Live and Let Live
For Pete's sake, does everyone require a support group these days ("Childfree in America," by Sarah Klein, Jan. 11)? What happened to calm fortitude, the courage of one's convictions and good manners? I feel no need to defend my decision to remain childfree, nor would I dream of challenging the decision of others to have children.
If the restaurant you're in is overrun with misbehaving children, leave, and don't go back. Charlotte has a lot of restaurants to choose from, many of which provide a quiet, adult atmosphere. Not every difference of opinion has to escalate into a public battle. This a crowded, diverse world. Learn to live in it graciously.
Kasey Latham, Charlotte
But Flat-Earthers use their names
In response to Mr. Houck's letter in the Dec. 21 issue of CL ("For the Birds [and Bees]," which referred to John Grooms' Nov. 30 cover story, "Sexual Fantasies"): I think the young lady in the article clearly had common sense; it is the school system that does not. How would you like to be told that the circumstances under which you were conceived and lived were inferior?
Yes, parents should teach their children about sexual education -- accurately -- just like everybody should be rich and should be in love.
Most middle schoolers (and many adults, probably) don't know that oral sex -- the new black among teenagers -- is still an excellent way to contract STDs. Do you want to help them through a taxpayer-funded health care system? I don't think so.
The last part is especially ludicrous. NARAL does not provide abortions; they are a lobbying group. The Planned Parenthood in Charlotte no longer provides abortion services. A doctor who wanted cash would encourage a woman to have a child as the nine-month cost would be far more lucrative.
This is what I don't get about right-wingers: they don't want sex ed in the schools, they don't want abortions, but they don't want to pay for the fallout through welfare, health and child care, yet they never see the circular nature of any of it.
I don't understand why you are shorting your letters space at a time when these flat-earth types are coming out of the woodwork.
Name withheld by request
Flat-Earther Alert
Enjoyed your 2006 "dream stories" ("All the News that's Fit for Rumors," by Karen Shugart, Jan. 4), but you missed a better one: Instead of a black Bill James, have Vilma Leake, George Dunlap and Wilhelmina Rembert as white folks who had worked hard and made real money, now confronted by blacks complaining about "the white man" oppressing them and other "problems of racism" -- unlevel playing fields because white people have more money and property.
Borrowing from columnist Larry Elder, Vilma, George and Wilhelmina would say, "I worked hard for my money and I'm not giving it to you. I'm sorry about Rosa Parks, Emmett Till, the dogs and water hoses and Martin Luther King, but I'm still not giving it to you. I'm sorry about slavery, but I never owned a slave or used the 'N' word. I'm not giving you my money.
"Now what will you do? Take it away from me? I rather like the 2nd amendment; you can just try. Take it away by politics? I'll vote Republican to cut my taxes.
"So why don't you invest in yourself: get an education, learn skills, get a job and your own stuff. Cause I'm not giving you mine."
Now that's a dream!
Dan Johnson, Charlotte
