www.roanoke.com

The economy is stronger than Bush's critics admit

In his letter "Don't worry, the economy's, um, strong," (Dec. 26), Ken Wilburn points out specific cases of high prices, stock market losses and the sub-prime mortgage debacle. These flaws in the economic picture lead to the conclusion that the economy is in a shambles, the fault of President Bush and his administration.

U.S. unemployment was 4.6 percent at the end of 2006 and 4.7 percent in Nov. 2007. This record stands out when considering that 7.5 million people have been added to the workforce since 2001.

After the fall of the Twin Towers in New York City, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped to 8,920 on Sept. 17, 2001. It has gained an average of 7 percent per year since that time and closed at 13,551 on Nov. 26, up 8.7 percent this year.

Prices of all commodities including milk, housing, oil, travel (air, rail, ship) are elastic and subject to the awesomely complex forces of supply and demand. These market forces have been at work in our country for centuries and will continue their volatility until our economic and government systems change.

Finding fault with the Bush administration has become an avocation with many of his critics.

Cartoon shooting of Justice repulsive

I am repulsed by the cartoon on the editorial page on Dec. 23 depicting a CIA agent shooting and killing Lady Justice.

A newspaper as anti-gun as The Roanoke Times demonstrating such poor taste and lack of judgment by using this cartoon is equally repugnant.

You appear to have no respect for our country, government or its agencies, or for the symbols that represent it.

Who gets to decide who loses gun rights?

The recent gun legislation passed on Dec. 19 by Congress concerns me greatly. I agree with the need to keep weapons out of the hands of gravely mentally ill people.

I read the bill in its entirety and came away with the sinking feeling that Congress has just managed to pass a law that has the power to strip responsible, law-abiding citizens of their Second Amendment rights. Not all people who seek professional counseling are incapable of sound and rational judgment. Where does the line get drawn and who gets to draw it?

Each member of Congress took an oath to uphold, protect and defend the Constitution when he took office. Instead, they have willfully ignored the voice of the people, dismantled that document and continue to destroy liberty for all Americans. The framers of that document must be rolling over in their graves.

The question being asked of Congress is this: When are you going to start honoring your oath? We are waiting.

Settlement shouldn't tarnish reputation

I am disappointed by Mike Allen's Dec. 27 article reporting on the result of Dr. Bradley Nicholson's malpractice case ("Family awarded $340,000 in botched surgery"). Dr. Nicholson retired two years ago, and the outcome of this case does not serve the public interest in a medical sense.

Rather, the article appears interested only in publicizing Nicholson's "negligence" and conducting a smear campaign against a noble surgeon who dedicated his life to his vocation.

Dr. Nicholson's career has been marked by tireless efforts to serve his community. He dedicated more than 20 years of his life to successfully curing disease and illness, saving countless lives in the process.

As a member of his family, I can personally attest to the lifetime of sacrifices that Dr. Nicholson has made to keep the oath he took as a physician.

It offends my sense of justice to think that, after all his contributions, Dr. Nicholson's well-earned legacy will be tarnished. To the contrary, Giles County is grateful for his years of service -- the community would not be the same without him.

Bhutto died doing what she had to do

It was only months ago that Benazir Bhutto was with us at Chatham Hall.

She was so comfortable here that she stayed longer than she had planned, and some of us were lucky enough to have an unplanned lunch with her. The impromptu group of adults gathered around the table that afternoon talked about being parents. Bhutto was, as a good friend of mine would put it, as real as they come.

She was also as committed to freedom, democracy and human rights as they come. And so she died doing what she wanted to do, what she had to do. A life of integrity. Bhutto spoke so passionately about her country, her fellow citizens' rights and her religion being hijacked. Now, her life has been hijacked.

Bhutto is in the arms of God, we hope at peace, following a life that offered her so little peace. We can keep her in our prayers, in our thoughts, and in our hearts.

She will remain for me the standard of how we should treat one another. Those of us who were lucky enough to have been with her, for however brief a time, are her legacy.

Rector, Chatham Hall

Memorial services went unmentioned

As a Roanoke native who has always received The Roanoke Times, and as an alumna of Youth With a Mission in Colorado, I found it disgusting that you failed to report or describe the memorial services that happened on Dec. 12 in Colorado for the shooting victims.

Instead you focused on the darkest few years -- the last two -- of the shooter Matthew Murray's life ("Colo. gunman followed a twisted path," Dec. 13 article). I understand it is necessary to alert people to the signs that often [precede] these tragedies. However, when the opportunity comes to report hope, do so.

I attended the service in Arvada. I sat on the third row, right behind Tiffany Johnson's family, next to Phil Crouse's best friend.

I can tell you that God blessed every single person that walked through those doors that day. Even the officers on guard were seen tearing up frequently throughout the service. The sense of God's presence, family, love, forgiveness and hope preceded the service and flowed through it.

I truly wish the entire Roanoke Valley could have experienced or at least grasped that. And somehow, you barely mentioned that there were services.

U.S. Cellular needs more towers than billboards

In response to the U.S. Cellular billboard flap: hooray for capitalism at its best. U.S. Cellular gets new clients, makes more money and keeps costs down.

Full disclosure: I'm a U.S. Cellular client. I am puzzled why the billboards are Spanish only. My owner's manual has both languages.

Not a xenophobe, I like all cultures and hope all newcomers want to assimilate by learning English. While I'm sure our Founding Fathers were bilingual as most high school students are today, they wrote and spoke in English for those of us who didn't excel in foreign languages.

More important, U.S. Cellular, we need more towers than billboards. Here in Snow Creek, even public safety personnel have spotty reception from Rocky Mount to Gretna.

I agree with the writers that sophomoric condescending language does not intelligent discourse make. Thank you to The Roanoke Times for printing all points of view.