Those who suffer

Well, isn’t that nice? I am referring to the Dec. 29 story and photo with Gov. Bev Perdue showing off documents “leasing” the Dorothea Dix property to the city of Raleigh. Honestly, do we really need additional millions spent on yet another park; right across the street from the $6 million renovated Pullen Park that just reopened in 2011?

As I stare at the smiles of those adults in that front-page photograph, my heart aches for our citizens (are they not also “God’s best resources”?) who are not smiling, who cannot smile and who, along with their loved ones, suffer in silence as our mental health system struggles to meet their needs with millions taken from their budgets. What is the vision for their future?

Shame on them and shame on us for not speaking up for those who cannot!

Alice Francis Austin

Garner