It is with great shame that I read five boys burned your young body over just a few dollars. I want to apologize for this terrible horrible injustice so cruelly performed. For those of us who have had children in burn wards, we would do anything not to have this happen to our children. Please purge your heart of any anger towards these hooligans with forgiveness, so you will not change in any way inside or change the goodness I can see in your picture. You cannot give in to this kind of evil. They have publically shamed their mothers, their fathers, their sisters, their brothers, and their grandparents. We, the public, are to rebuke them until they acknowledge their horrible crime and are punished sufficiently. Again, I am so sorry. May the Lord be with you.

Lori Rice

Valley Falls, KS

What is happening to our children?

To the Editor:

Not so long ago, I watched in horror a news video of a young high school student beaten to death just because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Yesterday, the news reported that children conspired to douse a classmate with alcohol and light him on fire. This horrific act happened within a few miles of my home.

What is happening to our children? Are they becoming desensitized by things they see and hear daily? Are these things erasing compassion for others and filling their heads with hateful ideas? Are they viewing atrocities on TV/ the Internet and playing games that glorify violent acts that make them feel powerful? Too much music is the instrument of foul language, hateful acts and blasphemy. Our children tune in for a daily dose.

We worry about our men and women fighting a war to make us safe from our enemies and terrorist acts, but in our own cities so many of our children are on a path of self-destruction and violence. They learn to make bombs, steal, shoot guns, abuse drugs and bully each other.

Who do they have as role models? Our news headlines report daily that:

· Sports figures are arrested for murder, animal abuse, domestic violence, drunk driving, rape and acts of violence

· Political leaders are arrested for embezzling, drug trafficking, pornography and are excused by too many for extra-marital affairs that destroy their families.

· [Entertainers] are charged with rape and promiscuity. Their lifestyles glorified, their transgressions minimized because they may be intelligent and talented.

· [Teachers, priests] are arrested for child abuse and molestation.

As a society, we must begin to find ways to guide our children to make the right choices. We need to be [good] role models and show an outpouring of community involvement and love for our neighbors.

Marti McGeary

Deerfield Beach, FL

Are you smarter than a 5th Grader?

To the Editor:

Recently, the powers that be in Deerfield Beach felt the need for a “Retreat.” The mission was to figure out how the City Commission could find a vision for the city. So $15,000 of our tax money was spent to find out that Communication is the key! I have a feeling that a 5th grader would have come up with a better solution and for a lot less money.

I believe District Meetings might benefit the city more and for a heck of a lot less money. Only one commissioner at this time conducts a District Meeting. The city manager with the district commissioner could hear what the people want. When each commissioner knows what their district wants, perhaps the city manager would be in a better position to help the city form a vision for the betterment of the entire city. There is also no reason why the mayor can’t hold a city meeting towards the same goal.

Caryl Berner

Deerfield Beach, FL