Wednesday, Mar. 10, 2010

Your letters: March 10

Towns shouldn't rule on abortion

This whole issue regarding ending coverage for elective abortions for Town of Apex employees - and now Wake County - is a thinly veiled play to erode these rights ensured with the passage of Roe v. Wade.

No matter what Mayor Keith Weatherly says, he is treading on a moral issue that has no business being center stage in a small local government.

First you strike it down at the town level, then the county, and before you know it the state will remove that coverage.

Next election our state will decide to outlaw the procedure all together.

It is just another step by the radical right to appeal to the local voting public on this issue.

How about removing coverage of invitro fertilization?

There's an unnecessary procedure and one that costs taxpayers considerably more dollars.

Also totally elective, but because it is creating life, everyone is on board.

Yet, isn't that also playing God?

I think government should stay out of families' personal choices.

If you elect to not cover one thing, cover none, including Viagra, birth control, abortion, and vasectomies.

Lindsey Chester, Cary

Think big, embrace rail

As high speed rail comes to North Carolina and limits level crossings, I'd like to suggest that Cary respond creatively, with an innovative plan to embrace the change.

Here are some of my ideas, all of which could no doubt be improved by town planners and others.

Build an overpass at the Harrison St. crossing and incorporate one of the parking decks proposed a couple years ago. The entrance to the deck could be on the upper level, just off the overpass.

Incorporate retail along the streets (even if raised above ground level) to encourage pedestrian traffic.

Consider some type of development along the lines of North Hills, but with a train station as part of it - making Cary a destination.

Build a hotel with meeting rooms, tied directly to regional rail.

Extend the development over the tracks so people have reason to walk towards the existing downtown.

Expensive? Well, yes. But as a downtown resident, I think it would make the area more attractive in many ways.

Take the change and build on it. Cary has changed over the past 20 years and is a leader in many ways.

We could continue that with development along the rail line.

Sarah Slover, Cary

Thanks for telling Tyler's story

Thank you for featuring Apex wrestler Tyler Forsythe. His is a heartwarming story that I had the fortune of seeing first hand last year.

Both of my sons wrestled at Rocky Mount High. My youngest just competed in the state tournament for the second year in a row. (Have to get in the proud dad brag.)

The Rocky Mount team wrestled in a tournament last January that included Tyler and his Apex team.

I was awe-struck that Tyler was able to go out and compete with these boys, then amazed at his skill level.

I was impressed by his wrestling abilities, but now I'm even more impressed with the person.

Scott Phillips, Rocky Mount

More thanks for Tyler's story

Thanks for the story on Tyler Forsythe.

I was there that day in the aftermath.

I used to work for CCBI and went out to take photographs for the Sheriff's office.

Wasn't much to see or photograph - a dead, beautiful tiger, some EMS trash and Tyler's father.

I think I remember finding out Tyler lived though the attack sometime later but that was about it.

I don't go out U.S. 64 West very often. But most of the time when I do, I almost always look down the road Tyler lived on and wonder what ever happened to that little boy.

Now I know and I really appreciate the story.

Now when I look down the road, I'll know he is doing so well.

Kent Duke, Raleigh

Religion has no place in school

Assuming that West Lake Middle School is not a private institution, religion has no place there.

Children have plenty of opportunity to read the Bible in the church, at home or on the bus.

Incidents like the one described in the article fuel religious intolerance and fly in the face of the much celebrated diversity policy.

Ildiko Trombitas, Ca ry

Facebook, Darwin

It is evident from the article ["Teacher's Facebook rant leads to suspension," Feb. 24] that the teacher should not have commented on her students on Facebook.

It will be a tragedy for them if they are led to believe that getting the teacher suspended or fired is a victory.

The Bible should not be used to taunt someone and their behavior was anything but Christian.

It would be to their benefit to read some of the great literature available about what happens when fanatics gain control.

If they question Darwin's theory that's OK, but first they need to understand it and compare it with other theories. If they wish to continue their education, they will have to understand that requires discipline.

Gerti Hamilton, Cary