Letters to the Editor

Hallowed grounds

In Charleston, we live among some of the most notable battlefields in the history of the American Revolution and the Civil War, including Fort Moultrie, Fort Sumter and Morris Island. These hallowed grounds are not only an important part of American history but are vital to understanding Charleston's heroic, brother-against-brother role in both wars.

The primary program by which these battlefields are preserved is the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program. This is a congressionally authorized matching-grants program whereby federal money is leveraged against state and private money to protect and preserve Civil War battlefields.

The Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program has been a resounding success, saving nearly 15,000 acres in 14 states. There are 11 sites in South Carolina eligible for funding through this program, most of them in the Charleston vicinity. Recently, the program was used to participate in the preservation of Cummings Point on Morris Island, and other batteries critical in the defense of Charleston Harbor and the subsequent siege of the city during the Civil War.

I want to applaud Rep. Henry Brown for his support and leadership in helping to secure the reauthorization of this important program as a key member of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources. Rep. Brown has been a solid champion of historic preservation.

Preserving these hallowed grounds benefits our community by attracting visitors and by providing tangible links between this community and state and the nation, which help us understand the ties that bind us and made us who we are today.

J. Alex McMillan

Trustee for the Civil War

Preservation Trust

Chisolm Street

Charleston

Another chance

Several weeks ago, I began to complain that I felt like warmed-over okra. I was told by a friend that a call to the doctor was in order. That was on Monday. As a middle-aged man, I knew, of course, I could ride this out.

By Wednesday, I was having second thoughts, and because I promised my friend I would make the call if things got worse, I called my doctor who ordered me to Roper Hospital. That was a good thing. It turned out that I had double pneumonia.

On Thursday morning, I had my first operation and fell into a coma. When I awoke Saturday in intensive care with a respirator tube down my throat, I felt true fear for the first time in my life. Luckily, my friend flew against a hurricane to be with me. After about an hour of fear and pain, things improved.

It wasn't long after that I was transferred to one of the third-floor pulmonary units. I thought to myself, "Self, you'll be out of here in a couple days and back to raising Cain in no time."

I was released recently and was itching to jump back into the fray, except that I didn't take notice that a week and a half of bed rest was the deal for getting out of Roper.

I want to thank everyone at Roper for saving my life. I could name some names, but it felt as though the bunch were part of a Cecil B. DeMille production with a "cast of thousands," so this is a big shout-out to all of you, whether doctors, nurses, nurse's aides or technicians. Thank you for giving me another chance, and God bless every one of you.

David Farrow

Rutledge Avenue

Charleston

First, obey laws

A Sept. 26 article in The Post and Courier reported Sen. Robert Ford's dismay at the lack of "civics" among citizens.

Perhaps Sen. Ford should realize that parking in no-parking zones and exceeding the speed limit may be a more important "civics" lesson than knowing when the country was founded.

Perhaps if we obeyed the laws designed for all of us instead of having a correct date in our head, this would be a better country. Certainly, based on current events with the amoral display by Wall Street, morality instead of mentality would have done this country fine.

Seymour Rosenthal

Waterfront Drive

Mount Pleasant

More sleep is bunk

Any change at The Citadel often receives harsh criticism from cadets and graduates who hold tradition in high regard. Sometimes the criticism is grounded. Other times, it is merely the ranting of someone upset that current cadets are getting off easy. I dislike any sentence that begins "back in the old corps," as cadets from each era face their own challenges that those from different periods don't understand.

Many of the recent changes I've supported. For example, locks on the doors in barracks make sense. But the recent change to allow cadets more time to sleep is bunk. It's not a big deal, and it's not going to ruin the school. But it's another easing of standards that makes The Citadel more like the College of Charleston with uniforms.

The administration's supposed focus on academics is misleading. If academics were the sole purpose of the institution, it would do away with drill and ceremony, Saturday morning inspections, physical fitness requirements and more.

The restrictions on naps were a small part of something bigger than academics — the idea that going to The Citadel is hard and graduating from The Citadel marks you as someone tested on many fronts, not just academically.

Militarily, I just don't understand the argument presented in a recent article. I don't know a single military member who has not, on a routine basis, been subjected to long periods of time with little sleep. Yes, this can be dangerous and downright deadly. That's why we "train like we fight" and routinely put men and women of the armed services through training that incorporates sleep deprivation.

Did I take naps when I was there? Yes, I creatively found ways to get more sleep at the risk of harassment from upperclassmen or demerits from the administration. Did I need naps? Probably. But the conditions at the school forced me to find a way to adapt and overcome the circumstances. That's a lesson difficult to teach in the classroom.

Allen Herritage

Major, U.S. Air Force

The Citadel, Class of 1997

Director, Alaskan Command

11th Air Force/Alaska NORAD Region Public Affairs

Rich man's debt

So finally they came up with a plan to bail out the Wall Street gang. That's just great. The working man gets to pay the millionaire's debts.

Thanks, President Bush. Job well done. Mission accomplished.

Bill Spivey

Old Dominion Drive

North Charleston

Corporate welfare

After listening to and reading about the bailout, I am wondering if the 2008 definition of "financial bailout" could be called welfare for the (once) richest and most powerful corporations and their CEOs.

The two concepts seem to be the same to me. I would suspect that many working people and small-business owners would agree. And once again, we are not eligible for any of that government help. Some things never change.

Alison L. Standard

Grove Street

Charleston

Thanks for food

I would like to thank Jim 'N Nick's BBQ Restaurant for its support during Tropical Storm Hanna.

On the afternoon of the storm, when King Street looked like a ghost town, the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy received a call from the restaurant's manager asking if we had a place to take already prepared food as the restaurant was closing. Chaplain Driggers delivered the food to Charleston County's Emergency Operation Center, and the food was devoured.

Many thanks to Jim 'N Nick's for reaching out to our Emergency Services Personnel in such a giving way.

Rev. Rob Dewey

Senior Chaplain

Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy

St. Andrews Boulevard

Charleston