Winston-Salem Journal LTE SA 02/16/13

A great judge

Forsyth County lost a great judge and a great man with the passing of Judge Roland Hayes (“Farewell to a trailblazer,” Feb. 11). I met Judge Hayes when I was working in Child Protective Services and he was an attorney who volunteered his time to be a guardian ad litem and represent children who were the subject of abuse and neglect petitions in juvenile court.

I worked with him on his first case, where he did a great job for his clients, the kids. We had contact over the years when he was on the bench and once I even had to awaken him in the middle of one icy December night to get his signature on a court order. He was kind enough to never even mention his forsythia hedge, which was severely damaged by our sliding down, and off, his very slick driveway that night. The only thing he ever said about that night was that I was the only woman who had ever seen him in a bathrobe other than his wife, Barbara.

He is also the only person for whom I ever worked a polling place all day on a cold, rainy November in 1998. He was a genuine person, a family man, a man who never had a mean word or act for anyone, and those who thought he was malicious or hurtful to others were either mistaken or just plain wrong. He will be sorely missed by the citizens of Forsyth County.

JANE M. OLMSTED

Winston-Salem

A sweet sound

After 100 years, Republicans have been chosen by the voters of North Carolina to run our state government, and the liberal town criers in the Feb. 10 Journal have lost their minds. For columnist Chris Fitzsimon, perhaps it’s just his short-term memory. He worries about the “gerrymandered map drawer” Art Pope being appointed deputy state budget director (“McCrory’s rough time”). Thanks for the concern, but N.C. District 12 and the term “hypocrite” should prevent any N.C. Democrat with a conscience from even saying the word “gerrymander.”

The state gets serious about paying off $3 billion in unemployment debt to the federal government while building a rainy day fund, and Journal reporter Richard Craver suggests Ebenezer Scrooge has been put in charge of our state budget (“N.C. alone in plan to reject $650M from feds”). The NAACP and 140 other groups rally at the legislative building to assert that Republicans are unleashing a “cruel and unusual” attack on progressive constituents in The Associated Press article “Groups rally over GOP control.” I'm sure Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas would be aghast.

Liberals coming unglued … oh, what a sweet sound!

SHAUN MARTIN

Advance

Stand firm

As I read the outcries from homosexuals and others concerning the policy of the Boy Scouts of America, I am increasingly amazed by their arrogance. I am not an ignorant bigot because I disagree with them. And neither is the writer of the Feb. 5 letter, “Potential consequences,” that has attracted so much of their attention.

There are certain truths that do not change over time or with the whims of society. The Boy Scout oath states “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God ...” God is mentioned first for a good reason. We cannot know what is our duty to God apart from hearing and reading his word — the Bible. It reveals truth about him and also about us.

We are sinners by nature who can only be justified through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is clear in the Bible that sexual relations between anyone other than husband and wife (one man and one woman) is one of many sins common to man, for which we are all accountable to our creator-sustainer. I have my own sins for which I am accountable to him. I do not ask or demand that others accept, condone, excuse or promote those sins.

What homosexuals do in private is between them and God and others they affect. It is wrong to attempt to force their lifestyle on the rest of us. The Boy Scouts of America should stand firm!

CHARLES H. KING JR.

Clemmons

Two stipulations

As a legal immigrant to this country — and now a proud citizen of the United States — I have strong reservations against the amnesty that our president desires for 11 million undocumented people.

During my long and costly naturalization process it was made very clear that the slightest infraction on the immigration laws would void my chances for obtaining citizenship. To me, the many legal immigrants still waiting and those who failed the process and left the U.S., amnesty is easily perceived as a general pardon for political expedience. I also believe that the vast majority of undocumented cases can be solved with temporary farming visas that allow people to travel freely; this would benefit, for example, the Mexican economy more.

I do have two stipulations: If we persist in putting 11 million people on a path to citizenship, then prohibit dual citizenship and make English the official language. Citizenship is not a practical convenience but a commitment to this nation and its language, history and culture.

The presence in the U.S. of millions of new, voting citizens with a strong allegiance to a foreign nation will lead to a fractured society.

PIETER OTTEN

King

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.

“The president’s use of executive power …”

Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens,

The bad end of a Chick-fil-a sandwich and

When the dog bites

When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad.

Winston-Salem Journal LTE FR 02/15/13

The left’s response

It was both interesting and humorous to read the Feb. 8 responses in the Readers Forum to the Sum It Up posit: Will North Carolina's conservative trend last?

From the right, the submissions were brief, respectful and prescient.

From the left, they were about what one can expect. Verbose; why use one word when 10 will do? Name calling; “nut-job Republicans,” “right-wing bullies,” “tea party wingnuts” and “reckless bunch of Pope-picked politicians,” to cite a few examples; a faithful regurgitation of liberal hysteria talking points to events that have not yet occurred and a confusion of the facts by conjecture.

Where does all this whining nonsense come from? From the folks who were in power for well over 100 years. It is directed at those in power for less than 40 days.

Give conservative leadership a chance. You just might be amazed where it will take us.

LYLE WHEELER

Millers Creek

Public safety

This is in response to Rep. Virginia Foxx’s Feb. 5 guest column, “Second Amendment rights ‘…shall not be infringed.’” She aptly quotes, “A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state...” At the time it was ratified, we had a meager army, no navy, no marine corps; we had no “well-regulated militia” in 1791. The framers of the Constitution provided that citizens, if called upon to defend the nation, be allowed to keep and bear arms without infringement.

More than 200 years later, our state is defended by a huge military complex, accounting for roughly 20 percent of the federal budget in 2011. Additionally, most of us enjoy professional police and emergency responder protection.

Rep. Foxx is missing the point of history and of those citizens calling for reform. We already spend vastly on security. Does she now believe we need protection from our government? Today we need protection from irresponsible and unstable individuals and from criminal enterprises taking advantage of lax or ineffective regulation of deadly weapons.

She fails in her duty if citizens are threatened because powerful industries or lobbyists are allowed to influence regulations and their enforcement to the detriment of public safety.

Today, in contrast to 1791, we have a strong military to secure our state; now we need legislators with backbone and sound judgment to enact strong and responsible controls on the manufacture, distribution and sale of military-grade firearms.

I am a gun owner.

JOHN DUDLEY

Winston-Salem

Sum It Up

The Sum It Up question from Sunday was: Were the Boy Scouts of America right to take more time for consultation before taking action on its policy of excluding gays as Scouts or adult leaders?

I have known many fine Scout leaders during my seven years as an assistant scoutmaster in my son's Boy Scout troop, so I would like to believe that the recent attempt by BSA national leadership to compromise at the local level on the issue of acceptance of boys of all sexual identities in scouting was well-meaning and intended to allow time for the discriminatory and ill-informed rhetoric to fade and permit them to move scouting in the direction of fairness and equality.

However, the delay in discussion is not the core problem. Discrimination is the real issue, and it must be corrected to right a wrong, restore justice and preserve the pride and dignity of a great altruistic institution, the Boy Scouts of America — for all Americans, regardless of sexual identity.

ALAN J. TOWNSEND

By taking more time, the Boy Scouts of America are just prolonging their discriminatory practice of not allowing gays in their organization.

SUZANNE CARROLL

The Boy Scouts were right in taking time to consider all aspects of this dilemma. There is the fear of pedophilia, but not all gays are pedophiles. After 100-plus years in existence, there had to have been gays in the Scouts at all levels. There had to be incidents of molestation too, known or unknown.

The Scouts have a sacred trust to protect the boys, and this has to be factored into their decision as to how they handle this emotionally volatile situation.

Now, if the Catholic Church had followed this approach there may have been less damage done there.

KEN HOGLUND

What's to take more time about? Either we've learned from Seneca Falls and Selma and Stonewall or we haven't.

KAM BENFIELD

Winston-Salem Journal LTE TH 02/♥/13

Finish the Thought

Saturday, we asked readers to complete the sentence: “The Obama administration’s drone program has …”

“… been a measured response to terrorism. Consider the alternatives. Our national security is not enhanced by ill-conceived actions similar to President Bush's invasion of Iraq.”

CHARLES E. WILSON

“ … been one of the few successful programs since he took office. Using drones to take out enemies of the United States has saved many soldiers' lives and has been cost effective. If the exact same thing had occurred under Bush's administration, the conservatives would have heaped praise upon him. It's time to put petty politics aside and embrace what works well regardless of who gets the credit.”

STEVE BARNEYCASTLE

“… been consistent with his overall policies. Obama has killed terrorists, killed the economy, killed our future with debt, killed the employment hopes of millions.”

HARRY R. COOKE

“… caused a reversal of arguments by Republicans (except for uber-hawk John Bolton). Republicans usually accuse the president of not being aggressive enough on terrorism but in this case they are suddenly hyper-concerned about civil rights, collateral damage and other silly, sissy issues usually espoused by those ‘dang hippy’ Democrats.

“Hypocrisy? You betcha.”

KAM BENFIELD

“... drawn the ire of the liberal senators of the Congress not because of the drone program per se but because the Obama administration is not forthright with the Congress about the decision-making process of targeting an American citizen for killing even though the person was identified as a terrorist. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon is particularly worried about the fact that president is the lone, ultimate decider to kill an American citizen without going through due process and bypassing congressional oversight.

“I personally don't believe Sen. Wyden intends to save the life of a terrorist but to protect all innocent American citizens. The practice now puts all of us at risk.”

BOON T. LEE

“ ... transformed liberals into raging warriors and conservatives into tree-hugging peaceniks. In American politics, hypocrisy is in infinite supply.”

JAN HUGOSSON

“… resulted in the murder of American citizens without due process. Waterboarding is outlawed and considered torture but murder of American citizens by drone without due process exemplifies the hypocrisy of the left.”

DON WOLFE

“… kept us safer without putting more boots on the ground. Unfortunately, President Obama is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.”

CYNTHIA GOUGH NANCE

“… proved a few things.

“Reality can be so hard on rhetoric and theory. Remember how Obama was going to embrace the world and sing ‘Kumbaya’ around a big campfire at the U.N.? How's that working out?

“He was going to empty Gitmo and fill it with rich people not paying their fair share for his vote-buying schemes. Rich ‘greedy’ people are criminals, poor greedy people are Democratic voters.

“Like all politicians who tell you what you want to hear, he can't tell you the truth about what is really going on. The world is a hard, cold place that does not care about your kid's self esteem, whether someone is getting free birth control or abortions or who you marry. In fact, many people in the world want to see us dead and being humble and apologetic to them just gives them a better shot at his neck as the president bows to them.”

KEN HOGLUND

Winston-Salem Journal LTE WE 02/13/13

Common sense legislation

Gun retailers and manufacturers have enjoyed record sales in the past five years, maybe because of carefully crafted comments such as the one made by Rep. Virginia Foxx in her Feb. 5 guest column “Second Amendment rights ‘… shall not be infringed’”: “…the ideas behind the president's legislative proposals which could easily make it harder for law-abiding Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights” — thus constituting “sufficient cause for declaring a ‘constitutional emergency.’”

When the “militia” is turning its guns on innocent fellow citizens at the rate of 15,000 to 20,000 accidental shootings and more than 11,000 homicides per year, you can hardly call that “well-regulated.”

No one wants to take American's guns away from them. Not President Obama, not the Brady Campaign, not our law enforcement professionals and certainly not me.

Maybe the laws we have now aren't well-enforced because they are too complex, outdated and numerous. Why not void them all and craft new, common sense legislation that allows sane, responsible citizens to possess firearms if they choose to do so? I believe many NRA members — and plenty of other people — would also be in favor of this.

I guess it won't be the congresswoman representing my district, but I hope someone will take on the task of drafting nonpartisan, straightforward new legislation, leaving out the pork, concessions and totally unrelated junk that impede the progress of getting anything done in this Congress — before we have to have a prayer vigil for 26 more.

MELODY THOMSON

Winston-Salem

Charter schools

One of the many reasons teachers move to charter schools is the lack of the word “system” and the bureaucracy that is so deep in most public systems. There is freedom from red tape and a sense of purpose in the shared goals of the administrators and boards. Decisions can be made on site and quickly. Teachers apply and are hired for the shared vision.

I worked in a charter school for three years, and I experienced relief from the many layers above the classroom. There was a shared "ownership" of the mission between administrators, teachers and parents. Few charters, if any, grant tenure to teachers. There is no need for it. Many have lotteries for limited student places.

Having worked in large school systems, I know firsthand how many employees and silos with no windows exist between the teacher and the superintendent/board. The cumbersome structure is a lot of what isn't working in the public school. The heavy top-down pyramid structure that was handed down from the industrial age doesn't work for the 21st century.

Leaders only have to look as far as the newly adopted Common Core curriculum to realize that the collaborative, research-driven, circular framework is the desired model for all who will need 21st century skills. This model is being used in most classrooms.

Listen, look and learn before you start proposing changes in the present charter structure. They don't need a superintendent or a politician in charge.

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

Lewisville

A well-regulated militia

I recently received a cold call from the National Rifle Association requesting a donation. No way, as long as they are opposed to an assault weapons ban. Here’s why.

Readers may remember the outbreaks of rioting in our cities in the 1960s. The rioting had become so widespread that the Army became concerned that there might not be enough National Guard troops to quell those disturbances. They ordered the Army Reserve to undergo riot training immediately.

As an officer, I drew the responsibility for developing that training for my unit. (It was too hurry-up for the Army to develop standardized lesson plans.)

Luckily, I was able to call on the Charlotte Police Department and Charlotte Fire Department for help in conducting that training. The rioters elsewhere actually had been shooting at fire trucks, which allowed whole blocks to burn in some cities. Mostly, the rioters were using pistols and shotguns.

There is no way that I would want my soldiers to face assault weapons fired by rioters. I certainly hope my soldiers wouldn’t need to use their rapid-fire weapons against American citizens. Single well-directed shots at ringleaders might be needed but not mowing down dozens of Americans.

Remember that the Second Amendment (“a well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed”) was written before there was an Army National Guard and Army Reserve. Those two organizations constitute today’s well-regulated militia.

ROBERT CONN

Winston-Salem Journal LTE TU 02/12/13

Power grab

There are many issues I would like to address, but the power grab in Raleigh will probably have the most significant impact on me, my family and my state.

Since coming to office last month, the blatant power grab by Gov. Pat McCrory and his fellow politicians has been swift, shortsighted and potentially damaging to our state. An example is Senate Bill 10 (“Republicans push to remake key panels,” Feb. 6). If passed, this bill would remove professionals with knowledge and experience in each area, such as utilities and natural resources, to be replaced by McCrory’s cronies — say from Duke Energy, where he served as a “consultant” for so long? Do we really want the industry that shuns wind and solar and supports coal-fired power plants to be making our utility policies?

We heard recently that Duke has requested the third rate increase since 2009. Is this how McCrory plans to pay back the cronies and the citizens? We need people serving on these commissions who aren’t bound to special interests or have a financial stake in the rules and regulations they’ll be creating or dismantling.

I hope every citizen will urge their senators, representatives and governor to oppose SB10.

ANNE MARKEY JONES

Winston-Salem

Not unlimited

The Second Amendment right to bear arms is not unlimited. The courts have constitutionally limited our access to weapons for years. For example, it’s illegal for a private citizen to own a tank, howitzer, machine gun, hand grenade or land mine.

In District of Columbia vs. Heller, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, a very conservative “strict constructionist,” stated in his majority opinion that the Second Amendment right is not absolute and that legislators can abridge that right for the good of the general public.

Since handguns, assault rifles and high capacity magazines are not useful for hunting and are only useful as weapons against people, there is no reason for them to be legal and certainly no reason for people to carry them on the street.

Government legally abridges our individual rights in favor of the general public in lots of ways. We are constrained to drive on the right side of the road and obey traffic signals and speed limits to promote the general good. We have also limited smokers’ rights in favor of the majority. I have a right to feel safe in my community and widespread murder weapons carried on the street and in public parks make me less safe, not more.

Guns do not build community; they divide us. Whatever isn’t useful for hunting and target sport should be banned for the general good.

KENNETH R. OSTBERG

Winston-Salem

Government spending

In his Jan. 31 column “Not that bleak,” Cal Thomas quoted Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana saying, “Government spending still does not grow our economy.” Well, a Commerce Department report refutes the governor’s assertion. It states that GDP shrunk one-tenth of 1 percent in the last quarter, largely because of the reduction of spending by the Pentagon.

Economists argue that during a recession, the consumers have less to spend, and the government has to step in to boost the economy. Just look at what the prime minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, did. He implemented an austerity plan and slashed public spending. He ended up with a double-dip recession.

The Obama Administration did the opposite and saw a steady, albeit slow, recovery from the recession. Economists fault the administration for not having a bigger stimulus package and the Republican obstruction of the American Job Act to improve U.S. infrastructures.

Also, the governor ignores the inconvenient fact that government research grants boost the economy by creating new technology and new products. A lot of new drugs are the direct results of government research grants which provide jobs to numerous research scientists.

BOON T. LEE

Winston-Salem

Big changes

In reference to the article “New health care markets on the way” (Jan. 28), I certainly agree with many of the observations. I am especially fond of “If all this sounds too good to be true, remember that nothing in life is free and change isn’t easy.”

My main concern is that the rising cost of health care has not been addressed. It is this that drives the cost of health insurance.

Another interesting observation is: “Most people will go online to pick a plan when open enrollment starts Oct. 1.” Selecting a health care plan should not be handled the same way we purchase plane tickets, clothing, electronics and many other commodities. It is just not that simple.

“Counselors will be available at call centers and in local communities, too.” And, who are these “counselors?” Are they licensed insurance agents? It is my understanding, at this point that they are not required to be licensed. What is the cost of hiring these “counselors?”

Currently, licensed insurance agents help educate people regarding their health care options. So true, “Buying your own health insurance will never be the same.”

CAROL PENNINGTON

MEMBER, TRIAD ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH UNDERWRITERS

Kernersville

Winston-Salem Journal LTE MO 02/11/13

Austerity hysteria II

Too many uninformed politicians are pushing us toward austerity. They advocate deficit-reduction policies in our weak economy similar to those that have caused the economies in Great Britain, Ireland, Spain and Greece to sink. They want to cut public spending to balance the budget, but not do anything to put people back to work and thereby revive our economy. If we support their policies, our country, like those in Europe, will remain stuck in an economic downturn with more of us without jobs and poor.

What we now need in Washington are legislators who will commit to growing our way out of the hole we are in and in so doing create more jobs. One obvious step would be for the government to make a major public investment to rebuild our roads, bridges, airports, and modern public transportation systems. We should also replace our current energy system that is dependent on fossil fuel with green-energy production.

We should pay for these and other vital priorities by revamping our tax code so that multinational corporations and the wealthiest 1 percent of our citizens pay their fair share of taxes going to efforts to revive our economy. And right now, because of the recession, the federal government can borrow money at record low interest rates to finance a range of economic stimulus efforts.

The obsession with budget deficits borders on the absurd; the big deficits of recent years are entirely the result of the economic downturn. The solution is obvious.

STANTON TEFFT

Winston-Salem

Policy of intolerance

This is in response to the l etter “ Potential c onsequences ” in the Feb. 5 Journal. I also am not a prophet, but for the writer’s grandson’s sake , I hope he wasn't born gay, because I do believe that would end the writer’s love for him. According to him , h is grandson would then be a child molester and a rapist ( “ gay leaders and gay S couts will not only engage in sexual behavior with each other but also will attempt to do so with S couts who are not gay"). Gay people obviously aren't able to control their deviant behavior.

The writer’s ignorance is disgusting not to just every member of the LGBT community, but to the intelligent members of the straight community , also.

I kept my son out of the B oy S couts because of their policy of intolerance . I would be proud to have my (future) grandchild join if they end the discrimination and begin a policy of acceptance.

I hope every parent and grandparent will do whatever is necessary, but legal, to spread the message of love and acceptance for everyone, no matter if they are gay/straight, black/white, man/woman, etc.

TRACEY BECKER MESZAROS

King

Irresponsible

In response to your Feb. 3 article "Shootings spark debate on video game violence:"

Easy access to guns? Nope. Mental illness? Nope. Absentee parents? Nope. Video game violence? Yes!

It is beyond irresponsible to use the video game industry as a scapegoat for the fact that we don't have politicians who have the political guts to stand up to the NRA; that we don't have politicians with the guts to make sure there is full access to health care for the mentally ill; and that parents allow children to play games that are not made for them and should never be playing in the first place.

This article should never have been published. At the very least it should have had the other side of the story. And no, the small part of avoiding scapegoating doesn't make up for the fact that the article quotes gamers, but makes sure to point out that one is unemployed. It also states that parents and ratings matter, but fails to mention that a 13-year-old should never play Grand Theft Auto.

If you want to point out video games as part of the problem it is at best 1/4 of a problem, not the whole problem. The article is weakly written and despite saying that violence in video games is a "common denominator" it can only cite two shootings 12 years apart.

The Journal can do better than this and it should.

WILL SCHEIPERS

Winston Salem

Expand Medicaid

In the aftermath of the mass shooting of elementary-aged children at Sandy Hook Elementary School there has been much talk from politicians and experts about the need to increase access to mental-health care. I agree. The problem is especially acute in our state.

Many of our working but poor citizens cannot access care (mental health or medical) because they lack insurance. Unless one is poor and pregnant or disabled, it is nearly impossible as an adult to get Medicaid health insurance in North Carolina. Yet this group includes many who are in need of mental health care.

By accepting the federal dollars now available to expand Medicaid (“ McCrory reserving Medicaid decision,” Feb. 1) , our state government could provide over 500,000 more adult North Carolinians with the insurance they need to access care. We should not let this opportunity pass us by.

DR. ARTHUR KELLEY

Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem Journal LTE SU 02/10/13

A line in the sand

Rep. Virginia Foxx’s guest column (“Second Amendment rights ‘…shall not be infringed,’” Feb. 5) misses several points. For one, she doesn’t tell us where her “line in the sand” is that determines what kind of arms a civilian can possess. Can I own surface-to-air missiles? How about anthrax or smallpox? Sarin? Nuclear arms? I believe I would be considered a terrorist if I possessed these, so my right to bear arms is already infringed upon (thank goodness!).

My line in the sand is with any weapon that can fire more than six or eight bullets without reloading — I see no reason that any civilian needs more powerful weaponry.

The Second Amendment, as she notes, speaks of a “well-regulated militia.” I suggest that whenever people get gun permits, they be required, for two or three days a year, to attend programs about gun safety, anger management, first aid and disaster relief. In this way, we could develop a well-regulated militia that could be a big help during emergencies. Gun owners would understand that owning weapons is not just a right but has attendant responsibilities.

And there is no “rush to action” — for decades, thoughtful citizens have begged our leaders to face this issue, to show transparency with the statistics regarding U.S. gun deaths and to stand firm against the NRA’s inane leadership and the gun industry’s — and Hollywood’s — glorification of violence and horrible weapons. How many of us must die before we come to our senses?

LISA LOFLAND GOULD

Winston-Salem

No evidence

The letter “Potential consequences” (Feb. 5), about allowing gays to participate openly in the Boy Scouts, is so offensive and ignorant I can’t believe the Journal thought it worthy of printing.

The writer says, “There is not any doubt in my mind that many gay leaders and gay Scouts will not only engage in sexual behavior with each other but also will attempt to do so with Scouts who aren’t gay.” Maybe there’s no doubt in his mind, but I notice he offered no evidence to support his belief. “They would not be able to resist all of the many opportunities,” he continues, repeating the worst stereotypes of gay people as sexual predators and child molesters, a tactic used by hate groups to vilify gay people. This is the worst kind of fear-mongering against the innocent.

We allow men to coach girls’ sports teams and women to coach boys’ sports teams. We allow teachers to associate with all ages of youngsters of the opposite sex. If they’re able to “resist all of the many opportunities” to violate young people’s trust, why would we expect gay people to be different?

It is true that many men and women, boys and girls, will at some point have to deal with unwanted sexual advances — usually from someone of the opposite gender. Gay people are not significantly or statistically more likely to extend those advances than anyone else.

It’s long, long past time to put the bigotry and fear-mongering to rest.

PERRY MITCHELL

Winston-Salem

One question

To the writer of the Feb. 5 letter “Potential consequences” who is concerned about the “potential negative consequences” to his grandson’s “emotional health and psychological health” if he were to join a Boy Scout troop that included gays, I have only one question: If his grandson turned out to be gay, would he feel the same way?  ROBERT KEYS

Winston-Salem

Sum It Up

Were the Boy Scouts of America right to take more time for consultation before taking action on its policy of excluding gays as Scouts or adult leaders?

Winston-Salem Journal LTE SA 02/09/13

Leadership, step up

I am writing to encourage greater acceptance, fairness and respect for individual rights in regard to personal sexual identity in the formal policies of the Boy Scouts of America.

I am an Eagle Scout, and I served as assistant scoutmaster for seven years as my son also earned his Eagle rank. I have always felt that discrimination against others based on race, religion, sexual orientation, style or other perceived differences is morally indefensible and often grounded in ignorance, fear and hate. I have also always found the official anti-gay policies of the Scouts to be disappointing, offensive and even shameful. The Scout Oath promises “To help other people (no exceptions!) at all times,” and the Scout Law implores us to be “helpful... friendly... courteous... kind...” and, I might point out, “brave,” for example, in defense against discriminatory and reprehensible attacks by the less egalitarian (i.e. more bigoted) and ever-present bully types.

Scouting teaches leadership, and true leaders (in contrast to politicians) are not afraid to do the right thing even if it elicits the paranoid yelps of the intolerant. The progressive equal rights train is well on its way, and there will be no turning back for intransigent persecutors.

The recent progress is laudable, but I urge Boy Scout leadership to embrace a full national non-discrimination policy. Be brave!

ALAN J. TOWNSEND

Winston-Salem

Helpful studies

How helpful it would have been if Gov. Pat McCrory had taken gender studies at his private college (“McCrory: Colleges must focus on jobs,” Jan. 30). He would see how, as an upper middle-class white American male, he epitomizes the patriarchal model, thinking that he is entitled to tell others what’s best for them and imagining he has the right to decide what adults should study.

The governor’s ignorance would be funny if only he and the legislature didn’t control the budgets for North Carolina’s public universities, which rank among our nation’s very best.

DIANA GREENE

Winston-Salem

Background checks

In the Feb. 4 Readers’ Forum, the writer of the letter “On firearms” advised there is no way to have background checks on individual gun sales. There is. A most effective way. Pass a law to the effect that a gun supplier is equally guilty of any crime committed with the gun.

Lending, selling and keeping guns safe from theft and easy access would become important to the individual; a formal background check wouldn’t be necessary. Stores and gun shows could still do background checks, but they might want those checks beefed up in order to avoid prosecution.

This would not limit any gun owner’s rights, but it would require responsible gun ownership, something supported by NRA members and non-NRA members alike.

DOROTHY MATHEWS

Rural Hall

Confused claims

I am writing in response to the Feb. 5 letter “Potential consequences,” in regard to the writer’s concerns about the Boy Scouts’ potential change of policy regarding admission and support of homosexual troop leaders and Eagle Scout candidates. The writer was “very concerned” about the “negative consequences” on his grandson’s emotional and psychological health if he joins a troop that includes gays. I myself am concerned about that same child’s health if he is continually exposed to bigotry and misinformation.

Yet again, the writer and many others confuse upstanding homosexuals with pedophiles. Pedophilia is a horrific crime and needs to be treated as such. Pedophilia exists among both heterosexual and homosexual adults. Banning gays does not rid the organization of pedophile leaders; sadly, a few exist now under current policy. They need to be removed and replaced by Scout leaders who care about developing boys into upstanding male citizens (and these new leaders can and should include responsible and capable gay male citizenry).

A ban keeps forcing many adult gay Eagle Scouts to mail back their medals in shame of the discriminatory policies (and discourages young gay men who are about to complete the achievement from doing so).

Upholding the ban is sheer discrimination, and it is sad that it has taken this long for the Boy Scouts to follow the moral policies of their corporate funders. I only wish the Boy Scouts’ leaders could have come to this moral conclusion on their own.

DIRK ROBERTSON

CO-FOUNDER, EQUALITY WINSTON-SALEM

Lewisville

Finish the Thought

Briefly complete the sentence below and send it to us at letters@wsjournal.com. We’ll print some of the results in a few days. Only signed entries, please — no anonymous ones.

“The Obama administration’s drone program has …”

Winston-Salem Journal LTE FR 02/08/13

Sum It Up

The Sum It Up question from Sunday was: Will North Carolina’s conservative trend last?

I’m afraid it’ll last for at least another generation, until our young people realize the bankrupt philosophy for what it is: one driven by selfishness and fear.

It’s one thing to want to be fiscally conservative. It’s one thing to want to be reverent and reserved. It’s another to try to destroy our education system, our social safety net, mental health services, etc., all in the name of God and lower taxes.

Conservatives don’t seem to realize that they live in a society with other people; they want to get theirs and say the hell with everyone else. That kind of attitude always winds up biting you in the long run.

JANE FREEMONT GIBSON

Politically speaking, the GOP will be in power for a while or at least until the next redistricting comes around. The GOP had gerrymandered the redistricting to their advantage. Even when the next redistricting arrives, the political landscape will not change much if the GOP is still in control. Remember we just entered the Art Pope era, and money power will stay in dominance for some time.

BOON T. LEE

Only as long as more citizens value fiscal responsibility, economic growth and constitutionally protected freedoms.

DEB PHILLIPS

It will last for at least four more years. I would never have chosen Pat McCrory had I known he would select the far-right cabinet he has chosen, especially Art Pope of all people. I think North Carolina is preparing to be one of the most backward states in the country.

NAOMI J. DAVIS

The takers are outpacing the makers, and in this past election, we escaped the former by a hair. One can hope that the hairless can be set back further if only in North Carolina.

LLOYD V. EVANS II

North Carolina has always been a conservative state. The core values have not changed over time. Political party affiliation, however, swings like a pendulum.

The conservative trend attracts the populace as budget reality sets in. The people know the Democrats can’t and won’t fix spending, just add taxes. So the Republicans get their turn.

One of two things will happen. If they fail to fix the problem quickly, they will be shown the door quickly. If they fix the problem and there is money to spend and votes to be bought, the hogs will quickly be back at the trough, and the Democrats do a better job of vote-buying than anyone else.

KEN HOGLUND

By “conservative trend” you must be referring to the recent election of large numbers of nut-job Republicans to the N.C. General Assembly and the passage of the same-sex marriage amendment in 2012, both accomplished by unprecedented massive voter manipulation and bald-faced gerrymandering. (Republicans won 77 percent of assembly seats in 2012 with just 51.1 percent of the popular vote.) We are a center/right state with a very strong libertarian vein. With hope, sensible North Carolinians can soon return us to that position before the right-wing bullies and tea party wingnuts now in charge ruin our state.

KAM BENFIELD

I contend the conservative (i.e. Art Pope/ALEC) trend will last until the damage done affects and awakens a majority of North Carolina’s voters.

Sadly, after scandalous redistricting, voters were hoodwinked into electing a reckless bunch of Pope-picked politicians who are determined to control our public schools, including our university system, control women’s bodies, control the ballot box, control our health care (or the lack of it), control the expansion of Medicaid, control by decreasing unemployment benefits, control those allowed to purchase lottery tickets, control our court system, control and privatize our water systems (note what is happening in Asheville). The one thing they do not want to control is guns.

Personally speaking, I find our state government disturbing and downright frightening. It would behoove voters to begin paying attention and to become concerned and aware of our shrinking democracy. We the people deserve better.

ANNE GRIFFIS WILSON

Winston-Salem Journal LTE TH 02/07/13

Subtle disdain

As the economic downturn grew, along with it came a subtle little disdain for all who are utilizing government programs like Social Security, Medicare, welfare, etc.

I am a 58-year-old person with Multiple Sclerosis who receives Social Security Disability pay. I was diagnosed at age 39 and began receiving Social Security benefits four years later. I am not a moocher, and I very much resent the implication that I am.

These programs were put into place to help citizens of the United States in case of unforeseen hardships. I don't understand how we can put these programs into place, then begrudge those who need them. It reminds me of a desire on the part of some to use a “bait and switch” tactic: "Look at all we offer to our citizens! And we offer it gladly right up to the point where you need it."

Although it would pose a tremendous hardship on me personally, I say "take it back and put it where the sun doesn't shine." Oh, and be sure to stop saying that America takes care of its own. You can't have it both ways anymore.

WENDY D. SCOTT

Winston-Salem

Liberty means …

According to the Feb. 1 story “Backers of gay marriage ban file court brief,” “The North Carolina Values Coalition filed an amicus brief last month arguing that overturning the 1996 law banning same-sex marriage would infringe upon the constitutional liberties of Christians who believe that marriage is biblically ordained to be between only one man and one woman.”

So if gay people are allowed to marry, that violates their “constitutional liberties”? They have a “constitutional liberty” to decide such an important matter for people who are not them?

I don’t think these people understand the meaning of the word “liberty.” You don’t have a “liberty” to control someone else’s life. That’s taking someone else’s liberty away from them.

They believe that “marriage is biblically ordained”? I don’t care what they believe. Anyone who knows anything about world history knows that marriage is not a uniquely Christian ideal. Christians do not own marriage. Nor do they own the lives of people who do not attend their churches.

Liberty means letting people do things that you do not like. Who believes, truly believes, in liberty? If you believe in liberty for yourself but not for other people, then you don’t really believe in liberty.

HENRY TUBB

Winston-Salem

Finish the Thought

Saturday, we asked readers to complete the sentence: “The new bipartisan push for immigration reform will …”

“... eventually prove to be a mirage. Immigration is a costly losing issue for the GOP so they bend a tad. Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana asserts that the core principles of the GOP remain sound but they just need to cease being a stupid party. He is advocating changing the messaging but not the message.

“Just look at the GOP-controlled state houses. They go full speed to implement the tea-party agenda: replacing income tax with higher sales tax (the move is to benefit the rich and hurt the middle class and the poor), resisting the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, cutting corporate tax, slashing public education and h igh education, reducing unemployment compensation. We will see a lot of high drama in the coming debt ceiling and budget fights.”

BOON T. LEE

“... hinge on border security.”

DEB PHILLIPS

“…finally acknowledge the fact that almost 100 percent of our population is descended from immigrants. These illegals, and they are that now, have come here to improve their lives. They want to work, pay taxes and become part of our society. Let them. Kick the true criminals out and keep them out.

“For my friends on the right a simple question: would you rather have a hard-working, law-abiding immigrant in our country or a welfare-receiving criminal who happened to be born here? Remember, the majority of the prison inmates in America were born here.”

KEN HOGLUND

Winston-Salem Journal LTE WE 02/06/13

The pro-gun argument

The pro-gun argument has more holes than its unintended victims. It basically argues for the right to shoot holes through the flesh of fellow Americans if one feels threatened. Not just one or two holes, but dozens, and they’d prefer that it not take too long. (We’re all busy these days, I suppose.)

For a sprinkling of humanity, they bring up hunting as a side-motivation, regardless of the fact that the Second Amendment mentions zip about hunting.

Next, they bring up one’s right to protect their family against intruders. But even if read with one eye shut by candlelight, it remains easy to see that the Second Amendment is not speaking on the individual level. “A well-regulated militia” does not refer to one paranoid fool protecting his flat-screen. It means an organized army of citizens protecting an entire state from an attack. (Think pre-military, pre-police department, Revolutionary War era.)

But my favorite is the one about protection against our own government. News flash! It’s illegal to shoot members of our own armed forces. And even Fox News will report that our military has machine guns, flame throwers, bazookas, grenades, mortars, tanks, armed drones, and nuclear weapons. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have that much room in my garage.

Anyway, this whole pro-gun argument is outdated and a silly waste of time and tears. Of all of man’s brilliant inventions, why are we so fixated on one that snuffs out so many lives? Check out the toaster.

RICK RANDALL

Winston-Salem

The other abortions

Anti-choice advocates say that there have been 55 million abortions since it was legalized 40 years ago. But they forget the other abortions – millions more – the ones that took place before abortion was legal.

Abortion has been practiced for centuries. And according to a new study published in the Jan. 19 issue of The Lancet, a medical journal, abortion rates are highest where the procedure is illegal.

The study also found nearly half of all abortions worldwide are unsafe, with the vast majority of unsafe abortions occurring in developing countries.

Need anyone point out that illegal abortions are also more likely to cost the lives of the women who undergo them? Where’s the “sacredness of life” in those cases?

There are two (other) reasons I will not side with anti-choice advocates. They go after women who are frightened and vulnerable and kick them while they’re down, calling them murderers. And if they were sincere about wanting to end abortion, they would support universal birth control and reproductive education. They’d be enthusiastic about birth control and reproductive education. Instead, they’re against them. That tells me that there’s more to their agenda than they’re willing to admit.

BONNIE G. VAUGHN

Winston-Salem

Another loony idea

While it may be comforting that state House Majority Leader Paul Stam has backed off his loony idea of prohibiting folks on public assistance or in bankruptcy from purchasing lottery tickets, it is not comforting that another loony idea has been proposed by Sen. Stan Bingham (“Bingham introduces bill to arm teachers, volunteers,” Feb. 1). He wants to create armed “school safety marshals” (i.e. vigilantes) to patrol the halls of schools to scare off gun-toting madmen.

In an emergency, these marshals would run to a lockbox that contains a gun and a bulletproof vest, no doubt shouting for the armed intruder to “wait, wait while I get ready for you.”

Absurd? You bet. The good people of North Carolina should be concerned that taxpayer money is actually being used to pay their representatives to come up with such foolishness.

JOHN REYNOLDS

Clemmons

Guns

Please note that I oppose any bill that bans semi-automatic rifles, magazines and background checks. With these laws in place, the majority of law-abiding Americans would be losing their rights to anti-gun activists. The mentally ill and criminals would not follow the law to get guns.

Leave our Second Amendment alone.

Stop the violence in the national media, which most Americans will agree is a problem. Media violence only encourages certain people to act out what they see. In the Jan. 30 story “In Cold Blood,” one of the men charged with the killing of a Jonesville police officer said the killers were influenced by movies. The media are supporting the present administration, so no actions will be taken to stop violence in the national media: TV, movies and video games. So the goal is to go after gun control.

Sad but true.

RON KIRKPATRICK

Kernersville