THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 2, 1996 TAG: 9610020004
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 23 lines
In reference to your Sept. 25 article, ``Megan Jones is destined for burial as a pauper'': I do not understand George Schaefer's statement that Megan Jones' burial is a ``tragedy.'' Mr. Schaefer, of the Norfolk Sheriff's Department, states that ``she's been victimized a second time, she's been robbed of a decent burial.''
I hope Mr. Schaefer isn't implying that it's OK to give less than a decent burial to the homeless and abandoned newborns. Is their social standing of such insignificant worth that they somehow deserve a pauper's burial in a cloth-covered pine casket? That in life these homeless and abandoned were not already victims of our callous disregard, so it's OK to victimize them again?
We may have all been born equal, but those of us who do not achieve a life of privilege and means do not deserve to depart life less than equal. Mr. Schaefer, shed some tears for us, too.
MARGUERITE OLIVER
Norfolk, Sept. 26, 1996 by CNB