Letters to the Editor for Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Published: August 26, 2008

Time to move on, writer says
What a volley of negative correspondence from immature crybabies of Lynchburg and the surrounding counties the Opinion section has seen regarding The Plaza parking dilemma.

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My advice to them is, “Suck it up. Get a life and move on.”

And to the individual who complained about Liberty University students blocking traffic on Wards Road, I’m sure the merchants in that section have a different opinion from yours.

I would like to say, “Welcome all local college students to the city of Lynchburg.” You’re here because of the academic teachings, and you deserve a hearty “good luck.” Strive for excellence in this fine city. We welcome you.
JOE TRENT
Altavista

Not socialist yet
Regardless of whether or not Liberty University could or should have permitted parking at The Plaza for the Obama rally, it is interesting and telling that local Democratic Party organizers just assumed the lot was public.

After all, nothing quite defines the Democratic Party of today more than a vision that is generally blurred, if not blinded, concerning the distinctions between public and private, between the role of the government and the role of the individual.

Let the good out of this unpleasant situation be a reminder that America is not a socialist country. Not yet, anyway.
KAREN SWALLOW PRIOR
Amherst

Childish and petty
My husband and I had breakfast at Hardees in Lynchburg last Thursday morning, the day after the Obama event at E.C. Glass. We took a seat near a table of senior citizens.

The subject at hand was the event the night before. For some of them, this morning get-together may be the only time during their day that they interact with others, so the discussion was lively and quite audible to anyone seated nearby. Their conversation centered on why Liberty University decided not to allow citizens to park in The Plaza lot the evening before.

One lady was presenting the legal case to a captive audience and there was bobble head agreement all around.

I quickly lost my appetite for the No. 2 Breakfast Biscuit with extra cheese.

Of course, the explanation that Liberty University gave for its decision, legal or otherwise, was, quite simply lame. We all know why the supporters of Barack Obama were not allowed to park at The Plaza, so let’s not try to explain that one away with some legal mumbo jumbo.

I use The Plaza parking lot every week or two when my husband and I go to the movies, so I’m familiar with the size of it. I wonder what would have happened if I’d decided to see a movie that evening instead of attending the Obama event. How could I have proven to the police that my husband and I were there to see a movie or shop at the The Dollar Tree or do anything that you normally do at a public mall?

Visions of the Berlin Wall, border checks and The Gestapo come to mind.

Then you have to ask the question, what would LU have done if President Bush, John McCain, Mike Huckabee or Mitt Romney had been speaking that evening at E.C. Glass? (Well, maybe not Mitt Romney!) The local police would have been directing traffic at The Plaza, not blocking it. And that’s just the truth, folks!

I had a heads-up on the LU decision and was a little shocked but not surprised. I parked at the stadium and rode a school bus for the first time in 50 years. My point? At 66, I felt like a kid again and nothing Liberty University could have done will ever erase the memory of that evening at E.C. Glass. Absolutely nothing!
BARBARA COSTIN
Appomattox

LU within its rights
It may be worth your time to reconsider some of the legalities incumbent upon Liberty University as a ministry of Thomas Road Baptist Church, as well as some of the accusations made in recent letters to the editor.

To begin with, one cannot discount the legal requirements as they are at the core of the decision to deny parking access to the rally attendees. The prohibitions of 501(c)(3) status are stated or implied in the IRS code which is readily attainable at the IRS Web site. In it, the rules related to political statements, activities, endorsements, contributions and the like make this a legitimate concern for all such organizations. Therefore, it was only reasonable for Liberty to have acted in their best interest and according to their best understanding of being in accordance with IRS requirements.

Please keep in mind that this was a political event. Moreover, it is also incumbent upon candidates that they do not jeopardize the status of such organizations. In fact, the IRS has issued a statement concerning this very issue, which can be found on page 12 of the following document, http://www.fec.gov/pdf/record/2008/mar08.pdf.

Additionally, according to the article in The News & Advance, an invitation was extended to Barack Obama at LU. This refutes your claim that the Falwells don’t want anyone to hear what he might say, especially since such an event would have arguably drawn more media attention in a larger venue than the one at E.C. Glass.

As to some writers’ claims that Lynchburg City Council kowtows to LU or the Falwells, that just doesn’t hold up. For example, although a Democrat, Vice Mayor Bert Dodson’s business provides services to Liberty University; in keeping with good conscience and to avoid conflict of interest, he regularly abstains from voting on issues concerning Liberty University. A search of council meeting archives will confirm this.
DARRYL SIMMONS
Lynchburg

Paper biased against Obama
“Rock.” “Scorching hot phenom.” “The One Who … .” These were some of the pejoratives News & Advance editorials borrowed from John McCain’s attack ads to describe Barack Obama. “Anyone who went to the rally expecting to hear specifics,” you write, “went home disappointed.” You obviously heard but did not listen. Just a few specifics:

*  Obama detailed energy reforms that he infused with the urgency of JFK’s space initiatives. Nuclear power and offshore drilling, with safety properly addressed, were included among the comprehensive reforms needed to make us energy independent in 10 years.

*  Obama discussed prison reform, second chance opportunities, transition from prison to society, the need for rehabilitation, educational opportunities for all our children. Passionately and from the experience of his own childhood, he emphasized that men must be good fathers, “even if you are poor.”

*  Obama discussed inefficiencies in the health care system, the need for computerized records, the opportunities for cost savings and the disturbing news that health care costs of the uninsured and under insured are now the No. 1 cause of bankruptcy among our people. 

*  He detailed his views on Iraq and his plans for disengagement, leaving residual forces to protect our Embassy and deal with new attacks by al-Qaida should they arise. He explained the need for reinforcements for Afghanistan to finally deal with the people who attacked us seven years ago. And much, much more.

Finally, you emphasize fiscal responsibility but plainly intend to vote a third time for the Bush policies by electing McCain. Under Bush, we borrowed every dime to provide a $1.9 trillion tax cut badly skewed to the tiny percentage of the wealthiest (38.6 percent or $715 billion to the top 1 percent and nearly 50 percent and $1 trillion to the top 5 percent). Total cost of the cut with interest: $2.35 trillion.

Already burdened in Afghanistan with the people who attacked us, Bush — supported by McCain — invaded a country that was no immediate threat to the United States and again, he borrowed every dime. Total costs over time with interest: $3 trillion, according to some estimates.

And both McCain and Bush favor partial privatization of Social Security. The cost with interest for transitioning to this program: about $1 trillion through 2010.

Unknown are the full costs of the drug bill, written with lobbyists in the White House, that flatly forbids negotiating a fair price with the drug companies. The federal debt will nearly double under Bush, from $5 trillion to nearly $10 trillion, $2 trillion owed to our friends the Chinese. The deficit for this year alone is half a trillion dollars.

McCain, serving a third Bush term, extending the Bush tax cut that is scheduled to expire, advocating privatization of Social Security and trumpeting his belligerent attitude toward the world will continue this deplorable record. Happy birthday, children! Change, doing things differently in Washington, is exactly what we need.
JEAN GREGORY
Forest