Tuesday, October 18, 2005

An Open Letter

To: the manager of the Rental Center near my home

Ever since you opened the Rental Center here, my family has enjoyed looking at your sign, with its funny and sometimes thought-provoking messages.
That is, until the current sign was posted.
At first glance, the message is humorous: The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
Think about that, though.
Such a message implies that there are certain people who should not be allowed to reproduce.
THAT smacks of eugenics, with its assumption that some people are expendable.
After all, Hitler would completely agree with your message. He wished to completely eradicate certain genes from the gene pool.
As Catholics, my family holds firm to the belief that NO people are expendable. Everyone matters. Everyone is entitled to life and the dignity that belongs with it.
How ironic that the sign on the reverse of this one reads: To belittle is to be little.
Isn't that exactly what you are doing in posting that the gene pool could use some chlorine--belittling someone? Granted, we don't know whom, but it's someone.
I hope that we'll be seeing a different message on one side of your sign soon. But keep the one about belittling--that's a message we could all stand to see more of.

2 comments:

Philothea Rose said...

Ya know, offhand I would've chuckled. But when i really think about it, that sign probably is more offensive to a follower of Christ than most, because what you said is completely right.

Barb Szyszkiewicz said...

At first, I did chuckle. But I pass that sign often (at LEAST once a day) in my "Mom's Taxi" runs. And the more I looked at it, the more it bothered me.
I don't know if I will ever print this letter and mail it, but I certainly feel better for having gotten all my thoughts out of my head....