What do you think of this article in our local newspaper today?

Question

http://hamptonroads.com/2008/07/fate-suffolk-horse-club-city-council%E2%80%99s-hands

The Question space provided wasnt enough to copy/paste so I attached the address to the newspaper page.

What would you do if this was around your city. What are your thoughts about the program, and the reactions of the neighbors?

The area they speak about is very rural and this city has many barns of cows and horses around so it doesnt stick out amoung the different farm fields and forrests around. Although it is getting to have more and more houses.

Answer 1

This is a great article.  Enjoyed reading it and to know that someone is doing good with children in this area.  If the neighbors don't like it, MOVE.

Answer 2

That's really sad.  And people wonder why kids get into so much trouble these days...because people don't give them an outlet, don't give them anything positive to do with themselves because they are too selfish to let a barn be near their house.  This guy is trying to help and the neighbors shoot him down because they don't want it in their backyard.  Well, the world gets smaller every day, and you can't just push everything away to be developed "somewhere else" because we are running out of somewhere elses.  SELFISH PEOPLE, that makes me sad :(

Answer 3

Unfortunately it's a common enough problem and will become more common in future I feel.

The great democratic way simply means we all have a say in what happens to us - but those who say things louder usually get what they want more than those who don't say things quite so loud.

It reminds me of the phrase so often, "yeah we need that, but not in my backyard".  People think something should be done, but not at their expense.

I feel that people all together are becoming less and less understanding and less and less tolerant of others.  They wish to shield themselves and their loved ones from the less tasteful things in live rather than allowing knowledge and teaching their kids right from wrong.

They are more worried about any supposed crime rather than the good that it's doing for many kids.  OK, so what if 50 kids turn their lives around by attending this man's offered time and animals - that one kid that runs amok and steals someone's something or other will be the one that's focused on.

It's all through our society - what do we see on the news?  Primarily BAD news - someone was killed, someone's the subject of flooding, there's strife in the local government or school system.  How about focusing on the GOOD and rewarding the good that's done rather than focusing on the bad and drawing attention to it?  This is what perpetuates and grows the exact people that this man is trying to help.  Children at risk who's parents didn't do a good enough job imparting the proper morals and attitudes in them to set them up for the best possible success in life.

Our schools should teach children to respect one another and their elders and think from anothers point of view - no they shouldn't, the parents should be doing that.....we'll we ALL need to be doing that - and we all need to be chastising each other when we fail to raise kids who help us all succeed in life - and rewarding those that do a great job raising their kids.

I was amazed one day - I rode my horse from the barn where I boarded to my home.  On the way home, I saw a little girl in the driveway of her home - maybe 6 years old at best.  I stopped and asked her if she'd like to pet the horse and she went to ask her father.  He accompanied her and waited patiently while I dismounted to better control the horse for her to pet - she was just BEAMING!  The man asked politely what my name was and properly introduced his daughter and prompter her to shake my hand.  He told her my name was "Mrs.  x*x " - and cautioned me that proper respect required that to be my name in future should I happen upon them again.  He'd introduced himself as "Mr. XX".  He allowed the girl a few moments to touch the horse and ask a few questions before telling her they'd used enough of my valuable time - I could think of nothing more valuable than standing there allowing the girl to learn about and touch the horse.  He prompted her to say thank you, and prompted her to say it properly "Thank you for stopping by Mrs. x*x - I really appreciated it and seeing your lovely horse".

I will never ever forget that day - and I always wonder what happened to this little girl.  I'm sure she's made it big somewhere as she's surely been taught right from wrong, respect of others and thoughfulness of every situation.

So I say people in the area who believe in what he's doing should take up the cause - pass a petition and fight for what they think is right just as hard as those fighting for what they think is right in closing him down.  Perhaps if the local government has deemed the property as inappropriately used for the zoning currently in effect, maybe those who support him could find a better place for him to help others.

All in all, we each make our own decisions whether or not to help and understand our neighbors.  It is our responsibilities to step in and speak up when we believe in something - if we are being meek and keeping our mouths shut we become part of the problem, not part of the solution - and the next one the neighbors come after could be us.

Answer 4

I think this man is a wonderful person who is trying hard to help kids who maybe haven't always made the right choices.  It points out that he does not allow kids with serious offenses, which is very smart: kids like that definitely need help too, but he clearly knows what he is capable of handling.  I hope he gets a chance to continue his good work.

Answer 5

Towns always seem to do this. What he is trying to do is a great benifit. This what the  kids need, a healthy outlet for there time. Those that support it need to get together and voice there approval.

I'm not suprised by teh reactions of the neighbors, they just hear juvinelle offenders and their minds are already against it.

Answer 6

I think this is wonderful...it's a win-win situation for all...a win for the kids to learn responsibility, respect and have a purpose,  and a win to provide a new home to horses whose fate might otherwise be tragic.

I wonder if he needs a few rescues??  I just might call Mr. Hooper!!

Answer 7

I think that this town is LUCKY to have a man like that with a positive outlook toward children and their futures!

It seems like the perfect place for the farm and the program, and if this program was in my area, I'd volunteer to help out.

The negative reactions are just what I'd expect from selfish, spoiled, uninformed people who don't care about anything but themselves.

Answer 8

Good job for him.  I totally support what hes doing.  So many kids grow up never seeing or touching large animals liek horses.  I think the neighbors are parinod as well.  if There afraid of Juvinelles they should lock there doors.  There are to few progams out there for Juvinelles involving Animals and i think the effort to try is great.

Also if he has support of a Horse Club in the area that helps.

I am fighting for use of 60 acres of Open space that i a connector to state Parks for riding wit hthe Connecticut Horse Council and because of there influence in the state i have a felling that they will tremendously help.

The CTHC has just won a battle for Equine use in state parks with the state.  And the 60 acres next to me was bought by state grant money so i fell hopeful.

Answer 9

I agree with the need for such facilities, but living in a very urbanized area I would be less quick to call names and accuse the neighbors as is being done here.  Property values are a huge issue for the neighbors... many rely on the equity in their homes to carry them through....projects like this can have a devastating effect on property values...it's a reality that hits people in the pocketbook.

It's easy to criticize when you don't have to deal with the crimes that accompany many of these kinds of facilities...if you do the research and can prove it isn't true, your opinions are more valid.  How many already have problems with the "normal" neighbors in their ever increasingly urbanized areas?  I just answered a question to that effect less than a week ago.

Unless you have first-hand experience dealing with the impact of such facilities, your opinions are just so much talk.

I've spent a lifetime doing something about the problems that exist while I listened to the useless talk and meaningless prayer of people who went back home and isolated themselves, maybe throwing some money at the problem...as long as it stayed out of their lives.  Anyone who gets on here and judges any neighbor of this facility should first be living next door to it yourself.

ADD...How many want to call and offer to foster one or two of the kids on your farms/ranches.....I'm sure that could be arranged.

Answer 10

That is a fantastic idea.

I wish they would have something like that around here - might help some of the kids to actually find an interest rather than hanging around on street corners and making a nuisance of themselves.