Reference To Ataturk Not Meant To Offend

I believe changing South Carolina's government structure is key to improving all of our lives. In the whirlwind of setting up a new office and the inauguration, I tried to think of examples of structural change for my State of the State speech and thought of Ataturk. Some have taken offense for genuine reasons, others, I suspect, for political reasons. Let me simply say this. I apologize to anyone I may have offended. It goes without saying I do not agree with actions of his government in the early 1900s toward Greeks and Armenians. I think it's important that we all focus on the point I was trying to make, though, that we need to change South Carolina's government structure.

GOV. MARK SANFORD

Columbia

Dreher students can handle intersection

As a Dreher High School graduate of the class of '93, I find the current Dreher parking lot controversy absolutely baffling. It seems Dreher and the school district want to pave over part of the adjacent residential neighborhood in large part, apparently, to prevent students from undertaking the "dangerous" task of crossing a street. This is mind-boggling. Why should any 15- or 16-year old whom the state trusts to sit behind the wheel of a car be unable to cross a street, particularly given the presence of a light? Millwood Avenue is a well-trafficked road, but any high school student who doesn't know how to wait for the light and then cross the street has no business driving a car in the first place. Destroying part of a neighborhood because we feel the need to treat high school students like kindergarteners is a slap in the face to the community. In fact, it is very hard to believe there is even a question about the ability of high school students to cross the street -- they can. So perhaps the real issue is convenience: Let's pave over someone's neighborhood so students can park closer to school and sleep in an extra five minutes. This is even more disturbing. Jeanne Stiglbauer has done a wonderful job as principal at Dreher, and we should support her many good ideas to continue to improve the school. However, we have yet to hear any compelling arguments in favor of this parking lot. Everyone, including current Dreher students, needs to think critically about the destruction that is planned in their name and ask: Is this right?

ALEX BRENNER

Columbia

Focus on fashion silly at inauguration

None of us as Americans can dispute the superficial extravagance that has come to characterize our society. We are all guilty of placing more emphasis at one time or another on the outward appearance of another person. However, when the topic of apparel becomes the focal point of discussion, as has happened with the inaugural barbecue bash for Gov. Mark Sanford, then we as South Carolinians need to collectively step back and reassess our values. The lead story of the "Life & Style" section in the Jan. 16 State just underscores the shallow mentality that pervades our culture.

I hope as Gov. Sanford's term progresses, South Carolina will acknowledge and respect him for his ability to address the needs of the state rather than dress the role of governor.

SALLY BURKE

Lexington

Median cables hinder law enforcement

My wife and I recently took a business trip to Madison, Ga. Riding down Interstate 20, I noticed the miles and miles of safety cable in the median to prevent crossover accidents. What a wonderful device to save lives and at no great expenditure of taxpayer dollars. I thought to myself, "The government finally got it right!"

What's not kosher about this scenario? Aha! A patrolman cannot cross over to catch a speeder unless he's working in tandem with another patrol car.

We drove at 70 to 75 mph and passed three cars the whole trip -- a little old lady in a '49 Chevrolet, a loaded school bus going up a hill and a guy with smoke pouring from under the hood. The total population of Texas passed us. We've now got the I-20 speedway, and what happens when these Jeff Gordon wannabes crash and burn?

The rescue vehicles can't get to them because the wire barriers won't allow a crossover. I noted some exits are 20 miles apart. A wreck midway between these exits means emergency vehicles would travel an extra 20 miles to reach the site.

Why didn't a safety engineer think to leave a 10-foot opening every mile or so?

J.E. GRAMLING

Columbia

Let habitual crabs ease budget crunch

Regarding the article with the heading, "S.C. may limit commercial crabbing permits," I know nothing about commercial crabbing, but I think it would be a splendid idea to require permits for individual crabbing. The fee for the permit could be in proportion to the crabbiness of the individual. Or a special card could be carried; said card could be punched each time some luckless person must put up with a crab.

When the punch card is completely punched out, the crab should be required to buy another card. The crabbier the individual the more it would cost him or her. This could be of enormous benefit to society and a plus for the state budget deficit.

EVERETTE TOMPKINS
Lexington