Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 5, 1993 TAG: 9304050009
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ray Reed
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
DISCLAIMER IS NOT PURELY COINCIDENTAL
Q: Why do fiction books have disclaimers like "All the characters in this book are fictitious and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental?" W.M., BlacksburgA: The disclaimer heads off libel suits from people who may feel the author was writing about them.
Characters often resemble real people, because that makes them believable and interesting. To achieve this, authors may instill personality traits of several people they know into their fictional heroes and anti-heroes.
To these traits an author may add events from the lives of other people. That's how we wind up reading about an action-oriented CIA analyst who dabbles with insider trading and is married to a doctor.
Any resemblance to a fictional character here is totally coincidental, by the way.
Why Haitians leave home
Q: We hear so much about the plight of the Haitians, but they live on an island shared with the Dominican Republic. What ethnic group dominates the Dominican Republic? What kind of border divides the two countries? Are Haitians trying to enter the Dominican Republic as well? E.F.M., Roanoke
A: Haitians do cross into the Dominican Republic, but the United States is far more attractive.
Dr. Flavy Brown, pastor of Vinton Wesleyan Church, just returned from his third mission visit to Haiti and provides the following description:
Ethnically, Haitians are of African descent and speak French or Creole. Dominicans speak Spanish and many are of mixed race, including native Indian; others are black or white. Roots can be traced to slave ships from Africa, especially in Haiti.
The border is formed by mountain range or riverbed and is increasingly guarded these days by military patrols on both sides.
When Haitians do cross over, their usual job is field work on a sugar plantation - something of a parallel to Mexican labor in the United States. Wages are much lower in the Dominican Republic.
The United States simply has a better way of life. Haitians have more in common with black people in America, and there are many Haitian communities in Louisiana, Florida, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington and even Canada.
In the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, the average Haitian tries to support six children on $480 a year. Many will risk almost anything to get into the world's richest country.
Public ice skating? Maybe
Q: Now that LancerLot is closed, why can't the Roanoke or Salem civic centers make their rinks available for people who just want to go ice skating? J.R., Roanoke
A: If a hockey team plays in the Roanoke Civic Center, public skating is a distinct possibility, manager Bob Chapman said.
A group of local businessmen, including some former hockey players, wants to form a professional team. If they can pull it off, the ice could be available to the public or for private rentals.
Without a hockey team, keeping ice would be too expensive.
At the Salem Civic Center, manager Carey Harveycutter has no plans to keep ice down.
Got a question about something that might affect other people too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.