obama, speaking to a group of media people, commenting on why Dick Cheney was not at the gathering, said, “He’s writing a book on how to shoot his friends.” Funny stuff, I must admit, making light of when Vice President Cheney accidentally shot one of his friends while hunting. And most agreed it was funny. Hardly anyone said it was out of line.

So last year, suppose President Bush, speaking at a media function, had said about Ted Kennedy, “He’s writing a book on how to get drunk, drive a car into the water, leave a girl out there to die while managing to save himself.”

Since the mainstream media have the same standards for everyone, I have no doubt those remarks by President Bush would have been taken the same way as the clever quips by President Obama.

Fred Pearlman
Greensboro

Much has been made of the 60-vote, filibuster-proof Senate since Arlen Specter switched to the Democratic Party.

By his own admission, he did this because he did not think he could win his next campaign in 2010 running as a Republican.

The first time, and every time thereafter, he votes for an issue in line with the Democrats that he otherwise would not have supported as a Republican, such as “card check,” he will be even more guilty of selling a Senate seat than was the recently removed governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, because he will have pulled it off.

Bruce Raynor
Greensboro

While I realize there must be order in congressional hearings on health care, why are citizens silenced or not allowed a chance to speak?

Why did Sen. Baucus make jokes and everyone there think it was funny? The smug laughter I saw while watching CSPAN coverage of the hearings was insulting.

At a meeting to which the insurance boys were invited, but citizens who pay and doctors and nurses who give care and have to deal with the bureaucracy of multiple insurance company paperwork weren’t, but were arrested, shows me just who Congress seems to represent — campaign donors, not us.

Just another reason to end campaign bribes and start public campaign funding, renew the fairness doctrine and end representing the corporations over the citizens. Washington is broken and it is past time to fix that.

It’s time to put a single-payer system on the table.

Robert Peer
Yanceyville

Billy Coore, a senior in high school and author of this topic in the May 9 News & Record Counterpoint, is too young to really know what this city has lost.

A short list from my life, which is much longer than Billy’s and to which I am sure others can add: Campbell’s, Monroe’s, Bob Petty’s Oakwood Drive-In, Boar & Castle, Hot Shoppes, Robinson’s, Alpat, California Sandwich Shop, Jim’s Lunch, Gus’, and Plaza at Lawndale and Battleground (Lawndale Drive’s pavement ended here in the late-1950s).

Also, Meredith’s outdoor skating rink and miniature golf. Griffin’s Skating Rink, Pickwick, The Palms. Greene’s Supper Club and Greene’s downtown, White Star Laundry, Plantation Supper Club, Sedgefield Steak House, the O. Henry and King Cotton hotels, Phipps Hardware, Circle K at the Carolina Theatre, Guilford Dairy Bars, Star Theatre, Roosevelt’s Barbershop.

Also, Browning’s Shoeshine, Bob’s Hatters, Planters Peanuts, Crystal Burgers, Friendly Road Inn, GI 1200, National Theatre, Elvis in 1956 for $2, Alexander Motors (became Rice Toyota), Center Theater, Vanstory’s, Younts DeBoe, Johnson & Aulbert, Wright’s, Cornatzer & Mock, Tom McCann, Prago Guyes, Jerry’s Pub, Yelverton’s BBQ, Lotus, Myers Department Store and Tea Room and S&W Cafeteria.

The mall about which he is so nostalgic is a major reason why so many of my favorite places no longer exist.

Jerry Weston
Greensboro

On May 21, Guilford County commissioners will vote on a rezoning case for 1226 Guilford College Road for industrial use. If passed, it will directly affect the community where I live, The Highlands off Piedmont Parkway.

If commissioners vote in favor of this rezoning, the integrity of our neighborhood will be ruined. A change to industrial will not only hurt our property values, but also create more traffic and noise.

I strongly object to the rezoning of this property. Please support us in our efforts to keep our residential community safe from this rezoning.

Karen Robertson
Jamestown

While Guilford County commissioners recently approved a law allowing unlimited fox-trapping in an attempt to address rabies, it is well known to public health experts that trapping not only does not control rabies, it actually facilitates the spread of the deadly disease.

According to the Aug. 7, 2001, Hartford Courant, the World Health Organization and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advocate “that trapping not be used to control rabies because it eliminates a healthy buffer population that impedes the spread of the disease.”

More than 30 years ago, Gary Suhowatsky, a research analyst formerly of the New York State Department of Health, testified before the State Assembly Subcommittee on Wildlife that trapping kills the healthiest animals in wildlife populations and leaves behind the most sickly members to spread diseases. The Guilford commissioners should reverse their decision before rabies spirals out of control.

Joe Miele
Las Cruces, N.M.
The writer is president, the Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting.

“If it takes some funding for important community groups to satisfy some commissioners, then I’m willing to take that” — Commissioner Steve Arnold, News & Record, May 9.

Well, I’m not willing, as a Guilford County taxpayer, to take that. In these times we need prudent, even Spartan budgeting, not special-interest projects to insure re-election and budget approval. It’s “pork” like this that runs the cost of government to excessive levels.

Approving “pork” like this is no better than “buying” a commissioner’s vote for budget approval. Let a commissioner vote against the budget and explain why!

Michael Lopez
Summerfield

Guilford County commissioners: Please restore the funding to the public libraries for the 2009-2010 budget. The News & Record editorial (“Bad deal for libraries,” May 12) is absolutely correct. As a Guilford County taxpayer, I cannot support this setback in funding.

Use our money wisely and do not cut funding for this public service that reaches every citizen and taxpayer of Guilford County.

Anne Kearns Hice
Pleasant Garden

President Obama has shown some semblance of sanity by deciding to fight release of the interrogation photos. The highly selective release of the memos was extremely unwise, but the photos went a giant step too far. I cannot understand how the release of either the memos or photos enhanced or strengthened our national security.

Once the ACLU is allowed to run legally amok regarding national security, only those who hate America will be served.

Thanks for your stand, Mr. President. I hope it’s truly sincere.

Jim Turnage
Greensboro

Counterpoint:

By Mark Underwood

Regarding the column, “The unfortunate also deserve a break” (April 29), by Danny Glen in response to Charles Davenport: I submit that anyone born in this country has already gotten a huge break. Barring harsh physical, mental or situational circumstances, this is where you can make your life what you want it to be.

I’m a prime example of this. I come from a lower-middle-class family with income not too far above the poverty line. I was a high school underachiever who went on to work in a furniture plant ($3.55 an hour in 1985), then textiles. My father had always preached college, but I wasn’t willing to put forth the effort until I worked low-paying jobs for a while. I decided I wanted to make more money and have an easier job. I enrolled in a community college and got grants and loans until I transferred to a four-year school and graduated with an IT degree. I studied hard, worked part-time jobs and graduated with a 3.5 GPA. I am now blessed to make $95,000 a year.

It’s a comfortable living, but if I want to make more money, I can. The opportunities are out there. You have to hustle for them, and you have to have drive, brains and some luck. And if you don’t make it, you have no one to blame but yourself. If you’re in a job that doesn’t pay what you want, then do something about it besides complain about those who do have more.
If you want to be in a place where everyone makes the same amount, move to another country.

Danny, just because Cindy McCain inherited a business doesn’t give the rest of us a right to take it from her, or force her to sell one of her houses. Someone somewhere in her family worked hard to build that business. They had the right to give it to whomever they wanted. She should pay the same percentage in taxes as everyone else. I’m not jealous of her, nor do I begrudge her for it, and anyone who does begrudge her has problems.

Somehow I don’t think our founding fathers would consider it patriotic for people to pay more taxes to a government that overspends irresponsibly. You see, they had this dislike for taxes and a big, inefficient government. And they not only loved this country, they created it.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

I retired in 2003 from full-time teaching in the Guilford County Schools and now teach part time at Pleasant Garden Elementary School. Two of the years I taught at Sternberger Elementary, I was fortunate enough to have a student in my third- and fourth-grade classes named Brant Taylor. I recently read with interest the wonderful article about his Eagle Scout project to improve Pomona Park for disabled kids (“No dream too big,” May 10).

There were many special students in my teaching career. I hear good things about them as the years pass. It makes me feel so proud and hopeful when those young people take responsibility for our world. I feel compelled to congratulate Brant and his family for his accomplishment; it was apparently a huge undertaking.

Sometimes a teacher can recognize certain qualities in a student that she or he knows will be life-long strengths and capabilities.

Brant had those qualities even as a youngster: intelligence, perseverance, respect for others, a caring heart and extraordinary character. He always had a smile on his face and nothing deterred him from his goals.

I am proud to have had a small part in his life and wish him and his family the best.

Mary Anne Nixon
Greensboro

As a former resident of Pepper Road in Oak Ridge (part of the land in dispute between Oak Ridge and Kernersville) who now lives in Kernersville, I write to you today after just reading your May 9 article on the dispute between the two towns.

One of my questions is, When is it that small-town America becomes of the same mind as Corporate America? I understand how important it is that we protect small towns and keep their culture, but the Oak Ridge of yesterday and all the farmers from then are not the Oak Ridge and “farmers” of today.

The farmers of yesterday did not drive a mile away to get to the McDonald’s or JP Looney’s that they have today in the center of town. In the 30 years that I have lived in these two towns, Kernersville has always been a fast-developing town. With all of the neighborhoods being built in the Oak Ridge area, I doubt there will be much “farmland” to protect in the very near future anyway. The land in this dispute should be as it always has been and be left untouched by any town and be left in the county.

I hope Oak Ridge and Kernersville will have some dignity left and agree to this.

Chad Metzger
Kernersville

City staff recently highlighted their disappointment with elected officials (Inside Scoop, May 11). These officials, having had adequate time for serious soul-searching, are now considering a happy solution.

Sandra Anderson Groat wants to throw a party for the employees. Robbie Perkins wants to be in a dunking booth to raise money. I suppose that, after consideration and study of this matter, the City Council will agree to also have a bake sale, enlisting the aid of the employees to donate cupcakes.

I am so encouraged that they “get it.” The clowns are indeed running the circus.

Elaine Monroe
Greensboro

There is a large body of public evidence, including the recently released “torture memos” written by government lawyers, to suggest that crimes might have been committed with the knowledge and authorization of high-level Bush officials.

The release of these memos and other Bush-era torture evidence are crucial to the historical record. The American people have a right to know what was done in their name.

By releasing the torture memos, the Obama administration is beginning to live up to its promise of transparency. But transparency is only one step toward accountability. Now that the memos have been made public, high-ranking officials in the Bush administration must be held accountable.

It is time to appoint an independent prosecutor to conduct a top-to-bottom investigation into who knew about, authorized and carried out the torture policies. Congress should also appoint a bipartisan select committee with subpoena power to review the Bush administration abuses.
As President Obama and Attorney General Holder have said, no one is above the law. It is time for the attorney general to make good on that promise and appoint an independent prosecutor to conduct a thorough criminal investigation of torture crimes.

Diane James
Burlington

Regarding Dorothy Peters’ letter on April 11: I am one of the widows that Otis Hairston spoke of in his words on the Warnersville community. I was born in 1922 in a house on Grey Street in Warnersville.

Peters was wrong to say Hairston’s words expressed bitterness. His words expressed the same love and compassion for our community that I have. His words expressed the concern he has for the elderly members of this community, such as me, who risk losing our homes and all that we have worked for because of these immoral plans of Greensboro College and its sports park.

We do not need Greensboro College’s scholarships or need Greensboro College to write our history for us with a museum.

Greensboro College should leave us alone and allow us to enjoy the remainder our lives in the peace and quiet of our homes and community.

Those who do not live in the Warnersville community who continue to write to the News & Record trying to tell us what is best for our community should invite Greensboro College to build this sports park in their community.

Lynette Parks
Greensboro

I want to respond to the op-ed column by Ted Eaves on April 26. He offered the simple facts about spit tobacco use: It causes cancer and is not a safe alternative to smoking.

Of course people need to quit smoking! It poses many health threats, but I agree with Eaves. Why switch to another form of tobacco to do it? That makes no sense at all. It is sort of like saying, “Hey, jumping off the top of this building is really risky to your health. Jump out of the 10th-story window instead.”

What smokers and dippers both need to know is that there are safe and proven cessation aids, like the nicotine replacement patch, gum, or other drugs that don’t pose any of the health risks of tobacco use. There is also a toll-free quit line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

And if you are really interested in whether spit tobacco is a “safe” alternative, take a look at this Web site: www.realityunfiltered.com/TRUtv.aspx

Joey Patterson
Browns Summit

I very much appreciate and am humbled by the May 10 News & Record story that focused on the evolution of my career in the zoo/museum world.

But, as I fervently reiterated to the reporter, Tina Firesheets, the real heroes behind the evolving success of the Natural Science Center are the citizens who voted in the 2000 Animal Discovery Bond; the families, businesses and foundations who support us; the city leaders who champion our public-private partnership; my staff members who lead and innovate every single day; my impassioned board of trustees members who volunteer their time and money in service to our community; and my wife and daughter who give me strength and perspective.

I understand my role as the face and spokesperson for the organization, but the heart and soul of who we are and where we are going is stitched deep within the fabric of this amazing community. Our collective vision for the next 50 years will hopefully accomplish what Jack Hanna started in the formerly nontourist town of Columbus, Ohio, 30 years ago. Our ultimate goal is to help make Greensboro North Carolina’s best place to live, raise a family and build a business.

Glenn Dobrogosz
Greensboro

Glenn Dobrogosz is president and CEO of the Natural Science Center of Greensboro.

Al Campbell suggested in his letter of April 12 about the Carthage nursing-home shootings March 29 that praise given Officer Justin Garner was “mistakenly awarded or selectively bestowed since he was only doing what he was paid to do,” and that the real hero was the injured nursing-home employee who tried to warn the staff of the impending danger.

Of course, the employee’s efforts were courageous and praiseworthy. However, it was this brave, young officer’s selfless action that prevented further loss of life and injury and ended the murderous rampage.

The character, integrity, training, focus and spontaneous response to the deadly threat he confronted, at the risk of his own life, were all in play. His reaction and sense of duty are, without question, what qualify him as a hero. He didn’t wait for the security of back-up officers before entering the beleaguered facility. How many more residents would have been victims had he done so?

With that exemplary demonstration of dedication to his profession and to the citizens of Carthage, Garner is every bit the hero. But I’ll bet that was the last thing on his mind when he got the call that day.

Jim Todd
Greensboro

The country is upside down. Legislators worry about someone smoking in a restaurant but not someone consuming alcohol in the same restaurant. They worry about him after he crashes into unsuspecting innocents. Drop the legal limit to .02 and listen to the outcry.

A high-strung young boy who is deemed to have a disorder (ADHD) is given prescription narcotics to control his actions, but if the same boy claimed to be homosexual, he would be considered normal. Which goes against the laws of nature?

Lastly, while most states teeter on bankruptcy, the federal government prints and spends money, which will have to be paid back by citizens and their descendants in the near-bankrupt states. Who works for whom?

Government pushed up, morality pushed down. The country is upside down.

Jim Sartwell
Liberty

A hearing is planned for May 21 for rezoning a four-acre tract of land just north of the Lowes Shopping Center at 1229 Guilford College Road from Residential to Light Industrial to allow construction of a self-storage facility.

The residents in the surrounding communities purchased their homes because of the lack of businesses in the area. Installation of the storage facility will start the elimination of the sense of community that has been established over the years and begin unwanted commercial growth. Owners currently selling properties will see diminished interest due to the atmosphere and traffic, and selling prices will necessarily be lowered in order to sell, causing a loss of property value.
Given the current economic climate, there are a number of vacant facilities all over the city that can be converted to storage. Why clutter the countryside with additional commercial buildings when there are so many available?

I urge all citizens to band together to stop the unnecessary waste and depletion of our natural resources. Attend the rezoning hearing and voice your opinion.

Debbie Weishaar
Greensboro

The Oliphant cartoon (May 14, showing Nancy Pelosi smoking a marijuana cigarette labeled “torture” and saying, “But I didn’t inhale”) puts the onus on the wrong person.

We are a nation of laws, with a wonderful constitution, the envy of nations. The president, vice president and others in the administration are sworn to support and defend it. If they have broken the law or committed war crimes, then they should be punished. Punished, but not by waterboarding, as that would be torture, which is illegal by our laws and is a war crime by treaties that we are a party to.

Don’t let us be distracted by blaming the person who wasn’t the one who authorized the torture.

Harvey B. Herman
Greensboro

The United States is going to have health care reform. The question is whether we will have a single-payer system, where bureaucrats decide who gets what treatment and when they get it, or a continuation of the private insurance system where insurance and medical professionals decide the treatment and timing.

On Memorial Day weekend of 2007, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. My physician, Dr. Craig Hall, shared my treatment options. Then he and the Blue Cross insurance professionals scheduled surgery on July 17. The surgery went well. The cancer has been eradicated and I remain cancer-free. Early detection and rapid treatment saved my life.

Meanwhile, a local musician needs two knee replacements. He is on Medicare, which is administered by government workers. He has been waiting more than a year and recently was told he could have the replacements near Labor Day. In the meantime, he has been living in pain, unable to stand, and his knees have degenerated.

As several people have recently asked in other letters, “Who would you rather have make the decisions regarding your health care, physicians and insurance professionals, or bureaucrats?”

Given a free choice, I choose the physicians and insurance professionals.

Anderson Cain
Greensboro

Shame on you for showing such editorially poor and puerile taste in displaying that vicious cartoon of John and Elizabeth Edwards (May 9). You offend the women who read your paper, trivializing Elizabeth Edwards’ bout with cancer by delineating her already-savaged physique and her right to fight back.

If her husband was a nincompoop and taken in by a woman with her own agenda in mind, it’s your problem, not ours.

It’s time you cleaned up your act. Please keep your paper focused and not go “tabloid.”

Gloria Jacobi
Asheboro

The power of wealthy special interests in our elections has been growing steadily. Regrettably, the cost of running for election — even at the local level — is a turnoff for many qualified and committed individuals who desire to serve. The need to raise campaign money defies involvement.

Steps are under way, none too soon, to expand North Carolina’s clean election system. Josh Glasser’s Second Opinion in May 10’s News & Record explains that our legislature is considering bills that would expand public financing beyond the 2008 successful pilot programs.

As a voter, passage of House Bill 120 by our Senate would restore my feeling that elected officials are the choice of the people, not the businesses and special interests that pour money into campaigns and “buy” election victories.

I ask fellow News & Record readers who share my concern to urge their senators to support HB 120 and other clean elections measures. The bottom line is saving our democracy, not selling out to big money!

Voters must have their say on this matter. The place to start is at the local level.

Please tell your senator to act on your behalf. Achieving municipal election reform is feasible.

Let us do it!

Pearl Berlin
High Point

I am writing about a matter that is very important to me and many of my neighbors in the residential developments in the area of Piedmont Parkway and Guilford College Road. I am highly opposed to the rezoning that is pending before the county commissioners from residential to light industrial. This property is in close proximity to my neighborhood, as well as several others.

While the intended use, a self-storage facility, is totally undesirable in this residential area — there are currently approximately 5,000 storage units available within a five-mile radius of this property — the light-industrial zoning would open this property up to the potential for many uses that would be as bad as or even worse than a self-storage facility.

It is my hope that the county commissioners will carefully consider the adverse effect to our neighborhood and property values and deny this rezoning.

Shirley Dent
Jamestown

In a stunning expression of heterosexism, Rep. Virginia Foxx claimed that Matthew Shepard’s murder was a “hoax.” In a statement about the original Hate Crimes Act, Foxx said, “The government has no business creating categories of people to receive special treatment by the legal system.”
Doesn’t all civil rights legislation give special legal treatment to those who are victims of discrimination and injustice? These statements are examples of how personal prejudice gets woven into the fabric of institutional discrimination against people who are marginalized in our culture. This kind of systemic oppression against GLBT people is at the root of how Shepard died as well as thousands of other minorities. Acts of discrimination are alive and well, as Foxx embodies in her offensive statements that distort the truth of a violent act intending harm to a gay man.
History cannot be rewritten. I only wish Foxx would learn about her own internalized homophobia and acknowledge her white, heterosexual privilege as she seeks to represent all of the people of her district and state. If she desires to fully represent us, she must acknowledge her own destructive prejudice and genuinely transform her elitist attitudes.
The Rev. Rhonda Davis
Winston-Salem

Sandi Campbell’s letter (May 10) was the most accurate description of health care insurance and the subsequent victimization of American citizens that I’ve read.
The U.S. health care fiasco also involves millions to billions of dollars lost in Medicare and Medicaid scams, behind-closed-doors agreements between the federal government and AARP/United Healthcare, and the Federal Drug Administration and pharmaceutical companies.
Susan Bryant
Greensboro

Our community is extremely fortunate and proud to be the home of the Atlantic Coast Conference. We should all be equally proud that the ACC’s leader, John Swofford, was recently inducted into the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame. From his performances as an outstanding high school and collegiate athlete, through his illustrious career as a top-level sports administrator, John has modeled the very best in athletics and sports management. He is an unwavering champion of student-athlete values and the proper role of sports in our society. As ACC commissioner and a key figure in the NCAA, John is widely recognized as of one of the nation’s best and most influential leaders in intercollegiate sports. He is universally admired and respected by his peers, as well as academic leaders throughout the country. On top of all this, he is one of the most genuine, down-to-earth and caring people I have ever known. We should all be thankful and proud that John, and his wife and supporting partner, Nora, make their home in Greensboro.
Ed Kitchen
Greensboro
The writer is vice president, the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation.

The following is a Counterpoint:
By John D. Young
On behalf of the Guilford County Open Space Committee, I want to thank the Guilford County Board of Commissioners for their acceptance and adoption of the Guilford County Open Space Report on April 16.
We appreciate the healthy and successful working relationship we have with the Guilford County Parks & Recreation Commission and the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. As a result of our mutual efforts, nine important tracts of open space have been preserved in Guilford County. In order to meet the goals outlined in this report, we realize we have significant work ahead of us to permanently preserve remaining natural areas, especially as the county’s population and development pressures increase. To that end, the committee will continue working diligently to permanently preserve open space for the citizens of Guilford County.
Our greatest appreciation for this essential conservation work goes to the citizens, who in 2004 generously approved a $10 million bond referendum for the purchase of open space. We as a committee consider it our responsibility and privilege to serve as careful stewards these bond funds, spending them as effectively and efficiently as possible.
In doing so, we will try, whenever possible and practical, to partner with regional and state conservation groups, granting organizations, and private citizens. Ultimately, we know that it is the citizens of Guilford County who will choose to make future investments in clean water, clean air and natural areas through additional bond funding to preserve the places they know and love.
The Guilford County Open Space Committee considers it a privilege to help preserve these special places for them and for generations to come.

The writer lives in Greensboro and is chairman of the Guilford County Open Space Committee.

Regarding Lorraine Ahearn article about the mentally ill man held in the Moses Cone Emergency Department for five days awaiting a bed in a state facility: I hate to tell you, but this is hardly new. As an emergency room nurse for 15 years, I find this becoming more of the norm than the exception.
While working in the ED at Randolph Hospital, I suggested making these patients “social admits” and giving them floor beds where the environment would be calmer and quieter.
They would have a toilet in their room and a TV to ease boredom. This, however, would mean a hospitalist would have to write orders and follow their care while on the floor.
As most of these patients are uninsured this would not be cost-effective, so my suggestion fell on deaf ears. Also, when police are present and have the patient handcuffed they are responsible and this frees the facility from having to chart and follow restraint protocols. Elderly Alzheimer’s patients sent under involuntary commitment orders by a nursing home or private home would be treated the same way.
Humanity and compassion versus the almighty dollar. So what’s new?
Gayle D. Strid, RN
Denton

I enjoyed Marylyn Trivett’s piece a few weeks ago about her difficulty in obtaining hot tea at local restaurants. It reminded me of an experience my wife and I had while vacationing in New England.
One day at lunch we found “tea” on the menu and ordered it with our meal. We were brought hot tea. We explained that we thought it would be iced tea. Somewhat baffled, the waitress said the restaurant did not have iced tea. All they had to do, we explained, was pour the tea into a glass with ice. She left and returned with our iced tea.
Tea was listed on the menu at $1.50. Of course, we assumed that this was for continuous refills. Not so. It was for each serving. We each had two or three glasses, so the tea cost more than the entire cost of the food!
So, a word of caution for Southern iced tea drinkers: When traveling above the Mason Dixon, ask questions about “tea” on the menu before ordering.
Phillip Reeder
Greensboro

To use the phrase coined by William Safire, the Republican Party has become a bunch of “nattering nabobs of negativity.” I now see that the modus operandi of the party is to verbally assault and destroy every initiative set forward by the Obama administration in order to set themselves up for the 2012 election.

We have not heard one positive initiative from the GOP on how they will fix the economy, health care or global terrorism.

The party of Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt has been hijacked by the likes of Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Karl Rove.

If they have all of the answers, then they need to run for higher office and bring their case to the American people. If not, then they need to work with the present administration for the American good and not their own selfish political fortunes. It is a long time until 2012.

Donald Conrad
Greensboro

To those living in communities along the southern part of Guilford College Road, be aware. Our Guilford County commissioners now have before them a request to rezone 4.2 acres next to the Lowes Food Store from residential to light industrial. A developer intends to build a 500-unit self-storage facility there, and while that may not sound onerous to you, the vitally important issue is rezoning itself.

If industrial classification is granted, the door will be open for everything that currently allows:

tattoo parlors, adult clubs, used-car lots, taverns and other nonresidential businesses. In short, you can expect your home and land values to decline as your neighborhood transitions toward undesirable in the perception of future home buyers.

If this relatively small section of our community is rezoned, it won’t be long before similar businesses follow with many more home sites reclassified industrial.

Be assured: Our commissioners are fair-minded and will act for the good of the majority if we make our thoughts known. If you oppose this reclassification, please attend and let them know at the commissioners’ meeting, Old Guilford County Courthouse, 5:30 p.m. today.

Goodman G. Griffin III
Jamestown

You don’t justify bad behavior by saying “everyone else is doing it.” Clearly, Northern Guilford was breaking the rules by using ineligible players, thus should not have the honor of being state champions.

For the head basketball coach to tell the students not to participate in sports under this administration is ridiculous. This administration is simply doing the right thing and enforcing the rules that are set in place.

I applaud them for stepping up (heaven knows, Terry Grier never would have) and making the unpopular and difficult decisions. It certainly is a step in the right direction to level the playing field for all of our student-athletes.

Elizabeth Swaim
Greensboro

Counterpoint:

By Dr. Bill Nolan

One mentally ill person held five days in a community hospital’s emergency room is symptomatic of the continuing failure of mental health reform in North Carolina. More tragically, this incident demonstrates the deteriorating inadequacy of our state’s mental health system.

More disconcerting is the terribly wrong paradigm posited by Luckey Welsh, director of state operated services, that “delays in admissions (to our state psychiatric hospitals)... are necessary.”

The Division of Mental Health’s (DMH) current crisis includes failing to meet minimum standards at state hospitals, inadequate quantity, quality and integration of community services, plus insufficient state funding exacerbated by the loss of federal funding because of quality failures at the state hospitals.

DMH’s purpose is to ensure the most vulnerable citizens receive timely, sufficient, quality care at optimal cost to all stakeholders. To achieve this requires the governor to hold the director publicly responsible for demonstrably achieving this mission.

The governor should give the director support, including an authoritative executive task force headed by a gubernatorial appointee.

Participants must include representatives of patients, families, advocate organizations, ERs, service providers (inpatient and outpatient), provider advocate organizations, local management entities, sheriff’s and police departments, the legislature, DMH leaders, state psychiatric hospital leaders, and other state agencies. The staff should include experts in mental health systems management, information management and public relations.

This task force should be charged with achieving: 1) decrease in admissions and readmissions to ERs, state psychiatric hospitals and hospitals contracted for services; 2) decrease in inpatient lengths of stay; 3) decrease in ER stays; 4) ensure quality of services by each provider, especially at the state hospitals; 5) decrease costs for law enforcement, ERs, per-inpatient admission and per-patient day for each consumer within the system; 6) increase patient and family satisfaction with each phase of the system, especially ERs and state hospitals: and 7) increase staff engagement and satisfaction within state hospitals. Results for each indicator should be published no less than quarterly, monthly when available.

Without a comprehensive, integrated, transparent operational effort, the number and severity of personal tragedies will increase, human costs will increase for stakeholders, and the amount of lost dollars will worsen.

The writer lives in Greensboro and is a clinical psychologist.

I am a resident of “The Highlands,” which is off Guilford College Road at Piedmont Parkway. I have been a resident of this location since January 1995. I love where I live and decided on this area because of what it represents, a neighborhood. A neighborhood with only the services needed, a grocery store, a drugstore, places to eat, etc. I did not move to a residential area for a piece of property next to me to be rezoned light industrial.

It is currently residential, and I want to keep it that way for the following reasons. The individual who wants to purchase the property wants to put in more than 100 storage units. We have three facilities within three miles of our location. We do not want or need another.

We as a neighborhood and I as an owner are very concerned about what will be stored there. What will be put in that location if the storage facility is not successful and it is zoned light industrial?

I was given a “road map” of what the developers envision for this area when I purchased a home at the Highlands. I want that “road map” of a neighborhood to stay that way. County commissioners, vote no to rezoning.
Nina L. Yeager
Jamestown

In response to “City making probe impossible” (N&R, May 6), I believe the pertinent statutes contain such words as “the head of an agency, may, at his discretion, reveal the cause of a (personnel action) if he believes that the operations of the agency have been adversely affected.”

Accordingly, the city of Greensboro appears to have a legal right to withhold information from the U.S. Department of Justice, as it has chosen to do.

It also appears that the city of Greensboro does not feel that the operations of the police department have been adversely affected.

I am sure that attorneys for the Department of Justice, the city of Greensboro and also your own general counsel are familiar with the personnel laws of North Carolina.

Harry N. Young
Greensboro

The North Carolina Emergency Management Association wishes to recognize and thank Sens. Richard Burr and Kay Hagan for their support of a letter requesting additional appropriations for the Emergency Management Performance Grants.

These grants provide primary funding for many county and state emergency management programs in North Carolina and across the nation. As the fiscal crisis has severely impacted state and local government programs, having our senators support additional funding to meet the critical demands of providing comprehensive public safety services is essential.

We thank our senators and look forward to working with them to ensure that high-quality emergency management programs are in place to protect the citizens of North Carolina.

The North Carolina Emergency Management Association represents more than 300 emergency management personnel from local and state governmental agencies in the 100 counties and the Eastern Branch of the Cherokee Nation.

Rocky Hyder
Hendersonville

The writer is president, North Carolina Emergency Management Association.

To the driver in the silver Cadillac behind me recently at the stop sign at St. Regis and Willoughby Boulevard: Yes, I could tell the third time you honked your horn at me that you wanted me to move.

However, that stop sign means the two lanes of cars coming at me have the right of way and, until there’s a break in traffic or unless someone motions me in, I’m not moving.

At 8:22 on a school morning one block from Mendenhall Middle School, we all need to be patient. If I won’t put my safety and that of my daughter in danger to be at my destination one minute sooner, I surely won’t do it for you.

Here are two suggestions: First, change your route, at least during the school year. Mendenhall starts at 8:26 and the Mendenhall community doesn’t need you in this much of a hurry this close to the school.

Second, leave home earlier. Your tardiness is no justification to endanger others.

The next time you express your opinion of my driving the way you did today, I’ll put my car in park and share my opinion of your driving (and your courtesy) in person.

Pam Duncan
Greensboro

The House committee excluded any discussion of single-payer health plans. European countries pay some more in taxes for single-payer systems, but they pay less than we do for health services. And everybody is covered!

It’s time, ladies and gentlemen!

James Deere
Greensboro

On Nov. 8, 2006, U.S. House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi stated the following:

“The American people voted to restore integrity and honesty in Washington, D.C., and the Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history.”

To that end, she has led Congress to an all-time low approval rating of 13 percent, and the current scandal she is embroiled in where she insists she was lied to by our foreign intelligence service on interrogation procedures has resulted in some of her staunchest Democratic supporters jumping ship. Can a 10 percent rating — or even lower — be far behind?

John Parson
Stokesdale

The May 18 edition of the News & Record featured a photograph of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi below the fold.

I respectfully request that, in the future, she be pictured not lying, i.e., with her mouth closed.

W.E. Williams
Elon

In North Carolina, if you live in an unincorporated area near a city, chances are you are in that municipality’s cross hairs for forced annexation, and there’s not a thing you can do about it.

The state legislators in Raleigh caved in to pressures by the N.C. League of Municipalities and let meaningful legislation to change annexation laws die in committee. House Bill 645 (Senate Bill 494), while not perfect, would have made the cities more accountable for delivering services and given citizens greater input on matters of forced annexation.

Paying higher taxes to cities that don’t know how to live within their means and governments changing the way people have lived for years on their own land seem totally unfair. And the worst part of all of this is these changes are made by people whom I didn’t vote for, and if I end up in the ETJ (zoning jurisdiction only), I will still have no representation but all their rules.

It’s high time for everyone to get mad and let lawmakers know you want them to resurrect this legislation for democracy’s sake.

This is America. I should at least have the right to speak out in a meaningful way on matters that affect me so directly.

Karen Small
Jamestown

Counterpoint:

By Gayle G. Ferguson

As the scandal at Northern Guilford High School has unfolded, I have to say I have been amazed, but not surprised, at the reaction of the coach, the parents and the public to the situation. As a veteran coach in swimming who is retiring this year, I am saddened that the focus of the anger and frustration of parents is aimed at an administration that has investigated and determined that the rules set out by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association have not been followed.

These rules are published for the benefit of all administrators and coaches and are available to parents and athletes online.

NCHSAA procedures have been put in place due to similar scandals elsewhere in the state to make parents and athletes aware of the eligibility rules. Athletes, parents and coaches are required to complete a form that takes them through the eligibility requirements and that outlines the loss of eligibility and consequences, should they lie on the form.

As is true in the larger world, a failure to understand the rules does not protect you from the consequences of breaking them. While it may be the assigned duty of the athletic director and school administration to educate the parents about these rules, it is the responsibility of all members of the athletic community to enforce them.

At the core of student athletics is a responsibility to fair play, a covenant that has been largely disregarded in this discussion.

When you break the rules, you cheat.

From the ensuing finger-pointing, it is apparent that some have missed this central premise.

Apparently, some parents and coaches think that success on the field, at the gate and in the record books is more important than teaching and modeling the lessons that this situation illustrates to the athletes for whom the coaching program was designed.

Cheating is wrong. The continued rancor aimed at an administration that is supporting that central point is inappropriate.

Parents and coaches: Shut up, or better yet, admit that adults made mistakes here that have consequences on innocent third parties — the students. Own your mistakes so your children learn that they must admit theirs.

Your continued protest has the effect of telling the student-athletes that rules are not important and that winning at any cost is OK, just don’t get caught.

On the playing field that only costs a season, but in the world, such attitudes cost a life. Eventually, we reap what we sow.

The writer is swim coach at Reidsville High School.

The following is a Counterpoint:
By Amanda Story
As graduation approaches, Guilford County students are raising awareness about the risks and negative consequences associated with alcohol and other drug use.
North Carolina students’ reported drinking behaviors are healthier than may be perceived. The 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey of high school students indicates that roughly 79 percent of students surveyed did not meet criteria for “binge drinking” (having consumed five or more alcoholic drinks in a row) within the past 30 days and 62 percent reported not having consumed alcohol at all within the past 30 days.
Still, Guilford County students are raising awareness about the negative and sometimes fatal consequences of underage drinking, binge drinking, and other drug use to make for a safe and sober graduation season.
Recently, Alcohol and Drug Services, the Guilford Center and the Family Life Council sponsored a Billboard Art Contest with participating Guilford County students to display larger-than-life billboard messages about the risks associated with alcohol and other drug use. The three student winners now have their artwork displayed on 15 billboards across Guilford County, and, courtesy of Kelly F. Sham of Thousands O’ Prints, located in downtown Greensboro, their messages will be framed and displayed at Alcohol and Drug Services Downtown Greensboro location on East Washington Street.
Other exciting prevention initiatives across Guilford County have been the result of Guilford County’s SMART (Student Mentoring Awareness and Resource Team) teams. Students choose to model healthy behavior and encourage peers to remain safe and sober through a variety of monthly, peer-led activities. Monthly activities are designed to promote drug awareness and prevent the onset of tobacco, alcohol and other drug use among their peers and support national prevention efforts like Red Ribbon Week, The Great American Smoke-out and Kick Butts Day, to name a few.
SMART teams, provided by Safe & Drug Free Schools and Alcohol & Drug Services, also receive a variety of specific substance abuse training, allowing them to provide valuable drug education and information to other students, staff members and parents throughout the school year.
On behalf of Alcohol and Drug Services, the Guilford Center, the Family Life Council, Thousands O’ Prints, and especially Guilford County’s SMART teams and student leaders, thank you for supporting a healthy Guilford County and have a safe and sober graduation season.

The writer is prevention service consultant, Alcohol & Drug Services in Greensboro.

A recent editorial (April 14) regarding Mental Health Court stated, “It would be a crime to lose a program that is working for its clients, the courts, and the broader community.” We at the Mental Health Association in Greensboro could not agree more.
With so many challenges already faced by individuals with mental health conditions, Mental Health Court is a bright spot, providing an opportunity for assistance for those who have also been in trouble with the law.
Mental Health Court is a program that is working in Guilford County. It is saving dollars, changing lives for the better, and playing a key role in keeping people who need mental health assistance out of our jails.
We are proud to be among the court’s founders, and continue to support its work by having our executive director, Blair Benson, serve on the Guilford County Specialty Courts Management Committee, which oversees both mental health and drug courts.
Continued funding is needed so specialty courts can continue to perform the important role of providing close supervision for clients with mental illness and or drug addiction as an alternative to jail time. We urge county officials and our community to support these important efforts.
Paul A. Jeffrey and Monshaire Fikes
Greensboro
The writers are president and president-elect, respectively, of the Mental Health Association in Greensboro.

I’ve followed the I-40/I-73 noise issue intently since moving within earshot of the corridor last year. Surely noise issues were included as part of some environmental impact study long before the first spade of dirt was ever moved. One might now assume Greensboro was duped by DOT or simply asleep at the wheel when the noise calculations were discussed. Does an interstate highway running through the middle of our fair city make any sense at all? Will an urban blight follow this corridor in coming years? It’s conceivable as few people yearn to hear the incessant droning of tires against concrete or the throbbing roar of a truck’s diesel engine at 3 a.m.
DOT now proposes to plant a double row of trees to mitigate noise. My findings indicate adequate research has not been conducted which clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of plants in controlling sound pollution. This approach is certainly less expensive and controversial than a known and proven fix: road resurfacing and banning truck traffic. DOT’s proposal will help screen out the view of the highway but I’ll bet local residents will gladly trade a poor view for peace and quiet any day of the week.
Jim Arrington
Greensboro

In his Counterpoint (May 16) Mark Underwood writes of his journey through education to reach his goal of more money.
While I can congratulate him on his progress, I want to question his goal. Is money a worthy standard for measuring our life?
Graduation speakers in this season are challenging young people to make the world better because they have been here. I wonder if Mr. Underwood can look back from a distant point to ask himself if money was enough.
Brady Faggart
Greensboro

I read where politicians are going to ban smoking in bars and restaurants in North Carolina.
Did you notice the places they tend to go to are exempt, like country clubs, cigar bars, private clubs and the VFW posts? I don’t smoke, but most people who go to bars do and I can imagine the money these businesses will lose because of this. Why not ban smoking in the places that are exempt?
If all this is for health reasons, why not take care of everyone and not just a chosen few?
Lella Williams
Lexington

Regarding the editorial on how Guilford tax dollars are spent (May 12):
Investing in YMCAs and other quality nonprofits is more essential to our communities than our libraries. I was born and raised in Greensboro. I frequent the libraries often. They have become little more than a gathering spot for social dropouts of every kind, who surf MySpace, Facebook, BlackPlanet, Twitter and do anything but use our libraries for honest, important things. It becomes more like an arcade, crowding the bandwidth and slowing down the entire Internet usage in the libraries. People act rudely to others, including the people in charge of the library. They talk loudly and surf porn. I even witnessed some 14-year-olds smoking a blunt in front of the downtown branch.
But don’t take my word for it. Send a reporter over there one day to observe and report what he or she sees and hears. It’s one thing to say, “The numbers don’t support that,” or that your “figures suggest the county isn’t paying its share.”
But it’s another to get out and see it for yourself. No one in the county should pay 1 cent more to these arcades, nor should we in the city, for that matter!
Stephen Kay
Greensboro

Say it isn’t so! Gleefully, I assumed that the rubbish being printed about the Edwardses had been laid to rest. Not so! Quite a spread in the News & Record (May 15) that jolted me. John Edwards excelled in his performance as a narcissistic, hypocritical charlatan that he so well exemplifies. Obviously, his brains are not located between his ears.

Elizabeth Edwards has dutifully martyred herself in every TV interview. No better place to promote her current “tell-all” book! My sympathy is with her for the reasons we are aware. Both are to be pitied. “Lord, what fools these mortals be!”

Maxine Leister
Greensboro

I am 60 years old and for the first time, I worked, and hard, to elect Barack Obama and boot Republican politicians and their failed policies out of North Carolina.

I changed my affiliation and registered as a Democrat and helped register new Democrats. I drove people to the polls, cooked for volunteers and did whatever was needed because I can’t live with the way the Republican Party has taken our country.

Millions of regular Americans like me are working with President Obama to take back our country. By his 100th day in office, we gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures and made hundreds of thousands of calls to Congress in support of his budget.

I have called and e-mailed my senators and representatives. The budget makes crucial investments in health care, energy and education. But it was just the first step in a bold plan to rebuild our economy and put our country back on the right track. It’s up to us to make that change a reality.

This grass-roots movement for change starts with people right here in High Point who finally have a voice in government and politics. Learn more about how you can get involved at www.barackobama.com.

Pamela Merritt
High Point

I’m writing in response to the hypocrisy in Marc Underwood’s Counterpoint (May 16). He claims he made it through school on hard work and derides government spending. He then admits laziness in high school and a desire for an easier job than the one he received is what led him to college.

You would think from the tone of the article he saved up money from his low-paying job or worked full time during school to pay for it. But that’s not the case. He admits getting through school on grants and loans. In other words, he made it through on taxpayer money.

He concludes by talking about our founding fathers’ feelings on taxes. He is correct that our founding fathers would not have wanted to pay money out of their pockets to send poor and admittedly lazy kids to college. My only regret is the irony of the situation was lost on Mr. Underwood. He used government programs to get a leg up and then gets on his high horse, claims all his success was due to his own hard work and implied others are just looking for a handout and should leave the country. A handout he already received.

Todd Schmidt
Greensboro

As a taxpayer, I am completely baffled as to the time and expense of the investigation of student-athletes at Northern High School. With all of the illegal drugs, gang violence, truancy and vandalism rampant in our schools, along with the dismal education that many of our children are receiving, do these government administrators really have nothing better to concentrate their time and our money on?

While I am no fan of organized sports, professional or amateur, I know these student-athletes are above average in all aspects of personal growth, in academics and behavior. The arrogance and outright contempt that is being shown the parents of these students is uncalled for, as they too, from what I see, are model citizens who go out of their way to help the schools as well as other students.

Guilford County school administrators seem to be a reflection of the growing mentality that is becoming pervasive in all levels of government. The idea that we know better and have power over you is seen in every aspect of our lives these days. I fear this is only the beginning.

Joel Long
Colfax

I was embarrassed by the actions of public educators who demonstrated in the streets of Raleigh May 16 in protest of Gov. Perdue’s mandate that all state employees will have 0.5 percent of their annual salaries withheld from their May paychecks. Their protest revealed they are completely out of touch with what is happening to many around us.

I respect their constitutional right to voice their feelings. However, I want the taxpaying public to know those educators do not represent all public school teachers in North Carolina and certainly not me.

I don’t have to look any further than the parents of students in my classroom, folks in my neighborhood, or at close friends to see that we are in an economic downturn like none we’ve ever seen or experienced. Many who have lost their jobs and benefits would likely have taken 20 percent pay cuts just to remain employed.

As public servants of the taxpayers of North Carolina, we must be responsible and do our part to help solve the economic crisis. I urge fellow public educators to examine our local and state budgets and with equal fervor protest wasteful pork spending that has passed in recent state budgets.

Neal C. Andrews
Browns Summit

The writer is a fifth-grade teacher at Northern Elementary.

Robert Bell’s article (May 10) describes an extraordinary and daring young man, Brant Taylor, who inspired our community to collaborate on an endeavor that has truly enriched the physical and emotional lives of youngsters who have limited opportunities to enjoy physical activity.

The Arc of Greensboro is the proud sponsor of the Challenger Baseball League, and we applaud Brant along with the Greensboro Grasshoppers, The Triad Sports Foundation and the city of Greensboro for their generous support and commitment to refurbishing Pomona Field, which now offers a healthy and safe environment for children with special needs, particularly youngsters who are physically frail, to realize their dream of playing Little League baseball. These courageous young athletes have overcome overwhelming obstacles to be recognized as vital members of our community.

Finally, thanks to the N&R for the generous coverage of an amazing story.

Paula Cox-Fishman
Greensboro

The writer is the president of The Arc of Greensboro.

The noisy hearing on health care in the House of Representatives last week excluded any discussion of single-payer health plans. In fact, the good congressmen joked about those who recommended single-payer plans. While I know that Canada, the United Kingdom and Sweden have variations of single-payer plans, I don’t know which system would be better for our country.

I’m not satisfied with the present system. It’s fundamentally inefficient to pay for everything through insurance. People in European countries and Canada seem to pay more in taxes than we do but have health outcomes about twice as good as ours. What is it worth to lose half as many babies as we do now? What is it worth to make senior citizens’ lives more interesting, healthy and livable? Everyone in single pay is covered! Everyone! What is that worth?

It is time to reform our health system. Can we do it without insurance?

James Deere
Greensboro

The Guilford County athletic eligibility fiasco seems to take a more disappointing turn with each passing day. To wit:

Coach Kowalewski’s advice to players and their families to not “go to school in Guilford County as long as the present administration is there” strikes me as self-serving. Even if transfer to another district is a viable option, might it be in the students’ best interest to consider which school system offers the best educational opportunities?

With all the talk about the difficulty of confirming student residences, is it unreasonable to conclude that Coach Kowalewski (hailed for being close with his players) may have known whether or not students on his team lived in the Northern Guilford district?

Before school administrators delegate blame to a culture created by NCAA recruiting, they may first want to look at our often-out-of-whack youth sports model replete with 5-year-olds being recruited for “select” T-ball teams.

Most of all, I’m disappointed that Superintendent Green and his staff have to spend valuable time on a matter that has little to do with strengthening educational opportunities for Guilford County students.

Robert Malekoff
Greensboro

Isn’t is scary that the third in line to the U.S. presidency is the wacky Nancy Pelosi? She has lied like a rug for about two weeks now in an effort to enhance her political stock with her equally wacky followers in the San Francisco Bay area. Unfortunately for her, even members of her party are running for cover.

This lady is a disgrace and an embarrassment to her party and president. She needs to go. She needs a lesson on Washington, D.C., and how everything you say is preserved somewhere. Once you start lying you are unsympathetically exposed.

Suffice it to say, Nancy has been Nixoned. It’s time to find a competent speaker of the House of Representatives.

John Trovato
Greensboro

Torture is a crime. Crimes have consequences. We must not forget Nuremburg. We must never forget the innocent who were tortured and perhaps killed under the orders of some of our most prominent elected officials.

All involved must be investigated and prosecuted if their criminal acts are found to warrant a trial. The trials should commence at the earliest possible date. This includes all who assisted with their silence, not just the perpetrators. This includes all elected officials from any political party.

Mark Musselman
Browns Summit

In response to the budget crisis in education, I propose the following statewide salary cuts in all nonteaching, administrative positions in the public schools, community colleges and university system: 10 percent cut in salaries from $100,000 to $149,999; 20 percent cut in salaries from $150,000 to $199,999; 25 percent cut in all salaries that total more than $200,000. These high-salaried people have the most to give with the least pain, and the money saved could be used in the classroom.

Gene Lemons
Greensboro

“Human beings will not be able to compete with the technology of the future. Humans as we know them will be a thing of the past.”

That’s a quote from an engineer who appeared on the National Geographic Channel some months back, talking about biomechanical machines — robots thinking for themselves. Sounds like suicide to me. Why else would you contribute to something you know you won’t be able to control?

Technology isn’t a bad thing. It’s used in developing prosthetics that work like a normal limb, functioning off the brain’s ability to control movement through nerves, tendons and muscles. For every one step scientists make in practical technology, they take three leaps in the ridiculous direction. Imagine a future where homes are integrated to the Internet. The virus-plagued Internet. Scientists want to plug houses into the Web.

Seems like science gets sidetracked with one question: What can technology do? It can enrich uranium so world leaders can get into a whose-got-the-longest-missile contest. It can probably make a self-throwing Frisbee, but the world has enough dumb ideas. Focus on the pertinent question: How can technology help people?

Marc Domally
Asheboro

I am a practicing pediatrician and a cancer survivor. Insurance companies have made our health care system what it is today — a disaster. Not considering a single-payer system is another short-sighted blunder. The people who pay more every year for less coverage until they finally cannot afford any coverage should be heard. The health insurance industry in our country is just another special-interest group that has our representatives in its pockets. There will be no change until there is campaign-finance reform.

Faith Crosby
Greensboro

The lies and deceit of our government are more clear and accessible than ever. The people are gaining new perspectives and coming to see the truth, that we basically have no representation on Capitol Hill. Please take off your blinders and see the people you represent. Give us national health care now.

Steven Newton
Greensboro

The PBS board will vote on a proposal to strip any affiliate station that carries “sectarian” (religious) content. This would mean these stations would no longer broadcast “Sesame Street” or “Frontline” if they also broadcast “religious” programs.

I would suggest that all who have any religious affiliation or beliefs not support PBS. If you have already pledged to do so, cancel your pledge until PBS says no to this discriminatory policy against sectarian broadcasts. Such a policy offends the religious faith of millions of people, many of whom are PBS listeners and supporters.

Edward Carmichael
High Point

As an avid reader I was interested in the article detailing proposed budget cuts at our library.
It seems penny-wise and pound-foolish to save $115,000 by cutting services crucial to our city’s children.

The article states that the reading railroad van circulates 6,000 items per month (72,000 per year), serves 67 day care centers, many of which are home day-cares.

The reading railroad is one of the library system’s busiest branches. Look at the picture in the paper and see the delight on the children’s faces as they jump on the bus and visit with the librarian.

Why in the world would we want to lose that much joy for reading and all the promise that brings to a child all of his or her life?

Please don’t throw the babies out with the bath water.

Nancy Wilkinson
Greensboro

For more than four years, I have watched as Greensboro City Council members who are associated with developer-related businesses control Greensboro.

While storefronts, homes and rentals remain empty, developers are building new sites. Look at the resistance experienced in restoring a protest petition.

Robbie Perkins, whose business is associated with developers, was one council member instrumental in trying to defeat this petition.

There is no excuse for new housing to be built in the path of the Urban Loop highway and it is not just one or two developers or real estate companies hiding the facts.

This lack of planning also affects our problems in recruiting new industry to our community.
Greensboro has fewer job opportunities and lower pay than Charlotte and Raleigh.

Our housing prices are higher than both cities’ and we have one of the highest property taxes in North Carolina. Don’t believe me; just check the facts on all three cities’ Web sites.

We love Greensboro for its beauty, slower pace and friendly people. However, this doesn’t mean we don’t see its flaws.

If our city is to grow in a positive direction, it’s time to make the City Council accountable for planning Greensboro in an objective and well-thought-out manner.

Sherry Tow
Greensboro

Does anybody else think the American people are being deceived by a lot of political smoke and mirrors which is clearly meant to divert our attention from the fact that they are doing little to nothing to create the promised 4 million jobs and rescue our economy?

All of these are rabbit trails about things that could be considered after the patient (us) has stopped bleeding profusely.

Is this the change we asked for? What about hope? Could we have possibly hoped they would do anything other than continue their Super Bowl of politics, rather than actually trying to take our country in the direction we need to go for a stable future?

Jean Birckhead
Greensboro

Hilary Rauch’s letter (May 10) describes President Obama’s opportunity to deliver the graduation speech at Notre Dame as a means to embracing the true Catholic tradition of opening one’s eyes, ears and doors to all.

Therefore, his pro-choice stance, including his wish to legalize partial birth abortion, include abortion funding in health care reform and deny medical care to fetuses who survive abortion are not considered issues in the expression of the true nature of a Catholic university.

This is particularly interesting in light of the fact that Rauch graduated from Notre Dame in 1954 and thus should be very familiar with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. A central tenet of Catholicism is respect for life. This includes all human beings and begins at the moment of conception.

Although the Catholic Church embraces ecumenicism, is it not hypocritical to minimize respect for life by allowing the most liberal pro-choice president in our history to address the most prestigious Catholic university in our country?

As a practicing Catholic, I have always held Catholic universities in esteem for their quality of education and values. Unfortunately, my feelings have changed.

Margaret Hancock
Jamestown

Kudos to Linda Brady, UNCG’s new chancellor, who suggested to UNC President Erskine Bowles that the campus do without festivities, but significantly scaled back her inauguration cost from that of her predecessor, 14 years ago of $100,000, to about $22,000, according to the May 4 News & Record report by Joe Killian.

According to another report by Killian on May 2, Bowles and the Board of Governors intends to reward former A&T Chancellor Stanley Battle, who resigned citing “personal reasons,” with his chancellor’s salary for six months to do research.

Franklin McCain, an A&T trustee, was quoted in a Killian article May 5 as saying Battle’s contract was not unusual when hiring true executives.

It seems such golden parachute provisions have trickled down from Wall and Main streets to state government and higher education.

A little common sense, please, by those in state government supposedly representing taxpayers.

I can understand Battle’s desire for a golden parachute, but it is irresponsible for McCain, the A&T trustees, Bowles and the Board of Governors not to provide some guidelines as to successful administration, length of service, etc., for individuals earning and receiving such benefit and rewards.

James L. Pettiford
High Point

The following is a Counterpoint.

By Richard Metcalf

Proehlific Park earlier this month hosted an outdoor concert as part of an event called Sumfun.
Five live bands and outdoor booths for sales and information were part of this event. One would guess the attendance at about 200 people.

The audio power of the sound system they used was amazing, producing window-rattling bass that was easily heard six blocks away. What could be wrong with this?

On the face of it, nothing. Looking deeper, what has gone missing in this recent turn of events is the concept of corporate responsibility.

Mr. Proehl chose to locate his sports complex in a rural portion of Guilford County, now part of the city of Greensboro.

Homes surround his large building and relatively unkempt grounds. They have been standing since the mid-1960s.

Bringing this sort of event to a residential neighborhood is fully lacking in good corporate responsibility.

The traffic, police and the stunning sound levels from this rock concert all were so out of place and character for the area of town Mr. Proehl has chosen as to be criminal in nature.

Simply facing the speaker arrays away from the nearby homes instead of toward them would have helped immensely. How hard would this have been for him to do?

As Proehlific Park struggles during this economic downturn, any business person would surely understand the need to raise revenue. Any homeowner nearby this facility would not understand the need to have lives disrupted for five hours or more in pursuit of this same revenue.

Our neighborhood expected a good corporate citizen to occupy the 24 acres of land adjoining our development. Our expectations have not been met.

With this sort of corporate attitude, it is likely that the homes and neighbors who were here to see Proehlific Park built will still be here long after Proehlific Park is a dim memory.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

Counterpoint:

By Peter Lolli

Do we need another inflammatory article about psychostimulants? Adem Cengiz’s article (May 12) about college students who take Adderall, or other stimulants, as performance-enhancers certainly makes some legitimate points. These drugs can be used by anyone, and although they don’t improve cognitive ability, they certainly increase stamina and persistence.

But for individuals who truly have ADHD, they also provide valuable help with organizational skills and reduce debilitating distractibility. For some children, such medications can make the difference between a successful school adjustment and one plagued by incomplete work and subsequent failure.

That said, it is indeed irresponsible to prescribe medication just in response to a brief description of ADHD symptoms, but that’s hardly standard practice. Many physicians recommend complete psychological evaluations for anyone who’s considering treatment for ADHD. This makes it considerably harder to “fake” a diagnosis.

Such screening is also quite useful because, for individuals who truly have ADHD, there are often associated problems. With children and adolescents, these may be learning disabilities, and for adults, a history of significant attention problems may also have resulted in secondary emotional problems. All of these need to be evaluated to make the treatment for ADHD successful, and such a detailed analysis makes it much easier to eliminate the malingerers.
It’s also important not to overstate the dangers of psychostimulants. Although this medication can be abused and can be dangerous if taken in excessive quantities, it is rather benign if taken as directed.

Indeed, the Canadian government suspended the use of Adderall after the sudden death of 12 adolescents (20 individuals overall). However, these were 20 deaths out of 38 million prescriptions worldwide. There was a risk, but those figures put the risk in perspective.

Many of these individuals had underlying heart conditions, and stimulants do increase heart rate. For most individuals that’s not a problem.

The result of this suspension was that Adderall now carries a warning label indicating that it may not be appropriate for persons with certain cardiac irregularities. It should also be pointed out that, six months after prescriptions of Adderall were suspended in Canada, they were resumed.

The writer is a pediatric psychologist in Greensboro.

Dr. Harold Martin will soon become the 10th chancellor to lead N.C. A&T. In so doing, he will become the first A&T alumnus to occupy this prestigious position.

In making the current selection, A&T has heeded somewhat the advice of Booker T. Washington as he spoke at the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta in 1895. While the address was thought to delay the acquisition of equal rights for African Americans, Washington did give some pertinent advice that A&T has now followed. In essence, he said: “A ship lost at sea for many days suddenly sighted a friendly vessel. From the mast of the unfortunate vessel was seen a signal, “Water, water; we die of thirst!” The answer from the friendly vessel at once came back, “Cast down your bucket where you are.”

The captain of the distressed vessel, at last heeding the injunction, cast down his bucket, and it came up full of fresh, sparkling water from the mouth of the Amazon River.

In selecting Harold Martin as chancellor, A&T has “cast down its bucket” where it is.

His preparation — both academic and professional — brings “fresh water” to the table without the university having to search elsewhere.

Welcome home, Dr. Martin!

Crystal McCombs
Greensboro

Is Cary Allred the best North Carolina has to offer?

For the moment, let’s ignore the controversial allegations that on April 27 Allred appeared at the General Assembly in an inebriated state and “greeted” a 17-year-old House page inappropriately. Let’s concentrate on the facts. Earlier in the day, Allred was stopped by a state trooper on I-40 for speeding in excess of 100 mph. I find it pretty disgusting that a long-time state lawmaker has such a flagrant and arrogant disregard for the law to assume that his legislative status entitles him to ignore the laws that he is duty-bound to make. I fear there are more like Allred in positions of power at both the state and federal levels.

Please, Mr. Allred, do North Carolina a service: Leave not only the Republican Party, leave all political parties.

Chuck Kennedy
Jamestown

Regarding the story, “Coliseum site for aquatics stirs up waves” (May 22): In response to Councilman Mike Barber’s statement, “This is not a community neighborhood pool. The primary purpose of this is for economic development,” I would like to encourage him to read the mission statement of the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department. It states that part of the department’s mission is to “provide ... recreational facilities and programs for the citizens of Greensboro.”

Mr. Barber, if this is not a “neighborhood pool,” as you say, then why should the citizens of Greensboro be expected to finance it with $12 million of their money?

Gerald McClean
High Point

Regarding Jean Gordon’s letter (May 14): The so-called “assault weapons ban” was allowed to expire because it served no purpose and had no effect on crime. It was feel-good legislation for liberals. The “assault weapons ban” applied to semi-automatic weapons, which are not assault weapons. All assault weapons under the military or historical definition fire fully automatically.

The phrase “semi-automatic assault rifle” is an oxymoron. Ownership of fully automatic weapons has been severely restricted since the 1930s. The FBI reports that in 2007, 32 percent of murders were committed without firearms of any sort — knives (12 percent), hands and feet (6 percent) and blunt objects (4 percent). Rifles and shotguns accounted for 3 percent each and, typically, guns classified as “assault weapons” have accounted for about 1 percent. So-called “assault weapons” are not a large problem for public health and civil society.

The Mexican drug gangs, with their billions of dollars, can purchase any kind of weapons they want from all over the world without relying on guns smuggled from the United States.

Laird Freeman
High Point

Ms. Jean Gordon, a No. 2 pencil, a flashlight or the table knife you use to cut your broccoli can be assault weapons. Should those be banned?

AK-47s and Uzis are already addressed by federal law. Fully automatic weapons are not generally available. One can apply to the ATF for a permit to own one. The regulations are quite restrictive. A person going through this process is not about to “kill masses of people,” as Ms. Gordon suggests.

Asserting that assault weapons from the U.S. inflame the Mexican drug wars is bogus. Less than 18 percent of the weapons have been found to originate in the U.S. The cure for weapons that are being smuggled into Mexico is tighter border security, not another law.

Ms. Gordon would like law to do away with a weapon because of the shape of the grip or small fitting called a bayonet lug. Heard of someone being bayoneted on your street lately?

The NRA represents American citizens — voters. Voters do influence laws that are passed; that’s the way our government functions. My vote counts as much as yours.

Mac McAtee
Oak Ridge

Although the corporate lobbyists who sabotaged health care reform in 1994 promise that Harry and Louise are gone, the couple has been sighted in North Carolina.

On May 18, the Washington Post revealed that Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina was preparing an ad campaign to mislead people about the public insurance option that should be one choice included in any legislation for affordable health care.

Why are the insurers like BCBS so afraid of the public insurance option similar to Medicare? Because its administrative costs are 30 percent less and its lower premiums would provide real competition for private insurance companies.

After all, no government employee would have to be paid $3.99 million like the CEO of BCBS.

Nor would the public plan motivate bureaucrats to increase profit margins by denying people coverage. How, by the way, does BCBS pay for its campaign contributions to politicians and for ads like these except through the premiums it charges?

The number of uninsured in North Carolina is increasing daily as unemployment rises. We should not allow BCBS to use Harry and Louise to fool us again. Tell your senators and representative that you want the choice of a public insurance option.

Denise Baker
Greensboro

I’ve taught in North Carolina schools since 1981, have seen crisis and change, and survived it all. Perhaps the most foolish thing I witnessed was the merger of three school systems into what is now the Guilford County mega-system.

But now I see things on the horizon that threaten to eclipse even that blunder. It seems like every day a rumor of some new horror about the education budget comes out of Raleigh. First, there was the pay cut, aka “furlough.” I didn’t like it but understand the need to balance the state budget.

But now I hear reducing the school year by 10 days, “furloughing” teachers during the school year and still requiring us to teach, eliminating longevity pay and pay for master’s degrees.

We’re going to run off a lot of promising young teachers who have relocated here, cause a lot of dedicated, hard-working veterans to cash in their chips and retire, and drive state education back to the Stone Age. Has our legislature lost its collective mind?

William Toth
Greensboro

Counterpoint:

By Stephen Legrone

Quite a lot has been made of recent eligibility violations at Guilford County schools. While I have no inside scoop on the details of these violations, I do have two teenage boys and can offer some insight to other parents as you travel down the obsessive road called organized sports.

Here are a few general things parents need to remember: Your son or daughter is not the next Peyton Manning, Lebron James, Tiger Woods or Mia Hamm. If your child is good enough to play college sports, coaches will find them, wherever they are.

Playing on a school team with a losing record will not do permanent damage to your child. If you are more aware of your child’s ERA, batting average or free-throw percentage than you are of his or her GPA, you might rethink your priorities.

Winning a state championship will not magically make your student’s life better or easier. Ask your student how algebra class was before you ask how basketball practice went. It shows them which you think is more important.

Sadly, most of the media attention has been on the coaches and athletics directors. Certainly they should be expected to follow all the rules the county has related to eligibility, recruiting, etc. They should not be required to be the FBI.

If a parent wants to “shop their kid” and/or falsify residency information, those families should be dealt with harshly by the school system. Two simple rules should fix the problem:

1. Any student who changes schools within the county for any reason would be ineligible for athletics for one year.

2. Any student caught attending a school for which they are not eligible would permanently lose the privilege, not a right, to play athletics at any Guilford County school.

Ideally, a statewide set of rules would be best. But we can at least start with what we can control — our own county rules.

Require a parent to sign a document indicating they understand these rules and maybe more would do what they should already be doing, the right thing.

Parents, let’s get our priorities straight and develop tomorrow’s adults academically and socially, not just athletically. If parents won’t do their job, let’s have penalties in place to do it for us.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

This is in response to letters critical of insurance companies and that, in some cases, seem to advocate eliminating them in favor of a single-payer system.

Ms. Crosby’s “Health care a disaster that needs an overhaul” letter is particularly harsh to insurance companies. Where does she obtain her malpractice policy, homeowners coverage and auto policy? Perhaps from insurance companies, many of which are multi-line carriers that include health insurance.

Should all that business be converted to a single-payer system administered by the government? That would be the first step in a very complex process.

What happens to the thousands of insurance company employees, state insurance departments and individuals receiving long-term care benefits, disability benefits and other insurance providing benefits not directly related to medical insurance?

Lastly, I wonder if Ms. Crosby entertained the thought that the medical community and its fees may have contributed to the health care problem. A better approach might be for all stakeholders to work together and avoid confrontational stances.

David Floyd
Denton

I don’t understand why Northern Guilford High School has to forfeit its title just because a few players live outside a specific area.

After all, look at the favorable way Bishop McGuinness High School is treated by the NCHSAA. They play in the 1-A classification, for the smallest schools in North Carolina. Most 1-A schools draw athletes from a population of less than 10,000 people.

What do you think the drawing area for Bishop McGuinness is — a half-million, a million? Of course, they can recruit AAU athletes from all over the Triad.

It’s not surprising they won both the boys and girls basketball state championships this year. Small 1-A public schools have no hope of competing with a team with such an unfair advantage.

The NCHSAA should restore Northern’s title and apologize for its gross hypocrisy.

Terry Odom
Greensboro

I don’t need a new car right now but when I do it will be a Ford. This from a guy who loves his old Dodge pickup and his Corvette.

The U.S. government takes over a private company and demands that the bondholders and shareholders accept pennies on the dollar and basically gives the UAW the company.

I absolutely will not support GM and Chrysler in any way. I certainly will not ever invest in their bonds or stock shares.

After all, contracts mean nothing to President Obama. What happens when we refuse to buy any bonds of any company, state or town? Who knows when the government will step in and give it to someone else, especially if a union is involved.

The teachers union must be very envious right now.

Edgar G. Phillips
Pleasant Garden

It took two days of volunteering at a middle school in Guilford County to realize that there was no Pledge of Allegiance each morning. Not serving in Vietnam, but being a veteran of the Vietnam era, I was appalled! What a way to corrupt the youngsters of America and disrespect everything that the armed forces stand for.

Three years ago, we moved south from the Northeast, where the Pledge of Allegiance was recited every morning in public schools. If this is the policy in North Carolina, then, unfortunately, we moved to a state of disgrace.

Tom Ludwinski
Greensboro

Your county commissioners approved a request brought by fur traders to set leg-pinning traps in our woodlands.

Traps in our woodlands represent more than an animal rights issue, although it is certainly cruel to trap animals by the leg so that a few people can sell them for their skins, or worse. The issue is public safety. We have Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops that hike in our woods. We have nature lovers who explore our woods. Our domestic pets frequently get lost and wander in the woods. A variety of small wildlife roams our woods.

The traps do not discriminate. They catch and injure any creature, human or animal, that steps into them. If you agree that the citizens of Guilford County do not benefit from the setting of traps by fur traders, please e-mail our county commissioners at www.co.guilford.nc.us or attend the public hearing on June 4.

Ellen Elizabeth Hunter
Greensboro

The writer is an author and a public speaker.

I am concerned that I found a broken CFL energy-saving light bulb on a store shelf, and nobody knew how to clean it up without endangering themselves and their customers. Mercury in the bulbs can cause serious health problems, and I can see potential for insurance claims and lawsuits for employees and customers exposed to broken bulbs in a store or even at home.

The mercury contaminates whatever it touches, including carpet, vacuum cleaners and brooms. If you break a bulb, you are supposed to open windows and evacuate for at least 15 minutes, then use a face mask, disposable gloves and duct tape to pick up the debris, put all the debris, gloves and face mask in a sealable bag and, if you do it right, take it to a recycling center that accepts this kind of waste.

How good it is to save $11 per bulb in energy if it costs more than that in time and energy to clean up a broken one?

I would hope that bulb manufacturers would be required to put warnings and cleanup directions on the package.

Mack Arrington
Greensboro

I happily sat watching the TV Guide Channel just to see what was coming on, and lo and behold, my mind was blown away.

The economy is so bad — with people in food lines, unemployment at an all-time high, Americans losing their homes, their families living with relatives or in shelters — and Hollywood is spending (are you sitting down?) $200 million to make a movie.

My eyes rolled back in my head. The world started spinning and I could not believe my ears or eyes. How can the rich keep getting richer and not see the poor man standing on the corner with a sign saying, “God won’t help me, can you?” How can we as moviegoers support this ideal of the rich living and the poor man not?

Vicky Allison
Greensboro