Band making noise is childish, uncivilized

I am writing in response to a letter submitted by Tara Carver on Dec. 3, in which she crucifies the band and fellow Newton-Conover fans for not being spirited enough.

One point Ms. Carver makes is that the band brought very few members to Nov. 28's game against Mountain Heritage. That day was the day after Thanksgiving. Members of our band were out of town, spending time with their families.

Personally, I don't care if our football team wins a state championship. Family will always be more important than football.

It is also mentioned that we didn't play enough. As a member of the band, I can tell you that with fewer people, it is hard to play certain songs. We also don't play during timeouts and when we're on offense.

Cheering and playing music is understandable, but making noise to be noisy is childish and uncivilized.

Ms. Carver chastises Newton-Conover fans for not being excited to her standards.

I would like to know where she was sitting, because from where I was, Newton-Conover had a happy and sparked sideline.

I am a diehard football fan. I played football for Newton-Conover. Maybe if Ms. Carver wishes to criticize the way Newton-Conover is, perhaps she should find another team.

John Tinkelenberg
Conover

Band has lot to do besides play at games

I was sorely disappointed in Tara Carver's comment regarding the Newton-Conover band at the third round of the football playoff (Dec. 3). For those who are unaware, the band is acting as a marching band when it performs at games. The competitive marching season has been over since the beginning of November, which means the band is going the extra mile by playing at playoff games, especially one over Thanksgiving break.

A band's priorities for December do not feature performing for football games. The band typically has a Christmas concert to prepare for, and some bands have a parade, then an important spring competition, Festival, as well as individual auditions for a variety of ensembles.

Shame on you for fussing at them. Unless a person is active in a high school or college marching band, it's very difficult to have the authority to say what Ms. Carver did, because that person really has no idea how the band's schedule runs.

Elizabeth Purvis
Hickory

Trust in government intervention misplaced

"The (Bush) Administration's blind eye to the impending (financial) crisis is emblematic," says Associated Press' Matt Apuzzo, "of a philosophy that trusted market forces and discounted the need for government intervention in the economy" ("U.S. caved in to pressure on lending regulation," Dec. 2).

Nonsense. The Bush administration embraced government intervention in the economy to close a home ownership gap between whites and minorities. Illustration: January 2004 Department of Housing and Urban Development press release: "Bush Administration Announces New Zero Down Payment' Mortgage."

The Bush administration did not trust market forces to accomplish its social engineering goals. Likewise, Democrats in Congress — and President Clinton earlier — share the Bush faith in government intervention.

Note these prophetic words from a New York Times report in 1999 on the Clinton administration's decision that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could thenceforth satisfy government-imposed affordable housing obligations by purchasing subprime mortgages:

"In moving, even tentatively, into this new area of lending, Fannie Mae is taking on significantly more risk, which may not pose any difficulties during flush economic times. But the government-subsidized corporation may run into trouble in an economic downturn, prompting a government rescue similar to that of the savings and loan industry in the 1980s."

("Fannie Mae eases credit to aid mortgage lending," New York Times, Sept. 30, 1999).

Trust was misplaced all right — trust in government intervention.

Tom Shuford
Lenoir