Saturday, June 30, 2012
Winston-Salem Journal LTE SA 06/30/12
No Emperor Obama
I read Cal Thomas's June 21 column, "All hail Emperor Obama," and reflexively remembered the story I heard as a small child where an innocent, yet honest child yelled, "The emperor has no clothes!"
We should greatly fear President Obama's re-election. He is making unilateral (and maybe unconstitutional) decisions that I believe are a grave misuse of power, acting as if he is already strutting his new wardrobe. (He told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, "After my election I have more flexibility," when he thought the microphone was off.) He is now refusing to share important documents, claiming "executive privilege."
If "Emperor Obama" wins another term, we will soon realize that he has no clothes (read: no ability or knowledge about how to lead us forward and no desire to do so). He will lead us into socialism as he has always planned. And under his leadership we will likely become the next Third World country, and Obama will reign ad infinitum.
This presidential election is the most important our country has faced. We must vote for Mitt Romney and give him a Congress that will work with him to return us to the United States of America that our forefathers worked so hard to forge. Those who have never cared enough to vote, vote now. Forget party loyalties and vote for America. America's future is in our hands. Vote against Obama's socialism. Wemust understand that we don't need an emperor, clothed or not!
ELIZABETH KISER
Winston-Salem
A successful man
It was with keen interest that I read the article about West Salem's John Ruff ("Father's legacy still grows in West Salem," June 22). I vividly remember back over 30 years ago when he very kindly assisted my young son in selecting a pet parakeet.
Little did I ever know of his love of gardening and success in business as revealed in David Bare's Home & Garden column. My family and I just remember the softhearted care and patience he displayed in making sure a youngster found the perfect pet.
Thanks to the Journal for printing the story of this special man.
JAN TINGLE
Lewisville
GOP strategy
This year's budget again shortchanges public education and school children ("Budget moves to Perdue as assembly gives final OK," June 22). It seems that this is the GOP strategy: to starve public education, then blame the public schools for poor performance and eventually privatize public schools. The aim is to break up teachers unions or associations.
We should realize that to shortchange public education is to shortchange the future of the state. Also, it deals a devastating blow to the aging eugenics victims.
However, the GOP big donors, the rich, are being well taken care of.
BOON T. LEE
Winston-Salem
Columnists spin
So both Cal Thomas ("All hail Emperor Obama," June 21) and Charles Krauthammer ("The immigration bombshell: Naked lawlessness," June 25) nailed President Obama. They both caught him saying that he didn't have the authority to change immigration policy. They both quoted Obama on that topic:
"This notion I can somehow just change the laws unilaterally is just not true. We are doing everything we can administratively, but [the] fact of the matter is there are laws on the books that I have to enforce. And I think there's been [a] great disservice done to the cause of getting the DREAM Act passed and getting comprehensive immigration passed by perpetrating the notion that somehow, by myself, I can go and do these things. It's just not true."
And they both stopped quoting him before he continued with this:
"Now, what we can do is to prioritize enforcement, since there are limited enforcement resources, and say we're not gonna go chasing after this young man or anybody else who's been acting responsibly and would otherwise qualify for legal status if the DREAM Act passed."
Which is exactly what he did.
These columnists join the long line of dishonest commentators — Sean Hannity and others on Fox News did the very same thing, big surprise — who spin the evidence in whatever direction they can to make the president look bad.
HANK BOLES
Winston-Salem
Finish the Thought
Briefly complete the sentence below and send it to us atletters@wsjournal.com. We'll print some of the results in a few days. Only signed entries, please, no anonymous ones.
"Americans celebrate July 4 because …"
Friday, June 29, 2012
Winston-Salem Journal LTE FR 06/29/12
Unbelievable
I couldn't believe my eyes. Right there in the June 23 Journal, "Cheney's lesbian daughter weds." From Washington came the story, beginning: Mary Cheney, the openly gay daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, has married her longtime partner, Heather Poe.
The Cheney family responded: "Mary and Heather and their children are very important and much loved members of our family and we wish them every happiness."
I'm still trying to wrap my head around that.
The most interesting part to me, though, was that Mary has given birth to two children that she and her wife are raising.
Wow, it feels good to write that. "Her wife."
But surely there's a mistake in there somewhere. Gay people can't reproduce. That's what all the conservative ministers say.
CARL McDOWELL
Winston-Salem
Global economy changes
Harold Meyerson's lament over the decline of unionism ("America without a union movement," June 15) is anachronistic. The global economy experienced industrial revolutions in the 19th and 20th centuries as mechanization replaced manual labor on the farm and in manufacturing firms. Here in the 21st century, we are experiencing a third industrial revolution, brought on by the transformative power of the computer chip and the Internet. The common thread through all these upheavals is the introduction of labor-saving innovations raising productivity and living standards. The shrinking demand for unskilled and semi-skilled labor reduced the scope for union representation.
Meyerson glances over the importance of globalization in the trend to deunionization. When China disavowed centuries of isolationism and adopted an export-oriented strategy, it freed vast numbers of Chinese workers to participate in international trade and raise their living standards. In a stroke the global labor force doubled, creating a global glut of low-skilled workers. U.S. manufacturers confronted a choice: Either relocate operations to China or restructure to preserve their competitiveness. The latter option ushered in a new wave of labor-saving technologies — robotics and other forms of automation.
Unions still have a role to play in the workplace balance of power where work effort is standardized and productivity is undifferentiated. Thus today there are more unionized public-sector workers than unionized private-sector workers. Ideally we would have no need for union representation, if everyone emerging from our educational system had marketable skills, and his/her productivity was measurable and rewarded accordingly.
PETER MOONEY
Advance
Sum It Up
The Sum It Up question from Sunday was: Are you satisfied with the state budget approved by the legislature?
I suppose so, could be worse, no doubt.
WILLIAM SAMS
Yes, as far as it goes. You must remember: Unlike the federal government, North Carolina cannot print its own money.
For all practical purposes, the state of North Carolina is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. Yes, the reduction in the budget will hurt some programs. Yes, the spending must be cut.
The real problem is it cannot be cut enough.
CLIFFORD McCRARY
FY2012-13 is a continuation budget, in which lawmakers make changes to the second year of the biennial state budget that was passed in the spring of 2011. The Republicans (and a few Democrats) continue their Hooverish austerity lunacy and ideological campaign while lining their own pockets, what's not to like?
They gut the public-school system more (we're now 49th in per-student spending) so they can have an excuse to give vouchers for private Christian schools. They cut funds for indigent (the group they most hate) health care and legal services, completely cut funds for "liberal mouthpiece" UNC-TV and worst of all refuse to give the victims of the state's forced sterilization program their due and promised compensation.
KAM BENFIELD
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Winston-Salem Journal LTE TH 06/28/12
Confusing logic
The writer of the letter "Political scheme" (June 25) is a little confused about logic. He writes:
"Many say that these individuals should not be punished by being deported because they were brought here by their parents. But if this reasoning is pursued to its logical conclusion, then no parent would ever be sent to prison for murder or any other crime because that would punish their children for something the parents did."
But that's not a logical analogy.
In the first situation he writes about, the children are being punished for something their parents did. In the second situation, the children aren't being punished for something their parents did — the parents are being punished for something the parents did. That's not the same at all. It would only be analogous if the children were being thrown in prison for the murders their parents committed.
Which would be about as logical as kicking children out of the country for something their parents did.
I think this illustration exemplifies the level of reasoning behind opponents of the DREAM Act. Another good reason to be on the other side of the issue.
BONNIE G. VAUGHN
Winston-Salem
A big night
There were eight Minor League Baseball All-Star Games across America recently on or around June 19. Some of the games were in pretty compelling places to visit, like Charleston, S.C. and Port Charlotte, Fla. Out of all the possible games that he could have attended on June 19, Pat O'Connor, the president of Minor League Baseball, chose to come to Winston-Salem for the California League-Carolina League All-Star Game. That speaks volumes about Minor League Baseball's commitment to Winston-Salem.
Our community equally demonstrated its commitment to baseball and rose to the occasion to make the All-Star Game a resounding success. The All-Star Game also was a home run in terms of economic impact. Hundreds of players, their families and fans from across the two leagues came to Winston-Salem to stay in hotels, dine and shop. The FanFest on Fourth Street the day before the All-Star Game was particularly positive for downtown.
The biggest impact of all came when nearly 7,000 baseball fans watched the Carolina League's 9-1 triumph. It was a spectacular All-Star Game evening filled with skydivers, an airplane flyover, food and fireworks, capped off by a late-night party at Ziggy's. Visiting team managers, players and fans bragged about the warm hospitality they received and were enthusiastic about the experience at BB&T Ballpark.
On behalf of the Winston-Salem Dash, who served as the host team for the event, thank you to everyone who helped to make the All-Star Game a winning event for the entire community.
GEOFF LASSITER
PRESIDENT, WINSTON-SALEM DASH
Winston-Salem
Finish the Thought
Saturday, we asked readers to complete the sentence: "If the Supreme Court rejects the health-care-reform act ..."
"… our nation will be saved from economic chaos. Many businesses will begin hiring again, of their own volition. The Supreme Court will have faithfully done their job."
WES PATTERSON
"If the Affordable Care Act is struck down entirely by this right-wing activist Supreme Court, ignoring all precedents, then the current broken health-care system becomes owned entirely by the Republicans. As James Carville has said, when Americans start to complain about unaffordable premiums, medical services not covered by their plans, or being unable to get coverage at all due to pre-existing conditions, Democrats can say, 'Talk to the Republicans. We Democrats tried to fix it, but this is the health care system Republicans fought to protect.' "
KAM BENFIELD
"… it won't matter to me, as I haven't had health insurance for years anyway."
WILLIAM SAMS
"… it will adversely affect my own family, along with millions of others, and prove, as we already suspect, that now the highest court in our land is controlled by politics. How sad."
CYNTHIA GOUGH NANCE
"… insurance companies will be able to drop our coverage when we get sick."
CHARLES E. WILSON
"When and if the Supreme Court strikes down Obamacare it will be time to celebrate that the Bill of Rights is still alive. Hopefully those in Congress will finally learn that they are not omnipotent but are restricted by the Constitution as it was written, not as you imagine it was written."
TONY GAGLIARDI
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Winston-Salem Journal LTE WE 06/27/12
What's the rush?
This week Gov. Bev Perdue will likely make a decision on whether or not to veto Senate Bill 820, which repeals decades-old bans on hydraulic fracturing and underground chemical injection, and paves the way for fracking as soon as 2014. The bill took a fast track through both the Senate and the House of Representatives (at times without any public comment), but what's the rush?
More than 60 percent of North Carolinians polled think we should study fracking's impacts further before legalizing it. State environmental officials also want further study of the practice, and how the problems experienced in other states — from air pollution to water pollution to earthquakes — can be prevented. Of particular concern are our groundwater supplies — which are closer to our supposed shale-gas supplies than in any other state where fracking occurs.
There's plenty of time to find evidence that fracking won't harm our environment, public health and quality of life. Until then, I hope Perdue will veto SB 820, and stop the General Assembly's rush to frack.
MARY KERLEY
Pine Hall
More to learn
I read the article concerning the increase in the death rate of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease once they are hospitalized ("Hospital stay linked to shorter lifespan for Alzheimer's patients," June 19). It seemed that the message was: "What is going on in the hospital that causes these patients to die more quickly?"
Somehow, I doubt that the hospitalizations are responsible. If this were a cause, I suspect that the majority of deaths could be linked to something that occurred during the hospitalization. Rather, what I suspect is the cause is a change in the Alzheimer's disease itself, which in turn led to the disease, injury or event that resulted in the hospitalization. Modern medicine has only scratched the surface of what Alzheimer's disease is, its nature and what causes the disease. It may be that Alzheimer's disease affects far more than just the brain or nervous system, things which have yet to be discovered. Once those discoveries are made, this enigma may be solved.
RICHARD FINN
Winston-Salem
Immediate benefits
It broke my heart to read of the young 31-year-old man, Sean Neal, who has Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) and can no longer work his job because of his physical limitations ("Best friends and so much more," June 17). Since March he's been out of work and now must sell his home because of bills piling up, while he's "trying to get on disability" from the government.
It makes me furious that this young man cannot get immediate disability benefits, considering the gravity of the situation and illness. Someone in authority should "fast-forward" this young man's application. There's no logical reason for it taking so long after a terminal diagnosis like ALS.
This proves that the wheels of the government turn slowly when you want something from it — but if you owed the government anything, you'd have to pay right now.
BARBARA S. BARRON
Winston-Salem
Back-burner
Seven million dollars being spent on a football stadium at Reynolds High School while cutting back on supplies and eliminating teacher positions seems like a very low and silly priority at this time ("Group fights Reynolds stadium plan," June 17). Let's put the idea on the back-burner and discuss its merits when the economy has sufficiently recovered.
MICHAEL NEWMAN
Winston-Salem
Labeling
As a homeowner in Stokes County, I am frightened about the prospect of Big Gas coming to our state to begin hydraulic fracturing, aka "fracking."
After doing the research, I see that it's apparently not fit for anywhere. All over the country, people are experiencing horrendous consequences, i.e. water and air they cannot drink or breathe. Those of us who are raising this concern are labeled "fringe liberals" or environmentalists, in a tone of dismissal by the legislators we've elected.
We're simply folks who live here and are speaking out.
The ex-mayor of Dish, Texas, Calvin Tillman, who came here to warn our legislators that his "fracking" town made the air unfit to breathe (his kids were getting nosebleeds), said the Big Gas folk declined his invitation to live in his home, which he had to move from. I bet the legislators and the corporate CEOs of Big Gas are protecting where they live, at least in their vacation coastal and mountain homes.
The short-sightedness of their vision doesn't allow them to see that air and water don't have boundaries. How about the future for their children and grandchildren?
Gov. Bev Perdue can veto this bill if she will.
Please ask her to veto SB820.
LINDA MASON
Walnut Cove
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Winston-Salem Journal LTE TU 06/26/12
Blight
I am writing about the sterilization program, which was terrible. The poor victims should be paid soon.
If it were not for the work of editorial-page editor John Railey (whose writing is one of the first things I rush to read), and state Rep. Larry Womble (who could not help that accident), I wouldn't have learned about this blight on our state.
I was so proud of my cousin, Gov. Dan K. Moore, and his work to end segregation, but disappointed that he hadn't acted on this atrocity.
ANNE BOWMAN MAYFIELD
Winston-Salem
The power of art
Congratulations to the Winston-Salem Journal and the Delta Arts Center for the exhibition featuring Christine Kirouac's photographs of the Journal's hawkers. But mere congratulations aren't enough for Kirouac and her subjects. We are all in their debt for such a remarkable demonstration of the power of art.
Guy Davenport once wrote, "When attention replaces indifference, art happens." Christine Kirouac has paid attention to men on the streets who most often are met with indifference. Her portraits show us how much we lose when we don't pay attention.
And thanks for the print in the June 24 paper. I hope all your readers treasure it.
THORNS CRAVEN
Winston-Salem
An adherence to principles
The Boy Scouts of America will flourish because of an adherence to principles. If guest columnist Rosemary Haskell ("The BSA and the rule that dare not speak its name," June 19) and others had their way, the Boy Scout Oath would read:
On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong
and mentally awake.
The oath actually reads:
On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake and morally straight.
The subtle use of words or omission of same can be a powerful thing. I know Haskell said nothing about God, but once any group begins to compromise its core beliefs in the interest of political correctness for one issue, it becomes easier to compromise on other issues.
The Boy Scouts were formed over 100 years ago with the same oath. Everyone must decide for themselves what "morally straight" means to them. The Boy Scouts, historically, has taken the stand that homosexuality is immoral and therefore cannot be "morally straight." This stand is well known and not "the rule that dare not speak its name." When homosexuality becomes moral then there will be no conflict.
RANDOLPH HUGHES
East Bend
Radically liberal
Conservatives insist that President Obama is not only liberal but radically liberal — despite his middle-of-the-road, borrowed-from-the-Republicans policies. But sure, OK, whatever you say; the president is liberal.
Why, then, when he endorses same-sex marriage and allowing the children of illegal immigrants to stay in the country do conservatives complain that these are political ploys — rather than the genuine expression of his liberal philosophies?
They complain when he acts like a conservative, and they complain when he acts like a liberal. It's true: Whatever the man does, conservatives are going to find something wrong with it. You have to wonder why.
As one pundit put it, I sure would like for President Obama to talk about what a bad idea it is to eat yellow snow, just so I could hear some conservatives extol its virtues.
PHIL RONALD TURNER
Winston-Salem
Monday, June 25, 2012
Trolling II
(2) An obvious glee and elated satisfaction is aroused in them when people join the fight and reply to their deliberately disruptive comments.
(3) Copies and pastes large blocks of text to exhaust the readers of a topic thread, thus driving away legitimate posters of sincere comments. These blocks of text are often recycled and appeared on a variety of threads.
(4) Tends to avoid complimenting people who disagree with them, even when those in opposition to the troll make some valid points.
(5) Shuns any conciliatory statements like "You have obviously spent a lot of time studying this subject, and I'm not certain how to reply to your last remark, so let's shake hands, part as friends, and move on."
(6) Never ends a debate with "Thanks for the discussion" or "I'll consider what you say" or any other finalizing remark, because they love arguing and disrupting civilized conversations.
(7) Keeps an argument going a lot longer than a normal person would, to the point where people will start asking a moderator to turn off comments or block the troll. However, sometimes people will do this just because they can't tolerate contrary opinions and are angry at seeing them posted to a thread they enjoyed reading. The mark of a troll is to keep hammering away at a point in an obsessive manner.
Click on image above for larger view
so you can read the text.
(8) Acts innocent when called a troll, and states "I'm just stating a contrary opinion, and you can't handle it", but the reality is they are not innocent, they are trouble-makers who only post inflammatory remarks, rarely contributing any real value or good information to a discussion.
(9) Starts saying filthy words and making wild accusations when confronted. Their hostility and provoking rhetoric escalates when you ask them if they might be a troll or if they are simply trying to stir up trouble.
(10) When you mention the name of another well-known forum, Second Life, or blogospheric troll, they defend them and accuse you of not understanding that person because you're a tyrannical censoring fascist or whatever.
(11) Will try to bring up issues that they are angry about, no matter what the topic of a thread is. For example, they will say things like "sounds like the Open Source movement" or "reminds me of Tea Baggers" or "you're sounding like a typical commie libtard now" or "you sound like some irrational Creationism crank" or "you atheists are all the same", or whatever it is they're hostile toward, in an attempt to start a new argument within the current debate.
(12) When people realize or are warned that the person is a troll, and the troll is then ignored, and nobody will respond to anything they say, the trolling person tends to give up and go to some other thread. They crave attention and they try to get it by being obnoxious in a juvenile, or scholarly, manner.
(13) They use a nickname, are anonymous, or use a real sounding name, but do not embed a link to their blog or website in their name, as is common in comment forms. This lack of accountability enables them to get away with saying anything they want, to anybody, and even tell outright lies about what they saw or heard.
(14) They, when not confronted or exposed sufficiently, will seek to have the last word in an online discussion. When nobody responds to their last troll comment, they will proudly proclaim that they "won" what they fantasize as a "content" or "battle".
Blogocombat means friendly online discussions, as well as heated debates. I use the term "blogocombat" to refer to both. But where the rubber meets the road is when you have to deal with the internet troll.
There are no winners or losers in a civilized discussion. There are just people who express their thoughts and people who learn a bit more about a subject and improve their presentation of ideas by engaging in conversations with worthy opponents.
"Trolling" has nothing to do with sincere expression of contrary opinions or stubborn dedication to an idea. Trolling is all in how the comments are phrased and how the comment poster behaves, especially when confronted.
You know it's an immature attention-getting scheme when they respond quickly to every single comment posted in response to theirs, and their rhetoric tends to escalate in intense hatred, absurd rambling, and malicious provocation.
Winston-Salem Journal LTE MO 06/25/12
Benefit
Dianne Dawson Garrett’s guest column, “Play it forward” (June 17), began with a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson. On the subject of “the order of nature,” Emerson failed to capture that the rendering “benefit” to the giver, from those who receive, is that the giver has the reward, the benefit, of knowing that he did good.
There are no selfless acts.
LLOYD V. EVANS II
Winston-Salem
Political scheme
Of all the many political schemes to buy votes that President Obama has used, his latest is the most blatant and, some say, illegal. His decision to exempt 800,000 illegal aliens from deportation is a slap in the face of every unemployed American because it pushes Americans furthur to the rear in trying to find work. Obama knows this, but he is more interested in getting re-elected than standing up for American workers.
The June 18 article “In Ala., workers vanish after immigration law” should be titled “Illegal aliens vanish after immigration law.” The article states that unemployment in the state has fallen from 9.8 percent to 7.2 percent. This law drove tens of thousands of illegal aliens from the state, opening up job opportunities for American workers.
Many say that these individuals should not be punished by being deported because they were brought here by their parents. But if this reasoning is pursued to its logical conclusion, then no parent would ever be sent to prison for murder or any other crime because that would punish their children for something the parents did. How absurd.
I trust every unemployed Americans will consider this latest ploy when they go to the ballot box in November.
HOWELL D. JACKSON
Walkertown
Bump in the road
Thank you for acknowledging significant progress at the state crime laboratory (?) (“A big bump on road to reform,” June 20).
Notwithstanding 40,000 submissions annually, lab operation under ISO 17025, the highest international standards for forensic laboratories, is imminent. The new Forensic Science Advisory Board experts complement the lab’s work. Two independent 2011 DNA audits found perfect compliance with FBI standards. In 2010, the DNA database exonerated over 100 individuals and solved crimes with 420 “hits.”
Yet independent certification of lab scientists has created confusion.
Only this state requires certification. Our lab scientists have qualified as expert witnesses in thousands of trials, and remain experienced, knowledgeable and skillful. Nearly 70 percent of eligible analysts are certified; the unsuccessful will test again; the remainder will test once eligible.
Following legal advice, analyst test results were placed in private personnel files. Revealing such information without a court order is a criminal misdemeanor, and subjects those responsible to disciplinary action, including dismissal and suit by the employee.
We did not resist disclosure. But recognizing the tension between personnel privacy and the district attorneys’ disclosure obligations, I proposed that district attorneys obtain court orders for disclosure while complying with personnel privacy laws. Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill followed this precise process.
An internal communications breakdown, not forgetfulness, caused the notification failure which the Forsyth judge ruled was “inadvertent.” However, the responsibility remains mine.
I deeply regret this “bump in the road,” but the lab is determined to emerge even stronger and better.
JUDGE JOSEPH JOHN
DIRECTOR, STATE CRIME LAB
Raleigh
Placing blame
The writer of the June 20 letter “The governed people” blamed just about everyone who has ever led/ruled for the world’s problems. This writer sounds a lot like our president, who sounds more and more like a third-grader with each passing day.
“President Obama, did you do this?”
“Yes, but it was not my fault.”
“Whose fault was it?”
“The guy who had this job before I did.”
If re-elected, will he realize that his predecessor will have been himself?
There is a song that was popular in the 1960s titled “The Name Game.” In the song, Shirley Ellis tells us how to rhyme any name. I think the campaign song for the 2012 Obama campaign should be a play on this: “The Blame Game.” Names suggested for blame could be George W. Bush, Big Oil, Congress, Supreme Court and, of course, Wall Street.
Realize that recent grown-up presidents found ways to work (play well) with others. The 2001 Bush tax cuts passed 58-33 in a Democratic-controlled Senate, the extension of these cuts in 2010 passed 81-19, again in a Democratic-controlled Senate. Bill Clinton passed meaningful legislation in his last six years with a Republican Congress and Ronald Reagan passed effective legislation during his two terms with a Democratic-controlled Congress.
What’s missing from this administration? Maturity and respect for others.
TOM D. JONES
Winston-Salem
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Trolling
In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion. According to Tom Postmes, a professor of social and organisational psychology at the universities of Exeter and Groningen, Netherlands, and the author of Individuality and the Group, who has studied online behavior for 20 years, "Trolls aspire to violence, to the level of trouble they can cause in an environment. They want it to kick off. They want to promote antipathetic emotions of disgust and outrage, which morbidly gives them a sense of pleasure." Susan Herring and colleagues in "Searching for Safety Online: Managing 'Trolling' in a Feminist Forum" point out the difficulty inherent in monitoring trolling and maintaining freedom of speech in online communities: "harassment often arises in spaces known for their freedom, lack of censure, and experimental nature". Free speech may lead to tolerance of trolling behavior, complicating the members' efforts to maintain an open, yet supportive discussion area, especially for sensitive topics such as race, gender, and sexuality.
Winston-Salem Journal LTE SU 06/24/12
The original intent
While reading the article "Group fights Reynolds stadium plan" (June 17), I was greatly troubled. I took offense at the remarks that "Save Hanes Park" spokesperson John Coyne made.
I would like to point out that Hanes Park was given in conjunction with Mary Reynolds' gift of a school to the city. It was a gorgeous plot of land on which was built a gymnasium for the school along with other recreational facilities and fields for the school's use. Of course, it was meant to be shared with the residents of the city, but the original intent was to allow for the most impressive high-school sports facilities of the day.
Reynolds High School is one of Winston-Salem's most beautiful establishments and is a vital part of its history. If any other high school wanted to build its own stadium, it would not be an issue, as proven by the fact they each have one. Why should Reynolds and Parkland High School students be given any less?
All I ask is that the city and its residents do right by the iconic high school, its students and the land by allowing it to be used as was intended.
In closing, the committee in charge of the building plans is full of intelligent, conscientious people, some of Winston-Salem's finest, and I have faith that they will not allow the stadium to be distasteful, intrusive or anything that will dishonor the beautiful school or the surrounding community they support.
HAYLEY BOLING
SENIOR, REYNOLDS HIGH SCHOOL
Winston-Salem
Enforcing deportation
Let the outrage begin! Conservatives were determined to hate President Obama, so I guess he figured he may as well give them a reason to ("U.S. eases deportation policy," June 16).
They're going to be so upset that he's not going to enforce deportation. I have two things to say about that.
- At least he's doing something. Congress has been messing around with immigration policy for decades and never could get anything done. Obama said, that's enough arguing about it, let's do something.
- Conservatives didn't like it when Obama was deporting more illegal immigrants than Bush did — why should he worry about what they think now?
Crazy will only get you so far. It looks like the president is finally standing up against it.
JAMES T. FULLER
Winston-Salem
Enough
To all of those who are so concerned about obese people, stop it. The last time I looked, it wasn't just fat people lying in caskets.
KEITH P. McCLURE
Kernersville
Sum It Up
Are you satisfied with the state budget approved by the legislature?
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 for June 24
orcing religion
I am stunned by the response of the Catholic Church to the Health and Human Services mandate and cannot be silent anymore. I cannot understand how our freedom of religion has turned into forcing our religion on others ("About 70 rally against health-care mandate," June 9).
It is frustrating that the stories are different depending on the source of information. The Catholic sources say that Catholic employers who are not exempt will still be forced to provide contraception. The information from news sources say that the health insurance provider will be forced to provide coverage for contraception, not the Catholic employer. I believe both — while employers will not provide coverage directly, it is likely they will provide them indirectly through other monetary means (increase in premiums, since the insurer will have to pay for it, or some form of tax).
I am a Catholic. I am also an American. As an American, I know that my tax dollars pay for many things with which I do not agree. That is the price I pay to live in the United States, where we are allowed to believe and practice as we wish as long as it does not interfere with the rights of anyone else.
These views to me are completely compatible. My priority is God, who tells me my only purpose in life is to love and care for others. I am not loving or caring if I tell others what to do, invalidate their life experiences and pass laws that stop them from acting on their beliefs.
JENNIFER FLANAGAN
Mocksville
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