Racist images ruin former resident's homecoming

Racist images ruin former resident's homecoming
EDITOR:
I was born and raised in Girard, and on a recent trip back to visit, I noticed the Girard Indians signs throughout town and found myself overwhelmingly appalled.
Though all was not perfect in Native cultures before white people arrived, things certainly became worse afterwards. A population of over 10 million people was reduced to less than 1 million due to the wars, diseases, and killings lead by European people -- it was nothing short of genocide. Native people lost their land and their culture, which they are only now beginning to regain. Their children were forced to attend boarding schools where they were beaten for speaking their language, practicing their spirituality, or following their customs. Native religions and ceremonies were outlawed throughout the country. The effects of these acts are still felt today -- the rates of unemployment, poverty and alcoholism on reservations are catastrophic.
The use of an Indian is one part of this ongoing oppression and is an act of blatant racism. Native Americans are the only group of people who are used as mascots -- we do not use African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, or Caucasian people in this manner. By doing this, we are refusing to even recognize Native Americans as people, but instead put them in the same category as animals, things and fictitious characters.
It has become our tradition in Girard to use racist images, and I hope that we can shed that tradition by changing the mascot. I hope that someday, the citizens of Girard will open their hearts and their minds to the inhumanity of portraying people as mascots, and will demand a change to the Indian icon. Maybe then the citizens of Cleveland, Florida, Washington and hundreds of other locations will do the same.
SUSAN MARKS
Duluth, Minn.
Playhouse made a comeback
EDITOR:
This past season the Youngstown Playhouse has made a 180 degree turn in both the quality of the plays and the attendance. My wife, Carolyn, and I have been season ticketholders for over 30 years. This past season, we have the fortunate experience to step back in time to get another taste of the "Glory Days" of the Playhouse. The audiences have jumped from a hand full in attendance to a theater filled to at least two-thirds capacity for the plays we attended. This increase in attendance, I'm sure, had an uplifting affect on the actors as the performances were reflected in the feed back from the audiences. Combined, the play selection, performances of the actors and the audience size made for a very enjoyable year for us.
And just when we thought that it could not get any better along came "Smokey Joe's Cafe." Wow, what a great ending to a great season. The '50s and '60s music was a real treat for some one who grew up in that time. However, it definitely has an appeal over a much wider age range. There were people in their teens and 20s to retirees in the audience. The arrangements and adaptations of the songs as well as the performance of the actors were such that the entire audience was swaying to them. In fact everyone clapped in time to the music on a number of occasions. The members of the audience showed their appreciation quite a few times during the performance with not only applause, but with enthusiastic cheering and whistling. And at the end of the performance, everyone in the audience stood and enthusiastically gave the caste (great local talent) a standing ovation for a delightful evening.
This season, we experienced the playhouse as it was in the past. I thank you all for turning it around. You have again found the right mixture of good plays and good performances (and I'm sure, a lot of hard work behind the scenes). We are looking forward to the future because you have done so. I believe that the Playhouse season ticket, today, is one of the best entertainment values in the Valley. I believe that I'm not the only one who feels this way because we saw a lot more people this year than in the recent past. There is nothing like the interaction between a live caste and a full audience.
JAMES G. TOMOCHEK
North Jackson
Judge talks tough then administers slap on wrist
EDITOR:
The comments made by federal Judge Paul R. Matia in the sentencing of Steve "Moose" Almasy for his booking activity was like the pot calling the kettle black.
The judge berated Youngstown for what took place in Struthers. That does not sound to me like he knew or cared about the heart of the case.
The wife of Ronald Carabbia is reported to be the owner of the bar in question. Everybody should know Ronald Carabbia and his family are big time mob people. This sports betting operation was grossing as much as $2.5 million a month. That is also big time.
It took the FBI a lot of time and effort to make this case. What then was the result of their effort due to Judge Matia's sentencing?
Judge Matia would not let the government foreclose on the bar or its license. He sentenced Steve Almasy to two years probation with six months house arrest and gave him working privileges during the house arrest. Almasy's job has been operating the LaVilla Sports Bar and Grill for the Carabbia family and booking bets. The judge's sentence in this case did not even amount to a slap on the wrist. It was more like a hug and a kiss.
I know something about these big time gambling operators. The only thing they hate is long jail time. Anything else is just a mere inconvenient cost of doing business. Judge Matia's sentence did absolutely nothing to deter this type activity and yet he degrades this area for that activity. One might question just where the judge is coming from.
DONALD G. BAKER
Former chief of police
Youngstown
Celibacy has its advantages
EDITOR:
Since a new pope has been elected there has been much speculation about changes in Catholic Church policy regarding married priests, women priests and homosexual clergy.
Married priests can present many problems, not the least being money. Currently the single or celibate priest, I presume, receives a modest salary, room and board and a car augmented by income from funerals, weddings, baptisms, etc. On the other hand, married priests having a wife and family to support would require a salary befitting a professional of his level -- say $40,000 a year or more, plus a family hospitalization plan and a retirement investment plan. Additionally, like any other married man with a wife, he will have a social life separate from his parish responsibilities, like parties, dinners, dances, social clubs, etc. The wife of a married priest could be an asset or a liability. Then there would be the children to consider, especially grown children, teenagers or older.
With the larger salary burden, would the married priest be assigned to the larger, wealthier parishes which could afford to support them and confine the single priest to smaller, hardship parishes? Sooner or later the disparity in salary and assignments will become a problem.
If women get their way and are admitted as priests, the option of being married or single would also be open to them and with the same concerns mentioned above. Additionally, if married, having children, she would require maternity leave time. Being a mother, she would require time for her family's welfare separate from her parish responsibilities in addition to her and her husband's social life. Being good Catholics, her family could be quite large unless they practice birth control or have abortions to limit family size.
Those homosexuals, gay and lesbians, lobbying for admittance to the priesthood would also have the option of being single or have live-in partners.
However, in all this speculation by these special interest groups, one large group of Catholics has been overlooked, the ones who do not want to see these changes take place in their Catholic Church. What happens to them? Are they expected to "like it or leave it?"
This "like it or leave it" policy could also be applied to all of those wannabes involved in the above discussions.
PAUL SLOVAN
Youngstown