Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 4, 1994 TAG: 9402040281
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
If all the hullabaloo surrounding the Iran-Contra mess is disregarded in examining North, just what are his qualifications for becoming a senator? Constitutionally, he's qualified, being over 30, a citizen for more than nine years, and an inhabitant (but in no way a native) of Virginia. But what notable things has he done that Virginians should honor him by reposing our faith and trust in him? Being a good combat Marine and following orders, while commendable, doesn't overcome the lack of other qualifications. Not too many years ago, the Virginia electorate, to our shame, sent another unqualified man, William Scott, to the Senate where he was repeatedly judged the dumbest and most inept man in that body. We don't need the embarrassment of another Sen. William Scott.
Nor do we need the continuing embarrassment of Sen. Charles Robb, he of limited ability, weak character, questionable integrity, poor judgment and doubtful virtue.
North is nothing more than a limited insider who got caught, ejected and now wants back in, while Robb is a limited insider who's been found out and is scrambling to stay in.
If the tunnel-vision ideologues of their respective parties manage to get these two nominated as their party's candidate, the electorate should rise up as one, reject these insults and demand the candidacy of persons more qualified, less questionable and more respected. A state that in my lifetime has produced men of the caliber of Willis Robertson, Byrd, Spong, the Daltons, Holton, Godwin and Lewis Powell, to name but a few, can surely find better candidates than these two current front-runners.
RICHARD K. CULBERTSON
BLACKSBURG
Mother's decision affects society
IN RESPONSE to Mara E. Bradburn's Jan. 22 letter to the editor, ``Leave abortion issue to women'':
She laments: ``It's somewhat strange for a man to voice such strong feelings on abortion. Will he ever bear a child?''
Perhaps it never occurred to Ms. Bradburn that of the estimated 1.6 million abortions now performed in this country every year, 1.6 million would-be fathers never hold their would-be sons or daughters. Or that while society forces deadbeat dads to support the fruit of their loins, deadbeat moms can gratuitously seek abortion as a legal abnegation of responsibility.
When women evolve into a state of asexual reproduction, then they arguably might have the legal and ethical right to wholly decide the fate of their offspring. Until then, let's remember that mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, uncles and society itself will continue to be greatly affected by every would-be mother's decision.
PAUL SMITH
SALEM
Penny-pinching thwarted air travel
WE THINK many would-be travelers felt the same agitation with Roanoke Regional Airport that Jack Burke expressed in his Jan. 25 letter to the editor (``Mail service, airport took a holiday'').
We were also scheduled to leave Roanoke on Wednesday afternoon, two days after the ice storm. We also rescheduled our flight many different times with USAir. On Wednesday, we went to the airport to arrange another flight. We were told the reason it was closed was that Roanoke city hadn't purchased the correct chemicals that are used on airport runways. The city had called Charlotte, but when told how much the chemicals cost, the city decided that it was too expensive. Later city officials called again, perhaps deciding they should try to open the airport, only to find the chemicals were no longer available. The city then called Philadelphia, and the chemicals were to be trucked to Roanoke.
Since we had scheduled a super-saver flight with USAir, the cost of our tickets was nonrefundable. USAir would issue us a credit voucher that would be applied to our ticket purchase. Of course, we'd need to pay an additional cost of up to $300 because ticket prices go up from phone call to phone call. Only after we talked to four USAir representatives and three supervisors did the ticket matter get resolved. We paid $35 per ticket to travel at a different time.
If Roanoke city can justify building a new airport, it should be prepared for situations such as snow and ice that may cause a hindrance to air travel. No purpose is served to have a newly built and expanded airport if one cannot travel in and out successfully. The Explore project, Hotel Roanoke or even improvements for the road that runs from Roanoke to Smith Mountain Lake seem insignificant if the city needs to think twice about the cost of reopening the airport.
SHAROL R. STONEBURNER
SUSAN J. BOTTENFIELD
ROANOKE
Celebrate history of all Americans
FEBRUARY has been designated as Black History Month. We know this because, just as in years past, media manipulators spent this past month inundating the public with a barrage of newspaper ads and television and radio sound bites in celebration of the upcoming celebration. Sort of a pre-party party.
Two full months, one-sixth of each year, dedicated to the pacification of just 13 percent of the national population. Yet, we see no such promotion for an ``Oriental History Month'' or ``Hispanic History Month.'' And it's obvious that the media have been grossly negligent in their effort to promote a ``Native-American History Month.'' What about a ``Caucasian History Month''?
Of course, everyone's aware of the great hardships endured by blacks when they were sold into slavery by their own African people. But have we forgotten that a great many whites also got their start in this country as slaves or unwanted criminals? Have we forgotten the treatment of the Chinese slaves during the building of this nation? Have we chosen to forget the persecution suffered by non-English-speaking immigrants from Italy, Germany, Russia, Poland, Korea and most of the rest of the world? Have we ignored the squalid slavery of the Hispanic migrant worker? No!
No one's forgotten these inhumanities. It's just that most are too busy trying to better themselves to help their families become a part of the great society. It's a lot easier to gripe and complain about yesterday's hardships than it is to work harder today for a better tomorrow.
Even with the aid of the narrow-minded efforts of misguided media moguls cramming it down our throats, American Negroes will never be truly free, nor will they claim their portion of the American dream, until they cease their own devout prejudice and join in the celebration of a national ``American History Month.''
JONATHAN D. McNEIL
BLUE RIDGE
Will NRA endorse North?
BECAUSE Oliver North's ballistic-vest company advertises in popular gun magazines, and perhaps because the most favorable coverage of his career was in Soldier of Fortune magazine, many gun owners may assume that Col. North is pro-gun. Well, it isn't necessarily so. In fact, it appears to be quite the opposite.
In a Jan. 25 conversation, John Atkinson, a North staffer, told me that Col. North is concerned about ``assault weapons'' that are easily convertible to fully automatic. Nevertheless, he said that he expects Col. North to get the National Rifle Association's endorsement. I asked him: ``Based on what? You haven't encouraged me!''
In contrast, Jim Miller, North's competition for the Republican nomination to challenge Sen. Charles Robb, has sent a mailing to Republicans saying he's against gun control. That's already more than Gov. George Allen did in his entire gubernatorial campaign.
Gun owners should be very concerned that North's staff thinks he has the NRA in the bag. Gun owners have not always been represented well by their paid lobbyists. We should call to make sure that the lobbyists we pay make Miller and North compete for the NRA's endorsement.
WILLIAM D. STUMP II
PULASKI
Columnist must grin and bear it
YOUR COLUMNIST Paxton Davis is mostly wrong, whatever he writes. However, his Jan. 21 Commentary column (``Whole lotta grinnin' in Richmond'') brings new meaning to the term ``sour grapes.''
George Allen won. What's-her-name lost. Eat your heart out, Davis.
DAVID E. SHARRIER
MONETA
by CNB