Letters to the editor: 04/17/03

DNA should be used to exonerate the innocent

To the Editor:

In your April 10 article about Attorney General Roy Cooper's call for expanded funding for DNA testing, which he recently issued at WCU's Genomics Conference in Asheville, the only ethical concern raised pertained to privacy of databased genetic information.

As I pointed out at the conference in response to someone's having raised this question, privacy concerns surrounding this kind of genetic data are something of a non-issue. DNA "fingerprints" are made with a set of 13 regions of the genome, regions that do not encode genes. There is, therefore, no meaningful genetic information about an individual, or the individual's family, to protect - the "fingerprint" has no biomedical relevance whatsoever. 

Your article perpetuated the myth that forensic DNA databases pose a threat to individual privacy. Focus on this non-issue distracts from far more urgent questions arising from forensic genetics. We hear calls like the Attorney General's at the national and state levels for expanded DNA testing to examine backlogged biological specimens from victims or crime scenes (Mr. Cooper was echoing legislation proposed by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft a few weeks ago).

While it is indeed important to examine these samples in the pursuit of justice, we hear nothing of efforts to address the larger ethical issue of the use of DNA to exonerate convicted felons. As documented by the nationwide pro bono Innocence Projects and highlighted in the book Actual Innocence (2000, Doubleday), DNA fingerprinting has shown that a significant number of convicts, many on death row, are wrongfully convicted in our country.

To date more than 120 people on death row or serving life sentences have now had their convictions overturned thanks to DNA evidence, several of these in North Carolina. In the face of evidence that our justice system has gone badly awry, why isn't Mr. Cooper calling for funding to examine, wherever possible, DNA evidence that may vindicate the convicted?

There is only silence on this issue, despite the obvious moral imperative to act. It seems that asking for funding to put more criminals behind bars is more politically expedient than asking for funding to identify mistakes of the system - an admission that the system needs repair.

Clearly both areas demand our attention. DNA should be used to convict the guilty and, before it is too late, release the innocent. After all, for every wrongful conviction not only is an innocent life severely disrupted, but a violent criminal remains unpunished. How many innocent individuals have been or will be executed before the problem is tackled? Concerns over protecting the privacy of DNA databases is a misguided distraction from the tough questions.

Sincerely,

James T. Costa

Associate Professor of Biology

WCU

County should build a branch library

To the Editor:

The current location of the Jackson County Library in Sylva is excellent - lots of people use it. If the goal is to provide more space for people, books and media in the county, build a branch.

About 80 percent of a library collection is only used about 20 percent of the time. By splitting that part of the collection between branches you can add about 40 percent more space to the existing library. When you need books from one branch, have them delivered from the other branch. It is easy. Also, when you share, you only have to buy the book once!

With a branch, you could practically double the space for books at the Sylva location. And, those people in Webster and Tuckasegee areas could also experience the benefit of a local library.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Balliot

Director - Middletown Public Library

Middletown, R.I.

Newspaper staff earns praise

To the Editor:

No matter where I live in this world, Sylva will always be my hometown, and The Sylva Herald will be my paper.

I wish to congratulate the staff on the awards they worked so hard to achieve. Rose Hooper, you go girl!

Bonnie Barker

Bellingham, Wash.

J-school grad appreciated cartoon

To the Editor:

Fresh out of journalism school, I take great delight in seeing people engaged in the marketplace of ideas. So I was practically dancing when I checked thesylvaherald.com this week and found so many passionate responses to a political cartoon.

My senior year at UNC-Chapel Hill I had the pleasure of taking a class on political cartoons with Pulitzer Prize winner Doug Marlette. After many months of reading, drawing and criticizing cartoons, I consider myself a political cartoon snob. If it doesn't piss someone off, offend someone or prompt some letters, then the cartoon is not worth printing. Political cartoons evoke the most visceral response of any item in your paper.

I applaud you for not running another tired cartoon of Saddam Hussein that people would chuckle at and immediately forget. For every person you got a call or a letter from, there are 10 more that thought, "Hey, I'm offended."

Hurray for waking some people up and making them so darn mad they had to let you know.

By no means does that mean you should apologize for making them angry. You also made them think! I would be sorely disappointed if you ran an apology for the cartoon or censored yourselves in the future.

It's easy to get jaded in this business. Working for a television station is working on me fast. The folks at The Sylva Herald have renewed my faith in journalism. You help wipe away a week's worth of Geraldo Rivera! Keep up the good fight!

Affectionately,

Ashley Allen

Chapel Hill

'In God We Trust' our national motto for a reason

To the Editor:

Perhaps enough has been said about the Beattie cartoon that many citizens found offensive. Then again, perhaps not.

The cartoon itself was only slightly less humorous than the editor's feeble attempt to exonerate the newspaper for printing it. Of course it was intended to offend and every Catholic priest on this planet should be outraged.

However, may I point out that for approximately four decades "Christian-bashing" has become something just a bit shy of a national pastime, or haven't you noticed.

Protestants also have had clergy who have gone terribly awry (Jimmy Swaggart and James Bakker come quickly to mind). As with Catholics, they are but a small minority of dedicated, moral clergy. However, others, such as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, have been lampooned and caricatured for years because of their beliefs.

It may be the "pedophile priest" issue that has brought Roman Catholicism into the present spotlight, but it is not what has given rise to a widespread public expression of anti-Catholic and anti-clerical sentiments.

In the 1960s Catholics became more strongly identified with conservative causes, such as abortion. Since then, Catholic portrayal in mass media has deteriorated sharply. And, if you've noticed, in the areas of hate crimes and hate speech, Christians receive fewer protections than other groups.

That's because today's liberalism seemingly is characterized, not only by an intense dislike to America and to capitalism, but an almost pathological hostility to traditional moral values. To aid in the eradication of moral values, liberal judges have effectively rewritten the Constitution so drastically that Jefferson and Madison wouldn't recognize it. Just this month Education Secretary Rod Paige came under fire from the usual suspects, Democrats in Congress, for showing a preference for schools that appreciate "the values of the Christian community." He also said that the "reason Christian schools and Christian universities are growing is a result of a strong value system."

Naughty, naughty, Secretary Paige. Professing Christian values outside the confines of your home is a no-no to the loonies on the left.

Perhaps it's time those who profess Christian beliefs become a little outraged from time to time and take a more outspoken stand for Christian values.

Think about this: "In God We Trust" is our national motto.

"This is not some off-the-wall, Christian, right-wing, political slogan - it is our national motto. It is engraved in stone in the House of Representatives in our Capitol, and it is printed on our currency. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, which is clearly documented throughout our history.

"If it is appropriate for our motto to be inscribed in the halls of our highest level of government, then it is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools.

"God is in our pledge, our National Anthem, nearly every patriotic song, and in our founding documents. We honor His birth, death and resurrection as holidays, and we turn to Him in prayer in times of crisis.

"If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture and we are proud to have Him."

I wish I could take credit for the last paragraphs, but they are a quote. The tribute belongs to a 78-year-old nun. The best I can do is defend what she said.

We should not ever be afraid of those on the other side of these issues, they're wrong, wrong, wrong. It's their turn to be afraid.

David Snell

Dillsboro

American intervention was necessary

To the Editor:

In response to the letter from Rose Smith of Women In Black, I thank you for taking the time to clear up some of the misunderstanding concerning your group. I appreciate your group's prayers for our troops and peace as I, myself, and my church pray for our members' children serving in Iraq.

However, I do not live in a make-believe world where I think Saddam can be removed without American intervention. Whether we like it or not, the war began for most of us on 9/11.

Now, concerning Lisa B. Bacon, I say to you... I will personally buy you a ticket to lraq if you would like to become a human shield. It became evident when the statue of Saddam in Baghdad came down that the populace of lraq want Saddam gone along with the human shields.

I do not appreciate your referring to me as a patriot who would have supported slavery as I have many African-American friends for whom I have a great deal of respect. I also love my country and I will support it until my last breath, regardless of who is in the Oval Office.

I do agree with you on one thing.... our leaders are not infallible. This became very evident during the presidential administration of 1992-2000.

In closing, let me say one more thing. If called upon by my country to serve in lraq or any other foreign conflict, I would gladly buy myself a plane ticket and leave tomorrow.

Donald Parris

Sylva

Church's response to abuse perpetuated problem

To the Editor:

I am writing this in response to two letters critical of a cartoon negatively depicting Catholic priests. It is sad that there are priests who are pedophiles.

I am sure all faiths have there share of pedophiles. The major difference is the stance the church took. The Catholic church has chosen to hide these sick priests and shuffle them to other churches. This is the real problem. If I were to send an employee of mine from one department to another to hide something like this, charges of conspiracy would be brought against me.

Why hasn't the church been formally charged? Only recently have American bishops condemned this abuse in response to negative publicity.

One letter stated this was only recent activities. This is untrue. This has been going on for a long time. One might argue it would be easy to look from the outside and point fingers. Well, I was baptized in the Catholic church. My brothers and I were altar boys. I was accosted by a priest. My aunt was abused in her pre-teens more than 45 years ago. What happened to this priest? He was moved.

This was not in Massachusetts where the recent cases came to light. This was in South Carolina. So it is a real threat of abuse by priests. They should not be placed on pedestals as they are only men like all of us. They should not be called "father,' as Jesus stated in Matthew 23:9. "And call no man on earth your father upon the earth; for one is your Father, which is in heaven."

I pray for conviction in the hearts of these men and for the Catholic church to lead its congregations as Jesus would want. My uncle told me that homosexuality was rampant among Catholic priests. He died of AIDS a few years ago. He was a Catholic priest.

Tony Moody

Sylva

Wind energy is beautiful

To the Editor:

Recent advances in wind energy technology have opened up new possibilities for the rural counties of Western North Carolina that present both economic opportunities and a way to help improve our air quality.

In the last 10 years, industrial-scale wind turbines have become more efficient, virtually noiseless, radio/television signal interference free, more bird friendly (due to the new slow-rotational operation) and dramatically more economical. In fact, wind energy has become the fastest growing energy source world-wide.

This could be particularly good news for WNC because a recent study at Appalachian State University reveals that parts of this region are in the top five percent of the nation for wind energy potential.

In addition, a nationwide survey of tax assessors in counties where wind turbines have been installed revealed the following:

1. Views of wind turbines do not negatively impact property values.

2. Wind farm construction has significant economic benefits to the area in which they are located by providing full-time and part-time employment to considerable numbers of people.

3. Industrial-scale wind turbines provide significant annual income in leasing fees to small-scale farmers and property owners (up to $5,000 per year for each 2 megawatt turbine).

4. Wind farms attract tourists in considerable numbers.

5. Wind farms provide an increase in income to the county in which they are located due to increased tax revenues.

Some people may be concerned about the prospect of wind farms interrupting the beautiful mountaintop vistas that are protected from development by North Carolina's Ridge Law. This is a legitimate concern and one that needs to be addressed.

There are ridge tops that are not appropriate for wind turbines or anything but what God, not man, has put there. Many of those who now see the opportunity to use wind energy in the mountains, were also involved in protecting the beauty of our natural environment by working for the passage of the Ridge Law.

But, the use of wind turbines to replace coal-burning power plants in producing electricity, in designated appropriate areas, will most likely enhance the health and beauty of our mountains. The Appalachian State study estimates that if the ridge tops on public lands and other non-appropriate sites are left off-limits to wind farms, there is still enough potential to provide all of North Carolina with about 8 percent of its energy needs.

If we are going to use electricity in our daily lives, then we have to accept that its production is going to have some impact on the environment. Wind turbines have a minimal impact. Instead of having a smoggy visibility of dead and dying trees for 12 miles in the summertime caused by burning coal for electricity, I'd rather have a clear 95 mile visibility that includes some windmills gracefully turning in the distance nestled within a lush, healthy landscape.

If wind farms are to become a reality in WNC, it will mean that the Ridge Law will have to be clarified with an amendment. Although windmills are specifically granted an exception in the current Ridge Law, the attorney general has issued an interpretation that excludes the construction of industrial scale wind turbines from all ridge top sites that have the needed potential for generating this cleanest, safest and most economical form of energy.

With our dependence on foreign oil and the devastating health and environmental consequences of burning coal so apparent in our lives, North Carolina should take advantage of its abundant wind resources by amending the Ridge Law to allow for the construction of wind turbines in appropriate areas while continuing to protect our most sensitive scenic resources and rare ecosystems such as viewsheds along the Appalachian Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Sincerely,

Avram Friedman

Executive Director

Canary Coalition

Catholic church owes the apology

To the Editor:

In response to the "outrage" over the "cartoon," isn't it wonderful in our free society that we, as citizens, can express our opinions, thoughts and beliefs? And that books and newspapers can be printed with ideas, opinions and yes, [gasp] cartoons without the fear of censorship? Isn't it wonderful that people generally know the difference between a cartoon and an intentional slight?

I do not believe The Sylva Herald intended to single out any Catholic priest; entities that might contribute to pollution, which causes global warming; or the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the ebola virus is thought to have originated.

The fact remains that there is a very real issue in the Catholic church regarding specific priests who have abused children for years, while specific leaders of the Catholic church intentionally covered the horror of this abuse with lies, deceit and silence. The fact also remains that there are some priests that may never have to answer for their abusive behavior and will, more than likely, abuse again.

I was baptized in the Catholic church, raised in a strict Catholic home, attended and graduated from private Catholic schools. To look at the cartoon and believe that it is directed at all Catholic priests is ridiculous.

The Sylva Herald did not create the cartoon; The Sylva Herald only printed what hundreds of other papers printed.

By the way, the inference regarding the Catholic priests in the cartoon only reflected the times. If the specific leaders of the Catholic church had done the right thing surrounding this child abuse from the very beginning, there would not be an issue to discuss at this point. So, in fact, if you think about it, the specific leaders of the Catholic church brought all comments, jokes and criticism upon themselves.

If any apology is owed, it is owed not from The Sylva Herald, but from specific leaders and priests of the Catholic Church to the adults who as children suffered abuse at their hands.

As a daughter of a man who proudly worked for the newspaper industry, I only have one question to ask of the letter writers: Are there any offensive books you would like to burn?

Mary Derks

Cullowhee

Employee, owner parking on Main Street should be stopped

To the Editor:

Last week's Sylva Herald referred to parking on Main Street by employees a "tradition." This is not a tradition, as in something to be proud of. It is a practice that is hurting downtown; it lacks of respect and common sense.

Very little of my presentation was quoted. It sounded as if I was only concerned about abuse in front of my restaurant. This is not that narrow an issue.

Parking from one end of town to the other is a concern to me and the merchants; it should concern anyone who cares about the economic vitality of Sylva.

In talking with many business owners, not one has defended employee/owner parking on Main Street. Everyone seems to be adamantly against it.

I'm sure this problem will get worked out. It should have been taken care of years ago.

Lee Ewart

Sylva

Try harder not to offend

To the Editor:

As I stated in a previous letter, your excellence again was brought to the forefront by recent awards that you received.

In your "Ruralite Cafe" of April 10th, you stated that you made a conscious effort not to offend the 210th MP Co. and their families. If you can make a conscious effort not to offend one group of people, you can make that same effort not offend anyone.

You also stated that "Is the cartoon directed at anyone in Sylva? Of course not." Well, it was directed at someone in Sylva. Maybe not intentionally, but it was.

Please don't make excuses for someone else's actions as in the case of the cartoonist who created the cartoon. You made the decision to print it. You are in control of what goes into the paper. Make a conscious effort to never have to say your sorry again.

Thomas Flanagan

Sylva

Downtown library 'vital' to Sylva

To the Editor:

Efforts to move the Jackson County Public Library to the Southwestern Community College campus distress me for several reasons.

I know that library science (or information science, as it is often now called) has changed a lot since I graduated from the University of North Carolina's School of Library Science in 1970. But I do remember that although the core classes were the same, people who planned to work in academic libraries and people who wanted to work in public libraries chose different electives and developed different strengths. I also remember clearly how welcome our young daughters were in Jackson County's Public Library and what a nuisance they were considered in WCU's quiet and studious atmosphere.

I know that both the Jackson County Public Library and SCC's library have serious needs. It is easy to see how people who juggle dollars would be tempted to believe that one library could meet all these needs.

But a 3-year-old who is just learning the joy and exuberance of books and words and a 40-year-old who is returning to school to learn new job skills after being made redundant have very different needs and expectations from a library. It is hard for me to imagine that a library on the campus of a community college would not soon take on the atmosphere of an academic library rather than a public library, so that soon Jackson County would have two academic libraries and no library to meet the needs of the general community.

Before space became such an issue, the Jackson County Public Library was a vital meeting place for the community. Clubs and organizations used the meeting room to organize community events. There were exhibitions, films, workshops and many other activities that enriched our lives. I look forward to a day that the public library can again schedule such events in downtown Sylva.

Through the Main Street initiative and the efforts of many people working together, I believe that the sense of community has grown stronger in Jackson County during the last decade. This sense of community is centered in Sylva - not just because it is the county seat, but because Sylva is a "real" town. It is not a tourist town, but a place where people can, among other things, live, eat, bank, read, repair, replace, relax, worship and celebrate.

It doesn't have to be this way. Sylva could devolve into a quaint tourist attraction known only for its picturesque courthouse and its good restaurants. A town is a living, dynamic entity, and it must be maintained. Just as a garden needs seeds, nutrients and water to grow, a "real" town needs a diverse mix of ingredients to remain healthy. A library is one of those ingredients.

Let's return to the issues of space and money. If the library cannot expand enough to meet the needs of the community in its current space, there are other spaces.

One location that has been proposed is between the town parking lot and the Lifeway Church. With a bridge across Scotts Creek linking the playground and the Senior center and an abundance of parking, it would be an ideal space. If that isn't an option, the site of the old Sylva School next to Mark Watson Park would also work very well.

If there is not enough money in the county budget, the community might need to raise money to keep the library downtown. If every man, woman and child in Jackson County set aside a penny each day for a year, or a mere $3.65, we could raise more than $100,000. If half the people in the county set aside 10 cents each day instead of a penny, we could raise more than a $500,000 in just a year. Combined with grants, matching funds and other sources of moneys, a new downtown library could be a reality in a very short time.

We have choices. We can let other people make the decisions and complain about them, or we can work together to keep Sylva a healthy, vital, "real" town. I hope we'll choose to work together to keep the library in the downtown area.

Joyce Moore

Owner

City Lights Bookstore

Back to Archive: 04/17/03.