The election, Seamster, Green Street and modern politics

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: August 28, 2008

McCain has both the right ideas and the life experience

To the editor:

The word change is the buzz word of the Democrats, and I agree some change is in order.

But the change from freedom to bondage is not the kind of change I want to see. I do not want the government to be in charge of my lifestyle. When we elect people to represent us, it is kind of like for-better-or-worse marriage vows. The Republicans we selected in this area, U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode and state Delegates Danny Marshall and Don Merricks, have voted to keep us out of the bondage of debt and the loss of our lifestyles. Thank goodness.

However, some on the national level have gone on a spending spree and put us in debt. The national government has collected more money from taxes due to the tax cut than ever (as opposed to a tax increase). We are in debt due to spending on unnecessary pork-barrel projects — not on national defense. We must defend ourselves against those that want us dead and attacked us, whether pretending or threatening they might attack us or our allies.

Sen. John McCain is change in the right direction. He is outspoken in his beliefs about not spending on pork barrel junk and he has voted that way in elected office. He has disagreed with Republicans and Democrats and voted for change and does not mind whom he might offend. This is refreshing in this day and time of partisan politics — guts is what it takes! He is a hero, and by that, I mean he stands up for principles I agree with. You can count on him to stand by his word and not be wishy-washy about it. At first, I was concerned about his position on some things and favored another candidate. After hearing him with Pastor Rick Warren at the Saddleback Civil Forum on television recently, the contrast to his opponent was black and white, no pun intended.

McCain was clear and precise when asked when life began. His immediate answer was the moment of conception. His opponent said that was above his pay grade. What other presidential decisions are above his pay grade? McCain’s other answers were also clear and to the point. Experience in life is one of the best teachers, combined with intelligence and education. McCain’s opponent, I believe, lacks a lot in life experiences. He just has not lived long enough to gain these qualities needed to attain the highest office in this land.

John McCain has demonstrated by his actions he has acquired these qualities and is ready to lead this nation in the right direction while meeting the challenges of tomorrow!

LAWRENCE P. MOSS

To the editor:

In response to, “The camera never blinked” (Aug. 26, page A6), the camera may not have blinked, but when you watch the video as many times as we have, you realize that while watching it, the viewer doesn’t always see everything. We would like to point out a few of the items that we have discovered after watching the video probably more than anyone else.

Before the man approached Neal’s car, Neal cranks the vehicle. As the man leans toward the vehicle, Neal puts the car in reverse. Neal was preparing to leave before the plainclothes officer approached. The officer admitted that his badge wasn’t showing when he approached and the first thing he said to Neal was, “Hey, what are you doing?” He clearly admits that he did not identify himself as an officer. The report also never mentions that the officer saw anything other than a cigar. The video is not clear enough to determine if the officer’s badge was out before Neal started to back up.

As far as being “killed while recklessly endangering all those around him,” think about this. We don’t even get tickets for “almost” hitting someone. The first officer planted his hands on the hood of the car and it is questionable as to whether or not he was actually hit by the car. His feet never left the ground. When the officer shot Neal, the only person in danger was the officer that ran out in front of a moving car, jumped onto the vehicle and fired the shot in an upright position. Are you absolutely sure the car hit the officer? The officers did not require medical treatment. The cyclists were not hit and were out of danger. The car that thought Neal was going to back into them was no longer in danger because Neal was going forward when he was shot. Look around on the parking lot — where are the rest of the people that were in danger?

The report also states that “within about 30 seconds, the officers began applying pressure to Mr. Seamster’s chest, while he was still seated in the driver’s seat.” In the video, the shot happens about 24 seconds into it. Then the officers are walking around, talking on the cell phone, scratching their heads and one of them leans over with his hands on his knees as if to be sick; the officer that shot Neal is still pointing his gun at Neal, another officer has Ceclie on the ground at gunpoint and finally one officer returns to the SUV and gets into the back seat. At 57 seconds into the video, you can see Neal moving his arms in the car. And when the video ends at 1 minute and 6 seconds — 42 seconds after the shooting — no officer is attempting to assist Neal.

As far as his rap sheet goes, the officers were not aware of this before they approached him and didn’t identify themselves. His prior bad acts should not matter when determining justification for the use of deadly force in a separate and unique event. We think the only reason they are included in the report is to make him look bad. The final item that the Halifax County Commonwealth’s Attorney mentioned is inaccurate. The theft in Caswell County, N.C., dealt with large equipment that would have required a truck and more than one person. Neal was in Buggs Island two days prior to his death.

The camera may not have blinked, but maybe your eyes and mind were clouded by the report that you quoted in your editorial.

ANGELA MEREDITH

Greensboro, N.C.

Editor’s note: This letter was signed by the Seamster family.

Obama above his pay grade

To the editor:

In the recent forum at Saddleback Church, Barack Obama replied to Pastor Rick Warren’s question about when human life began that answering that question was above his pay grade. Maybe so, but you would think he had at least a vague idea.

Take, for example, a newborn infant who has just survived an attempted partial-birth abortion and, against the odds, slipped completely out of the birth canal before the doctor could suck his brains out. He is probably confused, scared and cold. Perhaps someone picks him up and wraps him in a warm blanket and tries to comfort him.

Now me, I would say that life has begun for that child somewhere back down the line. We may disagree as to exactly when that occurred, but I think most would agree that it was somewhere between the gleam in his father’s eye and the warm blanket. Surely we can agree on that.

In Illinois, a bill was drafted giving protection of the law to children in the future who found themselves in that position. While in the state Senate, Obama voted against it. In fact, he voted four separate times against similar bills. Then he lied about it.

During the Saddleback forum, Obama said that the greatest moral failing of the country was ignoring Jesus’ admonition that what we do to the least among us we also do to Him. Now, the question I have for Obama — or any of his starry-eyed supporters — is this: If a newborn infant whose mother obviously doesn’t want him isn’t among the least of us, just who is?

After the event, liberal pundits marveled at how Obama had so thoughtfully “nuanced” his answers. Nuance is just another word for the difference in what liberals really believe and what they must publicly say, on pain of not being elected. There can be no doubt that the presidency is way, way above Obama’s pay grade.

ROBERT HUDSON

To the editor:

I would like to take this opportunity to share with everyone in Danville how beautiful the crepe myrtles are on Green Street in Danville’s West End Historic District. The community members — both people who rent their home and own their homes — helped to pay for the trees.

My wife Laura and I have mulched, watered, fertilized and pruned these trees for close to a decade. We give a big thanks to all of our neighbors: Betty and Wayne Brumfield, Lilly Edwards, Rita and Keith Watkins, Mrs. McGhee, Elaine and Fred Meder Sr., Pam Crutchfield, Kathy and Costin Jones, Hilton and Eleanor Douglas, Debbie and Mitch Stewart, Mr. and Mrs. William Hathaway, Dr. Ann Garbett, Carla and Daniel Swaim, Vicky (late) and Wayne Hawker, Elaine Day, The Danville Historical Society and Ronnie Carlson and Jerry Fischer from the city.

The homes on Green Street are being incrementally restored. Each and every year since moving here in 1997, I have seen it become more and more beautiful. Historic restoration is a tremendous commitment. Many in Virginia and elsewhere have entered into this commitment. Did you know that Virginia is second in the nation in historic preservation? Many of the people I have mentioned above have lived here for at least 10 years — and some more than 30. We have a strong sense of community. The neighbors on Green Street have picked up the trash blowing down our street. We have mowed our lawns, planted flowers, shrubs and trees. We are repairing the wood work, scraping and removing the old paint and repainting our homes. We are giving new life to our homes and neighborhood, and yes, it has taken a little elbow grease. Well, actually a lot!

In closing, I would like to leave everyone with this thought. On Aug. 22, I met a lady taking pictures in our neighborhood. She was from New Jersey and told me how pretty Danville was.

People come to Danville from all over. Most weekends, I meet these people right in front of my house. They love and appreciate what they see in Danville.

Let’s keep on plugging away. We may get there yet.

Thanks again to everyone mentioned for your help — and sorry if I left anyone out.

FRED MEDER JR.

To the editor:

Amid the chief of Hezbollah’s recent vow to destroy Israel —  supplementing those of the Iranian president — and President Bush sending Condoleezza Rice to pressure Israel into splitting the holy city of Jerusalem, I have concluded that America’s politicians are godless in nature. Or, they are anti-Christ in character.

What has the United States become united “under” in these days and times, one might well wonder. We collectively seek to elect those who not only stand behind the murder of the innocents through abortion, but we applaud them. We seek political allies who will cave in to secularist demands to further support the destruction of marriage as created by God.

Do you think, in your heart of hearts, that God is going to allow us to go unscathed for such acts of rebellion? If we collectively, before God, continue upon this self-destructive path in our nation, who’s to say that the next 9/11 will not be far, far, worse than the tragedy of the last? Perhaps it will be America that Iran and extreme Islam succeeds in “wiping off the face of the map.”

SUSAN RAKES

Danville