Winston-Salem Journal LTE's FR 12/23/11

Withdrawal

Republican presidential candidates should call for the immediate withdrawal of our troops from Afghanistan. We have avenged 9/11 by dispatching Osama bin Laden to the land of 27 virgins and, to me, that was the main reason for going into that godforsaken country.

That whole country isn't worth the injury or death of one more American. It is far past time to declare victory and get out of that hellhole.

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FRED S. HUTCHINS JR.

Clemmons

Human rights

Bravo to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her Geneva speech and words that especially need to be heard by all legislators in our N.C. General Assembly: "Gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights."

For all who claim to be followers of Jesus, we are called to be attentive and serve the needs of those around us. I don't believe that Jesus would be in favor of our N.C. legislators who have chosen not to serve all and are discriminating against those God created different and gay.

Gay people are seven times more likely to commit suicide and to be bullied from the time they are small children through their college years. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death in 19- to 24-year-olds and the second in college students. Of all deaths in the U.S. annually, suicide accounts for 12.3 percent of all deaths among 15- to 24-year-olds.

Those who survive and contribute their many talents to society should be honored and not discriminated against, especially by those who proclaim to be Christians and are elected to office in our legislature.

It's the season of glad tidings. Shouldn't it also be the season for our legislators to have second thoughts about their discrimination against the gay community, along with all the budget cuts against citizens with mental illness? There sure needs to be an uprising of those who believe in a kind and loving God.

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MARY ANNECELLI

Winston-Salem

Love for a country

As an immigrant, a World War II veteran and a Lutheran, I am appalled at your thinking concerning the Pledge of Allegiance ("Scorecard," Dec. 10). This is not, and I emphasize not , a question of religion but a question of your love for a country that does so much for so many and especially those of us who live here.

We set the standard of what America stands for, and we should thank and praise God for who we are.

Those who live here and work here should praise America and pledge to God. Those who cannot do this should go home from whence they came.

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WILLIAM A. SANDER

Winston-Salem

The correct move

I read with interest your Dec. 8 editorial, "Ultimately, legislature made right move." If you would take the time to go back and research how many millions of dollars have been raided from the highway trust fund to balance the state budget and whatever else it was used for instead of its intended purpose, I believe you would find there would be ample dollars to do whatever is needed in road and bridges. The past two administrations have used it as their "go to" fund.

The House made the correct move in trying to cap the gas tax at 35 cents. Unfortunately, for whatever reason dealing with the parliamentary objection, the House delayed its final vote, which in essence is allowing for the increase. The Senate did not have the courage to even vote on it and went home early.

It appears that neither the House nor the Senate is looking out for the people paying the tax. I thought the Republicans were against tax increases. They missed the boat on this issue.

Like all taxes we pay, the more you give the government, the more it will spend.

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ROBERT WEATHERMAN

Winston-Salem