Published: October 27, 2009 05:39 pm      

Childhood hunger intolerable

Anderson Cooper has reported some disturbing news and public interest spots on TV underline and confirm the problem. That news is that one in eight Americans goes hungry every day. That is intolerable in this society — period. Someone, probably the government, has coined the phrase “food insecurity” in an effort to soften the horror.

“At least one in six young children live on the brink of hunger in 26 states. The rate of food insecurity in young children is 33 percent higher than in U.S. adults, where at least one in eight live at risk of hunger. More than 35.5 million Americans lived in households (before the recession) unable to consistently purchase adequate food.” These results come from the first ever state-by-state analysis of early childhood hunger, using data collected by the United States Department of Agriculture. In West Virginia, the figures indicate that 19.8 percent of the children under age 5 are considered as being food insecure.

With Wall Street and corporate executives demanding more pay, bonuses and diverting a big share of the bailout money to their own pockets, the scenario is especially nauseating and smells of nothing less than a result of plain old corruption and plain old greed.

Where on earth have we gone wrong? Is part of the problem our elected state and national leaders? Our people should never go hungry nor should they ever be denied adequate heath care. This not a poor nation. But, we have a nation of poor existing within our boundaries. We do not need socialism. We need compassion. And if we don’t do something drastic, something will eventually change — but not perhaps to the liking of the middle and upper class.

With many from the ranks of the well educated now joining the ranks of the poor, and not of their own volition, our leaders better take note. “No Child Left Behind” was thought by some to be a great idea. Perhaps our children would be better off if the mandate had been “No Child Shall Go Hungry.”

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The Bluefield Dance Club held its annual Fall Ball at Concord University last Saturday night. The black-tie gala affair attracted a large crowd of ballroom dancers from the area. Members of the Beckley Dance Club, students from John Griffith’s dance class, and students from Amanda Sarver and Pat Adkins’ dance class also attended the ball.

Everyone had a chance to give it a whirl around the floor. Couples performed the waltz, two-step, fox-trot, samba, cha-cha, swing, rumba, merengue, tango and several other dances. Concord University catered a fine meal for the event. Several members of the Bluefield Dance Club joined in to adorn the ballroom with festive fall decorations. Lemoyne Hendrick is the president of the Bluefield Dance Club. Ballroom dancing is alive and well in Four Seasons Country.

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While roaming the mountains in McDowell County last week, I walked upon a group of loggers from Monroe County who, after seeing that my friend Caleb and I weren’t there to vandalize their machinery or mess with them, invited us to come to the “farm” at Second Creek near the Monroe-Greenbrier County line to experience their annual haunted and scary “Second Creek Halloween Trail.” After sizing up these hombres, I figured that they just might have something up their sleeve. They did. Lewis Hubbard, ring leader, explained that every year several of the local folks get together and create a “haunted trail” on one of the local farms to raise funds for charity. Hubbard said most of the money is donated to charitable causes and the remainder is used to help people in the area who are in need.

I’m sure that Hubbard’s tales about the “covered bridge” and his chainsaw have scared more than one paying customer. While all is fun, the group’s cause is commendable.

The trail is open until Oct. 31. See the website www.wvhauntedtrail.com, call (304) 645-2696 or e-mail crystal@wvhauntedtrail.com for more information. Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children.

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There you have it, a few comments on items of interest to the area. I hope you have a clear blue sky today and a full moon for Halloween. Please examine your children’s Halloween candies and treats thoroughly. If it isn’t wrapped and sealed, discard the item. Take your children only to your friends’ and family members’ homes or to reputable places offering treats.

Wilson Butt, a resident of Bluefield, is a retired Department of Highways official.