AmeriCorps praise
Through your newspaper, I would like to express my sincere
gratitude to Rochester AmeriCorps for giving me an opportunity to attend a
five-week summer program on political science at Monroe Community College. I
did not know I would have such an educational incentive to pursue the career I
would very much like to achieve.
I joined
AmeriCorps in 2002 to offer volunteer services to the community. After a
two-week training program on different areas of interest, I was assigned to
Threshold for tutorial services.
Besides a
living allowance and an education award, AmeriCorps members have the
opportunity to learn new skills. A former AmeriCorps member told me had it not
been for an AmeriCorps education award he received, he would not have had an
opportunity to further his education in college. “Indeed, it pays to serve
one’s country or community,” said the friend.
Anyone
considering joining AmeriCorps should not hesitate to do so.
Prince D. George, Lake Avenue, Rochester
Car culture’s costs
The cost of driving our private vehicles isn’t truly
reflected in what we pay to purchase, operate, and maintain them. Government
estimates indicate, for example, that the average suburban commuter pays only
25 percent of the actual cost of road construction and maintenance. Federal,
state, and local governments pay the rest. These dollars could be better used
on developing effective public transportation systems, with some left over for
tax incentives to draw jobs to our area.
Good public
transit requires a community transportation hub, which becomes a natural center
for commerce. Such a center would help restore our city’s commerce and bring
jobs to both urban and suburban youth. This might reduce the violent crime rates.
Public
health might improve, as more people walked some of the way to their
destination. In addition, more people on the streets provide more “eyes on
the streets,” making them safer.
And imagine
the money saved if the average household didn’t need to finance two
automobiles. More people could become homeowners, further improving our
communities.
Then
there’s the air we breathe and environmental issues. And, oh boy, what about
our dependence on foreign oil for fuel to drive these cars? Furthermore,
doesn’t the military play a part in securing foreign oil resources, and isn’t
that costly?
Then
there’s the cost of auto accidents in terms of medical fees and damage to
public property. And isn’t suburban sprawl a result of the automobile?
We are a
brilliant nation, a depository of the world’s most ambitious and gifted. Why do
we not stop and consider the dangers of our auto-centric culture? This should
become an issue in upcoming political campaigns.
Mike Henry, Henrietta Street, Rochester
Friendly Fair
Adam Wilcox bemoans the loss of Balsam Market, saying,
“there really isn’t anything else like it” (Gut Instincts, July 23).
I live on the Brighton-Penfield border, and I too was sad when Balsam closed
its doors. But I have good news: I discovered Village Fair in East Rochester.
It is like stepping into a 1960’s village market, complete with a staff of
knowledgeable, friendly butchers.
I don’t go
often enough for the butchers to welcome me by name and know my favorite cuts,
as I see them do with so many other patrons. But I love waiting my turn
(without taking a number) and listening to the gossip passing back and forth
across the counter.
The only
thing better than the great meats (and pies from Leo’s!) and friendly service
is their prices, which are consistently lower than Wegmans or Tops.
So, Adam,
on your way to Pittsford Dairy, stop by Village Fair!
Erin Dwyer, Alaimo Drive, Brighton
Liar! Liar! Pants on fire!
George Washington/
Never told a lie…./ Chopped down a cherry tree, And told his father “It
was I!”
Those were
the words I chanted while jumping rope on a New York City sidewalk back in the
1940s. Our president then was Harry S. Truman, known as “a man of the
people.” A placard on his desk proclaimed, “The buck stops
here!”
How far we
have come in these intervening 50 years. We now have a president who openly
lies to the people, and then pins the blame on someone else.
One thing
is clear: the George in the White House is no George Washington. And while we
may have a liar in the White House, America still does have some genuine heroes:
There are
heroic men and women in Congress such as Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), who raised
serious questions when our president first attempted to manufacture the
justification for this war that has killed thousands, cost us billions,
increased the probability of future terrorism, and produced nothing but chaos
and misery in Iraq.
There are
heroic journalists such as William Rivers Pitt, author of War on Iraq, who reported that the Bush White House was informed as
far back as October 2002 that the Iraq-Niger claim was false; and Harley
Sorensen of the San Francisco Chronicle who wrote on July 7:
“Bush
is a good salesman, which is almost certainly why his father’s friends chose
him to be the front man for the Republican Party…. He was able to convince
most Americans that war with Iraq was a necessity. But America needs more than
a slick salesman to lead the world.”
Sorensen is
right. We need folks who are willing to see beyond our nation’s current
flag-waving frenzy, willing to work to support fair elections in 2004, and
willing to demand that someone of true decency, humility, and integrity be
seated behind the desk in the Oval Office.
The
“little girl in me” still believes that that can happen — IF we all do our part. Let’s not be
fooled by “smoke and mirror” theatrics, faulty intelligence, and a
pretty face. Let’s all work together to vote the liar out of office — if we
don’t impeach him first! Visit
www.VoteToImpeach.org and become a hero now!
Vicki Lewin Ryder, Cornell Street,
Rochester (Ryder is a member of Metro Justice and founder of Rochester’s
Raging Grannies)
Writing to City
We welcome and encourage readers’ letters for publication.
Send them to: themail@rochester-citynews.com or The Mail, City Newspaper, 250
North Goodman Street, Rochester 14607.
Our
guidelines: We don’t publish anonymous letters — and we ask that you include
your street name and city/town/village. While we don’t restrict length, letters
of under 350 words have a greater chance of being published. We do edit letters
for clarity and brevity. And in general we don’t publish letters (or longer
“op-ed” pieces) from the same writer more often than once every three months.
This article appears in Aug 13-19, 2003.
