Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor Dear Editor: The Spring 1990 issue has arrived. In reading it, however, I was saddened to learn of the controversy which has been generated by the publication of Garry Barker's "Home Again" in the Winter 1990 issue of Appalachian Heritage. Having read the article, I have but one generalization: No, the piece should not have been published in Appalachian Heritage. No, indeed. It should have appeared in Reader's Digest or The New Yorker or Esquire or The Atlantic—any of the national periodicals which feature exceptional work by gifted writers. Had Garry been so inclined, there is no doubt in my mind that he could have easily placed "Home Again" in one of the top national markets, earning in the process some hefty bucks while gaining a wider reputation. But no, he did the down-home thing and gave it to Appalachian Heritage for three contributor's copies. No big deal, this. But when some final literary reckoning is made in the Southern Appalachians, the stone-throwers will be surprised. The authors and their work which appeared occasionally or regularly in Appalachian Heritage will provide its editors with the ultimate vindication during the all-important judgment of time. When the laurels of literary history are passed out, make certain you are there. Let's all pray that Berea College never reneges on its continuing mission as educational and literary beacon for the people it serves. With warm regards, Glen McKee, Subscriber Dear Editor: Does poverty still exist in counties like Clark, Estill, Elliot, Johnson, Menefee, Madison, Laurel, Knox, Rockcastle, and others? It sure does. Let me tell you my story. My life typifies those trapped in poverty . Low self-esteem, hopelessness, and discrimination are all stumbling blocks on the path toward freedom from poverty. Although there are many fund raisers and government aid for the needy, the contributions are so widely dispersed that they have little overall impact. These programs may help a starving child for a day, but what about the days of the rest of the week, month, year? I have a lot in common with these people who seek help from various programs . I, too, am poor. I still recall my painful childhood and how I felt when I realized I was different from some of the well-dressed, outgoing, popular children at school. They would not include me in their social groups; some even refused to sit next to me. My clothes were clean but ragged hand-me-downs. My mother and father both worked, but on their small salaries our large family barely got by. I never had a soft fluffy toy animal or a shiny new purse filled with goodies. I remember on hot fall and spring days the school bus would stop at the store, and I'd watch some of the other children drink their cold soft drinks and eat their ice creams. Once, I begged the girl beside me for a bite of her peanuts; then I watched in humiliation and dismay as she poured every one into her soft drink. By the eighth grade, bitter and low in self-esteem, I began skipping classes. 5 But somehow I made it to high school. Attending a new school with a different environment renewed my interest in books and learning. I began to work hard and make high grades. I was in the Beta Club and received a Student of High Distinction Award. But then, in my sophomore year, two teachers treated me with such disrespect and condescension that my old familiar feelings of inadequacy returned. I dropped out of school the day after my sixteenth birthday . From personal experience I know how hard it is trying to escape the bondage of Eoverty. After my husband Fred injured is back on his job as an electrician about four years ago, things got worse. We were suddenly in desperate straits. Almost every direction that we turned for help, we found a closed door and humiliation. We were met with rejection and skeptical treatment. When Fred sought medical treatment, doctors rejected him because they did not detect his ruptured disk, and simply assumed he was a drug addict...