Morris responds to recent editorial

Dear Mr. Kemp: In your editorial last week you seemed to imply that most of us are products of our environment. I too believe this to be true . Most of us are born into whatever segment of society we are born into and most us will stay there. We may rise above our parents level somewhat or we may not, but for the most part we stay somewhere within the same realm of which we were born. Only a small percentage make the leap or fall to the "next level", whatever that may be.

It is no doubt very difficult for those in unfortunate circumstances to make that leap upward.

The idea of being "our brothers keeper" and giving someone "a hand up" is a noble one and an admirable characteristic for one to possess. I think we should help our fellow man. The argument, however, is usually about "HOW" we should help our fellow man, not "IF" we should help. Any person who feels they can help more is free to do so and any notion that someone else knows best how "the other guy" should be helping is questionable. The fact that Garrison Keillor got a round of applause for statements made in church may or may not have some sort of deeper meaning. Maybe they applauded him because he was being political , or not, or maybe because they agreed with him, or maybe they were just being polite Who would know? It sounds to me like Mr. Keillor interpreted his round of applause into a good "sell-able" column . How would it sound to all of his fans if he came back and wrote, " everyone was polite and friendly" ? That's not much of a story, but "division" sells, even in Lake Wobegon. It seems as though the media is in love with the division of the so-called right and left and as far as I can tell, neither side has cornered the market of good ideas. You are exactly right when you talk about extremes on both sides. We should use these sides as our compass and aim for the middle, where the truth usually lies.

Roger Morris

Piggott