Letters To The Editor: Editorial Treated War as Afterthought

Editorial Treated War as Afterthought
Editor, Times-Dispatch: In your lead editorial, "Civic Spirit: History, Arts, Sports," you made the excellent point that Richmond's unparalleled array of cultural attractions has us well-placed in the major league of cities and distinguishes us far more than minor-league baseball. And, much to your credit, you proceed to list many of the city's greatest attractions.

But your mention of the Civil War seems almost an afterthought. In his great book on Richmond, your predecessor, Virginius Dabney, wrote that if Richmond ever loses its mystique as the Capital of the Confederacy, it "will be just another city." (Think minor-league baseball.)

Richmond's top draws for outsiders continue to be Monument Avenue and the Museum of the Confederacy. Recently I edited an article written for the Sydney, Australia, newspaper about a trip to our museum, written by the former prime minister of New South Wales. Then I hosted two museum members from California who are bringing people from China to help them understand the American experience. I will wrap up my day hosting John Bruton, the former prime minister of Ireland and current ambassador to the U.S. from the European Union.

Richmonders, including you, should recognize the very special Civil War assets that we have here and what they do for the city, rather than relegating them to a post-script. S. Waite Rawls, President and CEO, Museum of the Confederacy.


Richmond.

Good Americans Will Forego the Gas Guzzler
Editor, Times-Dispatch: Most of us have set ideas about a lot of things. Anything different from what has been generally accepted goes against the grain and is resisted or dismissed as unworthy of serious consideration. For example, how about our love for big, fancy, and fast cars? We are somebody if we have one or more of these. A plainer, fuel-efficient car with a little less pickup just doesn't cut it with us. Only when fuel prices spike and stay up there a while do some of us opt away from the flashy, road-domination gas guzzlers that we have been brought up to admire.

What does this mean to us as Americans? First, increased dependence on foreign oil (purchased from countries that don't like us or are in political turmoil). Second, worse air pollution and road congestion in heavily populated areas. Third, a bigger bite out of our pockets for status-symbol, low-mileage vehicles with all the bells and whistles we can put on them.

The patriotic thing to do is to buy a car that satisfies our needs but not all our wants. Do my fellow citizens want to do what is good for our country?

One further note about breaking out of our old ways for the sake of our country: Those who can would do well to park near entrances in parking lots and walk to where they are going to do business (and this includes fast-food shops). Not only will this save precious fuel but also burn calories to help fight obesity.

I want our homeland to get better. All of us are accountable to make it happen.

Neal C. Wallace.
Quinton.

I agree with them on one thing: Rep. Rick Boucher has played a pivotal role in crafting the federal clean energy bill. The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 could create millions of green jobs, boost clean energy production, and limit global warming pollution. Yet Boucher worked alongside Dominion, Duke Energy, and AEP to gut some of the bill's most important provisions.

As the president of a company that designs and installs solar energy systems, I can assure you that a strong bill could create thousands of green jobs in Virginia. The resources here for solar energy collection are tremendous. Imagine: With the help of a solar system on your roof, your meter could actually run backwards -- your house can pay your utility bill. All we need is some investment on the federal level to help get the technology off the ground.

Instead of strong renewable-energy goals, the bill now includes billions of dollars of handouts to the coal and oil industries. Thanks to Boucher's negotiations, half of all the permits to pollute will be given away directly to the fossil-fuel industry. These giveaways will be made at the expense of working families, according to the EPA.

This dependence on traditional energy, promoted by Dominion, Duke Energy, AEP, and Boucher, weakens our economy by keeping us on a track to use unsustainable fuels as the foundation of our economy. It is time for Virginia and the nation to get serious about clean energy and pass a stronger clean energy bill. Kent Baake. Alexandria.