Youth Are Model

For Future Hope

Recently I read the -following in The Pilot: "Muslims supporting the building of this mosque are already abusing their -freedom. This is the root of this problem" (Tom Snead, Aug. 20).

"I can only suspect that whoever was teaching the rising senior (Andrew Soboeiro) is a dedicated socialist. Common ownership indeed. And capitalism be damned" (Michael J. MacDonald, Aug. 20).

"I am constantly amazed at how the liberal/elite consistently know and -dictate what is best for all of us who are either conservative or middle of the road. Just vote this liberal bunch out of office and go on watching Fox News and listening to Rush Limbaugh" (Sid Barnett, Aug. 25).

After reading the last of these letters, I read a commencement speech by Erica Goldson, an 18-year-old valedictorian of her high school class. Erica says, "We are all very special (socialists and capitalists) ... so aren't we all deserving of using our minds for innovation, rather than memorization, for -creativity rather than futile activity, for rumination rather than stagnation? A tree can grow, but only if its roots are given a healthy foundation."

Thank God for Andrew and Erica, the new generation leading us out of the -forest of negativity, fearful finger-pointing and put-downs - moving us toward a civil exchange of all ideas, conservative and -liberal. Respectful dialogue leads us to a consensus of our -collective mind. I'm grateful that attacks on Muslims, Pinecrest High School and the liberal elite are being offset by a -common decency modeled for us by our youth.

Chas Griffin

Seven Lakes

Beck Tells the Truth

Thank you for your informative, opposing -articles by Robert Levy and Jim Heim (Republican and Democrat party chairmen, respectively), and columnist Steven Smith. They bring varying opinions based on various "facts" and "statistics."

Therein lies the rub. Statistics are often based on different parameters. To use a nonpolitical example, the life expectancy outside the United States, according to the World Health Organization, might be higher than expected because some countries don't count in their calculation a baby who dies immediately or a few hours after birth.

I rely on Glenn Beck to give me accurate numbers and comparisons, because I know that his television show does not air information that they have not thoroughly checked and verified. Beck did not show the NAACP video that led to the firing of the Department of Agriculture's Shirley Sherrod because they did not have her entire speech and the context in which the short video was made. They have limited their Van Jones videos and statements to those they have in entirety and in context.

In addition, I have learned a great deal of history that has not been told. Beck relies on primary sources, the writings and speeches of America's founders and other historical figures. I have learned of free blacks' and women's participation in the Revolutionary War. I have learned that the "Great Depression" was only "Great" in the United States (because of FDR's policies), but only a depression in the rest of the world.

Some may not like Beck's antics or his repetition (which I need for my challenged memory), but I count on him to tell the truth. Besides, if he didn't tell the truth, the news media would pounce on him.

Peggy Smetana

Pinehurst

An Ineffective Law

"Birthright Citizenship," by Norma Cappelletti (Aug. 27), made it pretty clear that granting citizenship to children of illegal immigrants is wrong and is -costing this country billions of dollars.

After reading the article and the 14th Amendment, it doesn't seem necessary to get any more laws passed, as the original is very plain as to what rights a child of an illegal has.

Along those same lines, we are building a "Maginot Line" along our southern border with Mexico at a cost nobody knows how many billions of dollars. The worst thing is it won't be any more effective in -stopping illegals than the original was in stopping the Germans from crushing France during World War II.

Bill Rose

Pinehurst

The 'Best Medicine'

This is the first time I have ever written a letter to the editor. When I read the letter from Robert K. Wallace in The Pilot (Friday, Aug. 27) and his opinion of the course "Laughter in the Sandhills," I had to write.

Mr. Wallace, have you read any medical research on the benefits of laughter to the sick, the elderly, the depressed and even to the dying?

Sandhills Community College provides outstanding education and experiences for students of all ages. This community should be proud of the -dedication of leaders like Dr. Dempsey and his -colleagues.

Jackie Humphries

Southern Pines

Rain on the Brain

Recent rainstorms must have unearthed a lack of sanity and clarity with the writings of some contributors to this column on Aug. 20.

To Mr. Sledz I offer a course in logic, as his description of innocent people perishing at ground zero omits the fact that Muslims and nationals from more than 70 countries were casualties, and they too were innocent. Also, the financial support for the mosque is still unclear and not in the hands of taxpayers.

To Mr. Snead I offer a question as to what freedoms Muslim supporters and others favoring the mosque are abusing? Is bias seeping through the rhetoric?

To Mr. MacDonald I offer an opportunity to visit Pinecrest High School and become informed of the -curriculum instead of taking cheap shots toward the school without knowledge of the situation.

I had hoped that some of the thoughts spewed by the minions of the Republican tea party of obstruction would be revelatory. The cabal of writers indicates a trance-like inability to -function. Perhaps a return to Canopus would refresh them. The atelier where they seem to construct the prejudice, bias, and outright nonsense is in need of removal.

I would suggest that all of the writers mentioned, plus anyone else who has vexatious viewpoints, contact Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota as to his outlook on life. You may gain a great bit of acumen when you learn that he is the only Muslim elected to our Congress; egad, what do we do now? They could always visit Joe Wilson, of the 2nd District of South Carolina, the "you lie" contributor and embarrassment to all.

The beat goes on, and to think that we semi-liberals agonized through eight years of heartache before we could seek relief.

Ron VanHoover

Pinehurst

History of Markers

I am writing in response to Steven D. Gilmore's letter of Aug. 25, requesting -information about the Yadkin Road markers.

The Yadkin Road was originally a buffalo trail that ran from the Yadkin River in the west to the Cape Fear River, near Fayetteville, where the buffalo migrated in winter. Indians and early settlers followed the path.

During the Revolutionary War, Cornwallis used the road, as did Sherman during the Civil War. Farmers rolled their tobacco to -market on the road. It is probably the oldest road in the state and went from Mocksville to Fayetteville.

The markers were erected in 1927, after Leonard Tufts, Allen Wicker Knight and James Johnson decided that there was not enough attention paid to the history of the area by the younger generation. Johnson, Aberdeen historian at the time, wrote the inscription, and Wicker inscribed the five markers, four of which still remain. Over time, the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts have tended to the markers, discouraging the growth of weeds around them and planting flowers.

To find out more about these historical markers and other items of interest in the area, visit the Tufts Archives, the Pinehurst History Museum. Our hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. We are located in the center of the village of Pinehurst across from the Holly Inn.

Audrey Moriarty

Tufts Archives

Pinehurst