Sustainable path?
It is sad, from both sides of the aisle, that the political conversation has become so divisive in this country. It is as if it has become completely impossible for us to have a civilized, respectful debate. It's a wonder we get anything done in this country today.
While speaking in Ohio recently, the president said, "I'm asking you to believe in me." He is still running on hope and change, it would appear.
For the record, I like and support the president, especially when considering who the alternative is. The Republicans do not help one bit, with their attitudes toward getting things done, but at what point does hope and change become actions and results?
You know it is bad when the big argument nowadays is about Mitt Romney's dog. What has the government done the past few years to make our lives better? Does it even seem like Washington gives a hoot about any one of us? Key issues that we can't seem to get anywhere on include the soaring debt crisis, the economy still being in the tank, health care, education, fuel costs and a government that seems to just get bigger and more intrusive by the day, and there is little we can do about it.
But hey, other than that, things are great.
I could go on and on. At what point is enough enough? How much longer is this path sustainable before we all crash and burn?
JEFFREY L. HODGES JR.
East Bend
Losing sleep
Judge Joseph Turner will not be the only one losing sleep after his stunning and disgraceful suspension of sentence of sexual-abuse charges against Eric Lamar Williams Jr. ("Sentence cut in sex-abuse case," May 4). Williams knowingly and willingly allowed a minor to perform a sex act on him. There is no doubt as to the veracity of the charges as Williams himself pleaded guilty to the charges in Forsyth Superior Court. The defense claims of Williams' lack of social skills and low IQ don't excuse his moral depravity. Arguing that he was not an active participant or blaming his accomplices is equally inexcusable.
As the parent of a 14-year-old girl, I find Judge Turner's acceptance of these feeble defense arguments outrageous. Furthermore, I suggest that this ruling be appealed and Judge Turner be reprimanded for this gross miscarriage of justice.
CHRIS HOLLAND
Kernersville
Narcissistic union
I recently turned on the cable news channels to learn of the events of the day. Instead of seeing news, I saw the cable news channels showing a live broadcast of the annual White House Correspondents' Association's dinner from Washington. Instead of seeing news, I saw a Hollywood-style gala that I didn't wish to see ("Obama pokes fun at Trump, Romney, GSA," April 29).
I was appalled at what I saw. Hollywood movie stars, high-ranking members of our federal government and members of the media elite eating and drinking and taking thinly-veiled cheap shots at each other, all in the spirit of "harmless fun." The Super Bowl of narcissism.
Our federal government has failed to serve the interests of its constituents — any voter survey will support this claim. The news media fails to adequately inform us of the world in which we live — instead they pursue market share via presenting us with myriad "style over substance" stories disguised as real news.
The correspondents' dinner seems to show us, in all its glory, the unholy alliance that our ineffective federal government has with our ineffective news media. Our government officials seem content with how the media covers their poor performance, and the media seems content with the poor performance of our elected officials.
We deserve better from both.
PATRICK R. McMULLEN
Winston-Salem
Social issues
Next year I will be able to vote for the first time. I wonder what will be on the ballot — more social issues that have little or nothing to do with politics? Am I going to have to educate myself on what innocuous amendments mean rather than how candidates intend to advance the economy, create jobs and improve education?
As a future voter myself, I think politics should be separate and apart from social issues — like separation of church and state perhaps?
BESSIE ROSE WOLTZ
STUDENT, CAREER CENTER
Winston-Salem
Sum It Up
Are you satisfied with the results of the 2012 primaries?
Reading Chris Holland's LTE reminded me of an Oprah interview with Tyler Perry as he spoke of his abuse as a child. He said his "body betrayed him". It's horrible what the young girl did; very few people know for sure but the child may have been acting out abuse she may have experienced. This isn't an excuse, just some insight. The young man's body betrayed HIM. Not an excuse, just some insight.
ReplyDeleteLTE #3: It's evident that Miss Woltz has been taught EXCELLENT critical thinking AND writing skills. My heart is filled with hope for the future because of this WONDERFUL and thought provoking letter.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to share this post from one of my facebook friends:
ReplyDelete"As I am a very devout Christian, I am also a gay male and I'm at a loss for words tonight. People have made this amendment both a gay and religious issue, when, in truth, it is neither. Neither side should cast stones at the other. This amendment was, in fact, a way for close-minded politicians to take away even more rights from its people. They used this to turn all God's people against one another. It is the politicians, who started this hatred in order to get their "hidden agendas" passed, that should be blamed. God does not teach us to hate, but to " Love thy neighbor as thyself". Everyone who knows me, knows that I love everyone the same. All I want is for everyone to stop laying blame where it is not deserved. I am equally proud that I am a saved, blood-bought, child of the Lord and that I am a male who can love and spend my life with the man that the Lord sent to me. Marriage or not, we are life partners and Christian. I just feel we should all stand together and fight for the rights of everyone, not just a certain few. May God bless you all."
I'm not surprised in the outcome of the vote. I'll also point out that in the counties surrounding the Triad, statistically speaking, the the gap between the "for" and "against" votes are greatest the farthest away the county is from the metropolitan areas. Take this information however you want, but IT IS something to think about.
Your FB friend has remarkable insight, LaSombra. The state legislatures who had this placed on the ballot should be ashamed of themselves for what they have done to this state and the divisions they have caused.
Delete. . . and he's a great friend. Thanks, dotnet.
Delete"The state legislatures who had this placed on the ballot should be ashamed of themselves for what they have done to this state and the divisions they have caused." Indeed. I have now dubbed them the "Might is Right League". A well deserved label.
DeleteYes, this was a contest between enlightenment and ignorance as can be measured by distance from the centers of learning, with one strange exception.
DeleteThe amendment was defeated in only eight counties.
Seven of those were the "civilized" counties: Watauga (App St), Buncombe (UNC-A and Warren Wilson Col), Mecklenburg, Durham (Duke & NCCU), Wake (NCSU, Meredith, Shaw), Orange (UNC-CH) and Chatham (Chapel Hill suburb).
The outlier was Dare County on the coast...hmm!
Guilford County missed making the honor roll by only 72 votes out of about 17,000, 0.06%.
Forsyth was the largest county to vote for the amendment, 52.6-47.4%. We never really had a chance of joining the enlightened because we have so many fundamentalist mega churches with their fleets of buses and our colleges are too small.
DeleteThe core precincts of the city of W-S went against with a few exceptions, one being St. John Wesleyan AME Church, which is a large housing project near the airport and some ethnically mixed neighborhoods in the southeast such as Parkland, Konnoak Hills and Easton.
Of course, our white flight suburbs, Clemmons, Lewisville and Kernersville all voted for the amendment, not to mention the tax avoiders in King and Bermuda Run.
Good afternoon folks!
ReplyDeleteLTE 1: That's the nature of politics. Instead of working together to find the best solution, it's about adherence to a particular ideology regardless of how destructive certain tenets of that ideology may be. That's why I find politics to be pure evil.
LTE 2: Speaking of tenets, one of the basic tenets underlying criminal law is that the accused was fully aware that the acts in question were wrong or could have forseen that those acts could lead to a poor/tragic outcome for another person(i.e. capable of forming a motive). This is why insanity laws have existed for so long in order to account for those who are deemed incapable of having a motive for committing a crime. Possessing very low intelligence does bring up a valid question of the defendent's ablity to comprehend what he was doing was wrong. I do not believe in Monday morning judging, nor do I see any reason to begin with questioning the judge's sentencing in this case.
LTE 3: The annual White House Correspondents' Association's dinner has traditionally been a light-hearted affair with politicians and journalists poking fun at each other. To reach the point of becoming a White House correspondent or being elected to an office that awards an invite to the occassion, a bit of narcissism is to be expected. Certainly, nothing to be "appalled" at.
LTE 4: Since next year is an off year for elections, my guess is there will be nothing of substance. In 2 years, who knows? We may be voting to make divorce illegal, the missionary position mandatory, abortion illegal, and the wearing of pant suits by women illegal.
Sum it up: I would say I'm not surprised by the results rather than satisfied.
Another lazy cop-out...I'll mostly agree with dotnet's comments...as usual thoughtful and succinct.
DeleteI particularly like the missionary position business as I have long suspected that any other position has the potential to lead to pleasure, which would certainly offend biblical tradition. And don't try to tell me that sex was invented before the bible. It's just not true!
As to the pant suit idea: A friend of mine once worked at a large firm which required male employees to wear a coat and tie while the pants clad women had far less stringent rules. One day he suggested to the VP in charge of image that the women be required to wear dresses.
"I'll be glad to bring that up at the next meeting," the VP replied. "Of course, I will have to give the name of the person who suggested it."
"Forget it," my friend said.
As to the result of the primary, I doubt if anyone is satisfied. The Amendmentites really accomplished nothing and if you look at the Republican Presidential primary, you will note that about 35% of the voters are not at all happy with their presumptive nominee.
"We may be voting to make divorce illegal, the missionary position mandatory, abortion illegal, and the wearing of pant suits by women illegal. "
DeleteDon't joke. People like Bucko, Deb Phillips and Caniac Steve want to use the power of the state to control my private life. I wouldn't be surprised if it came to that...I really wouldn't.
At least you don't have to worry about divorce. Fundamentalist christians have the highest divorce rate in the nation, so they're not going to give that up.
DeleteOf course, they might find a bible verse that they can twist somehow to ban divorce for anyone but fundamentalist christians.
@Arthur's 5pm: Don't forget Wes Patterson, Harvey Pulliam Jr., Linda Diorio, and Ms. Wilson (can't remember her first name).
DeleteThey're all very strict and love to punish people. Some guys are into that, but I'm not one of them. Besides, I'd probably forget the safe word.
Delete