Fontenot answers Dardeau’s letter

Dear Editor,

In reference to Mr. Wayne Dardeau’s letter to the editor in the October 5, Gazette, he claims knowledge of certain Supreme Court decisions relative to race-based criteria. I have no idea whether or not his information is correct.

However, I take issue with his certainty that building a new school in Ville Platte will obtain unitary status in our parish. He says the court has made it clear. How have they done this? Is it in writing? Did Mr. Dardeau read the article on Page 1B in the July 26 Morning Advocate? It was entitled “St. Landry plans desegregation behind closed doors.” I believe it is well known St. Landry built many new schools, but the court and the justice department are still not satisfied. The article discusses the justice department’s intent to consolidate elementary schools and close some. Also it wants to transfer high school students and change attendance zones, so Opelousas High, which is almost 80 percent black would receive more white students. They were meeting because they rejected justice’s plan and were working to present one of their own. I do not know what has transpired since the July 26, article. My point is, based on what is going on in St. Landry presents one question, how building a new Ville Platte High will solve all of our problems.

Did we gain anything by closing three of our schools? Wasn’t it “clear” this action would go a long way toward achieving unitary status? What relief did St. Landry get out of building new schools?

It seems there should be alternatives to building a new high school. Also, I don’t understand how they can close Ville Platte High and we cannot appeal that decision.

It is easy for Mr. Dardeau, who does not live in Ward One, to advocate that Ward One property owners pay for a new school in hopes that it will bring unitary status. I don’t believe it will bring unitary status, nor do I see how anyone can, knowing what is happening in St. Landry.

Has the school board considered seeking a new legal advisor in this matter?

Leonard G. Fontenot

Retiree

Taxpayer, Ward One

Shuff discusses proposed school millage

Dear Editor,

In this letter I would like to address a variety of issues I think you just might be interested in. These will also jog some of your memories. One of the first items I want to address is the word curriculum. According to “Webster’s II University Dictionary”

Curriculum means 1. All the courses offered by an educational institution. 2. A course of study, often in a specialized field. Now I want you to think back a few months ago prior to the election of July 19th. On the KVPI advertisements it was said that the school building was not suited for the curriculum, however this same high school building was more than ample for the curriculum of the fifth through eighth grade. I didn’t know that the building had anything to do with the curriculum. I always thought a curriculum could be taught in a barn if the teacher and students were willing to dedicate themselves. These educated clowns must think the general public is really stupid.

Another issue I would like to address is a few months back at a school board meeting, one individual addressed the school board and asked about having the board go from 13 members down to nine. The answer “Mr. President” gave this individual was since they don’t get paid as much as the police jury members, they are justified to stay at 13 members. First off there are more members than there are schools in Evangeline Parish.

The next thing is I didn’t realize the police jury had anything to do with this. Once again I assume they think the general public is stupid.

My next issue I would like to discuss is the word “greed.” Yes the word greed. The school board has tried to rip off the people back in October of 2007 for $28.5 million. Well that failed, so they came back in July of 2008 and tried again to rip us off for $21.5 million. Now in Nov. they want $17.5 million. That’s three times in 12-and-one-half months. This is starting to border on insanity. If you noticed the city was trying to screw the people into a huge tax under the pretence of the water lines. Approximately half of this money would have gone into the general fund. Some people had talked about a grant to replace the water lines. You see, if a city asks the federal government for a grant, then the city has to account for every penny of that grant. It’s not that easy to grease your pockets if a grant is given. If it were not for greed maybe, just maybe, some of these ideas would have had a chance. Once again, our leaders think we are really ignorant.

A few days ago I was watching Channel Three news and they were doing a little filming at VPHS. The small part I saw really looked good. I know most of us who went to VPHS didn’t have it that nice. The parts that were shown were really clean and in good shape.

Once again this is a rip off of the people; however “Mr. President” said the judge was on our side. What a crock of (BS).

I want to congratulate Ms. Debbie Guillory on having the backbone to write letters to the newspaper and attempting to hold our wanna-be politicians accountable to the people that placed them in their positions. I also agree with Ms. Guillory about placing Ms. Forman back as the school board president. What we have now is an arrogant clown with no class. As for Ms. Forman, this lady has more class when she’s having a bad hair day.

In this paragraph I want to jog your memory concerning the “boycott list.”

Do you really think one person did this all by himself? I don’t think so. As a matter of fact, some people on this list have been boycotted. There is one business on this list that wasn’t boycotted per-say, someone just tried to steal the two bikes. So all this (BS) about it being a mistake, is what it is, a bunch of (BS). Also, I want to remind you of what some so-called community leaders were passing around, “let the white honkies pay for it.” Just thought I would jog your memory.

Absentee voting begins Oct. 21, and ends Oct. 28. This one will run from Tuesday to Tuesday. Election Day will be Nov. 4th. Remember, we will have a president to vote for, a city marshal and once again this school tax issue. Please go and vote on these very important issues. Your nation, your city and your pocket-book are counting on your one vote. Believe me; your one vote does count.

“Just vote no.” Remember the boycott list

Mark W. Shuff

Ortego encourages visitors to Lafayette this weekend to meet Acadians

Dear Editor,

Never have I been so far away yet felt so at home. On a recent trip to the Acadian Peninsula in northern New Brunswick, Canada, I met Acadians who live every day in French, all the while surrounded by the most magnificent scenery of hills, forests, lakes and bays. Just flipping through the phone book was an experience in itself, as page after page of Aucoins, Babineaus, Bergerons, Bertrands, Comeaus, Cormiers, Dugas, Heberts, Oliviers, Richards, Thibodeaus and others flew by.

In addition to our family names, the Acadians also share our way of living and speaking. Just like here, they are hard workers who love to pass a good time that includes music, people and food. When members of our group were overheard speaking French, we were immediately embraced as cousins. We were invited by our new friend, Ernestine Breau, for a visit that evening on the verandah (porch), where there would, of course, be good things to eat. The invite ended with a genuine “I’ll be waiting for ya’ll.” The only thing missing was for her to have added “cher,” as in “I’ll be waiting for ya’ll, cher.”

Our travel guides gave us a tour of the area that was second to none. My thoughts, as we were leaving each point of interest, were surely nothing can top this. Yet they somehow managed to wow me again and again. Each stop became my new favorite.

We began our journey in the village of Memramcook at the Monument Lefebvre where we learned about the survival of the Acadians from 1755 to the present. This is where the renaissance of the Acadian culture began in the 19th century.

We traveled north to the beautiful fishing town of Caraquet which became our home base. We were treated to the freshest seafood at every meal. I learned lobster was once considered a poor man’s meal. That reminds me of a time when our own crawfish weren’t exactly regarded as the delicacy it is today.

At the Olivier Soapery in Sainte-Anne-de-Kent we saw how they make, cut and package soap by hand. Of course, I came home with some fine samples.

In Shediac we were treated to a fresh lobster dinner, which included a lobster-eating lesson. I now know how to get to every last morsel, even the ones from their cher little legs.

Our stop at the Village Historique Acadien was most impressive and reminded me of Vermilionville. The actors recreate a day in the life, complete with period dress, crops, farm animals, and spinning and weaving. They even went so far as to gather back at their home for the family lunch cooked in cast iron pots on the wood burning stove.

We headed back to Caraquet for the Tintamarre, which is held every year on August 15, the National Day of the Acadians. This date is the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, the patron saint of the Acadians. The Tintamarre (which means big noise) is the way the Acadians make the statement “We are still here.” The exile of 1755 was meant to erase all evidence the Acadian people existed. I’m proud to say it failed.

Thousands descend upon Caraquet and bring any sort of noise maker they can find - from store bought horns to pots and pans from home and everything in between. At 5:55 p.m. (17:55 Canada time), the Tintamarre begins. The din is so loud that no one dares deny that the Acadians still exist. The noise was so intense and the people in the crowd were so filled with pride in their culture that I had trouble believing the locals when they told me it lasted for only one hour. But, one hour later, the big noise stopped (except for a few who couldn’t resist the temptation to blow their horn one more time). People then caught up with old friends and family members they hadn’t seen in a while, very much like we do here on Mardi Gras.

The Cajuns of Louisiana and the Acadians of Canada are living proof that the culture has survived. In New Brunswick, I witnessed first hand what a concentrated effort to preserve culture can accomplish. The Province of New Brunswick has been officially declared bi-lingual. This gives all Acadian children the right to go to school in French, where they learn to read and write in their own language. The government offices have to be able to conduct business in French as well as English. Even the highway signs are bi-lingual. We should be taking notes.

The purpose of our trip was to gather information on the Congres Mondial Acadien, which is a gathering of all Acadian families scattered throughout the world. Next year, it will be August 7 - 23, hosted by the Acadian people in New Brunswick. Held every five years in August to coincide with the National Day of Acadians, it was first in 1994 in Nova Scotia, in 1999 in Louisiana, then back to Nova Scotia in 2004.

Make plans to attend next year’s Congres in New Brunswick. Experience first hand the beauty of the land and the Acadian people who live there, and celebrate our common past.

For more information on Congres, visit the website, cma2009.ca. You will find details on family reunions, and places to stay, from hotels to bed and breakfast inns, to campgrounds, even spare bedrooms in people’s homes.

The Congres organizers will also be on site at Festivals Acadiens et Creoles through Oct. 12, in Lafayette at Girard Park. Look for the replica of the lighthouse to find their booth, where you will be able to pick up brochures and travel guide books as well as register to win an all-expense paid week long trip for two to the Acadian Peninsula for Congres Mondial Acadien 2009 (World Congress of Acadians).

Debbie Ortego

Eunice