Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 13, 1994 TAG: 9402140318
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The fact that conservatives for years emphasized things like the need for a strong family structure, welfare reform and stiffer anti-crime laws, and it resulted only with them being dismissed as advocates of ``meanness'' and ``racism,'' is totally ignored.
``The straw man has been a useful creature throughout history'' writes Ms. Goodman. (Feb. 1 commentary, "C'mon, this isn't feminism.") She should know. She's utilized him often during the Reagan and Bush administrations.
ROBERT H. PHILLIPS SR.
MONETA
Harvey's record is shameful
IN THE March 1 Democratic Party primary election for City Council, we have a choice in the race for the nomination for the two-year council seat between Linda Wyatt and Jimmy Harvey. Roanoke's citizens who vote in that primary should support Ms. Wyatt. Harvey's record is truly shameful!
Why? It was on Harvey's watch that:
City Council voted for, and continued to support, two years' credit for one-year service on pensions for council members and three-for-one pensions for high-level administrators when no other jurisdiction in Virginia had elected and appointed officials with their hands so deep in the cookie jar. It was only when large groups of citizens complained in public about this disgrace that Harvey (and others on City Council) voted to end two-for-one and three-for-one pensions in the future, but not in the past. Harvey, who could have agreed to turn back his ``double'' pension, will collect upon his retirement from council, at taxpayer's expense, two years credit for each of his years on council up to the fall of 1992.
Harvey (and other council members) were guilty of serious lack of proper oversight when former Finance Director Joel Schlanger was running up large personal phone bills and not paying them, and doing extensive personal business on city time.
Harvey (and other council members except Bev Fitzpatrick) made plans in secret session for the possible takeover of Roanoke Gas, our fine local utility with excellent rates and superior service.
Ms. Wyatt will be a council member who will not cut deals in private at the expense of Roanoke's citizens. Vote for her in the March 1 primary.
GARY WALDO
ROANOKE
Don't bet against the underdog yet
SO, OLLIE North states that the Lord healed his aching back. Wonder why he didn't entreat the Savior to redeem him of his compulsion for deceit and various fantasies?
If that boy has indeed been anointed, then who among us should have any undue fear of the hereafter? His counterpart, Chuck Robb, also seems to have a penchant for abandoning the real truth. Some f+imassageo, huh? No coke, huh?
Both of these guys fall somewhat shy of my interpretation of integrity and accountability. They say money talks, and the two are well-heeled in that respect. And Mr. Jim Miller is, no doubt, considered to be an outsider - an also-ran. However, the lowly underdog has been known to give the bookie fits. Therefore, if no skeletons come tumbling from Miller's closet, let's just say that blind party allegiance sometimes results in being blind to what's best for us all.
GENE EVANS
ROANOKE
Lawmakers must act to save lives
AS THE PARENT of a drunken driver's victim, I was gratified to read of the jail term and public-service sentence imposed recently in the Dustin Washburn case (Dec. 16 news article by staff writer David Poole, ``Deadly driver gets 6 years''). However, a jail term doesn't bring back to life Dustin, or my son, or any of the other innocent victims of ``repeat'' drunken drivers.
How many alcohol-related traffic deaths will it take to convince our legislators to support automatic suspension of the driver's license and confiscation of the vehicle for those stopped while driving under the influence - for the first, and all, driving-under-the-influence offenses. If such stringent laws had been in effect a year ago, Dustin, my son Dan, and numerous other productive members of our community would be alive today.
PAULA Y. STETLER
CHRISTIANSBURG
Teaching to suit the teachers
IT MADE my day to read the Jan. 24 letter to the editor (``Don't teach `benefits' of war'' by Cynthia and Frank Munley). They ``were very disturbed'' over their daughter's history teacher at Andrew Lewis ``espousing views to impressionable 7th graders'' about war that they consider wrong. Now Ms. Munley knows how we parents felt waiting in line at her door to voice concerns and objections about her radical anti-war, anti-American views inflicted upon our impressionable 8th graders the year she taught at Craig County High School.
I've seen other pacifist letters by Frank Munley given special space and attention in this newspaper. He and his wife are intelligent, well-educated people with impressive credentials that would convince most everyone, especially themselves, that they do indeed know what they're talking about. I'm just a lowly, undereducated, red-necked country hick. The biggest difference between them and me is that I know that I'm not right about everything.
The Munleys say that children's ``ability to think critically and solve problems is crucial.'' Even I know that they have to have all the information, pro and con, before they can do that. I know they believe this based on what she told us the year she taught our children. But, obviously, they believe in teachers' presenting all the facts except in regard to war, guns and the environment. Then, it's don't tell students facts that contradict what the Munleys believe in.
JEANETTE YOUNG
NEW CASTLE
Turkish-Americans want to be accepted
I PERSONALLY applaud the Jan. 16 ground-breaking Parade magazine article concerning Arab-Americans. I hope the article will also bring into light other groups who've struggled for mainstream acceptance.
My group, Turkish-Americans, have also been the target of cruel and unrealistic stereotypes in the media, including the likes of motion pictures such as ``Midnight Express.'' Both Arabs and Turks have been perceived as being violent and barbaric races, simply because of historical inaccuracies and religious prejudices toward Islam - the primary religion practiced in Turkey and Arab nations. Turkey is considered a favorite destination among Western European travelers, and Turkish-Americans have been very successful in America despite limited recognition. They've also made it into the ranks of professional athletics (football quarterback Bernie Kosar of the Dallas Cowboys, for example) and the entertainment field (multibillionaire Ahmet Ertegun, head of Atlantic Records).
I've lived in Southwest Virginia for all of my 23 years of life, yet I've had to consistently strive for ethnic acceptance. I hope that positive statements like those made in that article continue for all races who've dealt with unfair media portrayals.
ATTILA GOKBUDAK
RADFORD
Thanks to all those truck drivers
AFTER READING the editorial section of the Roanoke Times & World-News recently, I feel it's my duty to speak up on behalf of the profession of truck drivers. I've been one for 16 years.
The Jan. 25 editorial (``No more radar detectors'') concerning the banning of radar detectors is one item that I'd like to address. Banning them will not slow trucks any more than putting a waiting period on handguns or banning assault weapons will slow crime. Truckers will still have to meet their scheduled arrival times so Americans are able to receive fresh produce, fresh meats and 95 percent of their household goods on time.
In the 16 years I've driven a tractor-trailer, I once owned a radar detector and received more speeding citations while owning one than I have in the past four years while not owning one. I still drive as safely and as fast as I need or want to.
I wish people would stop degrading truckers. Maybe Americans should stop and think what it would be like if all truckers (union, company and owner-operators) would shut down for two weeks.
I'd also like to comment on Marvin Bratton's Jan. 22 letter to the editor, ``Truck traffic makes I-81 unsafe.'' I wish freight would be put back on trains. Then, people would complain about the hour or two wait at the railroad companies. How would freight get to the stores from the rail? People could stand in lines and buy their needs right off the rail cars. This would eliminate the high costs of retailers.
If Bratton doesn't like his car splashed by one of those hellbent truck drivers, maybe he should stay off I-81 and stay on Route 11.
Fellow Americans, we need to stop and thank all truck drivers for a job well done. Have a great day!
JAMES R. KEITH
SALEM
by CNB