A direct violation
I find it extremely disturbing that the Winston-Salem City Council has voted against allowing law-abiding citizens with permits to carry concealed weapons in most city parks ("Hidden guns banned in 52 parks," Nov. 22). The law-abiding citizen who has been fully vetted by the Forsyth County sheriff, and the rest of society visiting these parks are now at the mercy of the criminals. This is a direct violation of my right to have the ability to defend myself and my family from harm that may present itself to me any time I visit one of these exempt parks.
Do criminals have this same exemption? Will they follow the law and not carry a "hidden gun" per your headline? Of course not; that's why they're called criminals.
To subvert my ability to protect my family and me is to rely on a police force that will not be next to my side 24/7. Only law-abiding citizens with the ability to carry weapons have that ability 24/7.
Shame on the council for taking that right away. Would it act as quickly if this was a First Amendment right?
MARK A. POWERS
Winston Salem
Tomorrow's teachers
It's the time of year when I usually receive my invitation to be part of the N.C. Teaching Fellowship selection process. For the past several years I've had the privilege to serve on the selection committee and to choose which high-school seniors receive scholarships to become public-school teachers.
As a member of the business community, I was always struck by the high level of students that applied to the program. These students had the talents to receive high-paying jobs in many professions, but they wanted to be teachers. They came from all walks of life. Several worked full-time jobs to help their families while maintaining excellent grades. They represented the best that children have to offer and they had the desire to give back. I was impressed.
One of the best aspects of the program was that it required the scholarship recipients to remain as public-school teachers for several years. It gave the community a strong foundation of teachers for tomorrow.
Unfortunately, I will not be receiving an invitation to serve this year, as the program was cut from the North Carolina state budget. With hope, the highly talented students that would have qualified for the program will still find the means to go to college and become teachers. Our future success depends on a well-trained work force educated by the best teachers.
CRAIG ALLISON
MATERIALS MANAGER, TE CONNECTIVITY
Advance
Extremes
I read where the writer of the letter "Checklist" (Nov. 22) set the record straight on "evil" progressives. Note: When you stereotype an ideology and list extremes only, you don't really make an intelligent point, only an emotional one.
Her list makes a greater statement about herself than the progressives she condemns. Sweeping generalizations seldom do anybody any good and are mostly inaccurate. For example, I am a "progressive" and yet I am a Christian who does not think "God is a myth." I also have no aversion to the American flag, believe it or not. But yes, I am against greed and power-lust and the gap between the rich and poor, and I do appreciate diversity, multiculturalism and the environment.
The writer created a laundry list of extremist stereotypes, and I could do the same thing: "Conservatives don't care about the poor or minorities. Government and religion should be the same thing. Wealthy people matter more than anyone else. Anyone who is unemployed is a bum." Making blanket statements about what you don't agree with does not change people's minds. The truth always lies somewhere in the middle of these extreme statements, and that's where conservatives and liberals, tea partiers and Occupiers, Republicans and Democrats can find common ground.
We all have more common values than we think, but they will never be discovered as long as we only state the extreme stereotypes of the other side.
EDWIN BLAKE WADDELL
Winston-Salem
Sum It Up
I find it extremely disturbing that the Winston-Salem City Council has voted against allowing law-abiding citizens with permits to carry concealed weapons in most city parks ("Hidden guns banned in 52 parks," Nov. 22). The law-abiding citizen who has been fully vetted by the Forsyth County sheriff, and the rest of society visiting these parks are now at the mercy of the criminals. This is a direct violation of my right to have the ability to defend myself and my family from harm that may present itself to me any time I visit one of these exempt parks.
Do criminals have this same exemption? Will they follow the law and not carry a "hidden gun" per your headline? Of course not; that's why they're called criminals.
To subvert my ability to protect my family and me is to rely on a police force that will not be next to my side 24/7. Only law-abiding citizens with the ability to carry weapons have that ability 24/7.
Shame on the council for taking that right away. Would it act as quickly if this was a First Amendment right?
MARK A. POWERS
Winston Salem
Tomorrow's teachers
It's the time of year when I usually receive my invitation to be part of the N.C. Teaching Fellowship selection process. For the past several years I've had the privilege to serve on the selection committee and to choose which high-school seniors receive scholarships to become public-school teachers.
As a member of the business community, I was always struck by the high level of students that applied to the program. These students had the talents to receive high-paying jobs in many professions, but they wanted to be teachers. They came from all walks of life. Several worked full-time jobs to help their families while maintaining excellent grades. They represented the best that children have to offer and they had the desire to give back. I was impressed.
One of the best aspects of the program was that it required the scholarship recipients to remain as public-school teachers for several years. It gave the community a strong foundation of teachers for tomorrow.
Unfortunately, I will not be receiving an invitation to serve this year, as the program was cut from the North Carolina state budget. With hope, the highly talented students that would have qualified for the program will still find the means to go to college and become teachers. Our future success depends on a well-trained work force educated by the best teachers.
CRAIG ALLISON
MATERIALS MANAGER, TE CONNECTIVITY
Advance
Extremes
I read where the writer of the letter "Checklist" (Nov. 22) set the record straight on "evil" progressives. Note: When you stereotype an ideology and list extremes only, you don't really make an intelligent point, only an emotional one.
Her list makes a greater statement about herself than the progressives she condemns. Sweeping generalizations seldom do anybody any good and are mostly inaccurate. For example, I am a "progressive" and yet I am a Christian who does not think "God is a myth." I also have no aversion to the American flag, believe it or not. But yes, I am against greed and power-lust and the gap between the rich and poor, and I do appreciate diversity, multiculturalism and the environment.
The writer created a laundry list of extremist stereotypes, and I could do the same thing: "Conservatives don't care about the poor or minorities. Government and religion should be the same thing. Wealthy people matter more than anyone else. Anyone who is unemployed is a bum." Making blanket statements about what you don't agree with does not change people's minds. The truth always lies somewhere in the middle of these extreme statements, and that's where conservatives and liberals, tea partiers and Occupiers, Republicans and Democrats can find common ground.
We all have more common values than we think, but they will never be discovered as long as we only state the extreme stereotypes of the other side.
EDWIN BLAKE WADDELL
Winston-Salem
Sum It Up
Should the government be heavily involved
in helping the needy? Respond to letters@wsjournal.com and put "Sum It Up" in the
subject header. Only signed entries please, no anonymous ones. Briefer responses
receive preference in print.
CORRESPONDENT OF THE WEEK
FUBAR
The indignities imposed upon our veterans (both living and dead) returning from overseas wars as described in your Nov. 17 editorial "Loss of body parts latest shameful act" is well beyond SNAFU (Situation Normal All Fouled Up) and fits under another military saying: FUBAR, or Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition (which also comes in a saltier version).
MURRAY C. GREASON JR.
Winston-Salem
FUBAR
The indignities imposed upon our veterans (both living and dead) returning from overseas wars as described in your Nov. 17 editorial "Loss of body parts latest shameful act" is well beyond SNAFU (Situation Normal All Fouled Up) and fits under another military saying: FUBAR, or Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition (which also comes in a saltier version).
MURRAY C. GREASON JR.
Winston-Salem
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