07/19/01

Cherry's condition like other inmates':

If it's so difficult to satisfy Alabama competency laws for prosecution, then why do we have so many mentally challenged inmates incarcerated?

Statistics beg the question why Bobby Frank Cherry's mild dementia impairs his reasoning for trial, yet defendants with a low IQ are ushered through the justice system for charges less significant than the deaths of four children.

Fran Goforth

Center Point

Arcade decision stops harmless fun:

Once again the good ol' boys have put a stop to a little harmless fun.

State and church leaders preach about the evils of video gambling machines, but I never saw any crimes going on near the arcades. I never saw anything except smiling people going in and out of the arcades.

Will state leaders next pull the plug on raffles? Drawings for door prizes? Church bingo?

It amazes me that our state leaders are so hung up on gambling. Our school system is one of the worst in the nation, and we could change all of that by legalizing a lottery and poker machines. Millions of dollars could be generated by the legalization of these forms of entertainment.

Instead, the people of Alabama who like to gamble will forever be forced to hop a bus or caravan over to Mississippi or Georgia.

Let's get with the times and allow video gambling. We are hurting no one but ourselves by continuing to ban such a progressive way to generate revenue for our schools, roads and communities.

Jeremy Whiddon

Adamsville

Arcade customer off to Mississippi:

I cannot believe the things that have been written about arcades. The News supports shutting them down.

I guess people around here want to continue to support Mississippi casinos. I used to go to the casinos all the time, but since the arcades opened I have been going to them.

I could never go to the casino with $20 and stay three or four hours. You can do this at an arcade.

The idea that no one wins at an arcade is ridiculous. I went to one in Shelby County recently, and in my first hour there, one person won $450, another $85 and another $50.

If you don't like arcades, don't darken the door. But I work for my money, I pay my bills, and I should be able to enjoy my free time as I choose.

Most people who frequent arcades are retired people looking for a place to spend a few safe hours (with no sex or violence). Unlike Chuck E. Cheese, which caters to children, no alcohol is allowed.

You want me to keep giving money to Mississippi? I can do it. It's Alabama's loss.

James Harbin

Fairview

Arcade patron laments ruling:

Here again, we are going backward instead of forward. Leave it to Alabama to not reap rewards from our citizens who will travel to other states to go to casinos or buy lottery tickets.

Why can't they leave us alone to have a little entertainment that is not offered here? Instead, they are willing to let other states use the money we spend on their schools and leave ours to lag even further behind.

Now, they are taking away our right to go and play the machines that give certificates, not money. I have met so many nice people at these places.

Why pick on them now? Why not just close down the racetrack, get rid of bingo, stop the hamburger joints from trying to give away millions of dollars in prizes and take out the games in stores in which you put money to win a prize? It's all the same just trying to have a little fun.

In this world in which we have no guarantees of tomorrow, our elected officials should stick to more important things than video arcades. If you don't like them, don't go. Just don't penalize those of us who do.

Deborah Taussig

Woodstock

Government graft occurs at all levels:

Some people have unfairly classified all of our representatives as pigs because of the pork being passed around.

Have you ever seen a bunch of pigs at feeding time? Each one will push, shove, squeal and root in order to get it all for himself. A true politician will get what he can and pass it around to his friends in order to get some back in the form of campaign donations.

Unfortunately, this goes on at all levels of government.

We take note when it's a few million dollars here and there at the state level. It goes on at other levels in smaller amounts, but if it were compounded it would be greater at a small city level.

One would think that the others would be put on notice when one of our elected officials gets caught trying to pull scams such as the recent reports about one state senator and one U.S. congressman.

Not so. They will continue to do this until the voters turn the guilty ones out. Until we do this, they will continue to hide behind this motto: "We haven't done anything legally wrong."

They made sure things were not legally wrong by passing watered-down ethics laws.

Harold L. Smith

Gardendale

Uplifting words for Siegelman:

I agree with every word of a recent "Friday Forum" about Gov. Don Siegelman's promise as a public official and his recent troubles.

I have supported Gov. Siegelman in all his political offices since I retired in 1979 and moved back to Alabama. (I also served in the Silver-Haired Legislature.)

Now is the time for our real prayers for our governor, as we say, "Don't quit." I believe he is honest and knows the power of prayer. I would also caution him to watch his back and what he says. I remind him also that the standard for the Christian is to "walk in the light."

Curtis Lee Johnson

Pelham

Condit should be new media darling:

It's surprising that the liberal media are severely chastising U.S. Rep. Gary Condit, D-Calif., for lying, obstructing justice and having sex with a young intern.

One would expect that he'd have become another media darling since having acquired those attributes the media championed in our former president.

Armond "Si" Simmons

Pell City