THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 14, 1996 TAG: 9604110143
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 144 lines
It was appalling to see John C. Bradley's defense of slavery published in your ``letters'' section of the April 7 issue of The Carolina Coast. While I am very much aware that such vile, racist thinking exists, I do not wish to be subjected to it. If you continue to choose to print such bigoted views, my choice will be not to read your publication.
Your motivation, I guess, was something like ``providing a forum for all views,'' or ``encouraging dialogue on a current topic.'' Do you have any sense of the pain such an attempt to justify human bondage - and blaming the victims, no less - can have on those whose ancestors were enslaved in this country? Or on persons of Arab origin or the Muslim religion whom the writer also vilifies?
Just because Bradley puts his words together in coherent sentences and attempts to portray himself as a student of history does not make his view any less contemptible. Shame on whomever on your staff decided to print that garbage.
Susanne Kelly
Richmond and Kill Devil Hills Insurance elaboration
An Associated Press article in The Virginian-Pilot told about another company closing its books on new dwelling business on North Carolina beaches. While the article was timely, it stated incorrectly that two of every five ``homeowners'' policies for beach properties are written through the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association, also known as the Beach Plan. Two of every five dwelling policies may be written through the Beach Plan, but no homeowners package policies are written by that association.
The Fair and Beach Plan committee of the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina agreed to send forward a request to the General Assembly to pass legislation making homeowners policies available through the Beach Plan. This was included in our report to the Legislative Research Commission, on which I serve, but there was strong opposition from Nationwide representatives on the Commission and too little support among the other commission members to have such legislation introduced.
Nationwide continues to write homeowners policies on Outer Banks homes as do a couple of other direct writers and a very few companies represented by independent agents, such as myself. The Beach Plan will remain the primary souce for dwelling insurance until or unless other companies agree to open their books to write policies on the North Carolina beaches and seacoast counties. So far, there is no movement in that direction, even though wind and hail can be eliminated from any policy and written through a wind pool.
It looks as if the accomplishments of the LRC are: If approved by the General Assembly, technical changes will be made in the way credit and debits are allowed in the Beach Plan for voluntary writings in an effort to make participation attractive to more insurance companies, Business Income will be added to Beach Plan, and a reserve fund set up to handle future catastrophic losses. One of the provisions will be of direct and immediate benefit to the consumer. All other recommendations were shot down.
Mollie A. Fearing
Manteo Feed hummers correctly
I enjoyed Ronald L. Speer's column in the April 7 issue of The
Carolina Coast on the return of the hummingbirds. I saw my first of the season April 6.
Please find a space for the proper ``recipe'' for feeding them - one part sugar to four parts water, and NO food coloring!
So many people have read three to one and that is just too strong. We must protect the little fellows as best we can. I would hate to see a world without hummers!
Thank you so much. Enjoy them, and happy summer.
Bonnie Holland
Shawboro, N.C. A hiring outrage
I do not write this as a Dare County commissioner but as a citizen of Dare County who is very concerned and outraged that any individual could be hired and given possession of a new vehicle (purchased with tax dollars) without anyone knowing if the individual has a valid driver's license!
This brings to mind the following questions:
1. WHO is responsible for this oversight?
2. Did Mr. Charles Hartig complete an employment application?
3. Does the Dare County employment application ask if the applicant has a valid driver's license? If it does not ask this question, why not?
4. For employees driving Dare County vehicles, isn't a valid license one of the requirements?
It's not like Dare County was stumbled across last week and is still working out the kinks in its policies. We're SUPPOSED to have policies to follow - although it is quite obvious many times we do not!
County Manager Terry Wheeler was once a highway patrolman - surely he is aware of the number of people killed by drunk drivers each year in North Carolina. Surely he is also aware that this situation might indicate his incompetency as county manager.
Being given the choice of ``resigning'' over being ``discharged'' has no redemption value for the person who is guilty of misconduct or for the person negligent in allowing this oversight.
Our leaders have a moral obligation to the people they serve to set an example that such infractions will not be tolerated. Two wrongs (or in this case, three wrongs) DON'T make a right.
Shirley Hassell
Manns Harbor Thanks for generosity
When we moved to Dare County in January of 1981, we soon found out that the people here are loving, welcoming, and generous. Throughout our years here this has remained true, and it was brought home again several weeks ago when our house burnt to the ground and we lost almost everything we had.
Within hours we had received offers of shelter, donations of money, clothing, food, and furniture. We were humbled and at the same time overwhelmed by the loving generosity of the people of Dare County. Many times we cried as yet another gift came to us. It is hard to find words to express our feelings and our gratitude.
We especially want to thank the owners and managers of the Colony IV Motel for giving us a temporary home; Drs. Grossman, Campbell and Welch for giving shelter to our animals, and to each person who grieved with us and shared our sorrow.
Thank you! to the very special people for this very special place.
Steve & Carol Armstrong
Manns Harbor Above the law?
As a resident and taxpayer of Currituck County, I am upset and outraged that Currituck Commissioner Gene Gregory is knowingly violating the county ordinance by hanging his political signs on utility poles. Does he believe he is above the law? When questioned about this. . . Mr. Gregory was quoted as saying the regulations, not his signs, are wrong.
Why should he be allowed to hang his campaign signs on utility poles when the county ordinance clearly states ``no sign shall be attached to any traffic sign, utility pole, or structure or tree.''
Since Mr. Gregory thinks posting his political signs on poles is OK, do business owners have the same right to display advertising signs in this manner? Would this add to the beauty of Currituck County as Mr. Gregory seems to indicate?
Also, Mr. Gregory states, ``The billboard people have been good to me and I've tried to help them.'' Is this justification for his support of those hundreds of billboards in Currituck County? He has several billboards that promote his campaign for re-election!
I am concerned about what other laws Mr. Gregory feels he doesn't need to obey. If we can't trust our elected officials, then it's time for a change.
Sharon Vaughn
Currituck by CNB