Friday’s Letters to the Editor

• Schallenberger needs mental evaluation

I feel that a mental evaluation of Ryan A. Schallenberger is definitely in order.

All newspaper accounts of Schallenberger’s behavior suggest a mental problem; maybe he’s had a psychotic break. The only rational way to know is to have trained mental health professionals determine if he is competent.

Schallenberger’s case also emphasizes the need for everyone to visit the National Association on Mental Illness Web site and every school district to offer, as Richland 2 does, the Breaking the Silence program, which teaches young people about mental illness.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health: “Mental disorders are common in the United States and internationally. An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.”

In view of the facts, I firmly believe that a mental evaluation is necessary for Schallenberger to receive appropriate and fair treatment.

ANNE IMPERATO COLGATE

Columbia

• Blander mascot should please everyone

I was saddened to see Newberry College stripped of its nickname by the NCAA. I’m a fairly open-minded person, but I can’t imagine how the name “Indians” could offend anyone when used as a mascot.

I have a suggestion for a replacement name. From now on, Newberry could be known as the “Fighting Caucasians.” We can change the school colors, too, as I’m sure the color red offends someone for some reason. Maybe local rednecks don’t like the color red being used by a sports team and deem it degrading.

Let’s have Newberry adopt the colors white and off-white. Maybe then Newberry can regain the dignity of having a mascot bland enough to make everyone happy.

The dance team can be known as the White Girls. The mascot can be some large white guy with a pocket protector and wing tips.

Go Newberry. A good team in desperate search of a mascot. Good luck.

JAKE MOORE

West Columbia

• Abstinence is only right way to go

In her letter Monday, Deborah Billings argues that abstinence-only programs “restrict and distort information about condoms, an effective method for protecting against sexually transmitted infections.” That may be the case, but wouldn’t abstinence eliminate the need for condoms?

Ms. Billings would no doubt respond that youth need to know about condoms “just in case” they decide not to practice abstinence.

This assumption shows a misunderstanding of the nature of the problem. Sex outside of marriage is wrong — it is a violation of the sanctity of marriage, of one’s responsibility toward his fellow man and of the law of God. To say that young people have a choice between abstinence or non-abstinence is to say that a person has a choice between robbing a bank or not robbing a bank. Both choices are not merely matters of personal health — they are matters of right and wrong.

Similarly, to provide condoms or even education about condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases is equivalent to providing a bank robber with guns and a mask to prevent his being caught — it encourages irresponsible and wrongful behavior.

I am a young person, and I want to remind my peers that STDs are the consequences of irresponsibility and selfish behavior, and abstinence is the only foolproof way of preventing them.

ANDREW LONON

Eastover

• Building highlights our benighted vision

Building a multi-story structure with two floors of parking in Five Points will demonstrate our visionary civic commitment to encouraging individual fuel consumption, discouraging funding and use of good-quality public transportation and sheltering our cars rather than our destitute veterans and other homeless people.

STEPHANIE MORRIS

West Columbia

• Underground garage might end dispute

I have been reading various comments dealing with the Kenny’s development.

It seems that most of the disagreements are over the structure’s height. Have any of the plans or designs looked into building the parking garage down three stories and building the retail spaces and condo three stories up?

I’m sure this would cost considerably more, but wouldn’t this design suit all involved? It could also help address the flooding of Five Points that occurs every so often.

BILL VANCA

Columbia

• Winnsboro putting on great ‘Streetcar’

Last Saturday evening, I had the pleasure of going to the Pine Tree Playhouse in Winnsboro to see “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams.

As someone who has seen a lot of amateur and professional performances, I was not expecting much.

Imagine my surprise when I saw a high-quality performance by a group of amateurs, many of whom had never been on stage before.

The director and her crew made great use of a tiny stage, and the actors took full advantage of it.

Not all the good theaters in the Midlands are in Columbia. If I can get in, I’m going back this weekend.

WILLIAM B. “BARRY” WILSON

Columbia