Letters to the EditorWednesday, September 3, 2008
Hurricane reports It's that time of year again. Tropical storms and hurricanes are threatening our coastal areas, and every news channel is devoting huge portions of time to analyzing storm tracks, wind speeds and rainfall amounts. There is the inevitable "on the scene" coverage, during which a reporter in the midst of the storm, covered in rain gear, leaning against the wind, microphone in hand, tells us the obvious: there is heavy rain, strong wind, flying debris, and it is dangerous to be outside. Evidently this type coverage must be very popular with viewers, but personally, I think it is foolish. It sets a bad example, allowing reporters to be out in those dangerous conditions. I want to see shots of waves, trees, rising water, flooding and flying debris, but let's keep the reporters inside and use fixed cameras outside to show the effects. CHARLES MILLER Finicky voters The American voter is a finicky voter. In the last election between Sen. John Kerry and President Bush, I stated two months before the election that Sen. Kerry would lose, not because of the issues but because Kerry had a disproportionate face. This election is no different. The race for the White House comes down to two words: gender and race. It won't be about issues or who is a multimillionaire. The American voters have spoken. They do not want a woman as president. Now that leaves race: Barack Obama pitted against John McCain. It is my opinion that John McCain will win — not because he was a POW and not because of his stance on any of the issues. John McCain will win just because of the color of his skin. The American voter is a finicky voter. JUSTIN TYME U.S. oil exports This is in response to a recent commentary by Jim Edwards, the former secretary of energy under President Reagan, and letters to The Post and Courier supporting expanded oil drilling in the United States. It is interesting to note that in the first four months of this year, the United States exported a record 1.6 million barrels a day of refined petroleum products. This represents 9 percent of total U.S. refining capacity. During the period cited (January-April, 2008), U.S. refineries operated at 85 percent capacity. These exports were equal to half the 3.2 million barrels of gasoline, diesel fuel and other petroleum products the United States imported each day over the four-month period. This seems to be at odds with the claim of the Bush administration and others that tight supplies are the cause for record prices of gasoline and diesel fuel. Jim Presswood, an energy lobbyist for the Natural Resources Defense Council, was recently quoted as saying, "It doesn't look good to say: 'We need more oil.' But then export the refined products that you're getting. It doesn't seem to be consistent." JACK MEETZE Community life I would like to personally thank each and everyone who turned out for the third Borough Project on Hampton Park on Aug. 2. It was an inspiring celebration of this legendary community's reconnecting, families gathering and youth learning about their rich history, culture and legacy. This incredible happening was the brainchild/vision of Herbert "Duggy" Young and J.P. Brown from many years ago, along with the assistance of Catherine Braxton and Rebecca Campbell of the Borough Houses. These two gentlemen believed that by bringing their displaced community of several generations together, former neighbors, friends and family could not only reminiscence about the past but teach a new generation the importance of a community worshipping, attending school, playing sports and participating in social events in peace and harmony, and especially with love and respect for one another. I hope and pray that the next reunion will be even more successful, with more former residents bringing their families and friends (along with photos) to celebrate a great community, even though it was devastated by the powers that be that didn't understand the gem it had in its midst. Yet these powers could not destroy the love and cohesiveness of this remarkable community. LESA WINEGLASS-SMALLS Boats not ugly It may be that some abandoned boats are unsightly and unsafe. However, some boats become part of the picture. A boat sitting off in the middle of a marsh seems to provide a unique and welcome addition that brings life to the pristine view. ROBERT BULLWINKEL Sr. Georgian mistake The Aug. 19 political cartoon in The Post and Courier of a huge Russian bear chewing up folks in Georgia didn't have the power to cause revulsion as did the TV images of Russian tanks pushing aside police cars in the city of Gori after Russia said it was leaving. That image brought back similar images and revulsion of events in Hungary in 1956, Berlin in 1961, Czechoslovakia in 1968 and Afghanistan in 1979. The comment in the cartoon is all too sad since it reflects not just a Georgian attitude but the lack of involvement and interest of the American public. It says, "I wish he would have remained in hibernation." What is even sadder is that it reflects the consequences of a commander in chief who had no clue how to respond to Putin. President Bush has played all his military cards in the game called "Iraq trumped Afghanistan." It may be noted that the military action was started by the Georgians to punish the South Ossetian people for wanting to be back with their Russian-speaking neighbors. Our ally Georgia did a pretty stupid thing, thinking that Russia would not respond. The Russians had been building up a separate Ossetian army to do just what we have encouraged the Kurds to do in Iraq. The belief in an imperial military's invincibility has gotten many nations into great difficulty. History is littered with examples. Current events also indicate the great deal of litter a new and more humble commander in chief will have to clean up. EDWIN M. WALKER Abolishing parole On reading the Aug. 28 article on abolishing parole, one line from the head of the S.C. Corrections Department jumped out at me: "... You simply could not fit that many inmates in the prisons we have. If you did, you will end up with a lot of dead bodies on your hands." Well, duh. We'll have the dead bodies on our hands one way or another. The decision to be made is whether the bodies should be of innocent victims within our society or of not-so-innocent victims within the walls of our prisons. JOHN C. ANKENY No excuses To people who feel that they cannot give to Goodwill or any other charity simply because there is a "No Weapons Allowed" sign on the front door: Leave your gun at home or locked in your car. Or use the convenient drive-thru drop-off. And stop making excuses for helping your fellow man. And why on earth would you need to carry a weapon into Goodwill? A. THOMAS PRICE |
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