Don't be so quick to judge others
What a delight it was to see in today's "Fence Post" letters the one from Jeanne Smith in support of Trayce Davis (the woman featured in a recent Daily Herald article about poverty in the suburbs.) I remember reading a good deal of that article and being struck by Ms. Davis' hard work and persistence in the face of overwhelming odds to rise above her poverty and diligently work to provide a better life for her family. Her main concern, as voiced in the article, was her two sons' and one stepson's welfare. I admired her dedication to her children and all that she was doing to give them a better life than the one she is living.
Oh, Ms. Pohlman (of Deer Park -- a VERY upscale suburb, by the way!) objected to Ms. Davis' owning a flat-screen computer? Funny, I guess it's all a matter of perception, because I saw the SAME photo (showing her and her male partner, both looking for work/additional work -- he on the computer, her in the newspaper) and thought, that's great that they DO have that (especially for her sons' sake.) Consider what almost every expert cites as the ONE and ONLY way to end the "cycle" of poverty -- EDUCATION! (to that, I would add, obviously, children growing up in strong, loving homes-REGARDLESS of their particular economic situation.) That seems to be the "formula" most knowledgeable people agree on -- education/kind and devoted parents/guardians. Following that logic, perhaps Ms. Pohlman, who seemed so quick to judge a person in a situation she will probably NEVER experience, can consider the possibility that Ms. Davis and/or her male partner scrimped and saved for a very long time to acquire that possibly second-hand computer, or one given to them by a relative even, ESPECIALLY FOR THE CHILDREN!
Perhaps something for Connie, and all of us, to remember the next time we feel compelled to "sit in judgment" of our fellow human beings. Oftentimes we may disagree on things/have differing opinions, but regardless, it is incumbent on each of us to treat one another with respect and give one another the benefit of the doubt.
Carol Roach
Lake Zurich