Respect and Zimmerman
The death of any young person is tragic, especially if it could have been prevented. In listening to radio programs and reading news articles about the Trayvon Martin case, I can certainly understand the outrage and frustration from the community. If we, as a diverse nation, expect to figure out why it happened and, most important, the way to prevent a similar tragedy, I would encourage us to step back from the overused and seldom-justified "race card" as the catalyst and look at one word: Respect.
Had George Zimmerman respected the directions of the police department, specifically that he not pursue or confront the stranger, we might have had a different outcome. Similarly, had Trayvon Martin, when confronted, shown respect to George Zimmerman as a neighborhood watchman — and answered questions politely, even if he felt stereotyped — we might have had a different outcome.
We cannot change others' perceptions about us, only the way we respond toward them.
Finally, we as parents should ask ourselves a much-needed question: What would my child do? The answer may surprise us, but it needs to be asked. Then, we as parents can talk about respect and attempt to prevent a similar tragedy.
COLETTE NESTER
Sparta
Vote for Santorum
I first met Rick Santorum in 1990 when he was a candidate for Congress in southwest Pennsylvania, where I was active in Republican politics and served as secretary of a political-action committee. Rick called my company seeking financial support for his primary campaign. Since he had no name recognition, little cash and eight GOP opponents, I figured he had zero chance of victory. However, after having a three-hour lunch with me and a bank colleague, he walked out of the restaurant with a sizable contribution, which turned out to be a rewarding investment. Rick won the primary and went on to defeat his opponent in a heavily Democratic district.
After two terms in Congress, Rick was elected to 12 years in the U.S. Senate, where he served as a member of the Republican leadership team. He suffered his only political defeat in 2006 when the opposition, with a half-million vote majority, ran a pro-life Democratic hack (rarer than a Southern liberal) against him.
As a patriotic American, I proudly support Rick Santorum for president of the United States with both my words and my wallet. He is truly one of the finest Americans I have had the honor to call my friend. Rick believes in his country, his family, his friends and his God-blessed demonstrated ability to always do what's in their best interests.
America cannot afford four more years of incompetent, leaderless government. Please join me in voting for Rick in the North Carolina Republican primary and for president in November.
EDWARD H. SEHON
Winston-Salem
No to Amendment One
According to N.C. House Speaker Thom Tillis, researchers have predicted Amendment One will pass with approximately 54 percent of the vote, but he believes it won't remain long ("Tillis stands by remarks on same-sex marriage," March 28).
"If it passes, I think it will be repealed within 20 years," Tillis said. "It's a generational issue. The data shows right now that you are a generation away from that issue."
Protect All NC Families' campaign manager, Jeremy Kennedy, responded: "Thom Tillis' statement reveals not only the growing opposition to Amendment One, but also that even its primary proponent is now having second thoughts about the necessity and longevity of this constitutional rewrite. Our question is then, 'Why would you strip kids of their health care, threaten domestic violence protections, and muddy parental rights to their children — all in a last-ditch effort to codify a poorly written measure that future generations will be forced to clean up?' "
Proponents will say they are doing it to keep marriage between a man and a woman (no same-sex couplings, which is already against the law), but it ends up affecting children to older adults and those in between. Tell me, why should we write something into the constitution that even proponents of the amendment say will be repealed by those in the future who are open-minded and against discrimination in any form?
Inform yourself about this at www.protectncfamilies.org. Just vote no on May 8 and keep it off the books.
LOIS VonCANNON
Kernersville
Obama's strengths
Yes, yes, President Obama was caught saying something imprudent — in a conversation that was supposed to be private, with another world leader whose country, contrary to what the Republicans say, is not our enemy ("Mic catches candid remark," March 27).
Contrast this to Mitt Romney, who can't seem to open his mouth without reminding everyone around that he's different from all those poor people who comprise the American public; Newt Gingrich, whose cup runneth over with crazy ideas; and Rick Santorum, who is determined to drag us back to the Dark Ages.
Obama is the best advertisement we've had on the world stage for American values since Ronald Reagan. Whatever one's politics are, Americans should take pride in this accomplished, competent, intelligent leader.
Those who can't at least acknowledge those points are simply blinded with hatred.
HELENA MURPHY
Winston-Salem
Subsidies and loss
Let me get this straight: Winston-Salem city officials want to sell Joel Coliseum and Bowman Gray Stadium because they lose money and the city doesn't want to subsidize them ("City will 'aggressively' pursue selling two venues," March 27). At the same time the city wants to build a streetcar system, which everyone agrees will lose money ("Discussion opens on streetcar system," March 29) from day one and will have to be subsidized.
Am I the only one who sees the insanity in this?
MARK E. AYERS
Winston-Salem
LTE#2 Just makes me want to throw up.
ReplyDeleteReferring to Santorum Mr. Sehon writes, "he walked out of the restaurant with a sizable contribution, which turned out to be a rewarding investment."
DeleteInteresting word choice the word "investment". Literally spelling out that you bought and paid for your candidate, how appropriate for "a patriotic American" as you describe yourself in your LTE.
Again this letter makes me want to throw up, so I will fast until lunch.
"Rick believes in his country, his family, his friends and his God-blessed demonstrated ability to always do what's in their best interests."
DeleteI believe in our country, our family, our friends and our ability to do what is best for our country.
Maybe I won't eat at all today.
Barry Goldwater On Christians And Compromise:
Delete“Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party and they’re sure trying to do so, it’s going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can’t and won’t compromise. I know, I’ve tried to deal with them.”
~ Barry Goldwater, November 1994, as quoted in John Dean, Conservatives Without Conscience (2006)
You know that things are bad when we begin citing Goldwater as a voice of sanity...which he was, relatively speaking. Here is the famous mushroom cloud ad that ran only once on NBC when Goldwater was running against LBJ:
DeleteMushroom Cloud
Both Goldwater and Reagan would be considered RINO's today.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon folks! Looks like we're in endorsement season.
ReplyDeleteLTE 1: Respect and civility instead of mistrust and paranoia go a long ways towards having a civilized society.
LTE 2: Endorsement. Me thinks this is a futile gesture at this point...which is a good thing imo. I'm sure Santorum has done what he thought best for his family and friends, but the US is comprised of a far more diverse crowd than just fundamentalist Catholics.
LTE 3: If even Rep. Tillis recognizes the inevitability of gay marriage across the country, then what's the purpose of this amendment which is destined to be overturned? Why waste our time?
LTE 4: I'll take this as another endorsement. "...best advertisement we've had on the world stage for American values since Ronald Reagan." - Ah, Reagan...divorced Hollywood actor who pitched cigarettes on TV and had a daughter who posed in Playboy. American values at its finest.
LTE 5: It doesn't make a lot of sense, does it? Granted, it would be cool to have, but I don't see W-S having the population density to support such a system unless it was part of some state or federal system that would subsidize part of the cost.
Read quickly without real thought, LTE #1 sounds OK. But there is a serious problem.
ReplyDelete"Similarly, had Trayvon Martin, when confronted, shown respect to George Zimmerman as a neighborhood watchman — and answered questions politely, even if he felt stereotyped — we might have had a different outcome."
There are a couple of things that people don't seem to get about this incident:
1. When a Neighborhood Watch group is formed, the police explain your duties - watch and report - and what you are not supposed to do - patrol and, especially, approach. Zimmerman was not a captain of anything and had no business doing what he was doing.
2. Let's run through the scenario. It is night. You're a 17 year old black boy on your way home from the convenience store. Some white guy starts following you in his car. You cut across the complex, so the guy gets out and starts pursuing you on foot. You have no idea who this guy is, but you are instinctively if not historically aware that this has happened thousands of times to thousands of young black men in American history, many of whom ended up hanging from a tulip tree down in the swamp.
So the logical thing to do is to stop, turn and say "Excuse me, captain sir, but why are you following me around in the dark, sir? Oh, and sir, what is that bulge under your arm, sir?"
The best thing that the kid could have done was take his girlfriend's advice and run for his life. That's what I'd have done.
The Marine sergeant who taught us unarmed combat was fond of reciting the first rule of unarmed combat which is "Don't do it. If at all possible, run for your life."