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http://www.heraldsun.com/opinion/hsletters/

Durham needs God

Now would be a good time to erect a stone tablet of the Ten Commandments and place it in front of the Durham County Courthouse. Can it be any more apparent that without God's law to inspire us, our justice system becomes a reflection of our own prejudices resulting in a vicious cycle of injustice?

Paula Mann
Durham
January 22, 2007

The wrong choice?

Last November, the voters of Durham County were given a choice of candidates for the job of district attorney: a left-wing, liberal idiot who had no political experience or understanding of the job, a civil lawyer who stated he would not serve if he was elected and an experienced criminal lawyer. One in eight voted for the criminal lawyer. The lawyer elected has embarrassed the county so much that Duke University's early applications have dropped 20 percent and he has turned the case that he campaigned on over to the state's attorney general.

Says a lot about the intelligence of Durham voters, doesn't it?

John L. Barker
Monroe
January 22, 2007

A question of leadership

After reading the Jan. 16 letters about the Duke lacrosse case, I was motivated to respond.

I am disturbed by the appearance of misconduct on the part of the district attorney's office. It is never appropriate to withhold information related to a criminal case regardless of the magnitude of the charges. It appears that perhaps the entire case was exaggerated.

With no evidence to convict on the rape charges, it is highly unlikely anything will come of this case except a lot of speculation on the public's part of what actually transpired the night of the alleged rape.

I am totally disappointed and discouraged that justice may not be served for either side of this case. I blame the alleged victim, the Duke lacrosse players, the Duke administration, the Police Department and the DA's office. They all failed the Durham community.

Unlike most of the letters to the editor, I do not wish that this case be dropped before the trial begins. That does not undo any wrongdoing on either side. I think that in order to bring closure to this case, the trial should be handled expeditiously with the evidence we have.

The LAX team could have prevented this situation by not sponsoring a party of this type with drinking and lewd conduct. This makes Duke look bad as well. The administration should have disciplined this team a lot sooner. From what I have been hearing, this is not the first time this team has done some inappropriate things.

The Police Department and the DA's office should follow procedures at all times.

Jay Jones
Durham
January 22, 2007

Watch your words

Jon Edge of Charlotte [Letters, Jan. 16] wrote that the City of Durham needs to "purge, and [he] don't just mean [District Attorney Mike] Nifong!"

I want to know what else he means. His letter speaks of the African-American community's response to the case. Particularly, he is concerned that outsiders such as the New Black Panthers came to town to protest. He refers to the accused as the "stripper" and seems to think our city has in some way embarrassed him.

So, what does he want to purge, the African-American community, strippers, his embarrassment, or maybe all of the above? I know that this case has invoked many emotions. But it would be wise to choose words carefully and not let anger and frustration about this case lead one to make racist comments, which will cause more embarrassment and shame than any legal case ever could.

Mike Silver
Durham
January 22, 2007

Here's the connection

Responding to Odessa Shaw's letter of Jan. 8: That Rep. Walter Jones called for an investigation of District Attorney Mike Nifong's handling of the Duke lacrosse case because of one defendant's family's alleged strong ties to the Republican party is a stretch.

The fact is that our district representative, David Price, a Democrat, was not willing to call for an investigation of Nifong, also a Democrat. That both Price and Nifong have mostly black constituents is the real connection.

C.B. BAGLEY
Durham
January 22, 2007