Good AM, folks!
Heard from Readers' Forum poster DChunter this evening, via Facebook chat. He is usual ebullient and entertaining self, interesting guy.
Flat wrong
A writer in The Readers' Forum states that "... homosexuality is one of the
causes of HIV/AIDS" ("We have forgotten," Sept. 27). That statement is flat
wrong! Neither homosexuality nor heterosexuality spreads HIV/AIDS in a faithful
relationship. Promiscuity is what spreads HIV/AIDS.
Monogamy is the best prevention, and the best way to promote monogamy is to
encourage stable and satisfying marriages, whether hetero- or homosexually
based. To deny homosexuals the right to a stable marriage and home environment
is to promote the spread of HIV/AIDS.
DR. JAMES S. CAMPBELL
Pfafftown
Irresponsible
I'm sure mine won't be the only letter you get on this subject, but I'm just
wondering how you consider it appropriate to include a letter that has such a
blatant falsehood in it as "We have forgotten" (Sept. 27).
Homosexuality is in no way the "cause" of HIV/AIDS, and it is completely
irresponsible of the Journal to further this dangerous misconception by printing
such nonsense. Shame on you.
JOY IRWIN
Winston-Salem
DREAM events
Thank you to the Journal and staff, especially reporter Bertrand Gutierrez
and photographer Bruce Chapman, for your excellent coverage of recent DREAM
Sabbath events and for your support of the DREAM Act ("Church hears speakers for
DREAM Act," Sept. 26). Passage of this act will make it possible for
undocumented young men and women to further their education and establish a
process whereby they can attain legal status. It is not only the right thing,
but also a wise thing to do.
Most of these young people have already made many positive contributions to
their schools, faith communities and neighborhoods; for sure, they will continue
to do so. Let's give them the chance to pursue their dreams, and let's support
them in their efforts.
THE REV. W. GAYE BROWN
Boonville
Waiting for Obama
I would like to offer my condolences to guest columnist Harvard Ayers as he
laments his predicament of waiting for the real Barack Obama to show up ("Which
Obama will we get?" Sept. 25). Perhaps Ayers' time would be better spent waiting
for Godot.
Ayers pines for a display of the "considerable oratorical skills" with which
candidate Obama mesmerized a populace that seems to prefer symbolism over
substance. Fortunately for America, the hypnotic powers of President Obama's
delivery have faded over the past two years. The only substance to President
Obama's candidacy was the antithetical hatred of people like Ayers for President
Bush and all things republican (with a little "r").
Rather than placing his faith and confidence in the people, Ayers seems to
prefer the promise of bigger government. The Achilles' heel of socialism is that
it denies the aspirations of freedom and self-reliance of the very people it
desires to help.
Socialism fails when people realize that their greatest chance of happiness
and self-fulfillment lies not at the end of a government aid line but in
themselves.
The Barack Obama in the White House is the same Barack Obama that Ayers
worked to elect in 2008. There was never any substance or leadership to begin
with. Hold on, Ayers, I think Godot is just around the corner.
CLIFFORD LEWIS
Lewisville
Problems
Wars, loss of jobs, floundering stock markets, Arab appeasement — the
problems go on and on. Remember: A recession is when your neighbor loses his
job. A depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when President Obama
loses his.
It can't happen soon enough.
PEGGY MIDKIFF
King
Sum It Up
The Sum It Up question from Sunday was: Do you think one of the current crop
of Republican presidential contenders will defeat President Obama in 2012?
* * * * *
Yes, since the party has said he will be a one-time president. Sad, but dirty
politics is still alive.
ELIZABETH R. ERVIN
* * * * *
I think any one of the candidates can whip the socks off of Obama.
HAROLD DYSON
* * * * *
If held today, I do not think any of the Republican contenders could defeat
President Obama. In the forthcoming 2012 election, if chosen as the Republican
nominee, candidates Gov. Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, Rep. Michele Bachmann, Newt
Gingrich, Rep. Ron Paul and Rick Santorum wouldn't have a chance then, either. I
am keeping my eye on Herman Cain, who I think is coming on strong, presenting
ideas and plans I think appeal to at least 50 percent of the electorate.
In any event, we need someone who can unite and lead this country for the
common good of all people instead of the divisive, ineffective, incompetent and
out-of-ideas administration we now have.
DAVID JONES
* * * * *
Probably either Mitt Romney or Jon Huntsman could mount a strong challenge to
President Obama. Obama's worst enemy is the weak economy, whereas Romney's is
himself. He is flipping now to woo the votes of the radical right, and then he
will have to flop to serenade the centrists. Thus he appears to be a man without
principle.
Huntsman appears to be rational and moderate, but he probably would be unable
to get over the hurdles of the Republican primary.
BOON T. LEE
* * * * *
No. President Obama is doing a pretty darn good job of defeating himself,
without any Republican assistance.
CHARLES C. STOTT JR.
* * * * *
No, because Republicans are increasingly concerned with who is more
"Republican" while forgetting that they are not a majority. Forty percent of the
country is Republican and 40 percent is Democratic, and these groups vote
straight-ticket regardless. What the Republicans have forgotten is the remaining
20 percent are independents or unaffiliated.
These are the people who watch your debates, aghast when the audience cheers
for executions and want uninsured people to die. Those stances might play well
with the right-wing tea party, but not the centrist independents that gave you
the House in 2010.
BRAD CROUCH
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Winston-Salem Journal LTE's TH 09/29/11
Good AM, folks!
Improving efficiency
BCBSNC values its relationships with the State Health Plan and the State
Auditor's Office, and we believe discussions about improving efficiency within
the plan are most effective when based on accurate, current and complete
information.
JACK KENLEY
VICE PRESIDENT, SALES & MARKETING
BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF NORTH CAROLINA
Durham
Accuracy in question
"A 'backpack' hunger fight" (Sept. 24) begs one to question the accuracy of 90 percent of students at 16 schools being eligible for free or reduced lunch and 53 percent of students qualifying for the programs.
For me one or more of the following is in question: the statistical methodology is flawed; the income criteria for reduced lunch are too high; or families are not giving accurate information regarding income. Something is simply wrong with the numbers quoted.
Unemployment hovers around 10 percent, not 30 percent. The town as a whole appears prosperous. Sure there are the poor and needy, but not to the extent the article would lead one to believe — not even the 1 in 4 child being at risk of going hungry as mentioned.
Please tell me others are in disbelief.
BARBARA LINEBACK
Winston-Salem
Rollback
The emperor has no clothes. That comes to mind with the rollback of "No Child Left Behind" ("Obama offers relief on No Child," Sept. 24). All these wasted years and lost valuable time over a totally useless George W. Bush program. Only now will it be called what it was.
If only the lambasting heaped upon the program now was heaped on it earlier, think of where the education system might be. I don't like the way the show's being run now, but I really don't miss the narrow-minded way it use to be run.
CHARLES R. COLLINS
Mount Airy
Name-calling
It's sad that adults, like children, often resort to name-calling. Such was the case with Chris Fitzsimon's Sept. 18 column, "The chance to prove the bigots wrong."
Just because people oppose homosexual behavior, including same-sex marriage, doesn't mean they are bigots or hateful. Many such people, myself included, believe the Bible is the best guide for moral behavior.
Calling people who oppose homosexual behavior "bigots" disregards the fact that teachings in both the Old Testament and the New Testament of the Bible condemn homosexual behavior, along with other forms of immoral behavior. Therefore, those who call people who oppose homosexual behavior "bigots" are inferring that God is also a bigot.
Furthermore, name-callers ignore biblical Scriptures that teach against speaking evil about other people. Such Scriptures include Ephesians 4:31 and Titus 3:2.
I don't doubt that the writer of the aforementioned article and others who believe as he does think their tolerance of homosexuality and other forms of immoral behavior is right and the intolerance of those who think otherwise is wrong. However, by doing so they are, in effect, saying that they aren't willing to act in accordance with God's will as expressed in the Bible. And the Bible calls this attitude "sin."
(I hope it is evident that I have avoided calling the writer of the referenced article and those who support his viewpoint names. I have tried to focus on his viewpoint and the way he expressed his disdain for people with a different viewpoint.)
HARVEY ARMOUR
Winston-Salem
Since 2008, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North
Carolina has cooperated with six audits covering every aspect of our
administration of the State Health Plan. All audits have found that we offer the
plan quality service at a reasonable cost.
BCBSNC processes thousands of claims efficiently
and accurately for state employees daily. Vendors are dedicated to identifying
incorrect and fraudulent claims. And BCBSNC's own Special
Investigation Unit identifies potential claims problems and fraudulent claim
patterns.
While the auditor's report correctly states an
audit firm identified $48.6
million in potential overpayments, the report later says the state should
expect to receive $72
million to $120
million annually in recoveries. It is impossible to achieve $72 million-$120
million in recoveries from only $48.6
million in potentially overpaid claims. In addition, it is important to note
that $48.6
million represents approximately 1 percent of all claims paid. This is
significantly better than industry standard.
Your Sept. 21 editorial, "State should renegotiate
with Blue Cross," correctly states that errors resulting in overpayments are not
always the fault of the
plan administrator. Some may be provider errors, patient errors or State
Health Plan errors. BCBSNC does not profit from the correction of these errors.
Rather there is a fee paid to vendors who specialize in investigating and
recovering those funds.
JACK KENLEY
VICE PRESIDENT, SALES & MARKETING
BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF NORTH CAROLINA
Durham
Accuracy in question
"A 'backpack' hunger fight" (Sept. 24) begs one to question the accuracy of 90 percent of students at 16 schools being eligible for free or reduced lunch and 53 percent of students qualifying for the programs.
For me one or more of the following is in question: the statistical methodology is flawed; the income criteria for reduced lunch are too high; or families are not giving accurate information regarding income. Something is simply wrong with the numbers quoted.
Unemployment hovers around 10 percent, not 30 percent. The town as a whole appears prosperous. Sure there are the poor and needy, but not to the extent the article would lead one to believe — not even the 1 in 4 child being at risk of going hungry as mentioned.
Please tell me others are in disbelief.
BARBARA LINEBACK
Winston-Salem
Rollback
The emperor has no clothes. That comes to mind with the rollback of "No Child Left Behind" ("Obama offers relief on No Child," Sept. 24). All these wasted years and lost valuable time over a totally useless George W. Bush program. Only now will it be called what it was.
If only the lambasting heaped upon the program now was heaped on it earlier, think of where the education system might be. I don't like the way the show's being run now, but I really don't miss the narrow-minded way it use to be run.
CHARLES R. COLLINS
Mount Airy
Name-calling
It's sad that adults, like children, often resort to name-calling. Such was the case with Chris Fitzsimon's Sept. 18 column, "The chance to prove the bigots wrong."
Just because people oppose homosexual behavior, including same-sex marriage, doesn't mean they are bigots or hateful. Many such people, myself included, believe the Bible is the best guide for moral behavior.
Calling people who oppose homosexual behavior "bigots" disregards the fact that teachings in both the Old Testament and the New Testament of the Bible condemn homosexual behavior, along with other forms of immoral behavior. Therefore, those who call people who oppose homosexual behavior "bigots" are inferring that God is also a bigot.
Furthermore, name-callers ignore biblical Scriptures that teach against speaking evil about other people. Such Scriptures include Ephesians 4:31 and Titus 3:2.
I don't doubt that the writer of the aforementioned article and others who believe as he does think their tolerance of homosexuality and other forms of immoral behavior is right and the intolerance of those who think otherwise is wrong. However, by doing so they are, in effect, saying that they aren't willing to act in accordance with God's will as expressed in the Bible. And the Bible calls this attitude "sin."
(I hope it is evident that I have avoided calling the writer of the referenced article and those who support his viewpoint names. I have tried to focus on his viewpoint and the way he expressed his disdain for people with a different viewpoint.)
HARVEY ARMOUR
Winston-Salem
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
The Leopard's Limb* TH 09/29/11
*Home of Club Nitwit
Blue, blue, my world is xanh (?)
Interesting article on language differences. In Vietnamese, the word "xanh" does double duty for both green and blue.
http://hotword.dictionary.com/lingusticrelativity/?__utma=1.291589725.1313459503.1313459503.1317302542.2&__utmb=1.5.9.1317302630201&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1313459503.1.1.utmcsr=(direct)|utmccn=(direct)|utmcmd=(none)&__utmv=-&__utmk=74190610
Drill baby drill . . . oh, they are drilling . . .
. . . and scraping, and digging . . . North American oil production is increasing.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2011/09/28/report-north-american-oil-output-will-hit-all-time-record-by-2016/#loopBegin
Dressed to the nines
Herman Cain won the Florida Straw Poll, in part because of his proposal to drastically reform the US tax code, the 9-9-9 Plan. It is so named because he proposes a 9% income tax rate, 9% corporate tax rate, 9% national sales tax. Linked is an article that is somewhat short on details, because Cain's plan is not detailed. Comments?
http://www.npr.org/2011/09/28/140851786/cains-catchy-9-9-9-tax-plan-draws-interest-doubters?sc=fb&cc=fp
In spite of his FL win, Cain still comes off second best in polling against President Obama, 39-34.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/2012_presidential_matchups
Herman seems to be enjoying his uplifted status, made comments about blacks voting en masse for President Obama, and about the press trying to create stir to pull candidates into the contest.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/28/cain-black-community-brainwashed-into-voting-for-dems/
Faster than a speeding photon
Recently, scientists reported timing ghostly subatomic particles called neutrinos traveling faster than the speed of light. While there will no doubt be a glitch found in their experiment, if there isn't a glitch, this would require a major look at Einstein's Relativity. Below is a link to a good non-technical article. My money is on there being a glitch. AE's Relativity theories have stood experimental test for 106 years. I think they're good for some more.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2011/09/28/140839445/is-einstein-wrong?sc=fb&cc=fp
Blue, blue, my world is xanh (?)
Interesting article on language differences. In Vietnamese, the word "xanh" does double duty for both green and blue.
http://hotword.dictionary.com/lingusticrelativity/?__utma=1.291589725.1313459503.1313459503.1317302542.2&__utmb=1.5.9.1317302630201&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1313459503.1.1.utmcsr=(direct)|utmccn=(direct)|utmcmd=(none)&__utmv=-&__utmk=74190610
Drill baby drill . . . oh, they are drilling . . .
. . . and scraping, and digging . . . North American oil production is increasing.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2011/09/28/report-north-american-oil-output-will-hit-all-time-record-by-2016/#loopBegin
Dressed to the nines
Herman Cain won the Florida Straw Poll, in part because of his proposal to drastically reform the US tax code, the 9-9-9 Plan. It is so named because he proposes a 9% income tax rate, 9% corporate tax rate, 9% national sales tax. Linked is an article that is somewhat short on details, because Cain's plan is not detailed. Comments?
http://www.npr.org/2011/09/28/140851786/cains-catchy-9-9-9-tax-plan-draws-interest-doubters?sc=fb&cc=fp
In spite of his FL win, Cain still comes off second best in polling against President Obama, 39-34.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/2012_presidential_matchups
Herman seems to be enjoying his uplifted status, made comments about blacks voting en masse for President Obama, and about the press trying to create stir to pull candidates into the contest.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/28/cain-black-community-brainwashed-into-voting-for-dems/
Faster than a speeding photon
Recently, scientists reported timing ghostly subatomic particles called neutrinos traveling faster than the speed of light. While there will no doubt be a glitch found in their experiment, if there isn't a glitch, this would require a major look at Einstein's Relativity. Below is a link to a good non-technical article. My money is on there being a glitch. AE's Relativity theories have stood experimental test for 106 years. I think they're good for some more.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2011/09/28/140839445/is-einstein-wrong?sc=fb&cc=fp
Winston-Salem Journal LTE's WE 09/28/11
Good AM, folks!
A run of the mill set of LTE's today, with the final LTE showing that imitation is indeed a sincere form or flattery, as that aged wisecrack occurred very quickly after Gov. Perry made his unflattering comment about NC's signature dish.
Upbeat coverage
Kudos to the Journal for your upbeat and thorough coverage of the Winston-Salem Open. Your positive articles allowed readers a sense of the vision and hard work that brought that event to our city, and allowed us to follow the matches daily. Thank you for promoting something that is so energizing and encouraging to the community, particularly in such a challenging economic climate.
Spectators and volunteers alike shared a tremendous amount of excitement and pride — something our community has needed. I looked forward to reading the Journal every day.
MOLLY LINEBERGER
Winston-Salem
George W. Bush II
The "Bush tax cuts" have cost America almost $3 trillion, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are estimated to cost $1.3 trillion (not to mention the loss of American lives). Neither expenditure appears to have translated into a lower unemployment rate.
I have applauded President Obama's desire to "work with" the Republican Party, but it's long past time to recognize that this has devolved into something of a George W. Bush II administration. Obama's policy of "working with" Republicans is the most failed policy of all. It's obvious that pandering to the wealthy is the only goal of the Republicans. We can't continue to follow this course while the so-called middle class sinks deeper into decline.
WENDY SCOTT
Winston-Salem
Ironic
I wonder if anyone else found it ironic that the two headlines that were "above the fold" on the front page of the Sept. 22 Journal were: "Winston-Salem on best-city list" and "Survey: Incomes fall in area."
KATHRYN G. MOTSINGER
Winston-Salem
A disservice
The Journal does our country and its readers a disservice by publishing letters such as "Terms" on Sept 23, opining that only members of one political party, who think as the writer does, have integrity. This kind of hyper-political partisanship is exactly what is wrong with our country today. By giving it a public platform the Journal encourages and tacitly approves such unhelpful behavior.
Neither political party has a monopoly on integrity, right beliefs or right behavior. We would make far more progress finding solutions to the problems we face by recognizing this fact and acting toward one another as we ourselves would like to be treated.
MARGARET LEINBACH
Winston-Salem
Reported
It has been reported that Texas Gov. Rick Perry said that North Carolina pork barbecue tastes worse than "road kill." Can you please report how he knows what road kill tastes like?
PAUL D. WHITSON
Advance
A run of the mill set of LTE's today, with the final LTE showing that imitation is indeed a sincere form or flattery, as that aged wisecrack occurred very quickly after Gov. Perry made his unflattering comment about NC's signature dish.
Upbeat coverage
Kudos to the Journal for your upbeat and thorough coverage of the Winston-Salem Open. Your positive articles allowed readers a sense of the vision and hard work that brought that event to our city, and allowed us to follow the matches daily. Thank you for promoting something that is so energizing and encouraging to the community, particularly in such a challenging economic climate.
Spectators and volunteers alike shared a tremendous amount of excitement and pride — something our community has needed. I looked forward to reading the Journal every day.
MOLLY LINEBERGER
Winston-Salem
George W. Bush II
The "Bush tax cuts" have cost America almost $3 trillion, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are estimated to cost $1.3 trillion (not to mention the loss of American lives). Neither expenditure appears to have translated into a lower unemployment rate.
I have applauded President Obama's desire to "work with" the Republican Party, but it's long past time to recognize that this has devolved into something of a George W. Bush II administration. Obama's policy of "working with" Republicans is the most failed policy of all. It's obvious that pandering to the wealthy is the only goal of the Republicans. We can't continue to follow this course while the so-called middle class sinks deeper into decline.
WENDY SCOTT
Winston-Salem
Ironic
I wonder if anyone else found it ironic that the two headlines that were "above the fold" on the front page of the Sept. 22 Journal were: "Winston-Salem on best-city list" and "Survey: Incomes fall in area."
KATHRYN G. MOTSINGER
Winston-Salem
A disservice
The Journal does our country and its readers a disservice by publishing letters such as "Terms" on Sept 23, opining that only members of one political party, who think as the writer does, have integrity. This kind of hyper-political partisanship is exactly what is wrong with our country today. By giving it a public platform the Journal encourages and tacitly approves such unhelpful behavior.
Neither political party has a monopoly on integrity, right beliefs or right behavior. We would make far more progress finding solutions to the problems we face by recognizing this fact and acting toward one another as we ourselves would like to be treated.
MARGARET LEINBACH
Winston-Salem
Reported
It has been reported that Texas Gov. Rick Perry said that North Carolina pork barbecue tastes worse than "road kill." Can you please report how he knows what road kill tastes like?
PAUL D. WHITSON
Advance
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Winston-Salem Journal LTE's TU 096/27/11
Good AM, folks!
We have a pretty standard set of LTE's today, including one from a reliable correspondent, Mr. Mir.
We have had a couple of comments about the single-minded posts of late. I am a source of one of those single-minded threads. I am going to withhold comments re organized labor unless pertinent to the discussions at hand.
Bucky asked me in yesterday's forum if I had deleted one of his posts. I had not, nor have I deleted anyone's posts but my own. That policy may change if references to gay bucks, etc. do not diminish.
We have forgotten
In all the controversy concerning a constitutional amendment stating marriage is between one man and one woman, we seem to have forgotten that homosexuality is one of the causes of HIV/AIDS. I cannot understand how our government can ban the use of tobacco in public places because it can cause cancer, then advocate a lifestyle that can cause HIV/AIDS. A missionary serving in another country spoke recently at our church. He stated that more than 3,000 people died in the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001 — but that 3,000-plus people die every day of HIV/AIDS in the part of the world where he serves.
Even if one does not believe God created everything, including human beings, a homosexual lifestyle is a perversion of the human anatomy and procreation. Even though a homosexual lifestyle does not affect my marriage, it does affect the cost of everyone's health care because of the possibility of acquiring the HIV virus.
PEGGY B. HALL
Pfafftown
Economic downturn
I have witnessed leaders in the financial industry deposit the total blame for the economic downturn on minorities. I have heard myths of people acquiring loans beyond their ability to pay while the government forced the hapless lenders to approve them. We now know all about the mortgage mills, and the bundling of bad-paper loans into securities that the ratings agencies inexplicably rated AAA. The lenders did not perform the due diligence with the loans or even the paperwork — yet this pinstriped crowd has managed to avoid the cell block.
CARLOS MIR
Winston-Salem
Take a stand
I believe the writers who have sent you letters concerning the blue laws ("Abolish the blue law," Sept. 11; "Even further," Sept. 18) need to stop and think. Blue laws don't need to be abolished; we need to take a stand.
The state doesn't need to open state liquor stores on Sundays. Merchants need to be closed on Sundays. Some families would like a husband or wife doing something as a family instead of drinking wine and beer all day.
CAROL WILLIAMS
Winston-Salem
Protecting rights
I was very impressed by the letter "Straight from Jesus" in the Sept. 20 Journal. I totally agree with every word the writer wrote.
I am divorced and remarried. Therefore, I am not innocent of going against what Jesus said.
None among us are without sin. At this point, I have never heard of a secure heterosexual marriage that was damaged by two gay people getting married. It is about protecting the rights of all citizens of this nation.
Whether or not gays are allowed to marry is not my call. Whether or not I divorce and remarry is not their call. If not for the mercy of God, we would all be up the creek without a paddle.
ELLEN BROOKS
Glade Valley
We have a pretty standard set of LTE's today, including one from a reliable correspondent, Mr. Mir.
We have had a couple of comments about the single-minded posts of late. I am a source of one of those single-minded threads. I am going to withhold comments re organized labor unless pertinent to the discussions at hand.
Bucky asked me in yesterday's forum if I had deleted one of his posts. I had not, nor have I deleted anyone's posts but my own. That policy may change if references to gay bucks, etc. do not diminish.
We have forgotten
In all the controversy concerning a constitutional amendment stating marriage is between one man and one woman, we seem to have forgotten that homosexuality is one of the causes of HIV/AIDS. I cannot understand how our government can ban the use of tobacco in public places because it can cause cancer, then advocate a lifestyle that can cause HIV/AIDS. A missionary serving in another country spoke recently at our church. He stated that more than 3,000 people died in the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001 — but that 3,000-plus people die every day of HIV/AIDS in the part of the world where he serves.
Even if one does not believe God created everything, including human beings, a homosexual lifestyle is a perversion of the human anatomy and procreation. Even though a homosexual lifestyle does not affect my marriage, it does affect the cost of everyone's health care because of the possibility of acquiring the HIV virus.
The
writer of a letter published Sept. 20 ("Straight from Jesus") stated, "The
writers of the Bible had no concept of homosexuality ..." I suggest the
writer look at Romans 1:24-27. Most believers I know do not hate those of
differing sexual persuasions. Each person has the right to choose his or her
lifestyle and beliefs, but we must live with the consequences. I choose to
believe God's word over man's word.
PEGGY B. HALL
Pfafftown
Economic downturn
I have witnessed leaders in the financial industry deposit the total blame for the economic downturn on minorities. I have heard myths of people acquiring loans beyond their ability to pay while the government forced the hapless lenders to approve them. We now know all about the mortgage mills, and the bundling of bad-paper loans into securities that the ratings agencies inexplicably rated AAA. The lenders did not perform the due diligence with the loans or even the paperwork — yet this pinstriped crowd has managed to avoid the cell block.
This unholy alliance between lenders, insurance
companies and the famed ratings agencies has achieved the goals of the shock
doctrine. Today, we only hear talk of austerity and the abandonment of social
programs that help the poor and the elderly. What a major victory for those who
want to consolidate wealth among the very few and eviscerate the middle-class.
This is not a class war. This is class genocide.
The marionettes in Congress
are compelled to carry out the master's bidding. They bleed a patient dying of
blood loss. Where was the grand old tea party when we were dropping million-dollar
bombs on peoples of color throughout the world? Did they question the vast
payouts to the military complex for misbegotten wars? The coffers of Halliburton
overflow with the riches of the state while teachers face the unemployment line.
Now they attempt to school us on Christian ethics as they unwittingly forge the
chains of their eternal demise.
CARLOS MIR
Winston-Salem
Take a stand
I believe the writers who have sent you letters concerning the blue laws ("Abolish the blue law," Sept. 11; "Even further," Sept. 18) need to stop and think. Blue laws don't need to be abolished; we need to take a stand.
The state doesn't need to open state liquor stores on Sundays. Merchants need to be closed on Sundays. Some families would like a husband or wife doing something as a family instead of drinking wine and beer all day.
As far as being a Jesus freak goes, try it
sometime. I am glad I did. The pastors don't have to worry about their
congregations being in church or first in line for a wine or beer. If they are
truly saved, they will be in God's
house unless sick.
CAROL WILLIAMS
Winston-Salem
Protecting rights
I was very impressed by the letter "Straight from Jesus" in the Sept. 20 Journal. I totally agree with every word the writer wrote.
I am divorced and remarried. Therefore, I am not innocent of going against what Jesus said.
None among us are without sin. At this point, I have never heard of a secure heterosexual marriage that was damaged by two gay people getting married. It is about protecting the rights of all citizens of this nation.
Whether or not gays are allowed to marry is not my call. Whether or not I divorce and remarry is not their call. If not for the mercy of God, we would all be up the creek without a paddle.
ELLEN BROOKS
Glade Valley
Monday, September 26, 2011
Winston-Salem Journal LTE's MO 09/26/11
Good AM, folks! Dr. Cutri has made his monthly housecall.
Suppose
Your Aug. 31 editorial "Conservative drive all about politics," about the proposed state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage was the only one of the many editorials I have read on the subject that contained this basic insight: The federal judiciary need not accord any greater deference to a state constitutional amendment than to a state statute.
Supreme irony.
This reminds me of the dog with a firm grip on a tasty bone who allowed himself to covet too much the bone in the mouth of the dog he saw reflected in the surface of the pond.
BARNEY W. HILL
Thomasville
Hostility
Hate lives long and dies slowly. For some, it's a conviction that's passed on to their young. Discrimination survived the Civil War through segregation and public lynchings. It took another century for legislation to grant social justice. Laws, however, do not annul hate.
For some people, money is highly addictive, creating a compulsive drive for its acquisition and an insatiable need for more. They regard taxes as theft by a rapacious government for redistribution to an unworthy underclass. Their obsession is to make government small and impotent.
Class warfare is a blood sport that's bleeding the middle-class white.
JOSEPH J. CUTRI
Winston-Salem
Suppose
Your Aug. 31 editorial "Conservative drive all about politics," about the proposed state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage was the only one of the many editorials I have read on the subject that contained this basic insight: The federal judiciary need not accord any greater deference to a state constitutional amendment than to a state statute.
In order to get enough votes to put the
constitutional amendment referendum on any ballot, the Republican legislative
leaders had to agree to put the referendum on the primary ballot instead of the
general
election ballot.
Suppose that the presence of the referendum on the
primary ballot changes the dynamics of the Republican
presidential primary just enough to change the result.
Suppose that the North
Carolina victory is just enough to hand the Republican nomination to a
candidate who narrowly loses to President
Obama in
November.
Suppose that a second-term Obama
appointee to the U.S.
Supreme Court provides the fifth vote to overturn both the North
Carolina constitutional amendment and the North
Carolina statute it was designed to reinforce.
Supreme irony.
This reminds me of the dog with a firm grip on a tasty bone who allowed himself to covet too much the bone in the mouth of the dog he saw reflected in the surface of the pond.
BARNEY W. HILL
Thomasville
Hostility
Hate lives long and dies slowly. For some, it's a conviction that's passed on to their young. Discrimination survived the Civil War through segregation and public lynchings. It took another century for legislation to grant social justice. Laws, however, do not annul hate.
Hostility for President
Obama
ranges from ridicule to assassination threats. Some are enraged by the thought
of a "black" president
presiding over a "white" nation. During a national address, Rep. Joe
Wilson shouted, "You lie!" His slander diminished him,
discredited his party and pandered to the hate vote. Racism corrupts the soul of
a person and tears the social fabric of a people.
Commercial factions will spend millions bribing
congressmen and persuading voters to reject this administration that threatens
their financial privileges. Like Roosevelt,
Obama is
hated by tight-fisted moneyed interests.
For some people, money is highly addictive, creating a compulsive drive for its acquisition and an insatiable need for more. They regard taxes as theft by a rapacious government for redistribution to an unworthy underclass. Their obsession is to make government small and impotent.
Conservative congressional leaders deliberately
prolong the recession on the backs of recession victims. They're willing to let
the unemployed and the dispossessed fend for themselves for another few years to
defeat Obama.
Their presidential choice may not be responsible to all the people. George
W. Bush and Dick
Cheney were committed to serving the interests of an elite minority.
Class warfare is a blood sport that's bleeding the middle-class white.
JOSEPH J. CUTRI
Winston-Salem
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Winston-Salem Journal LTE's SU 09/25/11
Good AM, folks!
Note that the first LTE is from Readers' Forum regular Deb Phillips.
Ideological views
As surely as the sun rises and sets each day, liberal progressives are intent on forcing their ideological views upon America. In progressives' utopian world:
With hope, with each passing day, more Americans will awaken to the reality that liberal progressive ideology is antagonistic to self-governance, freedom, prosperity and individual responsibility.
DEBORAH S. "DEB" PHILLIPS
Lewisville
Misconceptions
The writer of the Sept. 19 letter "Needs for all students" seems to have many misconceptions about his topic.
Nor would it be wrong for this "one group" to be singled out for a facility of its own. While there are plenty of support systems available to the majority of students, LGBTQ students, a misunderstood and sometimes persecuted minority, have often been left out; it was biased and discriminatory to not provide for them.
That a new facility opens is news; that others remain open really is not.
RICKY S. PHILLIPS
Winston-Salem
Answers
In the Sept. 11 letter "Favorite topics," the writer asked, "How can it be cheaper to make something 5,000 miles away (in China) with 9 percent unemployment here?"
E.T. SHAFER
Seven Devils
CORRESPONDENT OF THE WEEK
Father Ed
I read with great sadness about the death of Father Edgar Holden ("Beloved priest and columnist Father Ed dies," Sept. 21). Many claim Father Ed as their close and trusted friend, but it was he who loved claiming all of us as his friends. He wasn't just a humble servant of God in Franciscan robes; he had a charm and humility that was simply infectious. He was able to elicit my deepest thoughts and fears in brutal honesty in my darkest hours of theological doubt and then commend me for my faith. I could call him on the telephone at any time for any reason and he never uttered a single word of impatience or frustration.
PATRICK G. VALE
Winston-Salem
Note that the first LTE is from Readers' Forum regular Deb Phillips.
Ideological views
As surely as the sun rises and sets each day, liberal progressives are intent on forcing their ideological views upon America. In progressives' utopian world:
- Marriage can become whatever one wants it to be.
- Abortion-on-demand is protected ad nauseam and funded by taxpayer dollars.
- The voting system remains conveniently vulnerable to fraud.
- Religious expression is forbidden in public life.
- The ideals and principles expressed by the Founders and encompassed in the founding documents are virtually irrelevant and must be overhauled for the 21st century.
- Citizens' wealth belongs to the government, and private property is increasingly confiscated through an unconstitutional application of "eminent domain."
- The government unfairly favors labor unions over the private sector.
- Energy independence gives way to the demands of radical environmentalism, while billions of taxpayer dollars are wasted on crony energy partnerships and "green" scams.
- Class-envy warfare is waged by power-hungry elites.
- Crises are exploited, or created, for the purpose of grabbing power.
- Terrorists are those who brandish opposing political ideas, instead of the militant Islamists who hate America.
- Unrestrained government spending and borrowing continues on a reckless course.
- The U.S. dollar is devalued through the printing/digitization of money by the Federal Reserve.
- Taxes continue to rise, choking the economy and the well-being of all Americans.
With hope, with each passing day, more Americans will awaken to the reality that liberal progressive ideology is antagonistic to self-governance, freedom, prosperity and individual responsibility.
DEBORAH S. "DEB" PHILLIPS
Lewisville
Misconceptions
The writer of the Sept. 19 letter "Needs for all students" seems to have many misconceptions about his topic.
Writing in response to the Journal story "LGBTQ
center at WFU
to offer support services to students" (Sept. 2), about the opening of the new
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender, Queer and Questioning Center at Wake
Forest University, he felt that the story singled out "one group without due
regard to the others," which he considered to be "biased and
discriminatory."
But obviously, the story wasn't intended to be a comprehensive view of all
the support systems offered to all students on campus, which I'm sure are
considerable; it was about the opening of this new center, which was
newsworthy.Nor would it be wrong for this "one group" to be singled out for a facility of its own. While there are plenty of support systems available to the majority of students, LGBTQ students, a misunderstood and sometimes persecuted minority, have often been left out; it was biased and discriminatory to not provide for them.
Perhaps an analogy would help: If a new Girl Scout
facility is opened and the Journal reports on it, must the Journal include in
its report every Boy
Scout facility in the county? It seems to me that the overly comprehensive
approach would be a prime example of "political correctness."
That a new facility opens is news; that others remain open really is not.
RICKY S. PHILLIPS
Winston-Salem
Answers
In the Sept. 11 letter "Favorite topics," the writer asked, "How can it be cheaper to make something 5,000 miles away (in China) with 9 percent unemployment here?"
Beijing
raised the city's minimum monthly wage by 20 percent in January, from 960 yuan
to 1,160
yuan, or about $175 a
month. Many other Chinese cities followed suit. Not mentioning the working
conditions and child labor, is that really what U.S.
workers should be competing with?
The
writer also commented on the number of abortions and out-of-wedlock births.
Make contraceptives readily available and free or near-free. Stop moralizing and
judging and do something practical. It would save money in the long run to
boot.
Pro-contraception:
Nothing started, nothing to stop.
E.T. SHAFER
Seven Devils
CORRESPONDENT OF THE WEEK
Father Ed
I read with great sadness about the death of Father Edgar Holden ("Beloved priest and columnist Father Ed dies," Sept. 21). Many claim Father Ed as their close and trusted friend, but it was he who loved claiming all of us as his friends. He wasn't just a humble servant of God in Franciscan robes; he had a charm and humility that was simply infectious. He was able to elicit my deepest thoughts and fears in brutal honesty in my darkest hours of theological doubt and then commend me for my faith. I could call him on the telephone at any time for any reason and he never uttered a single word of impatience or frustration.
He once shocked me by asking if he was a good
priest or not. I told him he
was the greatest I have ever known, yet he admonished me to tell him the
bitter truth.
He could give a sermon as a
visiting priest at my parish, St. Leo, and you could hear a pin drop.
He was my spiritual
counselor who saved my faith on more than one occasion. He was neither a
Pharisee nor a sanctimonious soul. He reached out to others, regardless of their
faith traditions. He could discuss theology at the highest levels, and tell a
joke that would have everyone roaring with laughter. Simplicity was his calling
card.
This earth has lost a great and wonderful man, but
Heaven has gained a powerful saint. Thank you, Father Ed.
PATRICK G. VALE
Winston-Salem
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Winston-Salem Journal LTE's SA 09/24/11
Good AM, folks!
The Saturday LTE's delivered, on schedule:
Broken promises
The Sept. 9 editorial "Referendum used as matter of convenience," on the referendum for a marriage amendment to our state constitution, mentioned the long-lost 1994 GOP promises to the people of North Carolina titled, "A New Contract by the People, for the People." This supposed contract listed eight major items the GOP promised to introduce as legislation in the 1995 session of the General Assembly. As you correctly noted, the contract didn't last very long, and today's GOP has completely and conveniently ignored those earlier promises, along with some made during last year's elections.
DAVID M. McMAHON
King
Fair share
In response to having the "rich" pay more of "their fair share:" The president is campaigning on it, especially with his "new" jobs bill (the Son of Stimulus I).
Here's my concern with taxing — excuse me, enhancing revenue — by having the "rich" pay more: What happens when we find out that it's not enough? Where are we going to go after enhancing governmental coffers by raising revenue on people who make $250,000 and over? Are we going to define rich as someone who makes over $100,000? $50,000?
HOWARD CARTER
North Wilkesboro
Something better?
I read with dismay the recent article about the high price tag expected for the campaigns of both sides of the scheduled May 8 referendum on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage ("Marriage vote fight likely to be pricey," Sept. 19). And that was before I got to the story, a few pages later, about the grim hold that poverty has on the lives of people across the country, most certainly in North Carolina and right here in Winston-Salem ("Real lives, real pain hidden behind grim poverty statistics").
Not only is the proposed amendment totally unnecessary, but it is also a discriminatory tool that will take away the rights of many people in our community and further erode the level of civil discourse among us.
Don't we have something better to spend our money on? Nonprofits and educational institutions across the state are struggling to feed our poor, teach our children, keep older adults in their homes, stop domestic violence and child abuse and provide decent housing. Yet we're about to spend millions of dollars on something that will only hurt, not help, us as a society.
That's a shame.
SYLVIA OBERLE
Winston-Salem
Staunch ally
Are nations allowed sovereign, civil rule? The nation of Israel has for so long had its own borders seemingly dictated, or at least disputed, by other nations; especially pro-Palestinian nations. Or should it be termed "anti-Israeli nations"?
Interestingly, even those in the current U.S. administration have backed away from our longstanding ally to passively support an independent Palestinian state within the borders of Israel.
Think for a moment. A nation surrounded by other nations that are hostile, volatile and sworn to destroy Israel is then asked to allow those who have made terrorist attacks and murdered innocent people to be given statehood? If this were posited to any other nation in the world, it would be deemed absurd.
The United Nations is now stacked with representation that would likely turn a deaf ear to Israel's reasoning, and our own president will do what he does best: nothing.
Let Israel conduct its own business; it is a sovereign nation. It is not guilty of human-rights violations, but is preventing another Holocaust.
Our country needs to become the staunch ally it once was and have the backbone to do what is right. America will cease to remain America the beautiful if we tarnish our integrity to such a sincere ally as Israel.
BARRY DAVIS
Yadkinville
The Saturday LTE's delivered, on schedule:
Broken promises
The Sept. 9 editorial "Referendum used as matter of convenience," on the referendum for a marriage amendment to our state constitution, mentioned the long-lost 1994 GOP promises to the people of North Carolina titled, "A New Contract by the People, for the People." This supposed contract listed eight major items the GOP promised to introduce as legislation in the 1995 session of the General Assembly. As you correctly noted, the contract didn't last very long, and today's GOP has completely and conveniently ignored those earlier promises, along with some made during last year's elections.
In my copy of that contract I note another
critically important promise that the current crop of Republican legislators
chooses to ignore, as the Democrats did before them. That is the promise for
"Real Governance Reform that calls for a 1995 popular referendum on granting
veto power to the
Governor; and that establishes term limits for members of the N.C.
General Assembly and the state's congressional delegation."
Granted, the
governor does have veto power, but there is no discussion today of a
referendum on term limits, which I feel is sorely needed. Too many have stayed
too long and done too little.
Let's face it, whether a
politician is a Democrat or Republican, a Libertarian or of some other party
affiliation, there is one thing we the people have learned, and apparently need
to re-learn every two years. That is that all promises made by any politician
during an election campaign are written in sand.
DAVID M. McMAHON
King
Fair share
In response to having the "rich" pay more of "their fair share:" The president is campaigning on it, especially with his "new" jobs bill (the Son of Stimulus I).
Here's my concern with taxing — excuse me, enhancing revenue — by having the "rich" pay more: What happens when we find out that it's not enough? Where are we going to go after enhancing governmental coffers by raising revenue on people who make $250,000 and over? Are we going to define rich as someone who makes over $100,000? $50,000?
HOWARD CARTER
North Wilkesboro
Something better?
I read with dismay the recent article about the high price tag expected for the campaigns of both sides of the scheduled May 8 referendum on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage ("Marriage vote fight likely to be pricey," Sept. 19). And that was before I got to the story, a few pages later, about the grim hold that poverty has on the lives of people across the country, most certainly in North Carolina and right here in Winston-Salem ("Real lives, real pain hidden behind grim poverty statistics").
Not only is the proposed amendment totally unnecessary, but it is also a discriminatory tool that will take away the rights of many people in our community and further erode the level of civil discourse among us.
Don't we have something better to spend our money on? Nonprofits and educational institutions across the state are struggling to feed our poor, teach our children, keep older adults in their homes, stop domestic violence and child abuse and provide decent housing. Yet we're about to spend millions of dollars on something that will only hurt, not help, us as a society.
That's a shame.
SYLVIA OBERLE
Winston-Salem
Staunch ally
Are nations allowed sovereign, civil rule? The nation of Israel has for so long had its own borders seemingly dictated, or at least disputed, by other nations; especially pro-Palestinian nations. Or should it be termed "anti-Israeli nations"?
Interestingly, even those in the current U.S. administration have backed away from our longstanding ally to passively support an independent Palestinian state within the borders of Israel.
Think for a moment. A nation surrounded by other nations that are hostile, volatile and sworn to destroy Israel is then asked to allow those who have made terrorist attacks and murdered innocent people to be given statehood? If this were posited to any other nation in the world, it would be deemed absurd.
The United Nations is now stacked with representation that would likely turn a deaf ear to Israel's reasoning, and our own president will do what he does best: nothing.
Let Israel conduct its own business; it is a sovereign nation. It is not guilty of human-rights violations, but is preventing another Holocaust.
Our country needs to become the staunch ally it once was and have the backbone to do what is right. America will cease to remain America the beautiful if we tarnish our integrity to such a sincere ally as Israel.
BARRY DAVIS
Yadkinville
Friday, September 23, 2011
Club Nitwit/The Leopard's Limb SA 09/24/11
Happy autumn, folks!
Breaking the universal speed limit
Well, now that I think about it . . .
Breaking the universal speed limit
As dotnet reported yesterday, European scientists announced that some subatomic particles have been measured has having traveled faster than the speed of light. The particles, ghostly little phantoms called neutrinos, were measured as having a very small fraction of a per cent faster than lightspeed. Small percentage, no big deal, right?
Wrong. No material object, whether it be a spaceship, a Staballoy, or a neutrino, can attain the speed of light. It would take an infinite amount of energy to do that, which is impossible. Basically, the speed of light as the ultimate speed limit is one of the constants on which our understanding is based, and on which another European scientist, Albert Einstein, based his Theory of Relativity. The famed equation of mass-energy equivalence, E=mc^2, uses the speed of light as one of its factors (the "c"). Relativity has withstood all experimental tests since he propounded the first installment of it (Special Relativity) 106 years ago.
So what if the troublesome little neutrinos did travel faster than light? There will need to be considerable reworking of theories and an altering of our understanding of the universe. What it will not mean is that Relativity will be junked. Nope, if you are using an old-style CRT computer monitor or an old-style television with a CRT screen, the functioning of those screens is based on an understanding of Relativity. Likewise, those of you with GPS devices in your cars owe Einstein your thanks: those gadgets would not work correctly without an understanding of the relavistic effects of the GPS satellites' speed on their accuracy, ditto the effects of being higher in Earth's gravitational field.
At the moment, most scientists say that these results will not hold up, an opinion I share as a non-scientist. But, they are keeping an open mind. If they do hold up, a new scientific frontier will open, as momentous an event as AE's opening of a new frontier 106 years ago.
Below is a link to a slightly technical discussion of the speedy neutrinos, by Caltech research physicist Sean M. Carroll.
Well, now that I think about it . . .
There is some background noise now that NJ Gov. Christie is rethinking his discinclination to enter the R contest (note that I didn't say "race") for the Presidential nomination. There are reports that his aides are telling fence-sitting R contributors that he's now considering so doing. Those contributors have yet to support either Perry or Romney. The word is that Christie will decide in the next few days.
It might be said that the new NJ gov is somewhat inexperienced. I agree: he definitely lacks community organizing experience.
Winston-Salem Journal LTE's FR 09/23/11
Good AM, folks! Happy Autumn at 5:04AM.
Checkpoints
Checkpoints target impaired drivers and those on the list with revoked licenses ("ACLU is investigating city's checkpoints," Sept. 16). A small percentage of drivers, those who should not be on the road, are responsible for most traffic accidents and deaths. I am happy to see checkpoints in my neighborhood; the result should be safer streets for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists.
CHARLES E. WILSON
Winston-Salem
Retirement haven?
Concerning the article "City again ranks high as retirement haven" (Sept. 16) on retiring in Winston-Salem, I read it with some amusement. I am a Winston-Salem native, but since high school, I have lived up and down the East Coast. My wife and I retired and relocated back to Winston-Salem after 23 years in Clearwater, Fla. The choice was due to a host of considerations. However, after five years of being back in Winston-Salem, our reasons to relocate have become moot.
Winston-Salem has a lot going for it, but it is missing the activities that we enjoyed the most and looked forward to when we retired.
GARY VERNON
Winston-Salem
Terms
A friend recently asked me why there is no term for Democrats that is the equivalent of RINO (Republican In Name Only), a term for Republicans who vote against their Republican constituents' wishes. I answered, "That's easy. A RINO is a Republican without integrity, but a Democrat without integrity is still a Democrat."
________________________________________________________________________________
JERRY PARSONS
Kernersville
Proper preparation
Peter Sellers and Eddie Murphy each made movies about men elevated to high positions without proper preparation: "Being There" and "Trading Places," respectively. Perhaps America would be better off if Barack Obama had just made a movie.
RICHARD MERLO
Elkin
Party politics
When millions of Americans can't find adequate work, we can't let party politics stand in the way of a solution. Congress needs to stop the political posturing and create the jobs we so desperately need by passing the American Jobs Act.
We need to spread this message through every state, district, and town — because without good jobs for Americans there is no American Dream.
SIMEON BROWN
Clemmons
Discrediting the president
It's evident that the Journal is a Republican newspaper and you only write negative things about Democrats. But you should know that Republicans as well as Democrats are without jobs. We are talking about Americans. Stop trying to discredit President Obama on all the things he's doing for this country and its people. President Obama has put forth a serious jobs plan, and Republicans should not stand in the way.
Nearly all of the proposals in the American Jobs Act have been approved by Republicans in the past — so there's no reason for them not to pass the president's bill, except to play politics with American lives.
CLAUDETTE KELLER
Clemmons
Checkpoints
Checkpoints target impaired drivers and those on the list with revoked licenses ("ACLU is investigating city's checkpoints," Sept. 16). A small percentage of drivers, those who should not be on the road, are responsible for most traffic accidents and deaths. I am happy to see checkpoints in my neighborhood; the result should be safer streets for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists.
CHARLES E. WILSON
Winston-Salem
Retirement haven?
Concerning the article "City again ranks high as retirement haven" (Sept. 16) on retiring in Winston-Salem, I read it with some amusement. I am a Winston-Salem native, but since high school, I have lived up and down the East Coast. My wife and I retired and relocated back to Winston-Salem after 23 years in Clearwater, Fla. The choice was due to a host of considerations. However, after five years of being back in Winston-Salem, our reasons to relocate have become moot.
The article spoke directly about the arts scene
and its impact on a retiree's decision process. It would not even be a
consideration for us. But, we have been downtown during the lunch hour and to
the arts district checking out the local restaurants and watering holes, and
found their desirability lacking. While in Florida
and before retirement, there were a host of activities that we participated in
that are virtually non-existent here.
Winston-Salem has a lot going for it, but it is missing the activities that we enjoyed the most and looked forward to when we retired.
GARY VERNON
Winston-Salem
Terms
A friend recently asked me why there is no term for Democrats that is the equivalent of RINO (Republican In Name Only), a term for Republicans who vote against their Republican constituents' wishes. I answered, "That's easy. A RINO is a Republican without integrity, but a Democrat without integrity is still a Democrat."
________________________________________________________________________________
JERRY PARSONS
Kernersville
Proper preparation
Peter Sellers and Eddie Murphy each made movies about men elevated to high positions without proper preparation: "Being There" and "Trading Places," respectively. Perhaps America would be better off if Barack Obama had just made a movie.
RICHARD MERLO
Elkin
Party politics
When millions of Americans can't find adequate work, we can't let party politics stand in the way of a solution. Congress needs to stop the political posturing and create the jobs we so desperately need by passing the American Jobs Act.
We need to spread this message through every state, district, and town — because without good jobs for Americans there is no American Dream.
SIMEON BROWN
Clemmons
Discrediting the president
It's evident that the Journal is a Republican newspaper and you only write negative things about Democrats. But you should know that Republicans as well as Democrats are without jobs. We are talking about Americans. Stop trying to discredit President Obama on all the things he's doing for this country and its people. President Obama has put forth a serious jobs plan, and Republicans should not stand in the way.
Nearly all of the proposals in the American Jobs Act have been approved by Republicans in the past — so there's no reason for them not to pass the president's bill, except to play politics with American lives.
CLAUDETTE KELLER
Clemmons
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Winston-Salem Journal LTE's TH 09/22/11
Good AM, folks!
I have stayed up to post TH's LTE's, but they are not forthcoming. I am now between jobs, so I will not be arising and posting at 7-to-8-ish. I'll post a bit late, most likely. Go ahead, look at the Journal's LTE's (and accompanying ads), then post wherever suits you. I'll put the LTE's up after I arise. In the meantime, nighty night.
I have stayed up to post TH's LTE's, but they are not forthcoming. I am now between jobs, so I will not be arising and posting at 7-to-8-ish. I'll post a bit late, most likely. Go ahead, look at the Journal's LTE's (and accompanying ads), then post wherever suits you. I'll put the LTE's up after I arise. In the meantime, nighty night.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Club Nitwit/The Leopard's Limb 09/21/11
Bucky's truck
Spotted our man on patrol recently. Contact him at the website on the container's side if you need his services.
Winston-Salem Journal LTE's WE 09/21/11
Good AM, folks!
What is this fluid descending from the skies? I've seen similar, but thought it available only from faucets.
What is this fluid descending from the skies? I've seen similar, but thought it available only from faucets.
Don't get it
I just don't get it. Why do so many Republicans want government out of our lives when it comes to taxes and regulations that provide for the general welfare and yet are eager to have government intrude on our most personal concerns of marriage and childbearing?
MARGARET SUPPLEE SMITH
Winston-Salem
More qualified
MARY LOU WILSON
Winston-Salem
Not by a vote
Marriage is a legal contract between two individuals. The legality of a contract should be determined by the courts and not by a vote of the people.
Let us imagine that in 1950, members of the General Assembly of North Carolina realized that there was a growing sentiment in the country against segregated schools. Therefore, in order to protect Southern traditions, the state legislature enacted legislation allowing the voters to vote on a constitutional amendment prohibiting black students from attending school with white students. Unfortunately, I believe that the majority of the voters of our state would have approved such an amendment. Legislators would be proud that they afforded the citizens the right to have their voices heard on such an important issue.
This elation, of course, would not be long-lasting. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education would have nullified the "separate but equal" amendment.
I can foresee the same scenario being played out today. Only this time it is not a hypothetical example. The General Assembly voted to allow the voters to vote on the "marriage amendment." The voters will likely approve it. The discriminatory amendment will be added to the state constitution. And years later, with hope, in my lifetime, the U.S. Supreme Court will rule that depriving marriage to same-sex couples is unconstitutional.
The tide is turning against discrimination. Too bad our Republican legislators do not realize that love will always triumph over hate.
RUDY DIAMOND
Lewisville
In his own image
This letter is in regard to the outcry of lesbians and gays to have their unions made legal.
Our Bible tells us that God made every being, animals, birds, etc., including man, in his own image, male and female.
He made man in his own image and breathed life into him. He took a rib from man's side and formed a woman as a help-meet for him and brought her to him. He also said, "Go forth and replenish the earth." Gays and lesbians cannot do this.
Our Bible also says in the last days, such as this would be happening: Men leaving the natural use of a woman, burning in their own lusts one toward the other, men with men working that which is unseemly.
We all need to stand up and fight for our country and pray for it.
CARLENE F. HEDRICK
Kernersville
Agreement is harmful to U.S.
Well-negotiated Free Trade Agreements (FTA) can provide export opportunities and growth for U.S. companies. Unfortunately, the proposed U.S./Korea FTA (KORUS) provides little of either, especially for the U.S. textile industry. Our textile sector provides good-paying jobs to nearly 425,000 people. If KORUS is enacted in its current form, many of those jobs will shift to Korea and China. Our industry estimates that roughly 40,000 textile and related industry jobs could be lost if KORUS passes.
The National Council of Textile Organizations and its member companies are asking Congress to vote "No" when KORUS is introduced in the coming weeks because of two major flaws to the textile section: weak customs enforcement rules that encourage illegal transshipments of Chinese goods through Korea and one-sided duty phase-outs on many textile products that put U.S. textile companies at a disadvantage.
If KORUS is enacted as written, Chinese companies could avoid hundreds of millions of dollars in duties paid to the U.S. by labeling garments as "Made in Korea." Additionally, U.S. duties on many textiles drop to zero on day one of KORUS, while Korean duties on the same products stay in place.
FTAs are not inherently bad, and our industry has supported more than it has opposed. We offered simple and fair corrections that could have saved textile jobs in the U.S. But the president decided textile jobs were not worth the fight. Now the decision is up to Congress. We hope it votes to keep textile jobs here.
BILL JASPER
CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF UNIFI
GREENSBORO
Unifi's largest manufacturing facility is in Yadkinville. — The editor
I just don't get it. Why do so many Republicans want government out of our lives when it comes to taxes and regulations that provide for the general welfare and yet are eager to have government intrude on our most personal concerns of marriage and childbearing?
MARGARET SUPPLEE SMITH
Winston-Salem
More qualified
The past week has provided a wonderful opportunity for voters to compare the plans and philosophy of President Obama with those of the Republican candidates. Before a joint session of Congress in prime time, Obama called for yet again more spending as a way to create jobs — and this while our debt spirals out of control and stifles economic growth.
In watching the last two Republican debates, I found it abundantly clear that any one of these candidates is infinitely more qualified and prepared to deal with the huge problems this nation faces than our current administrator/community organizer.
MARY LOU WILSON
Winston-Salem
Not by a vote
Marriage is a legal contract between two individuals. The legality of a contract should be determined by the courts and not by a vote of the people.
Let us imagine that in 1950, members of the General Assembly of North Carolina realized that there was a growing sentiment in the country against segregated schools. Therefore, in order to protect Southern traditions, the state legislature enacted legislation allowing the voters to vote on a constitutional amendment prohibiting black students from attending school with white students. Unfortunately, I believe that the majority of the voters of our state would have approved such an amendment. Legislators would be proud that they afforded the citizens the right to have their voices heard on such an important issue.
This elation, of course, would not be long-lasting. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education would have nullified the "separate but equal" amendment.
I can foresee the same scenario being played out today. Only this time it is not a hypothetical example. The General Assembly voted to allow the voters to vote on the "marriage amendment." The voters will likely approve it. The discriminatory amendment will be added to the state constitution. And years later, with hope, in my lifetime, the U.S. Supreme Court will rule that depriving marriage to same-sex couples is unconstitutional.
The tide is turning against discrimination. Too bad our Republican legislators do not realize that love will always triumph over hate.
RUDY DIAMOND
Lewisville
In his own image
This letter is in regard to the outcry of lesbians and gays to have their unions made legal.
Our Bible tells us that God made every being, animals, birds, etc., including man, in his own image, male and female.
He made man in his own image and breathed life into him. He took a rib from man's side and formed a woman as a help-meet for him and brought her to him. He also said, "Go forth and replenish the earth." Gays and lesbians cannot do this.
Our Bible also says in the last days, such as this would be happening: Men leaving the natural use of a woman, burning in their own lusts one toward the other, men with men working that which is unseemly.
We all need to stand up and fight for our country and pray for it.
CARLENE F. HEDRICK
Kernersville
Agreement is harmful to U.S.
Well-negotiated Free Trade Agreements (FTA) can provide export opportunities and growth for U.S. companies. Unfortunately, the proposed U.S./Korea FTA (KORUS) provides little of either, especially for the U.S. textile industry. Our textile sector provides good-paying jobs to nearly 425,000 people. If KORUS is enacted in its current form, many of those jobs will shift to Korea and China. Our industry estimates that roughly 40,000 textile and related industry jobs could be lost if KORUS passes.
The National Council of Textile Organizations and its member companies are asking Congress to vote "No" when KORUS is introduced in the coming weeks because of two major flaws to the textile section: weak customs enforcement rules that encourage illegal transshipments of Chinese goods through Korea and one-sided duty phase-outs on many textile products that put U.S. textile companies at a disadvantage.
If KORUS is enacted as written, Chinese companies could avoid hundreds of millions of dollars in duties paid to the U.S. by labeling garments as "Made in Korea." Additionally, U.S. duties on many textiles drop to zero on day one of KORUS, while Korean duties on the same products stay in place.
FTAs are not inherently bad, and our industry has supported more than it has opposed. We offered simple and fair corrections that could have saved textile jobs in the U.S. But the president decided textile jobs were not worth the fight. Now the decision is up to Congress. We hope it votes to keep textile jobs here.
BILL JASPER
CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF UNIFI
GREENSBORO
Unifi's largest manufacturing facility is in Yadkinville. — The editor
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Club Nitwit/The Leopard's Limb 09/20/11
Don't ask, don't tell Bucky
Psst! As of today, Don't Ask, Don't Tell is no more.
No free football
In a conversation last night about paying wives back for a Sunday of the NFL, OT observed that "there is no free football." That reminded me of receiving for 4 free Dodgers tickets in my L. A. days, and good seats at that.
It cost $5 to park at the ballpark, not bad by Los Angeles standards. Then there were soft drinks and Dodger (hot)dogs and other food, souvenirs for my stepdaughter and a friend, and of course beer for me and my now ex-Mrs. CA Stab. Those free tix cost me $121. I avoided anymore free tix after that.
Psst! As of today, Don't Ask, Don't Tell is no more.
No free football
In a conversation last night about paying wives back for a Sunday of the NFL, OT observed that "there is no free football." That reminded me of receiving for 4 free Dodgers tickets in my L. A. days, and good seats at that.
It cost $5 to park at the ballpark, not bad by Los Angeles standards. Then there were soft drinks and Dodger (hot)dogs and other food, souvenirs for my stepdaughter and a friend, and of course beer for me and my now ex-Mrs. CA Stab. Those free tix cost me $121. I avoided anymore free tix after that.
Winston-Salem Journal LTE's TU 09/20/11
Good AM, folks!
Several LTE's today, with a variety of things about which to weigh in. Start weighing.
Several LTE's today, with a variety of things about which to weigh in. Start weighing.
Judicial ethics
PEGGY VOGEL
Winston-Salem
Dishonorable actions
DOROTHY MATHEWS
Rural Hall
Big returns
I've been drawing Social Security benefits for a year and a half now, and all I need to do is live a few more years to realize big returns on my mandatory investment. Bernie Madoff would be envious. Maybe Gov. Perry should have called it a "pyramid scheme," or ... a Ponzimid scheme ... or ... whatever. I feel a little guilty, but I really need the money. I'm just wondering about the generations following me.
JAMES A. BEDSWORTH
Winston-Salem
Short memory
I totally agree with the writer of the Sept. 6 letter "If," who called out the writer of the Aug. 29 letter "The worst of leaders," who stated that President Obama was "the worst of leaders." If George W. Bush's term hadn't ended when it did, our country would now be in a deep depression instead of a recession.
President Bush's policies of taking us into two wars, reducing taxes twice, putting in the Medicare prescription drug plan and not asking Americans for any sacrifices or any method of paying for all those plans are what caused our economy to collapse. President Obama's administration has been trying to dig us out of this hole for two and a half years without any help from the Republicans.
By the way, any who are under the illusion that they would want Gov. Rick Perry, the tea-party favorite, to be president need to recall what happened when we elected another Texas cowboy governor to be president for eight years.
JEAN PEAK
Winston-Salem
Constitution
A lot of people seem to have forgotten the purpose of having a constitution. It is simply to protect the rights of minorities from the desires of the majority.
KENNETH P. PULLIAM
Winston-Salem
Straight from Jesus
The following Scripture is for those who want a constitutional amendment for marriage to be between one man and one woman: "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another commits adultery." Matthew 19:9-12.
This is straight from Jesus. I don't hear preachers speaking against divorced parishioners. Maybe it's because they're divorced themselves and don't want to show their hypocrisy.
In verses 10-12, the disciples ask if it would be better not to marry. Jesus answers, "Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given." He then lists those "to whom it has been given." In verse 12, there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb, eunuchs made that way by men, and eunuchs who made themselves that way.
The writers of the Bible had no concept of homosexuality and our exclusive sexual preference for the same sex. "A eunuch born that way" would explain the total lack of sexual desire for the opposite sex. "A eunuch made that way" is self-explanatory — no sexual desire due to castration. Finally, choice, such as the celibacy of priests in the Catholic Church.
Jesus admits that we are born this way. It seems simple: gay/lesbian people born this way, according to Jesus, would find that heterosexual-style marriage wouldn't work. Ask gay people who chose that style of marriage only to have it end in divorce.
We want to marry for love, not convenience.
KELVIN R. WANNAMAKER
Winston-Salem
If Forsyth District Judge Denise Hartsfield's alleged judicial ethics violations of fixing tickets for a select group of her friends and church members is considered giving back to Forsyth County, then all Forsyth County residents who paid court costs for traffic violations during this same period should be reimbursed for those costs. Giving back to the community should benefit all residents.
If the N.C. Judicial Standards Commission allows her to remain on the bench, it sends a message to our community, our youth and the law students Judge Hartsfield taught that it is OK to take what doesn't belong to you as long as it is helping someone in need. Even though Judge Hartsfield did not personally gain financially, she deprived the court system of money that should have been added to the treasury.
What is the difference between what Judge Hartsfield did to help her friends and church members who could not afford to pay fines and a store clerk who gives away merchandise to friends and church members who cannot afford to pay?
Judge Hartsfield stated that she had learned many lessons in the three years since the investigation into her conduct; however, she continued to commit violations after being warned of her wrongdoings. Shouldn't ethical conduct and respect for our judicial system be a requirement of judges before they are appointed/elected to the bench?
PEGGY VOGEL
Winston-Salem
Dishonorable actions
Had N.C. Baptist Hospital responded positively to Joseph Vincoli's internal reports, it wouldn't find it necessary to scare other employees by punishing him for disclosing its legal but dishonorable actions ("N.C. Baptist suing ex-employee turned whistle-blower," Sept. 11). Is Baptist Hospital's bottom line more important than the financial security of North Carolina, the state where it operates?
DOROTHY MATHEWS
Rural Hall
Big returns
Recently, the political left has criticized Gov. Rick Perry for using the term "Ponzi scheme" to describe our Social Security system. Now, I'm an independent, politically, but feel that Perry, for me, is too over-the-top to be president. But he's calling a spade a spade.
A Ponzi scheme is similar to a pyramid scheme in that both use new investors to pay earlier participants. One difference between the two is that the Ponzi mastermind gathers new investments and then redistributes them, while pyramid schemes allow each investor to directly benefit if new investors are recruited. For both schemes, eventually there isn't enough money coming in, and they unravel.
I've been drawing Social Security benefits for a year and a half now, and all I need to do is live a few more years to realize big returns on my mandatory investment. Bernie Madoff would be envious. Maybe Gov. Perry should have called it a "pyramid scheme," or ... a Ponzimid scheme ... or ... whatever. I feel a little guilty, but I really need the money. I'm just wondering about the generations following me.
Speaking of Bernie Madoff, maybe President Obama could offer him some incentives — say, knock 50 years off his sentence, maybe give him a bigger cell (with cable, Internet and cold beer thrown in) — to use his expertise and convince the workers of China and India to contribute to our Social Security system. That should extend it for a while.
JAMES A. BEDSWORTH
Winston-Salem
Short memory
I totally agree with the writer of the Sept. 6 letter "If," who called out the writer of the Aug. 29 letter "The worst of leaders," who stated that President Obama was "the worst of leaders." If George W. Bush's term hadn't ended when it did, our country would now be in a deep depression instead of a recession.
President Bush's policies of taking us into two wars, reducing taxes twice, putting in the Medicare prescription drug plan and not asking Americans for any sacrifices or any method of paying for all those plans are what caused our economy to collapse. President Obama's administration has been trying to dig us out of this hole for two and a half years without any help from the Republicans.
By the way, any who are under the illusion that they would want Gov. Rick Perry, the tea-party favorite, to be president need to recall what happened when we elected another Texas cowboy governor to be president for eight years.
JEAN PEAK
Winston-Salem
Constitution
A lot of people seem to have forgotten the purpose of having a constitution. It is simply to protect the rights of minorities from the desires of the majority.
KENNETH P. PULLIAM
Winston-Salem
Straight from Jesus
The following Scripture is for those who want a constitutional amendment for marriage to be between one man and one woman: "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another commits adultery." Matthew 19:9-12.
This is straight from Jesus. I don't hear preachers speaking against divorced parishioners. Maybe it's because they're divorced themselves and don't want to show their hypocrisy.
In verses 10-12, the disciples ask if it would be better not to marry. Jesus answers, "Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given." He then lists those "to whom it has been given." In verse 12, there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb, eunuchs made that way by men, and eunuchs who made themselves that way.
The writers of the Bible had no concept of homosexuality and our exclusive sexual preference for the same sex. "A eunuch born that way" would explain the total lack of sexual desire for the opposite sex. "A eunuch made that way" is self-explanatory — no sexual desire due to castration. Finally, choice, such as the celibacy of priests in the Catholic Church.
Jesus admits that we are born this way. It seems simple: gay/lesbian people born this way, according to Jesus, would find that heterosexual-style marriage wouldn't work. Ask gay people who chose that style of marriage only to have it end in divorce.
We want to marry for love, not convenience.
KELVIN R. WANNAMAKER
Winston-Salem
Monday, September 19, 2011
The Nitwits' Niche aka The Leopard's Limb MO 09/19/11
Club Nitwit is now open.
Bucky, OT, and I had the following late evening exchanges, which are a diversion from the usual topics of late. It's been a while since affirmative action was on the table.
Bucky said...
Thank goodness there are people like myself to get the truth out, otherwise, the internet would be used strictly for left wing propaganda.
A recent study found that a black male with the same grades and SAT scores as a white male, had a 527% higher probability of getting into the University of Wisconsin as an undergrad than the white male.
Yet the same people that cry discrimination on the gay and lesbian marriage issue, say nothing regarding affirmative action discriminatory practices. September 18, 2011 1:19 PM 
Staballoy said...
Bucky re the 527% disadvantaged white guy: that stat ignores the overall enrollment of students in a matriculating class. How many white males total are there in a matriculating class at UW v. the number of African-American males?
Also, what percentage advantage did a black guy have at UW in 1961? I suspect the number was neither 527 nor positive. Why? Because those white kids were getting in because their daddies were alums, big booster contributors, or friends of alums or contributors. What is that kind of greasing the skids called? It's called "an old boy network," aka Affirmative Action.
I didn't understand your point, except to slip in a bit of latent racism. Accepting that gays and lesbians should be able to marry is not affirmative action. It's according the same rights to them. It's not affirmative action that I can marry Mrs. Stab, not is it that Adam should be able to marry Steve, or Alice to marry Eve. September 18, 2011 9:36 PM
O. T. Rush said...
The percentage of black students at U. Wisconsin is about 3%. A significant percentage of those are athletes. September 18, 2011 11:14 PM
Bucky said...
Over 37,000 people died because of drug related issues in 2009, it's the first time that those figures exceeded traffic related fatalities. The increase is blamed on the abuse of legal prescription pain medications. Yet, liberals and liberal conservatives like Stab want to legalize all drugs. September 18, 2011 11:53 PM
O. T. Rush said...
Actually, the people who support legalization of CERTAIN drugs have a wide range of political leanings. They are not called LIBERAL or CONSERVATIVE; they are called EDUCATED and SENSIBLE.
And they do not necessarily advocate LEGALIZATION of all drugs...primarily they want DECRIMINALIZATION of marijuana and cocaine which represent the vast majority of people in our prisons which costs us a fortune in taxes.
And because there is no serious attempt by our system to help addicts get clean, the same people rotate in and out of prison over and over, paid for by our tax money.
Being AGAINST something is stupid unless you are willing to DO something constructive about it. September 19, 2011 12:10 AM
Bucky, OT, and I had the following late evening exchanges, which are a diversion from the usual topics of late. It's been a while since affirmative action was on the table.
Bucky said...
A recent study found that a black male with the same grades and SAT scores as a white male, had a 527% higher probability of getting into the University of Wisconsin as an undergrad than the white male.
Yet the same people that cry discrimination on the gay and lesbian marriage issue, say nothing regarding affirmative action discriminatory practices.
Staballoy said...
Also, what percentage advantage did a black guy have at UW in 1961? I suspect the number was neither 527 nor positive. Why? Because those white kids were getting in because their daddies were alums, big booster contributors, or friends of alums or contributors. What is that kind of greasing the skids called? It's called "an old boy network," aka Affirmative Action.
I didn't understand your point, except to slip in a bit of latent racism. Accepting that gays and lesbians should be able to marry is not affirmative action. It's according the same rights to them. It's not affirmative action that I can marry Mrs. Stab, not is it that Adam should be able to marry Steve, or Alice to marry Eve.
O. T. Rush said... Bucky said...
And they do not necessarily advocate LEGALIZATION of all drugs...primarily they want DECRIMINALIZATION of marijuana and cocaine which represent the vast majority of people in our prisons which costs us a fortune in taxes.
And because there is no serious attempt by our system to help addicts get clean, the same people rotate in and out of prison over and over, paid for by our tax money.
Being AGAINST something is stupid unless you are willing to DO something constructive about it.
Winston-Salem Journal LTE's MO 09/19/11
Good AM, folks!
An unspectacular line of LTE's today. Isn't it about time for Dr. Cutri to stir the pot?
An unspectacular line of LTE's today. Isn't it about time for Dr. Cutri to stir the pot?
Discrimination
The debate over whether our gay and lesbian citizens should enjoy the rights and privileges of all other citizens should be over. Sometime in the future our gay and lesbian citizens will no longer have to live under the indignity of being second-class Americans. We will, at some point, embrace reality just as we now know that the Earth revolves around the sun and that the world is not flat.
But there is serious resistance that will postpone the day of equality. There are fellow citizens who hold sincere religious convictions that homosexuality is wrong, and that is their right. It is not their right, however, to impose their convictions on those who believe differently. There are others who will block the path to equality by using same-sex marriage as a political ruse to increase voter turnout for their causes. There are still others who are simply bigots.
Whenever a government body passes a law that intentionally discriminates against its own citizens, we are in deep trouble. Our gay and lesbian citizens are victims of such legislation, and they pay taxes, contribute to society, attend our houses of worship and serve in the military. How can we make laws that deliberately discriminate against our friends, neighbors and even our own family members?
CHARLES FRANCIS WILSON
Winston-Salem
Live without
Looking at the proposed eastern beltway map in the Journal (" 'You've got it in writing,' " Sept. 7), I am forced to ask this question: With all the pressing financial needs facing our state and our community, can't we live without an expressway from Kernersville to Walkertown for a few more decades?
A.L. "BUDDY" COLLINS
WINSTON-SALEM/FORSYTH COUNTY
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER
Kernersville
Disgusted
I was disgusted to read about Baptist Hospital's lawsuit against Joseph Vincoli ("N.C. Baptist suing ex-employee turned whistle-blower," Sept. 11). I hope the ACLU gets involved.
ELLA NIX
Winston-Salem
One thing
There is one thing that our president can personally do to create jobs — not just talk about it. That is by letting the oil industry prosper. By making the EPA and the Interior Department withdraw their bans on drilling for oil in Alaska, the Gulf of Mexico, on federal land and off our coasts, the president, who says he is so interested in creating jobs, will personally create thousands of good jobs in this country while at the same time reducing the price of gas and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.
Talk is cheap — actions mean something.
FRED S. HUTCHINS JR.
Clemmons
Needs for all students
Your recent article on the new Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning Center at Wake Forest University is interesting, and I am sure it will be helpful to many perturbed students ("LGBTQ center at WFU to offer support services to students," Sept. 2). However, it is unfortunate that this article was not in the context of needs for all students and the services provided for heterosexuals who also have personal problems and disturbances in our perplexing modern society. No doubt sexual orientations are very problematic for our young people, but to single out one group without due regard to the others is biased and discriminatory and unfair to the college with its great variety of individuals and their lifestyles.
In fact, it is quite disturbing that states like California feel a need to teach public-school students about homosexuality but do not apparently present an equal emphasis on the values of wholesome heterosexual relationships that are missing in many of today's families. This failure leads to many of our nation's social and political along with sexual problems.
Unfortunately, too many young people are led to make sexual identity instead of spiritual identity the primary issue of their lives. Spiritual dedication manifests respect for everyone, black and white, foreign and native, male and female, and gives people a sense of value as human beings. This is what a college experience provides when it has programs that lead all students to tend to the well being of others, as Christ did.
JIM HELVEY
Winston-Salem
The debate over whether our gay and lesbian citizens should enjoy the rights and privileges of all other citizens should be over. Sometime in the future our gay and lesbian citizens will no longer have to live under the indignity of being second-class Americans. We will, at some point, embrace reality just as we now know that the Earth revolves around the sun and that the world is not flat.
But there is serious resistance that will postpone the day of equality. There are fellow citizens who hold sincere religious convictions that homosexuality is wrong, and that is their right. It is not their right, however, to impose their convictions on those who believe differently. There are others who will block the path to equality by using same-sex marriage as a political ruse to increase voter turnout for their causes. There are still others who are simply bigots.
Whenever a government body passes a law that intentionally discriminates against its own citizens, we are in deep trouble. Our gay and lesbian citizens are victims of such legislation, and they pay taxes, contribute to society, attend our houses of worship and serve in the military. How can we make laws that deliberately discriminate against our friends, neighbors and even our own family members?
If Rep. Dale Folwell had wanted to represent all citizens, he would have sought to repeal the current law banning same-sex marriage instead of co-sponsoring an amendment that is even more divisive and discriminatory.
CHARLES FRANCIS WILSON
Winston-Salem
Live without
Looking at the proposed eastern beltway map in the Journal (" 'You've got it in writing,' " Sept. 7), I am forced to ask this question: With all the pressing financial needs facing our state and our community, can't we live without an expressway from Kernersville to Walkertown for a few more decades?
A.L. "BUDDY" COLLINS
WINSTON-SALEM/FORSYTH COUNTY
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER
Kernersville
Disgusted
I was disgusted to read about Baptist Hospital's lawsuit against Joseph Vincoli ("N.C. Baptist suing ex-employee turned whistle-blower," Sept. 11). I hope the ACLU gets involved.
ELLA NIX
Winston-Salem
One thing
There is one thing that our president can personally do to create jobs — not just talk about it. That is by letting the oil industry prosper. By making the EPA and the Interior Department withdraw their bans on drilling for oil in Alaska, the Gulf of Mexico, on federal land and off our coasts, the president, who says he is so interested in creating jobs, will personally create thousands of good jobs in this country while at the same time reducing the price of gas and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.
Talk is cheap — actions mean something.
FRED S. HUTCHINS JR.
Clemmons
Needs for all students
Your recent article on the new Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning Center at Wake Forest University is interesting, and I am sure it will be helpful to many perturbed students ("LGBTQ center at WFU to offer support services to students," Sept. 2). However, it is unfortunate that this article was not in the context of needs for all students and the services provided for heterosexuals who also have personal problems and disturbances in our perplexing modern society. No doubt sexual orientations are very problematic for our young people, but to single out one group without due regard to the others is biased and discriminatory and unfair to the college with its great variety of individuals and their lifestyles.
In fact, it is quite disturbing that states like California feel a need to teach public-school students about homosexuality but do not apparently present an equal emphasis on the values of wholesome heterosexual relationships that are missing in many of today's families. This failure leads to many of our nation's social and political along with sexual problems.
Unfortunately, too many young people are led to make sexual identity instead of spiritual identity the primary issue of their lives. Spiritual dedication manifests respect for everyone, black and white, foreign and native, male and female, and gives people a sense of value as human beings. This is what a college experience provides when it has programs that lead all students to tend to the well being of others, as Christ did.
JIM HELVEY
Winston-Salem
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Winston-Salem Journal LTE's SU 09/18/11
Good AM, folks!
The Corresponent of the Week is a very intelligent Readers Forum poster whom I like and respect, but his LTE is incomplete in its analysis. It is, however, correct as far as it goes, IMO. My compliments to him for his LTE, nonetheless.
Strong families
I am glad that the members of the General Assembly have seen fit to convene to give our families much-needed support. Their forward-thinking jobs bill will help many in our state.
Oh, wait ... that's not what they were doing?
Well, I'm glad that they were determined to find ways to fund the programs that help children get a good start in school and those that feed hungry children so that they can learn.
That's not what they were doing?
At least we have more support for caregivers, for the parents of children who are disabled as well as the children who are caring for their parents.
They didn't do that, either?
If we want to strengthen families, then by golly, let us address the real issues facing our families.
THE REV. PEGGY HAYMES
Winston-Salem
Even further
I agree with the letter writer in the Sept. 11 Readers' Forum about our Sunday blue laws ("Abolish the blue law"). I would go even further and suggest that when a merchant applies for an ABC permit and one is issued, then if this business is normally open to the public on Sunday (Walmart, for example), it can start selling beer and wine at the same time it did on Saturday.
If the state wishes, it can open a liquor store on Sunday.
ROGER L. NICHOLS SR.
Kernersville
The right thing
Regarding the Journal's article "N.C. Baptist suing ex-employee turned whistle-blower," we owe thanks to Joseph Vincoli for having the guts to do the right thing.
Where were the legislators who had oversight for the State Health Plan when the payments were being made to Baptist Hospital? No wonder the public says it can no longer afford to pay for the State Health Plan.
Who ends up paying the price? All taxpayers, state employees included, and especially state employees through higher premiums and reduced coverage.
LLOYD BROWN
Lexington
Two observations
I wish to make two observations regarding the referendum for a constitutional amendment on the definition of marriage and the prohibition of same-sex marriage.
First, I support those who believe that a constitutional amendment should be for the purpose of guaranteeing everyone's rights, not for the purpose of restricting the rights of a minority.
Second, a referendum is a form of survey.
EDWARD J.P. O'CONNOR
Pinnacle
Benefits
I suggest that unless the Forsyth County commissioners can come up with some tangible evidence of the benefits we reap by belonging to the N.C. Association of Registers of Deeds, they cancel the membership ("Registers of deeds' conference questioned," Sept. 12).
RICHARD SIUNIAK
Winston-Salem
Sum It Up:
Do you think the referendum on adding an amendment to the state constitution banning gay marriage is needed?
Correspondent of the Week
Sacrifices
I remember a scene from the old television series "St. Elsewhere." A doctor asks a young patient, "How do you get the girls?" The boy answers as the doctor has taught him: "You tell them what they want to hear." Observing the futility of our dysfunctional government brings that scene to mind.
We, as a society, deserve the government that we have. We have, time after time, voted for the candidate who tells us what we want to hear and cast aside the truth-teller who tells us what we need to hear. In the recent battles over debt reduction, the Republicans have said that we need only cut spending and not raise any revenues to achieve fiscal stability. The Democrats have said that we need only raise taxes on the wealthy and not cut entitlement programs to achieve fiscal stability. Most of the think tanks, economists, relevant committees and appointed panels say that we have to do both — cut entitlements and raise taxes — to get our fiscal house in order.
How do the American people respond? Conservatives watch Fox News, where it is confirmed that raising taxes of any sort is "a job killer." Liberals watch MSNBC, where they are told that entitlement programs should be off the table in the debt-reduction debate. Unless the American electorate stop listening to the snake-oil salesmen, and realize that ultimately everyone — everyone — must make sacrifices, I fear for the future of our country.
DENNIS G. DOSS
Winston-Salem
The Corresponent of the Week is a very intelligent Readers Forum poster whom I like and respect, but his LTE is incomplete in its analysis. It is, however, correct as far as it goes, IMO. My compliments to him for his LTE, nonetheless.
Strong families
I am glad that the members of the General Assembly have seen fit to convene to give our families much-needed support. Their forward-thinking jobs bill will help many in our state.
Oh, wait ... that's not what they were doing?
Well, I'm glad that they were determined to find ways to fund the programs that help children get a good start in school and those that feed hungry children so that they can learn.
That's not what they were doing?
At least we have more support for caregivers, for the parents of children who are disabled as well as the children who are caring for their parents.
They didn't do that, either?
My confusion is understandable. Sen. Jim Forrester, a sponsor of the bill for a constitutional amendment, said that they just wanted to support a strong family structure in North Carolina.
I have lived in this state all my life. As both a minister and a counselor, I have known many families, including families who were struggling. They struggle because of unemployment or underemployment. They struggle because of a lack of resources to help their children thrive. They struggle because caregiving of a minor or a senior has decimated their bank accounts and their emotional reserves. I have never met a couple who was struggling because gay couples had made a commitment to each other.
If we want to strengthen families, then by golly, let us address the real issues facing our families.
THE REV. PEGGY HAYMES
Winston-Salem
Even further
I agree with the letter writer in the Sept. 11 Readers' Forum about our Sunday blue laws ("Abolish the blue law"). I would go even further and suggest that when a merchant applies for an ABC permit and one is issued, then if this business is normally open to the public on Sunday (Walmart, for example), it can start selling beer and wine at the same time it did on Saturday.
If the state wishes, it can open a liquor store on Sunday.
I have long wondered why our famous ACLU hasn't sued North Carolina over this law, which I see as a violation of the First Amendment. Our state government is pandering to the same gang of Jesus freaks who kept us from having a state lottery, sending much-needed money across the state line instead of using it for our schools.
ROGER L. NICHOLS SR.
Kernersville
The right thing
Regarding the Journal's article "N.C. Baptist suing ex-employee turned whistle-blower," we owe thanks to Joseph Vincoli for having the guts to do the right thing.
Where were the legislators who had oversight for the State Health Plan when the payments were being made to Baptist Hospital? No wonder the public says it can no longer afford to pay for the State Health Plan.
Who ends up paying the price? All taxpayers, state employees included, and especially state employees through higher premiums and reduced coverage.
LLOYD BROWN
Lexington
Two observations
I wish to make two observations regarding the referendum for a constitutional amendment on the definition of marriage and the prohibition of same-sex marriage.
First, I support those who believe that a constitutional amendment should be for the purpose of guaranteeing everyone's rights, not for the purpose of restricting the rights of a minority.
Second, a referendum is a form of survey.
As a former teacher of survey methods at the college level, I wish to point out the difference between two types of response to a referendum. The referendum may either survey people's informed decisions, or it may simply give people an opportunity to express their biases. It seems to me that the referendum on same-sex marriage will invite people to express their biases.
EDWARD J.P. O'CONNOR
Pinnacle
Benefits
I suggest that unless the Forsyth County commissioners can come up with some tangible evidence of the benefits we reap by belonging to the N.C. Association of Registers of Deeds, they cancel the membership ("Registers of deeds' conference questioned," Sept. 12).
If they feel there is a need to provide a perk to the office holder, Norman Holleman, then give him a gift certificate for a nice dinner at one of Winston-Salem's fine restaurants. That way, any money spent will stay here in Forsyth County.
RICHARD SIUNIAK
Winston-Salem
Sum It Up:
Do you think the referendum on adding an amendment to the state constitution banning gay marriage is needed?
Correspondent of the Week
Sacrifices
I remember a scene from the old television series "St. Elsewhere." A doctor asks a young patient, "How do you get the girls?" The boy answers as the doctor has taught him: "You tell them what they want to hear." Observing the futility of our dysfunctional government brings that scene to mind.
We, as a society, deserve the government that we have. We have, time after time, voted for the candidate who tells us what we want to hear and cast aside the truth-teller who tells us what we need to hear. In the recent battles over debt reduction, the Republicans have said that we need only cut spending and not raise any revenues to achieve fiscal stability. The Democrats have said that we need only raise taxes on the wealthy and not cut entitlement programs to achieve fiscal stability. Most of the think tanks, economists, relevant committees and appointed panels say that we have to do both — cut entitlements and raise taxes — to get our fiscal house in order.
How do the American people respond? Conservatives watch Fox News, where it is confirmed that raising taxes of any sort is "a job killer." Liberals watch MSNBC, where they are told that entitlement programs should be off the table in the debt-reduction debate. Unless the American electorate stop listening to the snake-oil salesmen, and realize that ultimately everyone — everyone — must make sacrifices, I fear for the future of our country.
DENNIS G. DOSS
Winston-Salem
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