Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 5, 1994 TAG: 9403070121
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Shortly before the final ceremonies began and the Olympic torch was extinguished, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Central Intelligence Agency obliged the media by making public the treacherous and criminal activities of Aldrich and Rosario Ames. A 30-year career CIA official, Aldrich Ames betrayed his country by furnishing the Soviet KGB with the identity of Soviet officials who were in the pay of the CIA.
Not only did this unhappy development provide the media with a welcome alternative to the Harding-Kerrigan saga, it provided Congress members grieving over the end of the Cold War a renewed opportunity to castigate the dreadful Russians for paying Ames millions for his treachery.
Give us a break! Everybody who reads (including many members of Congress) knows that intelligence agencies of all governments are created for and financed to spy on other governments' activities, especially those known or suspected of being inimical to their national interests.
What Ames did was clearly unforgivable, and he should be punished to the limit of the law. But let's try to avoid looking foolish by pretending outrage against the Russian government over an activity in which we are also justifiably engaged.
HENRY B. COX
ROANOKE
North's were not trivial lies
THE FEB. 14 letter to the editor (``Senate needs patriots like North'' by Francis C. Gilkeson) in support of Oliver North for Congress demonstrates clearly how much our American moral standards have deteriorated in recent years.
Although most of us were brought up to believe that lying was one of the worst of sins, we also learned that ``white lies'' were permissible when intended to avoid giving offense or inconvenience to others in matters of minor significance. Most of us would admit having told such lies at one time or another.
But white lies are a far cry from lies before government agencies in matters affecting millions of people's lives and welfare. North had no hesitancy in telling such lies when it was to his advantage to do so in an administration that had been elected to enforce laws passed by Congress, but chose instead to break them.
DONALD R. FESSLER
BLACKSBURG
Let private sector run prison programs
I'VE FOLLOWED with interest Gov. Allen's attempts to address the debacle that's the Virginia Department of Corrections. He's doing some things right. He can do more.
He should ignore most recommendations in the final report of the Governor's Commission on Violent Crime in Virginia. Rather than beef up Correctional Enterprises with a blank check, it would be more productive to bring in private enterprise to manage inmate work. Correctional Enterprises is a financial black hole and is unlikely to improve. I'd bet my pension it'll never be competitive with private industry, or likely to produce quality products or train productive employees. The public sector cannot beat private enterprise at its own game.
Allen shouldn't support increases for prison work-release facilities, for inmate treatment or inmate community after-care services f+iunlesso they're run by private enterprise. The Department of Corrections, as presently constituted, can't keep drugs out of death row, follow its own security procedures or run anything without redundant layers of mismanagement. On the latter, it's been an open secret for years that regional offices are useful mainly as places to stash incompetents who can't make it in the institutions and as insulation for central-office staff.
There's money to be saved by getting the fat and mismanagement out of the Department of Corrections and by bringing in private enterprise. I wish Allen and us taxpayers good luck.
BALDWIN P. JENNINGS JR.
STAUNTON
No honor for the honorless
IN RESPONSE to the letters to the editor by Esther G. Reed (Feb. 9, ``Finally, a good word for Clinton'') and Nino A. Sylmar (Jan. 24, Clinton giving his all to job''):
How can they have the nerve and gall to ask American citizens to respect and honor President Clinton? He's lied to the American people day after day, cheated on his wife, protested against our country during the war, broken many campaign promises he made just to get votes, lied about the deficit, dodged the draft and smoked pot. He has no integrity or honor. He's no leader.
I was raised to believe that to deserve honor and respect you had to earn it. I cannot understand how they can expect anyone to support him, much less respect him.
ELIZABETH OVERSTREET
ROANOKE
It's not always simple to 'just leave'
REGARDING the Feb. 12 letter to the editor by Joanna B. Capps, ``Lorena Bobbitt should be deported'':
I cannot believe her attitude. Ms. Bobbitt is getting the help she finally needs and deserves after suffering all those years of abuse. Going to jail would only extend the torment and pain she's had to endure.
Unless people have had to live in an abusive environment, they don't have the right to judge someone who has. It's very easy to say, ``Well, why don't you just leave.'' As we've learned from numerous publications on this subject, it's never that simple.
As far as someone getting off scot-free, what about John Bobbitt? After all the inhumane acts he did to her, he walked out of the courtroom and stepped into public recognition as this poor victim we're supposed to feel sympathy for. He made money from it. I feel disgust for him and every man like him.
Men and women need to have more respect for each other. Counseling services are available for those with abusive tendencies, and I'd like to think most people really don't like being that kind of person. It's hard for them to admit they have a problem - like drugs and alcohol abuse that are usually tied in with this problem.
Two wrongs don't make a right, so let's work on not giving women or men a reason to fight back because they're mad and not going to take it anymore.
VICKI HOBSON
ROANOKE
Metrication aid is home-grown
THE ONLY improvement that might have been made upon the Feb. 14 editorial favoring metrication (``Inching toward metric'') would have been to mention that, with users in science and engineering worldwide, the most popular software-based metrication aid in the world is a home-grown product. Our Yukon! users' list now includes universities, government agencies ranging from municipal planning departments to the Corps of Engineers, and consultants from Brazil to Eastern Europe.
ROBERT M. FELTON
ROANOKE
Valley teachers deserve an A+
I HAD the opportunity recently to sit through four different class periods in three different schools. I saw the diligent work of teachers, their flexibility and patience in struggling to make up missed time and work, their coping with changed and extended time schedules, their dealing with lesson plans missed and untaught that had to be planned and rescheduled again. It all combined to remind me just how blessed we are in the Roanoke Valley. Our schools, teachers and administrators are generally among Virginia's best. We, as parents and students, are exceedingly fortunate to have them right here where we live.
So the Roanoke Valley isn't a place where a lot of babies or jobs are born. It's still a great place to live, work and play, and our public-school teachers should receive much of the credit for it being so!
MACK WELFORD
SALEM
Let victim's kin execute the killer
RECENTLY, several legislators were quoted in this newspaper saying that convicted murderers, rapists, etc., should be able to die with dignity (Feb. 5 news story, "House passes bill to let families view executions").
What about the victims? Did they die with dignity?
Those on trial for crimes should appear in court in exactly the same garb as when they allegedly committed the crime, usually scruffy, surly and grungy, not clean-shaven and in a new suit paid for by our taxes. If convicted, they should be executed in exactly the same manner as their victim, preferably by one of the victim's family.
LEWIS E. GOYETTE
ROANOKE
by CNB