Editor:
I was absolutely incensed by the letter written by Don Austin of Sweet Home in the Oct. 12 edition.
Last time I checked, the pool is used for MORE than just “recreation and sports.” The pool is also used for therapeutic aquatic exercise, both in the form of classes and individual lap swim sessions by older folk, who, I’m sure, have been advised by their physicians to swim in order to keep their bodies flexible and moving. (Swimming is the only exercise that does not put undue pressure/stress on your bones).
Some readers may remember an article in the “Over 55” section of The New Era some time back about a woman who moved here from Utah, was wheelchair-bound, on oxygen, and basically, had one foot in the grave. She started water aerobics classes, needing help just to get into the water, and after a time, not only succeeded in these classes, but now rides a bicycle – totally off oxygen.
This is not an isolated incident; there are countless people over the years, who have bettered the quality of their lives through the use of this pool (which I would call a majority).
So, you see, Don, the pool is good for more than recreation and sports. It is literally a life-saver.
And, in rebuttal to your statement, “we need to put more emphasis on learning and less on sports,” it has been proven that children involved in sports are better equipped to meet the world and generally do better with their learning (ie – making better grades).
They have a wonderful sense of self-discipline, ability for prioritizing, time management, (as they have to juggle time for practices with their school studies) – as we know students in sports have to maintain a certain grade point average. They learn the ability of getting along with others, working as a team. And, the kind of “peer pressure” they receive is not about trying drugs or other illegal activities, but they receive peer pressure from their teammates to be the very best they can be – to try as hard as they can. The list goes on and on and on.
In addressing your comment, “With the number of drug and crime cases the police deal with…,” yes, I agree that we do, indeed, need services of the police department. However, don’t people realize that the more positive/healthy activities we take away from our young school age people, the less and less there is for them here in Sweet Home to occupy their time other than drugs and crime? Out of sheer boredom so many end up turning to these things! Kind of a double-edge sword, don’t you think?
Don, I am a tax-paying citizen here as well as you, and have been for 24 years. I don’t like seeing my property taxes going up and up year after year either any more than any other citizen. I also believe that we need police services and an education for our young. AND I know we need this pool! But, as the old saying goes, “The only sure things in life are death and taxes.” As I tend to grumble as each levy comes my way, I do know that the economic structure in our society mandates that you DO have to pay for services. It just so happens that these services are all paid with tax revenue dollars.
I firmly believe, however, that we need this pool in Sweet Home, not only for our youth, but also our older population. Don, I don’t know how old you are, but I do know I’m firmly into my middle-age years.
I also know that water exercise classes have helped me out over the years. And, sad to say, when my body gets to the point where my doctor advises me I need to swim every day just to be able to move, I don’t know about you, but I personally don’t want to have to travel (or be dependent on people/services to get me there) to Lebanon to use a pool!
Roxanne Smith
Sweet Home