Refocusing on lessons of history

3/25/2005

Why are people focusing so much on math and reading while forgetting our nation's great history?

People want to forget about all the bad things that happened in our history. I agree that you need to know how to read and do arithmetic, but if we forget the great and not so great things our forefathers did we will make the same mistakes they did.

A recent Blade article is one good example. "The poll done for the college looked at how much the public knows about Washington and found out that 46 percent knew that Washington led the Continental Army. Two-thirds knew his wife's name was Martha and that he lived at Mount Vernon. Not quite half of young adults know the name of Washington's wife or where he lived."

How can the man who is "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen" only be known by about half of our college students?

School boards should take charge of this problem and newspapers like The Blade should push for history to become a bigger part of what students in every grade study.

What's next? Will children forget that millions of men and women have and are currently putting their lives on the line or going over and sacrificing themselves for the good of our country?

I'm not saying math and reading are not important, but we also need that same focus on our nation's history.

RYAN ALBRECHT

Neapolis

Loyal concert-goers have rejoiced in the continuing growth and excellence of our orchestra. As many communities throughout the country are struggling to keep their artistic organizations afloat in these challenging times, Toledo has managed to retain its precious holdings.

We do, however, have a problem with our music critic. The Shorter Oxford English dictionary has a range of definitions of a critic, from "one who pronounces judgment on any thing or person," to "judging severely, censorious, carping." It does not take much in the way of judgment to decide which definition applies to our current music critic.

We wonder what service Steven Cornelius thinks he is providing his readership. His writing fails to add anything to our general knowledge or appreciation of the music, and his consistently negative comments merely tend to make one discount his opinions altogether.

Using the recent Tchaikovsky concert as an example, his comments about program content are helpful perhaps in discussing balance, but even that was done in derogatory terms ("a seven-course meal with only dessert on the menu"). It was not until the second half of the fifth paragraph that a positive comment was encountered.

In stark contrast to his vision, the nearly full-house Saturday-night audience left the orchestra and the soloist in no doubt about their appreciation. The repeat curtain calls prompted the soloist to graciously give us a Bach encore.

In addition, the concert probably made a profit, not an unimportant issue in this age of budget cuts and diminishing sponsorship. The critic's comments about the earlier Perlman concert were in a similar vein, again in stark contrast to the audience reaction.

It seems the current critic is out of tune with the current public. It is becoming quite wearying.

DELORES and JEFF DUNN

Orchard Trail

A recent Forum letter, "Show of arrogance by local leadership," criticized the Lucas County commissioners. The writer stated incorrectly that "the Lucas County commissioners drive Jeep Grand Cherokees, made in Michigan," adding that we don't "Buy Toledo" when we should.

For the record, I've never owned a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I've had two Jeep Cherokee Sports and currently drive a Jeep Liberty, all made at our local Jeep plant.

These are my personal vehicles paid for with personal funds and I'm proud that my decision to have these vehicles was based upon my support of a local company as well as the excellent product this local company produced.

Maggie Thurber

Lucas County Commissioner

Childhood obesity is quickly rising to the top of the list of adverse health problems in this country, Lucas County not excluded. However, this should not come as a surprise to anyone. Society makes it hard for parents to avoid giving their kids sugar-filled foods.

The promotion and display of food in our grocery stores make it nearly impossible for parents to bring their children along on the weekly grocery trip.

If you can make it past the cookie and snack aisles without a fight, you're lucky. If you can make it through the checkout lane, it's a miracle.

There it is, a display of candy staring at your children. Meanwhile, parents are trying to unload the cart and pay for their groceries. It can be hectic when your child is begging for a bag of Skittles.

Many parents have enough control to say no or to ignore their child even if they throw a temper-tantrum. Many more do not. Giving into these whiny pleas has led to a lot of obesity, dental problems, and other adverse health effects.

As consumers, we have the right to demand what we want and need from our grocery store. If a candy-free check-out lane could cure our inability to say no to our children and avoid the impulse buy for ourselves, is it likely that we can get Kroger to grant our wish? Farmer Jack already has.

Consumer demand is one of the least utilized powers we have. We should all take it upon ourselves to bring this concern to Kroger's attention.

When we work together to provide people with simple ways to make the healthy choice also the easy choice, we create health-friendly environments.

ANN LEWICKI

Maumee

As a locally educated and trained physician (medical school and residency), I remember the days before there was a Mercy Healthcare System and Promedica.

Both community hospitals opened their doors and provided access to the best educational opportunities for which I could have ever hoped.

Somewhere along the way that all changed. The idea that bigger is better created an environment that has two hospital systems competing with each other for patients and services. For example, having two children's hospitals in the area is the result of this competition and such rivalry dilutes the experience for area health providers and students. This, in turn, may affect patient care.

As a faculty member at the Medical College of Ohio, this causes me great concern. The biggest mistake MCO ever made was shifting from a neutral stance to endorsing one system over the other. MCO needs to hold a neutral position, and thankfully the current administration is heading in that direction.

I am New York City born and raised, and I fell in love with the Toledo community 25 years ago. I chose to stay and practice because, despite all of the turmoil, the quality of medical care in northwest Ohio is as good as can be found anywhere.

Our business leaders, community activists, government officials, and heads of ProMedica, Mercy, and MCO should find common ground that allows them to work together, improve access and the quality of health care, and create a sense of united community pride.

All of our citizens should feel blessed to have received their health care in the local Toledo area.

If this "jockeying" for position continues unabated among the health systems there will continue to be more front-page articles about talented health-care providers leaving.

ANDREW B. CASABIANCA

Chestnut Hill Road

I can't wait for the metroparks to build the new $1.2 million bridge over the Anthony Wayne Trail at Fallen Timbers. Hopefully I can be the first to cross it. I always wanted to get an up-close look at a cornfield!

Timothy Sczesny

Maumee