Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, September 26, 1994 TAG: 9409260013
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
We believed this most of all when we were running in breathless pursuit on the playground. The happy child is proof positive of the mind, body and spirit's totality in all mankind, and we see it in every child's eyes while he or she is at play.
It's true that doing well in school is important, but there's a time and place for everything. A child's education shouldn't be limited to school, homework and force-feeding thereof. Somehow, a lot of educators have prevailed upon parents that the athletic potential in schoolchildren is of secondary importance of. Educators would develop the mind at the expense of the body.
In going through the motions, a lot of students look on physical education as something they must endure to get through. In this mindless haste, they may become oblivious to their own athletic potential.
It's standard practice to restrict the athlete if he doesn't make the academic grade. What of the honors student who fails to run four laps on the school track in eight minutes? Why isn't he restricted from the debate club for his failure on the track?
In this world of 12-hour shifts, bleeding ulcers, stress migraines, 15-year-old crack users, 12-year-old mothers, and 35-year-old heart-attack victims, the athlete is saying something, not only to the educator and honors student but possibly to us all.
ERIK ANDERSON MARTINSVILLE
5th District's views aren't heeded
I HAVE read with some amusement about Congressman L.F. Payne's concerns in relation to the health-care bill. These concerns, which are valid, didn't prevent him from voting in committee in favor of a government-run, employer-mandated health-care program.
Actually, it's no laughing matter that our elected representative has voted 86 percent of the time in favor of Clinton's legislative proposals. Most of us know these proposals have advocated bigger government, higher taxes, more restrictions on our individual rights, and social policies that are devastating to families and the nation.
It seems to me that Payne is willing to say whatever is necessary to make us believe he is for us, the 5th District voters. Was he voting with us in mind when he voted for Clinton's tax-and-spend budget plan? Was he voting for us when he voted against tax relief for families? Was he voting for us when he voted against parental notification for abortion? The list goes on and on. Who does Payne really represent? I think the answer is obvious - the Washington liberal elite.
This November we'll have the opportunity to elect someone who is committed to being a representative of the 5th District. He's a person who wants to see a reduction in government control over our lives. He wants to see legislation passed that will strengthen families and help us to become a strong, united country once again. George Landrith is this individual.
ANDREA H. SLOOP ARARAT
Roads will spoil an ecological treasure
I'M A native Virginian and an outdoorsman. I'm concerned about the Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board's plans to construct a four-lane U.S. 58 and/or a two-lane superhighway through the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, across the New River, and through surrounding farms and communities.
The project doesn't have to go through. Taxpayers would be saved $160 million if the transportation board backed down, and opted for the shorter no-build alternative running along existing interstate highways. What could be more sensible?
The no-build alternative would save much more than money. Mount Rogers National Recreation Area is one of the most significant ecological treasures of the southern Appalachians. It's a refuge in the midst of a 20th-century world of unchecked development that's all around us. Mount Rogers high country, the Holston River watersheds to the northwest, and the New River watershed to the east are home to unique salamanders, plants, freshwater mussels, fish and other wild critters found in few other places in the South. Mount Rogers provides a place for people of all walks of life to experience the wilds and commune with nature. Countless people have reflected on the area's beauty while hiking the Appalachian or Iron Mountain trails, trekking the high country, biking the Virginia Creeper Trail, fishing Comers Creek, camping in out-of-the-way Hurricane Campground or hunting on Hurricane Mountain.
If four-lane U.S. 58 or the two-lane road go through any part of the area, their impacts will be felt throughout. Noise, polluted water, massive road cuts and spillover development will become the inheritance of the area.
SHERMAN BAMFORD ROANOKE
Breast-feeding requires education
I'M NOT a ``breast-feeding zealot,'' but feel compelled to respond to the backlash against breast-feeding that has followed the sad story of Pam Floyd in Norfolk. Her son suffered dehydration and brain damage while she attempted to breast-feed him. Attempting is not succeeding, which requires proper education.
No one expects to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation successfully without prior training, and breast-feeding should be no different. Inadequate preparation frequently leads to frustration and failure. Fortunately, tragedies are rare. Bottle-feeding formula is still associated with more problems than successful breast-feeding.
To prevent problems, prenatal breast-feeding classes must become as commonplace as childbirth classes. Mothers must learn to count baby's swallows during nursing, as well as wet diapers, to assess milk intake. Horror stories of pain and infant starvation result from incorrect breast-feeding techniques.
If Ms. Floyd had known where and when to turn for real help, her tragedy could have been prevented.
BARBARA H. STEVENS HUDDLESTON
Campaign against North hits new low
YOUR NONSTOP crusade against Oliver North reached a new low with the publication of the ridiculous commentary on Sept. 9 by Douglas Massing, entitled ``North's legacy is pain and shame.''
To blame all of Nicaragua's problems on North is incredible. The Nicaraguans have had a democratically elected president since 1990, and a Sandinista-dominated legislature before that.
Your newspaper has long since lost its credibility in covering and commenting on the North campaign. To give space to someone with Massing's lack of logic reinforces my belief that your editorial pages are among the worst in the country.
LEE T. LAWSON ROANOKE
Only Robb passed the character test
IT WAS interesting to note that during the recent Senate candidates' debate, and despite numerous references to character, only one candidate exhibited the strength of character to level with the American people: Chuck Robb.
While his three opponents wrapped themselves in vague, rhetorical platitudes designed to tell the people what they want to hear, only Robb had the courage to put all special-interest groups on notice that there will be no exemptions from the tough decisions necessary to solve the budget-deficit problem.
WALTER W. WISE FLOYD
Performers' talents undervalued
IT SEEMS the whole world is aware that Bolton-bashing is in vogue for the majority of critics in the news media. This matters not to the thousands of die-hard Michael Bolton fans, especially those who were in attendance at his Sept. 12 concert at the Roanoke Civic Center.
I'm sure Mark Morrison's comments regarding Bolton's performance in his review of the concert (```The Bomber' might bomb - his fans wouldn't care'') will be shrugged off as just more unjust criticism of Bolton's talents.
What I fail to see is how Morrison can report that saxophonist Dave Koz, who opened with his band for Bolton, `` ... did not dazzle, but did not bore.'' Koz's performance was warm, enthusiastic, entertaining, and it certainly served to whip the very attentive fans into nothing short of a frenzy of appreciation for his talented performance.
Shame on Morrison. Was he even there?
BETSY D. LIGHT SALEM
by CNB