Friday, November 27, 1998

Meeting concerns

The detailed list of Capital Improvements Program projects are all addressed to concerns I have worried over for some time.

1. Street and signal improvements will help my daily disposition. I have been frustrated by the stop lights we now have. I have learned to watch for the oncoming cross-traffic to prepare for "go" on my path. The cracks and potholes in our pavements can only get worse without repair or replacement. The listed streets are beyond normal repair.

2. Rose Park Senior Citizens Center is bursting at the seams. The best solution is a new building, located such that pedestrians don't cross the street from parking to center. The varied activities of the Rose Park clients meet the needs of so very many, but more could participate if there was more space. The kitchen facilities serve all the city's Senior Centers.

3. Parks give our children a place to use their energy safer than in the streets. Let's keep our children off the streets, with activities they can enjoy, that also help develop skills and interests.

4. The Civic Center improvements answer far more than cosmetic needs. The floor-level covered drive will see great use.

5. Forty-three years at the Central Fire Station have seen a lot of growth in staff that need space to do their duties efficiently and effectively. The Emergency Operations Center at City Hall is a necessary step for effective disaster or major emergency control.

I will enthusiastically vote for each of the five propositions.

SCOTT M. SMITH

Abilene

Via e-mail

Pagan persecution

In our time, it seems that people's miseries are others' glory. And it is hard to tell which is the better at it - Ken Starr or Saddam Hussein. They keep our world in turmoil and never stop to think that what goes around comes around.

A prominent Italian visiting this country appearing on a talk show compared the congressional investigations to the ancient Romans torturing the early Christians and their enemies in the Coliseum for their pleasure and entertainment.

In Starr's and Hussein's deeds, we recognize the fallibility of humanity and the need for forgiveness and mercy as expressed in the Lord's Prayer.

Instead of forgiveness and understanding, we have duplicated the pagan civilizations' actions of crucifying and torture.

The only time people can treat each other like human beings is when we have disasters like floods, tornados, hurricanes, fires and earthquakes. Maybe God is using these disasters to try to tell us something.

DIADANE SIMPSON

Abilene

Counting character

In "Quotable Quotes" in the December Reader's Digest, U.S. Rep. J. C. Watts says, "To say America can have strong leadership without strong character is to say we can get water without the wet."

But if we listen to some of the media, to some in Congress, to the White House and, according to the polls, most Americans, character doesn't count in leaders. Especially, if things are going well with me and I'm not being inconvenienced. How sad.

Personally, I believe Watts is correct and will be borne out eventually, if we wake up in time.

BILL KIRKPATRICK

Abilene

Via e-mail