Have you ever had somebody tell a lie about you?

It’s not so bad when you are present, hearing it for yourself, and capable of defending what you know to be the truth, able to fairly argue your side of the story

But what happens when the newspapers and television shows publish lies or twisted truths about you and your way of life, yet refuse to publish the truth because it’s just not as sensational?

The feelings of frustration, of feeling that you don’t have a voice, of feeling that others won’t listen, of feeling defenseless, your way of life unprotected from those who would wish to hurt or harm you or your family, can almost be overwhelming.

The truth is we lead a simple life. We’ve found happiness in our belief and faith in God, just as have hundreds of thousands of other Christians and religions alike.

Our happiness can’t be contained and we can’t help but try to share a little of the happiness and joy we’ve found with others who are interested in the life we live within a world where happiness and joy prove difficult to find.

I understand that your newspaper must sell; I know you want your column to be well read and popular, but to print lies as fact, at the expense of undermining my way of life hardly speaks of the freedom of press or religion of which this country boasts.

I love my mother, brothers and sisters. I love my friends, my teachers, my life. It may not be your life, you may not choose this life, but I have. What makes your choice better than mine?

My mother is my hero. She did nothing but work hard and sacrifice to assure we kids had the best possible emotional, physical, spiritual, psychological, and educational upbringing.

For you, a perfect stranger who’s never met my family or I, to call my mother anything but a saint is painfully offensive. To have you tell the nation through your newspaper that the life she gave me filled with so much love, safety and security, was wrong, merits a public apology from you, in basic human respect for others.

From the types of things you prove partial to publishing I doubt any apology will be seen.

Grace Galambos, 20 yrs, currently living in California, full time member of The Family International since 1986.