Letters to the editor

Governor Sanford’s Put Parents in Charge education reform bill lets people use their own money to get the best education for their children. It cuts out the waste, fraud, and abuse that comes with bureaucracy. Most importantly, by giving every SC parent a choice, it creates a competition to improve schools. When schools compete, children are the ultimate winners.

Currently, our children are being ill-served by a system that has the lowest SAT scores, lowest graduation rates, and lowest achievement levels in the nation. Our children deserve better.

Let’s give it to them by helping Governor Sanford pass Put Parents in Charge.

Elizabeth Jordan

Southerner defends his family’s honor

In the February 4, 2005, issue of The Columbia Star, John Temple Ligon made some disparaging remarks about the Confederate flag flying over the State House dome and how often ten years later “corrective action” was taken and “the flag came down.” I respect every citizen’s right to express his or her opinion. Here’s mine.

I strongly disagree with Mr. Ligon’s implication the Confederate Battleflag is a shameful symbol that does not rightfully belong upon the State House dome of SC. If given the opportunity to express their will, over 60% of South Carolinians would vote to restore the flag to its rightful place. Politically correct politicians and members of the liberal media understand this fact and would go to any length to thwart a statewide referendum. Actually, they do not believe in “government of the people, for the people and by the people” any more than Abraham Lincoln in 1863.

This is a personal issue. Almost every white family in SC had ancestors in that conflict. Southern women sacrificed, and their men fought under the Confederate battle flag to defend their children and homes from a constitutionally illegal invading army from the northern states.

I write to defend the honor and good name of my ancestors. They lived in the Spartanburg County area and honorably served in the Confederate Army. They were:

William Davis (1831–1922) 13th Regt. SC Volunteers.

Marcus Davis (1836-1926) 16th Regt. SC Infantry.

Gabriel Davis (1840–1921) Jenkins Regt. Palmetto Sharpshooters. Gabriel was wounded in the Battle of Fredericksburg, VA and his left foot was amputated.

Jacob Davis (1846–1864) 1st Regt. Co. K SC Artillery. Jacob died of fever while defending Charleston, SC from an illegal blockade and bombardment. His father visited his son on his deathbed. Upon the father’s return to Spartanburg he became ill one month later and his wife died with the same symptoms as Jacob.

John Metcalf (1841–1865) 61st Regt. (Died in Service) .

Elais Metcalf (1843–1863) 54th Regt. (Died in Service).

As a longtime subscriber to The Columbia Star I have learned to expect and enjoy a more professional, fair and balanced sensitivity to the values of our diverse citizenry, even when the editorial board may honestly disagree with the reader.

Mr. Ligon, who is my favorite writer on the staff, seems to know a great deal about hotels and opera houses—maybe not so much about the true history of SC and the symbols cherished by a majority of its citizens.

Robert Davis

Suicide bombers should give

us new ideas about peace

in the Middle East

Conclusion: Suicide bombers in Iraq

By William R. Stanley, Ph.D.

Suicide bombers in Iraq appear to follow a somewhat different script from that in Palestine. First off, the supply of munitions for the militants (radicals, terrorists, disaffected, freedom fighters , anti– American zealots – you name it) seems unlimited thanks to some sloppy post–victory security in a vanished Iraq. Distances are exponentially greater than in Palestine and the motor vehicle packed with explosives with a driver is the weapon of choice.

Since the American and coalition forces are generally in more secure settings other than when on the roads, the easier targets are the emerging American–sponsored and trained Iraqi security forces and American–chosen political leadership. The Iraqi militants undoubtedly have taken some pointers from those in Palestine but their cause seems to be part of a wider anti–American coalition. It is one with strong cultural roots in direct confrontation to the spread of what constitutes permissive American culture and in part due to American support of the feudal Arab leadership sitting on so much of the world’s hydrocarbons. By contrast, the Palestinian militant’s complaints are local and directed against the occupier because the land is occupied.

It is suggested that resolution of the Palestinian– Israeli conflict is a “piece of cake” compared to any reasonable and equitable resolution of the Iraq quagmire. Why it is taking so long for the majority of Israelis and American supporters of Israel to grasp this point is an open question.

For too long Israel has had a free ride with too many Americans solely because of its location and biblical history. It is time to start thinking and acting for the long term peace and security of all of the Middle Eastern peoples including those in Israel. The issues are linked no matter how often or strongly certain leadership elements in Washington say otherwise.

William R. Stanley is a USC professor emeritus

temporarily on

assignment in Africa