Dear Editor: Each night on the news we see people burning down, tearing down, looting and stealing, destroying what people who have worked very hard to make a living, who had nothing to do with what the others are demonstrating about. It’s just an excuse to destroy what others have worked for.

This presents a very bleak picture of America, except now and then we see a very bright spot, something that gives us real “hope.”

The day before Thanksgiving, two ladies worked from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. preparing food for 300 people and it was taken to McArthur Park to feed the poor. The next day, Thanksgiving, one of them and her family prepared dinner for approximately 50 at the Baptist Church. There are some who work to make Downey an outstanding city, getting grants for unneeded (unwanted by many) medians, decorative sidewalks, over-done lights down Lakewood Boulevard and frills to improve Downey, but to me people like these two ladies is what makes America great. They want no accolades or recognition. Acts like these will be honored in eternity. Aren’t acts like these what Jesus would have us do?

One of these ladies I know quite well and she’s continually doing good. The other I’ve never met, but would like to. One wonderful thing is they both work for the city of Downey. I don’t know who does the hiring, but whomever it is, I say a big “thank you.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the hoodlums who destroy millions of dollars of other people’s property and many of whom are on some government program, taking taxpayer dollars, would do some kindness for someone? Wouldn’t it be nice if the ones who cause the rebellions would just stop when the police give the command?

I’ll close with the tribute to these two ladies by quoting the first lines of a popular song of the past: “In this world of ordinary people, extraordinary people, I’m glad there is you!”

Elsa Van Leuven

Downey

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Published: Dec. 18, 2014 - Volume 13 - Issue 36