Brenda Baer: A focus on the positive goes a long way

To The Daily Sun,

This is just a short reply to the letter by Mr. Buontempo. First, it was impossible to expand on the subject or suggest solutions or get into a racist debate. Letters to the editor are limited to 500 words and so many times, things are not fleshed out completely.

There is no racism included as most of us are not racist and the article wasn’t about that subject, but I do remember the Irish were also discriminated against in America and everyone remembers IRISH NEED NOT APPLY when jobs were available. I also remember growing up in a large city in Massachusetts where I worked very early in life with Black people and thought of them as fellow workers and friends.

I also remember being pregnant in the '40s and being denied a job or unemployment because I was pregnant.

I worked all my life in many jobs, always starting out at the lowest level but with hard work and a knowledge of many things gained by a great public education, I worked my way up in every job I ever had, including being a department head in our local hospital here in Laconia. It was not always easy and personal intimidation was common because I was female. You overcame this with a good work ethic.

It is what you take out of life’s experiences and what you do with it that counts.

I am happy to say that at the age of 79, I was able to win election to the Laconia City Council and was re-elected for a total of six terms and 12 years of the best time of my life trying to give back to my community

In other words, always try to take the positive side of things and make things better for all.

Brenda Baer

Laconia