LETTERS

Think of hardships before driving drunk

The Jackson County school superintendent, Billy Lee, would like to place himself above the law in the name of "hardship." Who does he think he is, a Supreme Court judge?

Mr. Lee was driving a ton of steel, ran a stop sign and was DUI. Thank God that was all he did.

Hardship, my foot! My sister was killed by a drunken driver. When the police finally pulled the drunk over, he denied the whole thing - until he was shown my sister's blood and her purse on his front bumper.

Driving an automobile is a privilege, not a right. Those who abuse the privilege should have to suffer the consequence. DUI should be a zero tolerance charge and drivers should have their licenses suspended for 90 days (I think it should be more) - period. Mr. Lee should have thought of his job and family before he started to "drive under the influence."

Zero tolerance! Mr. Lee should have to suffer the same "justice" as a child who unintentionally brings a Boy Scout knife or pen knife to school, or a child who shows up in class without a belt. Mr. Lee should be either suspended or expelled from his job.

He, of all people, should be trying to create a positive influence on the students.

DAVID J. BALDUF
Moss Point

Faculty should adhere to same conduct code

I cannot believe that the Jackson County School Board is letting Superintendent Billy Lee off with "Let's put it behind us" when he was found guilty of DUI and running a stop sign - especially in light of the fact that they punished a student so severely for just having unopened beer in the trunk of his car on prom night.

But this is Jackson County, where students are forced to wear school uniforms while the teachers, administrators and other school faculty are allowed to dress any way they please. The message is loud and clear: "Do as we say, not as we do!"
I have a solution: Hold the teachers, administrators and other school faculty to the same code of conduct and dress code as the students, In which case, Lee should be put on leave for a year without pay and made to wear a school uniform when he comes back.

Then there is the mandatory school uniform policy. Most often the Long Beach Unified School District in California is cited as their model. They completely ignore the fact that the California policy offers an "opt out" to parents opposed to it. They also ignore the fact that the federal manual on school uniforms states that in order for mandatory school uniforms to be legal in public schools, an opt out must be provided for those parents who are opposed to it. Considering the school board's actions and Dr. Lee's behavior, I guess they think they do not have to follow the rules.

I also think it is a shame that Jackson County's test scores have fallen since mandatory school uniforms were implemented. Let's get rid of mandatory school uniforms and get back to teaching.

SANDRA ALAWINE
Ocean Springs

Paying customers won't be patient forever

When we read the Jan. 17 letter, "Fox News absence is hard to understand," by Ralph D. Young, we were disturbed.

Some time ago, we, along with several others we know, voiced a desire to have Fox News added to, or replace one of the existing channels. We believe it would be a breath of fresh air to have a news channel that offers both views when reporting the news - something unheard of in the selection of channels we now have.

We were told our input would certainly be considered when choosing the next year's programming. We're still patiently waiting.

Could the reason Mr. Young stated be true as to why CableOne will not add Fox New to our selections? He said CableOne is owned by The Washington Post, a liberal newspaper. But that still doesn't make sense. Aren't we paying for cable service? When customers pay for service, should they not have a voice in what they want to view? Even Sears realized they had to offer more than Kenmore products to keep their customers.

Very soon CableOne may have some serious competition. They may wish they had acted in the best interest of their customers. After all, isn't that what service is all about?

DICK & MARIAN BROWN
Diamondhead

Ample room for CNN, but no spot for Fox

I would like to add to Ralph D. Young's comments concerning CableOne's inability to look a customer in the eye and give a truthful answer.

A few months ago, I had to turn in a box and a remote, so I went to the Gulfport office. While there, I paid my cable bill. The lady serving me noticed my address, and told me she used to live in the house next door. She said she had moved several years ago, and questioned me about the residents - who had moved, who had died, and so on.

Friendly, polite conversation. We talked longer than I had expected, so I figured I would go ahead and ask a question that had been on my mind for a while: "Why can't we have FOX News on our cable?"

Wow ! Her mood immediately changed. She became curt and offered little information.

Not to be put off, since my foot was in the door, I continued. She was clearly annoyed with my persistance, and I do believe her face was getting red.

She offered that the FCC was in complete control of the airwaves, and their hands were tied. End of subject, she seemed to imply.

This is so wrong-headed! CNN controls two channels on my box, with Headline News and Cable News Network. Same company; same news. There is room in one of those "echo" slots for FOX News.

However, getting the truth from CableOne is similar to getting a news report from CNN.

LENNY WEBBER
Gulfport

Blame it on the syndrome du jour

I keep seeing a commercial on TV about money worries, stress, job problems and other difficulties contributing to a condition called "generalized anxiety syndrome." (I notice the first letters spell GAS.)

Things just keep getting better and better for us women. Now we have another syndrome to blame for being plain ol' grouchy.

JANE HORTON
Biloxi

4-year curriculum is a genuine need

I believe from personal experience that a four-year curriculum at USM Gulf Coast is definitely needed. Several times, I tried to enroll at both community colleges for some required credits toward a degree. I couldn't get in and droves of young people were being turned away as well.
I had passed my GED in an above-average percentile before ever taking any college courses in the military and a year on the GI Bill. I still don't have a degree and don't need one now.

But there are lots of people out there who do. There will be more as the population increases and more jobs require a college education.

VIRGINIA G. HOSKINS
D'Iberville

Can they live up to those big words?

Al Gore and Bill Bradley are battling to convince the electorate that each, if elected president, would put an end to racial profiling posthaste. This measure would require those New York cab drivers who fear being robbed or killed to pick up black citizens who have frantically hailed their cabs in the past to no avail.

In an effort to allay those fears, wouldn't it be an honest and politically prudent act for Al and Bill, sans any fanfare, to each drive a New York cab for a 24-hour period, taking pains to pick up each and every fare who hails their cabs? Say what? No, Al and Bill. Remember "gun control"?

ARMOND 'SI' SIMMONS
Pell City, Ala.