Letters to the Editor

Aided elderly mom

On May 8 at approximately 9:30 p.m., our family received a call from the Roper Hospital emergency room informing us that our 91-year-old mother had been admitted.

Apparently a young gentleman, walking on Calhoun Street, found our mother lying on the ground in the rain in front of her home. It appeared that she had fallen and hit her head.

The young black man, we were told, called 911 and shielded her with his umbrella until EMS arrived. She had broken her hip.

We would like to thank this individual. We think his name is "Joe." Please contact the family at (843) 722-4646.

Joseph S. Schill Jr.

218-B Calhoun St.

A good Christian

I am sure that I will not be the only one taking exception to a recent letter to the editor claiming that there are no "good" Christians.

The "good" reverend should have known my mother. She started a Baptist church in her home, taught Sunday school all of her life and read the entire Bible numerous times. She never spoke a harsh word about anyone, except her rebellious son. Even now, living out her final days in a nursing home, she has a sweet spirit and a good attitude.

It's too bad that the reverend never met her.

Steve Jordan

24 Broadway St.

Mount Pleasant

Move graduation

I was shocked on reading your May 11 article titled "Graduation marks final financial blow" to learn that each College of Charleston graduate was allowed only three free guest tickets for the ceremony.

It is a monumental feat to graduate from college and when it gets to the point that siblings and grandparents cannot share this joyous occasion, then it is time to change venues.

I realize having the graduation in the Cistern Yard has been a tradition since the College of Charleston has existed, but change is not always a bad thing. Many local high schools traditionally had graduations in their football stadiums, but in order to accommodate larger crowds, they moved the location to the North Charleston Coliseum and the ceremonies are still beautiful.

Maybe it is time the College of Charleston polls its students and asks what is more important, continuing with the traditional venue and the limit of three free tickets, or moving the location to allow more family members and friends to share the eventful day.

If more of the college's students and parents knew about this ticket limit before enrolling, would they have chosen to study elsewhere?

SUZANNE COX

405 Marquette Lane

Ladson

Put children first

In response to the May 7 story titled "Parents at War":

The story casts the parents as innocent victims when they lose custody of their children during military deployment.

I believe that the courts are correct when they act in the best interest of the children. Let's not forget these situations are the result of choices made by the complaining parents.

The story describes a Marine whose wife was a junior in high school when their son "came along."

Whether or not they wish to admit it, these parents made decisions which led them to be parents and marry at an early age.

The husband made a decision that led to a career with travel, which would separate him from his new wife and young child. It seems likely that the combination of a marriage at a young age, early parenthood and physical separation might have caused the divorce.

These were choices that were made by the parents. Who pays the biggest price? The kid does and will continue to pay. I would say that the kid's interests easily trump those of the parents.

Having children is the most profound obligation that people can have.

They must be ready to put the needs of others before their own, and to carefully consider the consequences of their decisions.

Entering into and remaining in a profession that demands much travel would seem to hamper the establishment of a secure family environment.

In each case described in the article, the traveling parent chose to join the military. It would be ideal if divorced parents were mature enough to put their differences aside, act like mature adults and put the children's needs first.

Let's keep the needs of the children first, even if it does make an adult unhappy.

Gary Condren

63 Oyster Point Row

Leave Bible at church

The Bible in schools? My first question to that question is: What are churches and Sunday Schools for if not to teach the Bible and its tenets appropriately to the adults and children of their denominations? This has worked well in our communities since the country was founded.

To teach the Bible in public schools would certainly open the doors of conflict when little Johnny or Jane heard something different from the public school teacher than that taught by their Sunday School teacher.

A similar conflict started the downfall of the European theocracies during the Enlightenment and prompted a Protestant migration to the new world by those seeking freedom to worship God as they chose.

To protect this freedom of worship, being mindful of the Salem witch hangings, is the very reason Thomas Jefferson inserted the wording in the U.S. Constitution to effect what is called the separation of church and state.

So far this wording has prevented the recurrence of a church in this country that has life and death power over its parishioners.

Why not keep it that way and avoid lawsuits?

Percy Saunders

112 Barlow St.

Summerville