Dear FRONTLINE,

I am still thinking about both of the country boys, I stopped everthing for the last two nights to watch. I grew up in Ohio and my father was an explosive's operator in ky and southern ohio, building different dams across the states, untill getting hurt and a heart attack my family was drawing ss benifits also. It was hard growing up that way with 6 people in our home. But we managed to get through it, lots of fights and arguments between my folks. I give snaps to these two men for surving teen hood . My father told me along time ago that you have to make mistakes in life and never beat yourself up because looking back I would not have changed one thing in my life because they have made me who I am today. Hang in there guys.

Debbie Handberg
Ward, South Dakota

Dear FRONTLINE,

I saw the first part of this show late last night on tv and here i sit at six am sending you this.The show was amazing,Ive been moving around the country since i was a little kid.Ive been into drugs and recently spent a couple months in jail.Im 10 weeks sober from drinking (about a seven year binge wich ruined my life time and time again),i guess you can say Ive been there,wherever there may be.Watching this hit a spot inside me a good spot.It reminded me that everybody has problems under the surface,that Im not alone.Im only 24 years old,Im broke,jobless,my car is in impound,and for the upteenth time im trying to come up from the bottom.Watching these two definetly inspired me.

Ryan
Schertz, Texas

Dear FRONTLINE,

Thank you VERY MUCH for your eye, and mind, opening documentary. I am 18, and currently a sophomore college student on the med school track. I was raised in a family where an education is not only essential for a career (and a good job), but for respect (especially from my own family.) I have never even considered working a minimum wage job, such as in a fast food restaurant like Taco Bell...as Chris did. Not because I don't need the money (cause I do!) but because I have always considered myself above that.

I don't know much about the rest of the country (unfortunately), but in Southern California, especially among the youth, we consistently mock the ways of white, new born Christian, republican America. It isn't uncommon for us to blame them for what is wrong with this country.

Though I live in Orange County (the Republican core of California), I have always considered myself very open minded, tolerant, and accepting (as most Californians claim themselves to be) of other cultures, peoples, and religions. I never realised that I was unconsciously making an exception: white, poverty stricken Americans. I think this is true, not only for me, but for much of the youth in California. Especially since a lot of our parents immigrated to this country and worked hard, long days to get us where we are. So our logic is: "they're white, they have no excuse."

Things are a lot more complicated than I ever had thought they would be... and this view of the lifes of Cody and Chris has definitely painted a clear picture of the other America that a lot Californians do not only not know, but that they (inclusive of myself) have wickedly cast aside as the dark shadow of America. Cody, Chris, and their families, live extraordinary lives in the face of adversity, and I can't believe that our government has not done more to help the people that need its aid the most. As an agnostic, I criticise the ways of Christianity persistently, but I now see that for many it is hope,a way to get onto their feet, and a demonstration of the good that it can do for people's lives.

Again, thank you very much for this show. My mind and heart have been opened to an enlightenening experience that has very much transformed the way I look at the rest of America, and the difficulties that many well-to-do citizens of this country face. I don't think I will once again be able to make a joke about un-educated (not unintelligent!), white America before thinking about the challenges that great, hard-working, soulful people like Chris and Cody deal with in their strive for better lives.

Rudy Duriez
Buena Park, California

Dear FRONTLINE,

seeing the story of these two young men brings back memories for me. i am in the foothills of appalachia and know completely what it is like to grow up in poverty. thinking...why am i going to school...other than the fact my mom would have beat me senseless if i would have given up. there are really no jobs to be had around here, unless like in the movie it is taco bell or little ceaser's.

i went straight from high school into a meaningless job. only seven years later, last year, i decided it was time to get my education. i am currently attending business college, when i get finished i will be going to another one to get a bachelors degree in accounting. my goal is to become a cpa. now, if i havent given up, and these boys have stuck it through....that should be enough for anyone to have faith and trust that can do whatever you put your mind to! to the people who made this program, to the people who were in this program...THANK YOU!!! you have truly touched my life and made me think, not since the story of vern sager--the last cowboy--have i been so glued to my television set!

Lisa Morrison
Wheelersburg, Ohio

Dear FRONTLINE,

In the mid-1950's I was a student in the Baptist seminary in Louisville, KY. Looking for adventure one weekend I met one of the most colorful, genuine, uneducated couples I have ever known. Joe and Josie lived on the Rockcastle River in the hills of Kentucky near Livingston in a 100-year-old house with no running water, no indoor bathroom, no screens, and no modern conveniences.

They lived very happily with open fireplaces, a spring, feather mattesses, kerosene lamps, and mostly home grown food. Their mail came by horseback to the little community of Lunar, KY. Their life style was truly like that of people living in the 1890's. Being subjected daily to the teachings of people with doctors degrees, I found myself heading back to my welcoming friends' home at every opportunity, contemplating the elements that had formed such real solid personality and stamina in them as I sank into their wonderful feather bed. From them I gained depths of understanding and appreciation of people with rudamentary character and genuine faith in God. One exemplary indication of this was Joe's attitude toward the company that came to surface-mine coal on his 195 acres. They paid him 25 cents a ton for the coal. When my friend and I asked why he didn't get some equipment, mine the coal himself, and get ten dollars or more a ton, he replied, "Well, boys, I can sit here on my porch and watch them work and doing it all myself would get too complicated, borrowing money and all, and that 25 cents a ton buys all the flour and salt we need." In our modern fast-lane competitive world we have unfortunatly lost some of the genuine joy of life enjoyed by Joe and Josie with their simple style of life in the hills of Kentucky.

David Harkness
Nashville, Tennessee

Dear FRONTLINE,

I just finished watching part two. How much the story reminds me of my youth and heritage. I grew up about 57 miles from Prestonsburg in Jackson Kentucky. The scenery and images in this show takes me back to those days. I think we spend our childhood wishing to be an adult and our adult life wishing we could return to the days of our youth.

I come from a long line of coal miners, moon shiners, preachers, and mountain men. I am proud of my eastern Kentucky roots. The experiences I had then were unique and I saw and did things that my children will never be able to understand or relate to.

Cody and Chris are typical mountain boys. It is so sad to see how beautiful the mountains are and yet the sorrow and poverty of my people are as bleak as the hills are breathtaking. The coalmines and loggers have taken the resources and left the people with broken backs, broken hearts, and broken dreams.

With the recent tragedy in the coal mine in West Virginia and this mini-series, perhaps the nation's eyes will again consider the poverty in Appalachia and maybe the forgotten hill folk can hope for something more than their "crazy checks" (SSI).

My family is originally from Carter county KY on the border of WV and that county is one of three in the US without a public library. I am an academic librarian and I know that education, knowledge, and the dedication of people like those at the David school are the only avenues out for youth in eastern KY. Along with many other poverty-stricken areas of our country, there are actually MANY "children left behind". I doubt that will change in the next few years.

Thanks for sharing this touching story. Cody, Chris...there is hope and you can make it happen. I just pray that you can figure out a way to make it happen there in the hills. I wasn't able to... Maybe someday I can return to make decent living and let my kids have a taste of that mountain magic that is the core of my being.

Chadwick Seagraves
Indianapolis, Indiana

Dear FRONTLINE,

This story touchs the very part of me that wishes to say several things. I grew up in a pull trailer, with raw sewage seeping through our front door in the heat of southern Florida. My mother is a life time alcoholic, in such a bad way that now at 29yrs old, I can not bring myself to talk to her, because when I call she is always drunk. I guess I understand this now that I am older, her family wasn't much better, both drunks who died young from the disease. However, school was the only thing that saved me. I want you to know that there is always a way. I came from nothing, not a single penny. But I had teachers, and I had school, which fed me and clothed me when my mother could nothing but spend her money she made at the dry cleaners on a case of beer every night and a carton of cigarettes to go to boot. Financial aid will give you more than you ever need to go through school. I promise. It may seem out there, and I thought the same too, but it is there for you.

The only way you can truly help your family is to be the best person you can be. You can't let anger, depression to take you.

I now have a bachelor's degree from FSU, I have a masters from University of Chicago and I'm now striving to become a doctor and have just enrolled in the prereqs I need in order to start.

I'm happy that the Davis School was there, they will always be there. I am an example that life is what you make it, that you can make a mountain out of a mole hole, that you can dream and have it come true.

I realize that I need to mentor individuals that were in the same situation as I was. I need to live by example, this story has inspired me to give back what was unselfishly given to me by education and teachers things that my family could not.

Erica Duke

Dear FRONTLINE,

I grew up in Floyd County, Kentucky. I love Eastern Kentucky and the country-side I grew up around, but things were not easy. However, I am very proud of what I have done with my life. I lived in a coal camp until I was five years old. I was also a U.S. War Orphan, my dad having been killed one month before I was born, leaving my 17 year mother a widow. I lived in the coal camp with my grandparents. I studied hard in school with the help of wonderful teachers who cared about their students. I had very good mentors: Billie Jean Osborne who raised money to start the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg, Kentucky was my music teach for 9 years at Betsy Layne High School. My high school sweetheart, and I married and began college. He was killed on a timbering job just before his third year of college on a basketball full scholarship. When Hillary Clinton wrote the book "It Takes A Village," she must have visited the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. I went on to retire from two management jobs. One in regional banking as the Michigan Region PC and Telecommunicaitons Manager, as well as other positions. I also retired as Software Support Manager from the University of Michigan Business School. Kids in Eastern Kentucky should always be proud of their heritage and culture and know that hard work will always win out over giving up. Unfortunately, I had to move away from the place I loved to have a career. Floyd County has changed and changed alot since the 60's and 70's. The David School is a wonderful institution.

Claudette Stumbo Reaume

Dear FRONTLINE,

Dear Frontline, Cody, Chris & Donald Sutherland: I grew up in Pittsburgh during the collapse of the steel industry. Every rural town in Pennsylvania looked like a scene of total devastation. Still 25 years later families are mired in poverty, relying on SSI or other sources of meager support and the public education is failing most kids, especially those like Cody & Chris. Of my graduating class in 1983, only 40 of 239 students remained in PA ten years later. The numbers are probably lower now due to a lack of career opportunity and low wages for professionals. Thoughy my mother did not finish high school and my father only could find work six months a year, I was lucky. Many adults took the time to coach and encourage me so that eventually I obtained a Ph.D. in philosophy and now teach at a small vocational college. Many of my students are like Chris and Cody. The film made me remember the dark past of what we lovingly still call "the Pennsyltucky Region" and it made me aware - again - that kids who do not have the luxury of growing up middle class have many doors closed before they even realize their possibilities. Many middle class people gave me a hand up, something we can see happening for Cody but not for Chris. I feel for Chris because his struggle has been, and will be, much more difficult. As a result of viewing this series I will approach my students differently. Though many are reading and writing at an elementary school level because they were unceremoniously passed from grade to grade as "nuisance students," I vow to try to open more doors for them rather than pass judgment on their potential as many veteran professors do. I would also encourage other educators who were moved by this program to work from inside to change the nature of what we do on a daily basis. We need more compassion, honesty and support systems for the Chrises and Codys. Thank you for a backward glance into a world that I consciously tried to overcome, block out and distance myself from for the last 25 years.

diane bowser
Slippery Rock, PA

Dear FRONTLINE,

This is a such hearbreaking story. I was saddened by the poverty and poor living conditions presented in this film. What struck me the most however was the lack of parental support towards these kids' education. Chris' mom cares more about the SSI check than her son's school assignments and school work. I myself grew up through my teenage years in China before moving to America, even though my parents were also having financial difficulties, they never failed to make it clear that we need to get a good education to achieve the American dream. In America, people have the freedom to decide what they want to do for their future and it's a shame that these kids don't believe that they can achive higher goal in life if they put their mind to it. There may be various factors that have caused poverty, but if these parents can provide good guidance and emotional support toward their kids' education, then it's likely that the future generations can pull themselves out of the poverty cycle.These two kids should leave their town and see how big the world is. Who they are now is who they are in Appalacia, all they need is the courage to leave home and grow into something more. Dare to dream, all that you need is within you.

Jennifer Wang
Austin, TX

Dear FRONTLINE,

My name is Colin and im a freshmen in College down in Baltimore at Goucher College. I grew up living in a completely different lifestyle than yours; living in the surban sprawl of Long Island, New York. Living in a different world then yours is probably why I was so attracted to hearing about your very different and very interesting story. For me the documentary and your story helped me see a humanity and intelect that exists in all people. I grew up in a community where the terms "best" and "brightest" were the only acceptable terms to live by and the idea of a clean and honest life was not nearly as imporant as gaining wealth and power. I cannot begin to express how watching the documentary made me feel on the inside as a person and how it drove further home to me certain ideas of humanity and acceptance for ones differences and lifestyles. I have never seen upclose the silent majority of Americans living in it's heartland and now because of this show I have gained a new found respect for it. Thank you.

Colin Rynne
Baltimore , Maryland

Dear FRONTLINE,

I ran across your story tonight on t.v. and read the web page. I just had to tell you that I have been there, and I am still there in some ways. I won't bore you with the details too much. What you did and are doing is brave. The condtions I grew up in were worse than yours, I had no running water, plastic sheets on my windows and the only warm meal I got was the reduced one at school and that wasn't a guarntee we couldn't afford it all the time. But I overcame these obstacles plus the many more that come with a life like that. And I just wanted to say that we can break the cycle of settling for whatever life gives us. I joined the Air Force and I am now back home from being overseas and I am going back to college. It was hard graduating and making a living and basically living day to day .....I guess I am just saying that I am glad to see someone else do what they have to do to get out off of the dirt road. I haven't thought about what I had to go through to become the person I am now, in awhile until I saw this PBS show. Soooo.........thanks and believe me things will get alot easier....I have alot of more to say but it would take awhile...This little quote has helped me and I want to share it with you : "To the world you are someone..But to someone you are the world"

Hannah Hockman
Brown Summitt, N.C.