Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 10, 1993                   TAG: 9306100427
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

NEWSPAPER CAN SET BETTER EXAMPLE

It was a headline designed to grab attention, and it certainly did. But it was also discriminatory.

The dramatic increase in hate crimes, anger and discrimination on all sides, to divide and separate us as humans, disturbs me deeply. Exclusion and intolerance rather than inclusion and acceptance seem to be the order of the day. It permeates our society at every level. The rise in intolerance for each other among the elementary-aged students with whom I work is frightening and sad. Adults need to be better role models. Whether it is the exclusionary bickering of city vs. county, blacks vs. whites, straights vs. gays, men vs. women, etc., it's well past time to stop the hate-filled words and actions.

This newspaper can do better and has a responsibility to the community to do so.

POLLY WILSON

ROANOKE