Dear editor: Protect our kids

Dear editor:

After reading Dr. Hill's statement in Saturday's paper and Mr. LaRue's letter to the editor in Sunday's paper, I felt the need to offer my opinion.

Since when is a parade more important than the welfare of our youngsters?

I think the St. Patrick's Day parade is great for Hot Springs and wonderful for tourism. However, how does it trump our children's welfare? I have several young grandchildren and great-grandchildren living in Hot Springs. I would hate to see them think candy comes in pill bottles.

The sponsors of The International Order of Irish Elvi made a faux pas. There was no malicious intent. I have no idea as to who or how many people passed out candy in pill bottles.

It seems to me that Dr. Hill's comments in Saturday's paper were far from positive. In fact, his quotes sounded political to me. Hill said, "The reason I criticize her is because I care so deeply about the city I live in that I take it personally when our city and people are misrepresented in a bad fashion." "I wish we could focus on the positive things Hot Springs has to offer."

I feel the point was and is "Protect our kids." Mayor Ruth Carney was looking out for our youths by pointing out that passing candy out to kids in pill bottles could be sending out a very bad and dangerous message.

If that is not a positive message for our city, I don't know what is.

Eric LaRue said, "A large part of your job as mayor is to be a visual representative of our city and its people." I totally agree with that statement, Mr. LaRue. And I believe that Mayor Carney is looking out for the welfare of our youths. The "unseemly distraction" to one of our city's major events was the passing out of candy in pill bottles to children. It seems to me Mayor Carney's involvement was to try to see it never happens again. And I believe her efforts are prevailing.

I, too, love a parade! However, I love our kids and their welfare much, much more.

I, for one, applaud Mayor Carney and I appreciate her efforts to protect our children, which will benefit our city as well as our residents.

Concerned citizen,

Jerry Wagner

Hot Springs

Editorial on 03/25/2015

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