Re: Domestic Violence

In the Nov. 13 edition of the INDY (“A new approach“), there was a very well-done article by John H. Tucker focusing on using police and community pressure to deter domestic violence. Reading it, I was inspired to write this as a companion piece on the issue of domestic violence.

That the community can do more to prevent domestic violence is not in question. Still, my experience in law enforcement has shown me another large problem in dealing with domestic violence: individuals and communities who do not report crimes because they are afraid of law enforcement officers. Law enforcement agencies must have better outreach to the diverse communities in the county to ensure that a bond of trust is built. This will better ensure that all communities feel safe and protected.

People must not be afraid to call local law enforcement if they have a problem. Underreporting of domestic violence can be found in many groups, including racial minorities, LGBTQ communities and sexual assault victims (especially males). Building a “no-shame” policy around reporting such crimes is a must for all law enforcement agencies. Underreporting of crime is a disturbing but little talked-about issue. The solution above is
a broad approach for how to
begin to address it as a county.

If people are afraid to report, then criminals go unpunished and are emboldened to act against the community again. A forward-thinking law enforcement agency must build relationships of service and respect with all communities. In doing this we can have a better, safer county.

Keith Webster, Chapel Hill

The writer is running for election as Orange County sheriff.

Re: Mad about maddeningly

I write regarding the film review “Ghost town and country” in the Dec. 11 issue. It seems a copy editor choose “Nebraska is maddeningly dead-on” for a subtitle.
I take issue with the word choice “maddeningly.”

While it does exist in a dictionary, “maddeningly” is simply awkward. Just try and pronounce it! Who goes around saying “maddeningly” anyway? Seriously.

Like a whole lot of Maddens, I’m quite proud of my family name. According to my late grandfather, Madden used to be O’Madden but was generations ago altered to sound more American. As well, before U.S. immigration, the Gaelic family name was of other variations.

As a proud Madden, I find it consternating that the family name is used to somehow mean to anger, to infuriate, to make insane, to cause madness or to rage.

Besides, is the film Nebraska REALLY “dead-on” to the degree of causing anger, infuriation, insanity, madness or rage?

Really? I think not. Instead, the copy editor appears needlessly bombastic. (Yeah, “bombastic” is a SAT word, but at least people use it and are more able to pronounce “bombastic.” Plus, I’ve used it correctly.)

Bill Madden, Carrboro

Editor’s note: The copy editor did not write the subtitle; the culture editor did.

Re: Rev. Barber and Art Pope

Art Pope seems the better man of the year (“The Rev. Barber: Person of the Year,” Dec. 18). He promotes independence for people with policies promoting voluntary associationthat most effective of human solutions to cooperative living. And he helps puts resources back in the hands of citizens of the great state of N.C.

Live and help live, not live and raid the pocketbooks of other people’s money. Speaking of Barber, he seems to live by begging contributionstithes in his setting of religiosity.

It is a psychic temptation for the professionally religious to demand forced payouts, ostensibly to “help” third parties they designate. In the news, Barber is seen pursuing policies draining public resources for diversion to his pet audiences of captive voters. Nothing fair about that equation. Putting shared resources in wasted places where folk must lobby the Legislature for tax resources instead of creating honest value in voluntary exchange.

The Legislature has better things to do than promote risky business schemes, finance thinly disguised vote-buying ploys or funnel funds to insiders.Trading freely in an honest setting is wisest public policy and leads to the best durable results from learning to living. Independently. Let a thousand flowers bloom. Give peace a chance.

Dall Wilson, Raleigh