Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 27, 1994 TAG: 9409270069
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
In his commentary, he describes the Confederacy as `` ... only a valorous, ennobling attempt for the South to forge its own destiny, to solve its own race problems without demands and insults from its hypocritical neighbors to the North and, most important, to bequeath that government which the founding fathers intended to their posterity.''
This view is romantic, benign, historically incomplete - and inaccurate. His rendition of the Confederacy is devoid of any mention of race. The founders of the Confederacy were unashamed of the racist nature of their new country. Witness Alexander Stephen's remarks shortly after he became the Confederacy's first vice president:
``Our new government is founded on the opposite idea of the equality of the races ... Its cornerstone rests upon the great truth that the Negro is not equal to the white man. This ... government is the first in the history of the world, based upon this great physical and moral truth.''
Valorous and ennobling?
And what of the desire to `` ... solve its own race problems''? Consider this excerpt from the Confederate constitution: ``No ... law denying or impairing the right of property in negro slaves shall be passed.'' This form of solving race problems is akin to Adolf Hitler's ``final solution'' for the Jews.
Indeed, many other facets of the Confederate constitution and government mirror the work of our founding fathers. However, regarding racial slavery, the ``peculiar institution,'' the leading secessionists left no ambiguity. Their new nation was first and foremost founded on the basis of white supremacy.
So, then, what of the Confederate flag? I don't believe it should be ``relegated to the ash heap of history.'' I believe it deserves no official government sanction, and that private citizens should have unfettered access to it. When citizens fly the flag or emblazon their pickup trucks and semi grilles with it, they should honor their ancestors by admitting their racial bigotry. They also should expect Americans who don't share these beliefs, like those represented by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, to speak out, protest and present a counter-perspective.
WALTER B. SANDERSON III
FREDERICK, MD
The Clintons' blatant leanings
BRAVO TO George Kelly, and his Sept. 6 letter to the editor entitled ``There is no health-care crisis.'' What he says is true. The only crisis is that the Clintons were on the verge of enacting a Marxist theory - the redistribution of wealth (or as Marx says, ``Work according to ability - receive according to need'').
Redistribution of wealth, for those who don't know, means taking money from certain people (usually those who work for a living) and giving it to those who choose not to work (as is already done with welfare, but would be greatly expanded under the Clinton health-care plan).
Yes, our president and his wife subscribe to Marxist theories - a building block of socialism. That's surprising to some, perhaps, but not to those who watch and listen to what the Clintons are trying to do to our country.
I believe if most Americans had any idea what the president and his wife were trying to do, there would be far more outcry. But so far, the media have failed to mention the Clintons' blatant socialistic leanings.
KIMBERLY DUNCAN CARICO
ROANOKE
Marching Virginians are Tech's spirit
WHO ARE the Marching Virginians? This was the question Diane Smith asked in her Sept. 4 letter to the editor (``Tech's priorities are out of step'').
The Marching Virginians are composed of some of the best musicians at Virginia Tech. They're chosen not by color, nationality or by state, and there's no quota system. Members are selected because of their musical abilities and spirit. The group is comprised of students from almost every major of study, which is what makes them so special. At other colleges, students aren't considered for the marching band unless they are music majors.
As a 1991 graduate of Virginia Tech, an alumnus member of the Marching Virginians and a Virginian (born and raised), I resent Smith's comment that out-of-state members are ``not Marching Virginians at all.'' If you're talented enough to be selected for the Marching Virginians, then you are a Marching Virginian. Obviously, Ms. Smith needs to understand an organization before she marches to conclusions.
Who are the Marching Virginians? The ``spirit of Tech.''
SARA JACKSON
ROANOKE
Steve Fast makes a good impression
I USUALLY steer clear of politics, but recently I was invited to hear Steve Fast speak. As many readers are probably aware, Fast is running against the 9th District incumbent, Rep. Rick Boucher.
I found Fast to be extremely bright, thoughtful and well-suited to serve in the House of Representatives. He'll work with other members of Congress, of either party, who believe that we need a smaller, more efficient government, and one that understands the needs of working-class families.
Fast's father was a hard-working, blue-collar worker, who instilled in him a desire to work hard, love God and serve his neighbor. He is happily married with four boys, and earned a doctoral degree in mathematics while working at night to support his family.
I invite the people of Southwest Virginia's 9th District to listen carefully to his ideas, scrutinize his values and character, and vote for him.
R. QUIGG LAWRENCE JR.
ROANOKE
North showed disregard for truth
WHETHER Oliver North told the truth to Congress may be a matter for political debate. What is clear, however, is that he didn't tell the truth about Norfolk public schools during the recent nationally televised debate with the other senatorial candidates.
His statement that in Norfolk more students go to parochial schools than go to all the public schools was an outrageous falsehood. We expect to have somewhere in the neighborhood of 35,000 students enrolled in our public schools this year. According to student census figures, 10 percent of the school-aged population here is enrolled in private or parochial schools or are engaged in home schooling.
The good colonel's assertion that the dropout rate in one Norfolk neighborhood exceeds 60 percent is equally ludicrous and shows a reckless disregard for a campaign based on facts.
Candidates for public office should be held to strict standards of accuracy and veracity in their statements. In these instances, and perhaps in others as well, North falls woefully short of those standards.
GEORGE D. RAISS
Assistant to the Superintendent
Norfolk Public Schools
NORFOLK
Lack of candidates sent a message
ON SEPT. 14, I took my 10-year-old daughter to the Senate candidates' forum on health care, sponsored by the Blue Ridge Regional Health Care Coalition, Roanoke College and Lewis-Gale Hospital. My daughter's teacher had been discussing politics and the Senate candidates. She was obviously excited by the thought of attending this forum and returning to describe the events to her history class. Even though I work in the health-care environment, I wanted her to form her own opinions of health care reform.
Before the forum began, an announcement was made describing problems that developed with each candidate's participation. On Sept. 13 at 5 p.m., Oliver North's campaign office announced he would not attend. On Sept. 14 at 10 a.m., Marshall Coleman's campaign office announced he wouldn't be attending. At 11 a.m., Chuck Robb's office announced he wouldn't be able to participate. Douglas Wilder was supposedly in Roanoke, but running late. A message announced that Wilder had been at Roanoke College, but couldn't find where to report and was returning to Richmond. That finalized to all in attendance that no candidate was going to arrive.
I asked my daughter what she had learned that day. She answered, ``The Senate candidates must not care about health care.'' What an astute observation.
R. DALE VOGLER
SALEM
by CNB