Thursday, March 12, 1998

VeggieTale videos

Has anyone ever wondered why there seems to be so many violent and negative events being reported in the news? One logical reason for this can be found in the entertainment section of the newspaper.

Just look at the TV shows and the movies that are being made. Seems like most of the newest movies coming out have an R rating for violence (among other reasons). Perhaps there would be less violence in the real world if people would change the diet for their mind.

I recommend a vegetarian diet. For some great family fun, try watching some VeggieTale videos. These videos are great for kids of all ages, even those 50 years old. They have great humor and are completely computer animated (first video to ever do this, even before Disney's "Toy Story"). In addition to the humor, they also teach very important Christian values to all of us.

Watching these videos would help us all to focus on positive things and on helping others. A great improvement over what we can learn from TV and the movies.

So take the time to watch some of these videos. (But you might think twice before ordering a cucumber salad again!)

DARREN RAICHART

Abilene

Banks too distant

The only thing banks are upset with credit unions about is the $351 billion they can't get their hands on.

The average bank is now run by a huge corporation with no real connection to the local community. The local manager is nothing but a puppet to the corporate office. Credit unions are run by a board elected by the members. They have to deal with the members and be responsible to them.

If you notice, it was banks and S&Ls that made the wild speculative loans on property that went bust in the '80s (such as Whitewater), not credit unions.

The boom in credit union accounts may be more due to the banking bust and people feeling that the banks are no longer in touch with the local population. If local credit unions did not provide good service, no relaxing of law would cause the rise in accounts.

WILLIAM BARLOW

Abilene

Via e-mail

No bunch of Blarney

St. Patrick's Day gives everyone a chance to kiss the Blarney Stone and celebrate our country's rich Irish heritage. As many of us here in Abilene raise a toast to St. Patrick on March 17, we should also take a moment to honor the contributions of those who volunteer to be designated drivers.

Why? Because designated drivers help in doing what even the luck of the Irish cannot -- stop drunk driving. In fact, designated drivers have contributed to a 36 percent decline in drunk driving deaths nationwide since 1982.

This St. Patrick's Day, Ben E. Keith Beers, along with several of the most popular St. Patrick's Day gathering places in Abilene, will be working to continue that positive trend by reminding customers to use a designated driver and to drink responsibly.

As the Irish and would-be Irish honor St. Patrick with a toast, let's remember to look out for each other and volunteer to be designated drivers.

MIKE WEBER

Ben E. Keith Beers

Abilene

Good as Broadway

I am so thrilled that we can see a play here in Abilene with actors as talented as those on Broadway. "Wrong Turn at Lungfish" is just such a play.

It is a play for adults, as there are a few raw moments. But it also has depth and meaning.

Congratulations to Robert Barton and the cast and crew with Abilene Community Theatre.

SUE JAEGGLI

Abilene