Letters to the Editor for Thursday, December 10, 2009

Resident critiques VDOT’s U.S. 460 plans
I would like to encourage the folks who live in the vicinity of U.S. 460 east of Lynchburg to attend the public hearing regarding the proposed changes to the road and let your voice be heard.

The hearing is 5 to 7 p.m. today at the Virginia Department of Transportation regional headquarters on Campbell Avenue.

This may not be most convenient time for many folks to attend, but I encourage you to make the effort to be there.

I am not in favor of the proposed changes, especially the cutting off of our street, Tyreeanna Road, from U.S. 460.

I want safe roads, but I think less drastic and costly measures should be implemented first.

This may be a “done deal,” and our input may not change VDOT’s plans, but we can at least be heard.

If you cannot make the meeting, please voice your opinion to VDOT by calling 947-6559 or e-mailing

lynchburginfo@vdot.virginia.gov.

You have until Dec. 20 to share your thoughts with VDOT if you cannot attend the hearing.
EMMITT PAULETTE
Lynchburg

Grandstanding?
I found the recent news story about Garnell Stamps and the elderly lady denied benefits very disturbing.

While I agree that discrimination is alive and well in this country, Mr. Stamps states that he does not know why benefits were denied to the elderly black applicant but that discrimination must be responsible.

A true advocate for anyone who is denied assistance would take the time to determine why the denial had taken place, have some knowledge of the qualifications for the benefits sought and would review the information submitted by the applicant with the applicant to ensure that the information submitted was accurate.

While this does not get your name in the paper, it is certainly more productive than simply stating that discrimination has taken place.
BETH RAY
Forest

Afghan dilemma
If Afghanistan had been gone into with “Shock and Awe” of Iraq and the den of thieves had been wiped out in the beginning, we wouldn’t be in this mess we’re in now.

Starting something and leaving it unfinished is worse than not starting at all.

The Taliban were allowed to build while heads were turned toward Iraq. Now, our service people and our economy are, and have been, paying the price for the lack of planning and foresight.

Short of standing shoulder to shoulder on each side the length of the mountains that are harboring the Taliban and not allowing supplies in or the enemy out, do I see a win? Since there are not enough troops to do that or Afghans brave enough to stand up for themselves or their country, we’re sunk.

When you’re unable to climb out of the hole you dug, common sense should tell you to stop digging. The way it looks now, the Taliban seems to be standing at the top of the hole with shovels ready to bury us.

Yesterday’s gone, and nothing can be done to change it, but the scary thing is that no one seems to know what to do about tomorrow!
BARBARA HARE
Forest