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OPINION
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Fauquier Times | Arpil 1, 2020
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
How to pay for COVID-19 crisis Possible sources of income for our government to battle the economic struggle from the efforts of the coronavirus: 1. Take 5% from all Social Security checks for a minimum of three months. 2. Take 10% from checks of all high-level federal, state and local government employees. Including the House and Congress. Active and retired. 3. Ask for donations from all wealthy sports and entertainment figures, active and retired. Donors names and amounts to be posted. 4. Ask for donations from all wealthy Americans. Especially millionaire and billionaires. Names and amounts to be posted. It is time for all Americans who are able to step up and help fellow Americans in this critical time. These amounts could be enormous and in the long run help all of us greatly. RICHARD CANNEY Warrenton
Dear darling grandchildren… You have been away from your regular schooling and at home with your moms and dads for almost two weeks now. I hope this has been a time for closeness and lighthearted fun as well as work and study. I have heard rumors that some children have reported that they are bored. Please understand that boredom in these times is not an option! There is the mistaken assumption among some that intelligent children are easily and frequently bored. I disagree! Throughout my life I have noticed that intelligent, resourceful, and imaginative people are never bored. This also holds true for children. There are so many ways to learn, to grow, and to be helpful to others. Let’s start by listing a few of them: • Make your bed, every day, as soon as you get up. • Clean up your room; learn to use the family washing machine and dryer to keep your clothes clean, dry and folded. • Help your parents cook and help them clean up the kitchen afterward. • If you have schoolwork assigned,
begin it right after breakfast; try to finish it before lunch! • Outside, help to pull weeds and pick up trash in your yard. Then, find a place to plant a small vegetable garden. Right now, plant peas, lettuce and radishes. Watch out for hungry bunnies! • Ask one or both of your parents to take a walk with you each day. Take time to play charades, Monopoly or your favorite card game with your parents. • Use the family computer to learn about these terms: pandemic; plague; vaccine; immunity; courage, empathy and gratitude. Researching these terms will lead you to other explorations. • Plan to read at least one book a week; Think about your family and your teachers. You could write letters to your teachers, thanking them for helping you learn and asking how they are spending their time away from school. If you have had a birthday recently, make a list of the gifts you received and who gave you the gifts. Begin with your parents,
We should be rallying together during this crisis We see uplifting news of people helping each other in ways great and small as we weather this pandemic. I wondered, what might be happening in our own community? It would be great to read stories of that nature as this crisis continues to unfold and to know more about what we can do to help. I have contemplated several ideas: phone buddies who would volunteer to hold regular calls (even FaceTime) with individuals who are alone, lonely and perhaps anxious; notecard buddies who would send a nice, positive note in the mail to our
nursing home residents; volunteers who will shop for groceries and other supplies for the homebound; or even, reading circles consisting of individuals who volunteer to read to children through a virtual platform. These are just a few concepts that might make a difference and no doubt, there are many others. How do we find out about local efforts to reach out to our neighbors? I’m hoping that by writing this letter, our news organizations can help to publicize those opportunities.
Writer agrees with Ellsworth Weaver’s comprehensive approach to black history I am writing in response to the article “NAACP agenda includes education, activism and communication,” written in the Fauquier Times on Feb. 27. In the article, Ellsworth Weaver talks about how, in our public schools, the history of slavery is told very briefly, and many students only know the one story that is being taught to them. I fully agree with Weaver when we say that students need to be educated on this topic more in depth, because it has shaped the United States into what it is today. There is a middle school in our county that used to be a school for only colored people, and I believe and agree with Weaver stating that it should be a part of the history we learn. Weaver states that in general there
needs to be communication within the county to create more knowledge on history, so that a deeper understanding can be created, and so that people can form their own opinions from that point on. He says that there are generational differences, and that there is a gap between what he learned when he was a student and what students learn today. It needs to change because students who are in high school now may only learn and experience the very short version of what has happened, and they also probably learn from what their parents may tell them as well. I think Ellsworth Weaver makes very clear and relevant points throughout the whole article.
MADISON HARMON Goldvein
grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Write them thank you notes. In handwriting, preferably cursive! If your parents try to tell you what to say, politely tell them you will be happy to do it yourself! Write a thank you letter to the president, your governor and first responders at your local firehouse or hospital. Tell them what their care for our country, your state, and your community means to you. Begin a daily diary, with illustrations. Do your very best to describe what you are hearing and seeing and how you are feeling and thinking at this time. Ask your grandparents and older relatives what they know or remember about World War II; the Vietnam War; 9/11; polio, and tuberculosis. Write down in your diary what they tell you. Sometime several months from now, put your diary away for safekeeping. Hang on to it forever. If your parents have taught you how to pray, and even if they haven’t, ask the good Lord to watch over you, your family and our country. With love always,
GRANDMA (JOAN CATON ANTHONY) Warrenton
In the meantime, heartfelt thanks to our health care, mail and package delivery, grocery and retail workers and others who are on the frontlines of this battle taking care of us all! God bless you.
KATHRYN KADILAK The Plains
Editor’s note: The Fauquier Times is trying hard to keep up with the stories of neighbors helping neighbors. Some of the tales make it into the print copy, but there are so many … See “Viral Good News,” our special page devoted to positive stories at Fauquier.com.
A plea for praying instead of complaining Two of your readers complained about President [Donald] Trump. These readers need to spend time praying instead of complaining. God answers prayers! I would suggest they read the Prayer of St. Francis, it is a wonderful prayer, and a prayer we all should pray daily. KATHY CEBROWSKI Warrenton
Letters to the Editor
The Fauquier Times welcomes letters to the editor from its readers as a forum for discussion of local public affairs subjects. WRITE: Letters to the Editor 41 Culpeper Street Warrenton, VA 20188 FAX: Editor 540-349-8676 EMAIL: news@fauquier.com Letters must be signed by the writer. Messages sent via email must say “Letter to the Editor” to distinguish them from other messages not meant for publication. Include address and phone for verification (Not to be published.) Letters are subject to editing for clarity and length. Personal attacks will not be published. Long letters from those with special authority on a current issue may be treated as a guest column (with photo requested). Due to volume, letters cannot be acknowledged. All letters are appreciated. Letters must be received by 5 p.m. Monday to be considered for Wednesday publication.
