This past weekend, my family celebrated an early Christmas at my son’s home in the Harris Neck area near Darien, Ga.
My daughter was driving down from North Carolina to be with us. Since I live here in Savannah, we decided to meet at Houlihan’s just off the Interstate 95/204 junction for lunch before driving on to our destination.
I arrived first, and a very nice young gentleman biker — helmet in hand — held the door for me as we were entering the restaurant.
After thanking him for this gesture, I warned him to be very careful on the highway and to look out for crazy drivers, particularly little old ladies (of which I am one). He laughed and promised to do so.
I mentioned how excited I was to see my daughter and to shortly be with the rest of my family. At that point Lisa arrived and there were lots of hugs and kisses.
While we were having our lunch, this nice young man was leaving with a big smile on his face. We waved and exchanged “Merry Christmas.” When I later asked the waitress for our check, I was told it had already been taken care of “by that young man who just left but was sitting over there.”
So, now, unable to personally thank him, I’ve just been passing on his “random act of kindness.” Think that’s the best “thank-you,” and what it’s really all about.
JOAN R. GRIFFIN
Savannah
Address mental health problems
I’m tried of hearing all the debate over gun control. Right now it’s being led by emotions over the senseless shooting in Connecticut.
My heart, like all others, goes out to those affected by this. The point is it is not the guns it’s the people.
You cannot legislate through fear. Address the problem, teach kids respect for life. Teach respect for firearms.
Most importantly punish those responsible. The mental health issue is at the fore front of all this. Without exception every incident of mass shooting is the result of someone who was mentally ill.
People all around them knew it but did nothing. You always hear them say after the fact “I knew there was a problem.” Address the problem, not the guns. It’s just common sense.
JOHN FAHNING
Savannah
Turn to angels for strength
Our faith must persevere in the aftermath of the Newtown, Conn., tragedy.
There is indeed an evil power in our world that seems to be preying on the minds of people already disturbed and frustrated in our generation. There exist many who are a short straw away from committing other unspeakable crimes on the horizon, and we have virtually no way to accurately predict other attacks.
The answer does not lie with banning weapons from honest citizens who use them for security and respect and use them properly. Thousands of innocents are saved each year by having a weapon at their homes and businesses for self defense.
I do believe in angels as I was shot in the chest in an armed robbery in August 2002 and came close to dying had it not been for Dr. Gage Ochsner who saved my life with the help of God and the well-trained staff at Memorial Hospital.
It mentions in the Bible in over 300 different places that God has sent his angels to aid his children in their struggles against Satan. Angels are a source of comfort and strength for us while here on Earth.
ALBERT L. COBB SR.
Savannah
Right-wing advocates contradictory
After the tragic killings of innocent children and adults in Newtown, Conn., there have been a number of letters to the editor opposing gun purchase restrictions. Some of these folks cite the need for more psychological evaluations and hospitalization/incarceration of the mentally unstable.
It is highly ironic and contradictory that these same right-wing folks advocated budget cuts and closures of agencies and institutions that address these psychological/mental health issues.
ED FAHEY
Springfield
Blame mental health system
This past week the media has been saturated with the news of the Newtown, Conn., Sandy Hooky Elementary school shooting. The focus quickly centered on having a “conversation” on public mass shootings and how America needs the courage and conviction to make necessary changes so this doesn’t continue to happen.
I agree we should have this conversation, but so far the media has been having the wrong conversation. The conversation needs to start and end with the failure of our mental health system and parenting. There were three failures that caused the mass carnage in Connecticut.
This young man had an undebatable history of psychological problems, clear problems. Adam Lanza belonged to the technology club in high school, and his teacher advisor went on national television to recall his mother visiting him and stating Lanza had two or three psychological disorders and was on medications (plural) for his psych issues.
So what do you do, as a teenager, with deep psychological problems? Introduce him to something relaxing like bird watching or coin collecting? Or should you introduce him to high-powered guns? That’s exactly what his mother did.
Our mental health system had Lanza in its network for at least five years. I blame the mental health care system for letting this killer slip through its system. Guns were not responsible for this tragedy, nor the gun shops, nor the gun industry.
AL WILLIAM MORAN
Savannah
Combine cruise ship, hotel
I hear talk regarding a cruise ship line coming to Savannah and a new hotel by the International Convention Center.
Why can’t we combine some of their features?
There is an inlet next to the convention center that should be used.
Rather than build a new hotel, put a cruise ship in that inlet. You would have less site prep and people could stay in the new “hotel” like southern California’s Queen Mary.
If the hotel failed, you would be out millions of dollars. If the cruise ship failed, you could always sell it for scrap
STEINAR PEDERSEN
Savannah