Letters to the Editor

Organ donors

I was pleased to see attention given to organ donation in the Nov. 10 Post and Courier, but I was disappointed that there was no mention of living donors. Our young adult son was diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease in 2000 and after over a year of dialysis, he received a kidney from a friend at our church. (No one in our family was a match for him.) He and the donor have been in excellent health ever since.

In gratitude for his having received a new kidney, I then donated one of my kidneys to a young man whom I did not know. The surgery to remove my kidney was laparoscopic; I spent two days in the Medical University Hospital and was back at work in less than two weeks. I have had no ill effects from having only one kidney. We have two kidneys but can function just as well with one.

Aside from my marriage and becoming father to our three children, there has been nothing in my life as gratifying and satisfying as donating a kidney. The success rate for all kidney transplants is quite high, but those from a living donor have a somewhat higher success rate. I would encourage any healthy adult to become a living kidney donor and thus give the gift of life to someone who desperately needs it.

BRUCE JAYNE
Carolina Boulevard
Isle of Palms

Hiring minorities

I think if Boeing has a history of unfair labor practices, Sen. Robert Ford is correct in writing to Boeing asking about their hiring of minorities. I also say if there is no history of unfair hiring practices, is it necessary? Robert Ford is running for governor. Oh wait, now I understand.

STEW WILLIAMS
Chisolm Road
Johns Island

Religious liberty

As a private citizen, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer is free to promote Christianity any way he sees fit. But he may not enlist the government to do it for him. A federal district court correctly ruled that a proposed S.C. license plate picturing a cross set against a stained-glass windows and saying "I Believe" violated the constitutional separation of church and state.

Bauer, however, viewed this ruling as "another attack on Christianity." What he doesn't seem to understand is that government neutrality toward religion is not government hostility.

One of our most cherished freedoms is the freedom from state-sponsored religion. We each get to choose the sort of religion we prefer. Who would want the government to make those choices for us? There is only one "religious liberty" we lack. We cannot enlist the government to force others to acknowledge or support our own religious ideas. Religious liberty is threatened by government endorsement of any religious view.

To Bauer and others who wish to promote religious views while driving, I have a two-word response: "bumper stickers." Individuals can have bumper stickers that say, "I believe," or "I don't believe" or "I believe Andre Bauer is a political panderer." Just don't expect the government to endorse your personal religious or political views.

HERB SILVERMAN
Wraggborough Lane
Charleston

Helping economy

In this time of stress for many small businesses, I want to praise an organization called the Charleston Citywide Local Development Corp. At a time when few banks in the Charleston area are making small business loans, the LDC continues to provide financial assistance to business owners who have demonstrated responsibility and a strong plan for growth that benefits the community.

As a member of the board of directors of the Charleston Chamber, I have spoken with several entrepreneurs (and we are among them) whose businesses have not only benefited from the LDC's help, but survived because of the aid.

Cindi Rourke, the LDC's loan officer, represents the positive, supporting attitude of the LDC board of directors by working tirelessly to enable business owners to implement their plans and grow their businesses, thus providing local jobs when the national unemployment rate is above 10 percent.

This is no small task. The LDC and Cindi Rourke are to be commended for the work they do.

JUDITH MOORE
Signal Pointe Road
Charleston

Graham censure

On Veterans Day, I thanked my husband for his service in Vietnam. I said a prayer for my deceased father and uncles, members of the Greatest Generation of war veterans, and for our volunteer servicemen and women, including my grandson now serving in the Air Force. I then read in The Post and Courier about Sen. Lindsey Graham being censured.

My father, a Democrat until the early '50s, taught me to be an independent thinker and to strive to do the right thing. I was excited to be old enough to cast my first vote alongside my father for President Dwight Eisenhower. Since that first vote I have voted for both Democrats and Republicans. I vote for the person or persons who are best qualified.

What is happening to our country when an executive committee of a county party censures a senator for cooperating with another party? All I read was bullying and threats "to get his attention." What has happened to bipartisanship? Thank goodness, Sen. Graham, like former President Reagan, sees the need to find common ground and work together to solve the problems our nation faces.

I previously mentioned that I have voted for both Democrats and Republicans. One could perhaps label me an Independent. Sen. Graham has received my vote and will continue to because of his bipartianship. If he has weakened the Republican brand, as stated by the executive committee, I have no interest in learning what the Republican brand is.

I thank Sen. Graham for being an independent thinker and also for supporting his country in the way he believes best during these very trying times. May God bless him as he continues working in Congress for his constituents.

MARY L. BUNCE
Gaston Gate
Mount Pleasant

Mass confusion

On Nov. 2 my wife and I attempted to embark on a cruise on the Carnival Triumph. We were misled by the Charleston police as to where to get in line for dropoff. We drove around Ansonborough Field for 45 minutes getting back to the same corner to find out that we had to go to a lot at the foot of Market Street. When we got there we were met by an extremely rude officer who said if we didn't like what was going on to leave. What is lacking is helpful signage.

What will happen in May when there are weekly cruises from Charleston? Are the residents of the area going to put up with all the traffic? Are the police going to be more courteous and helpful?

People were not allowed to walk the two blocks to the cruise terminal, and some waited over an hour before buses came to transport them.

All the waiting, I understand, was to space out the people as they came into the terminal. I hope these problems can be fixed before spring when regular cruises start.

EDWARD LIPMAN
Freeman Street
MountPleasant

School funding

Once again, funding for our public schools is being undermined, and we haven't recovered from the last assault of 2006. This time the attack comes from real estate agents who say their incomes are being curtailed due to the high cost of homes.

Why don't these agents lower their commission rates to 3 percent from the current 6 percent on single-family homes?

The typical $200,000 house would still yield $6,000, and the remaining $6,000 would be used on a per-house basis to offset issues associated with higher assessments. Commercial property lists at 10 percent, so there is plenty of room there.

But, who am I? I'm just a humble teacher watching self-serving business interests undermine our children.

JARRETT VELLA
Wayfarer Lane
Charleston