[Lambert #1]

My take on the 20/20 special was mixed at first, kind of embarrassed, and thought we were portrayed in a bad light. This morning I feel differently. All of what you saw is reality in Eastern Kentucky. We may not like seeing it on primetime television but it is a harsh reality. Mr. Grimm did not take advantage of the scholarship that so many kids wish they could get but I do think that he is a product of his society and upbringing. My God people he is still a child mentally and those decisions he made to move out was great. He went into a college society that he was not prepared for and did what he has seen his entire life, HE QUIT. There was nobody there to tell him he was messing up at least not a family member. When I was 18 and found myself in a scary unfamiliar setting at college I thought about quitting and I had a rock of an upbringing and my family unit was there for me and convinced me to stick it out for at least one year and then make my decision and learned that I liked the environment of college and finished up. Shawn did not have this extra point of view from educated normal people. We do have a problem in our area and it's so easy to say sign me up for foodstamps and welfare. It's our mentality as a whole people and it's not going to get better if we judge and then just forget. I see these types of kids daily in my job and my heart breaks for them, incest does exist not only here but everywhere and it's real. Our youth needs breaks from everyone even if they make poor decisions. I felt horrible for all 4 of the kids that were interviewed and know 15 cases for each one of those profiled. We cannot receive help from the outside until we start to help from the inside, we need to take care of our own and not be so bullheaded to NOT accept people's help from when they are trying to offer it. I Think Mrs. Sawyer's intentions were in the right place even if it did embarrass us a little bit, maybe it can be a wakeup call for our communities.