Letters to the editor
Unfair fight
The frustrations with living on James Island that Melanie Balog addressed in her July 2 column are exactly the things the Town of James Island hopes to address. Every time the City of Charleston tries to revoke the right of people to form their own town, it gains ground because it has infrastructure.
Of course, the town of James Island does not provide residents with trash cans when the whole town might be dissolved in two years. Every time the city wins a lawsuit, James Island loses ground toward providing residents with basic infrastructure. That leads to confusion and frustration that Balog describes.
If James Island had become a town 15 years ago, perhaps these problems wouldn’t have arisen. While I don’t blame the author for joining the city, I would like to point out that this confusion benefits the city to the detriment of James Island. This is not simply a failure of the Town of James Island, as I think the column indicates.
Arianne Wolfe
Clearview Drive
James Island
Sullied image
As an author, tour guide and fourth-generation Charlestonian whose family has owned property on Sullivan’s Island for nearly 80 years, I’d like to know who decided the island now needs the nickname “Sully’s,” as reported in your recent article about area beaches. Must be a come-yuh, since none of us been-yuhs have ever called it that.
Mary Coy
Marsh Flower Lane
Charleston
Costly distinction
What is said and what is actually done are two different things. Take, for instance, the difference between what is said by the legislative branch of our government and what is actually done.
Lawmakers say they are looking to cut the budget and everything is on the table. Translated, this means everything that the government gives its citizens is on the table. However, everything that they have done to benefit themselves is not.
They will maintain their handsome salaries and benefit packages while eroding benefits from those who have served this nation (military). If they were really putting everything on the table it would seem that their own salaries and benefits would be the first to get chopped to save this nation money.
I have written and spoken to my representatives and gotten lip service from them. Now I challenge everyone else to do the same. Write and call your representatives.
They have to listen when we speak in numbers large enough to be clearly heard.
Chris Hamilton
Rumson Road
Goose Creek
Fond memories
Ken Burger’s June 25 column on the haphazard happenstances of life brought back a flood of memories for me.
As a crass Colorado lad trying to make it in New York City, I met an outrageously beautiful and talented woman. Knowing “faint heart ne’er won fair lady,” I was able to wrangle a date. In the taxi, she asked our destination. I responded, “The Rainbow Room.” She wondered if this might be a bit over-the-top for the occasion.
Having not yet developed an appreciation for opinionated and strong women, I tapped on the taxi divider window, ordering the driver to return. As the door to her apartment closed inexorably on our future, I managed to say, “I’m hungry, could we get a burger?”
As my wife, she made the time we shared together immeasurably joyous.
L.H. Ingram, Ph.D
Long Point Road
Mount Pleasant
Needed reminder
Unfortunately, we occasionally read tragic stories about small children who die because drivers leave them in cars. Some of these drivers intentionally leave children in cars, assuming they will be OK until they return. But there are others who honestly forget that they have small children in the back seat.
The parent or grandparent who does not routinely travel with a young child in the back seat, or the driver who is distracted for some reason, can indeed make the horrible mistake that can lead to incarceration of the driver and years of emotional pain for families.
If we try to exit our cars and our key is in the ignition or we leave our lights on, our cars have devices that remind us to correct our action. A device even reminds us to buckle our seat belts.
Car manufacturers should install a device that reminds drivers that a small child is in the back seat. The device should continue to give a loud warning signal until the child’s seat belt is unlocked. This may also alert passersby that children are left in cars.
This would help to save the lives of many small children.
Roslin Fields
Langston Park Drive
North Charleston
Save the ships
I am responding to the July 2 letter calling for the sinking of all the ships at Patriots Point. The ships there are history. That’s why they are special.
We might as well replace Old Ironsides in Boston with an newer ship more in line with today’s younger generation. The great thing about the Point is that the younger generation can actually see and touch history.
Patriots Point has to be saved. It is too important not to. I have noticed that when an article is printed by The Post and Courier about the Point, no matter what it is, the paper finds a way to inject a negative remark.
For an area that prides itself in history and spares no expense in repairing historic buildings, I am amazed how fast they want to destroy the Point.
Plans are in the works to repay the loan to the state and to develop some of the land to help support the ships. Patriots Point deserves to be given the chance to continue to serve and educate.
Sid Busch
U.S. Navy (Retired)
Bridgecreek Drive
Goose Creek
