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October 24, 2009

Speakout: Oct. 19, 2009

Judson
Wow! I'll bet the students and faculty at Plattsburgh State don't feel so much like racists now that Judson pulled his same tricks and is called on the carpet for his actions at a "multi-diverse" college such as Grambling. What card will be pulled this time?

Stockers
A local all-night store should be jeered for requiring their overnight stockers to park so far away from the store when the parking lot is empty and they leave work before the crowds start. It is unsafe to walk in the parking lot with no security and many of the lights out.

Electricity
Thanks a lot to whoever at Plattsburgh State kept our electricity going on Saturday night into Sunday. The power went out, and with generators, the workers kept the heat on and the lights, too. Kept us all safe — thanks for your efforts! My mother would be happy.

Bible

To my liberal Christian friend who quotes Matthew 25:45, you only acknowledge partial truth. Christian charity is meant for those who can't help themselves — not scofflaws who expect cradle-to-grave free rides and make excuses for their miserable, worthless lives. They will be held accountable by the lord for their laziness and irresponsible behavior. Before you tell me judge not lest you be judged, I will remind you that the biblical meaning of that passage is to condemn to hell, not judge right and wrong. We all have the capacity to do that.

Streets

The author of Cheers and Jeers must not drive in the City of Plattsburgh, to suggest that riders over the age of 12 should "follow the law" and take their lives in their hands by riding along Plattsburgh City streets. Riding the border of streets such as on Broad Street by Warren Tire or on Peru Street in front of the Old Base, heading either direction where it's far too narrow for a truck and bicycle to safely share the roadway, would be treacherous for any bicyclist. These are only two examples.

Attendance

PHS has instituted another ridiculous policy in their continued effort toward exerting control over community families and punishing kids. Should your child be late for school for any reason beyond a doctor's visit or death in the family — for example, should they be suffering from a severe headache, morning allergies, cramps, or a stomach ache (not referring to contagious colds/flu here) that when treated feels better allowing them to go to school — they will not be allowed to participate in afternoon sports practice or games.

Bikers

Being an adult bicyclist, I have never ridden my bike recklessly around pedestrians, nor have I targeted those people on purpose while riding on the sidewalk. The Jeers column in the Press-Republican on Oct. 5 about bikers having to ride in the street is out of line. When I ride on the side of the street, angry drivers honk at me and would rather knock me out of the way than share the road. I am not going to put my life at stake in the hands of bad drivers. Ticket me. I'm not going to change.

Postings

The article in the Press-Republican about the students at the Plattsburgh High School posting threatening comments about people of color on Facebook was a wake-up call to our community. Thanks, Stephen, for writing it and bringing it to light. Racism, whether it targets the gay community or African-Americans, stems from uneducated voices in our community. I am sick to death hearing about how people hate somebody else because of his or her skin color or sexual orientation.

Proactive

Kudos to PHS for being proactive on the Facebook incident. Anytime a student threatens via Internet/cell phone to hurt/kill, proper protocol should be followed. All schools have these policies; not all follow them. Some administrators are afraid to enforce anti-bullying policies as stated in the handbooks, because it puts them in an uncomfortable position. Our children's safety should be their main priority. Living in the North Country no longer guarantees a safe environment. PHS administration is making sure all students will be safe on their watch.

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