Letters to the Editor for Sunday, November 15, 2009

Writer: Know them by their words
On Oct. 15, an individual stated in a letter to the editor to The News & Advance that unless Liberty University students were taxed to “… pay their portion of the costs,” LU students shouldn’t vote.

On Oct. 16, an individual informed The News & Advance that because the LU campus was, in her opinion, “… an architectural train wreck … . I’ve seen mining towns that are easier on the eye (and probably more rewarding to study in),” LU students shouldn’t vote.

On Oct. 17, an individual who signs himself “Esq.” kindly reminded LU students that voting could lead to jury duty, which could “… disrupt a student’s academic routine … cause them to miss classes, tests or exams … force them to make up exams or assignments during their holidays … hurt their summer employment and income.” Or they could avoid all this by not registering.

On Oct. 19, an individual described LU students being encouraged to vote as “ … a disgrace … to threaten to taint the composition of City Council in the 2010 election.”

On Oct. 23, an individual referred to the prospect of a high LU student voter turnout as “… very disturbing.”

On Oct. 26, another individual referred to the prospect of a high LU student voter turnout as “… not morally right … thousands of uninformed students to the polls to support the Falwells’ political interests.”

On Nov. 1, an individual denounced LU students voting as a prelude to “… an effort to take over the Lynchburg City Council next spring.”

Further, in the days since the election, writers have referred to Liberty student voters as “... the far-right, fundamentalist ‘machine’ on Candlers Mountain,” (Nov. 5), that was used to “... usurp the rights of the true citizens,” through voting that “... did not reflect the maturity we need” (both Nov. 6). LU students are “… not local citizens (and) unconcerned about urban blight, loss of green space and the methodical and careful building of our city” (Nov. 11).

Finally, on Nov. 12, Walter Daniels offers LU students some fatherly advice: “Please lose the inferiority/persecution/self-importance complexes. Isn’t it exhausting?” He explains, “We really aren’t that into you, I promise.”

All of the above are direct quotes, taken from the letters to the editor in The News & Advance Web site.

Further comment seems superfluous.
CAREY MARTIN
Forest

Legal votes
I have read the many letters to the editor in The News & Advance about the effect of the Liberty University students voting in the recent election for delegate between Shannon Valentine and Scott Garrett.

Let’s deal with the facts.

First of all, the vote from the Liberty University students for Garrett gave him victory over Valentine. Secondly, those votes for Garrett from the Liberty students were legal votes — just like they are legal for votes from college students from all over this country.

Nothing illegal happened here in the victory of Scott Garrett over Shannon Valentine.

Democrats have always been concerned about “disenfranchisement” of voters in other elections in this country. Do they wish to “disenfranchise” the Liberty University student voters because they voted “the wrong way?” Perhaps, Valentine’s supporters should follow her lead and concede the election and search for ways to get out the vote of their supporters in a better way.

LU voters were part of the solution for Garrett, but Valentine’s base just didn’t show up to vote for her. That’s what lost her the election.

Lastly, the Valentine folks must have known that her re-election was in trouble. If not, why the barrage of letters to editor to this newspaper supporting her published during the weeks prior to the election?

The right to vote is established by law, not by those who wish to gerrymander the way votes are cast.
RICHARD EFTHIM
Lynchburg