Amid the mud

As I read Mr. Cardone’s opinion letter published in the 10-21-11 Photo News Viewpoints section, I found myself having to stop after each paragraph to compose myself and turn off my outrage, over his drama-filled, self-serving diatribe. As I watched the conclusion of the Monroe-Woodbury vs. Newburgh football game, I was positive the loss would initiate a new grass roots effort to build a new “athletic facility.” I graduated from Middletown High in 1972. 1 played football for Middletown, playing on natural fields. It’s football. It’s a game played in the elements. My teammates and I loved the grass, mud and all else. It took great strength and character for all of us to adjust to the various field conditions that each field presented every Saturday afternoon. Funny thing for a football team playing on a field described by Mr. Cardone as “grossly despicable,” hasn’t this football program enjoyed a number of state championship appearances (playing on this “despicable” field)? Isn’t Monroe-Woodbury’s football program one of the most successful programs in the history of Orange County football (playing on this “despicable field)? Mr. Cardone’s suggestion that our community must now pull together as “we have done ... for so many tragic events ...” is an outrageous insult to the families that have endured real life tragedies here. Who wants to take blame for this community’s recent tragedies? I suspect not many. I do have a suggestion though for all of the athletic field proponents in our community: See to it that two lines get added to the ballot in the next election. The first should read: “Yes, please add to my tax burden by taxing me to improve the athletic facilities. I understand that by voting yes, the cost for these improvements will be borne by me and all others whom vote yes on this measure.” The second should read: “No thanks, I pass. I understand that if the improvements are approved, these improvements will be undertaken, with the tax burden being borne, by those that vote yes on this measure and not me, or those that did not vote today.” John A. Liggero Monroe