Asheville Daily Planet February 2013

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February 2013

Vol. 9, No. 3

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Gun debate takes aim at solutions From Staff Reports

Daily Planet Staff Photo

in a sparkly dress, Beth Denson, a student at A-B Tech, jumped up on the stage with the band to dance on New Year’s Eve at Magnolia’s Raw Bar & Grille in downtown Asheville. It was the last night that A Social Function, Magnolia’s house band for 18 years, would play in that capacity at the popular nightspot. A picture of the band appears on Page 16.

FREE

FLETCHER — A “Guns in America” debate got heated at times, but all participatns emerged unscathed on Jan. 24 at the WNC Agricultural Center.

The debate, hosted by Asheville’s WLOS-TV (News 13) and moderated by Mark Hyman, drew about 150 people, packing the debate room. Hyman is vice president for corporate relations for Sinclair Corp., owner of WLOS. Catching the most flak from the mostly pro-gun crowd were panelists Gail McNeill, a liberal who has run for political office locally; and Cecil Bothwell, a member of Asheville City Council. McNeill and Bothwell favored generally tougher controls on gun ownership.

The other panelists included Rick Munger, behavioral health supervisor for the Buncombe County Health Center; and the two major pro-gun advocates — Jane Bilello, chairwoman of the Asheville Tea Party; and Brian Nemec, head of the Asheville Rifle Club.

The audience appeared to be mostly progun. At one point, a woman in the audience asked how many people at the debate are members of the National Rifle Association.

About one-third to one-half of the audience raised its hands.

Hyman’s’s first question was addressed

to the crowd: “Is there anything that absolutely could have prevented what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School” in Connecticut recently?

For the answer of “yes,” the clapping was loud, while it was more subdued for “no.”

Bilello noted her amazement that, “after 80-plus years of this discussion,” the apparent best solution experts were able to come up with is to “put up gun-free zone signs.”

When challenged by Hyman on her stance against gun-free zones marked by signage, Bilello did not back down. “Absolutely ... If you look at the horrific incidents that have happened in gun-free zones ... Gun-free zones have never worked — and never will. We need to get rid of gun-free zones.” Some in the audience cheered and applauded her comments.

The local tea party chief, who noted that she is a retired teacher, also said that “we need to get police officers in our schools.

There are many retired law enforcement” officers who would be delighted to earn some extra spending money, while protecting American children, Bilello said.

Bothwell then entered the fray by emphasizing that he holds views on guns “diametrically opposite” to Bilello’s.

“After all these regulations, we’re still not safe,” he said. “If guns make people safe, then America would be the safest” country on the planet.

See GUN, Page 8

New N.C. governor visits WNC ... first

From Staff Reports

WOODFIN — Pat McCrory delivered on his promise to make the Asheville area the site of his first out-of-town visit on Jan. 7, following his inauguration as North Carolina’s 74th governor .

McCrory, a Republican, addressed a diverse crowd — Republicans and Democrats, business and academic leaders and protesters — at the Crest Center.

During his visit, he was approached by some opponents of a proposed takeover, spearheaded by the state, of Asheville’s regional water system. Under the

plan, the system would be merged into the Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County.

The governor told the news media before his address tthat he would act as a facilitator in the debate over the water system. While McCrory said he has yet to decide what should happen with the water system, he said a long-term solution needs to be developed, involving state and local leadership.

After his address, the governor was expected to talk about the issue in a private meeting with local leaders in attendance, including David Gantt, chair-

man of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners; and Terry Bellamy, Asheville’s mayor.

Bellamy introduced the governor, praising his accomplishments as mayor of Charlotte. While keeping the tax rate low, she said McCrory led the “Queen City” in economic development, infrastructure improvements and crime control.

“I know you will do a great job (as governor) because you did a great job as mayor” of Charlotte, Bellamy said, turning to glance at a smiling McCrory.

See GOVERNOR, Page 6

Gov. Pat McCrory

2 —February 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet

Buncombe school chief opposes arming teachers From Staff Reports

While adding armed security at local public schools makes sense if the funding is available, Buncombe County School Superintendent Tony Baldwin opposes calls to arm teachers and other school personnel.

“We’ve had a lot of suggestions that every person in the school (system) needs to carry a concealed weapon,” Baldwin said.

“With some suggestions, I step back and say, ‘What?’ We need to use common sense,” which, he said, would mean not putting weapons in the hands of all school personnel.

In the aftermath of the recent school shootings in Connecticut, Baldwin addressed school security concerns during a Jan. 4 meeting of the Council of Independent Business Owners at Biltmore Square Mall in Asheville.

The school chief stressed that there is a fine balance between providing an education-friendly environment, as opposed to the constantly locked-down atmosphere of a penitentiary.

Meanwhile, an unidentified CIBO member told Baldwin, “The best suggestion I’ve heard is what South Carolina is doing ...

Let the teachers have guns in the schools.”

He added that the news media does not publicize killings that were prevented because someone else, who happened to be armed, stopped a shooter or prospective shooter.

Earlier, at-large school board member Paul “Dustry” Pless Jr., who introduced Baldwin, said he is among those who have felt the pain of losing a child. “Bottom line .... if someone decides to do that (shoot people at a school), there’s not a whole lot we can do about that.: Newly elected Buncombe Commissioner Mike Fryer said when sheriff’s deputies “have paperwork to do,” they have to go somewhere to do it. Fryar said he favors the idea of Sheriff Van Duncan having his deputies complete their papers in the schools to add to their security.

As Pless turned the meeting over to Baldwin, he concluded by asserting that “everybody on that (school) board is just as concerned about this as anyone in this room.”

Baldwin began by reviewing the history of security precautions in Buncombe’s public schools and noted the current emphasis on preparedness and prevention, mitigation, response and recovery.

Regarding the Connecticut school shooting, the school chief said, “This was a horrendous situation ... It was the most dificult time in my career ... It was an especially difficult time for the educators in the schools ... I’m sure, just like Columbine,

the effect will linger.”

The afternoon that Buncombe school officials confirmed the shootings, “We did an auto-phone message sent to every parent in Buncombe County, noting that we prioritize Tony Baldwin safety.”

Baldwin added, “When a Columbine happens ... a Virginia Tech shooting occurs ... An incident like in Connecticut occurs — it sends out shockwaves.”

Further, he said, “We’ve got 26 elementary and middle schools — that’s a lot of distance to cover ... We’ve got three trained crisis teams prepared to go out, if something like this occurs... We’ve got it down to a science.”

Only the county’s high schools have school resource officers, Baldwin told the CIBO members, adding that it would cost $1.5 million to put a resource officer in every public school in Buncombe.

If the government offered the funding, Baldwin said with a smile, he would not turn down having 26 extra security providers in the schools.

“We can put a price on what SRO’s do in the schools,” Baldwin said of the respectful relationships that develop between the officers and the students.

“How does this affect the learning environment for our kids?” a CIBO member asked. “To protect them, you almost have to put them in a penitentiary.”

“I understand the emotional aspect of

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school shootings,” Baldwin said, although he emphasized that “school shootings are still a rarity.”

He noted that other disaster preparedness efforts at the schools include bomb threats, snowstorms or a small kitchen fire.

“We’ve had many perimeter lockdowns at Estes (William W. Estes Elementary School) because of a bear,” Baldwin said, with a note of mock drama, prompting laughter from some CIBO members.

The school chief said it is important to take the emotion out of the school security discussion because “we have to balance the environment we create for learning with the safety of the students.”

At the beginning of the breakfast meeting, state Reps .Tim Moffitt, R-Arden; and Nathan Ramsey, R-Fairview, updated the CIBO members on their hopes and plans for the state House of Representatives for 2013.

They also noted that, while the plan to try to work with the new state Gov. Pat McCrory, a fellow Republican, they may challenge him on some issues and definitely will not merely serve as rubberstamps of his policies..

The only question after Moffitt and Ramsey spoke was raised by CIBO member Mac Swicegood, who asked, “Do either of you know where the new governor is on health care?”

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Asheville Daily Planet — February 2013 - 3

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4 —February 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet

The Buncombe County Republican Party will be conducting 2013 Countywide Precinct meetings as follows:

(Please note precinct meetings are open to all/any Republicans registered within the last 30 days)

IMPORTANT DATES

Mars Hill College officials cut the ribbon at their South Asheville site.

Mars Hill College marks S. Asheville site opening About 200 people attended the Jan. 7 grand opening of the new South Asheville site for Mars Hill College on Airport Road.

Two ribbon-cutting ceremonies involving officials from MHC as well as the Asheville and Henderson County chambers of commerce were part of the festivities.

Dr. Dan Lunsford, MHC president, expressed appreciation to all who had had a part in making the new location a reality, including the MHC trustees, members of the administration, and college faculty and staff.

A-B Tech will also lease space for classes at the site. Dr. Hank Dunn, A-B Tech’s president, said he was proud to be part of a cooperative effort with MHC to provide greater educational opportunities in the region.

Programming at the new location will be administered through the MHC Adult and Graduate Studies program. According to Marie Nicholson, dean of the program, MHC’s AGS classes are designed to fulfill the needs of working adults who would like to further their education.

“The opening of a location in south Asheville expands opportunities for people throughout the region to take advantage of the degree programs offered through Mars Hill College,” Nicholson said.

“The new Airport Road location makes Mars Hill classes more accessible for adult students in the Asheville and Hendersonville areas, who may not have time to drive to Mars Hill after work for class.”

Nicholson said the opening of a second Asheville site effectively removes one

more hurdle for potential students who may have been dreaming of returning to school, particularly those near the South Asheville area.

And while the location will be different, the small-campus environment that has buoyed thousands of Mars Hill College alumni through a rigorous academic experience will still be present, Nicholson said.

Educational programs to be offered at the site will include general education and major classes toward bachelor’s degrees in education (elementary, middle grades, special education, integrated education and teacher licensure), business management, criminal justice and social work.

Classes toward a master’s degree in elementary education will also be held at this site. Additional major programs may be added later. All classes are evening classes that will meet one night per week.

Financial aid is available for AGS classes. For more information about Mars Hill College Adult and Graduate Studies or to register for classes, call 689-1166, or email AGS Director of Marketing and Admissions Samantha Fender at sfender@mhc.edu.

Published monthly by Star Fleet Communications Inc. Phone: (828) 252-6565 • Fax: (828) 252-6567 Mailing address: P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 28814-8490 Website: www.ashevilledailyplanet.com

February 11th

East Buncombe Republican Team Precinct Meeting Lake Tomahawk Center, Black Mountain Time: 7:00 pm

February 26th

Riceville Volunteer Fire Department 2251 Riceville Rd., Asheville Time 6:30 pm

February 28th

Bee Tree Fire Department, 510 Bee Tree Road, Swannanoa, Time: 5:30 pm Contact: Janet Burhoe-Jones, 337-4718

February 16th

Hominy Valley Republican Team Precinct Meeting Enka Library, 1404 Sand Hill Road, Candler Time: 10:30 am Contact: Bob Penland, 778-5226

February 18th

North Asheville Republican Team Precinct Meeting North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville Time: 6:00 pm Contact: Glenda Weinert, 230-1444

February 21st

Downtown Republican Team Precinct Meeting Magnolia’s Restaurant, 26 E .Walnut Street Time: 6:30 pm Contact: Shelia Surrett, 279-2562

February 23rd

South Buncombe Republican Team Precinct Meeting Skyland Fire Department, 9 Miller Road, Skyland Time: 10:00 am Contact: Laura McCue, 777-1068

February 23rd

West Buncombe Republican Team Precinct Leicester Fire Department 2852 New Leicester Hwy, Leicester, Time: 10:00 am Contact: Betty Hudson, 775-4330

February 23rd

Fairview Republican Team Precinct Meeting Angelo’s Restaurant, Charlotte Highway, Fairview Time: 2:00 PM Contact: Marie Yates, 777-8426

February 25th

West Asheville Republican Team Precinct Meeting West Asheville Library, 942 Haywood Road, Asheville Time: 6:30 pm Contact: Mary Jean Burgin, 279-2140

February 28th

North Buncombe Republican Team Precinct Meeting Weaverville Fire Department, 3 Monticello Road, Weaverville Time: 7:00 pm Contact: Jerry Lemonds, 645-8004

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2013 BCGOP COUNTY CONVENTION

March 23rd, 2013

A-B Tech, Ferguson Auditorium, Asheville 8:30 am — County Precinct Meetings Reconvene 9:30 am — County Convention

Asheville Daily Planet — February 2013 - 5

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Governor

Continued from Page 1 On the stage with McCrory and giving separate remarks were Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy, U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, RCherryville; and state Rep. Nathan Ramsey, R-Fairview.

Among the prominent officials in attendance were Woodfin Mayor Jerry VeHaun and Woodfin aldermen Debbie Giezentanner, Don Hensley and Jackie Bryson.

In his address, McCrory said, “In the past, the inauguration was usually just inside the beltway in Raleigh. What I wanted to do is something different, what we wanted to do, then, is visit the rest of the state, and listen and learn from the people throughout North Carolina.”

With a note of sadness, the governor said the state’s economy is not robust, as he felt it should be.

“There are college graduates from our great schools, and the kids can’t find jobs right

Write a Letter to the Editor

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now. To me, that’s not the North Carolina that my parents brought me to.”

Indeed, McCrory asserted, “There is unlimited opportunity in North Carolina, and all we’ve got to do is unleash that opportunity.”

To that end, the governor said he is focusing on recruiting talented problem-solvers to his administration.

“I needed people who could change and fix a broken government and a broken economy in North Carolina. One of the first things you have to do, is recognize that you have a problem. Right now, we have the greatest state in the United States of American — and we have serious problems that we have to fix.”

McCrory added, “We have some real breakdowns, especially when it comes to information systems, communications, efficiencies — all of the aforementioned “structural breakdowns” became apparent during the 2008 recession.

For instance, the governor said the last long-term economic development strategy for the state was implemented in 1985. McRory said that, with his recent appointment of Sharon Decker as state commerce secretary, he is aiming to develop an integrated economic growth plan that applies to all of the businesses.

McCrory also said he has set up a committee to review policies that state. “We are doing it with a sense of urgency,” he noted.

The governor finished by noting that his father a former elected Ohio official, used to say: “‘We must walk the fine line between continuing our economic prosperity, while

Daily Planet Staff Photo

In the foreground with a microphone is Gov. Pat McCrory, flanked by (from left) state Rep. Nathan Ramsey, U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry and Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy. also protecting the quality of life and environmnt that brought many of us here.’”

Speaking earlier, McHenry said, “Growing up to the west of I-77, as a child, we all knew that, according to Raleigh ... North Carolina ended at I-77.

“It is a very significant thing that our new governor, after being sworn in to office, his first order of business was to travel directly

to Asheville. That is a statement of past priorities for the State of North Carolina and Western North Carolina.”

McHenry said of McCrory, “He knows we exist. He understands that the beauty, the economic potential and economic power of Western North Carolina and he knows that Asheville is the hub.”

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8 — February 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet

Gun

Continued from Page 1 What’s more, the city councilman noted that “even police officers, who are trained, miss their targets a high percentage of the time.

“Having armed teachers is not the solution,” Bothwell said. “Look at Australia.

When they had a mass murder a number of years ago, “they had voluntary buy-backs of guns from the public. Bothwell’s remarks were greeted with subdued applause.

At that point, a young girl was brought forward to ask Nemec, head of the rifle club, “What about semi-automatic guns — should they be banned?”

In response. the marksman was greeted with vigorous applause from the audience when he replied, “It’s interesting we’re having somebody up here who has very little knowledge of life.”

Nemec then said he would be willing to volunteer one day a week to provide security at a school to make it safer.

Regarding assertions that the presence of good guys with guns does not deter bad guys with guns, Nemec asked the crowd, “How many of you would think of pulling a gun in here, with all of these police officers” present? He added, “Most people who go in and hurt children are cowards,” who would never think of challenging someone also armed with a gun.

McNeill said, “When you talk about assault rifles, I see no place for those in our society ... I agree with generals (Stanley) McChrystal and Colin Powell” that “assault weapons are for killing lots of people quickly and effectively.”

WLOS’ Russ Bowen, who was monitoring the social media during the debate, noted Asheville resident Bernard Carman’s question of “How much of this do you blame on the media?”

Bothwell, who noted he is a former journalist, said, “Yes, the media does definitely ramp it up. The issue seems to be to ban guns completely — or not. I think that’s a fruitless approach. There must be a path forward.... Why not require that every gunowner to buy liability insurance on each gun” that individual possesss “to make them take responsibility for their guns?”

While some applauded, others in the audience murmered negatively about Bothwell’s proposal to require liability insurance on guns.

Another question asked of the audience was: “Does popular culture contribute to the debate?” Again, the “yes” answer got the loudest clapping, while few clapped for the “no” side.

“What is an assault weapon?” the panelists were asked.

Bilello said the AR-15, which is often referenced as an assault weapon by those without gun experience, is a mere “hunting rifle,” once accessories are removed.

“These are not assault rifles,” Bilello said of the much-vilified AR-15s.

Joining the discussion was Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan, who said, “I think one of the very big problems is this debate ... One of the problems of the Brady bill is it dealt with cosmetical solutions, rather than the deep underlying causes.

In a reference to a question asked earlier, Duncan said, “The definition of an assault weapon is a rifle capable of fully automatic firing.”

A man in the audience observed, “I don’t know of any criminals who wo0uld be willing to sell back their firearms.” The man also said that “most health care has been reduced in a way” and wondered why gunowners should be the ones asked to “pay the price.”

Hyman then asked the panelists if “mental health has been left out of the debate?”

Munger said that “mental health has been brought up in previous mass shootings.

Studies show that “4 percent of people who are mentally ill are responsible for violence” in American society. However, “a normal person’s odds of committing violence is 7 percent,” he said.

The mental health specialist added that “they studied 62 mass shootings and found tha about 60 percent had mentail illness prior to shooting, so I think mental illness” bears consideration in the discussion.

A man from West Asheville in the audience said, “I’m a good, gun-loving American, as anyone else... At the same time, I see where guns don’t need to kill, but to incapacitate” the bad guys. He then asked, “Do you foresee a future where guns do not need to be lethal?”

Nemec replied, “You have to look at the 2nd Amendment. I think our first battle involved the British taking our guns ..

The arms are there to protect against the government — and not just for personal protection.”

When many in the crowd cheered Nemec’s remarks, McNeill said, “To hear these people here clapping for — what seems to me — overthrowing the government” is deeply troubling to her.

Hyman asked Bothwell if there is a stigma attached to mental health that is keeping people who need counseling from getting it.

“There certainly is a stigma attached,” Bothwell replied. “I know my brother was bipolar ... He is dead now, but I don’t know if I would have shared that,” if he was still alive.

“My Dad, in his later years, had Parkinson’s Disease .. He told my Mom (that) he’d shoot people, so I got his guns and threw them in the lake.”

Continuing, Bothwell noted that many of the homeless and veterans suffer from mental health problems.

“So, somehow, we’ve got to overcome that stigma — it’s just a disease,” he said.

A man who identified himself as a firewarms salesman asked, “This whole great country was founded with the right to bear arms ... Does the 2nd Amendment still have value today?”

“Absolutely,” Bilello replied, “and that’s where we’re at today.”

She added, “Yes, we may have a mental health issue, but the real issue is that every person on the earth has the right to protect themselves. Maybe they (the gun opponents) should ask gun-control ‘experts’ like Hitler, Stalin and Pol Pot,” who, she said, were responsible for exterminating millions of people, most of whom lacked guns to fight back.

Bilello’s assertions were greeted with loud applause from the audience.

Grimacing, McNeill said, “Well, the rest of us have a right to live, too. The 2nd Amendment doesn’t say you have the right to have any kind of gun.”

“Wrong!” some audience members shouted in response to McNeill’s assertion.

Hyman asked, “Should public schoolteachers be armed?” to which the audience applauded loudly for “yes” and gave a more tepid response for “no.”

Joining the discussion, at that point, was Buncombe County School Superintendent Tony Baldwin, who asserted, “Personally or professionally, I don’t think that’s a good idea... I will say this, though, if we (ever) do have trained indviduals (in gun use) in our schools, which we do, I’d trust them.”

His comments were greeted with light applause.

Baldwin then said, “I can assure you, having them in our school buildings, but not solely waiting for a situation like Sandy

The gun debate panelists (from left) are Cecil Bothwell, Gail McNeill, Rick Munger, Jane Bilello and Brian Nemec.

Hook,” is beneficial. For instance, he cited not ... This is about protecting us — pro“the opportunity to form relationships for tecting the individual. We were born with those officers” who provide security in the inalienable rights.” She was greed with schools. applause.

“All of our high schools and middle McNeil asked, “Why do we want to schools have resource officers,” he noted. make it so easy for criminals and terrorists Hyman asked, “As a school superintento get guns?” dent, would you welcome resource officers As some in the crowd shouted their in the elementary schools?” disagreement with McNeill, she added, “With our funding” limitations, Baldwin “There are no background checks” for gun wondered where the money would come purchases. from for such an expenditure. However, “Not true,” several in the audience said he said he would be glad to have resource loudly. officers in each of the county’s elementary Nemec said, “We have a society now schools. where with the kids, there’s no God...” He Returning to the question of arming said the new generation’s attitude is “I’m teachers, Nemec prompted much laughjust a protoplasm and I should be able to ter from some crowd members when he take what I want.” quipped, “On that, the way some teachers Hyman asked the audience to clap for dress, I don’t know where they’d hide their the one of three possible solutions to the gun.” gun law issue, including increased menMore seriously, Nemec said, “I have tal health, which drew a light response; mixed emotions on whether they (school changes in gun mesures, next loudest; and resource officers) should be in uniform ... If more school security, loudest. the bad guy comes in, the uniformed officer In a reference to Bothwell’s proposed liability insurance requirement for each gun would be his first target.” one owns, a man said, “Three in 10 drivers McNeill said, “If someone wasn’t in on the road don’t have insurance. How uniform, how would police know who to many of the bad guys are going to get gun shoot” when they arrived on the scene? insurance?”

“That (Nemec’s concern) doesn’t make sense.”

Bothwell asked, “How do you bring Nemec shot back, verbally, “When people together when there’s such a divide the police arrived, there’d be two people on the issue? This is one of the thornier shooting” and it would be easy for them to ones.” determine who the good and bad guys are.

He added that “proof of insurance for Bothwell then said, “If guns are illegal, drives” is required when renewing one’s only outlaws will have guns — that’s a license. “Regulations do make it more difself-evident truism ... That’s why I don’t ficult.” favor outlawing guns.” Some audience Further, Bothwell asserted, “Theres a hue members could be heard to be grumbling resistance to national regulation and paraover Bothwell’s different stances. noia toward the national government.”

Undeterred, Bothwell asserted, “There Paranoia,” several audience members are benefits to dealing with this in a prosaid. active way ... I think most of us are not in Regarding having teachers armed in the favor of having nuclear weapons” and other major weaponry. schools, Buncombe Sheriff Van Duncan “They’re already illegal,” someone in the said, “There’s a reason law enforcement crowd interjected. doesn’t wear guns in a detention center.

Munger said, “For the most part, the “Gun control issues revolve more around rules and regulations are already in place access with safeguards put in place.” (on buying guns) — we just need to enDuncan also said that only 2 percent of force them better. school shootings involve assault weapons.

“I think there are a lot of things we can As the debate continued, Bothwell told do. In North Carolina... you can be told an audience member, “I’m amused that by court order you must get mental health you’re trying to paint me as someone care.” he noted. who wants to take them all away. I’m not Someone in the audience said, “What’s against gun ownership,” Bothwell noted. being floated around Washington is, once McNeill said, “Well, in the Virginia you’re on that (mental health) list, you’re Tech shooting, if had universal background on that list for life,” meaning one never checks ... If we could get rid of the highcould own a gun again. capacity magazines, which are illegal “These constitutional rights are inalienable. What gives you the right to tamper Her comments once again inspired some with what God put together? What are you in the crowd to laugh at her reference to to going to do to get back to basics?” a revolver having a high-capacity capalbilHyman asked the panelists, “How do ity magazine.” we protect the rights of the people” and provide for the public safety?

McNeill said, “The criminals who get the guns need to be stopped ... Many people were not criminal until they used the gun in The Asheville Daily Planet print letters a criminal way.” to the editor, preferably less than 150 After a pause, she added, “There are words in length. All letters must be other amendments besides the 2nd one.” signed and include a daytime telephone Sarcastically, a man in the audience shouted to McNeill, “The Supreme Court number for confirmation purposes only. said weapons can be regulated. That’s why Send your opinions to Asheville Daily they’re going to confiscate them.”

Planet, P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. When Hyman asked Bilello if she agreed 28814-8490 or e-mail them to letters@ with McNeill’s aforementioned comment, AshevilleDailyPlanet.com. the tea party chief asserted, “No, absolutely

Write a Letter to the Editor

Asheville Daily Planet — February 2013 — 9

The debaters from left are Ned Ryan Doyle and Dr. William R. Forstchen.

Sides square off on concealed carry for teachers in schools From Staff Reports

Two men debated “Conceal Carry for Teachers in Schools?” at Biltmore Village’s Double Tree Hilton on Jan. 29.

Squaring off were Ned Ryan Doyle, who has been active in sustainable issues for more than 40 years; and Dr. William R. Forstchen, author of The New York Times bestseller “One Second After” and a number of other books, and a professor of history at Montreat College.

About 70 people attended the first Take a Stand Speaker Series Debate, hosted by Asheville’s WZGM-AM (1350) radio station. The moderator was Charu Kumarhia, a WLOS-TV journalist.

In his opening statement, Forstchen said, “I’m completely in favor of highly trained teachers” — from grades kindergarten through college — carrying concealed weapons or keeping them in lockboxes on campus.

Doyle’s began his opening statement by noting, “Our problem of guns and violence that leads to school shootings is complex.

There is no single solution. We need to discuss all appropriate ideas.

“Arming teachers is just one proposed idea, while we have a lot of better ideas that address the core problems, not just react to the end results.”

Further, Doyle asserted, “Guns in our classrooms is a bad idea because of the economics, the energy and time diverted from addressing the roots of violence, the additional risk with more guns and the impact on our social environment.

“Who pays for the guns and training on a continuing basis? If we are going to spend tens of millions, it should be a more cost-effective investment in our schools to reduce overall gun violence in the first place.”

Doyle called the idea of arming teachers “an emotional reaction. It will increase violence in our schools .. Treat the disease, not just the symptoms. Teaching and security are two different jobs.”

Forstchen responded to Doyle by noting that “I have been a teacher from fifth grade on. I also have a permit to carry” a concealed weapon.

“I, as an American, have a right to protect myself,” the professor-author said.

He added that he is “morally obligated to protect his family and the students in his classes. He said the gun-free zones at schools are tempting targets for shooters.

Kamarhia asked, “Have you met a teacher who even wants to carry a gun?”

“Scores of them,” Forstchen replied.

“No,” Doyle said, in mock awe at Forstchen’s response.

“You mention the shootings in the gun-free zones ... We have approximately

100,000 schools in the United States.

Therefore, gun-free zones worked in 99,999 schools,” Doyle said.

“That’s an absurd statistic,” Forstchen said. “My major moral responsibility is to protect not only my daughter, but my kids (students), too.”

When pressed further on his stance in support of armed teachers, Forstchen reiterated that, “again, I emphasize trained, reviewed, briefed and continued training” for any teachers who carry weapons in the schools.

Kamarhia asked Doyle, “Do you own a gun? Have you ever shot one?”

“Yes, yes and I support the 2nd Amendment,” Doyle replied.

However, he reiterated that “arming teachers is not the same as having security in the schools.”

Forstchen shot back, “But if someone enters a schools, who’s that first one they’d go for? The armed, uniformed officer.”

Nonplussed, Doyle said, “You need to focus on why we have violence ... Human history includes violence for as long as we’ve known.”

As for the U.S., he said it has been involved in wars for 218 or its 239-year history. “We’re the legal arms provider for the world.”

Doyle then talked about current violent films, including “Django Unchained” and “Bullet to the Head,” as well as violent television programs and video games.

“Let’s be reasonable and admit we can;t reduce all violence.”

Surprising Doyle, Forstchen said, “Many points, well-presented, that I agree with.”

He joined Doyle in slamming the violence in movies that both men feel are densensitizing Americans.

The professor quoted Hollywood writerdirector Quentin Tarantino (“Django Unchained” and “Pulp Fiction,” among many films) as saying, “Violence is cool.”

His voice rising in anger, Forstchen asserted, “I call it the pornography of violence ... Hollywood is pumping out vomit.

I lay a heavy burden of blame to reducing violence to a joke.”

He told Doyle that “we could have a good discussion on how to resolve this.”

“It’s hard to, with the FCC (Federal Communications Commission),” Doyle replied. “You can’t show a naked (woman’s) breast, but no problem with blowing someone’s head off.”.

Doyle also brought up what he termed “the mental health issue,” as it relates to guns and shootings.

Both Doyle and Forstchen favored increasing funding for mental health counseling in an effort to alleviate the spate of recent shootings.

10 - February 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet

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Daily Planet Staff Photos

KC and the Sunshine Band brought back the disco era of the mid- to late-70s with a show that featured outrageous outfits and a swirl of sound and colors.

KC and the Sunshine Band serves up warm, albeit uneven, disco show shouted his greeting, “Cherokee, North Carolina — are you ready to join our dance?

CHEROKEE — A strobe light pulsed and Are you ready to make a little noise? Are a mirrored disco ball glittered in its slow, you ready to get down ... tonight?” seemingly timeless rotation high above the His teasing questions were answered stage, while the crowd of 3,000 fans waited with wild pandemonium from the predomibelow in keen anticipation for the appearnantly female crowd. After a pause, Casey ance of KC and the Sunshine Band. added, mischievously, “As you can see, The venerable band was there to lead that’s the way, that’s the way ... I like it.” them back in time, musically, to celebrate He and his bandmates then burst into the mid- to late-1970s’ disco dance scene, a medley of Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, when many of those in attendance were Sealed and Delivered” and his own megain their late teens and early 20s. The band hit “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your from tropical Miami, Fla., radiated warmth Booty,” as four young female dancers from — perhaps even generated some heat — his troupe joined him on stage, providing inside Harrah’s Cherokee Casino’s Event a comical contrast between the four hotties Center, contrasting with the blustery cold and the now-portly Casey. outside on what would transform into a The female dancers were dressed in snowy Dec. 29 night. sometimes outrageous costumes, but As showtime approached, a 2009 resurprisingly not so much in disco stylings cording of The Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta of the era. Also, their dance style exhibited Feeling” was pumped at full blast over the more of a modern athleticism than quintesspeaker system. It was a curious choice sential disco movements.

—a non-disco song by a non-disco group.

“Let me take you back to 1978,” Casey However, perhaps oblivious to the irony, said, as he and his band rocked into “Boogie Shoes,” his one — albeit big — contrithe fun-loving crowd of disco enthusiasts bution to the iconic Bee Gees-dominated did not hesitate in singing along: “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack that “I gotta feeling... some say encapsulated the disco era. At That tonight’s gonna be a good night Cherokee, Casey missed a few notes on That tonight’s gonna be a good night “Boogie Shoes” and seemed a step (or two) That tonight’s gonna be a good, good night.” slow with his dancers.

Suddenly, the song stopped, the 10 blackAfter finishing the popular song, Casey clad musicians in KC and the Sunshine inadvertently coughed into the microphone Band strolled onto the stage in somewhat and, at that point, admitted to the crowd, of a boogie walk, followed by the grand “I’m sick as a dog, but the show must go entrance of disco king Harry “K.C.” Casey. on. I couldn’t just call in sick” for the show As the crowd stood and cheered, Casey and disappoint his fans.

Good-naturedly, the crowd cheered and shouted its encouragement. (Ever the trooper, he ended up performing for 90 minutes.)

With a smile, Casey, in the first of many charmingly self-deprecating quips of the night, said, “I’ll be 62 years old” on Jan. 31. He noted he As the concert ended, the band’s musicians lined up became a star with his and boogied off the stage in a styling somewhat remi- band at age 22 and has niscent of a traditional New Orleans jazz funeral. gained 57 pounds over

By JOHN NORTH

the years. It has gotten to the point, he joked, that “OMG, I must rename the band ... KFC and the Sunshine Band!” The crowd roared with laughter.

As for his flu-like illness, Casey said he could not even talk two days before the Cherokee concert and could only sing during the show with the aid of strong cough drops — and the crowd’s support.

Mixing metaphors, he asserted, Casey and two dancers wear eye-popping trousers.

“It’s cold as hell out tonight. I don’t go, don’t go away think it’s going to snow.” (The please don’t go disco king was right on that one.) Casey also don’t go, I’m begging you to stay.” noted he is from Miami, so anything beyond balmy beach weather is a shock to him.

The group follow that up with a dynamic He then lambasted “the critics (who) and extended version of “Keep It Comin’ have tried to put us down for 40 years” Love,” with terrific choreography that because of their hatred of disco music. showcased Casey, the dancers and his band.

No disco performer ever was included in The song included some jamming — vothe Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Casey cally and instrumentally — that was not added, but he spoke with pride of the 2013 in the original recording. And, with the nomination to the Hall of the late Donna crowd on its feet singing along, the chorus Summer, billed as “the queen of disco.” of “Keep it comin’ love, don’t stop it now” After coughing again, he turned his back was repeated at length a cappella-style, like on the crowd and drank something, took a mantra for a revival-like finish. more cough drops and said, “Bear with Amid the cheering, Casey left the stage, me. If I hit a couple of wrong notes, you’ll know why... I amaze myself sometimes.” A but soon returned and performed — to the crowd’s delight — “Rock Your Baby,” number of women audience members then which he noted was his first No. 1 song. shouted their love for— and encourageHe performed a rendition of The Comment to — him, as the group kicked into a modores’ funky “Brickhouse” and closed tribute to Donna Summer. with his hit “Give It Up,” leaving the crowd Next, Casey and his group, which was on its feet and chanting for more. only topped by the Bee Gees as disco-era Returning for an encore, a grinning Casey hitmakers, churned through a number of told the crowd he had just two questions. their classics, including “That’s the Way “First, is that the way you like it? And (I Like It)” and “I’m Your Boogie Man,” second:Is that the way you like it?” As laughamong many hits The crowd and band members joined in to help Casey, especially ter erupted, he launched into “Get Down on the high notes, and the singer-keyboard- Tonight,” as colorful confetti was released, fluttering down upon the delighted crowd. ist appeared appreciative.

At the end of “Get Down Tonight,” On 1979’s “Please Don’t Go,” the Casey bent down deeply in an elaborate group’s first love ballad, in which Casey dance move and winced — with a comical pleads for a second chance, the crowd at wink at the crowd — in a salute to his and times drowned out the star in an approprithe crowd’s advancing years. He quipped, ately slow and dramatic sing-along: “What the hell happened?”

“Babe, I love you so The crowd, which he had charmed all night, I want you to know laughed once again and remained on its feet that I’m going to miss your love cheering. Casey shouted, “Happy New Year, the minute you walk out that door. everyone!” and left the stage for the night.

So please don’t go

Fitness & Diet and Calendar of Events

Special Section PULLOUT

Asheville Daily Planet — February 2013 — 11

Obesity called area’s ‘big’ health threat

By JOHN NORTH john@ashevilledailyplanet.com

“I see our health director and the publisher of the Asheville Citizen-Times are here, so we can begin,” Dr. Dave Gardner said with a laugh as he opened “The Weight of the Nation” event Jan. 15 at UNC Asheville’s Sherrill Center.

Nearly a full-house of about 220 people — with many standing — attended the program in the Mountain View Room., according to event oganizers.

On a more serious note, Gardner added, “The exciting thing about this even is that it brings together many people from many areas of Asheville ... on a common challenge — obesity.”

In introducing Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy, the keynote speaker, Gardner said, “We’re going to start this evening with one of the leaders of this community who really gets it. We are blessed ... We are fortunate to have a mayor of this community who understands health. She takes risks.”

Bellamy began by noting that her message would be a tribute to Mark Fenton, who she praised as “a visionary. She noted that Fenton “came to our community” and “did a walking analysis of our city...” that raised many much-needed issues to make Asheville — especially downtown — more pedestrianand bicycle-friendly.

“I’m going to copy him tonight ... I wouldn’t have a roomful of people, otherwise, who care about health and fitness.”

After a pause, the mayor asked, “So why am I really here tonight? Because my daughter (Imani) will be eight (years old) this year. In my family, women died from health problems, including diabetes and other overweight-related issues.

Bellamy said her concern is “not only my Imani, but every other Imani — every little girl — in the community,” regarding the obesity epidemic.

“What does the CDC (Center for Disease Control) say about our weight?” Bellamy asked, rhetorically.

The CDC says that “17 percent of our

Daily Planet Staff Photo

Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy (center and wearing black boots) joins in exercises led by Jessica Chapman (at far right), group instructor coordinator for the Asheville YMCA, during “The Weight of the Nation” event at UNCA. children ages 2 to 19 are obese,” she said. On a similar dire note, the mayor asserted, “In North Carolina, we went from a light color (on the chart) to the darkest color — meaning most obese — in the last 20 years.”

Specifically, Bellamy alluded to a Center for Disease Control and Prevention study showing that a third of U.S. adults are obese, with North Carolina ranked as the 14th-most obese state..

Bellamy praised First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” movement, which seeks to solve America’s childhood obesity epidemic within a generation, drawing applause from the crowd.

With a laugh, the mayor said she recently visited Fairview Elementary School “and I had on three-inch heels — and the kids wanted me to dance” and run around with them, which she did without hurting herself because she felt it was important that she

encourage them.

Bellamy said area schools need to be offering physical education classes because studies show that “those kids who are active and alert do better in class.”

She added, emphatically, “We’re going to make sure, as a city, that we have access to healthy food” as a way to fight obesity.

“Anyone who wants to open a tailgate market, you can do it without a lot of red tape” in Asheville, Bellamy said, prompting applause from the audience.

“In Buncombe County, 62.6 percent of adults are considered overweight and, of those, 27.5 percent are considered obese...

This is almost double the national number of 35 percent,” the mayor lamented. What’s more, she said “44 percent of our (Buncombe) children are considered overweight or obese.”

See OBESITY, Page 14

12 - February 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet

Calendar

of

Events

Send us your calendar items

Please submit items to the Calendar of Events by noon on the third Wednesday of each month, via e-mail, at calendar@ashevilledailyplanet. com, or fax to 252-6567, or mail c/o The Daily Planet, P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 288148490. Submissions will be accepted and printed at the discretion of the editor, space permitting.

To place an ad for an event, call 252-6565.

Friday, Feb. 1

FOOD COUNCIL MEETING, 4-6 p.m., Mountain View Room, Sherrill Center, UNC Asheville. The Asheville-Buncombe Food Policy Council will hold its first meeting of 2013. The group aims to reduce poverty, improve local health, strengthen local commerce and create a more sustainable land-use future for the city and county. The meeting is free and open to the public.

PAN HARMONIA CONCERT, 7 p.m., The Classic Wineseller, 20 Church St., Waynesville. The group Pan Harmonia will perform in a concert titled “Winds in the Winery.” Featured are a flute, clarinet and bassoon. For tickets, for a $5 to $20 donation, call 452-6000.

AUTHOR’S PRESENTATIONS, 7 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. John Jeter, Michael Supe Granda and Don Silver will present their three separate music biographies, including respectively “Rockin’ in a Hard Place,” “It Shined: The Saga of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils” and “Clive.”

GORDON MOTE CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, 1028 George Rd., Franklin. Gordon Mote will perform in concert. For tickets, which are $12-$15, visit GreatMountainMusic.com, or call (866) 2734615.

Saturday, Feb. 2

ASK-A-LAWYER EVENT, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Grove Arcade, downtown Asheville. The “Ask a Lawyer” event will feature local attorneys answer legal questions for free from individuals who visit. The Asheville event is being held for the fourth year.

It is hosted by the Young Lawyers Division of the N.C. Bar Association.

POETRY PRESENTATION, 2 p.m., City Lights Bookstore, 3 E. Jackson St., Sylva. Al Maginnes will present his poetry collections, including “Inventing Constellations.”

ASK-A-LAWYER EVENT, 2-4:30 p.m., Henderson County Public Library, Hendersonville. The “Ask a Lawyer” event will feature local attorneys answer legal questions for free from individuals who visit. The Hendersonville event is being held for the second year. It is hosted by the Young Lawyers Division of the N.C. Bar Association.

BLUES CONCERT, 5-11 p.m., Mahler Room, and mainstage, Tryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon. The concert, to support the center and its programming, will include Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues; Asheville’s Chuck Beattie; Tommy Lytle and the Jim Peterman Quartet, both from Tryon; Daryle Ryce and the Shane Pruitt Band, both from Spartanburg, S.C., and Rudy “Blue Shoes” Wyatt, from Greenville, S.C. The evening will end with a mainstage jam session. For tickets, which are $25, or $75 for VIP Lounge access, which includes food and beverage, call 859-8322, or visit the box office at ww.tryonarts.org.

ARTS GALA, 6:30 p.m., Porter Center for the Performing Arts, Brevard College, Brevard. BC will hold its annual evening of dining, dancing and entertainment in support of the arts. This year’s theme is “New York, New York,” encompassing student performances, a silent auction and an art show. For tickets to the black-tieoptional event, which are $50, call 884-8211.

AUTHORS’ READINGS, 7 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. Young adult authors Beth Revis, Megan Shepherd, Victory Schwab and Lenore Appelhans will read their works, respectively, “Shades of Earth,” “The Madman’s Daughter,” “The Archived” and “Level 2.”

CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Colonial Theater, 53 Park St., Canton. The groups Balsam Range & Missy Raines and The New Hip will perform. For tickets, which are $15, call 235-2760.

Asheville’s Chuck Beattie will be among the performers at a blues concert from 5 to 11 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Tryon Fine Arts Center in Tryon.

Sunday, Feb. 3

PAN HARMONIA CONCERT, 3 p.m., St. Matthias Episcopal Church, 1 Dundee St., Asheville.

Pan Harmonia will perform in concert. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.

Monday, Feb. 4

STRING QUARTET CONCERT, noon, Scott Concert Hall, Porter Center, Brevard College, Brevard. The McIver String Quartet will perform.

PUBLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP, 12:15 p.m., Lenoir-Rhyne Graduate Center, 36 Montford Ave., Asheville. The Blue Ridge Toastmasters Club will present a “Speak-Up Asheville” public speaking workshop, beginning Feb. 4 and continuing for three consecutive Mondays.

The classes last one hour each. To register, call Chuck Blethen at 606-3130.

GREEN PARTY MEETING, 6 p.m., second floor, The Fortune Buidling, 727-729 Haywood Rd., Asheville. The Buncombe Green Party will hold its monthly business meeting. All are welcome to attend.

Tuesday, Feb. 5

WORLD AFFAIRS LECTURE, 7:30 p.m., Manheimer Room, Reuter Center, UNC Asheville.

Samer Traboulsi will address “The New Egypt” in the Great Decisions Lecture Series, hosted by the World Affairs Council of Western North Carolina.

Admission is free for WAC-WNC members and UNCA students and $8 for all others.

Wednesday, Feb. 6

SIERRA CLUB MEETING, 7 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville. The Sierra Club will host a talk on “Beyond Coal,” regarding the transition from coal to clean energy, by Kelly Martin of the N.C. Beyond Coal Campaign. Kris Cunningham of the Sierra Club will answer questons on why nuclear power is not suitable for replacing coal.

AUTHOR’S TALK, 7 p.m. Canon Lounge, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa. Aaron Birk, creator of the graphical novel, “The Pollinator’s Corridor,” will give a free public presentation titled “The Anarchist’s Apiary: Guerilla Gardening, Urban Architecture and Restoration Ecology in the PostIndustrial Age.” A book-signing will follow.

Thursday, Feb. 7

ART MUSEUM FUNDRAISER, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Asheville Art Museum, Pack Place, downtown Asheville. The annual Toast fundraiser will feature an evening of hors d’oeuvres from local restaurants, fine wines, craft beer, live music and a silent auction. Admission is $35 in advance, $40 at the door, or $30 for museum members and $35 for non-members.

VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING, 6:30 p.m., Phil Mechanic Studios, 109 Roberts St., Asheville. The Veterans for Peace Chapter 99 will meet.

The Platters: The Legacy will perform at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Smoky Mountain for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

Friday, Feb. 8

MUSICAL, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, 1028 George Rd., Franklin.

The musical “Alice in Wonderland” will be performed Feb. 8-9. For tickets, which are $10, visit GreatMountainMusic.com, or call (866) 273-4615.

VOCAL CHAMBER ENSEMBLE CONCERT, 8 p.m., Rosen Concert Hall, Appalachian State University, Boone. New York Polyphony, hailed as “one of the world’s finest vocal chamber music ensembles,” will perform. The four men deliver dynamic performances in a wide range of styles — from austere to medieval melodies to cuttingedge works. To purchase tickets, visit http://pas. appstate.edu/schedule/id/new-york-polyphony.

Saturday, Feb. 9

WORLD AFFAIRS LECTURE, 7:30 p.m., Manheimer Room, Reuter Center, UNC Asheville. Lee McMinn will address “Defending America on a Budget” in the Great Decisions Lecture Series, hosted by the World Affairs Council of Western North Carolina. Admission is free for WAC-WNC members and UNCA students and $8 for all others.

See CALENDAR, Page 13

TO REPORT AN ERROR

The Asheville Daily Planet strives to be accurate in all articles published. Contact the News Department at news@ashevilledailyplanet.com, (828) 252-6565, or P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 28814-8490.

SYMPHONY CONCERT, 8 p.m., Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, U.S. Cellular Center, Haywood Street, downtown Asheville. The Asheville Symphony Orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concert, featuring gust pianist Daniel Trifonov. For tickets, visit www.ashevillesymphony.org.

Sunday, Feb. 10

MARDI GRAS PARADE/BALL, 3:05 p.m., beginning on Wall Street and ending at the Grove Arcade on Page Street, downtown Asheville. The 2013 Asheville Mardi Gras Parade and Ball will proceed from Wall Street, head up Haywood Street, turn left at the U.S. Cellular Center and wind up back at Grove Arcade on Page Street.

The ball will start immediately following the parade at Pack’s Tavern. It feature performances by zydeco band Bayou Diesel, the drum troop Zabumba! and the Mardi Gras marching band Asheville Second Line. The parade and ball are free and open to the public.

CHAMBER CONCERT, 4 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville. The Asheville Chamber Music Series will present “Windscape.” For tickets, which are $35, call 259-3626 or visit www. ashevillechambermusic.org.

GENERATIONNEXT CONCERT, 5 p.m., The Altamont Theatre, 18 Church St., downtown Asheville. The Pan Harmonia’s GenerationNext Concert will feature members of the Asheville Young Musician’s Club and other young players from the area. For tickets, which are $15 for adults and $5 for students with identification, visit www.myaltamont.com or email office@panharmonia.org.

Tuesday, Feb. 12

FILM SERIES, 7 p.m., A.K. Hinds University Center at Western Carolina University, Cullowhee.

The film “The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975” will be shown.

JUSTICE FRIENDS MEETING, 7 p.m., Firestorm Café and Books, downtown Asheville. Justice Friend Night features an inclusive monthly gathering to explore social and environmental justic through presentations, films and performance art. The discusion group and social event is for locals with an activist mindset.

$2 Tuesdays

$2 domestic draft Wednesdays Breakfast Club-Brunch menu served until noon on Sundays before shows.

Asheville Daily Planet — February 2013 — 13

Rebates Up to $150*

Calendar of Events

Ridge Community College, East Flat Rock. A Gershwin music show will be presented. For tickets, which are $10 for the general public and $3 for students, call 694-1743.

Continued from Page 12

Wednesday, Feb. 13

ARTISTS’ WORKSHOP, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Phil Mechanic Studios, River Arts District, Asheville.

A free workshop aimed at helping artists master business basics, “Shedding Light on the Business of Art: An Intensive One-Day Workshop on Business Basics for the Artists of the Watershed,” will be held. To register, which is required to attend, calll 252-8474, ext. 10.

ANTI-BULLYING EVENT, 7 p.m., David Zimmerman Room, Asheville Jewish Community Center, 236 Charlotte St., Asheville. The event, “Bully: A Community Conversation,” will feature a facilitated discussion about bullying in American schools.

Among the highlights will be a screening of film clips rom the 2011 documentary, “Bully.” The program is free and open to everyone.

Wednesday, Feb. 20

OBJECTIVISTS’ MEETING, 7 p.m., Denny’s, 1 Regent Park Blvd., Asheville. The Asheville Objectivists meet on the third Wednesday to discuss Ayn Rand and her philosophy of objectivism.

THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE, 8 p.m., Valborg Theatre, Appalachian State University, Boone. Walnut Street Theatre will present “Around the World in 80 Days,” Mark Brown’s adaptation of Jules Verne’s novel. Before there were pirates in the Caribbean or anyone Bows!was raiding the lost ark, there was Verne’s “Around in Guns the & World in 80 Days,” billed

by ASU as “thenext mother weekof all adventure stories.”

Brown’s adaptation is hailed as “a whirlwind trip our ad narrow escapes and great filled with exotic locales, Look forvisit http://pas.appstate.edu/ fun.” To order tickets, schedule/id/around-the-world.

Berry Bate Call for appointment 828-508-6667 off Sweeten Creek Rd. 2 Winners Circle • Arden ShOwROOm Thursday, Feb. 14 HEARTS FOR SART FUNDRAISER, 6:30 p.m., Celine & Co., 49 Broadway St., downtown Asheville. Composer and musician B.J. Leiderman will headline a fundraiser that benefits the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre on the campus of Mars Hill College. The evening will include dinner and dessert, a cash bar, a silent auction and a raffle. Leiderman, best-known for his music composed for National Public Radio shows, “is an extraordinary composer and musician and wildly entertaining,” Bill Gregg, artistic and producing director for SART, said. “This is a fantastic opportunity for Asheville folks to hear him perform.” Tickets are $65 to $120 a couple.

For tickets or more information, visit www. sartplays.org, or send a check payable to SART to P.O. Box 1720, Mars Hill, N.C. 28754.

PLATTERS CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, 1028 George Rd., Franklin. “The Platters: The Legacy” show will be performed. For tickets, which are $20-$25, visit GreatMountainMusic.com, or call (866) 273-4615.

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14 - February 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet

Obesity

Continued from Page 11 Bellamy also contended that statistics show “only one in 10 Buncombe County residents is eating enough fruits and vegetables,” as per CDC recommendatons.

To encourage healthy exercise habits, the mayor noted that she herself has participated in several Chamber Challenge footraces, including running twice with now state Rep. Nathan Ramsey. (Bellamy is a Democrat and Ramsey, a Republican, but they are nonetheless friends.)

In addition, Bellamy said she ran the Chamber Challenge twice with David Gantt, chairman of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, “and then I retired” from foot races. “I was smaller then,” she added with a smile.

Among local solutions to the obesity problem, the mayor cited the Chamber Challenge, the Citizen-Times Half Marathon, the Arc of Buncombe health and wellness program and the many programs hosted by the YMCA and YWCA. She said opportunities exist with “people who don’t see themselves as part of the problem” and “people who are too busy.”

“How do we reach people?” Bellamy asked, rhetorically. “Doctors who see patients who are overweight should ask patients to develop a plan and develop behaviors to achieve it.”

In addition, Belamy suggested the following: • Those who are overweight or obese should find friends who will help them use the “TTTT” method — “take time to talk.”

• “Take 10” — 10 minutes to walk daily, or at least three times per week.

• Talk to one’s health-care provider to see what kind of benefits it offers for weight loss.

• Use the city’s free greenways system, which she said is “over 4.3 miles now.”

The crowd applauded her mention of the greenways.

Bellamy told about Asheville resident Katrina Harrison, who she said is “in process” in losing weight. She told the event attendees that her homework assignment for them is to send Harrison an email of

Jessica Chapman leads exercises at “The Weight of the Nation” event.

encouragement.

“Too often, we’re not encouraging people” in their weight-loss efforts, the mayor said. She quoted Harrison as saying that, previously, “I’d eat when I’d get depressed. Now I walk.” Bellamy added that Harrison now is a member of Rush Fitness, too.

“It’s changing her outlook. It’s a lifestyle, lifetime commitment — it’s forever,” Bellamy said of Harrison’s efforts.

Returning to the mayor’s concern Bryan Messing about her daughter, she said, “Again, my Imanti — I’m keeping her active and busy. I’m making sure she’s not watching TV too much or spending too much time working on the computer.”

Bellamy added that “it takes a village to raise a child... I’m holding you (the audience at the UNCA event) responsible as my villagers,” she said with a grin.

A portion of the HBO documentary, “The Weight of the Nation” was screened at the UNCA event. It detailed efforts by Nashville, Tenn., to greatly expand its walking and bicycling areas, prompting Bellamy afterward to challenge the crowd by saying, “So, we can’t be outdone by Nashville, Tennessee.”

More seriously, the mayor said, “They’ve done some great things to get in shape” in Nashville. In closing, Bellamy praised “all who organized the event and those in attendance. Her speech was greeted with sustained applause.

The other featured speaker, Bryan Messing, center director for the Woodfin YMCA, began his talk by touting his challenge to Asheville-area residents who are overweight or obese through a “5-2-1-Almost None” program.

The aforementioned slogan refers to the goal of each individual to consume five servings of vegetables and fruits a day, no more than two hours per day of leisure time in front of a television of computer screen, at least an hour of physical activity or play and almost no sugary drinks.

“So who would agree with me that what we saw in ‘The Weight of the Nation’ is alarming — the obesity epidemic” across the nation.

“I’m confident that all of us will help move the healthy-living needle in our community by implementing the ‘5-2-1 Almost None!’ program,” Messing said.

The problem “cannot be solved individually. Let’s come together as a neighborhood, as a city and as a region and make this a priority.”

Regarding the “5-2-1-Almost None” message, Gibbie Harris, Buncombe health director, said, “It’s a simple message that kids can latch onto ... that parents can latch onto ... and people can start focusing their work on those four initiatives.”

After the regular program, the audience shifted into breakout sessions led by local high school students from Youth Empowered Solutions and other community members.

The various sessions featured specific challenges that are faced in five different areas, including health care, individuals and families, faith communities, schools and workplaces. Participants were allowed to choose three of the five choice to attend.

Among the groups involved in hosting the event were the YMCA, the United Waym Chamber of Commerce and Youth Empowered Solutions, the latter of which works to get young people involved in community change.

Faith Notes Send us your faith notes

Please submit items to the Faith Notes by noon on the third Wednesday of each month, via email, at spirituality@ashevilledailyplanet.com, or fax to 252-6567, or mail c/o The Daily Planet, P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 28814-8490. Submissions will be accepted and printed at the discretion of the editor, space permitting. To place an ad for a faith event, call 252-6565.

Friday, Feb. 1

SPAGHETTI DINNER/BAKE SALE, 5-7 p.m., First Presbyterian Church of Swannnano. 372 Bee Tree Rd., Swannanoa. The church will hold a spaghetti dinner and bake sale. Meals will be $7 for adutls and $4 for children.

SEMINAR, 7 p.m., Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church, 35 Airport Road, Arden. The church will continue its seminar series, “Can I Really Trust God” at the same time Friday and Saturday. The presenter, Shawn Boonstra, will present “Can I Trust God to Let Me Know What Will Happen?” Boonstra is former speaker and director of “It Is Written.” Admission is free and child care will be available.

AWARENESS RETREAT, 7-9 p.m., One Center Yoga, 120 Coxe Ave., Suite 3-A, downtown Asheville.

The center will host a weekend retreat with Bentinho Massaro. The retreat will be continue froom noon to 5 p.m. Feb. 2-3. Massaro is the founder of Free Awareness and teaches people to recognize stable clarity and awareness in their own experience. The cost is $20 Friday and $60 Saturday or Sunday, or $120 for the entire retreat. To register, visit www.free-awareness. com/schedule/events.

Saturday, Feb. 2

CLOWN SKILL DAY, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Calvary Episcopal Church, 2840 Hendersonville Rd., Fletcher.

Clown Skill Day will begin with basic balloon-twisting at 9 a.m., basic face-painting at 11 a.m., lunch at 12:30 p.m., skit and bits entertaining at 1 p.m. Each event is $5, but skit and bits is free. As another option, attendees may pay $15 for the whole day, which includes lunch. To register, call 684-6266.

ITALIAN DINNER, 6 p.m., Sandburg Hall, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville. The UUCA’s annual Italian dinner fundraiser wkk feature baked ziti, garden salad, bread and upscale desserts. Doors open at 6 for a wine and beer reception, with live music provided by the UUCA youth. Dinner will be served at 6:30. Purchase of a dinner tickets enables one to play the UUCA’s unpredictable and hilarious beach bingo, beginning at 7:30. Bingo winners will choose from a selection of white elephant prizes.

The evening will end with a karaoke performance by the Coming of Age students. Tickets are $14 for adults, $7 for children under age 10, with the maximum cost per family at $40.

Sunday, Feb. 3

SUPPORT GROUP MEETING, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Unity Church of Asheville, 130 Shelburne Rd., Asheville. The Chronic Pain Support group will meet to share compassion, love and support for those suffering with chronic pain of any kind, as well as for family, friends and supportes. Damon Rouse, a physical therapist, will be the guest speaker.

Tuesday, Feb. 5

BIBLE STUDIES, 9:45-11:45 a.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m., The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove, 1 Porters Cove Road, Asheville. The BGTC is offering free Bible studies for women on Tuesdays, with the morning study ending Feb 26. and the evening study ending Feb. 19. The morning study is “Being Still: A Study in the Book of Psalms,” led by Jane Derrick. The evening study is “Oh, The Places He Leads,” led by Kendra Graham. An optional $100 luncheon buffet is available each week, with reservation required by noon the previous Friday. To register, call 298-2092.

STUDY GROUP MEETING, 12:30-2 p.m., Unity Church of Asheville, 130 Shelburne Rd., Asheville. The Edgar Cayce Study Group will meet each week.

PUB CHAT, 6 p.m., Mezzaluna restaurant, 226 N. Main St., downtown Hendersonville. The Unity Center in Mills River will hold “Truth on Tap,” a pub chat on matters spiritual and otherwise. A love offering will be taken.

BIODYNAMICS 101 CLASS, 7-8:30 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. A class, “Biodynamics 101,” will be taught for six Tuesdays, ending March 5. The word “biodynamics” comes from the Greek to mean life energy. Presenter Josh Hale will share his biodynamic farming knowledge. A love donation will be taken. Child care also will be available on a love donation basis.

Wednesday, Feb. 6

LUTHER SEMINAR, 6:30 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 235 St. John’s Road, Suite 50, Fletcher. The church will offer the finale in its Martin Luthern seminar series. Dr. Douglas Johnson, a retired professor and ELCA parish pastor, is the presenter. Admission is free.

PEAK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM, 7-9 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. In a twopart presentation, Ed and Romella O’Keefe will explore the concept of peak experiences those “mountaintop moments,” when an individual suddenly is taken out of oneself. A love offering will be taken.

Tuesday, Feb. 12

Asheville Daily Planet — February 2013 — 15

WISDOM CLASS, 1-3 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. A class on “The Second Half of Life: Opening the Eight Gates of Wisdom,” based on Angeles Arrien’s book of the same title, will be offered for six Tuesdays, ending March 19. The Rev. Pat Veenema will be the facilitator. A love offering will be taken.

CHANA’LE, 6 p.m., Asheville Jewish Community Center, 236 Charlotte St., Asheville. A Chana’le will begin with hors d’eouvres, desserts, raffles, boutiques and shopping. At 7 p.m., a concert will begin.

Admission is $18 in advance and $25 at the door. For advance tickets, call 505-0746 or visit www.chabadasheville.org.

Wednesday, Feb. 13

PROGRAM ON LENT, 7 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. The Revs. Pat Veenema and Chad O’Shea will lead a program titled, “What Is Lent?” A love offering will be taken.

Friday, Feb. 15

VALENTINE’S DANCE, 7 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. A family-friendly Valentine’s Dance will be held. Admission is $5 per person or $15 per family of four or more. Drinks and snacks will be provided.

Saturday, Feb. 16

MEMORY CAFÉ, 2-4 p.m., Calvary Episcopal Church, 2840 Hendersonville Rd., Fletcher. A Memory Café will be held for those with memory loss and their family and friends. The café is held every third Saturday for fun, relaxation and socializing.

VALENTINE’S CONCERT, 7 p.m., sanctuary, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2021 Kanuga Rd., Hendersonville. The eclectic Marc Yaxley Trio will perform songs from all musical genres during a Valentine’s Concert. Doors open at 6:30, with the music starting at 7. Home-baked cookies will be available during intermission. The trio features vocalist Ellen Trnka, a native New Yorker who has lived in Hendersonville for the last nine years. A free-will offering of $15 is suggested.

Wednesday, Feb. 20

Chocolate Meditation, 7 p.m., Unity Center,

2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. The Rev. Chad O’Shea will lead a chocolate meditation.

Attendees will explore — and indulge — in “the food of love.” O’Shea will share a bit of the history and chemistry of this uniquely beloved food, then lead a meditation on the experience of enjoying it.

There also will be a discussion of love in its many forms. A love offering will be taken.

Friday, Feb. 22

Movie NighT, 7 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. The film “Brother Bear” will be hosted by the Youth Of Unity. A love offering taken for snacks and beverages. Admission is free. Friday,

Friday, March 1

Sonic Sanctuary, 9 p.m.-7 a.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. A Sonic Sanctuary event will feature speakers, music, dance, art, costumes and creativity. The program will include a night of deep listening and sonic transmissions, encompassing deeper states of sound from a plethora of sonic alchemists. The event is billed as “an evening for the mind, body and soul.” A highlight will be sonic enlightenment via pure electronic frequency transmissions — “3,000 watts in an amazing room architectural built for optimal sound,” Unity Center noted.

“Let go of your mynd and let the sound take you there.” Attendees are asked to bring a vegetarian, vegan or non-vegetarian dish to share. In addition, there will be a dress-to-your-dimension costume contest, so attendees are asked to show up as a fairy, gnome, alien, angel or whatever. There will be prizes for the best representation of galactic imagination. There will be a lock-in curfew for attendees under age 16 after 1 a.m. The event will end at 7 am after yoga and meditation. A $5 love donation will be taken.

TO REPORT AN ERROR

The Asheville Daily Planet strives to be accurate in all articles published. Contact the News Department at news@ashevilledailyplanet.com, (828) 252-6565, or P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 28814-8490.

Sunday, Feb. 10

FINANCIAL PEACE CLASSES, 11 a.m., Skyland United Methodist Church, 1984 Hendersonville Rd., Skyland. The church will host the first of Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University classes. The class will meet weekly for nine weeks. The class will be taught by Ramsey via DVD, followed by a group discussion. Its aim is to provide families and individuals with practical tools to gain control of their finances and set themselves up for long-term financial success. Lessons include budgeting, relationships and money, getting out of debt, saving for emergencies and investing.

For information or to register, call Patty Olbrantz at 684-7283.

Covenant Reformed

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 281 Edgewood Rd. • Asheville, N.C. 28804

828-253-6578

www.covenantreformed.net Wednesday— 7 p.m. Prayer/Bible Study Sunday— 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 11 a.m. Worship • 6 p.m. Worship

Celebration Services 11 AM Sunday

New Books by Dr. Bob Holt, M.D. at Lulu Dot Com “Jesus in India,” etc.

A spiritual celebration center of practical Christianity for everyday living.

130 Shelburne Road West Asheville 252-5010 www.unityofasheville.com Bookstore Meeting Rooms

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@ $10 per month

If interested, e-mail us at

advertising@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com ... or call 252-6565.

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email: decoderdoc@juno.com

Unity Center

A Church Family for ONE and ALL Come as you are!

891-8700 / 684-3798 Sunday Services 9:30am & 11:00am Serving WNC for 60 years

2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd. Mills River 28759 Rev. Chad O’Shea

www.unitync.net

16 — February 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet

Nightlife

A tradition ends

Daily Planet Staff Photos

A tradition ended at Magnolia’s Raw Bar & Grille in downtown Asheville on New Year’s Eve, when the popular pop

The Carvers, a young surf and stomp band from Wilmington, performed Jan. 19 at Jack of the Wood, a Celtic-style pub on Patton Avenue in downtown Asheville.

Surf, stomp combo wows pub crowd

The Carvers, an eclectic young five-man band from Wilmington, revved up a standing-room-only crowd on Jan. 19 at Jack of the Wood pub in downtown Asheville.

Judging from the audience response, the group appeared to live up to a promotion that stated: “The boys deliver a tastefully gritty combination of party crashing original songs and ‘Carverized’ arrangements of surf, garage and jazz gems. The Carvers provide their own brand of ‘50s & ‘60s ga-

rage, surf & stomp music” Among the group’s song repertoire are “Pop the Top,” “Death of an Angel,” “ The Skipper Strut,” “Is That So Wrong?” “007,” “The Seagate Stomp” and “Warren Oates.”

“Though dated in the 1960s, the groovy, spooky sound cultivated from jangly guitars, cathedral keyboards and bashing drums remains timeless, and in part, ethereal,” a review on the website WilmingtonStarNews. com recently noted.

band A Social Function (above) played its final gig, ending an 18-year-run at the downtown restaurant and bar.

Vroom with a view

I’m a 34-year-old woman, dating a 27-year-old guy for three months. We have a great time together, but he’s balking at making an official commitment, meaning he doesn’t want to call us boyfriend and girlfriend. He says he feels we have long-term potential and doesn’t want to date anyone else, but needs time to be sure about us so he doesn’t get hurt again (as he did by his last girlfriend, whom he felt sure was “the one”). That makes sense, but the other day, he told me he loves me. How can he feel that way and still not consider us boyfriend/girlfriend?

I’m in my 30s, and my friends are getting married, and I get down on myself sometimes for being single. Am I selling myself short by waiting?

— On Hold An impulsive relationship is something to have with a pack of mini-cupcakes in the supermarket checkout line. If they aren’t all they seemed to be, you’ll probably complain a little — that you wasted 79 cents, not the “best years of your life” and the last of your viable eggs.

Okay, it’s a little weird that a guy who blurts out “I love you” is squeamish about the B- and G-words, but keep in mind that the last woman he gave his heart to slammed it in the hurt locker. Also, people hate to fail and resist having their failures formalized.

If he doesn’t call you his girlfriend, maybe those won’t be real tears you’ll cry if you break up, and he won’t have screwed up another relationship; he’ll just have dated somebody awhile and moved on. But, even if he is driven by fear, his insistence on taking it slow is a good thing: It suggests he learns from his mistakes (an important quality to have in a B-word) and means he won’t be that guy who calls you his girlfriend pronto and then treats you more and more like some woman he passed on his way to the men’s room at the corner bar.

Because you can’t know how long his holding-back period will last until he stops holding back, you can start to think the worst — that he’s just toying with you or, even worse, that you’ll have a mortgage and three kids together and he’ll still be introducing you as “my lady friend.” To allay your fears, mark a deadline in your head — perhaps two or three months from now — to see whether the relationship’s progressed to a point you’re more comfortable with and to bail if it hasn’t.

During that time, try not to be so goalfocused that you forget to look critically at how compatible you two actually are and explore your own motivations. For any “official commitment” to last, you have to want him, specifically. It can’t just be that he’s your last chance to experience having everyone turn and gasp as you walk down the aisle — that is, unless you’re in such a rush to get to church one Sunday that you put on stockings but forget to follow up by putting on pants.

Life in fastened-to-her lane

Every woman I’ve ever had a relationship with has freaked over my friendships with other women. Even a relationship with someone I really loved ended because she couldn’t stand my talking to and occasionally meeting up with female friends. There’s nothing romantic going on with any of these friends, nor do I have any interest in anything ever happening,

The Advice Goddess

Amy Alkon

but explaining that is always hopeless.

— Maligned “Love is all you need,” lied the Beatles.

Sure, it might start out seeming that way.

You meet that special someone, butterflies whirl, Disney woodland animals break into song, and you fall into bed and see no one but each other for three to six months.

Eventually, however, you start to long for contact with other humans — not because your scruples are on the blink but because you’ve heard all of each other’s most hilarious stories at least twice.

Most couples keep sexytime activities on the restricted list, but there will be many other interests you share with friends and not each other. Hanging with these friends doesn’t threaten your relationship; it enhances it, making you more interesting to each other because you aren’t each other’s sole mental, social, and emotional watering hole. It takes a secure woman to understand this — one who needs you because she loves you and not because she skipped over building a self and is using you to cover up the empty slot. A secure woman accepts that there’s always a risk you’ll leave her but understands that the best way to guarantee you will is to make you feel bonded to her — like a fly writhing out its last remaining hours on a strip of flypaper.

Curb feelings

Does approaching a woman on the street and asking her out ever work?

— On The Prowl Sites with dating tips for men encourage them to approach women on the street: “Just walk up and say hello! All you have to do is be confident!”

That second part is very good advice, because then you’ll look less like you’re dying inside when the woman treats you like you just walked up and said, “Hi, my name is Rapist!”

Instead, use what social scientists call the “foot-in-the-door technique.” Various studies show that when you get a person to agree to a trivial first request (like signing a petition), they’re more likely to say yes to a more substantial request that follows (like donating money to the cause).

In France, psychologist Nicolas Gueguen sent three men, ages 19-21, out on the street to approach 360 women, about the same age, and ask them out for a drink. When the men asked straight-out for a date, only 3.3 percent of the women said yes. When they first asked women for a light (for a cigarette) or directions and then the drink, 15 percent and 15.8 percent, respectively, agreed to go for a drink.

Researchers are unsure why this works, but it seems that preoccupying a woman with helping you at least gives you a shot at distracting her from the directions you really want: “Could you tell me the best route into your pants?”

When horndog met Sally A male friend just tried to booty call me (texting after midnight that he was horny). I’m angry and revolted. I’ve

Asheville Daily Planet — February 2013— 17

known he’s liked me, thanks to his constant icky comments all over my Facebook photos, even while I was in a serious relationship. I deleted most, thinking he’d get the hint, and after my relationship ended, I hinted further by posting about how in love I still was with my ex. Yet, when I’d call this guy about volunteering we both do, he’d say things like, “I was hoping you wanted a date.”

He scheduled a meeting, presumably with other volunteers, but I found myself across a restaurant table from him, alone.

My body language conveys my distaste for any involvement with him — crossed arms, jutting chin, etc. I’m upset that he’s never cared that I’m not interested, and I’m ready to end our friendship. Unfortunately, we share work and social circles, so any tension would be noticed right away. Am I being rash?

— Disrespected The guy’s style of romancing is right out of “Sleeping Beauty”: “Hi…oh, sorry… you sound tired…anyway, I was wondering, would it be okay if I stopped over and we had sex?”

And how rude that he has yet to accept how uninterested in him you are when you’ve not only left numerous obtuse hints about it on Facebook but used body language to make it perfectly clear. I mean, why would a woman ever cross her arms but to say, “I’m days away from filing a restraining order against you”?

And regarding how physically revolting you find him, your chin must have told him so at least six times.

The truth is, men are predisposed to not get it, thanks to what evolutionary psychologist Dr. David Buss, in “The Evolution of Desire,” calls “cognitive biases in sexual mind reading.” This maybe calls to mind a confused psychic in a sex den but actually describes men’s evolved predisposition to make the least costly mating error — which would be overestimating women’s interest (from ambiguous signals like a smile or friendliness) rather than underestimating it.

Overestimating it might lead to some embarrassment; underestimating it could mean that generations upon generations of a man’s potential descendants meet their end in an old sock (or whatever men used before there were socks).

Women tend to think kindness and bluntness are mutually exclusive. They’re not.

The kindest thing you could’ve done — and the least socially awkward — would’ve been telling this guy, clearly and firmly, from the start, that the tone and quantity of his Facebook comments were a problem.

Then, if inappropriate remarks and behavior kept flying, you’d tell him explicitly: “Friendship. Period.” Tell him so now — in the least embarrassing way, in writing.

Explain that the text made you feel really upset and disrespected, and add, “I’m going to forget this happened (and hope you will, too).”

To stop feeling angry, remind yourself that he most likely didn’t get the message because it wasn’t sent in a way he could understand — which kept him marching clueless doofus-style toward that ever-so-charming “Can’t a friend drop by at midnight for a quickie?”

The gift that keeps on giving you the creeps

For my birthday, my 26-year-old girlfriend (of five weeks) gave me an “Alice In Wonderland” decorative plate. I’m a 33-year-old man, and I couldn’t fathom why she thought I’d like it. I simply did NOT want to display that thing but knew she’d expect to see it whenever she came over. Feeling trapped, I gently confessed

that it was more her taste than mine and suggested we keep it at her place. She immediately broke up with me. What happened here?

— Sad But Unrepentant A gift for a romantic partner is a way to tell them, “I get who you are.”

Apparently, you’re a 78-year-old lady with room in your curio cabinet next to your hatpin collection. Nothing against white rabbits with pocket watches and hookahsmoking caterpillars, but what woman buys this for any man who does not moonlight as a gay British country decorator with a love of whimsy?

She may just be wildly clueless, but giving somebody an aggressively wrong gift can be an aggressive act. (Was this some twisted test —- maybe to see how moldable you are?) Whatever her reason, this didn’t need to end with the Queen of Hearts yelling, “Off with his head!” (although you’re probably ultimately lucky it did).

Gifting gone wrong, like other relationship misfires, is an opportunity to get a better sense of who your partner is and what) is right for them.

And an emotionally balanced woman could see it that way — bad as she might feel that she’s gotten you a gift that begs for you to reciprocate on her birthday with a Tiffany’s box containing a Peyton Manning bobblehead.

Her suction cup runneth over

My girlfriend of two years is the bomb but is becoming a little needy. We live together and both have office jobs, and I’m cool not talking to her until I get home, but she’ll text me several times a day. If I don’t respond, she texts me a sad face or some statement about how busy I must be. If I’m hanging with friends in the evening, she gets upset if I don’t call her at least once. I really love her but feel indulging her need for more contact will only cause her to be more demanding.

— Tugged On

Affection is not a gateway drug. Texting your girlfriend a few extra “luv u babe”s or “thinkn of u”s during the workweek isn’t the first step to carrying her everywhere with you in a giant BabyBjorn.

It might even help her stop treating that device in your pocket like an “Angry Birds”-enabled wireless leash. Consider “the dependency paradox,” researcher Dr. Brooke C. Feeney’s finding that, in a committed relationship, the more a person felt they could count on their partner to be responsive to their calls for comforting and support, the more autonomous and self-sufficient the person would be.

Ask your girlfriend to try a monthlong experiment in managing your mismatched need for closeness: You’ll commit to giving her more frequent verbal reassurance that you love her and are there for her and to dashing off a few sweet texts to her at slow points during your workday. She, in turn, needs to respect some boundaries, meaning not going all funeralface when you don’t respond to every workday text and not expecting to hear from you when you’re out with your friends unless you end the evening in a ditch or in jail. After 30 days, take stock.

I’m guessing you’ll find your girlfriend feeling -- and acting -- much less like the sort of woman who’s about two unreturned texts from sobbing to a packed restaurant, “He’s decided to take a break from the relationship!” (Translation: “He’s in the men’s room.”)

• (c) 2012, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or e-mail AdviceAmy@aol.

18 — February 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet

Daily Planet’s Opinion

McCrory scores hit with WNC visit Following his inauguration in Raleigh, it is highly noteworthy that North Carolina’s new Gov. Pat McCrory made his first out-of-town visit to the Asheville area.

At the Jan. 7 event, held at the Crest Center in Woodfin, McCrory was joined on stage by Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy, U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry and state Rep. Nathan Ramsey. They addressed more than 300 people Also in attendance at the gathering were Woodfin Mayor Jerry VeHaun, Woodfin Aldermen Debbie Giezentanner, Don Hensley and Jackie Bryson, as well as many other local officials.

Regarding the significance and timing of McCrory’s visit, McHenry told the crowd, “That is a statement of past priorities for the state of North Carolina and Western North Carolina. He knows we exist. He understands that the beauty, the economic potential and economic

power of Western North Carolina and he knows that Asheville is the hub.”

In wise (and politically savvy) words, the new governor said, “In the past, the inauguration was usually just inside the belt line in Raleigh. What I want to do is something different, what we wanted to do, then, is visit the rest of the state, and listen and learn from the people throughout the state of North Carolina.”

In a statement that probably was wellreceived by Asheville’s “green” movement, McCrory said his father, a former Ohio elected official, used to say: “We must walk the fine line between continuing our economic prosperity, while also protecting the quality of life and environment that brought many of us here.”

The new governor appeared to start off on the right foot with WNC residents, who, in turn, likely will be supportive-but-wary as he works to spark the state’s economy and fix problems.

Disfranchisement — then and now

CHAPEL HILL — They “disfranchised us, and now we intend to disfranchise them.”

It sounds like what North Carolina Republicans might have said behind closed doors while they were gerrymandering legislative and congressional districts to assure their party’s continuing dominance.

However, the words came from a white Democratic state senator more than 100 years ago. Legendary historian C. Vann Woodward used the quote to show the thinking behind the white supremacy political movement in the late 1800s.

Both efforts, the post-Reconstruction “disfranchisement” and the 2011 redistricting, reduced the influence of African Americans in state government.

What made me think about the link between these two events, separated by more than 100 years?

First, an early reading of an upcoming biography of Josephus Daniels by Lee Craig reminded me of the Democratic Party’s successful efforts to minimize or eliminate African American influence in North Carolina politics at the turn of the last century.

Secondly, talking recently to a Democratic former state legislative leader, I suggested that Republicans had gone much further in redistricting to marginalize opponents than Democrats ever had. He smiled, and said, “Oh no, we would have done as much [after the 2000 census] if we had had the tools and hadn’t had Republican judges looking over our shoulders.”

Was there an element of revenge in the modern Republicans’ gerrymandered redistricting plan? It was certainly there in postReconstruction politics. Here is more of Woodward’s quote: “One main object was [so] to redistrict the state that for the next ten years not a Republican can be elected to the Legislature…I believe in the law of revenge. The Radicals disfranchised us, and now we intend to disfranchise them.”

As Reconstruction came to an end, white Southerners blamed all their political problems on newly enfranchised blacks and their Republican or Radical allies, which they called “the Negro problem.”

“The Democrats employed a variety of devices to diminish the Republican vote,” according to Michael Perman in “Pursuit of Unity: A Political History of the American South.”

“One tactic was to redraw electoral districts so as to disperse black voters throughout the

D.G. Martin white-majority districts and consolidate the remaining black vote into one, perhaps two, congressional seats. Through similar gerrymandering schemes, they also diluted the black vote for the state legislature.”

In North Carolina during early post-Reconstruction times, black areas were put into separate governing units, which were controlled by the white Democratic-controlled state government. Meanwhile, white areas were given “home rule,” the power to govern locally.

These efforts to limit black participation were marginally successful. But they did not prevent blacks and Republicans, joined by white Populists in a Fusion partnership, from taking over state government in 1896 and dismantling many of these white-control devices.

In response, white Democrats mounted the successful white supremacy campaigns of 1898 and 1900 that finally “solved” the Negro problem by freezing blacks almost completely out of the electoral process.

In today’s North Carolina, the Republican program to disperse blacks and Democrats into Republican districts and crowd the remainder into a very few districts has been, like the white supremacy campaign, successful in minimizing African American influence.

With the shift from a Democratic majority in the legislature and the results of new redistricting plan, African Americans have gone from being a powerful minority in a majority party to a powerless majority in a minority party.

The warning a supporter gave to a new female African American legislator says it best. “[Y]ou’re going into a war where you are a minority in every sense of that word.

Not just because you’re a woman, not just because you’re black, but because you are one of the few Democrats.”

• D.G. Martin hosts “North Carolina Bookwatch,” which airs Fridays at 9:30 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m. on UNC-TV.

Letters to the Editor

Disturbing aspects cited in two Merriman projects

You may be surprised to learn that City Council lacked review authority over the new Merrimon Avenue Harris Teeter and Trader Joe’s projects.

Another disturbing fact: the last City Council allowed the Harris-Teeter investors to keep the property’s “highway-business” zoning despite its location within an historic, walkable neighborhood situated at the gateway to downtown.

“Highway-business” is a zoning designation given to interstate truck-stop or “motor miles.”

The Harris-Teeter project isn’t all bad.

However, it’s basically a suburban stripmall and a wasted opportunity.

Asheville’s 2025 Plan states: “Protection, preservation and enhancement of existing neighborhoods must be as much a part of our development pattern as promoting new construction.”

Planners realize that traditional development has led to serious health and environmental problems. Smart planning encourages walkable neighborhoods and gets people out of their cars.

The Harris Teeter investors own several

adjacent properties and have asked council to rezone those in exchange for basic concessions to the city and neighborhood.

It’s a bully tactic, but the neighborhood is willing to support them if they will add one more: no fast food drive-thrus. Fast-food drive-thrus hurt neighborhoods. Idling cars pollute the air with carbon monoxide and other noxious chemicals. Drive-thrus result in increased traffic and litter. They contribute to the obesity epidemic and rising health costs.

But greed is greed, and civil responsibility seems to be a very low priority. They do not even have to contribute to traffic calming around the site.

When the matter went before council, the developer asked to have the vote postponed to Feb. 12 due to Mayor (Terry) Bellamy’s absence. (Bellamy and Councilman Jan Davis helped the investors keep the highwaybusiness zoning on a previous council.)

The five newer members of council voiced their support of the community and of taking steps to ensure this doesn’t happen to the next neighborhood.

Heather Rayburn Five Points Neighborhood Association Asheville See LETTERS, Page 19

The Candid Conservative

Conservative opportunists?

We can now all breathe a sigh of relief.

The fiscal cliff has been avoided. That it was more a curb than a cliff and that disaster has been postponed, not averted, is conversation for another time. Today we’re going to look at a pattern among most serving Republicans – the embarrassing exchange of principles for practicalities. It happened again with this deal. Our elephants put aside their promises and surrendered to political opportunism for the – quote – “good of the country.” Remember, this cliff was the result of a 2011 surrender to postponement temptations. It’s all just a marketing game being used to distract us from the real issues – including the need to live within our means, quit expanding unfunded entitlements, reform our tax code, and step away from misguided military adventurism. Washington Republicans surrendered again in early January and thus exchanged one cliff for another.

Shooting our liberties

In the coming year, the tragic misuse of stolen weaponry in Connecticut will transform more schools into prisons, gun phobics into hysterics, and politicians into tyrants.

More Constitutional liberties will be impaired, lost, or stolen in the name of safety and liberal and pretend conservative politicians will continue busting their lips on “get the guns” microphones. Assault weapons and large capacity handguns will be targeted as “unnecessary evils.” The quality of unnecessary, like art, is found in the eye of the beholder. 99.9% of those who purchase these weapons have one ultimate mission – personal defense. Is there anything in the 2nd Amendment about the right to bear secondrate arms shall not be infringed? Funny how the right to abort 55 million children is liberally heralded as a necessary choice – while the right to protect one’s self is liberally condemned as an unnecessary danger.

Arming teachers? No

One of the proposals coming out of Connecticut’s school tragedy is the idea of arming teachers. That’s would be a mistake for the same reason arming internal prison guards is a mistake. Doing so risks giving students access to those same guns.

Carl Mumpower The fact 10% of the 50 U.S. police officers shot each year are killed by their own gun further illuminates the possibilities. Trained security – yes. Gun toting teachers with today’s teens – nope. Still, the absurdity of gun free zones should be reconsidered.

That goofy concept impairs honest citizens while encouraging would be assassins. A common thread exists in most mass shootings. The killer is white, mentally ill, male, and medicated. He’s also a coward who picks places where he can be sure no one will shoot back. Thankfully, it remains that school shootings are very rare. Unfortunately, hysterical gunphobics, cultural immaturity, and bad advice are not.

Taking it easy .…

It’s a tough but important time to be a conservative. Everywhere you turn the left’s message has center stage. There’s a simple reason for their temporary ascendance – being a liberal is easy and people like easy. It’s easy to spend money you don’t have, borrow money you can’t pay back, and take money belonging to others.

It’s easy to visualize someone else having the responsibility for paying for your healthcare, lifestyle related disability, and retirement. It’s easy to advocate drugs, kill unborn children, and champion sex as a sport. It’s easy to dismiss the idea of a higher spiritual power that holds us accountable and to creatively dismiss those who say morality matters. It’s easy to be indifferent to the freedoms, rights, and opportunities of others – including those believing guns are a source of self-protection. No wonder our culture continues to drift left.

But as nature declares persistently– easy always has a price. Take it easy conservatives – your hard way is the right way.

See CANDID CONSERVATIVE, Page 22

Asheville Daily Planet — February 2013— 19

On the left

The net-zero economy

We are in a pickle.

The natural resources that undergird our economic and social systems are being used up at an accelerating rate due to the combined pressure of population growth and global industrialization. We’re all aware of the problem in regard to oil—with a reminder every time we fill our tanks. But the shortages of other critical materials are less obvious to the average citizen.

Governments and industrial corporations are more aware, however, and their outlook is increasingly grim.

The United States, for example, has pretty much exhausted it’s readily available iron ore stock, the principal ingredient of steel and an absolute necessity for most of what we think of as “modern” life. U.S. copper mines are in the same dire straits.

(There’s a reason why thieves strip ground wires from utility poles, and gut vacant homes for copper pipe. Scarce supplies are driving the price of copper scrap.)

Nickel, molybdenum, cobalt, uranium ... in fact, pretty much any ore you are likely to be able to name, are all in diminishing supply. Then there are all those rare earth minerals you probably don’t even know exist. Lithium has become somewhat familiar, due to the widespread use of lithium-ion batteries and the medical treatment of bipolar disorder.

But scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, praeseodymium, neodymium, prometheum, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium are all in very short supply that is getting shorter. All but the last of these are critical to one or another of our modern technologies, and chances are that lutetium has some yet undiscovered use. (The rare earth elements, in addition to being naturally extremely scarce, all have nearly magical and nearly irreplaceable properties.)

Rare earths are in your cell phone, your stainless steel appliances, your laptop computer, every hybrid car, the entire communications system, and in medical tools.

They were rare to begin with, are hard to mine and refine, and are located in very few places on the planet. China controls a substantial majority of the current world supply, and while there are untapped reserves in other places, getting to them is increasingly expensive, and the refinery of the ore is particularly toxic. It involves a lot of acid and generates a flood of highly poisonous waste water.

There are enormous political implications in our resource dearth as well. Many of us recall the OPEC oil embargo that triggered the first major ratcheting of gas prices in the last century (and arguably brought down the Carter administration in the U.S.) And there is little doubt that the G.W. Bush invasion of Iraq had everything to do with Iraqi oil reserves. China has already demonstrated that it’s willing to cut off delivery of its rare earth stores in response to international tension, as it did with Japan in 2010. Meanwhile China and India are forging new alliances with African nations to secure access to industrial feedstock.

More immediately, on a personal level

TO REPORT AN ERROR

The Asheville Daily Planet strives to be accurate in all articles published. Contact the News Department at news@ashevilledailyplanet.com, (828) 252-6565, or P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 28814-8490.

Cecil Bothwell at least, we are facing a major crunch in arable land. Here in the U.S. we aren’t likely to see famine in the very short term, but the global food supply is extremely precarious. It’s led China, in particular, to buy hundreds of thousands of acres of farm land in Africa and South America, principally for raising grains and nutritional oil crops. There is no economically viable substitute for rich topsoil and the reliable water supplies necessary to farming. The so-called “green revolution” has reached its apex with new varieties of high-yield plants heavily dependant on petroleum-based fertilizers and diminishing water resources.

What to do? Clearly there are no easy answers, but if we want our heirs to live comfortable lives there will have to be fewer of them. As we are sometimes reminded, if everyone on earth lived as we do in America, we’d need several more earths to fill the shelves.

Unfortunately, earth-like planets are even rarer than rare earths, at least in our immediate cosmic neighborhood.

We are going to need to adjust to new limits, whether we like it or not, and doing so intentionally and with good planning has it all over famine and war.

• Cecil Bothwell is a member of Asheville’s City Council and does not own a gun.

Letters to the Editor Continued from Page 18

Columnist’s notions of ‘radical fringe’ challenged

Cecil Bothwell wrote in a January 2013 article “Unplugging the trigger” in the Daily Planet: “But here, where gun ownership is extrolled by a radical fringe, gun ownership is extolled and gun deaths are relatively common.” (extrolled in article.)

Cecil again doesn’t mind labeling local mountain citizens as radical fringe, the ones he and his liberals have been pushing out replaced by a more normal “Little San Francisco?”

LifeNews Jan/2009 reported Bothwell wrote “the human fetus is a not a child, but a parasite.” Bothwell was born in Oak Park, Illinois, according to Wikipedia, home of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture.

I don’t remember anyone referring to Oak Park residences as parasites of their mothers, especially Frank Lloyd Wright’s son who was born there.

Fringe? Cecil needs to stop parroting the talking points of The New York Times’ elites in Gotham City. People who disagree aren’t fringe. They’re Americans ... many locals probably tired of Cecil’s ongoing rants.

I read Cecil was originally elected when only 14 percent of Democrats showed up at the voting booths. It allowed Cecil a win by, what, a fringe?

Gary Kallback Weaverville

Take city’s water system ... without compensation

House Bill 552, sponsored by Rep. Tim Moffitt and signed into law by Gov. (Bev) Perdue on June 28, 2012, directed the City of Asheville to turn over title to certain WNC Ag Center properties.

To this date, the city has not complied with this directive and instead contemplates action that would control the conduct of gun shows on those same properties.

In April 2012, the General Assembly’s Legislative Research Committee directed the City of Asheville to effect a merger of their water department with the county’s sewerage system into a reorganized, locallyoperated regional water authority that would continue the mission of serving water and sewer customers on a wider scale with greater efficiencies and fairer representation.

Instead, they have held an irrelevant and insular referendum, passed antagonistic resolutions, voted down reasonable proposals by MSD, conducted propaganda forums and coordinated oppositional activism, all aimed at thwarting the good faith process called for by the committee.

As with the Ag Center, the city has shown every sign of repeating a pattern of stubborn recalcitrance with the water merger and I urge the General Assembly to take full control of this matter and expedite the merger without compensation at its earliest availability.

TIM PECK Asheville

Planet’s editorial accused of lacking in compassion

Your blame-the-victim editorial (in January’s Daily Planet headlined “Why so unprepared in N.Y., N.J.?”) was as petty as it was mean-spirited.

The sort of damage requiring federal aid is, for one of many major examples, the billion and a half dollars of flooding damage to N.Y. University Hospital.

People preparing little bags of food for themselves has nothing to do with it.

William Eakins Asheville See LETTERS, Page 20

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20 - February 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet

Commentary

Republicans’ fixations show selfishness I think I understand why Republicans have the negative attitudes they do toward global warming, environmental protection and other “green” things. What I don’t understand is WHY. What I mean is, I see how they come to their ideology ─ we’ll discuss that later ─ but the great mystery to me is why Republicans don’t ask, “What if I’m wrong?”

After all, Republicans don’t KNOW that global warming is a hoax. It’s their belief ─ and melting icebergs should give at least some passing doubt.

But they roll on. This year in North Carolina, we will see decades of proven environmental protection policy swept away by the Republican-dominated General Assembly. Senate Bill 851, for example, has been through committees and is ready for action.

It reduces the Environmental Management Commission ─ the agency set up in the 1960s to see that N.C.’s environment is protected without hindering economic prosperity ─ from 13 to seven members.

The member slots eliminated?

The member experienced in health services, the one experienced in fish and wildlife conservation, three members interested in water and air pollution control, one

Lee Ballard who has special training in air pollution control and the effects of air pollution. The resulting makeup of the commission is a dramatic tilt away from real environmental protection. (Google “news observer unbalancing environment” for an insider’s view.)

The national GOP has taken a similar turn to extreme deregulation. Their 2008 Platform contained a section titled, “Addressing Climate Change Responsibilities.”

In the 2012 Platform, climate change is absent. Instead, they “call on Congress to take quick action to prohibit the EPA from moving forward with new greenhouse gas regulations.”

Why? What’s driving the GOP to positions that must necessarily be temporary?

After all, a major political party cannot possibly sustain narrow ideas like these over time. The icebergs ARE melting.

Rush Limbaugh and his followers oppose environmental management and

Letters to the Editor Continued from Page 19

Water system merger?

It will hurt everyone

In this time of fiscal crisis, the takeover of the Asheville water system proposed by the state and MSD will do no one any good. No government and no business or family will gain any benefit from it.

It is a taking, the equivalent of a condemnation, and one that violates our system of government. Since the Magna Carta and the Constitution, and even before, government responsibilities have always been shared between state and local governments, whether counties or municipalities. The roles played by state and local governments have always been mutually respected.

It is acknowledged that Asheville has been an excellent manager of the water system. For the city, the appropriation of the system would create a structural deficit in the city budget that will not be possible to fill except by raising the property tax.

MSD, presumably in agreement with state representatives, has proposed a level of compensation of $57 million over a 10-year period. Again, there is widespread agreement that this figure is far less than the true value of the system.

Apart from the gap between true value and proposed compensation, the method proposed for the compensation creates problems for all involved. This is because there is only one source of funds involved.

The only way to pay for any compensation is to raise the water rates paid by the businesses and residents who use the water.

There are no other funds that could be used.

City ratepayers would have to pay higher water rates for the compensation of their own city for losing the system, and since the compensation would only be partial at any rate, they would also have to pay higher real estate taxes to fill the budget gap.

Out-of-city Buncombe County water ratepayers would also have to pay higher

water rates for the proffered compensation to the city.

If Henderson County is added in, the same applies to those users. Their water rates would have to be raised to pay the compensation to the city.

And all of those paying the higher water rates would receive no water-system benefits whatsoever for their extra payments.

The money would simply be used for the extra expense of compensating the city.

Not a penny of it would be used to improve water quality or the efficiency of the water system.

And for the local governments of the state in general, this aggressive takeover of local resources and powers will probably usher in more of the same for others.

Finally, for the entire citizenry of North Carolina, whether in incorporated or unincorporated areas, the outcome would be disrupting local government to a dangerous and unprecedented extent. Local governments play indispensable roles in providing social services, police and fire protection and infrastructure for jobs and economic development.

I hope there will be a more rational approach in the best interests of water ratepayers and their valued local governments.

I hope the state will think this through before committing a serious mistake David G. Nutter Asheville • EDITOR’S NOTE: Nutter heads

everything else favored by “liberals.” It’s knee-jerk, not intellectual. And their influence is huge. Many Tea Party activists are included here.

But by far the greater influence on N.C. Republicans is the intellectual, ideological, Libertarian philosophy of Art Pope and his John Locke Foundation. Their first principle is the sanctity of private property.

It trumps everything else. They oppose environmental controls because, in their view, they violate private property ─ including the private property of corporations. Pope has the power in North Carolina right now, and his beliefs will be seen in the actions of our General Assembly.

(The 2012 GOP Platform, dominated by Libertarian views of the Tea Party, included this amazing bit: “Private ownership has been our best guarantee of conscientious stewardship, while the worst instances of environmental degradation have occurred under government control.” Think through the history of environmental success and have a good laugh.)

I understand their irritation. When I had to get clearance from Fish and Wildlife people to bridge my creek, I was annoyed.

But I understood that their regulations are

Nutter Associates, Community Planners & Development Professionals, based in Asheville. In a note to the Daily Planet, Nutter noted, “I am a city planner with experience in planning for water and other utility systems. My sources of information include reports issued by the Metropolitan Sewer District and the City of Asheville, attendance at Asheville City Council and Metropolitan Sewer District meetings and newspaper coverage over the past year.”

Water fluoridation story praised; questions raised

I want to commend you for your article about water fluoridation (in the December 2012 issue of the Daily Planet).

I also want to ask you if you are aware of the recent study conducted by Harvard University about water fluoridation? The study found a significant drop in IQ in areas most fluoridated, and even drops in IQ with small amounts of fluoride added to the water.

Here is a link to the study: http://www. hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/features/ fluoride-childrens-health-grandjean-choi. html I am also curious why there is no public debate about this? This is something the local TV station should take up....

William Connelly Asheville

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for the greater good of society (and, incidentally, I wanted their regulations to apply to upstream farms that were polluting my creak with chemicals).

When I think of the private property fixation of Art Pope Libertarians and the Tea Party, the word that comes to mind is “selfish.” The higher virtue, to me, is the higher good of society ─ now and generations to come.

So, again, I ask Republicans: Why? • Lee Ballard lives in Mars Hill.

LETTERS The Asheville Daily Planet invites Letters to the Editor of 200 words or less. Please include your name, mailing address, daytime telephone number and e-mail address.

For more information, call (828) 252-6565.

Send mail to: Letters, Asheville Daily Planet P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, NC 28814 Send e-mail to: letters@ashevilledailyplanet.com

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Asheville Daily Planet — February 2013 — 21

Case against women in combat? Here goes

By Bill Fishburne

Let’s get two things straight.

First, I write this with some qualifications. When I was young, I had the privilege of serving as an Army Special Forces A-Team Leader.

Between March 1969 and September 1970, I was assigned to the best-trained A-Team in the 8th Special Forces Group.

We were the High Altitude Low Opening military free-fall team, part of the Special Action Force for Latin American Nations.

There were 12 men on the team and we trained constantly.We learned to jump from aircraft flying at altitudes in excess of 30,000 feet, to land at night and move overland through difficult terrain to accomplish our objectives. It was hard, dangerous work.

Many men tried to do it, many failed. We were the fortunate few.

Second, I have strong opinions on women serving in any type of military position where they could come under hostile fire while under difficult physical conditions. This means the combat arms and specifically, infantry.

This entire discussion should never have been necessary. Ten thousand years of history demonstrates that with rare exception, men do the fighting and women do the supporting. Now, all of a sudden, in the name of equal opportunity, some of our political leaders have determined that it is good to send women out to fight and possibly be captured, maimed or killed.

Is there a sudden shortage of men?

Presume for the moment that you are an infantry squad leader. You are male.

Your squad (9 people) has you as the squad leader, two fire team leaders, two M249 machine gunners, two M203 grenadiers and two riflemen. The squad can be further split into two fire teams or other combinations as required.

You work together, you train together, you sleep and eat together. You know each other and you go off to combat together. There is nothing you, a typical male, would not do for your fire team buddies. If a soldier is wounded the medic is somewhere out there with the platoon leader. It’s up to his fire team buddy to tend to the wound and get him out.

So, the question: How will your fire teams be improved by replacing a man with a physically weaker woman? What is the direct benefit to the squad? Who carries out the wounded? And who gets the ticket home the very day she finds out she’s pregnant?

Uncomfortable yet? Has the rationalization begun? They have birth control, you say? Look at the example of political correctness in the Navy. On Oct. 30, 1990, the USS Acadia, a supply ship with a crew of 1,508 enlisted personnel and 87 officers

Commentary

deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Within three months 36 female members of the crew were determined to be pregnant and had to be transferred Stateside.

How did the Navy handle it? According to an Associated Press article published April 30, 1991, the most clueless man in the world, Lt. Commander Jeff Smallwood, a Navy spokesman, announced that even though more than half the pregnancies occurred after the ship was under way, “there were no indications of improper fraternization between men and women on the ship.

“These women have a right to get pregnant,” Commander Smallwood said. “The conclusion somebody is jumping to is that the Acadia is a love boat, and that’s not the case.”

That’s wrong on multiple levels. Arguably, female crew members, soldiers and airmen do not have the right to become pregnant during a tour of duty. Their duty is to fulfill their obligation to their unit and to their country. When they are pregnant they are sent home. When a soldier’s wife tells him she is pregnant back home, the male soldier sucks it in and wishes her well. There’s none of this PC “we’re pregnant” talk. She’s pregnant, he’s not.

Together, they are expecting a child. She stays home and runs the family. He does his duty with the military.

As for, “there was no fraternization,” what does that mean? Did the female sailors go to the bars at their ports of call and behave like male sailors? Are there no moral standards left? To believe otherwise would involve miracles, and to my knowledge there has been only one such miracle. Thirty six pregnancies on one supply boat, 1 out of each 10 women on board, is too hard to believe.

A female veteran of the Iraqi war who asked that her name not be used had this to say about her experience. “I saw the male combat units when I was in Iraq. They go outside the wire for days at a time. They eat, sleep, urinate and defecate in front of each other and often while on the move.

There’s no potty break on the side of the road outside the wire. They urinate into bottles and defecate into MRE bags.

I would like to hear a suggestion as to how a woman is going to urinate successfully into a bottle while cramped into a humvee wearing full body armor. And she gets to accomplish this feat with the male members of her combat unit twenty inches away. Volunteers to do that job? Do the men really want to see it? Should they be forced to?”

Finally, look at the equipment routinely carried by men in combat units. The basic combat load is what infantrymen carry when they go outside the wire. It varies by mission but at a minimum weighs about 48 lbs. It includes a nine-pound weapon, bayonet, ammunition (bullets are made out of lead and brass), body armor, web gear, water, Kevlar helmet, boots, medical kit and other essentials.

The Approach March Load is all the above but with more ammo, a small assault pack and a lightly loaded rucksack or poncho roll. The Army’s recommendation is not to exceed 72 lbs. This is roughly 40 percent of the body weight of the typical 20-year old infantryman.

It is more than half the body weight of the typical 130-140 lb. female soldier.

It also is a big load in relation to her height and significantly restricts her movement. As the basketball coach says, “you can’t teach 6’-5”” Finally in this vein, circumstances often require soldiers to carry even heavier loads through difficult terrain where support vehicles cannot accompany them to carry resupply or relief items. Under these circumstances larger rucksacks can be carried. The Army allows for loads of up to 120 lbs. for several days over rough-terrain distances of up to 20 km per day. In reality, 20 km on a map is often equal to three or four times that distance up and down, round and round. Rough terrain, heat, altitude, cold and other environmental factors can make 20 km totally impossible. One of those factors, obviously, is contact with the enemy.

Emergency loads are also feasible up to 150 lbs., although the Army says the distances this can be carried are limited and that “contact with the enemy should be avoided.” Really.

Then consider the airborne soldier who carries all the above plus 30 lbs. or more of parachutes. You quickly reach loads of over 200 lbs. and even the strongest of the males is barely able to waddle out to the airplane.

The physicality of the job cannot be overstated. I was 6’-2”, 175 lbs. during my time in the jungles of Central America. And there were many, many days and weeks when it took every bit of strength I had to do my job. Big frame, all muscle, stressed to the max and carrying incredible loads.

Meanwhile, in Vietnam, Infantrymen were doing much, much more day in and day out, in constant contact with the enemy. They went weeks

without washing. They threw away their underwear because it was so filthy and eventually learned never to wear it in the field. After they crawled through a creek or forded a river they had to stop to burn off the leeches with the tips of their cigarettes.

Those who haven’t been in field in the infantry and think of the Army as just another equal opportunity employer are either naive or malicious. Former Colorado Representative Patricia Schroder, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, was one of the first legislators to demand that women be given combat assignments. When the obvious physical differences between men and women were brought up, Schroder opined that the Army could develop “mechanical devices” to help women carry such loads in the field. None of the dim-bulbs in Congress thought to ask the obvious question: If such devices were available to increase strength, load-carrying and fighting abilities, why not give them to men?

Combat doesn’t make allowances. It finds weakness and kills it.

If women want to be in the infantry they have to carry the loads, endure the unendurable and have the courage and strength to close with and kill the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. And if they do, they will die in disproportionate numbers, as will those male soldiers who go to their aid. Slots that should be filled will be empty.

Male morale will plummet. Total disarray will result. All in the name of equal opportunity.

America’s politicians and military leadership should be dedicated to A) staying out of wars, and B) when that fails, winning the wars we do fight.

If we can figure how to obtain the benefits of females in the military without being dumb about it then more power to us.

In this issue, common sense should prevail. Men have an ingrained ychromosome-based need to protect women and God made us bigger, stronger and more aggressive so we could fulfill that role.

We should let nature take its course.

The laws of man should not go counter to the laws of nature. There is no glory in getting a bunch of young people killed on the altar of political correctness.

• Bill Fishburne is a writer who lives in Hendersonville.

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22 - February 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet

The Candid Conservative Continued from Page 22`

An American king .…

This November, America elected a monarch, not a president. There are important differences between the two models. In a monarchy, one person, through title, power, birth, or other special privilege is placed in control as a central authority. Obama has been treated as special since day one by his party, most media outlets, and a whole lot of hypnotized mascots. His arrogance of position before, during, and after any leadership action, regardless of outcome, further reveals his sense of specialness.

His czars, his deficit spending, and his propensity for ultra-expensive vacations reveal more of the Emperor and his new clothes.

The brightest point of light is found in one – his indifference to America’s historical governance model. If you ignore our courts – if you ignore our Congress – if you ignore the will of the people, you’re not a president, you’re a king. And you’re very dangerous.

created, power abused, and standards ignored by most politicos. Deficit spending, hyper-regulation, unfunded entitlements, and rules for everybody but themselves

protect their jobs – not ours. Putting it simply, government creates more demands than it satisfies. Growing government, and there is no other kind, assures shrinking people. Today’s political class follows the model of a typical child molester – strong on pretense, imagery, and seduction – ex-

ceedingly weak on morality, sincerity, and, yes, benevolence…

• Carl Mumpower, a former member of Asheville City Council, may be contacted at drmumpower@thecandidconservative.com

Defacing the dollar…

The other day I was handed a dollar bill stamped with the words “Abolish the Federal Reserve.” It’s against the law to deface money, but more power to the creative mind who took the time to send that message. In truth the Federal Reserve’s unimpaired ability to print green ink is defacing our currency with remarkable efficiency. If you trust the Fed, then you must be watching ABC, CBS, NBC or one of the other mainstream media outlets playing “ata-boy” with government. In truth the Fed has been wrong about almost everything.

They did not anticipate any of the crashes we’ve undergone, missed the mark on bank response to money infusions, and miscalled our economic recovery consistently. Worse, the Fed’s printing press is helping Congress and the President avoid action on tax policy, spending, and other problems. Like a patient with cancer, the Fed’s painkillers should not be confused with a cure for what ails us.

Changing classes .…

During the recent election, both sides pretended to champion the middle class.

Obama persistently pulled the middle-class trump card and Romney went so far as to promise a middle-class tax break. Neither candidate was honest or realistic. The middle-class has been losing ground for decades and most of our leaders have been asleep. Up until the sixties, one income was enough to support most families with a good life. Not a two cars and lap of luxury life, but a good life. Try that now and you’ll wind up in Obama’s food-stamp camp.

There are a million reasons we’re slipping, but the solutions are clear. We must excel and better the competition at producing products, services, food, materials, and other things the world needs. That’s it – it’s that simple. All the political jockeying, social reengineering, and whooping and wailing is simply a distraction. Smartly getting to work at being the best is the key to living best.

Government self-interest…

America is a war with itself. A house divided is certainly at risk for a fall. One of many bogus foundations for this division is the myth of government benevolence. The Obama-Biden team is masterful in selling the compassionate government versus corrupt capitalist argument. They’re half right.

Crony capitalism is not the same thing as an honest free market economy, but facts do not remotely support government as a contrasting good. Check stats on the wealth

Recycle to save our planet!

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Asheville Daily Planet — February 2013 — 23

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24 - February 2013 - Asheville Daily Planet