Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 5, 1994 TAG: 9402070248
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Your series on drunken driving turned up the heat on this issue and may help reduce this pointless waste of innocent lives.
Although I don't agree with your solution to the problem of gun deaths, your motives in spotlighting this issue seem to reflect a wholesome concern for the value of human life.
In view of these well-meaning forays into the public arena, your silence on the pre-eminent human-rights issue of the day is puzzling. As long as you're making our highways and schools safer for the innocent, why not shed some light on the most dangerous place in America? One out of every three Americans who enters this free-fire zone is carted out in dismembered pieces.
Romans once said that it was better to be Nero's dog than his son. It may be said of this era that stray dogs are safer in Roanoke than babies in their mothers' wombs.
Thank you for your concern over the few-dozen highway deaths Roanokers face each year because of impaired drivers. Please expand your coverage and compassion to include the few-thousand infants who die violent deaths in what should be the sanctuary of life.
THOMAS C. SMEDLEY
VINTON
And the rich pay hush money
YOUR JAN. 26 front-page Associated Press article (``Jackson to pay teen accuser'') sends a clear message to anyone in this country as to who goes and who doesn't go to jail, depending on who you are and just how much money you have. Right?
Any ordinary citizen, who's not a well-known celebrity, isn't rich but charged and convicted of child molestation, can expect to go to prison for a long time, with little or no possibility of ever making parole.
However, if you're rich and famous like Michael Jackson, it appears this rule of law doesn't apply. The very fact he's paying this child an enormous sum of money looks like he intends to hush the child up! Aw, come on now!
Our country's entire judicial system is in dire need of a complete overhaul. Equal justice for all? Really now!
RON PENLAND
WYTHEVILLE
Warner speaks for most voters
CONGRATULATIONS to Sen. John Warner for putting his principles ahead of politics. He's a role model for all politicians. The thought of Oliver North as a U.S. senator makes one regret being a Virginian. Sen. Warner has expressed concerns of most voters in the state.
VIRGINIA CURRIE
BLACKSBURG
Put `smart car' money to better use
REGARDING smart roads and smart cars:
I'm astounded that our elected officials view $150 million in seed money as a normal everyday figure (Jan. 27 news article, ``'Smart car' partner is General Motors; Automaker, state try for $150 million grant''). What portion must our state put up and will that even be a true figure?
To put this kind of money in perspective, a loaf of bread costs about $1; milk, $1.50; cereal, $3. How many low-income housing units could be built with that seed money alone, or jobs created for those displaced by automation?
If your interest is not in the above, why don't we take care of existing roads and bridges that are in bad shape instead of looking far into the future with this project?
The cost of repairing electronics in cars today is extremely high. What do you think this future car will cost in repairs? Will the poor majority be able to afford it? It's unlikely.
I found it very amusing that a provision to prevent getting lost will be incorporated into the smart car. Pray tell, are we all considered idiots by our state and federal governments? Do they think we can't f+ireado a map?
What we need are smart politicians, not smart roads.
COLIN BALLARD
BENT MOUNTAIN
North's notoriety not for the South
VIRGINIA used to be known as the ``Mother of Presidents.'' With Ollie North's entry into the senatorial race, our state may become known as the ``Mother of Political Jokes.''
Not since Huey Long has such a rascal put himself up for office. Even fellow Republican Sen. John Warner has ridiculed him. Many who were closest to North in Reagan's White House are now his sharpest critics.
In the face of such criticism, I suggest that he use some of his multimillion-dollar war chest to buy some celebrity endorsements from other technically innocent people. He has a long list to choose from, including Tonya Harding, the Menendez brothers, Michael Jackson, Lorena Bobbitt and Sen. Bob Packwood.
Since North lied to Congress, how effectively could he represent our state in Washington? And how would Virginians know when he's telling us the truth?
Is North the finest citizen that Virginia's GOP can put up to challenge the wounded Sen. Robb? We in the South deserve better than North.
CLARK M. THOMAS
ROANOKE
by CNB