By Monty Siekerman
Demonstrations in Ada are few and far between, as I have observed of the local scene during the past 50 years. So, when I saw a group of people in white coats standing outside the library, I took note, and in true reporter form, began asking questions.
About 45 pharmacy students and a couple of profs were at the library to meet with a staff member from Congressman Bob Latta's office to talk about making pharmacists "providers," as is proposed in a House bill.
The delegation from ONU came prepared...dressed in pharmacy outfits, bullhorn in hand, signs saying what they wanted.
It's the right of Americans to speak their peace, privately and publicly. But, it's seldom done publicly, especially in this rural area where politicians infrequently visit. Few voters = low clout.
Rather than coming to Ada himself, Congressman Latta sent a staff member to town to relay our concerns to him. He does, however, come to the county for a personal give-and-take, once a year in the spring in Kenton.
That's not very many personal visits to the area, but Congressman Latta serves thousands of people in hundreds of communities. His district covers most Toledo suburbs...and, of course, time needs to be spent by him in the nation's capital.
The group of ONU students waited their turn since the staff member was talking with individuals one-on-one. Surprisingly, there were several Adaites who came to the library to express their opinion on issues or get help with complicated federal programs such as Medicare, social security, and veteran benefits.
The students were ushered into the library room to meet the staff member, said their piece, then walked back to campus, umbrellas in hand. They wanted Mr. Latta to be a bill co-sponsor.
This reporter asked two "on the record" questions of the staff member. What is Congressman Latta's stance on gun control (he is an avid hunter) and the proposed stringent regulations on coal (he's on the House committee on energy and commerce).
This reporter, and you our readers, will have to wait to get a written response on these topics because the staff member could not speak for the congressman. Thus, more on those two issues will have to wait another day.
Seeing college students interested in an issue is refreshing. Having lived in Ada during the upheavals of the '60s, I often wondered why people here were not concerned about Vietnam and social/economic causes of the time. No rock throwing, no towns burning near here. No demonstrations, not even peaceful ones. It's been that way for years here.
When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. came to town, there were some opposed to his campus speech, but overall the crowd was orderly and, after hearing his talk, most became enamoured with the Civil Rights leader.
However, I did see two young men standing on the corner by McDonald's a month or so ago, holding a sign promoting the marijuana issue on the November ballot. I wouldn't call it a demonstration by any means, just some guys expressing their opinion...or were they merely paid to do so?
Ada: Peaceful and quiet and where people go about their daily lives.
