Friday, January 23, 1998

Story misguided

An article published Jan. 4 in the Reporter-News regarding the Roby 43 featured Lance Green. You printed everything about Green and what a poor life he had. You did not print the fact that Green has been indicted on three felony counts of sexual assault and indecency with a child. I was and still am shocked by such a one-sided story.

As the great-grandmother of the victim, I live with the other side -- the continuing nightmares, the long-term therapy and the pain inflicted on our whole family watching this precious little girl try to deal with so much at a young age.

The only connection money has to this horrible situation is that Lance Green happened to win the lottery. The victim's mother has not demanded money from Green. Their divorce agreement was agreed upon long before. She is working 12-hour shifts as an LVN, and on her days off she has another job in order to support herself and her daughter.

The victim's family does not care about the lottery and the part he played in it. Our concern is the invasion of a child's privacy by being included on the national television show you promoted through your article. Green displayed pictures of the victim with the knowledge of his attorney, your newspaper and CBS. Did anyone ever think about what that might do to a child? Is the life and privacy of one child not important enough to outweigh the publicity and sensationalism a newspaper or television program might receive?

MAXINE BRISCOE

Sweetwater

Dumping the trash

Having read the Jan. 13 letter from Mr. Gedeon concerning "Garbage pickup," I am compelled to write of a thoughtful incident I recently experienced with my "sanitation engineer."

Having my arms full of miscellaneous trash, I stepped through my gate into the alley where I saw the garbage truck a very short distance away. I stopped to wait for him to empty the dumpster when he noticed me standing there. He immediately backed up his truck, jumped out and opened the lid for me. What a kind act.

Perhaps I misunderstood Gedeon's complaint. Is he saying residents on the south side of town are treated better than those on the north side where garbage pickup is concerned? Or is he saying residents on the south side are more considerate of others by not overfilling their dumpsters? Perhaps he is angry that city employees have Christmas day off to be with their families. Personally, I check my dumpster and, if filled to the top, take my trash back to the garage and wait until it is emptied. What's another day or two?

Gedeon has been here 19 years; I have been here only 3-1/2 years, but I recognize my responsibility as a citizen of Abilene by frequently cleaning up my alley. Maybe his neighborhood needs a "Garbage Watch Program" to ensure no one overfills the dumpster.

DOROTHY LOWRY

Abilene

What value silence?

Recently a letter to the editor asked, "Does anyone remember what it means to stand up for what is right, just because it is right?" An answer given was that a silent majority does know right from wrong.

An obvious question arises: Of what value is a "silent" majority?

WILLIAM CALHOUN

Comanche