Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 1, 1992 TAG: 9201020159
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: MARK E. TODD
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
EDITORS PICK TARGETS FOR LIBERAL BARBS
I HAVE BECOME increasingly distressed at the decidedly liberal turn of
editorials in the Roanoke Times & World-News. In particular, I would like to
address the character assassination of Clarence Thomas, the criticism of
Congressman Jim Olin's vote against more gun control, and the labeling of Pat
Buchanan's quest for the presidency an "ugly cause."
First, while it is absolutely necessary to check the background of
potential Supreme Court justices, it is not necessary to make a media field
day out of allegations improperly leaked to the press by those who opposed
Judge Thomas.
Yes, even Supreme Court Justices in this country are innocent until proven
guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This was a sickening circus propagated by
politics and the press.
Secondly, the editors screamed loudly when Congressman Jim Olin voted
against further gun control laws recently. Never mind that the bill was too
vague in its definitions and Olin simply wanted to clarify these with
recognized experts, the National Rifle Association among others. Legislation
should be enacted only after careful study of the facts, not emotions. (This
bill came immediately after the Luby's restaurant shootings in Texas.)
In this paper, Olin was chastised for voting as he thought the majority of
those in his district would want. Horrors! To fulfill his constitutional
duties by carrying to Congress the wishes of his constituency? Apparently the
editors believe that only they know what is best for the country.
Freedom of the press is one of our most cherished rights. Let us not
forget that the very next right our Founding Fathers conceived was the right
to keep and bear arms. Both of these rights must be exercised judiciously.
Used incorrectly, both may have terrible results.
Thirdly, labeling Pat Buchanan's common-sense approach of putting America
first as "ultraconservative" and an "ugly cause" seeks to portray liberal
views as moderate or the norm. I applaud Buchanan's goal of "taking our
country back" from the politicians who have led us to the brink of economic
disaster.
While George Bush may talk a conservative line, economically he is a
liberal in conservative clothing. He wants to dilute our national sovereignty
by allowing more and more United Nations control over our affairs. He is a
longtime member of the economic establishment and plays to the international
big bankers who control our country.
We voters thought that you must take care of yourself before you can take
care of others. Otherwise all parties suffer. We must get our economy
straightened out and take care of our people (the jobless, homeless, etc.)
before we ship our hard-earned dollars overseas. It is not isolationist, it is
common sense.
Words can have a powerful effect on people: Tell a person that he is stupid
often enough, and even he will begin to believe it. All I ask is that the
paper strike a balance in its editorial philosophy. Please realize that, as a
holder of the public trust, it is the paper's responsibility to foster public
debate, not to direct public thinking.
Mark E. Todd is a physician in Pulaski.