Winston-Salem Journal LTE TU 03/20/12

Gandhi on Christianity

Mahatma Gandhi said, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." After suffering through an increasing onslaught of nonsensical letters to the Readers' Forum arguing about who's a real Christian, I see Gandhi's point.

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ANTHONY VRSECKY

Winston-Salem

Admiration and offense

I admire the language of Pattie Curran, the woman on her way to see "The Crucible" ("Opera patron unhappy with art" March 16), who felt "ambushed" by the use of the female body. But I am offended by the Salem witch trials; Sen. Joe McCarthy; Foster Friess, a billionaire supporter of Rick Santorum; the governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell; and the Journal's putting this one-person story on the front page.

I am certainly not offended by Millicent Greason-Spivak's calling to our attention to political assaults upon women. Isn't it time?

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EMILY HERRING WILSON

Winston-Salem

Obama's difference

I am perplexed at the hate and vitriol heaped upon President Obama by conservatives. It seems that they would find some merit in his exemplary personal display of family values. On his orders, our military has rescued hostages and rid this world of Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaida leaders. His actions saved the American automobile industry and probably prevented an even worse economic disaster.

The birther non-issue has been put to rest by the revelation of his birth announcement in the Honolulu newspapers and the release of the long form of his birth certificate. Proof of citizenship was not demanded of the Panama-born John McCain, nor of Mitt Romney, whose father was born in Mexico.

What, I wondered, is so different about this president? Then I saw a picture of him during a recent visit to North Carolina, and I suddenly realized the problem. Have you seen his ears? They're certainly not normal-sized. It's enough to make all the normal-eared people fear for the future.

Suppose he gets re-elected — what then? Why, in the future, other big-eared people might get elected president, and then where would all the normal-eared people be? However, if this big-eared president can be defeated, then, in the future, when another big-eared person tries to run for president, we normal-eared folks can say, "No thanks. We tried a big-eared president once, and it didn't work out. They just can't do the job."

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JERRY HOLCOMB

Rural Hall

Making hard decisions

I was confused by Winston-Salem City Councilman Dan Besse's quote in Scott Sexton's March 13 column, "Venue costs are more than city wants to bear." When referring to trying to cut the city budget to avoid a tax increase, Besse said, "We're running out of low-hanging fruit." If by that he means he has run out of the easy, non-controversial budget cuts and thus is ready to raise taxes, then it's time to break out the ladder so he can reach up higher. Simply put, the council members are not doing their job if they are not willing to make the hard decisions necessary to avoid further tax increases.

Taxpayers are tired of the city making bad loans and only getting back cents on the dollar. Taxpayers are tired of subsidizing a transit system that won't pay for itself. Taxpayers are tired of funding "special interest projects" that only benefit a small portion of the city residents. Taxpayers are tired of having to subsidize venues like the coliseum that will not support themselves.

It's time to balance the city budget without increasing taxes. If the city council doesn't have the backbone to make the hard and sometimes unpopular decisions to accomplish this, it's high time we got a city council that will.

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PAUL WARTA

Winston-Salem

Buying their way

This letter is written in response to Jim Hightower's column, "Treating sick rich folks" (March 10). I had to read it three times to fully comprehend the content. I am amazed that hospitals that draw huge subsidies from taxpayers provide such elaborate services for rich patients, including concierges, five-star meals, marble baths, imported bed sheets, butlers, special kitchens and other amenities. While this is being done, regular patients are lucky to get a gurney in the hallway. It truly amazes me that rich people can buy their way into "amenities units."

I am a member of the Triad Association of Health Underwriters and feel equality of care should be given everyone. If one is fortunate to be "rich," that is wonderful, however I do not feel the hospital should cater to the rich. After all, we are all there to receive quality health care.

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CAROL PENNINGTON

Kernersville