An original parable about two men named George



An original parable abouttwo men named George
EDITOR:
The following is a parable that was inspired by the sight of Youngstown Mayor George McKelvey standing behind the Bush-Cheney podium making his "meaningless" endorsement.
A rusty, old van speeds into town and careens out of control. It jumps a curb and mows down scores of pedestrians. Then the van finds several newspaper machines and they go flying. A passing Brink's truck, just filled to capacity with currency, is forced off the street and slams into a bank, bursting into flames. Bystanders look on in horror as the wayward van finally plows into a vacant storefront, in a cloud of dust and debris.
When the first of many concerned witnesses rush up to help the driver, they recognize him as their mayor. They find him, asleep at the wheel, with a content smile on his face, as if dreaming. He certainly has no idea what just happened or what he has done. When he finally awakens, he emerges from the wreckage without a scratch. His suit is clean and pressed. His hair is perfect.
As the dust settles and the mayor glances about, he remains seemingly oblivious to the carnage around him. He does have the innate sense that a photo opportunity may be at hand though. Sure enough, reporters and cameras materialize as if on the mayor's cue. Could they have a comment? Of course.
Deftly, he spins the wreck as a means to lower the ranks of unemployed and spur investment in rebuilding the infrastructure. He reassures his listeners that this tragedy will bring our community together. The press ask him how he is able to maintain such a positive demeanor in the face of such calamity. He appears very pleased to answer that question.
The mayor has a friend -- a kind, caring and God-fearing friend -- who has taught him how to abide and accept such misfortune with open arms. This friend (we'll call him "W") has convinced himself that even the most incredible waste of wealth and resources is tolerable under the right circumstances. Despicable and shameful behavior is soon forgotten, if one really believes. Why, even life is cheap as long as the oil remains cheap as well. It's all in the packaging, according to W.
The mayor walked away from the group, leaving them all in stunned silence. Before he was out of sight, he turned and added one more point. W never reads newspapers.
Dr. THOM KUNKEL
McDonald
We would all be better offto follow Cosby's advice
EDITOR:
Bill Cosby, internationally known comedian, has criticized parents and leaders in the black communities in America for failing to set good examples for youths. He said young people must be encouraged to clean up their language and to be stopped from calling each other "nigger." He refers to those who use this word as "ignorant" and those who allow the use of the word as "knuckleheads." He states that a great number of young people are growing up without learning that this word is unacceptable and degrading.
I am professionally and personally relieved to know that Mr. Cosby, a person with such integrity and appeal, has spoken out against its use.
I am a white male schoolteacher. I had been assigned by the Youngstown School District to educate young people in an alternative school program at an East Side community center in 1995. My students were convicted felons who had served time in a juvenile prison for their involvement in violent behavior (murder, rape, robbery, theft, assault, etc.), and it was my mission to educate them just before their return to ease assimilation into a local high school.
Indeed there was one occasion when I was told by two center administrators that the word nigger is certainly acceptable language in the center. The showing of movies with violent themes was another practice that was allowed in the center. One of these "leaders" expressed this misguided information in the presence of a young man who I had just told to stop using the word in our classroom. This same young man, three months later, took a gun and shot several other school students near Rayen High School. He was sentenced in August 1996 to time in the Lorain Correctional Institution.
For their failure to teach him to respect others, these "leaders" (knuckleheads) should have been sentenced to serve time along with him. They failed to provide the moral guidance that Mr. Cosby insists be provided for young people to become productive citizens.
THOMAS DAILEY
Youngstown

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