The art of bicycle riding has been lost in this country. There is even confusion as to whether bicycles are allowed on the roads.The law in Alabama (and practically every other state) recognizes that bicycles are vehicles and riders are vehicle operators. Bicycles have the same rights to the roads for their transportation needs as anyone else.
Along with those rights, come responsibilities. Bicyclists need to follow the same rules of the road as other vehicle operators. This includes traveling with the flow of traffic, obeying stop signs and traffic lights, and yielding the right of way when necessary.
When a cyclist rides on the sidewalk or way over on the edge of the road, he is far less visible. Motorists are looking for other vehicles in or near the travel lanes, not against curbs or on sidewalks.
Some motorists will still honk and yell at bicyclists for riding in the road, but they honk and yell at other motorists as well. If this happens to you, just smile and wave (all four fingers). At least when motorists are yelling, you know that they have seen you.
Chances are that whoever taught you to ride a bike probably left the task unfinished, so attend the free bicycle safety class (for ages 14 and older), this Saturday, at 8 a.m. at the YMCA, in downtown Anniston.
Dr. Charlton Jones,
League Cycling Instructor #799KC
Anniston
Terry Johnson
I thoroughly enjoyed George Smith’s recent article about Terry Johnson. In this day of tragedy, war and just plain ol’ meanness it is good to read about a man who has honored God, family and community.I was only nine when Uncle Buford died but I remember how Aunt Louise raised that little family while working at the Blue Mountain mill. They call it single motherhood today; she just called it being there for her family. I know this article was a joy for her to read. Thanks for that.
I’m so glad Terry listened when God called him to preach. Pleasant Valley is lucky. Thanks again for such a heartwarming story.
Patsy Frost
Rabbittown
The Ten Commandments
As a Baptist for 52 years, and a daily Bible reader, I believe it’s childish for anyone to leave the impression they can’t read the Ten Commandments all they want to. Christians should be more concerned about the fact that most people don’t even come close to living all of God’s commandments, instead of spending time worried about what Roy Moore does.We can read the Ten Commandments and acknowledge God until we turn blue in the face if we want to.
As a daily Bible reader, I have never had any problem reading the Bible all I want. I don’t live all of God’s commandments either, which means I’m not perfect.
Cress Joiner
Talladega
Roy Moore
Roy Moore knew what he was doing was wrong. He sneaked the hunk of stone into the judicial building like a thief in the night.He knew it violated the common law principles of separation of church and state. A televangelist film crew documented the event. He broke the vows he swore to uphold in his oath of office.
A federal judge ordered him to remove the monument. He refused this order of a judge who had dominion over him. The courts had no choice but to remove him from elected office just like every other political lawbreaker. He should be barred from the legal profession.
Moore is just another of the long line of political opportunists a majority of Alabamians voted into office. He will never need to practice law again. He can probably make more money on the fundamentalist speaking circuit.
The Ten Commandments contains very little that was made it into law.
It is not against the law to dishonor your parents or worship an idol. People can do what they want on the Sabbath, which actually means Saturday, not Sunday.
That piece of granite has become the fundamentalist idol.
Michael H. Anderson, Sr.
Ohatchee
Laws of God rebuttal
My wife was astonished by the article, "Laws of God." My wife, an emigrant from Germany (1953) and a citizen since 1960 took great satisfaction and pride in learning American history.When she read the article stating Washington came from England she was flabbergasted, which prompted me to write this rebuttal. George Washington was born Feb. 22, 1732, in Virginia. Please note he could not have become president if he was born abroad.
As far as the statement made that he (Washington) solely set up our government, I would remind you he was one of 39 that signed the Declaration of Independence.
In conclusion the Supreme justice rule on states rights. I can only theorize you are referring to the Ten Commandments removal.
Hopefully you know your Bible better than your U.S. history or we may hear of sightings of Chief Justice Moore walking on water.
M. Radke
Anniston
God Bless Roy Moore
Alabama, you should be very proud to have a man like Roy Moore who believes in God and His Commandments. Man’s laws are like Swiss cheese, too many holes. Too easy to break or change to fit your needs. God’s law is solid and is not under negotiation. If more people would live by the only true law of God, there wouldn’t be any crime, murder or hate in this country. The people of Alabama should be the only ones who have the final say over the firing of Roy Moore, not anyone else. Take a stand, your country is behind you. God bless Roy Moore.Visia Sweat
Bartlesville, Okla.
No sympathy
There should be no sympathy for Roy Moore concerning his current problems. We should hold firm to our conservative principles that if you do the crime, you should do the time. The religious people will try to cloud the issue with calls of compassion and forgiveness, but these things are separate from our true conservative beliefs and should be kept separate.
Terry Gilbreath
Suwanee, Ga.
Ten Commandments
Many of us, in fact about 70 percent of us according to some polls, feel that our judges, both Federal and State, have done us an egregious disservice in their handling of the Ten Commandments issue.It is axiomatic that the more seriously one takes oneself, the more susceptible and the more sensitive they are to ridicule.
It would seem to me that if someone took it upon himself/herself to send each of the judges in question a gift of 30 dimes or dollar coins with a note reading, "For services rendered in the Ten Commandments issue," that the judges, after someone explained to them the symbolism of the 30 pieces of silver, would get the idea of the level of esteem in which they are held.
If they chose to return the money, they would bear the cost of postage, but quite frankly, I wouldn’t send the money if I couldn’t spare it.
Jim Warren
Prattville
War and propoganda
It’s heartbreaking to see the president and his administration attempt to utilize that which was used long ago in the last "politically incorrect" war, World War II, employed then with considerable success. It’s called "propaganda" and comes under the military purview of Psychological Operations ("PSYOPS"); its purpose being to deny the enemy privileged information that would provide encouragement to the enemy, while even denying discouraging information to the U.S. citizenry in critical times. Obviously, the administration knows well that a portion of its reports is propaganda. It has no choice. The alternative would be to project a "losing" posture. The administration also realizes, without shouting it to the world, that we’ve become temporarily (hopefully) "bogged down" in a "battle," as happens in all wars, but a much different kind of battle. The terrorist enemy, thanks to lessons learned from observing the Vietnam War, have become experts in the use of PSYOPS, terrorizing the minds of the U.S. citizenry.
In essence, to buy time, President Bush and his administration are now having to use all known resources toward "damage control" of a previous administration’s failure to fight to prevent this war.
You and I, the American citizenry, not the president, responding to the enemy war room via CNN TV will win or lose this war.
Armond "Si" Simmons
Pell City
To the governor
Mr. Riley, I voted for you during the last election and I supported your $1.2 billion tax plan with my "yes" vote on Sept. 9. I thought it was too high but I decided to trust you as you had asked. It was not until you made your comments on television concerning the people of Alabama immediately after the loss of the tax bill that I realized that you may not understand nor care about the people of Alabama, especially the elderly and this state’s children.Mr. Riley, your demeanor and remarks after your loss of the tax bill appeared that you had contempt for the voters of Alabama. The citizens believe that you are now out for revenge against the citizens of this state.
Mr. Riley, you were wrong in thinking that the citizens of this state wanted you to cut the services to the elderly and to the helpless abused children of this state. If you really knew the people of this state, you would have known that they are an affectionate people and care for the elderly and children. The voters said no because they see waste in state government at administrative levels, not so much at the working "poor person level." Your cuts have mostly been the jobs of the "working poor" state employees, employees that are close to the poverty level.
If you were serious about cutting the real waste in state government, you would cut the large salaries and/or positions in the administrative levels of the state government.
Mike Denton
Anniston
Road paving
I must say that this is the poorest job of resurfacing a highway that I have ever seen. It has taken two years to do the Quintard project, and it seems that they just work part-time at it. The old pavement should have been removed, because the pavement is now about as high as the curbs in some places. The project on 431 through Alexandria is a joke. They only work part-time on this project also. This is a classic example of taxpayers getting the rip-off.
Jerry Elser
Anniston
