Americans

Save gas and maybe save lives To the editor: As many others have, I have watched with amazement and disgust at the rising price of gasoline and other fuels. I have also listened with disbelief as our president and elected officials say that there is nothing they can do to curb this action. In reality, there is much they can do, but they have not, up to this point. They could easily subsidize the fuel purchases of all Americans, yet they have not done so thus far. I find it ironic that the U.S. has and always will continue to place more importance on the needs of other countries instead of their own. Being a private U.S. contractor, I can work these rising fuel prices into my fees.

In 1870, one out of five Americans was unable to read or write. Today, statistically speaking at least, the illiteracy rate is less than 1 percent. It's an improvement in numbers, but a degradation in fact. I dare say that in 1870, those four out of five people who could read and write did so. Towns had multiple newspapers and pamphleteers. Familiarity with Greek and Latin was a sign of a civilized human being. Soldiers in the Civil War wrote elegantly of their experiences, the great books of the era were read by significant percentages of the populace and even a simple letter to mother was a work of art in content and penmanship.

A town meeting Wednesday night brought out about 50 people to talk about ways to get involved in the political process — or at least start talking about it again. Local activist Russell Mokhiber invited the public to join the discussion at the Earth Dog Cafe on South Washington Street. Mokhiber asked the audience if Americans avoid politics and is there is a cost? "The purpose is to discuss this issue to learn why and how we can confront it," he said. People avoid politics, but the nation is $14 trillion in debt and it spends $750 million a day on two wars, he said.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A clinic that opened in the north end of Martinsburg early in 2005 has been providing services for Eastern Panhandle residents who do not have health insurance. Since the Good Samaritan Free Clinic at 50 Monroe St., opened Jan. 19, 2005, the clinic has treated and/or given medication to about 1,600 people, according to Tom Shantz, chair of the organization's board of directors. Family doctor David Morris, a leading volunteer with the clinic, is all too familiar with the health-care need.

With the number of World War II veterans dying at the rate of more than 600 per day, it was a rare occasion to have two veterans of the conflict together in Chambersburg on Thursday. World War II veteran and best-selling author of “Hell's Guest,” Col. Glenn Frazier, 89, was the guest speaker at the Rotary Club meeting at The Orchards Restaurant. He shared his experiences of fighting a losing effort to save the Philippine Island of Luzon from the Japanese to the infamous six-day Bataan Death March and three years of torture in Japanese prisoner of war camps.

It's the kind of telephone call no grandparent wants to receive. There's been an accident. Or an arrest. Or an injury that has resulted in a trip to the emergency room. The grandchild desperately pleads for money. Could you wire it now to post bail or pay for medical treatment? And, by the way, don't tell Mom or Dad. It will only worry them. The rub? There's been no accident. No legal problems. No time spent in a hospital. And it's not a relative who wants the money.

A fight filmed on the steps of the historic Berkeley County Courthouse played out on televisions across the country Sunday night as part of TLC's “My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding.” Two young Romanichal gypsy women shoved and punched each other following a wedding in the reality series that depicts the everyday lives of families like Mellie Stanley's. She was charged with disorderly conduct after the brawl. Cameras caught Mellie and the maid of honor, Diamond, in what Mellie called “a huge argument.” It centered around comments allegedly made about the bride's mother-in-law.

FREDERICK, Md. Stacey Lopez, left, Dave Padgett and Jessica Feldman present a scene from Mount Airy Players' presentation of "Gorey Stories," a musical based on the artwork and stories of Edward Gorey. The play will be performed at Frederick Cultural Arts Center, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick, at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. today and at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, through Saturday, Sept. 17. Tickets are $13 and $15 at the door. Call 1-301-829-3321.