Posted by Kathy (63.26.198.53) on May 02, 2000 at 21:31:03:
Here is what I wrote:
Dear Editor,
I just read Rhonda Jones's article The Family Moves in on Monetta, from your
online edition. I must say if I was part of this quiet farming area I would
also wish this program to just stay away. I would be very scared to have
this program invade my community. Though it isn't the so-called troubled
children who will live in this so-called school that would trouble me, I
would be much more frightened of having Tony and Betty Argiros running their
The Family Foundation "School" in my community.
Residents of the community, ask yourselves, why does the Argiros family
admit that the school has between 7 to 10 runaways a year, if the reason is
to try to find a phone to call their parents to pick them up? Why is it
that the students are not able to speak to their parents from a phone within
the "school" (to ask them to come pick them up or for any other reason?)
Doesn't that sound rather odd? Why is it that if you shot a gun up in the
air to scare them, you might be doing Betty Argiros a favor? Why does Betty
care if one of the students is able to "escape" to call their parents? Is
it because something might be going on inside those walls that Betty and
Tony don't want the community or the "students'" parents knowing about? Do
the Argiros have something to hide? Don't you wonder why they are running
a program for troubled children who are NOT streetwise? It appears to me
that there are quite a few contradictions in what the Argiros Family is
claiming.
I am a mother of four today and wouldn't want to let Betty and Tony anywhere
near me or my husband or my children. They are part of a growing and evil
trend which began in the early 1980's. As a child, I was subjected to the
Straight, Inc. program endorsed by Nancy Reagan (et al.) which is also
mentioned in the article. I endured many things no American child should
ever endure at the hands of the vicious people who run these types of
programs. So residents of Monetta, S.C. please do protect yourselves and
your children, just be sure you know who the enemy is. Teenagers throughout
history have gone through a series of bodily and emotional changes due to
biology and they always will. Teens always have and always will go through
some behavioral changes in a normal effort to assert their independence from
their parents. So when Betty and Tony tell you your teen is in trouble,
please, please don't believe them. Even if they succeed in putting a doubt
in your mind, please do your family a huge favor; seek out methods of help
other than Betty and Tony. Seek out PROFESSIONAL help. Ask Betty and Tony
what their credentials are, then check them out for yourself.
Your town is about to be attacked by a cancer whose bottom line is the
almighty dollar. They want your money in their pockets at any and all
costs. I'll bet they promised the Aiken County Planning Commission to bring
money into the community hence, helping the community.
Didn't you say nobody asked you, it was just shoved down your throats?
Doesn't that seem unusual??
Just some food for thought. Please consider yourselves warned and please
consider questioning your county government about their decision.
Sincerely,
Kathy Martin