The Willow Glen Resident

Letters

Letters on moms, dogs hit home

I read two letters which made me feel that I must answer. The first was a June 17 letter from Teri Lynn Bacon in answer to Deborah Taylor-Hollis' article on "real moms." Actually, I did not care for either woman's comments as they were a little too strong. I really don't think we should dictate whether moms should stay at home or go to work. It really depends on the situations that these moms fall into. I happen to have opted to stay home with my two girls until my younger one started seventh grade. I decided to take on a part-time job which ended just before the girls came home each day. This way, I was available for them when they needed me.

I wonder if perhaps this type of job would be suitable for the mothers who feel they need to provide some income, but still feel uncomfortable about leaving children before they are ready. By the time the children are in college, the mothers would feel ready to go on to full-time jobs or even go back to school without missing a beat.

In reference to Alan Bennett's letter in the same issue about dogs walking on the Avenue, I've walked our dog many times on the Avenue, and it has never seemed too crowded anywhere, even at Starbucks, whose corner is usually busy. I have never seen a dog not on a leash, and those on a leash are usually well-behaved and friendly. And I agree that not everyone uses pooper-scoopers, but all we have to do is remind them to do so.

Have a wonderful summer on the Avenue!

Sue Evans
Dean Avenue

Explanations for teen violence lie closer to home

I want to thank Jon Beltran for his excellent response to Deborah Taylor-Hollis' article concerning teens and violence.

Although I can understand the fear she feels for her child, especially with all the shootings reported nightly on the news, I don't believe that all teens are violent creatures just waiting to kill someone or themselves. I feel I can speak from experience since I have two teenage sons as well as two teenage nieces and, of course, the assorted teenage friends that come with having said teenagers.

Speaking of my sons, they both grew up watching what would be considered "violent" cartoons as well as the occasional "violent" film (few when they were young, more as they have grown older.) From the beginning, they knew film from real life and what was acceptable behavior with their friends. They even had BB guns! They didn't shoot each other, nor did they go around hunting small animals. They shot at targets under our supervision and enjoyed themselves immensely.

As Mr. Beltran said, "she needs to start thinking more logically and begin to look closer to home as to the true threats to her children and ours." I feel we should all look closer to home and raise our own children to be happier, healthier and better able to handle the stresses in their lives so they don't resort to killing either themselves or others.

I might add in closing that I resent your negativity, Ms. Taylor-Hollis, with regard to teenagers. I find my teenage sons as well as their friends to be well-mannered, responsible (they all have jobs and cars), trustworthy, still in school and thoroughly enjoyable to have around. (And no, they haven't had "perfect" homes.)

I'd especially like to add that not all adults think teenagers are dangerous, troublesome, guilty or a nuisance. Some of us are proud of you and are glad to know you.

Cheryl Martin Just
Kring Drive

Columnist needs to broaden viewpoint

Deborah Taylor-Hollis' messages came through loud and clear--both of them. Her secondary message, her tirade about guns, gun owners and those who use, abuse and misuse guns is unequivocal. I'm sure that if she sticks to the words, tactics and phrases she used in her column, she will soon have all the anti-gun legislation she needs or wants. Her general mindset and attitude differ not one iota from those of the stamp-out-the-demon-rum crusaders who gave us the 18th Amendment and The Volstead Act (and all the fun and games that we went with prohibition and the roaring '20s).

At present we have laws dealing with every aspect of gun use: ownership, sale, transfer, transport, ad infinitum, ad nauseam. We also have laws against robbing banks, teen sex, driving solo in the commuter lane and spreading AIDS. Would Deborah T-H like to state that these offenses never happen? Doesn't Deborah T-H know that all of these school-related tragedies that we read about break dozens of existing laws? Does she believe that duplicate laws on top of unenforced, unenforceable laws will change things even slightly?

Her primary message comes through even more clearly, telling us what narrow, bigoted, parochial, prejudiced attitude and outlook she has of the views (and probably the persons) that do not agree 100 percent with her own. She will not listen, she will not see, she will not hear or accept values other than her own; she will not even accept other people's right to those values.

Believe me, that approach, that mindset, has caused more grief, more misery, more suffering, more death than all the guns that were ever invented.

Morton V. Stivison
Bismarck Drive

Business owners should play role in planning event

I was in Willow Glen recently and stopped by several of my old and favorite places, the main one, of course, being La Villa. Dave (the owner, with his wife, Patty) helped with my purchase, and I asked him some questions I thought he would be able to answer for me about the upcoming Founders Day. Come to find out that La Villa and many of the other well-established stores on Lincoln Avenue were not asked to take part in the planning.

I have been under the impression that all the merchants along The Avenue take part in helping to put this day together. Now that I know they are not asked to participate, give input or take a real part in planning, I am very disillusioned. The merchants are what this day is all about. I thought this whole Founders Day celebration was a joint effort, with perhaps a board of directors and as many merchants taking part as possible. My question that I would like answered is, "Why aren't the merchants included in the planning?" They have more reason to celebrate than anyone else, and they have the history, the stories and the artifacts on and about their own businesses, along with great enthusiasm and pride in their businesses that would contribute to making a this a very meaningful, educational, family-oriented and fun-filled day on Lincoln Avenue and drawing in many more people in the process.

Roberta L. Jaques
Willow Creek Court

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