Letters to the Editor

Park dangers

Every morning on my way to work, I hold my breath and drive very cautiously around Hampton Park. Bushes make for a blind turn, and I cannot count the times I've had to come to a complete stop because of walkers and runners who take up the entire lane meant for cars. This is especially dangerous in the winter when it's barely light outside.

I admire and respect every one of them but cannot understand why this is allowed for cars, runners and walkers. Many times cars are in both lanes, and these people will not move out of the lane. That forces me to stop and wait until the other lane is clear.

With a walking lane available inside the park why do they have to walk in the street? If this is the way it's supposed to be, shouldn't that lane be closed to traffic?

My concern is that I will one morning see someone hurt or killed by a driver who is not aware that running into someone is a possibility.

Can someone address this danger before someone is hurt or killed?

MARY SUE LEWIS
Coldspring Drive
North Charleston

Unfair blame

I don't understand why President Barack Obama is being criticized regarding the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. He is the president, not Superman. Why should the president, or anyone outside the oil industry, have better ideas than people in the industry as to how to stop the spilling of oil?

Of course, it is the government's job to ensure that BP takes full responsibility for the spill, i.e. to stop it as soon as possible and to pay for the damage that it has done. Maybe Obama could have been more emotional, but what good would that have done? It seems, as usual, that people are more interested in sound bites than results.

On the other hand, why aren't the proponents of "Drill, Baby, Drill" receiving more criticism? These small-government Republicans who let the oil companies regulate themselves and skimp on protection against blowouts to save a small amount of money are the cause of this ecological disaster.

Now, all of a sudden, they think the federal government should do more. What mystical solution do they have in mind? Unfortunately, the damage is already done.

STANLEY HOFFMAN
Lavington Road
Charleston

Child abuse

Thank you very much for your recent series of articles that focus on an issue that many do not want to hear about -- the abuse and neglect of our children.

These articles addressed some of the good news about this issue and some of the bad news.

Clearly, the budget cuts that state agencies are experiencing are having a negative impact on already underfunded services for children, especially for children who have experienced abuse.

Those of us who have worked in this field for many years know that funding reflects the priorities of our elected officials, and we further know that there are currently no powerful voices lobbying for the needs of our children.

The good news is the fact that, in our country, we have dedicated child protection workers with the Department of Social Services who continue to do their best with limited resources and support.

We have a volunteer guardian ad litem program that provides committed and trained volunteers to advocate for abused children and their non-offending caregivers. And we have many dedicated community members who support the Dee Norton Lowcountry Children's Center and its efforts to bring community professionals together to coordinate the delivery of services to these children and their families in support of child safety and healing.

I wish to clarify one issue in your recent article about the Dee Norton Lowcountry Children's Center. The Medical University of South Carolina has stationed and covers the cost of the medical professionals referenced in the article who provide comprehensive exams and treatment for child victims of abuse at DNLCC.

Even while sustaining budget cuts of its own, MUSC continues to commit significant resources to child abuse victims and their families. DNLCC and our community partners are incredibly fortunate to work on site with Dr. Anne Abel and Dr. Mia Amaya, two of the fewer than 200 pediatricians across the country who are now board-certified in the new child abuse sub-speciality, and we congratulate them on this achievement.

Thank you again for increasing awareness of both the bad news -- that child abuse is a significant problem -- and the good news, that there is help available.

ELIZABETH RALSTON, Ph.D.
Executive Director
The Dee Norton Lowcountry Children's Center
King Street
Charleston

Hurricanes and oil

No doubt the current (no pun intended) situation in the Gulf is a disaster.

Wait till a hurricane comes through the Gulf, picks up millions of gallons of oil fouled water and proceeds to dump it as rain over a 600-mile track of cotton, fruit and vegetables.

Like a man said long before me, "You ain't seen nothin' yet."

BILL LUTZ
Compass Court
Elloree

Amateur golf

As a long-time participant in the Ladies City Amateur Golf Tournament, I was disappointed to learn that this year's tourney has been canceled due to poor participation.I wasn't actually surprised, however. The ladies' tourney was scheduled for June 1-3 -- yes, a weekday tourney -- which happened to coincide with the last week of school for several local school districts.

This "scheduling" miscue is the second consecutive year the City Am has conflicted with end-of-the-school-year activities. Our Charleston Ladies Golf Association, composed of retired ladies, stay-at-home moms, single women and, yes, even women who are still working, is a very active group of women from across the tri-county area. All are avid golf enthusiasts.

If the city is truly interested in increasing the participation of the Ladies City Am, I would suggest monitoring the school calendar, considering a weekend date (the men's tourney is played over a weekend) and increasing advertising. Women who wish to participate in the tourney are often juggling school-age children's activities, work and family commitments. Keep these in mind when scheduling the next City Am. Maybe your participation will improve.

JUNE STOVALL
Charleston Area Ladies Golf Assoc. Publicity Chair
Sabalridge Drive
North Charleston

D-Day oversight

I opened the paper Sunday sure to find something about the 66th anniversary of D-Day on the front page. On D-Day, the Greatest Generation put their lives on the line so that we may have the freedoms we do today. Some article was needed somewhere to thank these great men and women. I was only baffled to find the only article was from Charles Schultz in the Peanuts comic strip. I guess recognizing the invasion was only worthy of a blurb in "On this Date" and in the comics.

Thank you once again to the men and women in uniform. I honored them and spoke to my children of their great sacrifice. I'm sorry the Post and Courier did not find it newsworthy to give them honor.

JEANNIE HEFTI FANJOY
Wayfarer Lane
Charleston