Petition Update
There are now literally hundreds of registered voters and property owners that agree with the petition and have put their names to paper.
Since my child will be entering school soon, he will be taught that everyone must follow the rules.
He will pee in the potty, flush, wash his hands; throw his trash away; he will not do drugs; he will pick up after himself; and he will not fight unless it is to defend himself or the defenseless.
He will be taught to stand up for his rights and for the rights of those that cannot.
It is my duty as a parent and a responsible citizen to instill these most elemental of societal mores into him.
These are basic tenents that should be common and familiar to all.
A REAL education means taking my child to fantastic restaurants, meeting great chefs, riding the Metro, feeding the fish at Union Station, seeing fireworks from a rooftop, visiting the Arch, playing at the City Museum, seeing the Cardinals play baseball, meeting friends and neighbors at local shops, walking everywhere, seeing amazing architecture and large buildings of St. Louis, witnessing the dramatic revitalization of a once dead area, meeting people committed to building a community, watching his face light up as he sees brave firefighters rush to fight fires and rescue people, meeting and talking with the neighborhood police as they walk their beat, walking downstairs and across a few blocks to frequent free city festivals (Taste of St. Louis, Hispanic Festival, Live off the Levy), walking a block away to the Central Library (where you can even check out toys).
YES he is getting an education, far greater than any child out in the "burbs". Jealous? Probably.
This "big bad city" has much to offer, especially when it is seen through the wonder in a small child's eyes.
Whatever happened to accountability, responsibility, and ethics? Have we as a nation lost so much personal responsibility and integrity that we look the other way? Have we as a community lost our way because someone invokes the name of God and uses a feckless straw man argument?
I'm sorry, but I cannot look the other way, it's not in my nature, nor should it be in yours.
I am but one voice in a chorus of many, but I put my name and address out there because people that speak the truth have nothing to fear.
We will not be intimidated.
We will not stand for idle threats.
We are not afraid.
Andy Martello
http://www.martello.org/NLEC/NLEC_Detrimental.html
