Winston-Salem Journal LTE MO 02/06/12

Progressive posturing

Winston-Salem mayor Allen Joines will not be running for North Carolina governor. This is no surprise. Why would he? "Mr. Untouchable" makes $155,000 annually as head of the Winston-Salem Alliance in addition to what he makes as mayor. Another perk of his position at the alliance is that business leaders will not support anyone else. Ain't local politics grand?

Joines is loved by liberals throughout the city. He appears at the right events, he says all the right things and makes a real effort to been seen as a moderate progressive. But he never gives any more than token attention to the poor, while the development projects that benefit the rich are never far from his mind.

Regardless of Joines' progressive posturing, anyone who really wants change in this community should not forget that he's in the pocket of Winston-Salem's 1 percent, and ultimately it is for their benefit that he serves as both mayor and head of the Winston-Salem Alliance. This peculiar arrangement should not be allowed to continue.

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CLIFTON TEW

Winston-Salem

Name-calling

I sympathize a great deal with the writer of the Jan. 27 letter "Disagreements," who is upset because he is called names because of his conservative political views. As a liberal Democrat, I know just what he means. These days we're casually referred to as socialists, fascists, tyrants, terrorist sympathizers, baby killers, un-Christian, un-American and worse simply because we don't agree with the conservative view. Talk about name-calling!

He writes, "At one time, I considered myself a patriot, but now I have to be careful what I say in public, as I will have labels placed on me by others who disagree with my thoughts." That's exactly how I feel.

My purpose isn't, though, to say "we have it just as bad or worse." I agree with the letter writer that it's time for civil discourse, and I pledge to avoid name-calling. I pledge to listen to the view of the other side — as it is truly presented, not as it is characterized by people on my side — and consider its merits.

I pledge to never vote for politicians who throw divisive bombs, irrationally demonizing his opponents. It's one thing to apply critical thought and disagree — it's quite another to just call names mindlessly with no critical factor at all.

So who on the right — and the left — will join me?

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TOMMY H. SIMMONS

Winston-Salem

A new policy

When I was in high school, coaches were demigods. East Forsyth High School coach Mike Muse and Kernersville Police Officer James Deeney should have been fired ("Student recorded coach's tirade," Feb. 2).

Here's a new policy for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school board: No cursing or threatening students or their parents. Also, no texts from teachers or coaches to students. None, no tolerance — they can text, email or call students' parents if they are concerned.

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PAUL ARMSTRONG

Winston-Salem

Massaging the truth

In a recent Republican presidential-candidate debate, it was amusing to hear Mitt Romney respond to Newt Gingrich's claim that he (Romney) was "anti-immigrant." Romney defended himself by pointing out that his father (former presidential candidate and Michigan Gov. George Romney) was born in Mexico, the clear inference being that his dad was an immigrant; therefore how can you claim he is anti-immigrant? Pretty convincing.

Of course, his father was not an immigrant at all. Both of his parents were natural-born U.S. citizens, which, by law, conferred automatic U.S. citizenship upon their son at birth, irrespective of where on the globe he first drew breath. He could have been born in Kenya, for that matter, and he still would have been a natural U.S. citizen. In an alternate universe, the media might have pointed this out on the spot.

Perhaps this was Romney's way of wooing the Latino vote — or was he just trying to pull the wool over the eyes of a stupid electorate? Politicians do, of course, massage the truth to meet their purposes, but this little episode clearly underscores the lack of respect candidate Romney has for the intelligence of American voters.

Does anyone find that troubling?

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ROD C. MARTENIS

Clemmons

Winston-Salem Journal LTE SU 02/05/12

Buying local

A few years ago I kept reading that the "in thing" was buying local. It was supposed to be healthier, supportive of local farmers and venders and better-tasting. So, we opened a little store that supported more than 50 local farmers and venders. Like so many local businesses, we had to close after a couple of years because of lack of sales. What I learned from this was that while it sounds cool to say we support local businesses, what we really want is convenience; one-stop shopping. This is what makes Walmart the success it is.

That's OK, we should all be allowed to shop wherever we want for whatever reason we have. After all, it's our money. But, you know who should not shop where they want? The Winston-Salem city government. When I read in the paper that it has hired a landscaper from Georgia at $64,000 to design a new park at the old Piedmont Quarry, I got very upset ("City's hidden gem," Jan. 29). What's wrong with the landscapers in Forsyth County? I find it hard to support a government that does not support its people. Local government should buy local.

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TOM RAIF

Lewisville

Safe Sunday

As youth in this community, we would like to express our opinion on underage drinking and adult alcohol overuse during large situations, such as the Super Bowl. We ask adults to watch the alcohol they ingest, because the more they drink the more their sense of judgment dwindles. They may make decisions that cause harm to themselves and others around them. For everyone's safety, please do not drive after drinking.

Adults should make sure that no one under the age of 21 has access to alcohol anywhere, because that could be the beginning of ruining someone's life. Alcohol negatively affects young people differently than adults. These effects can be permanent because of the developing brain.

Overall, please keep underage people from drinking alcohol at all times, and make sure that everyone is safe on Super Bowl Sunday.

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MARCO SANTOS AND NATALIA CASAS

COALITION FOR DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION

YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL

Winston-Salem

Doing our part

For some, the Super Bowl is a time to revel one last time in America's favorite sport. For others, it's a time to spend like a banshee.

Last year my wife and I watched the Super Bowl at home with our three uninterested daughters. The night lacked a certain je ne sais quoi . This year I decided to host a super shindig for friends and family. Little did I know I'd be playing a key role in the revitalization of the American economy.

First, we upgraded our TV. Forty-seven inches of LCD love complemented by an LG sound bar with subwoofer and a new Sony Blue-ray player with Bluetooth connectivity so we could play tunes through our phones. To accommodate the new set-up, we had to rearrange the living room, which meant painting and some new decor.

The money ball continues to roll as we will be putting cash in a team of babysitters' pockets to keep all guests' kids at a neighbor's house so we can be, well, without kids. They'll need pizza, soda, chips, cookies and whatnot, and I feel sure the babysitters won't be cooking that stuff up from scratch. We also need food, drink and paper goods for the adults.

I'd like to think through all this we're doing our part to build community and create lasting memories for friends and family, but I can say with confidence we're doing our part for the economy. And it is so worth it. Go, Patriots.

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KRIS KRIOFSKE

Winston-Salem

Crossed the line

The Occupy Movement has been a model of free speech. I have always supported free speech and spent over 25 years in the Army, as have many of my friends, to fight for it and support it. Recently, though, the Occupy Movement crossed the line — a line that I feel it cannot ever be able to cross back over. It has committed a grave error against all veterans and the United States of America.

Members of the Occupy Movement burned the United States flag in Oakland, Calif. ("Protesters vandalize City Hall," Jan. 30). This is the same thing our enemies do. You see it in Iran and other enemy states, not the USA.

I never had any thought in regard to the 1 percent or the 99 percent. Guess who I'm siding with now. I'm actually sick to my stomach, looking at the picture of the flag of my country burning. I think about all of the soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors who have fought and died under the banner of our flag.

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WAYNE SMITH

Winston-Salem

Sum It Up

Are you looking forward to the May primary elections? Respond to letters@wsjournal.comand put "Sum It Up" in the subject header. Only signed entries, please, no anonymous ones. Briefer responses receive preference in print.

Winston-Salem Journal LTE SA 02/04/12

The public square

In the recent battle over government-sponsored prayer in city and county council meetings, the advocates of such prayer have referred to "the public square," saying that they have the same rights to speak there as anyone else.

They are correct, in as far as that goes, but government-sponsored prayer is different from individuals speaking in the public square.

The public square would be the forum used by citizens in their individual or group capacity. It means that anyone can stand before the commissioners and the public and say, "As a Christian, I believe we should set aside more money for the poor," or, "My faith teaches me to be compassionate." They have the right to do that, and no one would ever stop them.

But there's a difference between that and our government leaders allowing and endorsing sectarian prayer as part of the government program. Doing so leads to the government advocating religion. In the case of Christianity, it would reinforce the myth that this is a "Christian nation" that gives preference to Christians over other citizens.

But asking government to play fair doesn't disqualify any citizen from participating in the public square. Prayer advocates still have the same rights as anyone else, which in this case is the right to keep government from advocating a religion not of their choosing.

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PHIL RONALD TURNER

Winston-Salem

Painful memories

The debate over the statue of the Confederate soldier at the old courthouse ("Fate of Rebel statue unclear," Feb. 1) is interesting as well as frustrating. I know that the Civil War evokes painful memories, but it is part of our history.

Leave the statue. It is an opportunity to engage in conversation about history. It is wrong to expect people to be ashamed of their families. Most of the Confederate soldiers didn't own slaves, and while racism was rampant, Northern liberals are hypocrites to honor their racist ancestors who served in the largely racist Union army while disparaging Confederates. Racism was and is a national problem, not a Southern one.

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JIM WILD

Rural Hall

Partisan differences

Patriotism is not one's opposition to other countries but devotion to one's own country. Something that the United States of America lacks is patriotism and support. Regardless of partisan differences, support is needed for the political figure in office for progress to occur. In America's current situation, many bills are proposed only to be shot down by the opposing political party.

In President Obama's State of the Union Address, the ideas set forth by President Obama were thought through and potentially beneficial to the welfare of the United States, yet obvious opposition could be observed and was well displayed by Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner. This opposition was not due to the components of the proposed ideas, but because of partisan differences and disapproval. If the two parties could set aside the benefits of having a Republican or Democrat in office and set their eyes on improving the current economic and foreign policies, then imagine the possibilities of progress and the achievements this wonderful country could accomplish. All it takes is a splash of patriotism and a little bit of support.

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MATTHEW SMITH

Lewisville

Improving orchestra

Congratulations to the Winston-Salem Symphony for the success of its new marketing strategy ("Symphony sales hitting high notes," Jan. 31) — but this is just part of the picture, albeit a tangible one.

As important as retention of subscribers is the clear improvement of the orchestra in recent years. Maestro Robert Moody and his musical crew (include also staff and board) are obviously doing the right things musically; for the most part, new hires are better than the musicians they replace and add positively to the sound of the ensemble.

Maestro Moody also tries to balance the musical appetites of the conservative (and wealthy) patrons with works that appeal to the younger "plugged-in" listener in his choice of programs. Recent programs (like the Cello-bration in January) have been among the orchestra's best.

Now, could we hear more from the Triad's superb composers?

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PETER PERRET

Clemmons

Perret is the former musical director of the Winston-Salem Symphony. — the editor

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 Confederate statue in front of the old courthouse in downtown Winston-Salem should be …"

Winston-Salem Journal LTE FR 02/03/12

Glorified violence

Most of us recognize that — because it sells — the broadcast media glorifies violence. Routinely and relentlessly. When we, as a society, play fast and loose with deadly weapons, we should consider the consequences. We should think hard about vigilante psychology, self-styled and self-appointed, turned loose among us — media cowboys or cool public avengers — who "compensate" for (usually outgunned) law enforcement. Is this really what we want for our children and our grandchildren? Where everyone must go armed for fear everyone else is? A video-game world where disagreements escalate to fatality, where "disrespecting" or traffic infractions carry lethal consequences?

Public opinion in this newspaper and elsewhere makes clear the General Assembly acted against the public interest by permitting weapons in public parks. The Winston-Salem City Council acted rightly in protecting us against this wrong-headed policy. But now Forsyth County commissioners talk about guns at Tanglewood and other county parks. What responsible adult would subject a child to this danger?

The arguments, the same old vigilante stuff, are championed by an ambitious official with an imperfect record of obeying the laws that inconvenienced him.

We deserve better than this. We shouldn't have to live in fear of violent people — whether they're bent on hurting us or "protecting" us. The gun lobby will always tout the Second Amendment, but the real issue is quiet enjoyment of public parks for our children.

A civil society comes from more law enforcement and in better education about violence, not from loose cannons in public parks.

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GAIL G. McNEILL

Winston-Salem

Things have changed

In the course of my 71 years, I have witnessed a significant change in the interpretation of "separation of church and state" among Southern Baptists. My earliest understanding of the relation between church and government was taught to me by my Southern Baptist Church. Because of the religious persecution suffered at the hand of Colonial, theocratic government entities, Baptists became champions of religious freedom. In keeping with this history, I was taught that being a determined advocate of the separation of church and state was one of the distinctive features of our denomination.

In 1946, what is now the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Freedom opened an office in Washington. The Southern Baptist Convention was one of the denominations instrumental in establishing the joint committee. The mission was to be an advocate for the separation of church and state. For years the SBC was one of the primary financial contributors to the agency, and in 1980, a Southern Baptist became the executive director.

Beginning in 1979, a strong fundamentalist minority in the SBC began a movement to gain control of the denomination, and by the mid 1980s that control was secure. Everything in the denomination changed, and in 1991 all funding to the joint committee ceased. The SBC is now one of the greatest opponents of the concept of church and state separation.

If the issue of sectarian prayer at government meetings had been raised 40 years ago, the Baptist position would have been very different than it is today.

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CHARLES FRANCIS WILSON

Winston-Salem

Sum It Up

The Sum It Up question from Sunday was: Are you satisfied with North Carolina's gun-control laws?

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North Carolina firearms laws are on the web in a PDF file of 45 pages. It's a great set of laws, just wonderful, really marvelous and so well crafted, but while scanning this document, I detected as many exemptions as laws. No gun law makes us safe.

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KAM BENFIELD

Rural Hall

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North Carolina's gun laws have finally more fully recognized the Second Amendment. Like those laws of 30 states, we now have a "Castle Doctrine" law, and like 49 states, we have "concealed carry" (the state of Illinois being the only exception). There is no greater basic right than to protect yourself and your family from harm by the criminal and crazy elements of society.

To all those anti-gun folks, I would ask them, would you put a sign in your front yard saying, "There are no guns in this house?" Remember the adage, "With guns we are citizens, without guns, we are subjects."

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BRUCE GUSTAFSON

Winston-Salem

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Yes, they are justified with the exception of not allowing out-of-state concealed permits in North Carolina, which I feel they should. The charge for the course is way too high.

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LOWELL NUDD

Kernersville

Winston-Salem Journal LTE 02/02/12

Reigning member

Those who want to know one thing wrong with Congress should consider Rep. Howard Coble, a reigning member of the "Occupy Congress Movement." Coble is going for his 15th term in Congress at age 80 ("Coble will seek re-election to U.S. House," Jan. 28). I venture to say he is not for term or age limits. Those are for the other 99 percent of us.

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AL BAKER

Pfafftown

Conservative conclusion

On Jan. 18, the Journal published the news that the U.S. Supreme Court would not hear the appeal filed by the Forsyth County commissioners on the decision of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that banned sectarian prayers ("Court action backs prayer ban"). This decision concludes almost five years of legal entanglements.

The reactions to the Supreme Court's decision have been mixed, with some people expressing dismay and others expressing relief. Personally, I am pleased and satisfied with the decision, but there is also some surprise. Over these five years there has been little mention of the actual content of the written opinions of the three courts that heard and acted on the case.

This latest decision of the Supreme Court is the logical conclusion to their decisions. All three decisions were written with great care and were remarkably consistent in their interpretation of the First Amendment as it related to government-sponsored prayer.

Those who disagree with the decisions of the three lower courts, and now the Supreme Court, should be able to find some comfort in the fact that the legal conclusions were not the reckless rulings of activist judges. Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, writer of the majority opinion for the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, is a President Reagan appointee, and the current Supreme Court is the most conservative it has been in decades. We can be pleased that the deliberations and rulings over the last five years have added significantly to our historical interpretation of the First Amendment.

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STEVE WESTON

PROGRAM CHAIR, WINSTON-SALEM CHAPTER

AMERICANS UNITED FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

Winston-Salem

Finish the Thought

Last Saturday we asked readers to complete the sentence, "Gov. Bev Perdue decided not to seek re-election because ..."

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"… she could not stand the heat so she got out of the kitchen (so to speak)."

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ILA HESTER

* * * * *

"…she knew she had no chance of being re-elected."

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RICHARD CARTER

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"… she has faced high unemployment, weak approval numbers, a long list of political defeats, the indictment of two close aides, plus a campaign-finance scandal that is continuing to unfold. So Gov. Perdue's decision not to run for re-election was the right decision on her part. Now she can go back to New Bern and bake muffins for her grandkids. Surely she is a better grandmother than she has been governor."

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REID JOYCE

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"… her early campaign fundraising indicated insufficient support. For almost 4 years, Bev Perdue has stood up for North Carolinians in a very extreme political climate. When other officials saw an issue as too politically disadvantageous to get involved with, she stood alone. It's just sad that the North Carolinians she worked so hard to protect won't stand up for her."

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DOROTHY MATHEWS

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"... she wants to relieves herself from the charge of playing politics so she can deal squarely with the quarrelsome, sneaky, "cut, cut" GOP lawmakers and to deny her gubernatorial opponent the gleeful moment of celebration over her defeat. A very smart move."

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BOON T. LEE

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"Why would anyone want to be governor of a state whose conservatives' only objective is to vote down everything she tries to do? This is true of city, state and national politics, now that conservatives have gained a little power."

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NAOMI J. DAVIS

* * * * *

"… 'something bugged her.' "

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DONALD E. WALLACE

* * * * *

"… I think she was asked to step aside by the Obama administration to increase President Obama's chances to win North Carolina's delegates in 2012, in return for promise of a 'czarina's' position in his administration if he's re-elected."

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BRUCE GUSTAFSON

Editor's note

The co-author of the Jan. 28 guest column "Fearing Muslim-Americans" is not the Rev. Joe Myers of Kerwin Baptist Church.

Winston-Salem Journal LTE WE 02/01/12

Being penalized

While President Obama is more worried about Warren Buffet's secretary, I am more worried about people in my age bracket — over 70 — who are depending on interest income to help with expenses. I saved my entire life — bought nothing extravagant ever — and now am earning next to zero in interest. I am being penalized at a time when I and many, many others are the most vulnerable. We do not have an outside income to depend on.

Now that we know that the Fed will not raise interest rates for a couple more years, then the answer is for the economy to be brought back to life. And since we know what policies don't work, we must elect a president who will try a different solution. And we know that isn't the one now sitting in the White House.

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KAY ANDERSON

Winston-Salem

Pipeline evaluation

Those who would criticize the Obama administration for failing to approve the Keystone XL pipeline by the Feb. 21 deadline set forth by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives need to get their information from someone other than lying Republican politicians and Fox News.

The first proposed route of the pipeline was not approved by the Republican governor of Nebraska, and current plans have moved most of the pipeline east by about 200 miles, but it still crosses areas overlying the Ogallala aquifer, the main water source for the most productive farmlands on the planet.

The Republicans would have apparently been quite comfortable approving this project without first ensuring that appropriate and effective risk-mitigation procedures are in place and that even the worst catastrophe with the pipeline would not have jeopardized our country's breadbasket. The Republicans knew full well that the pipeline evaluation could not be completed this quickly and that they could seize upon the failure to approve it as an apparent sign of the Obama administration's lack of concern for decreasing dependence on foreign oil and indifference to the thousands of jobs that the project would create.

The Republicans approach this issue as they do most everything: Lie, lie loudly, and lie consistently.

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JAMES McGRATH

Yadkinville

Bob Timberlake

What a fine piece of writing penned by Richard Craver as the Journal recognized the 75th birthday of Bob Timberlake ("At 75, Timberlake still full of designs," Jan. 22). Since I was quoted in the article, I have a postscript I would like to share.

I once wrote Timberlake with the observation that his signature quill reminded me of a quote from Mother Teresa: "I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Whenever I see Timberlake's logo imprinted on his work, I am reminded that we are each a little quill in the hand of God, who is writing a love letter to the world. We all bear His imprint.

Timberlake stated in the article that "People seem to sense there's something different about my work. I believe they see the love and affection that's poured into it." I believe that what we see in and all around Timberlake and his work is just that — the love and affection pouredinto him and expressed through him.

No wonder we love to hang out in his orb — the Author of Life writing to us in and through the being we call Bob Timberlake. No wonder his life has such a magnetic appeal.

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JOYCE WHITE

Lexington

Insensitive

In the past three months, there has been a lot of talk in the media about Coach Joe Paterno's involvement in the infamous Penn State scandal. As soon as all of this unfolded in early November 2011, random, ignorant people who had never heard of Paterno quickly jumped on the bandwagon accusing him of being a horrible man. Not once did Paterno do anything wrong; in fact, he did everything right.

Because of the horrible publicity that Penn State had been receiving, it quickly fired Paterno. His lung cancer had worsened, and he then passed in late January. On the day after, the Journal had the front-page headline, "Fallen football legend, 85, dies" (Jan. 23). How insensitive and rude can you be? What would you write if Duke University's Coach Mike Krzyzewski or UNC Chapel Hill's Coach Roy Williams had passed away? Would you not write "Tragic loss mourned by thousands"?

With all of the hatred that has been created about Paterno, many say that he died from a broken heart, when in fact he was just as happy as when he was coaching football. JoePa wasn't just one of the best coaches college football has seen, he was also a man of great honor who was dedicated to the students of Pennsylvania State University.

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MAX HODGE

Pfafftown