Solitude standing
Editor,
After reading Jim Reed’s comments in “Standing on Principle,” I just wanted to say “Hear Hear!”
My husband and I stopped going to large concerts a long time ago because (among other reasons) American audiences seem to have no concept of audience etiquette, i.e., staying seated until an appropriate time, not talking, not singing along unless invited to do so by the performer...
Now I’m no geriatric, only 34, but I used to get so frustrated at times. On a recent exception for us, we went to see Arlo Guthrie in Atlanta in February, We were in the third row and not only had to endure trying to see through the people standing in the first row, but then the concert turned into Arlo and the lady behind us “performing” Alice’s Restaurant.
I’m staying home and ordering the performances on DVD from now on.
Thanks for your article.
Donna Corbett
SAFE from abuse?
Editor,
As a concerned citizen and a taxpayer I have concerns and questions regarding Savannah’s SAFE shelters for battered women that I have not been able to have adequately addressed by anyone within the state of Georgia.
Safe shelters are for women that have been battered or are in fear of their lives. I do understand that there are women within our city that do live in these situations and I am glad that there are places to help them get back on their feet and on with their lives.
However, most of the women in Savannah that I have met and talked with who are living or have been in these shelters are abusers of this program and its system.
I would like to know who does the intake services and determines that these women are battered or are in fear of their lives and are in need of these services.
I have the ability to recognize the obvious. These are not the women that I am speaking of.
In the last year I have met and talked with several women that have lived or are living at shelters, usually about how much they dislike it.
Their reasons are: They have to watch their own children at all times, they have to be dressed before they can come out of their rooms, they have to do two chores every day, they are not allowed to help other shelter mothers, they have to attend group therapy, etc.
Sounds tough to me... how about you?
They say that the shelter does not help them find work, nor does the shelter provide daycare for them to find work. On the other hand, all of them get food stamps.
First question: Why do they get food stamps when all their meals are provided? They get Medicaid, and most get a monthly check for at least $280.
Second question: What is there to complain about? That they have to put their kids in bed by 9 p.m.? That they are automatically entitled to Section 8 housing? (If a woman goes through the shelter her waiting time for Section 8 is only two weeks instead of months.)
That they get free counseling? That their lawyers are pro bono?
When I ask how long a woman can stay at the shelter, I was left to assume as long as she abides by the rules. We are paying for this, America.
Also according to the rules -- these women are supposed to be working 30 hours a week if their youngest child is over the age of one year.
Do these women work? Well, not any that I met or spoke with.
Third question: Why not?
For the persons who truly need this service I say great, I am glad the shelter is there for them.
However, you are not helping them if you are not making them learn to stand on their own two feet or if you’re letting them get away with using and/or abusing the system.
DM
