Mr. Mike Harris (CHN, Dec. 30, bit.ly/Vpfysa) can be assured that I am serious when I suggested training and arming teachers.

That idea is not original with me. It is being considered and implemented in a number of states and locales including Ohio; my home area in Westmoreland County, Penn.; South Carolina; Utah and probably others now.

Like him, I also am saddened that we must take such steps in the wake of tragedies created by mentally disturbed individuals who should be in mental institutions. But until they are, we must be able to protect our students. And as he also suggested, we should consider the role that violent video games and movies play in instigating this violence by deranged individuals.

And yes, until we can improve our culture, it is hardly polarizing to take appropriate defensive steps. And note that these events seem to occur in “gun-free zones” by people who are deranged and may also be suicidal. The value of firearms possession in reducing crime has been extensively reported by John Lott along with the rise in crime and violence where firearms are prohibited in other countries.

Donald A. Holloway

Chapel Hill

Train your dog

Each year, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers proclaims January “National Train Your Dog Month.” The goal is to promote the importance of training and socialization to all dog owners.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, between 6 million and 8 million dogs and cats are turned in to animal shelters each year, and about 4 million are euthanized for lack of good homes. Studies by the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy have found that most dogs (and cats) are turned in for common behavior and training issues that could easily be solved with the assistance of a professional. In fact, research has found that training and socializing dogs when they’re young can reduce or even eliminate behavior problems in the future.

Since January is the time for New Year’s resolutions, it is the perfect time for the dog owners, and those who may be considering getting a dog, to learn about the importance of training. The APDT web site has a wealth of helpful information for pet owners at apdt.com/petowners. APDT’s other sites, trainyourdogmonth.com and mydoghasclass.com have additional tips and resources.

APDT and its over 6,000 member trainers are dedicated to helping keep dogs in homes, showing dog owners how to fully enjoy and have fun with their dogs, and to experience the joys of having a well-trained dog. Locally, pet owners can access resources available through K9 Kindness, at k9kindness.org.

Jenn Merritt

Blue Dog Creature Coaching

Efland

Milk, the other cliff

A frequent bugaboo of the “fiscal cliff” debacle was the “milk cliff” – the threat of milk price doubling, if Congress failed to extend dairy subsidies. Parents were forgoing other necessities, because their children “had to have milk.”

Most industries would gladly give up their tax loopholes for that kind of product loyalty. But this one is totally undeserved.

Consumption of dairy products, laden with saturated fats, cholesterol, hormones, and drugs elevates the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. This is particularly critical during childhood years, when dietary flaws become lifelong addictions.

A study of 12,829 children by Harvard Medical School found that drinking cow’s milk leads to weight gain.

Several proteins in cow’s milk can thicken mucus secretions leading to respiratory problems in children.

Most African-Americans and Asian-Americans suffer from cramping and diarrhea because they lack the enzyme to digest lactose in cow’s milk.

The good news is that green leafy vegetables and legumes supply all the calcium and proteins touted in cow’s milk, without the excess calories and other yucky factors noted. Every supermarket offers a huge line of dairy-free milks, cheeses, and ice creams made from healthy nuts and grains.

This is why USDA’s current Dietary Guidelines for Americans, shunt dairy (and meat) off the recommended plate of vegetables, fruits, and grains.

Cow’s milk is produced for bovine – not human babies. Let’s give our kids a healthy start!

Colin Barnett

Chapel Hill

Oh, Wishmas Tree

I would like to thank everyone personally who donated to our first annual “Wishmas” tree. This initiative has been a huge success and our shelter pets will benefit from this for the new year.

I am truly touched at the compassion that has been shown by the community for these animals. It never ceases to amaze me how people are willing to help those that are in need. This has been a success and we will continue this in the years to come.

Again, thank you to all who found it in their hearts to donate to the shelter pets.

Leigh Anne Garrard

Director

Chatham County Animal Control

Resist extremism

The North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP is circulating a petition with hopes that the new leadership in Raleigh will govern moderately in the face of extremist political influences in the state. The petitions will be delivered later this month to the leadership of both parties in the N.C. General Assembly and the governor by the N.C. NAACP and members of the Historic Thousands on Jones Street (HKonJ) People’s Assembly Coalition.

The petition reads, in part:

“We believe in order to fulfill this constitutional mandate, to rule ‘for the good of the whole,’ our leaders must commit themselves to the following nonpartisan values: 1) Economic sustainability, addressing poverty, full employment, living wages, disparate unemployment and labor rights, affordable housing, targeted empowerment zones and fair tax reform; 2) educational equality – every child deserves a high-quality, well-funded, constitutional, diverse public education – and access to community colleges and universities; 3) health care for all and ensuring access to Medicare and Medicaid, Social Security and providing environmental protection; 4) addressing the continuing inequalities in the criminal justice system for black, brown and poor white people; and 5) protecting, defending and expanding voting rights for all people.

Persons wishing to sign on to the petition can click on bit.ly/118nGnU

Click on bit.ly/V3e2zN for the full text of this petition.

The Rev. William J. Barber

Durham

The writer is the president of the N.C. NAACP.

Independent poem

I write this letter and poem as a former Republican, now an Independent, not out of anger but out of a desire for better federal, state and local governance to serve all the people vs. the ideology of a few.

It is my prayer that officials can come to prizing vs. demonizing compromise. We can do it! Almost all Americans pray for our country to come together to truly help each other and those in other countries. True help. The same kind of help Scrooge was able to deliver when he found out he wasn’t too late.

Prizing Vs. Demonizing Compromise

Congressional Republicans, heedless of election,

Voting as a block,

Resemble lemmings, walking fiscal-cliffward,

Soon falling off high rock.

Instead of leading they choose to follow

Tea party ideology;

Ignoring needs of nation and middle class,

Protecting selves vs. helping country.

Unless they change, they will look back,

Seeing reason for their demise:

Right-wing extremism vs. governing from center,

Demonizing compromise.

Forrest W. Heaton

Pittsboro