New Year’s resolutions
Letters to the Editor
As we turned the pages of the calendar to 2011, many wish for and make resolutions. Hereby I state mine.
n A recognizable decrease in anger amongst all especially on the roads and in schools.
n Much less selfishness, foolish pride and hatred.
n A drastic decrease in abortions with no taxpayer’s support.
n A deeper respect for all human life including personhood for pre-born.
n More kindness, respect and common courtesy.
n More frequent media transmission of our national motto – “In God, We Trust.”
n Tremendous increase in church attendance, Bible reading, fervent prayers and gospel love.
n As God-loving people, we can and must promote and daily live an improved civility for all of 2011.
Rev. Joseph L. Sredzinski
Jeanette
Giving thanks
As an occupational therapist, I have had the pleasure of working with many talented, caring and compassionate activity professionals.
More often than not, these efforts go unnoticed by a majority of the staff and administration. For one week a year, the activity departments across the country are brought to the forefront of their facilities and recognized by their organizations for the wonderful results achieved by their residents through meaningful activity.
Unfortunately, in many facilities, this week passes just like any other without any pomp and circumstance. No smiles, no pat on the back, no hugs and no “thank you for the wonderful job you do caring for the residents.”
What’s worse (more like a slap in the face) is the response they get is “Oh, I wasn’t aware…” or “Let’s make a note of that for next year.” Next year? Seriously? Their efforts should be celebrated monthly, and in a very special way they are celebrated on a daily basis by the people who mean the most.
It’s the smiles from the residents, watching them having fun doing what they like to do and even at times, a new experi-ence. It’s the bonds that are formed between the activity professionals and the residents, where they know the residents better than anyone else in the facility. That is what makes their job worthwhile, satisfying and fulfilling.
If you have a loved one currently in the hospital, nursing home or elder day care facility, please take a moment to seek out the activity professionals to say “thank you.” It means more than you think.
As a health-care professional, I see what you do. I see the joy you bring to the women and men you work with on a daily basis. I see the impact you make in their lives on a daily basis. For this, I say “thank you.” You are a very important part of the health-care team. I see what you do.
Tod R. L’Hommedieu
Uniontown
Service criticized
Congratulations to our undocumented President Obama. He turned a memorial service into a stadium pep rally for his re-election. If this shooting involved the middle class instead of an elite politician or judge, it would have received about a two-minute story on the national media.
I don’t remember the national media being so concerned about a soldier killed or wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan, but these folks aren’t rich and a politician and are not important.
Show me a politician, lawyer, or doctor who doesn’t love money more than anything in the world, then I’ll show you the Easter Bunny.
David Gardner
Uniontown
Too much violence
The shootings in Tucson are a dramatic reminder that we have one of the world’s most violent societies. Violence governs our foreign relations, our sports and video games, and our daily diet.
Yes, our diet. Desensitization to violence begins in the home, when parents assure their naturally inquisitive, animal-loving children that chickens “give” eggs, cows “give” milk, and that pigs “give” their flesh for us to eat. The horrific daily violence and barbaric slaughter visited on these innocent animals and subsidized by us at the checkout counter gets buried in our subconscious mind.
Once our kids have learned to live with the violence of their diet, how much of a stretch is it to while away their idle hours on video games like “Mortal Kombat,” “Manhunt,” or “Grand Theft Auto?” How likely is this experience then to govern how they resolve a social confrontation in their neighborhood or a military one in an Afghan village?
Most of us abhor violence, but we don’t know how to prevent it.
Giving our kids an honest answer when they ask “Mommy, where do hamburgers come from?” is certainly a great start.
David Daily
Uniontown