Published: May 10, 2008 04:05 pm            

Reader's Forum: Sunday, May 11

Remember mom!

May 11 is a very special day for mothers all over the world, it’s called “Mother’s Day.”

I would like to take this time to wish all the mothers of Vigo County and the surrounding area a very, very happy Mother’s Day, especially to all the mothers who are going to be forgotten on the day by their children who they have cared for, nourished and protected as a female parent.

So if you are reading my article, please put the paper down, pick up the phone and call your mother wish her a happy Mother’s Day and tell her how much you love her. You see, I don’t have that luxury anymore, as my mother is deceased and that day will also come for you, so do it while you can.

God Bless all of you moms.

— Charlie Barth

Terre Haute



Justice rises to the top of High Ground

Around 1810 or so, there stood serenely, a village of Wea Indians on what would be the future location of Terre Haute, only a few miles south of the soon-to-be-built Fort Harrison. The sun would rise, the sun would set, the moon and stars cartwheeled overhead in majestic procession.

None thought of the impending civilization which would become “High Ground.” And yet, the time would come when people would gather together to form a community, although the Wea Indians would have preferred they not. Still, the community thrived, loved, lost and grew into today.

Now the “High Ground” has found its power and risen up from complacency to deliver poetic justice and ensure that the will of the American people shall tolerate no judicial impropriety. No one person may alone, or in complicity with another, circumvent the Constitution to deny justice by a jury of peers. No one person may judge fate and circumstances.

In this respect, the people of the “High Ground” and the Wea Indians share a common desire … justice.

It is said that a wise old man once declared, “good riddance to bad rubbish.”

— James C. Wallace II

Terre Haute



Social Security is our money

This is in response to Ann McCammon’s letter of Sunday, April 20, 2008.

How can you ever think Social Security is welfare? Welfare is government funded, Social Security is really not government funded, although they act like it is. Welfare is food stamps, Medicaid, and housing that government pays for. The government doesn’t pay one thin dime to Social Security, that’s put away for retirement for the elderly, which you and your employers pay into, not the government, although they use it like it belongs to them.

That’s our money for our retirement, not to help support the lazy ones who won’t work or pay into it, and for the government to send billions to foreign countries.

Maybe you’re the one who had a poor teacher in high school in government and economics. And no, not everyone is entitled to Social Security, only the ones of us who weren’t afraid to work for years and years for it.

And it is not a government giveaway and yes we are due Social Security. When you pay for something all your life, it belongs to you, and we are rightfully due it, whether you think so or not. You are complaining about Medicare premiums and supplemental insurance, how did you think the government was going to put the money back in Social Security, that they keep telling us it won’t last much longer, because they have spent our money for welfare recipients and foreign aide? They have to get it back somehow, that’s the way they make retirees pay for something else they can’t afford.

My husband worked hard all his life and paid into it so he could retire. He was a farm hand most all his life to help put food on your and our table and that’s not easy work — 12 and 14 hour days seven days a week. We’re not complaining about that, but for you to say Social Security is welfare is just a little much. Both of us have earned every dime of Social Security we get, which I’m sure you and your husband have too, but don’t classify us as welfare recipients, OK?

Welfare state doesn’t mean everyone is on welfare. I know there are some special occasions where people have to live on welfare and those of you who are, I’m not knocking you down, I know there are some circumstances beyond anyone’s control, which is good the government can help all of you, and there is nothing wrong in that. But Mrs. McCammon, don’t say us retirees are on welfare, that’s not government.

So it seems you need to step back and take a deep breath and accept Social Security for what it really is, not a government handout. We worked for every penny we drew, all of us.

Now I’ve had my say the same as you did, but I’m sure you will have a rebuttal. But that’s OK, it’s a free country, or so it’s supposed to be.

Yes, FDR started the WPA. Do you call that welfare also? I don’t because people worked their behinds off to get that dollar a day to take home. My dad did it. The same people who worked their behinds off yesterday and today to pay into Social Security so they can have a retirement on top of what they can save, if that’s possible in this day and age.

You don’t have to work to draw welfare, but you do have to work to draw Social Security.

— Lois Young

West Terre Haute



Great turnout for ‘signing’ event

On a recent Friday evening, Baby Signs Inc. and the Terre Haute Family Y hosted a “Baby Signs Pajama Party” as a free community event. The turnout was wonderful with more than 25 children and their parents attending.

I would like to thank all the families for coming and participating in the sign language fun. I had a great time signing, singing, reading and playing with everyone.

A huge thank you goes out to local businesses for their great donations: Fazoli’s, First Financial Plaza North Branch, Ivy Tech Community College, Kool Smiles, Texas Roadhouse, T.G.I. Fridays, Vigo County Public Library Young People’s Department, and Wendy’s Plaza North all contributed to help make the Baby Signs “Pajama Party” a success. Diane at Hi-99, the Tribune-Star and WTHI-TV each deserve a special thanks for talking about the event and publishing information about the event.

I also cannot express enough gratitude to the Terre Haute Family Y for hosting the Pajama Party and for all of its help!

Happy signing!

— Tracy Freeman

Instructor, Baby Signs, Inc.



With Ronn, WAXI, the music has died

After over 10 years of faithful listening to a local radio station, I’ve finally given up. I’m talking about WAXI, the one that used to be known for “beautiful music:” and used the tag line of “unforgettable.” That was before they changed their format a couple of years ago to be just another oldies channel, the kind you can pick up about half a dozen times if you just hit “scan” on your car radio. Gone was Ella Fitzgerald, Dina Shore, Louis Armstrong and the like. No more Tony Bennett or Frank Sinatra anywhere in the Wabash Valley.

At least they had the good sense and common courtesy to leave us the best morning DJ anywhere — Ronn Mott, as in R.M. in the A.M. Well, now they’ve even let him get away. Ronn has been a morning fixture for years, and until the powers at Crossroads Communications decided to change their format away from the serious buying power of their core audience (49 and over) they also had the benefit of his personal music library, everything from Al Jolson to AL Hirt to Weird Al Yankovich. His morning early bird quizzes and Wednesday’s mystery singer MADE you tune in and pay attention. How very beneficial for the advertisers that he attracted.

Each day I would leave home in Greencastle, bound for Clay City, always “riding with Ronn.” Every day my wife would turn on the radio while getting ready for work at DePauw and then listen all the way to work, and while at work. Later we’d compare something Ronn had said, and the interesting and humorous items he came up with.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ronn a couple of times and spoke with him regularly on the phone. I only hope he lands again on a Terre Haute radio channel, and that they have the wisdom to let him do his own show his own way. His like will not be this way again and we need to appreciate him while we can.

Crossroads Communications, shame on you for letting such a talent go. My pre-set button has been changed. Ronn Mott — thanks for the memories.

— Carl and Crystal Plessinger

Greencastle



Kids Night great success for school

On Friday night, March 14, young children of Vigo County had an educational hands-on experience. Sugar Grove students of Mrs. Scamihom’s and Ms. Webster’s classes hosted a Kids Night Out for preschoolers. For an hour and a half, kids visited 16 different educational stations. The children had “passports” with their pictures that were stamped at each station. When they completed their passports, they were awarded a certificate.

But the students didn’t do it on their own! They had help from several parent volunteers who devoted time and donated supplies. Monty’s Reptiles brought in two reptiles, a small lizard and a giant snake named Hercules. Brent McPike, a local musician, and his student, Meleek, played a thrilling guitar duo. Mr. and Mrs. Smodilla helped set up a camera to take pictures for passports. Ms. Webster and Mrs. Scamihom helped arrange everything. Mrs. Fuller, our principal, let us use the school. Mrs. Knierim, our media specialist, read to the children during the Silly Story Time.

We’d also like to thank several other providers and supporters of Kids Night Out.

Thanks to Inweld for discounting a tank of helium so we could inflate balloons. Thanks to First Financial Bank for the balloons they donated. We were very fortunate to receive a grant worth $300 from Chances for Youth.

We would also like to give a special thanks to the Tribune-Star for taking the time to come to Sugar Grove and write an article for the paper about our exciting project. Thanks again to our teachers Mrs. Scamihom and Ms. Webster for helping us organize all of this. As you can see, Kids Night Out was a great success thanks to many people in our community.

— Alyssa Joyal and Sam Gehman

Sugar Grove Elementary



Daniels deserves serious challenge

This letter is about politics and a few other things.

I read a letter in the April 8 edition of the Tribune-Star from a lady from Rosedale. It was a good letter about some interesting subjects and the fact is she told the truth.

In it she said she seldom ever reads Stephanie Salter’s article but she did see Salter’s list about so many reasons why Salter will not vote for John McCain which is all the more reason why she will vote McCain.

It was a good letter, one of the best in a long time.

Now I’m not saying Obama or Hillary wouldn’t be good for this country, but I don’t think that they will be the greatest thing that ever happened either.

Now we’ve got a governor here in Indiana who ran unopposed on the Republican side.

Then you had two Democrats running against him and neither one sounded very convincing to me.

But I would still like to see one of them get to go up against Daniels in the fall and win, because the only thing Daniels has done is mess this state up in more ways than one.

He brought back that crazy daylight savings time that people didn’t have to worry about for over 30 years.

He raised the cigarette and tobacco tax claiming it was for road repair and education.

He made the kids have to go to kindergarten all day.

He leased the toll road to a foreign company for 75 years and to top it off, he raises taxes on something every time he turns around.

He’s not benefiting anyone but himself and the rest of the big wigs up there in Indy.

No wonder they call this state the Land of Taxes.

One last thing, I’m glad to see Terre Haute progressing into the future, at least it shows they are trying, unlike where I live where the local chamber does nothing except go out and cut a ribbon for some off-the-wall business like tanning salons, specialty shops, insurance companies, tea rooms, or coffee shops.

They never try to bring anything big or worthwhile to Brazil like Terre Haute does and most likely never will.

My next letter will be a true story about cell phones and the potential hazards of cell phone use while driving.

Until next time, take care and be fair.

— John J. Weddle

Brazil

        

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