Voices From The Readers

Voices From The Readers
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Shore Heroes Needed

Editor:

Recently my granddaughter came to me and asked if I would help her with a school project where she was asked to write a paper about heroes. It seems that she had read a story that referred to a few of my fellow workers and I as heroes for some work we had done a number of years ago.

I explained to her how uncomfortable that made me for we were just doing our job. Our discussion then touched on a lot of different scenarios from super heroes as portrayed in comics with their impossible feats to people on the street who by chance are in the right place at the right time to help in some dire situation. Our conclusion though was that real heroes are those who choose to do the right thing despite the hardship or danger it might bring. Soldiers, police, firefighters and aid workers to name a few who overcome the selfish tendency we have to avoid hardship and danger to selflessly serve others, these choices are clearly the characteristics that mark a Hero.

Since my discussions with my granddaughter, my Team in Training coach for the Sea Gull Century called those who signed up to ride and raise funds for cancer research heroes. I could not agree more. To choose to not only train for this bicycle ride and to ask friends, family and associates to donate to the cause can be a hardship in our busy schedules but to care about those facing this disease by riding for the cure is a characteristic that marks them as a Hero.

On our Eastern Shore team this year are two survivors of this disease and many others with family members who have been through the treatment process. They are on the team because they know what the research and support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society means to them and all those who face the disease in the future and that is hope. Our numbers of participants are down this year, possibly because of the economy. We need Heroes.

Approximately 6,500 riders rode the Sea Gull Century last year but only 149 wore the hero jersey of Team in Training – please consider joining us and riding for the cure.

You can get information by calling Sandy Garrish, Campaign Coordinator for Team in Training at 1-443-340-0988.

Tom Cloud

Ocean Pines

Democrat’s Vitriol

Needs A Response

Editor:

Once again I find it necessary to respond to a Democrat’s less-than-gracious diatribe.

Certainly most Democrats I know, while happy their party now controls both the White House and Congress, do not spout the vitriol of Ocean Pines’ Joseph Beran.

In last week’s Dispatch, Mr. Beran chose to castigate Sarah Palin’s decision to step down as Alaska’s governor. He cited "money-hungry" motives, being tired of ethics complaints filed against her (these complaints filed by groups coming into Alaska from other areas once she became a vice president candidate, most of which have been dismissed as groundless), as well as speculation on his part that she has "low" standards. Let’s talk about low standards.

How many politicians, male or female, have had to endure the vicious media treatment that Sarah Palin, and worse than that, her family had to live with since last August? In addition to the media, how many parents of young teenage and not quite adult daughters who find themselves having a baby, have their grandchild’s father and paternal grandmother trotting themselves out for television and print media interviews "trashing" the baby’s mother’s family?

As the mother of a daughter who knew how to prevent pregnancy, from abstinence to all forms of birth control, but who found herself in the "family way" as an 18 year old, I cannot imagine my now son-in-law looking for ways to excuse his having been part of my now-grown granddaughter’s creation or being critical of my daughter’s parents. However, I know you can’t teach someone to have class – they either have it or they don’t.

One final thought on today’s media. I grew up as the daughter of a member of the Washington, DC press corps. As hungry as that media might have been during my younger years (1950s-1960s), there was a line in the sand they didn’t cross (even when there was a suspicion that someone well-known had "baggage", i.e. JFK). Certainly, Watergate in the 1970s changed the way the media does business, but what we have seen most recently takes it to another level.

Gail Schuler

Incident Appalling

Editor:

People’s perceptions in 2009 …

My wife owns a business in Fenwick Island, Del. I was parking my car on Sunday in the parking lot and overheard a family of 8-12 persons that were enjoying their day like many vacationers do this time of year.

I was appalled by the actions of one person that could affect the lives of three generations. The large family had small children, teenagers, mothers and grandmothers. It looked to be the "girls weekend" at the beach. All of the family members were black. Along comes an older Honda Accord with a younger white "gentleman" in it. I use the word "gentlemen" very loosely. He screams out at the family a racially derogatory comment that I was truly appalled by for people in general, but especially for the family. They were noticeably upset by the actions of this person.

We all grow up different, but the one thing that I have learned in my 39 years on this planet is that we are all the same in many different ways, the color of our skin should not determine where we live, where we go on vacation, or how we are treated.

In 2009, we have many different ethnic backgrounds that lead and are an integral part of society. I work for a doctor of education that happens to be black. She has told me stories of her childhood that I find very interesting, but also she teaches myself and those around her the finer points of being a person, not due to the color of a persons’ skin.

I can not believe that a person would yell out racially derogatory remarks to anyone, much less a family of ladies that were not doing anything except having a good time. As a white person that works "back in the city" for a large diverse school district and commutes back to our home in Fenwick Island, Del., I could not believe my ears.

Today’s children should not be subject to the hatred of one person’s actions and one person should not represent the views of all people. There is something to say about "freedom of speech", but there is also something about showing respect to those around you …  no matter who they are.

Racial acceptance of all person’s should be a matter of daily routine in 2009. I was very sad to hear these comments in Fenwick Island, but for all who read this, please remember that it was the view of one ignorant person, not the opinions of all who live, work or visit this small seaside resort town. We have lived in west Fenwick for 14 years and operated a business for those 14 years. My wife and I live by the premise, "Treat all persons’ equally", please read this and live by this motto.

Joseph Baumann

Grateful Help Was

There When Needed

Editor:

On Saturday, June 27, I ate a late lunch and took a nap in my lounge chair. When I awoke, I was surrounded by a group of EMTs from the Ocean City Fire Department, specifically the 74th Street house. I had a diabetic drop that knocked me out.

Fortunately, my wife called 911 and the responders were there in five minutes. The professionalism shown by these volunteers was remarkable. The lead member was Mark Lloyd, who took command and reassured me of the steps they were taking to get me to the Atlantic General Hospital. This was very comforting and reassuring.

I wish to thank all of the volunteer EMTs and the doctors and nurses who put me on the road to recovery. We who are in Ocean City area very fortunate a great Department of Emergency Services. I urge all visitors and residents alike to support their fire department and the Atlantic General Hospirtal.

Alfred L. Brennan

Ocean City