Greensboro speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Aug. 11, 2023
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Greensboro News and Record.
- Allen Johnson
Trump on soccer
In response to the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team's recent loss to Sweden, Donald Trump wrote the following on Truth Social: “The ‘shocking and totally unexpected’ loss by the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team to Sweden is fully emblematic of what is happening to the (sic) our once great Nation under Crooked Joe Biden."
Three shocking and totally unexpected questions came to mind right away:
First, concerning the phrase “to the our,” hasn’t Trump heard of proofreading or Grammarly.com?
Second, I was unaware that Joe Biden was coaching the women’s team. If he can serve as president of our country and coach a national team, he certainly has the stamina for a second term, don’t you think?
And third, shouldn’t the former president be focusing on his nonstop legal issues and what he plans to do during a second term — other than seek revenge 24/7 — instead of posting another rude and unnecessary comment that demonstrates he’s not fit for the Oval Office?
After all, he may be going to jail. My bad; I meant to write “to the our jail.”
Gregory D Romeo
Winston-Salem
Focus on soccer
The handwriting was on the wall for the U.S. Women's National Team in the World Cup. They were favorites against pool opponents Netherlands and Portugal, but struggled mightily to earn draws in each game. Sweden took advantage of their vulnerabilities and knocked them out of the competition.
Perhaps if Megan Rapinoe & Co. spent more time training and practicing instead of talking about and displaying their wokeness we probably would have seen a different result. Karma reigns!
Floyd Prophet
Kannapolis
'Extra features'
It is to be expected that between design and construction costs can go up, sometimes dramatically as in the present time. As the News & Record (July 28) points out, in addition to inflation and elevated construction costs, there are "other factors." It is possible that these "other factors" are the schools currently under construction. As Julius Monk, deputy superintendent of operations, said: "The first round of schools include some desired extra features not always included in school design."
A definite understatement.
The architect's rendering of each of these schools showed a one-of-a-kind design masterpiece, a Taj Mahal. Each of these required a special architectural plan, unique materials and construction. One of the justifications for this was that "it would enhance the learning experience.
"I thought this was accomplished through the teachers. The costs of these schools exceeded the 2020 referendum and required dipping into the 2022 referendum.
Now reality has set in. Monk has stated that for future projects, "it makes sense to look at getting back to our typical schools."
Or we could have another $1 billion referendum.
H.C. Roethling
Greensboro
Balance at last!
I wanted to state that I very much enjoyed the article by Chris Talgo in Sunday's paper, "Charges are political, show two-tiered system" (Aug. 6).
In a paper that leans as far left as the News & Record does, it is nice to be able to read something a bit more balanced.
Even the staunchest of leftists would find it difficult to argue with his points.
Michael Wiesner
Jamestown
High anxiety
In the last several months, almost undetected, a sense of unease has crept up on me. And now, especially with the dire effects of climate change so evident on a daily basis; I realize that sense of discomfort is indeed now full-blown anxiety.
Certainly these unnatural calamities and the feeling of personal powerlessness are worthy of high anxiety induction. But as I consider this I realize it’s the state of our politics — predominantly the legislative branches of our state and federal governments — that are creating a state of hopelessness.
We all know the dramatic issues that face us. Apart from the climate crisis we have rampant gun violence, hunger, homelessness, lack of a coherent immigration policy. Unfortunately the list is way too long. We have had an insurrection and the man who obviously incited it and has now a string of indictments with more to surely come, is the odds- on favorite for the GOP nomination.
Rather than face the existential threats of our country and the world we have people talking to us about “restoring confidence in our electoral system" or in the DOJ, specifically the FBI. I have never lost confidence in either. There is no reason to lose confidence. We all know this. And yet we allow these people in gerrymandered certitude to peddle this nonsense.
We allow them to not find time for real issues that urgently need attention, but instead try to ban drag shows or interfere in local school boards or zoning issues. I know now the source of my anxiety.
David B. Wilcox
Greensboro
- Allen Johnson
Norcott’s legacy
“Work for a cause, not applause” is an adage often heard in the nonprofit world. No one embodied that sentiment more than my former colleague Kathy Norcott. Kathy served as executive director of Piedmont Health Services and Sickle Cell Agency (PHSCA) and she passed away last week after a brief illness.
Kathy was at PHSCA for more than 45 years and her legacy of caring for the underserved in our community will endure even longer.
Kathy clearly loved a challenge because she spent her entire career advocating for people with high-risk health problems, including sickle cell disease and HIV/AIDS. The care and treatment of people living with these diseases has long been hindered by stigma and Kathy worked tirelessly to eradicate barriers to care all over Guilford County — always with her trademark good humor, integrity and grit. I often sat by her in meetings knowing she didn’t suffer fools and would make any tedious gathering more tolerable with an eyeroll or sly grin.
Kathy Norcott personified servant leadership, humbly helping so many among us, and our community owes her the rousing ovation that she never sought.
Addison Ore
Winston Salem
Hardister’s right
Our local Board of Education does not believe in representative government. It clearly intends to be a self-perpetuating gang of ultra-liberal ideologues — you know, the same folks who have ruined public education across the entire nation, the most expensive system of education on this Earth, and arguably one of the worst.
Rep. Jon Hardister is trying to make the board responsible to the voters for a change. Indeed, given the dismal failure of public education almost everywhere, would not greater accountability to the voters appear to be a logical first step toward meaningful reform?
The board should not be allowed to choose its own members — that decision belongs to the voters!
Bob Gaines
Greensboro
What’s next? AI?
What are the chances that the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the San Gabriel Valley Tribune in West Covina, Calif., have run columns or editorials that originated in the News & Record? I’m betting zero.
Sunday and Monday (Aug. 6 and 7) the lead, upper-left editorials in this paper came from those two outlets? Why? Too busy here to write anything anymore to let us saps still paying for subscriptions think it’s worthwhile?
That space in any paper has traditionally been the thoughts of a local editorial staff. As ownership manages the decline and squeezes out every last dime of profit through firing local staff, editing the paper from the moon, apparently, it is being noticed.
I moved to Greensboro in 1987. I’ve written a column or two over the years (I reviewed Rush Limbaugh’s first book here in the N&R) and have had positive and negative things said about me in the paper. All fine, in the end.
But new lows in negligence and the abandonment of the civic responsibilities of this local paper are constantly reached. I expect an AI edition of the News & Record to appear soon. Management nirvana reached. It was a nice run, but the party’s almost over.
Bradley Krantz
Greensboro
Call before digging
Today, Aug. 11, reminds us: 8-11 every dig, every time.
In North Carolina there are more than 2.5 million 811 excavation requests for marks to protect the existing utilities in the ground. Even so, there are still reported roughly 15,000 cases of damage every year to gas, electric, telecommunications and water and sewer lines, just in our state alone.
Recent research into damages occurring without 811 provides a variety of reasons why someone might not make the free call to get marks. These include the thought that a project didn’t require the call because of the depth the person was digging.
While there are specific exemptions in the state for excavations, the state law (SS 87-122) doesn’t address depth. This is because the depth of the utility can change due to weather, run-off, or ground shaping and landscaping.
This Aug. 11, let this be a reminder that you should contact 811 three full business days before every project that involves disturbing the ground. The four safe digging steps include: Call 811, wait the three full days, respect the marks and dig with care. More detail can be found at nc811.org.
Know what’s below! Call 811 before you dig.
Louis Panzer
Murphy
More like this...
- Allen Johnson
Trump on soccer
In response to the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team's recent loss to Sweden, Donald Trump wrote the following on Truth Social: “The ‘shocking and totally unexpected’ loss by the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team to Sweden is fully emblematic of what is happening to the (sic) our once great Nation under Crooked Joe Biden."
Three shocking and totally unexpected questions came to mind right away:
First, concerning the phrase “to the our,” hasn’t Trump heard of proofreading or Grammarly.com?
Second, I was unaware that Joe Biden was coaching the women’s team. If he can serve as president of our country and coach a national team, he certainly has the stamina for a second term, don’t you think?
And third, shouldn’t the former president be focusing on his nonstop legal issues and what he plans to do during a second term — other than seek revenge 24/7 — instead of posting another rude and unnecessary comment that demonstrates he’s not fit for the Oval Office?
After all, he may be going to jail. My bad; I meant to write “to the our jail.”
Gregory D Romeo
Winston-Salem
Focus on soccer
The handwriting was on the wall for the U.S. Women's National Team in the World Cup. They were favorites against pool opponents Netherlands and Portugal, but struggled mightily to earn draws in each game. Sweden took advantage of their vulnerabilities and knocked them out of the competition.
Perhaps if Megan Rapinoe & Co. spent more time training and practicing instead of talking about and displaying their wokeness we probably would have seen a different result. Karma reigns!
Floyd Prophet
Kannapolis
'Extra features'
It is to be expected that between design and construction costs can go up, sometimes dramatically as in the present time. As the News & Record (July 28) points out, in addition to inflation and elevated construction costs, there are "other factors." It is possible that these "other factors" are the schools currently under construction. As Julius Monk, deputy superintendent of operations, said: "The first round of schools include some desired extra features not always included in school design."
A definite understatement.
The architect's rendering of each of these schools showed a one-of-a-kind design masterpiece, a Taj Mahal. Each of these required a special architectural plan, unique materials and construction. One of the justifications for this was that "it would enhance the learning experience.
"I thought this was accomplished through the teachers. The costs of these schools exceeded the 2020 referendum and required dipping into the 2022 referendum.
Now reality has set in. Monk has stated that for future projects, "it makes sense to look at getting back to our typical schools."
Or we could have another $1 billion referendum.
H.C. Roethling
Greensboro
Balance at last!
I wanted to state that I very much enjoyed the article by Chris Talgo in Sunday's paper, "Charges are political, show two-tiered system" (Aug. 6).
In a paper that leans as far left as the News & Record does, it is nice to be able to read something a bit more balanced.
Even the staunchest of leftists would find it difficult to argue with his points.
Michael Wiesner
Jamestown
High anxiety
In the last several months, almost undetected, a sense of unease has crept up on me. And now, especially with the dire effects of climate change so evident on a daily basis; I realize that sense of discomfort is indeed now full-blown anxiety.
Certainly these unnatural calamities and the feeling of personal powerlessness are worthy of high anxiety induction. But as I consider this I realize it’s the state of our politics — predominantly the legislative branches of our state and federal governments — that are creating a state of hopelessness.
We all know the dramatic issues that face us. Apart from the climate crisis we have rampant gun violence, hunger, homelessness, lack of a coherent immigration policy. Unfortunately the list is way too long. We have had an insurrection and the man who obviously incited it and has now a string of indictments with more to surely come, is the odds- on favorite for the GOP nomination.
Rather than face the existential threats of our country and the world we have people talking to us about “restoring confidence in our electoral system" or in the DOJ, specifically the FBI. I have never lost confidence in either. There is no reason to lose confidence. We all know this. And yet we allow these people in gerrymandered certitude to peddle this nonsense.
We allow them to not find time for real issues that urgently need attention, but instead try to ban drag shows or interfere in local school boards or zoning issues. I know now the source of my anxiety.
David B. Wilcox
Greensboro
- Allen Johnson
Norcott’s legacy
“Work for a cause, not applause” is an adage often heard in the nonprofit world. No one embodied that sentiment more than my former colleague Kathy Norcott. Kathy served as executive director of Piedmont Health Services and Sickle Cell Agency (PHSCA) and she passed away last week after a brief illness.
Kathy was at PHSCA for more than 45 years and her legacy of caring for the underserved in our community will endure even longer.
Kathy clearly loved a challenge because she spent her entire career advocating for people with high-risk health problems, including sickle cell disease and HIV/AIDS. The care and treatment of people living with these diseases has long been hindered by stigma and Kathy worked tirelessly to eradicate barriers to care all over Guilford County — always with her trademark good humor, integrity and grit. I often sat by her in meetings knowing she didn’t suffer fools and would make any tedious gathering more tolerable with an eyeroll or sly grin.
Kathy Norcott personified servant leadership, humbly helping so many among us, and our community owes her the rousing ovation that she never sought.
Addison Ore
Winston Salem
Hardister’s right
Our local Board of Education does not believe in representative government. It clearly intends to be a self-perpetuating gang of ultra-liberal ideologues — you know, the same folks who have ruined public education across the entire nation, the most expensive system of education on this Earth, and arguably one of the worst.
Rep. Jon Hardister is trying to make the board responsible to the voters for a change. Indeed, given the dismal failure of public education almost everywhere, would not greater accountability to the voters appear to be a logical first step toward meaningful reform?
The board should not be allowed to choose its own members — that decision belongs to the voters!
Bob Gaines
Greensboro
What’s next? AI?
What are the chances that the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the San Gabriel Valley Tribune in West Covina, Calif., have run columns or editorials that originated in the News & Record? I’m betting zero.
Sunday and Monday (Aug. 6 and 7) the lead, upper-left editorials in this paper came from those two outlets? Why? Too busy here to write anything anymore to let us saps still paying for subscriptions think it’s worthwhile?
That space in any paper has traditionally been the thoughts of a local editorial staff. As ownership manages the decline and squeezes out every last dime of profit through firing local staff, editing the paper from the moon, apparently, it is being noticed.
I moved to Greensboro in 1987. I’ve written a column or two over the years (I reviewed Rush Limbaugh’s first book here in the N&R) and have had positive and negative things said about me in the paper. All fine, in the end.
But new lows in negligence and the abandonment of the civic responsibilities of this local paper are constantly reached. I expect an AI edition of the News & Record to appear soon. Management nirvana reached. It was a nice run, but the party’s almost over.
Bradley Krantz
Greensboro
Call before digging
Today, Aug. 11, reminds us: 8-11 every dig, every time.
In North Carolina there are more than 2.5 million 811 excavation requests for marks to protect the existing utilities in the ground. Even so, there are still reported roughly 15,000 cases of damage every year to gas, electric, telecommunications and water and sewer lines, just in our state alone.
Recent research into damages occurring without 811 provides a variety of reasons why someone might not make the free call to get marks. These include the thought that a project didn’t require the call because of the depth the person was digging.
While there are specific exemptions in the state for excavations, the state law (SS 87-122) doesn’t address depth. This is because the depth of the utility can change due to weather, run-off, or ground shaping and landscaping.
This Aug. 11, let this be a reminder that you should contact 811 three full business days before every project that involves disturbing the ground. The four safe digging steps include: Call 811, wait the three full days, respect the marks and dig with care. More detail can be found at nc811.org.
Know what’s below! Call 811 before you dig.
Louis Panzer
Murphy
More like this...
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