THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 1, 1996 TAG: 9607310166
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 76 lines
As the death toll of innocent and defenseless animals continues on the uprise, I am writing in an attempt to cry out for the voiceless. With all the heartwrenching tragedies that grip our nation, let us not minimize the other heinous realities that occur right before us every day.
Because of the overpopulation problem, at least 70 percent of the cats and dogs brought to shelters will have to be euthanized. Only by doing our individual small parts can we control these staggering statistics.
The social fabric of our society is unraveling before our eyes, and the disintegration is directly traceable to our lack of interest in anything other than that which involves our own needs and desires.
The members of the Humane Society of Franklin/Southampton County Inc., which has been in operation since October 1992, have worked diligently and courageously in an uphill battle to educate the people and protect the animals. But the funds are low, and we cannot continue our ``spay/neuter'' program or other financial assistance programs.
Without the financial support of the community, the Humane Society will no longer be in existence. And the many animals that we have already saved will only be a legacy to the thousands that we could have. Please call 562-2510 to make a donation and join our crusade to save the animals.
We, as compassionate and insightful human beings, have the choice to reach out to those less fortunate, starving and frightened. And in reaching out, we have the capacity to save a life or at least turn it in a more hopeful direction.
Along with prejudice and hatred, we are also a land of miracles and hope. But none of it can impede the inevitable animal overpopulation dilemma. Please make the choice to do your part by giving to the Humane Society of Franklin/Southampton County Inc. The animals have no choice in the matter. And God help us all to have the vision to see beyond ourselves.
Kassy Bannester Peters
Humane Society of Franklin/
Southampton County Inc. Adoration of gymnasts not diminshed by column
My heart was filled with so much pride and adoration when our American female gymnasts won the team gold medal at the Olympics. That is, until Ronald L. Speer felt it necessary to rain on my parade with his tainted views in his column of the July 28 issue of The Sun.
His comments were unfounded and based on pure speculation. I can't believe he would actually attempt to convince anyone that those female gymnasts are forced, against their will, to endure extensive hours of training, injuries, and separation from their families because their parents are on some kind of glory hunt.
These athletes are born with killer competitive instincts. Their goal in life is to excel in gymnastics. They have trained many hours and endured much pain for one moment of glory or one gold medal. To them, it was all they wanted. You could never convince me that these girls are forced by their parents, coaches or anyone else to do what they do.
I don't agree with his point that Bela Karolyi would risk the health of his athletes for some kind of personal satisfaction. He did not make Kerri Strug perform that last vault. He merely encouraged her from the sidelines as any coach would do.
He has the reputation of being a tough coach, maybe even a perfectionist. But he is not the inhumane ogre Mr. Speer made him out to be. Kerri Strug did what she was trained to do. Would you have missed your chance to be an Olympic champion because your ankle was hurt? I know that, put in her position, I would have done the same thing she did. It was her last chance, so to speak, and she did what any highly skilled athlete would have done under the circumstances.
In closing, Mr. Speer expressed in his article that he felt like a pervert when he watched these gymnasts perform. If he really feels this way, I think he needs to seek counseling and discuss his feelings with a therapist instead of in a newspaper column.
Leslie Schiefer
Suffolk by CNB