Letters to the editor

Which prayers?

If you are a Christian, let’s have prayers of the Christian faith.

My neighbor is Jewish, so we also need Hebrew prayers.

My friend Kalid has kids in public school, too, so we also need time for Islamic prayers.

My Buddhist co-worker with the precocious ninth grader wants his daughter to chant.

I know of several adherents to the Baha’i faith who also want to pray and reflect.

Scientology is a rapidly growing religion with lots media attention due to a high profile membership. Let’s offer “auditing” sessions.

We have a vibrant Rastafari community here. Let’s offer praise to Jah.

You know, we’re gonna be prayin’ all day.

Michael C. Watson

Toura Lane

Charleston

Tap into solar

This bill will allow homeowners in our state to enjoy lower energy costs and reduce our carbon footprint. Of course, SEC&G is fighting this bill so it can maintain its monopoly on power distribution.

Many other states, including North Carolina, participate in programs that provide homeowners and businesses innovative ways to reduce power costs using solar energy.

Of course, renewable energy will not replace fossil fuels overnight, but any reduction in air pollution and foreign oil consumption is good for the country.

Using renewables also improves our national security. Currently, we have a few major grid targets for terrorists to hit to cripple our power distribution. If we move toward more community-oriented power distribution, there will be thousands of production points, making it impossible to shut down power in large sections of the country.

Our sunny state has a long history of being dragged kicking and screaming towards progressive ideas. The solar industry is still in its infancy, so we have an opportunity to get ahead of the curve and be a leader in this industry.

If you don’t think solar power can be done on a large scale, I suggest you look at what Boeing, BMW and Google have accomplished. These hugely successful companies didn’t go solar just for altruistic reasons; they also clearly saw the economic benefits.

Let’s support Rep. Smith’s bill and bring jobs and lower energy bills to South Carolina.

Chuck Jaymes

Fort Johnson Road

Charleston

Leave roads alone

Why the turnaround? There are already too many accidents there, and those could be stopped if drivers just did the speed limit and stopped being in such a hurry. Now with the turnaround, I can see the accidents going up daily.

Why can’t you just leave the roads alone, fix what we have, make sure the bridges are safe and encourage drivers to slow down and just do the speed limit. What is so wrong about obeying the rules?

With more apartments being built on Folly Road and creating more traffic, that is just what Folly Road needs.

We need some help to make sure all roads and bridges are safe. Slow down and watch out for others in traffic.

Common sense is so misplaced.

Anna Barnett

Habitat Boulevard

Johns Island

Historic point

The reader noted the often-stressed claim that the importance of the proclamation is not that it actually accomplished anything (it didn’t) but instead its lofty symbolism.

I’m often astonished by the broad interpretations that many historians use when examining Abraham Lincoln, contrasted with their narrow approach when examining Southerners. Anything not to diminish the image of the “Great Emancipator.”

I find Mr. Sale’s views very refreshing in this age of politically inspired historical analysis. Mr. Sale never states that the proclamation was the “fault for all that befell South Carolina during the Civil War”; however, as he rightly points out, the actual results of the ill-planned emancipation deserve the attention of more historians.

There is little evidence to show that Lincoln created the “war measure” out of concern for the welfare of Southern blacks. As Mr. Sale recognizes, there were no plans at all for the future of the newly freed.

That is a very revealing and often overlooked fact, especially considering that it actually freed very few slaves and that blacks would continue to live as second-class citizens for another 100 years even after a devastating Northern victory.

Bill Norris

Splitshot Circle

Mount Pleasant

Bus impasse

If it is not fair, the board should demand that Durham change its wage structure. If the company does not, let it know that this is its last contract with Charleston County.

If it is a fair wage structure, let the bus drivers know that the day they strike is their last day of employment. Period, end of story.

Enough already on endless talks. The only thing that really matters is the children and not the county, and not Durham and not the bus drivers.

Seymour Rosenthal

Waterfront Drive

Mount Pleasant