Kind words in letter to editor touched convicted murderer

Kind words in letter to editor touched convicted murderer
EDITOR:
I fortunately got to read a letter printed in the editor box that gives certain individuals the opportunity to express free speech. I was touched by a Nov. 17 letter [which expressed sympathy for both the Koliser and Hartzell families]. She displayed a virtue of compassion. Unlike myself; I chose apathy. But my heart is not truly encased in stone. I offer no excuses for my animalistic acts. I do not apologize to the victims' families nor to the one fortunate victim who survived. I do not do this out of spite. But for me to say I'm sorry would only indicate my own sorrow for self, because I have to live with what I did for the rest of my life. And I have to live with the consequences also.
I believe I showed a bit of remorse by not putting up a defense. I did not want to go through that ordeal but was bound to due to law. The show that was put on was like something out of Shakespeare. Everyone who played their roles as actors did a poor acting job. I was the villain in that play (the bad guy), so I played the part to the fullest.
I had two clods for attorneys. There was an ambitious prosecutor and his caddy assistant. And let's not forget the sagacious judge with his I believe in God speech. The whole ordeal was a spectacle. So I acted contemptuous. If I wanted to die so bad, I'd take my own life. I don't need the state to do it for me. I'm not that pressed.
What's the words I'm sorry to a bunch of killmongers? The same hatred I killed and attempted to kill with so callously in turn was used on me. Hatred dehumanizes, and without no one is capable of killing. Demagoguery was used. The beating of the drum for revenge was so apparent. Yes, I laughed. I laughed because a guy like me who sees the hypocrisy in all of this has no choice. If I were to cry it wouldn't be for me. It would be for society in their disillusioned pseudo-humanity.
Do you want to know who I feel the most sorrow for, other than my son? To juror No. 1. She didn't hate me and was forced to sign my death into law because I gave her no alternative. To her, I owe an apology. She and the Nov. 17 letter writer are real people to me.
MARTY KOLISER
Mansfield Correctional Institute
X Koliser, 30, is scheduled to be executed March 9, 2004, for killing Youngstown Patrolman Michael Hartzell. His conviction and sentence are being appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court.
Weathersfield school districtis losing a good bus driver
EDITOR:
I would like to take this opportunity to defend Weathersfield school bus driver Michelle White. She has been accused of & quot;endangering the lives of children & quot; by showing some of the students on her bus a safety drill. The drill consisted of her showing the children how to stop the bus should she become unresponsive. Now she is being accused of not getting the permission of the parents and allegedly allowing the children to drive the bus in the school parking lot. This is a woman who obviously takes her job seriously. She was taking the time to do a SAFETY DRILL with these kids. Does the school notify the parents every time they are going to do a fire or tornado drill?
Mrs. White has been my son's bus driver for the past three years. It has been nothing but a positive experience for him. His face lights up on the first day of school when he sees that she is his bus driver for another year. She sings songs with these kids, celebrates their birthdays and asks for their school picture. I grew up in this district and rode a bus to school every day. Some of the bus drivers that I had are still driving today. I can tell you, they didn''t know my name, let alone when my birthday was. In my experience as a parent of a child on Michelle White's bus, I can honestly tell you that she is no threat to any child. She is a friendly face at the beginning and the end of each day for these children. I feel safe knowing that she is transporting my son to and from school.
Unfortunately, due to the financial crisis in Weathersfield and the board of education decision to cut bus transportation, Michelle White will no longer be driving my son to and from school as of Jan. 5. To lose her as a driver due to a financial situation is sad, but to lose her due to these absurd allegations is tragic.
KRISTIN BURNS
Mineral Ridge
Just read the paper to findout how economy is doing
EDITOR:
The Vindicator, Dec. 1, 2003: Repeal of steel tariffs "all but set in stone." Looks like we were "Bushwacked" again. Our president and corporate greed seem to work hand in hand.
An article Oct. 27 states, "finally, economic recovery begins to see jobs created, fewer layoffs" Yeah, $6 an hour poverty level jobs. Big deal!
Directly below that article it reads, "RMI workers report to locked-up plant." RMI's vice president of administration say's last offer made to union members would have saved the company $2 million to $3 million a year. He says the company needs the concessions to make the mill competitive. God forbid they would cut the CEO's bonuses from $20 million to $10 million a year to make the company competitive. We couldn't have that!
In other articles from The Vindicator:
Oct. 26, Providence, R.I.: A.T. Cross to move production to China. The move will eliminate 300 jobs, saving the company between $5 million and $7 million a year.
Nov. 3, Syracuse, N.Y.: Carrier Corp., (air conditioner manufacturer) moves to Asia, laying off 1,200 workers.
Nov. 2: Factory job losses pose threat to President Bush. The county is losing 80,000 manufacturing jobs a month.
Nov. 4: Has NAFTA delivered as promised? Some U.S. jobs were lost, but cost of goods dropped because of cheap labor.
I ask, when and where are the cheaper goods?
To the poor people of the United States, you are the majority. Wake up, get up, do your homework and get out there and vote. It might take a couple of elections, but it won't be long before our elected government officials figure it out! If they don't give us what we want, they will under no circumstances be re-elected to their cushy, high-paying government jobs!
BUTCH BAKER
Struthers
The secret: 'Made in China'
EDITOR:
A recent article in the business sedction bragged about the record profits at Home Depot and attributing this success to customer service missed the mark. I think it has more to do with them swiitching more and more of their merchandise to foreign-made, primarily China.
I went to buy a leaf reke there a couple of months ago, but all they had were Chinese ones.
GERALD MILLER
Niles