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By Journal Staff

Published: August 17, 2008

Updated: 08/16/2008 08:05 pm

Salim Ahmed Hamdan, asserted to have been, for a time, Osama bin Laden's driver, was recently sentenced to 5 ½ years in prison ("Bin Laden driver is given 5 ½ years," Aug. 8).

It took the president, the vice president, the departments of Defense and Justice, and the Congress, combined with a kangaroo court, possible torture, a denial of procedural rights and some five years in prison without charges being levied to convict an uneducated part-time chauffeur.

Sept. 11 notwithstanding, I am not proud of what my country did in my name. One evil (Sept. 11) does not justify another evil (denying equal justice simply because we can). This is not what democracies are built on and not a foundation that will permit our democracy to endure.

KENNETH R. OSTBERG

Winston-Salem

Sounds Appealing

Last year, Coach Billy Donovan of the Florida Gators was offered the job as coach of the Orlando Magic. This would have been a really big change for Donovan. After accepting the job, he saw that this change was not good for him. He withdrew from the contract and stayed on as coach of the Gators.

To change may sound appealing, but upon deeper study, it may not be all it's represented to be.

Sen. Barack Obama says that he will change America, and a lot of us want change. But Obama hasn't said much about what he plans to change or how it will be different. What he has disclosed doesn't look too promising. Maybe we ought to take a longer look at Obama's plans for change.

Will he make changes that will be good for me, my family, my country ... anybody? What about things that don't need to be changed? Voters should take a close look at Obama's track record and his personal life, and if they really think that he can change anything that will be good for us, well, go for it! But don't just accept change just for sake of change.

J. FRANK JOINER

Winston-Salem

Too Long

In response to the writer of the letter "Think About It" (Aug. 4) that it took him only two seconds to think about whom he would vote for, and that was Sen. John McCain, my guess is that two seconds was too long, for he had already made up his mind long before.

I've had almost eight years to consider all facts and weigh all aspects. I can assure you that when I cast my ballot in November, it will not be for John McCain.

HAROLD D. JOYCE

King

Candidate Understands

As a native North Carolinian who grew up on a farm in Cherry Lane, Alleghany County, I am elated that we in the 5th District now have a congressional candidate who understands the needs of farmers and working people. Roy Carter was raised on a tobacco farm and, after graduating from East Tennessee State University, came back to teach and coach the young people of Ashe, Surry and Wilkes counties while at the same time growing Fraser fir Christmas trees. Democrat Roy Carter is a straight-talker, a family man and a committed member of the West Jefferson First Baptist Church.

Meanwhile, our current representative has voted in lockstep with a Republican administration that has run up the biggest deficits in history, disregarded veterans and those wounded in a misguided war in Iraq, shortchanged the troops in Afghanistan, and devastated military preparedness to deal with other crises. Caving to big business interests, the Republicans have refused to take effective action on immigration.

Our current representative spouts a party line the party doesn't even bother to follow. Replace her with Roy Carter, and we'll thank God he's a country boy!

JOHN K. MOTSINGER SR.

Walkertown

When You Write

Our address is: Letters to the Journal, P.O. Box 3159, Winston-Salem, NC 27102. Our e-mail address is: Letters@wsjournal.com. Please write "Letters to the Editor" in the subject line and include your full name, including middle initial, and full address. A daytime telephone number is required. All letters are subject to editing and should be limited to 200 words. Writers are limited to one letter every 30 days. Original poetry, open letters, letters sent to more than one address and letters from active candidates for political office will not be published. Because of the volume of mail received, the Journal is not able to respond to every writer.

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