THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 10, 1996 TAG: 9610100003
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 26 lines
This letter is in regard to the articles about Johnathan Prevette, the 6-year-old boy in Lexington, N.C., who was punished for kissing a little girl on the cheek. In every article that I have read, Johnathan is referred to as the boy with the Coke-bottle glasses.
As a person who wears thick-lensed glasses myself, I became upset to think that people who call themselves writers cannot come up with a better way to describe Johnathan than to callously refer to his handicap.
I have had to wear glasses since I was in the first grade. It seemed that each year, my optometrist had to prescribe stronger, and thicker, lenses. When my glasses became ``Coke-bottle'' glasses, I became embarrassed by them, but there was nothing I could do to prevent the weakening of my eyes. Fortunately, I am able to wear contact lenses.
I thought only children were cruel enough to identify others openly by their handicaps, but I guess the practice is carried on by the authors of these news articles. I hope they never have to know the pain of such humiliation.
MELANIE FIX
Virginia Beach, Sept. 30, 1996 by CNB