LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

A better way to put your pennies to use

Jeannie Jackson, Las Vegas

Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009 | 2:01 a.m.

Thanks to the Las Vegas Sun for publishing Nicholas Kristof’s column in Friday’s edition, “In Afghanistan, let’s give education a chance.” Mr. Kristof’s commentary mentions the work of Greg Mortenson, who has built 39 schools in Afghanistan and 92 in Pakistan and founded the Pennies for Peace program.

As a mom with a son in the military who is due home from Afghanistan next month, I recently discovered a possible prescription for the war — in “Three Cups of Tea,” about Mortenson’s adventures in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

For those saving pennies to put into a penny slot machine, it takes just one penny to buy a pencil so that a child can write in a desolate country such as Afghanistan.

Discussion: 5 comments so far…

By lcdrmandingonamvet

11/1/09 at 5:37 a.m.

Suggest removal

Ms. Jackson, I totally disagree with you. We need to get out of the Middle East Planation (Iraq-NAm & Afghanistan), ASAP! Again, Arabs are being subjected to WASP (Americans, Dutch, Spanish, Brits, Italians, Germans, etc.) shoving their religions and social views down COLOREDS throats. Been there, done that! Middle East Plantation, represents 150 years of failed colonialization attempts, by global WASP-Judeo. American WASP did the same thing to Black slaves. My forefathers were stripped of their native relegions, languages, customs, and our women-folk were raped and bred like cattle. Blacks in America are indoctrinated and brainwashed Christians. Suddenly, Hitler doesn't look so bad.
By jlb101

11/1/09 at 7:33 a.m.

Suggest removal

I don't hear of many black people in this country lining up to go back to Africa so they can have their "freedom". Everyone in every country is indoctrinated, that is part of life.
By LarryVegas

11/1/09 at 10:16 a.m.

Suggest removal

What good will it do to send pencils to the children in Afghanistan, when as soon as the White House can find an excuse, they will pull our troops out and leave Afghanistan to the Taliban.
And you know what will happen to the schools when the Taliban is in control. It's history.../
By Phargo

11/1/09 at 7:45 p.m.

Suggest removal

lcdrmandingonamvet: Black people were sold into slavery and oppression by other black people.
White men sailed to Africa and paid black warrior tribesmen to go into the interior and bring out the poor black farmers and shepherds in chains. Lincoln emancipated them and the rest is history. Black people have it much nicer these days than they used to, and it's getting better every year. We recently elected a black president. Many cities and states have quotas ineffect (Affirmative Action). Why not just count your blessings and quit complaining how tough blacks have it because they don't have it as tough as you and Al Sharpton and that biggoted Jesse Jackson say you do.
By Phargo

11/1/09 at 7:50 p.m.

Suggest removal

Jeannie Jackson:
No person ever stood so tall as when they stoop to help a child.