Compromise: Martin Luther King Way
I would like to offer a compromise to the discussion concerning the changing of Clinton Street to Martin Luther King Drive.
First, I am in awe of the wonderful bridge that has been built to honor Dr. King. I am also in awe of what the life and teachings of Dr. King have done to soothe racial tensions in our country. In fact, the very life that Dr. King lived would make me think that it was not for these honors, streets and structures that he preached his message of non-violence.
And I firmly believe that he would be embarrassed to have a street that was already there in honor of another person to be changed to take away that original honor in order to have the spotlight be on him. For all of these reasons, I would like to offer up a compromise that might satisfy all:
As the memorial bridge is built to be a kind of gateway to our downtown and really to our city as a whole, why not just make the street portion from 4th Street to Superior be known as Martin Luther King Way. That way there would be only a very few, if any, addresses that would really have to be changed saving the city a great deal of money and effort, and we could continue to honor both Dr. King and Mr. Clinton.
And I would ask all to consider what a statement this would make as people “Bridge their differences and choose to lead their lives the Martin Luther King Way!” when they travel this stretch of road as they enter this wonderful city of churches and brotherly love.
Barrie Peterson
Bennett takes 'public' out of state education
“Public” has been removed from the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s title by Tony Bennett.
The sign “Superintendent of Public Instruction” over the entrance to Supt. Tony Bennett’s office in the Statehouse as been replaced with a sign saying “Superintendent of Education.”
The State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s title is set by the state Constitution, but that didn’t prevent the change in state property. The consensus of public educators is that taking “public” out of the title really says it all. It reflects Bennett’s proposed takeover of schools to privatize them and turn them over to out-of-state, for-profit management companies.
Jack Spindler
Bath salts, potpourri
Daughter died April 8. She had been smoking a lot of potpourri sold here in Fort Wayne. Places are still selling it to people they trust and aren’t undercover. Found bag in her glove box.
Autopsy says suicide. She was always smiling going to tanning booths. Kept herself clean going to college. Lost her dad in fire — we all was coping with that. All family has problems, but we keep going on. It seems like a person commits suicide and no one cares. But as a mother, this bath salts and potpourri played a big part in her death.
She left four grown children behind that if these children have children they won’t have their grandma. And we will never see her smile again and hold her.
Sandra Bennett
