"To die for an idea; it is unquestionably noble. But how much nobler it would be if men died for ideas that were true." -- H.L. Mencken

The Carolina Thread Trail, a bold vision for hundreds of miles of interconnected trails and greenways in 15 Carolinas counties, has taken me in many new directions. One unexpected direction was toward Europe, where our delegation visited trail systems in three regions anchored by cities comparable in size to Charlotte.

I had not planned on writing a letter about the airport flap until I read York County Manager Jim Baker's unwarranted attack on my fellow Airport Overlay District protester, Scott Ball. Mr. Baker used a tactic right out of Government Management 101 -- if you can't defeat the argument, personally attack your opponent and nitpick about a couple of the points. But more on that later.

It's happening again. Crescent Resources and Allison Creek Partners want to develop approximately 1,400 acres around Lake Wylie. This tract stretches from S.C. 49 to S.C. 274 in the Clover community. For those unfamiliar with this area, land is currently zoned for urban, commercial and industrial development. Rezoning case 08-28 proposes to rezone this tract to Planned Development. This will allow development of residential, retail and office space. Ultimately, Crescent seeks to build on 2,300 acres.

Your recent article about Alex Haefele and his candidacy for the York County Council has prompted me to "get off the sideline" regarding the opposition to the Airport Overlay District, which has now turned into general opposition against the airport.

The war in Iraq is much more than the "dark cloud" that Terry Plumb sees hanging over U.S. domestic and foreign policy (Plumbline, April 6). That war -- judged by critics at home and abroad as illegal and immoral -- is more a black hole sucking in Iraqi and American lives and billions in wasted resources. There can be no nice and tidy diplomatic solution to this madness. Expecting one is nothing more than wishful thinking by those desperate for an end to it all. The only way out is to get out -- pull all U.S. troops out of Iraq now. Cut and walk.

The purpose of this letter is to inform the citizens of Rock Hill of the ongoing dastardly treatment of the members of the Baha'i faith in Iran.

York County Councilman Rick Lee recently made the following statement: "It's like people who buy homes around the farms and then complain about the chickens."

Recently, one of my students asked me just how many presidents in American history actually had been ready from day one in office since today's candidates seem to be making such a big deal out of it. Indeed, not long after I was asked that question this issue became the cover story for a couple of the national news magazines and countless pontifications by the talking heads on TV, Internet, and radio.

I suppose it was a forgone conclusion that the lawmakers in the S.C. General Assembly who pushed for and got their Act 388 would now bury their heads in the sand and ignore the problems created by their short-sighted law.