Winston-Salem Journal LTE SA 11/17/12

Economic successes

With all of the challenging economic news this year, it’s important to step back and celebrate some of our economic successes. The Chamber has assisted dozens of small and mid-sized businesses that are expanding, even during these difficult times. These companies added more than 1,000 jobs to our local economy this year.

Often the larger expansions get the credit, and we were pleased to help Inmar with its decision to add 212 jobs and invest well over $25 million in downtown Winston-Salem; Pepsi Bottling Ventures with its $82 million expansion, which will add 198 jobs; and Deere-Hitachi with its $97 million expansion, which will add 340 jobs. However, many companies never announce their expansions and just set about quietly growing their businesses and adding jobs.

When you take decisions by larger existing businesses to expand here and add to them the many smaller companies that also are growing, it shows that Winston-Salem/Forsyth County can compete with anyone, given its positive business climate, low cost of living and quality of life.

Since 1885, the Chamber’s job has been to promote a positive business climate and help businesses grow. We are confident that our community can continue to be a preferred location for small, mid-sized, and large businesses of all types.

GAYLE N. ANDERSON

PRESIDENT & CEO

GREATHER WINSTON-SALEM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Winston-Salem

Honoring all veterans

I am a veteran and I support Steven Hewett (“Afghanistan war vet sues King over Christian flag,” Nov. 3). Items of a religious nature are inappropriate at a memorial intended to honor all veterans. Replace the extra flagpole with a copy of our Constitution:

“I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States

against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.”

That's what we all pledged when we gave a signed blank check to this country.

Display a copy of every declaration of war, or proclamation, or resolution, or executive order that was ever put forth by our government to justify sending our troops to foreign soil.

Maybe a pair of combat boots in front of a rifle, bayonet first in the ground, with a helmet resting on the stock, to remember those who never came back. Let the people reflect upon these things. These are the things that are important, why we each did what we did.

I think veterans get it, but most civilians don't have a clue.

JAMES CRAVEN

Winston-Salem

Great suffering

The election results show that Americans have chosen economic insanity and a rejection of Judeo-Christian morals. With their heads in the sand, people have elected to turn health care over to a fiscally inept government that can’t manage money. They also are now legalizing drug use and same-sex marriage.

This election validates the Bible scripture that says, “… they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools.” (Romans 1:21, 22)

The road to financial and moral collapse will now accelerate unrestrained. Like the rebellious nation of Israel in the Old Testament, great suffering must occur before America returns to God and the Bible. I believe the best years of America lie ahead, but only at the cost of great suffering and instability.

LARRY WENNING

Clemmons

Giving hope

I recently heard of a global organization named HOPE that holds the International Day of Giving before Thanksgiving.

HOPE's worldwide vision is to bring hope and change to the lives of the world's most poor, sick and suffering. HOPE worldwide was founded in response to the Scriptures, which call us to have the heart of Jesus by serving the poor and needy throughout the world.

I challenge the citizens of Winston Salem/Forsyth County to have a day of HOPE for our poor, sick and those who are suffering from the economic disaster in our community. Either the week-end before Thanksgiving or the week of Thanksgiving, let’s give thanks for what we have and share our abundance with others. With a poverty rate of 25 percent in Winston-Salem, we have families of four who by federal poverty guidelines are struggling to live off of $22,000 a year.

One way to give is to donate to the Samaritan Ministries Penny Campaign, which enables the ministry to feed nearly 400 hungry a day at lunch, shelter 60 homeless men at night, empower 10 men in the substance-abuse recovery program, Project Cornerstone, and serve the mentally ill through the HOT Project in collaboration with Wake Forest Baptist Health Center and Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust.

Give HOPE to those in our community and you will receive much more.

NAN HOLBROOK GRISWOLD

BOARD MEMBER, SAMARITAN MINISTRIES