Published: September 06, 2008 06:54 pm            

Letters to the editor for September 7

Disagree with headline above evac story

The caption (headline) for the photograph in your article, September 3, 2008, “Bunch of ungrateful people” was very misleading.

We at First United Methodist Church, ar Red Cross Certified — as is Central Baptist Church — and there are rules and regulations you MUST follow. Only food provided by East Texas Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, the Red Cross or a certified kitchen is allowed, no food or drink is allowed in the dorm area. A nurse 24/7, a law enforcement person 24/7, a smoking area 25 feet from the building, and hand sanitation are mandatory.

At First United Methodist, at least 95 percent of the people were respectful, followed all Red Cross Rules, and were happy to assist in cleaning tables, followed a shower schedule, and signed the required in/out sheet when leaving the building. This was a mandatory evacuation ... these people had no choice.

There were positive aspects of the article but labeling a picture a “Bunch of ungrateful people,” described a small percentage of the people we encountered. The evacuees were black, white, married, unmarried, children, elderly, mentally challenged, people with physical and mental medical needs who were evacuated on August 31 — the day before most of these folks get paid. Many didn’t have a chance to get their medications refilled.

Our Ladyof Sorrows Catholic Church took the evacuees left on the bus when we were at capacity. Kudos to the members of Our Lady of Sorrows and Father Mark.

Red Cross volunteers are VOLUNTEERS. they are not piad for cooking food, serving it, taking towels home to wash/dry and bringing them back, giving directions, playing with the children, being present, and countless other services. The good people of Jacksonville were trying to assist people in need.

I invite anyone to attend a Red Cross training session and volunteer at a Red Cross shelter the next time a hurricane forces “The least of the brothers of mine” to evacuate their homes and be bused to an unfamiliar location. I invite you to volunteer in the kitchen, monitor the dorm, make sure hand sanitizer is used, or work on a clean-up detail.

Red Cross volunteers are always needed and we would love to have you join us.

Gerry Phifer

First UMC volunteer



Don’t understand McCain’s choice

Let’s start by agreeing that Senator McCain can choose any Vice Presidential running mate he wants. While his decision is personal, it is also a decision that impacts all Americans.

For if seventy-two year old Senator McCain should be elected and then die in office, his Vice Presidential pick automatically becomes America’s President and the leader of the Free World.

Hopefully, Senator McCain subjected Mrs. Palin to a screening process at least as rigid as those used by successful corporations when they screen executives for advancement into key positions. Corporations routinely identify executive positions within their firms that are essential to the corporation’s continued survival. Then, they list very specific skills, knowledge, and experience that candidates must have if they are to perform these jobs successfully. But sometimes, an executive becomes so enamored with the traits of one particular candidate that the position description is stretched to fit that particular candidate, rather than selecting a candidate to fit the position description.

Mrs. Palin, like all of us, has human traits that attract or repel job interviewers - traits such as good grooming, good looks, a specific sex, or race; even subtle traits such as height, weight, or a smile can be factors that affect a job interview. But traits are not skills, experience, or knowledge; they tend only to be the candidate’s outer wrappings.

As I understand it, Senator McCain only interviewed Sara Palin once before selecting her as his running mate. Therefore, Mrs. Palin’s experience as a member of the Wasilla Independent School District’s PTA, and as the Major of Wasilla, Alaska (population 5,500), and her two year tenure as Alaska’s Governor (population 656,000) must have constituted the experience Senator McCain was looking for in a running mate. I for one can’t understand how such thin experience prepares anyone, man or woman, to be a heart-beat away from automatically becoming President of the United States. But, then again I confess I don’t understand most things Senator McCain does these days like promising to continue an expensive foreign war in Iraq when so many Americans are in economic trouble here at home.

Terry Thompson

Jacksonville



Soldier story not

published

Six weeks ago I brought a military article by the Daily Progress about my grandson who is in the Army and is serving in Iraq. After all, you have asked for articles honoring our local heroes.

I expected the article to be published within two weeks, but after it wasn’t I called the paper office. I talkedto some gentleman who told me that he would try to find out what happened to it and that he would get back with me. He took my name and phone number. DIDN’T HAPPEN!

I waited another two weeks and still no article in the paper. I called again. This time some gentleman assured me that it would be in the paper the following Sunday. Once again, name and phone number. DIDN’T HAPPEN!

After another two weeks I once again called the paper office. This time I spoke with a very short-spoken gentleman who siad that he could’t help me, but took my name and phone number. He said he would ive the message to his editor and that the editor would get back with me. Well guess what, DIDN’T HAPPEN!

I wonder if this letter willb e published or if that also WON’T HAPPEN!

Joyce Roebuck

Jacksonville

        

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