Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 26, 1994 TAG: 9407260044
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
To the contrary, recent studies have shown that, on average, women and children experience a 73 percent decline in their standard of living in the first year after a divorce, whereas former husbands experience a 42 percent increase.
Women typically do get custody of the children, but they're often awarded inadequate child support which too often goes unpaid. If the choice is between making their child-support payment or their car payment, many men choose their cars.
Blevins-Church also asserts that because their power comes from their beauty, women don't really like each other, and that older women despise and fear younger women. What evidence does she put forward for this claim? Not only is it highly insulting to older women, it perpetuates the myth that women cannot compete fairly, and are unable to challenge one another in healthy and productive ways.
We are three women who teach at Hollins, a women's college. We highly value our friendships with one another, and with other women and men. We provide each other with support and encouragement, and witness a similar camaraderie among our students.
Finally, Blevins-Church's representation of feminist theory is oversimplified. This isn't surprising, considering that feminism's rich, intellectual heritage dates back to the Enlightenment. However, a demand for equality in certain contexts, such as equal opportunities in the job market, doesn't amount to a homogenization of the sexes.
DRUCILLA K. BARKER
ABIGAIL E. ADAMa
MARTHA RAMPTON
ROANOKE
North can handle the tough jobs
OLIVER NORTH never lied under oath, and he was never convicted of perjury. He did conceal White House policy initiatives (which the White House had no constitutional duty to disclose) in private briefings of congressional Democrats bent on mischief-making.
Go pick on the real Beelzebubs, and leave North to do tough jobs well.
JAMES MICHAEL BESTLER MARTINSVILLE
Truth lost in New Age dogma
THERE'S no doubt the world contains some fine writers. Vaclav Havel's July 10 commentary, ``In post-modern times, a quest for meaning,'' was beautifully written. It's no wonder he is highly regarded for his intellectual insight.
But how many articles, or books for that matter, have already been written dealing with national or world problems, and solutions? Countless! And the vast majority of them, woefully secularistic and humanistic, come to the same lamentable conclusion: Man is perfectly capable of solving his own problems if only he'd solidify himself with those around him.
Havel came close to discovering the real answer of finding meaning in a desperate world: Remember God. But he loses that revelation by going on and on about ``self-transcendence'' - a fancy, New Age term for old, humanistic dogma.
If we're incapable of understanding that our problems are outpacing us and the gap is widening, then we'll continue to reduce ourselves to mere observers, allied with nothing on Earth wise enough or powerful enough to conquer any query.
Our focus must be upward! It has to be the only solution. As God himself declared through Hosea, ``Your fruit is found in me.''
ROBERT E. MURPHY ROANOKE
Payne's tax-cutting efforts appreciated
JUST A few weeks ago, the U.S. House of Representatives' tax-writing committee agreed to a health-care reform proposal that would be funded partially by a phased-in 45 cents-per-pack cigarette-tax increase. Our own congressman, 5th District Rep. L.F. Payne, was an integral force in the successful effort to bring the proposed tax down from $2 a pack.
Payne deserves our thanks. As someone whose livelihood depends on tobacco, I can little afford a monstrous tobacco-tax increase. And without his efforts on behalf of the tobacco farmers of his district, that's exactly what we'd have - a $1 or even a $2 tax hike!
JOHN MOTLEY CHATHAM
More than just a strong manager
THE JULY 10 Business article (``Five who rebuilt Hotel Roanoke'' by staff writer Sandra Brown Kelly) on the Hotel Roanoke Conference Center Commission staff contained a major understatement. The article stated that Beverly James was added to the commission staff because Emily Keyser is a ``strong manager'' who can run the city library in Ms. James' absence.
Ms. Keyser is not just a strong manager. She's the heart and soul of the Roanoke City Public Library, and to refer to her in lesser terms does her a grave injustice.
JAY STEPHENS ROANOKE
See inspiring movie for what it is
REGARDING Detine L. Bowers' July 15 commentary, ``In `Lion King,' another display of racism'':
I've seen ``The Lion King'' twice, and I never felt as if Disney displayed racial ideas. Yes, Rafika had a black voice, but would it have been in his character to talk with a Bronx accent? Furthermore, the one scene imitating the naming ritual should have been taken as a compliment, not an insult. Disney brought forth African culture and made it recognizable to most Americans. Rafika was a baboon. That's it. His character could not have been portrayed by a rhinoceros or a giraffe.
As to the setting, would this movie have had such an impact if set in America? I doubt it, since all the animals in this movie can't be found in America!
Leave this spiritual, inspiring movie alone, and cry racism elsewhere! If no characters had had black voices, racism would have been screamed again. However, that screaming would have been valid.
KATRINA S. WILLIAMS GLADEHILL
Bring rogue agency back into line
IN RESPONSE to your July 5 editorial regarding the Virginia Department of Transportation's proposed upgrade of U.S. 58 through Southwest Virginia (``The road not to be taken''):
I agree with Richard L. Hoffman (July 16 letter, ``Whose get-rich scheme is U.S. 58?'') that VDOT has shown itself to be insensitive to public lands, the environment and public opinion, and it is squandering Virginia taxpayers' money. What is needed to bring what's become a rogue agency back into accountability?
VDOT so far refuses to do an environmental-impact statement for U.S. 58, even though it's required by federal law before the U.S. Forest Service can sign off on public lands. VDOT appears to be stonewalling the process in hopes of eliminating options that avoid going through Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. It has ignored state and federal recommendations calling for a less destructive and less expensive option for U.S. 58. As a result, VDOT faces possible costly and time-consuming legal challenges.
VDOT claims that its proposed highway will bring an economic windfall to the region are unfounded. Several transportation studies conclude that interstates do not guarantee economic development in rural areas. VDOT's own economic study didn't even consider the region's tourism/recreation industry, which is significant and relies on a healthy environment and natural beauty.
I see the need for an east-west interstate route across Southern Virginia, and for some road improvements. But some straightened curves and passing lanes to augment the existing road system would improve regional transportation at much lower costs, without destroying what makes this place so special.
The savings could be directed into better education, job training, entrepreneurial assistance and marketing programs for the region, which are needed to help the economy. It takes more than asphalt.
MICHAEL CODY SUGAR GROVE
Constitutional rights in the womb
SINCE THE sex of a fetus can be determined as early as nine weeks (with a CVS procedure), why aren't these little boys and girls protected under our constitutional rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?
ANGIE THOMPSON BLACKSBURG
by CNB