I have read with interest the letters and articles published in the Times-Union regarding the death of Baby Lois and subsequent prosecution of her mother. Some people have asked for justice for Baby Lois, while others are of the opinion that Ms. Crook cannot receive a fair trial due to the bias of our community. One does not preclude the other. In reality, what is needed is justice for Baby Lois and Ms. Crooks. I applaud the judge in this case for denying Ms. Crooks' request for a change of venue. Our community is full of responsible, intelligent, compassionate people who will be able to evaluate the facts once they are presented. The prosecutor and the defense will have an opportunity to present their views. Only Baby Lois will not have a voice. Others will attempt to speak for her, but she is no longer with us to corroborate or deny others stories. I believe this is the cause of the community's outrage. A child is dead. She will never sing, dance or play again.
Our community has a right, perhaps even an obligation, to be outraged at the death of a child. This outrage should not be seen as a bias against Ms. Crooks, but a partiality for the happy, healthy life of a child. I am glad to hear people questioning and sharing concerns about the death of a child. What type of society shrugs and walks away from a child in need? Perhaps if we as a community viewed our children as the greatest natural resource on earth, more children would reach adulthood emotionally and physically whole.
Although the death of Baby Lois has become a high-profile case in our community, there are many other children who have seen and experienced unspeakable horrors; unspeakable because these children have no voice. In an attempt to protect the rights of adults, we have forgotten the rights of those who cannot speak for themselves. I encourage everyone to turn outrage into action. Please contact your local, state and federal officials. Ask them what they are doing to protect the rights of our future. Herbert Hoover said a nation should be evaluated by how it takes care of its weakest citizens; so should a community.
Mary Green Claypool
Gun Control
Editor, Times-Union:
I was shocked to find out the liberal Louisville Courier Journal newspaper Sunday circulation dropped from 331,268 to 319,112 in one year. During the same reporting period the conservative Indianapolis Star increased its Sunday subscriptions from 339,500 to 398,000.
Being skeptical about such an increase I called them. They confirmed the numbers, saying those numbers were a little old and had made further gains in Sunday subscriptions.
I checked 12 other liberal papers and found they had all lost from 2 percent to 10 percent of their Sunday subscribers. Among them, The New York Times lost 117,705 subscriptions and the Los Angeles Times lost 107,694 subscribers. I considered those for gun control to be liberal and used the last two issues of the Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media for circulation numbers. Two other large conservative papers stayed about the same in circulation. All papers compared came from large growing metropolitan areas.
I used the gun control issue as a test of a paper's credibility. Pages 202 and 203 of the United States 1996 Statistical Abstract shows some state and city murder rates nearly as low as they get anywhere in the world. Page 832 of the 1996 Abstract shows our suicide rate among the world's lowest. It appears people are tired of being bombarded by some of their old liberal views and are looking elsewhere for more balanced views and news.
Anthony Rust Seymour
Teens
Editor, Times-Union:
We are writing in regards to Josh Lee.
We are teen-agers looked down upon, just like you. Only we have an answer to society's problem. Our name is Safe Haven. We are a club that is run by teens, just like you. Only our club looks down upon no one. We are here to love, help and accept.
Safe Haven was started by a man named Keith Vant Hoff. Keith is there to supervise, and make sure no one is bored. It is now run by teen-agers.
Safe Haven is a very relaxed place. It's somewhere you can just hang out, play pool, talk with friends, play basketball, whatever ] just be yourself. You will never be told you're not wanted. This is a way we can prove to society that our generation isn't all that bad.
We are open every Saturday from 2 to 11 p.m. Safe Haven is located at the FOP building on Little League Drive in Boggs Addition. If you want more information, call Keith at 269-1902. So as an answer to your final question, your peers would like you to go to Safe Haven.
Lorraine Utter Warsaw
Leesburg School
Editor, Times-Union:
I'd like to extend a sincere thank you to all who helped make the Leesburg Library independent reading program, called "Bear Sleepover," a huge success. Over 283 students from kindergarten through sixth grade accomplished their individual six-month goals for reading and taking tests on the computer program called "Accelerated Reader." These childen were then invited to come back to the school on the evening of April 18 to enjoy games, singing, a mime, refreshments, videos, free computer time, free gym time, a sleepover in the classrooms, and breakfast.
Sandra Allen Leesburg Librarian
Military
Editor, Times-Union:
In reference to the "Military" letter April 22, from Adam Rothenbarger. How dare you say I am ignorant toward the military. I spent over eight years active duty. I was an active duty NCO as well as a reserve officer. I spent two tours in Vietnam. I was a paratrooper and spent my share of time in hospitals. I was honorably discharged, at my request, at the end of my enlistment. My ribbons are my only, and yet quite adequate, reward.
You may have read my prior letter, but you sure did not understand it. Perhaps you would have if you had read the letter I was referring to. In your letter you stated "it helps to think before you speak." You might try that the next time.
