Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 3 September 1998 — Page 3

The Muncie Times, September 3,1998, Page 3 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Fort Wayne resident'supports Helmke’s senatorial campaign Two? Democratic Candidate Evan Bayh, who is running against Paul Helmke for the US> Senate, has agreed to only two debates? Republican Helmke challenged his opponent to debates in each Indiana congressional district- debates to bring the candidates close to as many Hoosiers as possible. That would have allowed us to ask questions, and watch and listen ourselves to the candidates. Instead former Gov. Bayh has agreed to two debates, both to be held in Indianapolis- as if the rest of the state doesn’t count much anyway, to the Democrat. I am angered and saddened by this. I wish every Hoosier could have the opportunity to hear Fort Wayne Mayor Helmke speak about issues such as tax reform and making government more responsive. The residents of Fort Wayne now have a lower city property tax rate, a “community oriented government” that responds to the needs of the neighborhoods, and a mayor who has been nationally recognized for his courageous leadership. We know Helmke, and we have elected him mayor three times. It appears his opponent doesn’t want you to know Helmke. I urge you to try to catch one ofthe two debates on TV. And I urge you to vote for Paul Helmke for the U.S. Senate on Nov. 3 Sincerely, Linda Buskirk Fort Wayne, Ind.

Inmate Urges the teaching of Bible, moral values in public schools My heart is continuously saddened because our great city, Indianapolis has become the no. 1 murder capital in the

nation. I must agree this city, along with our country’s future, is morally, and spiritually deteriorating. It is perplexing to me because our First Amendment right says that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment, such as our public schools, freedom of all expression, of religion, of speech, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” I would like to propose that steps be taken to put chaplai ns, prayer, and Bible reading back into our public schools and teach our children to worship God. Our young people, our youth, our children, are now bringing guns to school and killing teachers and other children. Our youth are being incarcerated. Our jails and prisons are overflowing. Divorce rates are at an all-time high. Combine this with the escalating rise of a “one-parent home” and the laws which stifle the parents ability to correct their child’s behavior for fear of retribution from a system built on idealism of the way things ought to be. The end result is an ignorant, unruly child who cannot make sound decisions based on the content of his/her upbringing. I find it nothing short of ludicrous when the breakdown of the family unit, the shambles of an educational system, a legislation system and ill-thought out policies have resulted in situations in which the deficiencies of the system are blamed on the products of that system, instead of correcting the problem which caused such products. We cannot run away from a problem of this magnitude. We van only distance ourselves in order to look back and assess the situation. But we cannot get away from a persistent problem. Parents also need to take a more active role in instilling the principles, moral fiber and

values in their children. Legislators and congress should get together and reform and rebuild our educational system and abide by our First Amendment rights. This, with the deregulation of laws that govern what it means. Parents can utilize in the correction of their children, will invariably decrease the need of additional police protection around our public schools. In closing, I would like to relay my sincerest hopes that all those who read this letter will take action by contacting their legislators about taking an active interest in community, churches and social organizations that promote education, and social events for youth, because it is the learned behavior that guides us in making decisions about what is right and what is wrong. The learned behavior aspect has a greater influence on our environment, family, friends, culture, society, etc., by something so small as setting aside more time to spend quality moments with the children they love. I implore you to do so because I do not want to see your child locked up with me here at Marion County Jail II. God Bless You, Sincerely, Kenneth Allen

Reader decries lack of blacks at Muncie Central’s 50th reunion I commend you for your persistence. Without a vision, people perish. It appears that you have materialized your vision of a community newspaper directed to AfricanAmericans. I recall being a paper boy in the 1940s in the small town of Dunkirk, Ind. I delivered the Muncie Morning Star, The Indianapolis Star and the Chicago Tribune. I sold the Pittsburgh Courier, The Chicago Defender and one other, whose name escapes me at this time.

I remember the primary news in the “Negro” papers was about violence and lynchings against black males. I had the pleasure of reading your July 16, 1998 edition of the Muncie, Times. I enjoyed reading about the positive activities planned to bring Muncie together as a total community rather that two separate communities, Afri-can-American and white. Apparently, the concept is working , economically, because many African-Americans are living around the college. That was an impossibility in my era there. In spite of this positive showing, it appears that African-Americans are still afraid to participate in predominately white activities. On July 17-19, 1998, I attended the 50th Reunion of the Central High School Class of 1948. I was disturbed that only four African-Americans attended any of the events. They were Robert Lee Davis, Charlotte J. Levi, Herbert A. Levi and James Sims. Jewett Hayes had planned to attend, but pneumonia dictated otherwise. I attended the 35th and 40th reunions. My sister, my wife, and myself were the only African-Americans in attendance at those events. Of a total graduating class of 364, there were 20 AfricanAmericans in the 1948 graduating class. I don’t believe all are deceased or incapacitated. I understand that some are still live in Muncie. It seems to me that we must be willing to attend predominately white events if we expect them to attend ours. For the record the AfricanAmerioans in the 1948 graduating class were James E. Adams, Nathan Bowman, Jack Bragg, Estelle A. Brown, John Casey, Abraham Cooper Jr., Robert L. Davis, James Dixon, Mary Fields, Wanda J. Grider, Jewett Hayes, Nellie I. Johnson, Charlotte J. Levi, Herbert A. Levi, Otis Miller, Dean A. Montague, Joe H.

Ogbum, James Sims, Margaret Stewart, Billy Taylor. I was unable to attend the 45th Reunion. However, I issued the leaders a challenge to manage wisely, the diversity of our group, etc. For the 50th reunion, they came through, but we didn’t. They made special effort to locate the missing members. Nancy Marvin Turner, with a small group, provided the Friday evening meal and social get- together at her home, free. Therefore money should not have been a deterrent. It was good to be warmly welcomed by old classmates. Some still looked like themselves. I felt that the welcome was sincere. Since my wife could not attend this time, I danced with many of my female classmates. Some of the attendees were concerned by the lack of attendance of the in African-Americans classmates. I could not give a good reason for their absence. Many asked whatever happened to Anita Paige, an African-American graduate of an earlier class who was quite popular. I hope you can help. I am bringing this minor issue to your attention with the hope that you can get our folks “out of the rut.” My experience has me that frequently, you must make the first step to let others know that you are interested in participating. Comfort zones don’t expand without effort. Limited comfort zones make limited people. Limited people accomplish very little. If we truly love one another, we must demonstrate that in our actions. We can’t love God, if we don’t love each other. I think we need to revert to a song which I learned in the first grade, “the More We Get Together, The Happier We’ll Be.” I sincerely hope that you can get some movement from our side toward the middle. May God Bless your efforts. Sincerely, Herbert A. Levi