I’m hopeful that many readers responded to Maryanne Toto’s letter in the Nov. 8 News Transcript. I was insulted by her remarks, but tried to turn the other cheek. After seething for some time, I must reply.
I am bringing children up in the town she moved from, and I teach them manners as well as the golden rule, "If you don’t have something nice to say about someone, then say nothing." Obviously, Ms. Toto does not think the same way.
On Halloween this year, as I passed out candy, I heard a resounding "thank you" many times throughout the afternoon and evening. When a child retreated from my door without uttering a thank you, I attributed it to a wonderful childlike enthusiasm to get to the next house as quickly as possible to collect some more delicious goodies.
I think Ms. Toto needs to remember what it was like to be a child and to be so excited by an event that sometimes good manners went by the wayside.
One last comment I would like to make is that in a world where we should be teaching our children not to make generalizations about people based on such superficial factors as their appearance or where they live, should Ms. Toto be making generalizations about the children of one town as opposed to the children of another town?
Aren’t there enough important issues that we need to focus on with our children, rather than which town’s children say "thank you" more often? Let’s work on removing what separates us, especially through our children.
Joan D. Svenningsen
Manalapan

