Letters to the editor: 04/03/03

'America is worth fighting for'

To the Editor:

I would like to respond to Mr. Melrose's letter in the March 6 issue. First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Melrose because it has taken a well-educated, cocky Sylva attorney to explain everything to us about the war and Iraq. Your inside information was very well understood, and I am glad you have cleared it up for me and others who have a problem understanding the war issue. I have read your letter over and over again and get madder every time I read it.

Have you forgotten the war our forefathers had to fight to give us our freedom to begin with? We would not be writing these letters if one of our rights was not freedom of speech, no matter what political background we have.

Where do you think we would be if Sore Loserman was in the White House? Running with our head between our legs. Have you every heard the story of the farmer and the attorney standing in the middle of the road? Maybe you ought to.

What inside information do you have that proves Iraq did not have anything to do with Sept. 11? If you think Saddam Hussein did not have a little something to do with the terrorist attacks, then you need to get your facts in order. Ask a family member, firefighter or police officer who lost a loved one on Sept. 11 if they think Osama and Saddam had anything to do with that dreadful day and see what kind of response you get.

Saddam Hussein has not been contained for more than a decade but has only been given time to build weapons of mass destruction. That man should have been taken care of a long time ago.

Iraq has attacked our country, Mr. Melrose. Let me help you on this one. What about the bombing on the World Trade Center in 1993, the suicide bombing on the USS Cole, embassy suicide bombings that killed service men and women, and finally the World Trade Centers again in 2001?

They might have not been the ones to actually do the killing, but I bet their money funded some of it. What do you mean by currently attacked, Mr. Melrose?

Yesterday, last week, months or years ago? You obviously did not watch your TV day after day and saw how many lives were taken and destroyed on those days.

Not only did people die on those days, but wives, husbands, children (unborn) and parents' lives were changed, as well. I don't think it matters when we are attacked; it matters which chicken you vote for to put in the White House to fight our battles.

I, myself, think Mr. Bush is doing a great job considering what our country and military has been through within the last two years. If it keeps you alive as well, Mr. Melrose, then what right do you have to complain about?

President Bush doesn't have a blind lust for power; Americans voted for him to have power over our country and do what is best for our country. Do you really care about the United States of America and the Middle East, who has died or will die? It sounds to me that you are not anti-war but anti-Bush.

Have you ever been in combat or served in the military, Mr. Melrose? Well, my husband served in the Marine Corp. Have you asked a service man or woman about patriotism? That is one of the reasons they enlist.

Better than that, how about you visit the local recruiting office after they have read your letter or ask my husband why someone wants to put their life on the line to protect someone like you. Semper Fi, Mr. Melrose, or do you know what that means? Do you personally know of a government official who does not have a family member enlisted in any branch of the military? Because I guarantee you the family member has even more reason to be overseas protecting our nation, what we believe and what we stand for. Our nation, our country, Mr. Melrose, is worth fighting for.

Have we really had a president in office that is clear on foreign policy or an understanding on the intricacies of diplomacy? Remember this is the same country who voted for a draft dodger years ago. Blame America for all the problems in the world except the ones that Bill Clinton caused. Iraq and any other country will cause problems when they go against what we do, how we do it, what we say, etc., but then when it comes to us as Americans standing up for these things our forefathers gave to us, we are the cowardly ones in your dictionary, Mr. Melrose.

People like you make me sick to call myself an American, not President Bush. Remember where you live! If you are so unhappy about how things are going here in the United States, then by all means, there are enough descent people in this country who would gladly buy you and everyone else who protest against our country a ticket over there. If you think they have it better in Iraq, then that is where you and your education need to go.

One more question, Mr. Melrose. Would you have so readily put your name on the letter you wrote if Clinton or Gore was in office? I don't think so, but then again it was Clinton's negligence and weakness that allowed 9-11, the bombings on our military ships and embassies to happen.

Sincerely,

Robin Henry

Balsam

Cartoon unfairly defiles priests

To the Editor:

In last week's edition of The Sylva Herald (March 26), there appeared an editorial cartoon that showed a couple in bed, reading over the day's news. The wife says to the husband that since Saddam is being taken care of, all they have to fear now are the "Ebola virus, global warming, Catholic priests and Al-Qaida sleeper cells."

I must confess that I am not a regular reader of The Herald. How did I see this cartoon? My priest showed it to me.

"Strange," he said. "I've never been included on the same list with viruses and terrorists before."

And he has a valid point. Here we have grouped together as things to be feared a deadly virus, an environmental catastrophe, a terrorist organization responsible for the thousands of deaths of 9/11, and the humble man of God serving to bring the message of Christ's salvation to the world.

I am reminded of the song I used to sing as a child when watching Sesame Street. "One of these kids is doing his own thing, one of these kids does not belong..." Oh, I get the cartoonist's point. This past year, we have read headlines about sexual abuse committed by Catholic priests. If this is the only exposure you have had to the Catholic Church, you may very well think all priests are monsters. Is this an excuse for Catholic bashing?

Let's imagine a few other groups on this list of things to be feared. What if instead of Al-Qaida terrorists the cartoonist simply listed "Muslims?" What if blacks were on the list? Homosexuals? Or Jews? Of course, these groups would never be slandered in newspapers today. The public would not stand for it.

But isn't it true that a percentage of Catholic priests have committed sexual abuse of minors? Isn't this cartoonist just commenting on current events? Yes, but it is also true that a certain percentage of Muslims are terrorists, and a certain percentage of blacks commit violent crimes. In a civilized society we realize that the poor behavior of a few does not condemn, nor even accurately reflect, the character of the many.

The editors of The Sylva Herald would never publish material that so slandered any of these other groups. That would be bigotry. And bigotry is wrong. So why is anti-Catholic bigotry deemed appropriate?

There are currently over 46,700 priests serving in the U.S. A whopping 1.8 percent of all priests serving in this country from 1950 until today have been accused of sexual abuse (source: New York Times). This is for the last half century. Many of these accused priests are dead or retired.

The percentage of active priests accused would be even smaller. By comparison, Newsweek has reported that 5 to 6 percent of the general public has "pedophilic tendencies." In other words, you are far less likely to suffer abuse at the hands of a Catholic priest than any random member of society.

The Catholic Church has existed for 2,000 years - far longer than the United States of America, and far longer than The Sylva Herald. It has shaped the western world, founding universities, hospitals and charitable relief organizations, inspiring artists and composers, and turning sinners into saints. It has priests working as pastors, educators, and missionaries all over the globe. While the cartoonist was at his desk creating this tripe, priests were busy celebrating mass, recalling the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary. While the editors of the Herald were deciding to publish it, priests were hearing the penitent's confession, and anointing the sick and dying. While people were sitting at their breakfast table Sunday morning, reading this garbage, Sylva's priest was giving a homily on the virtues of faith, hope, and love.

This cartoon was especially tasteless considering that Sylva has but one Catholic parish, served by one Catholic priest. St. Mary, Mother of God, Catholic Church has been in Sylva since 1955. In 1960, St. Mary's had 29 members. Today there are nearly 500 parishioners served by this church. Those who know and love our pastor, Fr. Ray Williams, and our retired pastor Fr. James Cahill, would be absolutely scandalized to hear any association of these men with terrorists or infectious diseases. The editors of the Sylva Herald owe these two fine men an apology.

The Smoky Mountain Vicariate, and the entire Diocese of Charlotte that St. Mary's Church is a part of, are thankfully free of the clerical abuse that has been centered largely in areas such as Boston and Los Angeles. How dare our good priests be classed with such villains. The Catholics of western North Carolina have been married by these priests, have had their children baptized by them, been counseled, been blessed, and been instructed in the ways of God by them. Our loved ones have been buried by them. We call our priests "Father" for a reason. They are a part of our family. Twisted and bigoted humor at their expense does not belong in our newspaper. We will not tolerate it.

Truth be told, our culture should fear pious and orthodox Catholic priests. Why? Because they bear the message of Christ, preserved by His Church - a message which if heeded would mean that our culture, one John Paul II has called a "culture of death," would have to drastically change its course. To take up the Cross that these noble men proclaim means repentance and conversion. It means sacrifice. It means death. But it also means rebirth and eternal life. So our culture of death should fear these priests. But we as individuals, if we have the courage, should embrace them.

To Father Williams, to Father Cahill, to all the priests that have served the good Catholics of Sylva - and to all faithful Catholic priests everywhere - I say thank you. You may not always hear it from those in the pews, and you definitely do not hear it from the media, but you are appreciated. Thank you for doing what you do. Thank you for boldly proclaiming the faith in the face of persecution and ridicule. Thank you for bearing your cross and helping us to bear ours. Thank you for being "other Christs."

Matthew Newsome

Sylva

Cartoon saddens reader

To the Editor:

I was surprised and saddened by the cartoon in the latest issue of The Sylva Herald in which Catholic priests were listed with - and therefore identified with - such scourges as the Ebola virus, global warming and al-Qaida.

I challenge you to explain how ministers in the Catholic Church are lumped together with a virus deadly, a disastrous environmental tendency and terrorists totally dedicated to murder and destruction. I await your response.

Meanwhile, I want to share with you something of my past. I grew up a white Protestant in Alabama during the 1960s and '70s. I remember clearly snide and crude - and yes, public (like what you have done) - attacks on blacks, Jews and Catholics, attacks from the social fringe, yes, but still public and intimidating.

You, however, decades later, after a lapse of time in which to learn more of how senseless and socially destructive this kind of invective is - you who are a conduit of information for the community, use your position to spew forth the longest-lasting and the only remaining "respectable" bigotry in America: anti-Catholicism.

You have, to your lasting discredit, indulged in a classic case of stereotyping - with stupid humor your paper's cartoon associates the whole of the Catholic priesthood (the vast majority of which are even more horrified by these priest scandals than you will ever be) with a very small percentage of the guilty.

There is no defense of what you have allowed in your paper. You have insulted the whole of the Catholic community of this mountain region and all people of good will who want to see an end to this kind of slander.

I ask you to take some time to think about what you have indulged in. Then set up some standards at your paper that reflect the kind of professionalism needed in the work of bringing information to our community. And apologize publicly for the public offense you have launched against members of this community.

Yours sincerely,

Rev. Ray Williams - Pastor

St. Mary's Catholic Church

Sylva

College libraries don't address larger community's needs

To the Editor:

Last week, The Herald published a letter by Robert Balliot Jr., a librarian in Middletown, R.I., in which he expressed his dismay about the proposed site of our new library.

I heartily agree with everything Mr. Balliot said. I fear that Sylva is about to make another serious mistake in proposing that a multi-purpose library be constructed on Southwestern Community College's Webster campus.

I assume this concept is based on a host of economic considerations that makes such a facility highly desirable since it will allegedly serve the needs of SCC and Webster, as well as the residents of Sylva. In my opinion, the results would only add to the increasing decentralization of community resources in Sylva.

For several years, when I worked for governmental agencies, I was involved in the planning and development of libraries. Several of them were designed and constructed by people who attempted to respond to the needs of a community with a scattered population base by building a "centrally-located" facility. Well, that is not what happened.

After the initial opening, community utilization of the library began a slow decline. Eventually, the facility was only used by the people in close proximity to it.

At the present time, many communities are attempting to return to a design that stresses centralized resources, much like the towns of the 1940s and '50s.

As Balliot notes, the present library is in the center of town and easily accessible by local residents, many whom do not have automobiles. For many, the most desirable towns are those that allow people to attend church, go to the post office, keep an appointment with a doctor or lawyer, buy groceries, shop and go to the library - all within walking distance of the center of town.

Sylva seems to be striving for just the opposite - the decentralization of everything, which results in our citizens driving several miles to resources that are scattered throughout the county.

Many may consider this concept old-fashioned. Yes, that is exactly the point. I prefer a town where I see school children and their teachers walking to the library along with the retired members of the community who recognize that the library a vital part of their lives.

In addition, the cultural life of communities prospers when its resources are accessible. Our resources are becoming more and more inconvenient because they are becoming increasingly scattered.

Let me make one final observation. Libraries designed to meet the needs of a college campus (or a high school) invariably fail to meet the needs of a large segment of the rest of the community.

At the present time and on an average day, the Jackson County Library is teeming with patrons with a diversity of needs. Mothers with pre-school children, patrons looking for the current best seller, murder mystery enthusiasts, retired men with a stack of westerns, teenagers, science-fiction addicts, students doing research for term papers on the computers, people reading newspapers, etc.

The library is at maximum utilization and obviously needs to expand its space, staff and resources. How many of these people will stop using library resources if they have to travel (drive, walk, take a bus) to SCC? And if they do, will they utilize the new facility with the same freedom? Would they feel "at home?" Would the location be inhibitive? If not, why don't we see these same people utilizing Hunter Library at Western Carolina University?

I don't know who is responsible for this unnatural yoking of the needs of the students and faculty at SCC with the needs of the non-academic community, but I am extremely skeptical of the results.

If you build it, will they come?

Gary Carden

Sylva

Our world is not a Utopia

To the Editor:

One of the greatest atrocities in human history was visited on America on 9-11. There are no direct ties to Saddam for 9-11, yet, but he has harbored and trained terrorist for years and it is foolish to think that Saddam Hussein wouldn't kill Americans in the same way if he could.

Protection of American lives is central to why we must fight Iraq now. I'm talking about the citizens of our country, not soldiers on the battlefield. Unfortunately, we will lose some wonderful people in the fight, but these young men and women know this is a possibility and continue to serve you and me everyday.

Some misguided individuals believe the world can become a Utopia. I believe they come to this conclusion because they are lazy and prefer to let others think for them; they are ignorant to human nature; and they reject the idea that there is evil in the world. I find it interesting that when someone counters these people they are always tagged "mean spirited."

The term "useful idiot" is not my doing. The former Soviet Union leadership used the term to describe Americans who bashed their president, spread misinformation, and acted in ways that helped forward the cause of communism. I'm sorry the Soviets didn't think more kindly of their American friends, but there it is.

In my letter to the editor a couple of weeks ago, I was correcting two points someone else had made: Bush didn't or couldn't single-handedly get us into this war and Bush's confidence and determination are to me not arrogance.

I am open to debate on a subject, but to parrot someone else's incoherent argument is insulting to all of us. Dissent that feeds misinformation to others is subversive in nature to the society you belong and is not "healthy discussion."

I kept my comments brief last week because I had hoped that most of us had thought through these issues. I am not all knowing but let me clarify something Mr. Lipkin said last week that he was mystified about. Our country imports a large percentage of the oil we need to have the standard of living we enjoy. Instead of drilling for oil in our own country or developing alternate sources of energy like hydrogen fuel cells, America is stuck with buying oil from the Middle East.

Cutting or controlling the supply of oil we currently import will negatively impact our economy, which is currently hurting. Do I want anyone to die for oil? No, but until we change our energy policy, our country will do whatever is necessary to keep our standard of living high. If you don't like this, let's work to change our current energy policies and find some better alternatives.

About the funding of this war and what it will do to our economy, I believe that we will be reimbursed for the cost of the operation. Coalition forces saved the Iraqi oil fields from sure destruction, so the wells will be there for the Iraqi people when their new government is in place and ready to participate in the global economy again.

I worry about the direction we are heading here in Jackson County. Mountain people are a quiet, non-confrontational society. In the past, we have been satisfied to let people say whatever they want without really challenging the rationale behind their arguments. This is a kind and hospitable characteristic we have, but it is working against the place we love the most.

Our silence has allowed some very serious and threatening issues to take root in our community. Dissent is fine as long as it doesn't degenerate into anti-Americanism.

According to Tony Parson of the UK Daily Mirror, the Europeans resent us because we are "too loud, too rich, too full of ourselves, and much happier" than they are. This attitude plays well with the anti-American movement who are nothing more than "self-loathing liberals who blame America for every ill in the Third World and conservatives suffering from power envy."

The truth is that America has behaved with enormous restraint since the slaughter of our citizens on 9-11. America could have turned a large chunk of the world into a glass factory over that event, and the fact that we didn't is a sign of strength.

"America is hated because it is what every other country wants to be - rich, free, strong, open and optimistic." I don't know about you, but I like these characteristics in America and would wish them for other countries in the world. If a bunch of unhappy Europeans think we are "arrogant" because of this, so be it. The Europeans certainly haven't developed the model I want to pattern my government after.

Ronald Bumgarner

Sylva

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