4A The Mountain Messenger, Thursday, September 13,1990
If you were to stack eight billion $I bills on top of one another, I
wonder just how far it would go? I guess President Bush wanted to
find out, so he forgave Egypt $8 billion in loans. That riled me up a
little bit -- $8 billion forgiven[ There is a lot that amount of money
could do in this country. I boiled, I steamed, I fretted. Then Lou
Burroughs. our typesetter, said "I don't know why your are getting so
upset. The Egyptians weren't going to pay that money back anyway.
So why don't you forget it." Tres simple, Lou. You saved me a lot of
grief. I wonder if I could get my bank to forgive me my mortgage?
Then friend Paul Lilly came in the office. "Say. Paul," I said, "what
do you think about this thing of President Bush forgiving a debt of $8
billion in order to get the Egyptians to get off their sphinx and give us
a hand In the Middle East?" Paul looked pensive (in fact, we in this
office often refer to him as Pensive Paul) and said "You know, Finland
is the only country who has paid back the loans they received from us
in World War If" Finland! How much could they possibly have ever
owed us in the first place?
Then I listened to a man by the name of Balentine or Valentine on
a "Christian" shortwave broadcasting station (I think it was World
Harvest Radio from out in Indiana} the other night. This fellow has a
nightly "talk" show called "Radio Free America". Not only is "Radio
Free America" broadcast on the Christian powerhouse station, it is
also syndicated on a number of regular A~M. stations throughout the
country.
"Radio Free America" sponsors offer miracle vitamins formulated in
Poland and dietary supplements so powerful that the makers say you
only need to lake them every five years or so. No joke.
Anyway, this program contends there is a major conspiracy going
on in the world -- brought to you by the same people who want to
take your guns away. I can't decide whether the show's host is a
radical right winger, an ultra-conservative, or just out in left field.
Interestingly, some of the things said on this program border on mak-
ing sense -- if you don't think about them for very long. The commen-
tary. however, usually preys upon ignorance and self interest. I would
guess it is not unlike very sophisticated propaganda disseminated by
virtually every country in the world -- yes, including the United
The Mountain
STAFF
Chas. A. Goddard, Editor
Dotty Braekenrieh, Office Manager 122 N, Court Street
Troy Forren, Advertising Lewisburg, WV 24901
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To the point
By Jonathan Wright
Writing is one of the most sat-By contrast, looking at a piece
States. lsfying experiences in my life. I of introspective writing you did
While I'm up here on my soapbox: Did you happen to see a front am convinced more people would ten years ago shows you who
page wire story In the September 5 edition of the Beckley newspaper'? find it so if they would give it a you were on the inside. In it you
The headline was "Assassinating Saddam harder than it seems~. As- "serious try. It is an art and a will be taken back in time to dis-
sociated Press writer Mike Feinsilber said "The easiest way for the "release.~ Its methods are di-cover again who you were--your
verse its results magical, joys, your fears, your loves, your
United States to end the Persian Gtflf crisis might be to have Iraq's This is the age of visual arts. frustrations, and your dreams.
Saddam Hussein removed -- and don't think the idea hasn't occurred People are increasingly attuned No photograph can reproduce
in Washington." to what they can see--through that only writing can.
Mr Feinsilber goes on in the second paragraph to say "But assassi- television, videotapes, photo-Writing also is good for the
nating foreign leaders is prohibited by a 14-year-old presidential graphs, and so on. Young people present. It provides a vahmble
directive . . ." Isn't it wonderful our president has said we shouldn't especially are harder to motivate release• There is something th-
kill a foreign leader, these days--unless some kind of erapeutlc about putting one's
Mr Feinsilber goes on to quote former Director of the Central Intelli- visual aids are employed. They
gence Agency Richard Helms as saying "Americans don't'believe in are constantly bombarded by a thoughts onto paper, committing
them to the reading eye. Once
media that is more graphic than they are expressed as the written
having America assassinate foreign leaders. They want somebodyever•
else to pull the trigger." . I am concerned such a rela- word, the ;vriter is somehow able
Mr Feinsilber is writing a straight news story• This Is not from the tively small number of peopleto deal with them more effec-
opinion page where you might expect any kind of clap-trap. This is a these days know the joy that tively and move on to other
"news story" -- on the front pagel What have we come to? comes from writing--from baring things. And having another per-
-- Chas. A. Goddardthe soul on paper and recording son read them and respond can
it for posterity. If you are like do remarkable things in helping
M°untai most families, you have several work the problems out. Even if
boxes of photographs depicting they are not problems, learning
n Messen the various stages of your life• to open up and express one's
Photographs are great, but they thoughts through writing can
show only wha{ the camera help like nothing else.
! I' | ] ) sees--the outside appearance. I am indeed fortunate to have
• , , [I I[, You can look at a picture taken discovered the joys of writing.
ten years ago and see what you This wonderful gift has made my
...... looked like--but it's only on the life much richer. For that I am
outside, thankful.
Editor's Note: Mary Ash Casto Lawhorn o| White SulI
bers what it was like to grow up in the 1930s. She shares her
vignette, with us. Mrs Lawhorn's "A Child of the 1930s" will a
installments in the Mountain Messenger.
A Child of the 1930's...
• . . played along the creek -- walked on stilts -- played
climbed trees -- played jacks -- rolled a tire -- roiled a
wire --
• . . called to one another, as children will do -- "Come
on" -- remembers a seasoned switch was kept on the
of the kitchen stove -- and how Mamma would say -- "I
You think I don't mean it -- HI come out there and show
it'-
. . . started to walk up on the ridge -- one afternoon -- scatti
pine trees grew up on the hillside -- two blacksnakes
up in a little bull pine -- knew to run back home fast
blacksnake would wrap you --
• . . made a playhouse up in the white pine woods ---
Laura (Uncle Oscar's wife) and their children would come
the day -- the rooms of the playhouse were laid out with
we played at make-believe -- as the wind moved in the
pines -- remembers we ate some big teaberries --
• . . begged to stay away from home overnight --
Red" (a pet name for my auburn-haired mother) --
boss (he sometimes called her) says" -- awake around
strange bed -- homesick --
• . . remembers a summer night -- when Gypsies, going
country, would camp down at the road -- when children
-- for fear of the Gypsies --
• • . picked berries in a little lard pail -- to add to the big
-- knew where the berries grew -- knew when the berries
-- black (dew) berries -- huckle (blue) berries -- ate
berries --
• . . found a bobwhite's nest -- on the ground -- down in
with bird eggs in the nest -- was told, "If you touch the
mother bird will not come back" --
• . . walked down the road -- over by Uncle Ira's place
said, "Come in and rest a while" -- remembers the
fragrant honeysuckle vines grew up by the porch --
rocking chairs with little pillows -- and the porch swing ---
• . . went to where the wild plum tree grew -- other
to town -- remembers how the ground was covered
under the tree -- and how we picked up the plums --
her children -- to be 'put up' in half gallon jars --
into som.e good plum preserves) -- Mamma had said,
getting anything done" -- the American way of life -- in the
Do something every day, to show it's a day -- except on
• . . was in the Beginner's Class -- at the Methodist
School -- little picture cards were given out -- of
Scriptures -- remembers Joseph's coat of many colors ~ ~
the church service --- a teaching to shun worldly pleasure
bars the hymn -- "Brightly gleams our Father's mercies
lighthouse evermore...
• . . attended the Episcopal Church in the evening -- a
led the singing -- of the formal service -- a teaching
all things -- remembers the hymn -- "Onward Christian
Marching as to war..." --
• . . would go to preaching at a tent meeting -- at a
field -- was taught to memorize Bible verses -- on a SOl
noon -- fresh sawdust was under the rows of benches ---
testimony- a mourner's bench -- and a teaching to
a change of heart) -- remembers a hymn -- "Oh! they
home -- Far beyond the sky... ~ --
To Be Continued
Dear Editor:
Your column [Wright To The
Point, September 7] of sympathy
for elected public officials, i.e.
The Greenbrier County Board of
Education, moved me. It moved
me to w,ite my first letter to the
editor on the subject of consoli-
dation.
Those poor public officials.
who have to live under the stress
of public scrutiny, are using Is-
gal defense paid ft r by my taxes.
On top of that, Ihave to solicit
donations counW-wide to pay
for the legal defense of the con-
cerned parents
students
who are suing th~
Board in
court.
When public hearings were
held. concerning school consoli-
dation, no one spoke In favor ex-
cept the Board. No one.
Alternatives. to save money
without consolidation, were of-
fered by those who spoke at
those hearings. Specialists in
telecommunications were paid
(not by the Board) to come and
explain Electronic Consolidation
to them. Psychological studies of
the negative impact of consolida-
tion and large schools on stu-
dent education were cited at the
hearings and mailed to the
Board offices•
Yet. they would not be
swayed. They wanted that $6
million --- even if It meant prosti-
tuting the quality of education to
get it.
My point is that a concerned
active citizen and parent could
be pressured and stressed by
the lack of performance by the
elected officials expected to pro-
tect and improve the quality in
education•
I told the Board at the last in-
famous hearing at Greenbrier
East that no one could attend
because it started with sign-ups
from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on a week-
day afternoon.
1 told them that public hear-
ings were required by law for a
reason. That reason is that our
{parents') opinions should mat-
ter. Since the hearings were un-
successful in stopping consoli-
dation -- I told them we would
have to turn to the court system
have stress, because I (we, you}
am paying for their lawyer and
mine (ours, yours}.
There is no price as high as a
child's education lost amidst
balancing the books of the Board
of Education.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Stephens
Williamsburg
Dear Editor:
Shame on Oliver Luck and his
political operatives who have re-
sorted to a campaign of dirty
tricks. Shame on Fou for at-
tempting to smear our congress-
man, Harley Staggers Jr., who's
honesty and integrity is well
known.
l received a mailout from Con-
gressman Staggers. I found it be
be very informative, with infor-
mation on timely issues.
Unlike other politicians, Con-
gressman Staggers does not
send out marling every time he
sneezes or attends a ribbon cut-
ting ceremony. His newsletters.
which come maybe one a year.
have always been devoted to is-
sues important to West Vlrgini-
ans. His newsletters always pro-
vides information on how people
can get assistance if they are
having a problem with a Federal
agency.
Congressman Staggers, who
is a lifelong resident of West Vir-
ginia (unlike his opponent who
is from Ohio) has proven he
cares about West Virginlans. For
eight years. Congressman Stag-
gers has represented West Vir-
glnlans with honesty and integ-
rity.
Shame on Oliver Luck and his
dirty tricks campaign. He cannot
hold a candle to the honesty and
integrity of our Congressman
Harley Staggers.
Sincerely,
Annie Otto
Hedgesvil/e
Dear Editor;
It's hard to bellevel Slowly
this County and area is becom-
ing a two-party political testing
ground. With the Republican
political ring" there is hope yet
for good government and
checks-and-balances! Ask "era
aU tough, objective, straight for-
ward questions• Demand
straightforward, honest answers,
not rhetoric and "public rela-
tions" answers• Only then will
we have excellent and account-
able government locally, region-
ally and statewide. VOTE IN
NOVEMBER. REGISTER NOWII
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Pritchard Farley Collins
Quinwood
Dear Editor:
I want to respond to my
opponent's August 23 letter to
the editor regarding the Savings
& Loan crisis and the flag. My
opponent is playing fast and
loose with the facts•
First, it is ridiculous to try to
link protection of the American
flag with the S&L situation. Let
me set the record straight on
both issues.
On S&Ls. I certainly share the
outrage of West Virginians about
this scandal and its costly bail-
out.
I want to let West Virginians
know that this senator has in-
deed taken note of. and action
on. this crisis from the very be-
ginning. I was one of only a
handful of senators to speak out
against and vote against
the final bailout bill I felt that
West Virginlans should not be
forced to bear the burden of mis-
management and fraud by offi-
cers of S&I~ in other states.
Virtually all of the S&Ls in
West Virginia remain solid, due
in no small part to the fact that
S&L managers in our state
stayed with their original pur-
pose -- single-family housing
mortgages. They did not engage
in bad risks or speculative loans.
They certainly did not spend the
deposits of our citizens on
planes, yachts and fancy cars as
did many managers of now-
failed S&Ls, knowing all the
while that their companies were
in financial danger.
l believe that these S&L criml-
for fair treatment, candidate for State Senate, Fred nals must not get off easy. In
Now in court, I hope they Sampson, tossing his "hat In the fact, I am co-sponsoring a bill
that will toughen prosecution ef-
forts against those responsible
for this crisis. I continue to
maintain that if West Virginians
are forced to pay for part of thts
disaster, we simply must see
justice done. I will continue to
do everything possible to see
that the criminals responsible
for this crisis are duly punished.
On protecting the American
flag, I support a constitutional
amendment against flag burn-
ing. Flag burning is an action --
it is conduct -- that should not
be granted the first amendment
protection. And I don't think
there is any conflict between
protecting the flag from con-
temptuous destruction and the
right and principle, which I
value dearly, of free speech.
It is disappointing that my
opponent continues to run a
negative campaign and tries to
distort and confuse the issues.
For the record, I am working in
the Senate to ensure that crimi-
nals from the S&L scandal are
fully prosecuted. I am proud to
support a constitutional amend-
ment to protect our American
flag.
John D. Rockefeller IV
United States Senate
Washington, D,C.
Look Closely
rhe Mountain Mressongel
Is Your Voice Of ga~moss
In The Greater Greerlbt*et Valley
Of West V~rgmla
Listen Carefully
II
Rummage andBake Sale
Sponsored by Greenbrier County Committee on Aging, Inc.,
Friday, September 20 and 21, at the Rupert Senior Center from
p,m. Anyone who umuld:llke to donate items for the
drop them off at the Senior Center or.call 392:5138~ have
Eakle Chapel United Methodist Church
Big Draft Road, White Sulphur Springs, annual Homecoming '~
service I I o.rn.
tember 16. Sunday School 9:45 a.m., worship
special singing in the afternoon. Reverend ion Miller welcomes
join in fellowship.
Alderson Youth Dance Ensemble
Will have tryouts for the 1990-91 touring ensemble, Friday
3:15 p.m. in the Alderson Junior High School gym. For more
call Adrienne Biesemeyer, 445-2880.
Annual Arts and Crafts Fall Festival
Sponsored by the Alclerson Jurdor Woman's Club,
10 a.m. to 6p.m. and Sunday, September 16,from noon
Alderson Junior High School old gymnasium.
A Used Booksale
Sponsored by the Friends of the Alderson Public Library will
Annual Arts and Crafts Fall Festival Saturday, September
day, September 16, at the Alderson Jtuzior lligh School old
Ronceverte Merchants Association
Monthly meeting will be held Thursday, Septenfl>er 13, at 6:30
fire house. At this tinw a re-organizational meeting will
which all committees will be reactivated and made
interested citizens are invited,
Sunrise Chapel United Methodist Church
Clintonville, will have their annual homecoming September 16,
I0 cLrn. with Sunday School. Covered dish dinner will be at
ternoon gospel singing.
Bloodmobile at !
Greenbrfer Red Cross Chapter will sponsor a Bloodmobile
ChurcIL Lewisburg, Monday September 17 from noon to 6 p.r~ !
will be provided for blood donors' children.
Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
Saturday, September 15, Wednesday, September 19, 8:20
recitation after the 8 a.nL daily Mass.
Good Grief
A group for those undergoing, the traumas of sorrow from
the loss or separation of any loved one will meet Thursday,
at 7 p.m. in 7"uke flail of Saint Thomas Episcopal Church,
Springs. All are welcome.
Lewisburg Area Girl Scouts
Registration will be held September 14 frorn 7-8p.m. at
mentary School cafeteria. All interested girls, whether
for the flrst time, are asked to take a parent and the ,$4
t r~'form e.,ocharu3e will be held in conjunction with
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mitten or clearly written in order to be considered for
Please include your name and a telephone number
ay be reached during business hours.
The Mountain Messenger reserves the right to edit
d regrets articles cannot be returned.
Letters to the editor must include
If you would Ilke a photograph returned, please
addresse, d, stamped envelope.
J
