The Long Arm of Christ
Shannon Reichley’s recent media column (“Quality Time,” April 6) singled out The Charlotte World for giving one of our “thumbs up” to Scott Heldreth of Kannapolis. Heldreth and his family were among a group of Christians who stood vigil outside of Terri Schiavo’s hospice as she died. Heldreth’s 10-year-old son was arrested in the protests.
Reichley pointed out that the elder Heldreth is a registered sex offender. She is correct. As an 18-year-old, Heldreth was convicted of and served jail time for raping a college student. Heldreth was sent to prison for his terrible crime, and this prodigal pastor’s son subsequently turned his life over to Christ and both his heart and his behavior changed radically.
What Heldreth did was horrible, but what happened to him when he turned his life over to Christ has been transformative, and more than a decade of changed behavior bears witness to the transformation. Our “thumbs up” was in no way an attempt to sanitize or ignore his past, but only to affirm what we believe to be his current praiseworthy behavior — and, perhaps, to draw attention to a Savior whose healing arm is long enough to reach even sinners like Scott Heldreth, and me.
— Warren Smith, Publisher, The Charlotte World
We’re Not Freaks
My significant other and I have been into the BDSM lifestyle for over 10 years and it’s about time Charlotte and the surrounding area understand that we are not all a bunch of freaks. We both work and have “normal” lifestyles, but enjoy the adrenaline rush and trust involved in the Dominant/submissive relationship. I wanted to thank you for writing such a revealing and insightful article on this topic (“The Agony & The Ecstasy,” by Sam Boykin, April 6). Mr. Boykin is articulate and witty and an asset to journalism.
— Alison Henrich, Rock Hill
No Rape? No Pill
Eve is getting full of herself in the EC debate (“Plan B or Not to B,” by Karen Shugart, April 13). Or as others call it MAP (Morning-After Pill). First of all, if she’s not going public with her name, then she shouldn’t be able to go public to the press or Planned Parenthood with Presbyterian Health Care’s name. The patient’s confidentiality should go both ways unless a law was broken.
Also, this is the case of a woman who admits she wasn’t raped. The debate over EC or MAP has always been what to do with rape victims. Even pro-choice people should agree that non-rape victims shouldn’t use EC (MAP). Eve is arrogant to even put herself on the same plane as a rape victim. No one made her have unprotected sex. The responsible thing to do if you don’t want a kid is adoption. And next time, use a condom. Also, Eve apparently isn’t too concerned about diseases. Who goes around having sex without a condom? I’m surprised Planned Parenthood would want to be seen supporting a case that is a textbook example of how to catch a STD.
And no one was holding the keys to Eve’s car hostage. If you don’t like the doctor, get a second opinion. No doctor or pharmacist should be forced to break their conscience. This still is a free country.
And imagine the irony of having children at a Planned Parenthood protest for EC (MAP). These kids were fortunate not to get aborted. Those kids don’t understand the gravity of what their Mom supports, and if they did, they’d be frightened of their Mom. Not to mention Eve herself is 29. That’s younger than Roe v. Wade. I was also born after Roe v. Wade, and I’m thankful to God that my Mom loved me enough not to kill me. Anyone after Roe v. Wade having an abortion or taking EC (MAP) is just a hypocrite.
— Kenny Houck, Pineville
Charlotte A Musical Dead Space
It’s not easy being Indie. At least not in Charlotte, NC. You would expect a diverse city like Charlotte to host a variety of musicians and music lovers alike. Unfortunately, it seems that most of the Queen City receives its musical education from MTV, BET, or modern rock radio. Charlotte is in the heart of the dead space between Atlanta and Raleigh when it comes to live music. It seems like if I want to see a good indie or rock band I have to drive three hours. On a blue moon, I can catch a decent touring band at Tremont and there’s the occasional MC Chris show at Milestone.
I grew up in rural New Hampshire and even there I was exposed to seminal indie originators like Sonic Youth, Jawbox, and Fugazi. Hell, even my Mom’s boyfriend got me started on the Clash and Lou Reed when I was 12 years old. Why is it so hard to get past the current trends and open up to the very pulse of the music? There is more to life than getting all angsty in your bedroom, daydreaming about boys – or girls – and listening to All-American Rejects or some other pop-punk outfit. And where are the indie rock musicians? I’ve been trying to start a band in Charlotte since last fall and every available musician post that I read is for a “screamer” or a “straight-edge Christian 15-year-old, looking for a horror-core band.” I’m not trying to sound elitist, but go out and buy (or shhhh… download) some songs from Pavement, Braid, The Rapture, and The Wrens and get back to me.
— Brian McKinney, Charlotte
This article appears in Apr 20-26, 2005.
