Saturday, December 12, 1998

Christian swing

In response to Micky Walker's Dec. 10 letter that if college students want to dance they should attend SMU, Baylor or Rice or any other fine state school, I would just like to point out that SMU and Baylor are private Christian universities.

I enjoyed the article on swing dance. My mother-in-law talks about swing dancing before she married. (She has now been married for more that 50 years.) She is one of the finest Christians I have ever met.

JAN McNEILL ODEN

Albany

Via e-mail

No hope for TDCJ

Some people still argue whether busing has failed to achieve racial integration, and there is still a massive effort to sell the strength of diversity.

There can be no argument that integration in Texas prisons has been anything but a tragedy and a failure that extends far beyond prison.

It has promoted rather than reduced racial hatred and will continue to spawn events like that at Jasper and many others never brought to public notice.

Now a theft-provoked stabbing at French Robertson has caused a small riot and a 30-day lockdown.

Therefore, Christmas dinner for some will be Johnny sacks, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich and one of bologna.

The innocent and the guilty suffer alike.

Meanwhile, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, with more than 100 prison units, intends to spend a few million more building more maximum security units and employing more people in control of gang activity rather than the more logical and economic segregation by race and gang affiliation.

I abandon all hope of logic in that bureaucracy.

GORDON CLARK

Eastland

Big rigs, big bucks

In regards to the story on "big rigs" fatalities:

The two highest fatality states are Texas and California. The speed limit for trucks is slower than for other automobiles in both states.

Common sense tells us that different speed limits will cause accidents.

Maybe there ought to be a survey to see how many of these accidents are not caused by the trucks but by the people who have no regard for the trucks, knowing that if they have a wreck with a truck they are more apt to be killed than if they have a wreck with a small vehicle.

The trucks are regulated on the number of hours that they can drive, but a person in a smaller vehicle can drive for as long as he wants.

Revenue or safety? Big trucks, big bucks.

HELEN LORD

Hawley

Merkel appreciation

With so many unpleasant reports on our youth these days, I would like to comment on a very special young man here in Merkel.

His name is Roberto Paden. He is a senior at the local high school and works at the I.G.A. Grocery.

Every customer Roberto comes in contact with gets a pleasant "Good morning" or a polite "Yes" or "No, ma'am."

He opens and closes all doors for everyone he comes in contact with.

Merkel is very blessed to have this young man as part of our community. I truly hope I.G.A. knows what a great employee it has.

It does so much to restore our faith in our future leaders of this country.

Thank you, Roberto, from myself and so many others who appreciate you.

I know your family must be so proud of you.

ALMA BOATRIGHT

Merkel