Letters, 12/16: Overdue thanks to the kindest of strangers

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For many years I have vowed to write your paper and tell you my story. I didn’t mean to neglect my duty, for it is my duty to share what I know with your community, but I, like most people, would each year get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas. But I am determined to be silent no longer.

In December 1980, my 2-year-old daughter and I were traveling from southern California to Iowa. I was 20 years old. Since we had been living in California, we did not have any warm clothing to speak of.

I had very little money and was trying to make it to my mother’s home for Christmas. I planned to live with her until I could decide what I was going to do with my life.

Just west of Lincoln I had a flat tire. I stood out on the highway, shivering in below-zero wind, not knowing what to do, when suddenly a pickup truck pulled up.

The driver hustled me and my daughter into his warm truck before I could object and began changing my tire even though he had to remove all my worldly goods from the trunk before he could find the donut spare. Once completed, he came back and declared that, “You’re coming home with me.”

By this time it was late afternoon on Christmas Eve. I had just enough money left for gas to get to Cedar Rapids, so I couldn’t get a hotel. The heater in my car was broken. It was so very cold, and I knew I couldn’t let my baby freeze, so even though I knew better than going home with a stranger, I took a deep breath and followed the man home.

When we arrived, his wife treated me as if my child and I were expected guests. I was not allowed to help with the dinner dishes. I was given the spare bedroom while their children, home from college, slept on the basement couch and sofa bed. Her husband took my car to a garage and bought me a new tire.

A bit later in the evening they asked me whether I was Catholic. When I told them I wasn’t, they apologized for having to leave me alone in the house, but that they needed to go to Mass. How trusting!

The next morning a lovely hot breakfast awaited me along with some warm clothes, a sack lunch, and some money for “just in case.”

I don’t know when I’ve received more genuine kindness. Certainly if Joseph and Mary had knocked on this door when they sought shelter, Jesus would not have been born in a stable.

Those kind people in Lincoln gave me their address and it was lost. I’ve always regretted that I was unable to thank them properly. I don’t remember their names, and they may not even still be alive. But even if they aren’t, I feel certain that their spirit of giving lives on in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Thank you, kind people. May your entire city be blessed. And Merry Christmas.

Leslie Muzingo, Mobile, Ala.

Big hole in foster care system

As a former resident of Omaha, I am deeply saddened with the recent trauma that has befallen that community.

I am equally outraged with Todd Landry’s (Nebraska Health and Human Services director of children and family services) comment released to The Associated Press, as I read it in the Detroit Free Press. Landry defended the Nebraska foster care system’s provision of services for gunman Robert Hawkins: “It is my opinion, it was not a failure of the system to provide appropriate services.”

Landry makes such a claim after admitting no court records indicate the reason for Hawkins’ release from foster care. What is known, however, is that Hawkins exited foster care with unmet mental health needs, homeless, and most likely without any transitional plan for independent living.

The entire foster care research community fully acknowledges that “aging out” foster care teenagers are extremely at-risk. Unmet mental health needs and homelessness are additional ingredients for disaster. Chants of “How could this have happened? How do we stop this from happening?” have herald throughout the nation as this tragedy has unfolded.

One way to answer these complex problems is for Landry and Nebraska foster care officials to own the responsibility of transitioning aging-out foster care youth with realistic and necessary services. Otherwise, more victims of abuse will become victimizers. Simply put, Landry’s dissociation from the problem is both troublesome and unprofessional.

John M. Palladino, professor of Special Education, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Mich.

Idling cars wasting energy

With the colder weather upon us, I have had the unfortunate experience to notice the tremendous amount of idling vehicles wasting our nonrenewable natural resources and polluting the environment.

Recently, I encountered a person who let their car idle unattended for more than 20 minutes at Target. It was running when I entered, and it was still running when I left.

Fortunately, the car was for sale with a telephone number posted. I called the number, ensured the individual was the owner, and expressed my concern over the fact that he was needlessly and selfishly wasting gasoline and polluting the air. He kindly thanked me for my concern and responded that he was an employee warming up his car.

I felt compelled to inform others and take greater action on the matter of “warming” one’s car. Although it is very nice to have a toasty car to drive home or elsewhere, it is extremely wasteful and selfish.

In my research I found that in the extreme cold of 10 degrees, one minute would be sufficient to “warm” one’s car. That may not be enough time to have the heater hot and cozy, but it is enough time to safely drive your car home on a very cold night. In some areas of the United States, people can be ticketed and lose a point on their license for leaving their vehicle running for more than two minutes.

With the higher cost of gas and concern for the environment, turn off your car. For the vast majority, being cold for a little while won’t kill you.

Libby Nifelhelm, Lincoln

Fix Denton Road now

The Dec. 6 Lincoln Journal Star article regarding West Denton Road’s dead end (on private property) finally reveals the absurd and confidential agreement between county, city and developer — based on two subjective possible future events — annexation and project income.

The city and county have absolutely no authority, in progressive thinking or otherwise, to jeopardize public transportation and public safety, based on a developer’s possible income from a commercial venture. Yet, this is what they have done.

The traffic count on West Denton Road was previously certified by the county at “2,488-2,887” cars per day. This recording was many months ago, and has doubtless increased substantially since then. The drivers of these vehicles have, of necessity, patiently used other routes in anticipation of a “new” Denton Road.

The taxpaying citizens of this county should be outraged at the audacity of our representatives in barricading a road for a year while promising publicly that the “new” Denton Road will be completed as per published plans, and then reconnecting both ends via a detour through private property. This is a matter of urgency, and the short section of Denton Road must be completed immediately.

I urge everyone affected by this absurd situation to write and call his/her commissioner and demand accountability. The time for hand-wringing, “seeking solutions” and “negotiations” is long past.

Geoffrey Coleman, Denton

Lessons from the heart

Life is really simple. Go back to the basics. This has become a “want more” society and not having the appropriate attitude to achieve it. Everyone is guilty of “passing the buck, not my problem, and of course it’s all about me.” There is truth in what used to be taught to children.

Somewhere down the line, parents have been caught up in the materialistic world and not the feeling one. Children do learn from what they see and their environment. The more materialistic people we produce, and they grow up to run cities, states and corporations, the more money that comes out of taxpayers’ pockets. Too many projects, not enough funds. Isn’t that similar to “too many bills, not enough funds?”

When a society starts listening to the sound of a dollar instead of the sound of their hearts, it makes me wonder, what ever happened to that little voice inside? Live within your means, teach from the heart and not the pocketbook.The child will become an adult with boundaries and still be able to care and give unselfishly.   

Katherine Day, Lincoln

Seek out the truly needy

Are we really helping the “true” people in need?

There are many generous people and agencies in Lincoln who give of their time and money helping people who say they are in need. That’s great!

But, I wonder if we are serving the “true” people in need. Or, are we helping the same folks over and over again? The people who are familiar with every agency and person who will give them a “handout.”

I am concerned that often we overlook or ignore the people who really need our help, because they don’t “qualify” for assistance. What about the hard-working, taxpaying citizens who need a “hand up”? (Just once in a while.)

You see, these people do not stand in line for food stamps and government help. (Even if they weren’t too busy working and trying to make a living, they would be too proud to do that.) Instead of asking for “handouts,” these citizens would be too busy trying to make ends meet. And, in their “spare time” they would be helping someone else with their needs.

I challenge each and every one of you at this Christmas season to look in your community, your church, or your place of employment and find these hard-working, taxpaying citizens who are struggling with a need. Than, give them a “hand up” and send them back to work!

I am not a Scrooge. I just think we could get a better “list” of people in need.

Beverly J. Nelson, Lincoln

Who pays for Bush to stump?

As I sat reading the article, “Bush in Nebraska for fundraiser” (LJS, Dec. 6) and looking at the presidential airplane in the background, I couldn’t help but wonder, “How much did it cost the taxpayer to fly the president and his contingent of guards, etc., to Nebraska to help raise funds for Mike Johanns’ run for the Senate?”

Did any of the $750,000 raised for Johanns go to defray the cost of the trip? And does Johanns, with a million dollars already in the bank, really need the president’s help to raise more?

I was just wondering if anyone else harbored these same thoughts, whether it was to help the Republicans or the Democrats.

Lloyd Mather, Lincoln