Letters to the EditorWednesday, February 20, 2008
No I-526 option Building the I-526 extension with no exits for Johns Islands can't reasonably be considered a "third option." It would still mean building an expressway over what little is left of undisturbed forest and salt marshes on Johns and James islands. It would be an ecological disaster. The character of the islands would be lost, irrevocably and tragically, if this were allowed to take place. The people of the Lowcountry, who have endeavored to maintain a sense of place would not be served by such an "option." As for those who would get a "great expressway loop," they need to relocate to Charlotte or Norfolk. DAVID MIKELL Global warming We pollute our earth every day with carbon dioxide. Unfortunately, many people think the problem is too big to address and say it would be a waste of time and money. In fact, addressing the problem is probably easier than most people think and could actually save money. Here are ways to prevent global warming and even save money. You could wear a sweater instead of turning up the heater, switch to a tank-less water heater and hang your clothes outside to dry. You could buy products locally and use cloth instead of plastic bags when shopping. To find out more about preventing global warming and how much money you could save, go to stopglobalwarming.org. It is a very interesting site. I hope you will join the fight. LILY SHERPAMO Too little publicity Charleston is a shining city, steeped in the arts, which surprises visitors with its rich, diversified offerings of theater, dance and music. Leading publications and other media provide comprehensive coverage of premier events such as Spoleto USA and Piccolo Spoleto, along with the CSO, and justifiably so. But how much publicity is given our smaller local arts organizations? In my view, way too little. Sure, upcoming performances are listed and reviewed regularly after the event, but that is not what I am referring to. My concern is that so many of these leading-edge theater and music performances receive inadequate publicity in advance or during the performances. Artists and directors of national and international repute perform here often without mention. The local organizers and producers are seldom acknowledged for their amazing ingenuity and efforts. Audiences discover details of visiting celebrity guests in the copy of the programs. Only then, thanks to word of mouth, do audiences swell but seldom to full potential. Take as an example the Charleston Music Fest, which concluded a three-concert extravaganza on Feb. 3 at Ashley Hall. This program, in its second successful year, is inspired and jointly directed by College of Charleston Professors Lee-Chin (violinist) and Natalia Khoma (cellist) and presented by the college's School of the Arts and Friends of the Library. Renowned artists from Europe, and from premier American music schools and orchestras perform and conduct master classes alongside our very talented local artists. The fact that I continually find myself surprising friends about these events is proof that the word is not getting out. As for the Music Fest, it, in my opinion, compares with the finest the Spoleto Chamber Series offers. But who knows this? It is sadly a closely held secret. DAVID J. WALDRON Real IDs Regarding a Feb. 9 letter to the editor in The Post and Courier about national identification cards called "Real IDs": We need them more than ever to identify those who are law-abiding. Some progressive European countries have had some form of ID card for generations and the programs work very well. I have two ID cards that I have carried for more than 50 years. One is a military ID, and the other is a driver's license. I wouldn't be without them, and I would proudly carry a "Real ID." Lastly, the ACLU is against "Real IDs" so they must be a good thing. KENNETH ANDERSON JR. What do we want? It amazes me how uninformed we actually are when it comes to the activities of state and federal governments. We all clamor for reform, subsidies, lower taxes, economic stimuli, better education and lower interest rates. But what do we really want, and how much do we want to know? Here are some thoughts: Reform: Gov. Mark Sanford has charted reform for our state government, only to be met with resistance and an unwillingness to change. Let's consider real changes, not just a pork barrel committee or two. Subsidies: It's a done deal. As an owner of a sporting goods retail business, I don't agree with it and get no tax relief, but it's done. If you don't agree with it, look to those who voted for it and make a change next election. I'm going to. Lower taxes: A flat income tax and increasing the so-called "sin taxes" aren't new ideas, but they are still good ideas. A flat tax simplifies the process and could eliminate some government bureaucracies. This isn't just a state problem but also a federal problem. Imagine a flat federal income tax. How many IRS auditors would be out of work or re-allocated? Economic stimulus: I'm not a believer in corporate welfare, but if you're going to help a certain segment, all others should also receive help. Small businesses remain the largest employer in our state. Credit crisis: The proposed mortgage bailout is another subject. Hasn't anyone heard of fiscal responsibility or does everyone live on credit? I think President Franklin D. Roosevelt said it well: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." He probably would add fear of ignorance and fear of arrogance were he to give the speech today. DAVID CLIFFORD Why approve? Why do political candidates have to approve their own messages? ELMORE MARLOW Bringing it home I am writing regarding an article recently published in The Post and Courier about USC junior Alesha Brown. Alesha, 20, grew up in Charleston and is "bringing the message home." I love Alesha's idea of stressing to middle school students the importance of academic achievement. After high school, many people regret not taking full advantage of their high school opportunities. A friend once told me, "I wish I could go back to high school and change everything I did." We need more people like Alesah to promote hard work and success in school. BANKS MARION Not too harsh After seeing more than one letter seeking leniency for young, violent offenders, I felt I had to respond. If the letter writers had been the person with a gun pointed at them — pellet gun or otherwise — while they were robbed, they would most likely think differently. At the moment that the crime begins, one's life is forever changed. I am speaking of the victim and not the criminals. The criminals chose to do these things, and they certainly knew they were breaking laws. The victims did not have a choice. I feel that the sentences handed down in the recent cases of the Wando students are not too harsh, and the cases definitely did not belong in a family court. BARBARA B. McLAINE Simple solution I read with interest the front page story on Feb. 12, concerning the problems of criminal bloodshed in the Charleston area and, I might add, nationwide. Several proposals were put forth in an attempt to "end the bloodshed." I would submit that the cause can be summed up in two words, handguns, and the solution in two more words, gun control. All the rest is commentary. HARVEY M. SPAR |
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