Winston-Salem Journal LTE's FR 09/30/11

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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Yes, since the party has said he will be a one-time president. Sad, but dirty politics is still alive.

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ELIZABETH R. ERVIN

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I think any one of the candidates can whip the socks off of Obama.

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HAROLD DYSON

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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.

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DAVID JONES

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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.

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BOON T. LEE

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No. President Obama is doing a pretty darn good job of defeating himself, without any Republican assistance.

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CHARLES C. STOTT JR.

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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.

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BRAD CROUCH