(Editor's Note: you are right, Hug. We are glad to see that the House has access to these scholarships. But does this say that the Senate has an on-the ball public relations person?-eeb)

9/19: Questions school board building shelter for staff

Editor, the Forum:

In my 27 years in Gwinnett County I thought I had seen just about every dumb decision that could be made placed into practice. However, the Gwinnett County School system is about to prove they are capable of even more stupidity than I would have guessed.

The decision to build a shelter for Alvin Wilbanks and staff for use in the event of a disaster has, by far, got to be one of the most arrogant moves the Gwinnett County School System has ever made.

Just who do they think will be concerned about schools in the event of a terrorist attack that would require they have such a facility? I will assure you that my child would not be going to school nor would I be concerned about getting him there. What is their intent?

With major state funding cutbacks about to take place, this can't be considered a laughing matter regardless of how funny it sounds.

We will soon be required to make some hard decisions in regards to what services we will continue to support in education. Frivolous spending of tax dollars that could help keep reading, arts or other instructional programs afloat should be given the highest priority of being cut.

An emergency shelter for a school superintendent and his staff doesn't appear that important. It does however, appear to be a continuation of the poor planning demonstrated by our current Board of Education and school administration.

-- Jim Dumond, Buford

9/19: Steffan Thomas Museum sets reception for Sept. 23

Editor, the Forum:

Here we are with only 99 shopping days to Christmas!!

Steffan Thomas Museum of Art's first membership reception to be held Tuesday, September 23 at 7 p.m. Wine and cheese will be served, along with anecdotes about this unique facility. The Museum is located in Morgan County near Madison.

We plan to have a small sneak preview of some of the art to be auctioned at Collecting: Art & Wine. That will be held Thursday, October 23 at 5:30 p.m.

The 2004 calendar has gone to the printer and we anticipate delivery of the calendar and new magnets in time for Collecting -- these items make great stocking stuffers.

-- Lisa Conner, Grayson

9/19: Remembers fondly trip by rail across Canada

Editor, the Forum:

One of the best vacations we ever had was a trip just a few years ago trans-Canada by rail. It is equal, in my estimation, to a trip to Europe. We boarded in Toronto. Three days and two nights on the train, first class all the way. We finished the trip by motor coach, ending up in Vancouver.

-- Bill Crosland, Sugar Hill

9/17: Offers thanks to so many people in Norcross

Editor, the Forum:

Please let me thank everyone for helping recruit everyone Sunday night and also the many homeowners who gave so willing of their time.

In the eight o'clock hour I had a feeling of utter despair. I did not know what to do or where to turn for help.

In the ten o'clock hour I could not believe the number of people who had rallied to our side and were working so tirelessly. It was incredible, and I know it proved to each and all of us what a terrific group of people we have in Norcross! It is something that should be noted and go down in the records somewhere.

By the twelve o'clock hour anyone new entering the park would not have believed what had been accomplished and that we had, in fact, suffered some adversity!

I am so very grateful for everyone's help. I still can't believe that a truckload of wood and then sand suddenly appeared, nor forget the multitude of wet-vacs!

When our exhibition is over and things have calmed down then Keith Fenton and I want to get together with everyone to express our personal thanks. Again, our thanks to so many.

-- Edna Berkshire, Taste of Britain, Norcross

9/17: Says matters worsen if U.S. pulls out of Iraq now

Editor, the Forum:

In response to last Tuesday's Commentary section, it is unfortunate that there are people out there like Ms. Taylor who would rather bury their heads in the sand and not deal with the fact that there are people out there who's aim is to see the destruction of the free world.

Or worse, to suggest that we "pull out of Iraq." Ms. Taylor, can't you see that that is exactly what the terrorists of the Middle East want us to do? Do you really think that by doing so, there would miraculously be no more violence, especially on our own soil?

No, Ms. Taylor. Look what eight years of burying our head in the sand and not dealing with this problem resulted in. And before you say that Iraq has nothing to do with the attacks of 9/11, think again.

If we were to "pull out" now, conditions in the Middle East AND the United States would only worsen. It is better that we be the responsible ones and deal with this now, as opposed to having our children deal with a much larger problem.

-- Craig Heighton, Buford

9/17: Gwinnett native appreciates article on George Keener

Editor, the Forum:

Just wanted to thank you for the beautiful article you wrote on George Keener. I have worked at Berkeley Lake Elementary for nine years and just love Dottie so much. After you sent out the article, I re-formatted it and sent it out "All Staff at our school. I had lots of "thank yous" for letting everyone on staff read your article and telling me what a beautiful article it was. I am also planning on printing it in color and give it to Dottie when she comes back to school.

I get the Forum and am a Gwinnett native! (Imagine that: some of us are still out here). I was born and raised in Buford, then moved to Norcross in the early 70's and been in Cardinal Lake since 1978. My mother taught in the Gwinnett County school system for 32 years at Sugar Hill and Harmony and before I was born, the old Buford or North Gwinnett schools.

My father worked at the Bona Allen saddle shop. I was still at Buford High School when Tandy bought it out and the factory and tannery were voting to go in the union. I love it that I can get the Gwinnett Forum by email now and keep up. Again, thank you for the wonderful article on George.

-- Mary Jane Moss, Duluth

9/12: Road philosophy guided more by dollars

Editor, the Forum:

Congratulations on your featured article by Benita Dodd on transportation policies based more on politics than need. As the governor told GRTA, "When it comes to transportation investments, it is time we were guided by a little common sense."
As usual, follow the $$$$$$$$$$$$$ and you will find the answers to why decisions are made.

-- Lee Baker, Lilburn

9/12: Do Americans tacitly approve of use of napalm?

Editor, the Forum:

The August 9 edition of "The Age," an Australian paper, reports that Colonel Mike Daily of the US Marine Corps. has confirmed that Mark-77 firebombs, napalm type weapons, were used on Iraqi troops. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the firebombs were used on at least two occasions, quoting Colonel Randolph Alles, commander of Marine Air Group 11 "The generals love napalm - it has a big psychological effect."

An American officer reported a gigantic fireball - "dead bodies are everywhere. "Napalm was banned by the United Nations in 1980, although the US refused to sign the agreement.

On behalf of all of us who remember the nightmare pictures of burnt people in Vietnam, this is intolerable. How many more outrages and insults to humanity will be perpetrated by the Bush Administration before the American people wake up and protest the atrocities committed on our behalf? Or - do we tacitly approve of these acts? Are we monsters too?

-- Angela Bradshaw, Los Angeles, Calif.

9/9: Likes recent issue of Forum as example of what it can be

Editor, the Forum:

The Sept. 5 issue of the Forum is an example at what it can be. Very good article on "Spa's." Time to polish some of the county's rough edges. Nice "feedback" also.

-- Randy Stephens, Duluth

9/9: Uncomfortable with Administration view on Iraq

Editor, the Forum;

I am so opposed to the war. I have been since before it actually began. It was so obvious to me and so many others that there would be disastrous results from such a senseless endeavor. Now, understand, I felt a sense of pride and relief when I saw Saddam Hussein's image fall in Iraq. But considering that we have no proof that he is actually dead, and even if we did, the price has been and will continue to be too high.

How many more families will have to suffer the loss of a loved one? Ask them if the policies that this administration implements work for their safety. Quite frankly, I feel so much less safe now than I have in my entire life. I feel that we've stirred the pot and through these actions, created more enemies than were before 9/11. It doesn't make sense that we have and will expend so much in time, manpower, money, and human life...for what cause? I can't comfortably stand behind this war because I don't see the point. And many, many people are suffering.

What's obvious to me is that the "public servants" of the current administration have not a care for what the American people want. I'm very uncomfortable with that fact. I want to see us pull out of Iraq and handle the massive problems we have right here at home. Great though we may be, as a country, we cannot afford any more losses on any level.

-- Katrina Taylor, Marietta, Ga.

9/9: Bombing of mosque latest security failure in Iraq

Editor, the Forum:

The bombing of the mosque, causing 90 deaths and killing a moderate cleric, is the latest enormous security failure in Iraq. Despite the fact that hundreds of people were gathered at the mosque, no US troops were anywhere near the area. Bremer explained that we did not want to intrude on religious sites. Since when has that been a concern to the US?

Clerics are reported as saying that no Muslim would attack Imam Ali Mosque because it sits atop the tomb of Ali, the prophet Mohammed's son-in-law. This is akin to a Christian of any affiliation bombing the tomb of Christ!

In the attack on the United Nations, a large truck, loaded with huge bombs, somehow made its way through the streets of Baghdad without being spotted
by security forces. This, despite the fact that our troops shoot at almost anything that moves, including suspicious-looking cameramen and cars containing small families with children. And no Americans were present there either. Ditto the attack on the Jordanian embassy. Police said all of these bombs were made from the same materials!!!

And no known group has taken responsibility for or made any of the usual declarations or demands with respect to any of these attacks.. This does
seem awfully strange!

-- Charles Prendergast, Texarkana, Ark.

9/5: Convenience or a nickel; how much will the masses take?

Editor, the Forum:

There is a commercial playing on TV that has a man walking, rather briskly, through his office with a coin held high between his thumb and index finger. "We saved a nickel on our transactions--- we saved a nickel!", he animatedly expresses to his fellow co-workers.

It is not until he bumps into one of his bosses that his shared excitement is returned. "We do 'X' (can't recall the exact number) transactions a month", the boss utters to himself as he calmly smiles in anticipation of his company's newfound money.

The point: to the masses a nickel may not be much; to the one passing the plate collecting all the nickels, it could represent a small fortune. This is an excellent business practice when a company can pull it off. It is called "invisibly adding to the profit."

Gasoline companies apply a similar (but in reverse) method all too often as holiday driving seasons approach. They count on collecting nickels and dimes from the masses knowing that one Jerry Q. Public won't protest too loudly and purchase their product anyway.

To some what is a "limp in your get-along" is a "classical ballet" to others. In Georgia, consumers complain. Here in Louisiana, the oil folks smile. Is this "market balance"? I don't know. I do know though, I am one to drive around to find the cheapest gas when they start playing these games, inconvenient or not.

And by the way, George W. and Dick C. are not responsible for this. The petroleum industry has been doing this since those two fellows were pups.

-- Jerry Queen, LaFayette, La.

(Editor's Note: Jerry Q. Public?-eeb)

9/5: Displays in Alabama appear to be more idolatry

Editor, the Forum:

Life valuing activity facilitating justice for ALL people will go further to honor and perpetuate the justice seeking tradition of Hebrew Scripture than will public displays of dissatisfaction void of life valuing activity facilitating justice for ALL. Recent displays in Alabama appear to be idolatry rather than faithfulness to a justice seeking God.

-- Rev. Nanci Hicks, Norcross

9/5: Those who drive slowly on left on expresswaysYS ON LEFT

Editor, The Forum:

Don't know how many weeks I am behind with this.

Yes, drivers are inconsiderate by sitting in the right lane when others may want to turn right on a red light. Yet I also don't want to sit in the left lane as the fourth or fifth in line. I do think about moving to the left lane if I am the first through third coming to the light.

THE REAL PET PEEVE IS: Drivers throughout the United States who drive in the left lane on the expressways, no matter what the speed. This is a major cause of accidents that cause drivers behind them to have to weave to the center and right lane to move ahead in the traffic. You (the editor) know that if in Europe, you drive in the left lane with someone behind you flashing his lights; you would be bumped off the road. Most states in this country have a law requiring "Slow traffic keep right", but it is not enforced.

-- E. F. Stuart, Norcross

9/2: If anyone needs recalling, it is our president

Editor, the Forum:

Why is California's budget crisis the fault of Gray Davis, while our national budget crisis is blamed on a sluggish economy? Was the bust of the "dot com" boom the fault of Gray Davis? Did Gray Davis overcharge California for electricity?

In the recent budget deal in California a deficit of tens of billions has been reduced to single digits. At the same time, our national budget deficit continues to soar while Congress and the President increase spending and cut taxes.

If anyone needs to be removed from office, it is George W. Bush for his mishandling of the federal budget. George Bush is lucky that there are no provisions for a recall on the federal level. The equivalent is impeachment. As we all know, impeachment is reserved for high crimes and misdemeanors. Recalls should be reserved for the same; we have yet to hear a single accusation of a crime against Gray Davis. A vote of yes on recall is a vote for a misguided right wing coup.

-- Louise Johnson, Norcross

9/2: About Judge Moore and that monument in Alabama

Editor, the Forum:

Those who oppose Judge Moore and the Ten Commandments act as if the Constitution came out of a vacuum-that it came from out of "Thin-Air."

Hans Zeiger (a conservative columnist) recently received a letter that said, "GOD doesn't give rights; the CONSTITUTION does." The person sending the letter is misguided. He has falsely assumed that we can have the finished product without any of the ingredients i.e the whole is not a sum of the parts. This logic is crooked.

It is as foolish as thinking you can have a cake with no flour, eggs, milk, sugar, etc. The truth is that our Constitution was not born out of thin-air, but it was crafted from God's Word. God has given rights and has communicated those rights in the Bible and upon our hearts. The reality is that the Constitution exists not to "give rights" but to define the rights that God has already established.

Some hate Judge Moore's monument because it reminds them of the historical roots of our law system. The monument reminds them that God was at one time part of the fabric of our nation's judicial system and our Government. They want to forget that the Commandments were the foundation upon which our forefathers (and our European ancestors) formed their law code.

The Left can forget God and relegate Him to the periphery of public life but they cannot change His existence. God is whether we like it or not! The historical revisionists can rewrite our history books (leaving out faith) but they can't change the real truth that our nation was envisioned and established by people who believed in God and wanted God's laws as the basis of our society's mores.

We should not deny the plain truth that we did not create our laws and our moral code-we only followed the divine boundaries written upon our consciences and in His Word the Bible. The Ten Commandments monument should remain and one like it should be established in every place in which justice is loved and dispensed.

-- C. Lee Smith, pastor, First Baptist Church, Norcross

9/2: We are allowing Bush to bankrupt our country!

Editor, the Forum:

President Bush has used up the $127 billion surplus left him by Clinton; we now have a $455 billion deficit. Despite the fact that the Iraqis want us to leave, Bush is determined to hang on and provide Halliburton, Bechtel and their subsidiaries their profits and to steal Iraqi oil, at a cost to American taxpayers of $4 billion a month.

This money would be better spent to rebuild our school and health care systems, replace the 2.7 million jobs lost by Bush and help in cleaning up our dreadfully polluted air and water. Why are we tolerating this stupidity? Whenever they want to bully us into approving their maniacal
obsession with plunder and conquest, the Bush cabal says "terrorist" and we jump and capitulate. How much longer are we going to allow them to play to our fears and destroy our country? Americans need to wake up and understand how they are being manipulated before it's too late.

-- Charles Prendergast, Texarkana, Tex.