ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, November 30, 1996            TAG: 9612020006
SECTION: EDITORIAL                PAGE: A-11 EDITION: METRO 
                                             TYPE: LETTERS 

MILITARY'S ATTITUDE MUST CHANGE

IT APPEARS to me that it is heterosexuals who need to be barred from the military. I believe improper behavior of the military's males toward females has been going on for longer than anyone would want to know, and the service's adamant stand against gays in the military is but a subconscious projection of males' own inappropriate behavior.

By putting the focus on gays and the public misconceptions of what it means to be gay, and by instilling fear and loathing, it takes the eyes of the public off the heterosexual males' behavior - which is the real problem.

This is an age-old problem. It's deep down in our collective history dealing with the differences between the sexes, and it needs a serious, well-thought-out solution.

The socialization of our male population needs a good overhaul. Respect for the opposite sex (heterosexual or homosexual) must begin at home, in the schools and churches so that perhaps our next generations might not be quite so violent and abusive toward others on the most personal of levels.

TERRY STEER

ROANOKE

Tech football is good for the media

IN RESPONSE to a Nov. 18 letter to the editor, ``Big-time football at Tech provides big-time benefits,'' by Larry Hincker, associate vice president for university relations at Virginia Tech:

I would like to point out an additional economic impact of having such a big-time football team.

That so-called troubled program, as the editorial staff sees it, surely affects the bottom line at The Roanoke Times. Without the Hokies, a deadly combination of reduced circulation and advertiser interest would certainly have a crippling effect. Also, the need for high-quality sports writers and photographers would be diminished, not to mention the impending need to trim the editorial staff for financial reasons.

I guess all of us loyal Hokie football fans will just have to rely on the Associated Press wire to keep up with the troubled Canes, Longhorns and Tigers.

WHITNEY SMITH

ROANOKE

GOP failed before to `fix' problems

IN HIS NOV. 15 letter to the editor (``GOP Congress is the saving grace''), Rob Brown said: ``I hope I live to see a Republican president and Congress. We can then begin to fix this country ''

All senior citizens covered by Medicare should be thankful Bill Clinton was re-elected. He protected us last year when Newt Gingrich and Bob Dole wanted to cut this program.

As for the middle-class tax cut, when a country is operating in the red, you don't reduce taxes and balance the budget. I am sure Dole never thought of this, but it's a fact.

When Ronald Reagan was campaigning for president, he promised to balance the budget in four years. If my memory serves correctly, the national indebtedness was approximately $1 trillion when he was elected, and more than $3 trillion at the end of his eight years. It was about $4 trillion at the end of the Bush administration. At least two things were on the ``up and up'' during this period: indebtedness and unemployment.

I am one person who doesn't want this kind of fix.

RALPH W. FOSTER

ROANOKE

Did Dr. Kevorkian

esign the exits?

IN RESPONSE to Roger Shelton's Nov. 19 letter to the editor, ``Exit ramps here are real killers'':

Shelton is possibly envious of the exit ramp that Virginia Tech fans use when southbound on Interstate 81 on their way to Lane Stadium. While Roanokers can chance suicide at I-581 and Hershberger Road, the fans gamble on which tractor-trailers are likely to create a metal sandwich out of their vehicles and loved ones at Exit 118.

Perhaps Dr. Jack Kevorkian advised the Virginia Department of Transportation that the slower lane on an interstate should always be on the right. It seems obvious that once the slower (truck) traffic is forced to the left lane prior to Exit 118, fans would be able to see the exit sign and the Hokie sandwich syndrome would disappear!

Shelton needs to be careful on his next trip to Blacksburg. The ramps aren't any safer or any better here.

DONNA K. LIVASY

BLACKSBURG

LENGTH: Medium:   87 lines