Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 29, 1994 TAG: 9402010244
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The U.S. Supreme Court declared that Virginia's tax on federal retirees' income was illegal. To me, that means wrong. Our elected officials and, yes, even journalists should realize that a wrong was committed and in some way should be corrected. Also, the circuit-court judge in Alexandria who said federal retirees had adequate procedures to challenge the tax sure caught me by surprise. How many of the 200,000 federal retirees in Virginia were aware they had options - not to pay, or to challenge a supposedly lawful tax? Is it now vogue that all Americans should arbitrarily challenge their federal, state and local taxes?
This fiasco has made me wonder why I dedicated 26 years of my life to the United States Air Force, serving an ungrateful and unforgiving country and state. It's pleasing to note that our newly elected governor realizes it was wrong and wants to correct it.
Instead of trying to find ways to circumvent an injustice, Virginia should be encouraged to own up and pay up.
WALTER S. DALTON
DUBLIN
Help children to like themselves
I'VE BEEN following Beth Macy's articles on Roanoke's teen pregnancies and deplore the situation. The thought occurred to me that all of us need something in our lives to feel good about. I believe there's something unique about each of us. Today, it seems that many teens are having babies as a result of following the pack. What about the uniqueness of each person in the pack? Is it possible that uniqueness is untapped or isn't easily recognizable? If so, is it too late ?
Early in a child's life, the primary and significant people in his life should be vigilant as to what that child is interested in, enjoys doing, and should see that it's integrated into the child's life. As the child grows, he or she will always have something to feel good about, namely his or her self!
E. ANTOINETTE HALE
ROANOKE
Adoption, other options are ignored
MARA E. Bradburn's Jan. 22 letter to the editor (``Leave abortion issue to women'') trots out the same impoverished, timeworn rhetoric of the pro-abortion camp. She argues that men shouldn't be involved in the abortion decision because they can never have children. This wholesale disenfranchisement of 50 percent of the population from the political process is truly staggering. At one time, we were all fetuses, which gives us more than enough authority to speak to this issue.
Ms. Bradburn establishes an artificial dichotomy. Either have an abortion or bear a child consigned to live in poverty and neglect. There are many other possibilities. A woman might choose to give her child up for adoption if she feels financially or emotionally incapable of raising it. There are millions of loving couples waiting to adopt. Or she might choose to raise her child the best she can. One doesn't have to be born into an upper-middle-class family and have a wealth of material possessions to have a happy childhood.
Even if we accept her scenario, what kind of a ``choice'' is abortion? A child is better off dead than having a less-than-perfect upbringing? This quality-of-life ethic is frightening. What would Ms. Bradburn say if society determined she should be dispatched because her qualify of life has fallen below some arbitrary, predetermined threshold?
Finally, she drags out the old, overworked slogan, ``Every child a wanted child.'' She might be surprised to know that most pregnancies are unplanned. Yet the vast majority of these result in happy, beautiful children loved just as much by their parents as children resulting from planned pregnancies. An unplanned pregnancy doesn't translate into an unwanted child. Also, more than half of abused children were ``wanted.''
The issue isn't as simple as not having an abortion if we don't wish to. Those believing in the sanctity of human life see the wholesale slaughter of thousands of children every day. We cannot sit idly by on the sidelines and shrug our shoulders while the holocaust continues.
STEPHEN J. KONIG
BLACKSBURG
Eagle Scouts earn title for life
AS AN Eagle Scout, I'd like to set the record straight. Once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout.
A Jan. 24 item in the ``& Now This'' column entitled ``Eagle eyes'' mentioned the need for Eagle Scouts to volunteer their time with the Blue Ridge Mountains Council, B.S.A. Also, Eagle Scouts were referred to as ex-Eagles; a faux pas on your part. If you'd researched your topic further, you'd know that Eagle Scouts never become ex-Eagles.
The rank of Eagle Scout is earned; therefore, one never loses the rights, privileges and honor that come with the Eagle badge.
CHAD L. BLOSSER
BLUE RIDGE
Working, for free, for the government
DO YOU SUPPOSE any legal minds have considered that when a municipality orders a property owner to clean snow from a city sidewalk, it amounts to forced labor?
If this practice is valid in January, why isn't it also valid in July? Think of the savings if property owners were ordered to keep city grass mowed and garbage picked up in front of their properties?
THOMAS M. MARTIN
BEDFORD
by CNB