Abbey Court tenants making a difference

For about two weeks, many tenants of Abbey Court apartments, most of whom are Latino, were denied their parking permits on the pretext of scuffed paint and minor dents. Those who dared to continue parking in the resident parking area without a permit had their cars towed away.

By July 24, the tenants had enough. That night, neighbors of various ethnic backgrounds gathered around a truck that was trying to tow one more car. According to one report, on that hot evening the management at Abbey Court feared a riot. But what actually happened was, for the management, worse than a riot -- it was a peaceful revolution. The tenants got organized. A courageous 17-year-old orchestrated a demonstration, talked to the mayor, and contacted the media. Residents even created a bilingual website, www.abbeycourt.info, to "protect [them]selves" and "defend [their] rights as tenants."

People who riot merely vent their frustrations. But people who get organized -- they can start a revolution that makes a difference. -- Hugo Olaiz, Carrboro

Immigrants could pay education bills

On July 2, The Chapel Hill News published a column by the Rev. Maria Palmer entitled "Immigration Dilemma." This dilemma was identified as the one facing a foreign child who is graduating from high school, does not have papers required for public institutions, and lacks the resources for a private higher education.

To this dilemma the Rev. Palmer applies Jesus' teachings in the parable of the Good Samaritan and concludes that this community or someone in this community could provide an all expenses-paid education to the student's school of choice. Moving from this scenario the Rev. Palmer also discussed her "more modest" proposal as being that of the new Orange campus of Durham Tech.

As I ponder this immigration dilemma, it occurs to me that there is yet a third solution, a solution which is guaranteed to succeed. As we know, for it is a well-established fact, on pay day for undocumented workers many thousands of dollars leave the Chapel Hill/Carrboro community for the workers' countries of origin. Consider what could result if the undocumented community came together around this immigration dilemma. They could decide that every fourth, or even every sixth pay period, the amount of money that each worker would normally send out of this country would instead be deposited into a college education savings account for the undocumented high school graduates.

Not only would the account grow with lightening speed, but it would also be available upon demand. And each of the contributing workers would have the satisfaction of helping to provide a higher education not only for their own children but also for the other undocumented children within their community.

And therein lies the village that it takes to raise the child. -- Martha E. Giles, Carrboro

Each new life adds to tapestry

Steven Salmony: You asked of the advantage of large families? (News July 30) I accept!

It is the same, small or large: To dance, to sing, to laugh, to overcome, share, and more - all as a family. Each new life added to a small or large family enhances that family and the entire human tapestry. Life adds. Life does not subtract.

You also ask how much longer the earth can support humanity. You say only 50 years. We've been here 100,000. Most likely, we'll thrive another 100,000 more. The multitude of earth's resources combined with human creativity yields an ever improving cycle of human life. Read about the Simon-Ehrlich wager. Like clockwork, scientists and economists falsely predict maximum sustainable population numbers (yours = 9.2 billion) where we outstrip resources leaving humanity destitute and starving. Yet, we blast through each number only to be told the "real" number lies just before us.

Consider our population today: Earth holds more people than ever before. According to your logic, we should be besieged and struggling in a Malthusian catastrophe. Yet, life spans are longer. Humanity has more abundance, with less hunger and suffering. Our larger population enjoys a better quality of life than any before in human history. Using facts, not predictions or guesses, the casual relationship between population growth and quality of life is proven positive, not negative.

Do not fall prey to pseudo science or economics which falsely rationalize a religious-like belief in the end-of-the-world. False prophets claim to accurately predict the future and then demand we "repent." Such repentance requires we stop living life as we know it. Doomsday cults, such as yours, often collapse upon themselves in mass suicides.

Steven, you will find the answers you seek -- literally and figuratively -- around a large-family's bountiful dinner table on Thanksgiving Day. -- Brian Lawe, Chapel Hill

Town considering police review board

The Chapel Hill Town Council is currently considering a petition asking them to create a Civilian Police Review Board (CPRB).

The groups sponsoring this petition (NAACP, Bill of Rights Defense Committee, WIL and Elders for Peace) are concerned that there be created an effective means through which the community and the police can work together to ensure constitutionally protected freedom of speech and assembly. Rash arrests, such as in the Burger King case, cannot be closed simply by dismissing the case before trial because such arrests stifle lawful protest and free speech. A CPRB affords citizens an avenue thru which grievances; expressions of concerns and recommendations can be expressed.

The petition suggests that the CPRB be composed of a former mayor, a former District Court judge, a former Town Council member and representatives from NAACP, the Hispanic community, the Ministerial Alliance and the UNC student government.

Establishment of a CPRB by Chapel Hill could serve as a model for other North Carolina communities, an appropriate role for the university community.

Keep your eyes upon Town Council as it moves toward a decision about this matter by September of this year. -- Barry Freeman, Chapel Hill