Monday, January 19, 1998

Deadbeat moms, too

I have been divorced for two years, but since then remarried. I was awarded custody of my children with no contest. It seemed traditional for the mother to have custody of the children after a divorce, but not in my case.

For years now, I have been reading articles on "deadbeat dads." Never have I heard or seen anything on "deadbeat moms."

I just read the Jan. 14 article on Barry Williamson, who is running for attorney general. Even though I am voting for him, he did state he would get tough with "deadbeat dads." I get offended every time I read this.

What are the statistics on "deadbeat moms"? How many fathers have custody of their children? Should it be written "deadbeat dad/mom," or "garnishing his or her paycheck?"

There is little I can do to change any of this, but I'm sure I'm not the only man in the state of Texas who has custody of his children.

I think, at times, that people everywhere should be made aware that fathers do get custody and that mothers also do not sometimes pay child support. When people hear I was divorced with two children, they always reply, "I bet child support is hard on your paycheck." Even the people at the child support collections question me.

I have been to Equal Rights for Divorced Fathers in two states, gone to meetings trying to get support, and I still see the same thing: "deadbeat dads."

This needs to end, but where should it start?

DAN ZEMPEL

Moran

Jerking our chain

Well, he is at it again. Or has he ever really stopped? I'm talking about Saddam Hussein. He has been jerking our chain for seven years now. When is enough, enough?

We won the war - which was never officially ended. So who is he to say where and what we can inspect when it comes down to it?

Can we as the superpower of the world put a final stop to his deceptiveness when it comes to honoring the cease-fire accord? This person has been circumventing the same agreement ever since the end of that same war in which American lives (including my friends') were lost.

I was a platoon sergeant of Marines over there in that era, and it sickens me to see that our efforts, actions and sacrifices are being reduced to such little value by the same enemy who started all this.

STEVE BYRAM

Abilene

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