Give Oakwood a Chance

Dear Dr. Johnson,

I was very upset to read about the sad incident that happened to you at the welcoming breakfast at the OCC (re: letter to editor May 1).  When I first moved to Oakwood, people warned me about “The Dome”.  I am an American, Egyptian, African, European…(the list can go on!!) chemist who found it very difficult to fit perfectly anywhere…until I moved to Oakwood.  For the first time, not only I was surrounded by friends as well as very kind and helpful neighbors and even strangers, I was adopted by a huge family that stood by me, encouraged me and supported me on a daily basis whenever I needed them.  The family transformed me from a floating water lily to a flourishing, deep-rooted oak tree.  This family is the Oakwood Rotary Club.  So, on my behalf and on behalf of my friends and my Rotary family here in Oakwood, I ask you to give Oakwood a chance to prove to you that you are not only welcomed here but you belong here and that we are very proud that you joined our community.

Susie Seleem, Ph.D.

Thank you Library Advisory Council members!

We have been overwhelmed with the support of this group during the Wright Library Levy Campaign. The passage of the levy was truly a group effort; here are a few of the accomplishments of this group:

• Got 250 residents to agree to yard signs showing their levy support
• Distributed the yard signs
• Donated campaign funds
• Helped stamp and label postcards to all Oakwood residents
• Provided campaign guidance
• Wrote letters to the editor expressing reasons to support the levy
• Developed campaign materials
• Helped educate the voters through newspapers and TV
• Talked with their friends and neighbors and encouraged a yes vote
• Voted YES on May 8!

It has been fantastic to see how many people believe that the Wright Memorial Public Library is a valuable community resource.  Your efforts in getting this levy passed are an example of why this community is such a wonderful place to live.  We truly do appreciate all that you have done during this campaign.

Barbara and Michael Erbe
Wright Library Levy Campaign Chairs

Vote of confidence

The Oakwood Register has been criticized in several letters for publishing a letter of concern over a mikveh that many found offensive. One writer said that they have to stop printing letters by “every crackpot with an agenda.” I don’t particularly like crackpottery, and I do believe that the Oakwood Register should enforce their own policy of not publishing anonymous letters; however, it is not the OR’s obligation to decide who is or isn’t a “crackpot with an agenda.”  Who hasn’t been a crackpot at one time?  If you think you’ve never been a little crackpotty, you’re probably wrong.
The last weeks’ mikveh brouhaha has really been enlightening.  One person started it by saying something based on misinformation and ignorance, and several others spoke up for what they believe.  I thought I was pretty savvy by knowing what a
mezuzah and a menorah were, but I’d never heard of a mikveh, until now.  Silence will only allow ignorance to fester into prejudice and hatred.  I believe that the editorial dialogue that the OR has allowed can only serve to strengthen our community and allay fears and misgivings.

Ana Maria Vasconez
(occasional crackpot)

Editor’s Note: Thank you, Ms. Vasconez, for the vote of confidence. My own wife came to America as a Jewish refugee and she never heard of a mikveh or its Russian equivalent either. Of course, the former Soviet Union and Holy Mother Russia never was much on approving or tolerating such amenities or practices in the Jewish communities there. They were too busy doling out the occasional pogrom.

Another SNAFU

I am absolutely shocked and appalled at what I just read in the Oakwood Register column “Round Town.  “The Hamlets staged another production at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and many familiar names appeared in this production including Weezie McGinnis as the “fat retarded daughter........Carlo McGinnis.stood up to protest “she was NOT the retarded neighbor”....... Isn’t this the same Carlo McGinnis who is a city council member?  This was held at a church in our community and they were getting a cheap laugh at the expense of the retarded?  These people in this play are those considered to be the ‘upper crust’ of Oakwood (by the columnist). Their names appear in bold highlights weekly in this little column. They should all be ashamed of themselves for participating in this production.  Making fun of the retarded in any way, shape, or form is just plain juvenile and should never have been tolerated at a religious institution.

I cannot fathom how this was at all appropriate. Was this meant to be humorous?  Tongue-in-cheek? Was this meant to be entertaining?  Did they all get a good laugh at the expense of the disabled? Did Weezie McGinnis actually “act” like a retarded person and get a big laugh from the audience?  It must have been a laugh riot and a very important part of the play since the columnist saw fit to mention it twice.

I have spent the majority of my life trying to educate others about how certain hurtful remarks and figures of speech can be; remarks like “that’s retarded”, “quit acting like a retard”, “you’re so retarded” carry a great deal of pain when one has lived with and loved a mentally retarded person.  Can you imagine being the parent or sibling of a retarded person and having to hear this on a daily basis?  It’s painful.  It carries the
same sting as listening to racial and ethnic slurs, trust me.  Mentally retarded people are such easy targets to make fun of because they don’t really understand when people are making fun of them. Lucky for them, their innocent and loving nature shields them from the pain of ignorant comments. It’s up to those of us who love them to speak up in their defense and try to educate others about more appropriate word choices.  

I honestly cannot understand how St. Paul’s Church hosted an event where poking fun of a retarded person was considered appropriate.

And the very fact that this paper published this column describing this event is beyond my comprehension. The editor needs to do a better job of making sure that what is being printed in this community paper is not going to be offensive. I realize that this is not offensive to most people; it really only offends those of us who are affected by it.  I would imagine that most of the people mentioned in this column don’t walk around using racial, ethnic, or religious slurs but apparently had no problem defaming the retarded for a cheap laugh.

To all the people whose names appear in bold print associated with this play—SHAME ON YOU; particularly the community and religious leaders.  Shame on this paper for publishing this column.  Shame on the person who writes this column for thinking that this was funny.  It wasn’t funny; it was demeaning, hurtful, unkind, and just plain inappropriate.  

The Oakwood Register, the columnist, and the community leaders associated with this situation should apologize for their lack of respect and thoughtless behavior. This paper is published for the enjoyment of all the members of our wonderful community. You really blew it this time.

In loving memory of my special brother,

Carleen Turner

Editor’s Note:
Dear Ms. Turner,
We wholly apologize to you and your late brother for the slur cited by you in this newspaper. ‘Round Town is a combination of lighthearted “grapevine” social commentary and chronicling of the local scene as seen through the eyes and ears of a small group of contributors. Believe me when I say they mean no harm. But yes, we “blew it this time” – and many other times as well.  We have had numerous stories and letters with quotes and asides that could be called offensive or tactless over the years – both in this column and other parts of the newspaper. This past month or so we’ve been really batting 1000 – with unsigned mikveh missals, being accused of spotlighting lawn jockeys as part of the local scenery, a spoof on Oakwood society and schools that invited both cheers and jeers, a rant on the proposed county dispatch system, failing to splay the RedALERT warning system in flashing colors across the front page, and last but certainly not least, a resurrection and regurgitation of the educational cause celebre of two years back – the Integrated Math debacle. We’ve had far more radical and edgy columns and commentary in our newspaper over the past 15-odd years. We promise to provide more of the same in the future. But it is with a heavy heart and a heavier “delete” key that unsigned letters and some defamatory lines of copy won’t be published in this newspaper.
Again, my apologies to all concerned.
Lance Winkler
Editor, The Oakwood Register

Thank you for your support

Dear Oakwood residents:

Thank you for your outstanding support of Wright Library. So many people stepped forward to contribute to “Citizens for Wright Library,” to display yard signs, to write letters to the editor, and to stamp and address flyers.  All of these efforts helped the library’s replacement levy succeed.  And, of course, thanks to all who voted in favor of providing local levy support for maintaining the library’s services.

Sincerely,

Ann Snively, Library Director
Barbara and Mike Erbe, Citizens for Wright Library Campaign Co-chairs

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