Your Viewpoint Letters to the Editor
Shame, shame

By MURPHY J. ROSS Jasper

I am disappointed in Wal-Mart. I see the sad reality of the corporate world rearing its ugly head in our rural little town. I have raised both of my children in Jasper's school system. I have been involved with many fundraising events during the past 18 plus years.

My daughter is a junior this year and will be attending the Jr-Sr prom. We have been blessed with several sponsors. We decided to use some of the money to purchase a $150 Gift Mastercard to sell raffle tickets on a chance to win it.

We asked Wal-Mart if we could sit in front of the store to give the good people of Jasper a chance at winning the prize. We were told that Wal-Mart would not allow us to do this.

That was disappointing enough, but then we find out that they did allow a group of people to sit in front of both entrances soliciting signatures for a vote to allow Wal-Mart to sell beer and wine.

In my humble opinion, that sends a strong message that does not require a "special decoder ring" to decipher. Wal-Mart is concerned more about making money than they are about supporting the local youth.

I know many wonderful people that work there, and I am not directing my comments toward them. However, to the corporate world of Wal-Mart…. SHAME ON YOU.

Don't blame kids

By JASON RICHARD DUNN Jasper

I was surprised to see the City Council considering a ban on skateboarding for the kids in Jasper. The argument is, a few have caused trouble from time to time so that makes it okay to spoil it for the rest who do nothing wrong?

By using this logic then, because five men robbed Gee Shipman Pharmacy using automobiles to get away, maybe we should outlaw automobiles inside the city as well since a few acted up. I know that is ridiculous but so is this debate. Instead of debating on this issue let's put our minds together to come up with something for the youth of this area to do, then maybe they wouldn't have to skateboard on the sidewalks or hang out at Wal-Mart.

Perhaps some of those who are unhappy with the skateboarding on sidewalks and in parking lots would be some of the first to help develop some alternatives for our young people.

As a local youth minister, I hear from the kids all the time that there isn't anything for them to do around here. Maybe we could all get together and come up with things for the youth in this area to do, get them active in productive, yet fun activities.

Maybe we could come up with some business leaders to donate money and supplies to build a skateboarding park somewhere in the city. The kids themselves should be more than willing to donate labor. It just seems when you punish everyone for the actions of a few then we are being unfair to the ones who do the right thing and are only enjoying their right to peaceably assemble which, by the way, is granted to them by the United States Bill Of Rights.

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