I have been a reader of The News Virginian in excess of 30 years and after returning from a week’s vacation July 18 I looked forward to reading the missed papers that were delivered July 20.

Columnist Nelson Graves eulogizing Michael Jackson (“Michael: Better than greats,” July 2)? Just where is he coming from? He can’t be serious listing the greatest composers of history on the same page as Jackson. It’s sacreligious.

Nelson, your column (“Discrimination gains new life,” July 9) showed us a side we have not seen before. You can talk out of both sides of your mouth.

Nelson Graves just can’t get it through his head that the Civil War is over (“Discrimination gains new life,” July 9). The white people today had nothing to do with slavery.

As a private citizen, I am not privileged to see or read what any of you do, but I sincerely think others need to see and read everything. A special prosecutor, grand jury or other course of action needs to be addressed.

Unsurprisingly, the march toward an Orwellian, one-world government/one-world currency has not missed a step with the recent transition from President George W. Bush to President Barack Obama.

The 2009-10 budget is finally in place. The citizens of Waynesboro now know the City Council represents no one, except maybe city employees.

Having read Nelson Graves’ racially slanted rants in past issues, I am not surprised by his ranking Michael Jackson above the historically recognized masters of composition (“Michael: Better than greats,” July 2).

We need controls on big corporate agribusinesses to improve the conditions under which our food is raised and distributed.

I would like to encourage pastors to develop and preach a sermon series entitled, “What is happening to our nation and why,” based on 2 Timothy 3-4:8.

This letter is in regard to Nelson Graves’ column (“Three cheers for government,” June 18).

Mr. Graves seems to think that with a Democrat leading the government the ever-falling Social Security fund doesn’t still owe $2 trillion to our trust fund in worthless IOU’s out in Parkersburg, W.Va., all because our government hasn’t taken the annual surplus of billions of dollars each year to put in the general fund. It has happened through many decades with both parties at fault.

I’m afraid that Gene Lyons lost me in his June 22 column (“Sickly talk about fixing health care”) supporting President Barack Obama’s plan to establish a government-run health insurance plan, the purpose of which, to quote Obama, is to “keep the insurance industry honest.”

When I was younger and had the time and inclination, I would often go backpacking with friends. We tried to live by a simple rule: leave behind a better place than you found. It is a simple rule and I do my best to live up to it, to leave no burdens behind. Always.

On Afton Mountain, picture this

Another open letter to Nelson Graves:

Please do not commit a crime anywhere, especially in Waynesboro.

In reference to a story Wednesday in The News Virginian (“Judge upholds 22-year sentence for embezzlement”), where a jury recommended almost 23 years in prison for a woman convicted of embezzlement, the sentence was upheld by the judge.

Judge Sonia Sotomayor should not be confirmed to the Supreme Court.

Waynesboro has heroes.

I fully understand concern about showing more of the despicable acts that were carried out in our name.

We are a nation who has lost our way and no one is willing to point out how we got off course. If I have a ‘prized watch’ that’s broke I would take it back to the original “watchmaker” and get it fixed. No one wants to point out what needs to be done to fix it, and what needs to be done to get this nation back on course.

I am asking that you support Sen. Creigh Deeds in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.

Creigh is a friend. When I had my period of illness, Creigh was there. He called, he cared and he wanted to help.  When our sons would go against each other in soccer at Buffalo Gap and Bath County, he would be there. We would stand by the fences being dads supporting and yelling for our kids. He is a man who is traditional enough to still have his pastor over for supper but current enough to know the need to author legislation like Megan’s Law.

Notice to Waynesboro taxpayers: We cannot afford another tax increase.

We’re already paying more in taxes on water, sewer and garbage through higher rates and fee charges.

On Oct. 6, 1938, Sir Winston Churchill made a speech pertaining to the Munich Agreement with Germany. I have paraphrased it in a portrayal of today’s U.S. economy:

“Our loyal and brave people should know that there has been gross neglect in the way we do business. They should know that we are sustaining unending wars, the consequence of which will travel far with us along our road. They should know that we have passed a milestone (stimulus package) in our history when the whole financial equilibrium of our country has been deranged and that terrible words for the time being have been pronounced pertaining to our economy.

Never have so many, having been given so much, done so little to stop the plundering of their nation. Our financial system and investments are being destroyed. Washington incompetence is also subversive, rewarding financial fraud and punishing the productive private sector. The government can’t manage Social Security but now will run the auto industry, energy and health care. The U.S. Constitution is violated every day by unauthorized nationalization, power grabbing, manipulation and control.

In her May 10 letter (“Hooray for free speech”), Kathryn Bass references the Miss America Organization in her comments about the controversy over Miss California’s gay-marriage statement. However, having once volunteered with the MAO on a local level, I would like to respectfully point out that Miss America actually had nothing to do with this situation.

As spring and summer approach and we get out more, we tend to drive more. As such, it is time to focus on the use of seatbelts and child-safety seats across our area. From May 18-31, the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office will join with law enforcement agencies across Virginia and the nation to crack down on all motorists breaking traffic laws, with an emphasis on seatbelt and child-safety seat use. Special checkpoints and other stepped-up law enforcement activities will be held throughout this Click It or Ticket mobilization.

I’ve known state Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath County, since 1991.

Kudos to Joseph D. Snodgrass, of Stuarts Draft, for his support of free speech (“A crown of thorns rewards free speech,” April 23).

This is a letter of facts, reality, and not given to emotionalism.