Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 21, 1994 TAG: 9401210318
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
We've read in recent weeks of the plight of teen pregnancy and of good news-bad news economic indicators for the Roanoke Valley. The Good Neighbors Fund series highlighted families and individuals caught in economic poverty.
Historically, the church has been instrumental in bringing moral leadership in education and solutions to every area of life and society. That role has now been relegated to government by default, with the obvious results.
There are a number of long-term, established ministries and centers in Roanoke that are committed to providing encouragement and support to the disadvantaged of our community, but that's just a beginning. With as many churches and members as we have in the Roanoke Valley and as many needs, surely there could be a collaborative effort to provide some answers to problems that are too complicated to work on independently.
PAT DILLARD
Executive Director
Presbyterian Community Center
ROANOKE
Try practicing what you preach
IN RESPONSE to Robert S. McCormick Jr.'s Jan. 10 letter to the editor, ``Most woes traced to spiritual decline'':
He writes, ``Until our nation gets right with God, it will continue to decline'' and that ``our leaders don't have the divine wisdom that our forefathers had.''
I'm a Native American and I fail to see where his forefathers had any divine wisdom at all. When they came to this country, they exploited the people who were already here - my forefathers - killing off entire nations of natives who didn't adhere to their ways, cheating us out of land we lived on for centuries and stripping us of our beliefs. His forefathers forced upon my people a religion they themselves didn't follow.
I'm sick of hearing about how religion should play a more significant role in today's government. This nation was founded on freedom of religion. So religion (i.e., God) is not the key, but individual spirituality is the key. If you're happy with yourself and your God, fine. But don't force it upon me or my family.
This government needs more honest, hard-working people in it. And as far as our children go, more people should f+iliveo their religion instead of preaching it.
WILLIAM R. GREENAWALT JR.
INDIAN VALLEY
A welcome `no' from Dr. Elders
I WAS SURPRISED to read in the Jan. 7 Roanoke Times & World-News that our surgeon general, Joycelyn Elders, has finally found something she can say f+inoo to (``Elders: Children are `innocent victims' of adults' smoking''). She supports consideration of legalizing drugs, abortion on demand and distribution of condoms in public schools (so young people don't have to say no to sex).
But she says no to smokers because of the danger of secondhand smoke. (Don't misunderstand, I'm one of those who always asks for the nonsmoking section in restaurants so that I don't have to inhale cigarette smoke.)
It would be more keeping in character if she promoted the development and distribution of ``body condoms.'' I'm sure they would be as safe and reliable as what's being distributed in schools.
I also see the underlying danger of children's rights vs. parental rights. Though I strongly believe that smoking is very hazardous to one's health, Dr. Elders leans strongly toward the rights of children over parents' rights. Young girls have the right of abortion without parental notification. Parents should not be able to decide on sex information their children will receive in public schools. And now again, children are victims of their parents.
But at least we now know that Dr. Elders can say no! She needs to say it more often!
DAVID FRASER
ROANOKE
Churches should stick by principles
I'M CONSTANTLY amazed at the inconsistency of people. I've been following the news about the Montgomery County parents who pulled their children out of a church-run day-care center (Jan 12 news article by staff writer Stephen Foster, ``Cry heard: Day-care center OK'd'').
I wonder what those parents thought when they were looking for a day-care center. If you need medical help, you go to a doctor or a hospital, don't you? What else would you look for at a church-operated day-care center except Bible instruction? I thought most people used day-care centers run by churches because they felt their children would be treated with love and care, taught good ethics and morals, and would be in a good atmosphere.
Now this same group of parents is trying to get a permit for another day-care center. Again, they want to use a church. Talk about inconsistency. If I don't want to give the impression that I'm associated with a church, I would surely look for some place else to set up my business.
I applaud those at Mount Tabor Nursery School and Day-Care Center for sticking by their teachings. It should have been that way all along. If it were my church they were asking to use now, I would vote no.
I fear America is fast becoming unchristian. Can it be that one day we won't be able to give the pledge of allegiance to our flag? I pray the Lord's mercy on America. He's our only hope.
BETTY S. WILLIAMS
PEARISBURG
Look at Explore's business potential
IF ROANOKE wants to ``explore'' the possibility of developing a regional business park with other valley localities (Jan. 15 news article by staff writer Joel Turner, ``Roanoke explores industrial park''), it need look no farther than Explore Park in Roanoke and Bedford counties for one such opportunity.
Hundreds of thousands of nonresidents - attracted from around the world to Explore Park's Lewis and Clark Expedition-theme zoo, Monacan Indian Village and other frontier living-history attractions - will leave here thousands of dollars through purchases and local taxes. Hundreds of new jobs within and outside the park will be created - many in Roanoke city. In this sense, Explore could be thought of as Explore Regional Business Park.
Just as shell buildings are provided to meet the needs of businesses wishing to locate in a more typical industrial park, valley governments could jointly underwrite the moving and reconstruction in Explore Park of historical structures that serve the same purpose: housing for new valley businesses. One example: the 1790 Brugh Tavern in Botetourt County, owned by Explore. A local private concessioner could run the tavern in Explore as a popular public restaurant, the equivalent of the Kings Arms and Christiana Campbell's taverns in Colonial Williamsburg. It, or another of Explore's historic structures, also could provide the needed shell building within which another local private entrepreneur could sell locally handmade crafts to park visitors, thus helping local crafters make a living and helping to perpetuate these valuable and endangered skills.
There's more than one kind of business park. Explore Park has the potential to make an important contribution to our valley's business activity.
M. RUPERT CUTLER
Director, Explore Park
ROANOKE
Warning needed for TV consumers
I HAVE a suggestion that will enhance the new public-service announcements about how to have promiscuous sex correctly. For 30 seconds following commercial breaks, cover the bottom of the television screen with the following announcement:
``Engaging in the conduct portrayed or suggested by this program has been shown to be hazardous to your physical, mental and spiritual health.''
It would certainly fit daytime soap operas, the network talk shows and virtually everything shown after dinner, including the news. Certain family shows, where they exist, might apply for exemptions.
KENNETH ROBERTSON
BLACKSBURG
Sentence disparities mock justice
WHAT'S wrong with this picture? A repeat offender of drunken driving was racing one evening and killed a 9-year-old boy whose mother's car got in the offender's way. After all, they should not have wanted to go to the store for a candy bar. The child's family and friends were sentenced to life without this child. The offender received a six-year prison sentence for manslaughter.
Then a social worker is attacked doing her job investigating the possible abuse of an elderly lady. Her attacker is sentenced to 10 years for malicious wounding. The message here seems to be that the man who attacked Marty Harmon should have drunk until he was impaired, gotten into his car, and run into her to have received less time!
I'm not minimizing the physical and emotional trauma Ms. Harmon went through, but I'm trying to point out how the legal system doesn't carry a severe enough penalty for those who maliciously wound when they drive impaired or take another's life. Where's the justice?
SHIRLEY G. CHAPMAN
ROANOKE
by CNB