http://hamptonroads.com/node/32092 Readers' Opinions en-us Copyright 2009 PilotOnline.com / HamptonRoads.com. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:54:07 -0500 I am outraged that President Obama would bow to any foreign leader, but most especially to the Emperor of Japan. My father was a Bataan Death March survivor and told me stories of GIs being bayoneted to death for not bowing deeply enough for their Japanese captors. In the last 60 years, Japan has become our good ally and a first-class economic power. But the submission of Obama was a clear insult to millions of veterans who suffered and died to ensure our leaders would never have to bow to any foreign potentate. President Obama owes the few survivors of this period, who suffered at the hands http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/sign-submission Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:00:02 -0500 Re 'Activists in insurance debate forget who's really affected,' David Ashe op-ed, Nov. 15: This was the clearest explanation of President Obama's health care plan that I have read. Ashe succinctly laid out the points in a way that can be easily understood by the average person, without the confusing rhetoric that has been coming from both supporters and opponents of the plan. It is such an important issue that I believe you would do our community a great public service by reprinting it. Everyone who may be affected by the plan needs to read that column.Henry P. HensonNorfolk http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/clarity-health-care Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:00:02 -0500 Re 'Curb predatory lenders,' letters, Nov. 16: The writer, a registered lobbyist for the South Carolina-based Center for Responsible Lending, advocated for a 36 percent interest cap on loans in Virginia. What she failed to mention, however, is that for short-term payday lenders, a 36 percent cap is effectively a ban. Her proposal would plunge hundreds of Virginia employers into bankruptcy in the middle of an unemployment crisis. Evaluating a two-week loan by its annual interest rate makes no sense. Just as hotel prices are quoted by the night, not the year, two-week loans should be judged by t http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/rebuttal-predatory-lenders Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:00:02 -0500 We have lived in Colonial Place for 20 years and are big Norfolk advocates. The prospect of being without power for several days after a storm is not new but led us to call local hotels on Friday. One place was full, another quoted full rates though it was without cable and Internet, and we received a terse, 'You better provide your credit card now because we only have one room left at $300.' Is that really the Friday night rate right on the Elizabeth River? So we called the 31st Street Hilton in Virginia Beach, and imagine our pleasant surprise at being told right away that they noticed this http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/holiday-beach Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:00:02 -0500 The high tide of the recent northeast storm has passed, and the sun is shining, but the word 'nor'easter' remains, and I guess it will continue to appear in print and on TV weathercasts. It was on the front page of the Nov. 15 edition of The Pilot in the caption of the photo of the huge beached vessel at Sandbridge. The use of the word 'nor'easter' has been called a 'festering sore in today's marine and weather journalism.' I think it survives because it is apparently an irresistible example of fake authenticity and, as such, is often used in newspapers and by broadcasters (especially TV weat http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/north-vs-south-noreaster Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:00:02 -0500 Gay marriage is inevitable Re: '0 for 31 on gay marriage,' letters, Nov. 12: I take exception to the writer's ironic objection to 'forced affirmation of homosexuality under penalty of law,' while then suggesting a federal amendment banning homosexuality. If the writer objects to asserting one's own moral view through law, he should object to asserting his own. While it is perfectly reasonable for religious groups to not recognize a union contradictory to its teachings, it is equally unreasonable for our society not to allow two consenting adults to legally arrange their lives and receive the s http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11-0 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:00:01 -0500 Re 'Eager For Christmas,' letters, Nov. 8: The writer cannot contain his excitement for the 'season of giving' when he first noticed the first Christmas commercials prior to Halloween. But the season of giving should be year round and not just at Christmas. As hard as it is now with the economy, joblessness, war and everything else that might have us question the goodness of it all, it might not hurt to try a little of the spirit of the season year round as well.Leslie Allen DraperNorfolk http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/christmas-spirit Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:02 -0500 I find it hard to believe that Virginia Beach City Council members don't realize we dislike the visual spam of billboards even more than we dislike electronic spam in our e-mail. At least with e-mail, we can hope our spam filter will stop it.Grant LewisVirginia Beach http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/roadside-spam Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:02 -0500 Re 'Mid-Currituck Bridge ready to roll,' editorial, Nov. 15: Your editorial supporting the mid-Currituck toll bridge makes reference to the project's safety and environmental benefits. These claims warrant a bit of skepticism.If environmental benefits to Maple Swamp are a factor, why are large swaths of forests throughout the swamp being clear-cut? When the new road is finished, will the remaining forest be protected? If hurricane evacuation is a major concern, why was development allowed to expand beyond the capacity of existing infrastructure? The editorial cites a 2007 traffic study that, b http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/dubious-bridge-claims Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:02 -0500 The breast cancer task force admits that mammography screenings in woman between the ages of 39 and 49 reduces the risk of death by 15 percent. It suggests the 'unnecessary treatment' can cause pain from biopsies, anxiety and distress. I would choose a slight discomfort from biopsies, a little anxiety and distress to prevent possible death from breast cancer. What is most frightening is that this task force sets the standards for the preventive services that insurance would be required to cover. This could translate into no covered screenings for women under 50. Apparently, the task force has http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/breast-cancer-roulette Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:02 -0500