No genocide, spend more and worth saving

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: June 4, 2008

There is no urban genocide

To the editor:

The author of, “Darfur and our struggle with ‘urban genocide,’” (May 18, page B6), comparing Danville to hundreds of thousands killed in Darfur due to social injustices is ludicrous and totally fraudulent. Arabs have murdered the many thousands of black people in Darfur. I am totally unaware of white people murdering many thousands of black people in Danville.

I am aware of young thugs killing black people in Danville and surrounding areas.

I am aware of high school thugs murdering an Egyptian grocer and friend to many in Caswell County, N.C. I am aware of urban thugs murdering a UNC senior and president of the student body by shooting her in the temple with a handgun for no reason. They then used her credit card at a bank and were photographed doing so by the security system that was designed to catch murderers and fools like them.

Certainly, young urban thugs are murdering their fellow men in record numbers, however, linking Arabs who have killed hundreds of thousands of black people in Darfur to “genocide” in Danville is an extreme exaggeration about Danville and outright fraudulent in the author’s seeking attention for a project in Danville.

Bill Cosby has a book out called, “Come On People,” in which he outlines the problems facing black people and black men in particular. Cosby promotes doing the things necessary to become victors rather than employing victimology, which is being promoted by the letter’s author.

African Arabs are practicing the annihilation of Darfur’s citizens, therefore, I can’t understand any parallel with Danville citizens being murdered by their own people. The letter’s author calls it the, “American racial-cultural-political genocide.”

The author speaks of failing schools in America. The truth is President Bush has spent more on our schools than any president in American history. Obviously, money isn’t the answer to save our youth. Cosby has been stating the obvious for years and endured vicious criticism from blacks and silly white liberals. His answer is having fathers in the home, encouraging children and protecting babies by turning off the TV, reading to kids, spending quality time with them, listening to the kids and not using foul language around them. Children need limits and adults must behave as they teach their children to behave, he says.

I would think this advice is better than preaching liberation theology, which advances Marxist theory to the congregation and hatred for whites, Jews and America.

I am concerned about social injustices, also. For example, the young urban thug who murdered the UNC student should have been in jail for murdering a graduate student last year. I’m quite sure this young lady’s parents see a huge injustice regarding this thug being out in society when their daughter was needlessly murdered in cold blood.

DAVID W. GRAY SR.

To the editor:

In the editorial, “Tax revolt!” (June 2, page A6), about Danville’s budget, the Danville Register & Bee stated that perhaps the city would make up the $600,000 budget shortfall by gutting the tourism budget. It went on to say that with the high price of gasoline, Danville is unlikely to see many tourists in the next few years.

This is not the first time the editors have made this “money saving” suggestion.

Cutting the tourism budget would be one of most ridiculously shortsighted things the city could do!

As a former member of the city’s tourism board, I have done extensive research on the issue. Here are just a few facts:

 

• Tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the world;

• Heritage tourism — which includes going to places to see beautiful old buildings — is one of the fastest growing niches in the tourism industry;

•   Heritage tourists tend to stay longer and spend more money than other kinds of tourists;

• Tourism dollars are “clean.” Tourists spend their money on admissions, shopping, hotels and restaurants, then leave. The city doesn’t have to bus their kids to school, etc. Tourist dollars are the ones most municipalities should be seeking!; and

• The 150th anniversary of the Civil War is coming up in just a few short years. In fact, Virginia will begin its observances in 2009. Given the extreme interest in Civil War history, Virginia is likely to see a huge influx of visitors during the next few years. In case people don’t know it, Danville has some significant Civil War history and sites.

Unfortunately, Danville’s city government has largely turned a blind eye to tourism. That needs to stop.

Now is the time, not to gut the tourism budget, but to increase it. Now is the time for the city to aggressively advertise what Danville has to offer tourists. Now is the time for Danville to promote the creation of tourism-related businesses. Now is the time for the city to work with its current assets — museums, historic B&Bs, hotels, restaurants, etc. — to craft means to lure more tourists to the area. Now is the time for the city to focus its “retail hub” strategy on the historic downtown as a necessary way to increase the city’s attractiveness to tourists.

Tourism is an industry that Danville needs as part of its economic development strategy. Tourism creates jobs, and Danville is in desperate need of them.

Danville is a natural for tourism because this city has what millions of people want to see: Genuine Main Street America, smaller, quieter places that evoke the past and gorgeous old architecture. If you’re in any doubt about this statement, then ask yourself: why do Americans flock to Europe (when they can afford it)? It’s not to look at skyscrapers and modern places. We go to see the ancient cities and villages. We long to look at places from the past. Americans want that here in the United States as well.

Finally, your suggestion that the high price of gasoline will keep people away is entirely wrong. The vast majority of people who visit Danville come from the eastern seaboard. These are the very people who will look to save money on their upcoming vacations by sticking closer to home. We may lose a few tourists from California, but I’m certain we won’t lose tourists from our own backyard!

SARAH LATHAM

To the editor:

In response to the news that no funding is coming from the community to support the North Theatre, it is easy to deduce why: It is being used for something!

You see, if anything has become apparent about this city since Dan River Inc. closed, it’s that the majority of the people only want to save old and seldom-used buildings (the Schoolfield Recreation Center) or empty fire hazards (the Long Mill buildings).

It is in those buildings that our future lies, not the ones that are being used for any type of culture, learning or just fun events. No, it is clear that the majority of the Danville residents in “power” and money are doing their best to live in a ghost town … and they wonder why the youth continuously leave this city. We don’t want to live in a town of old, falling down buildings.

JAY SPAINHOUR

Danville