Letter: Taking Exception
To the Editor: Representative Jim Moran's commentary on Syria ["Fear of Action Opens Way for Diplomacy," Connection, Sept. 12-18, 2013] deserves a response.
Commentary: Voter Suppression
As fundamental as the right to vote is to a democratic republic, free and open access to voting continues to be a contentious issue. From the earliest days of our nation’s history when only white male landowners could vote to recent history when the Voting Rights Act was intended to ensure that voter registration processes were open and fair, there have been expansions of the suffrage followed by efforts at retrenchment. While the Emancipation Proclamation may have freed the slaves, African Americans and other minorities have seen a steady stream of legislation and intimidation to keep them from voting.
Letter: Supporting Comstock
To the Editor: Recently Kathleen Murphy, who is running against our current delegate, Barbara Comstock, called me to ask for my support. She said her friend, former Delegate Margi Vanderhye, told her I was open minded, liked to support the best candidate regardless of party and that she should talk with me.
Letter: Joining Forces to Prevent Homelessness
You can prevent homelessness, you can end chronic homelessness, you can move people rapidly out of homelessness. What you cannot do is stand aside and let people fall. This simple belief—that together we can change the rate and severity of people losing their homes—brings together nonprofits, for-profits, civic leaders and government staff. We each play a special role, depending on our location and mission. For United Community Ministries (UCM), prevention is the key.
Column: Timing Is Everything
If the hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m., Judge William D. Hamblen is enrobed and on the bench. Prosecutors, defense lawyers, the defendant, security and visitors are in their respective places. All quiet. Hamblen is the retired chief judge of the 31st judicial district of the Commonwealth, Prince William County. He is well-respected and expects nothing but the best in courtroom manner, this includes the attire for brothers and sisters at the bar, defendants and anyone just watching.
Column: Now This is What
Do nothing (no more treatment) and live life to the fullest (for as long as I’m able, and right now, I’m extremely able); start another chemotherapy protocol – with an I.V. chemotherapy drug which, according to my oncologist, has not been proven in any clinical setting to be better than the patient doing nothing; or, try to get into a Study (Phase 1, 2 or 3) at either N.I.H. (National Institutes of Health) or Johns Hopkins (in Baltimore) and let the treatment chips fall wherever experimental/research medicine takes them. This is what my oncologist discussed with Team Lourie at my most recent appointment, my first appointment with him since my hospitalization and subsequent release.
Letter: Good Cause, Bad Practice
[Reference to “Hitting the Streets to Fill the Boot,” front page photo and story on page 7, Burke Connection, Sept. 5-11, 2013]: I applaud the efforts of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue staff in their support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The annual "Fill the Boot" drive raises a lot of money each year; it's a good cause.
Commentary: Lessons to Be Learned From Others
For many years I used North Carolina as a state that I thought Virginia should emulate. As another southern state, North Carolina was showing Virginia up in its commitment to improving the quality of life of its residents through investments, particularly in education. North Carolina’s appropriation for its university system was at least quadruple the amount per student as Virginia’s. Its preschool program was a model for the country. The state recognized early the importance of the high technology industries and was very successful in attracting new businesses to the Research Triangle.
Column: Another Questionable Use of Lethal Force
On Aug. 29, another civilian was shot to death in a situation that, on the face of it, did not justify the use of lethal force. Mr. John Geer was shot to death standing in the doorway of his home with no visible weapon according to reports from his father and neighbors.
Letter: Knowledge Is Power
It’s that time of year, when Labor Day passes and school traffic schedules take effect. In the midst of the post-summer hassle and bustle, September also begs our nation to reflect on a memory that still seems surreal. Coverage of the crumbling Twin Towers, debris, chaos, terror—seemed like a scene from an action movie and not something I should have been watching on the local news channel. Changed forever by this modern era Pearl Harbor, I have struggled to understand why and how.
Editorial: Small Steps to Fight Homelessness
Efficiency apartments would serve 20-somethings, service workers, retirees and more.
One way to prevent homelessness is to think small. It doesn’t take much space to house one person. Sure, many houses in our area have 1,000 square feet and sometimes two or three times that much per person, but that’s really not necessary.
Letter: County Needs Housing Authority
The recent article on the fate of a housing authority in Arlington indicates that County Board members believe the county's policy requiring apartment developers to set aside a modest number of units more than meets the needs of the community and obviates the need for more aggressive action.
Letter: Phone Call Can Change a Life
We do it every day: call a parent, friend, or loved one. This is so simple and routine that we forget the importance of what one phone call can make to an individual.
A Candidate Who Takes Notes
Thanks to your newspaper I learned that Patrice Winter is running for delegate in the 37th District. On Aug. 31, I walked to her first listening session with voters. As a successful small business owner, Patrice knows it’s important to help others get started, so she chose the new American Bistro in downtown Fairfax. Thanks to Winter I now know it’s open.
Commentary: The Children Fairfax Shouldn’t Leave Behind
It’s the beginning of a new school year, and we in Fairfax are justifiably proud of our schools, which we proclaim are “among the best in the nation.” But what we don’t discuss enough is whether they are the best for all of our children. When we measure FCPS’s success, we often talk about the number of AP classes taken, high SAT scores and admissions to the best colleges and universities. These “US News and World Report” statistics measure how high our best students can go, but what about the rest? We have a minority student achievement gap. It’s narrowing but is still significant.