Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 24, 1994 TAG: 9402240464
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Our objections are that hard-working individuals shouldn't be forced to pay their hard-earned dollars to support lifestyles that cause health problems. These include smoking, alcoholism and drug addiction. Add to that alternative lifestyles that contribute to AIDS.
We're talking about dollars we don't have, to support those who've chosen certain lifestyles. We see this at a time when our president has chosen to have senior citizens bear the brunt of the national debt by an unfair tax on Social Security - which is probably more social than secure.
When are the American people going to wake up and realize that health-care problems aren't going to be solved by our government creating another bureaucracy, but by government regulations on hospitals, doctors and litigants? Those who represent the solid middle class are more than a little upset over the government's continual policies of favoring certain groups of people over others. Surely, this isn't the purpose of government. If others feel that average Americans are being ripped off, we hope they'll not shrug their shoulders and forget it.
PATRICIA P. HAMMOND
ROBERT MAYBIN
ROANOKE
Harvey's record of achievements
GARY Waldo's Feb. 13 letter to the editor (``Harvey's record is shameful'') characterizing Jimmy Harvey's record on Roanoke City Council as ``shameful'' clearly shows the letter writer's bias.
Harvey has a more complete record of public service than his political opposition would have you believe. For example:
Harvey was instrumental in having curb, sidewalks and gutters installed in, up to then, neglected parts of our city, namely Southeast Roanoke.
He championed the much-needed $16 million storm-drainage project for the Williamson Road area.
During Harvey's watch, real-estate tax rates have been reduced from $1.46 to $1.23. This is important because assessments, which aren't controlled by City Council, have continued to rise.
Harvey, as the Hotel Roanoke/Conference Center Project chairman, is involved in the fair and efficient rehabilitation of that important landmark of our city.
Waldo is a member of the Progressive Democratic Coalition. He unsuccessfully tried in December to take over the city Democratic Party. He's also campaign treasurer for Linda Wyatt, Harvey's opposition in the March 1 Democratic primary.
Inaccurate cheap shots such as Waldo's shouldn't go unchallenged. It leads people to think that Harvey's record doesn't include some very important contributions to the city's citizens and working people.
WILLIAM C. COX
ROANOKE
Movie confirms lesson learned
A CHILD doesn't know what symbols mean until they're explained by an adult. They don't see the harm in life except through the wisdom, or lack of wisdom, of others. That's why I believe Stephen Spielberg's ``Schindler's List'' will be an enormous teaching tool for generations to come.
My father never spoke to me about his part in the war until one particular day. As a child, I liked to go through closets and dresser drawers, finding interesting stuff. One day I found Army medals, which I pinned on my shirt. In the drawer beside the medals, I found what I thought was a bed spread, which I put on my bed. It was a huge blood-red cloth with a white circle and a topsy-turvy cross in its center. That evening my father came into my room to discover the Nazi flag on my bed and me with his Bronze Star and Purple Heart pinned to my shirt. He looked as if someone has hit him between his eyes with a two-by-four. He sat down and gave a long sigh. I could see a tear in the corner of his eye.
He explained to me this was a terrible symbol, one that many of his friends had died fighting. They were all good men, just country boys like himself. He had taken the flag from one of the death camps' headquarters where they killed children, just like me. He smiled and said that their only crime was being different, like yourself. Their only possession was a spoon they used to scrape the bottoms of garbage cans, just to get something to eat.
I learned a valuable lesson that day, and it wasn't that I shouldn't go through Mom's and Dad's dresser drawers. The lesson wasn't understood until much later when I watched the movie, ``Schindler's List.'' It was: Question authority, because bad men can become rulers of free societies and lead intelligent people straight into hell. Fear is the way people are motivated into irrational acts.
MICHAEL KNOWLES
CHRISTIANSBURG
Story play reflects media bias
WHY IS IT the liberal media seem to hide real news in the back of the newspaper? Why are articles regarding Foster-gate, White Water-gate and Forni-gate hidden at the back under much clutter?
In the past when the country was under a different administration, these articles would have been sensationalized, blown out of proportion and on page 1. But since one of their own is now in office, the media's real side is seen. Remember this when they report what's "news."
There are news stories that are vital to people of the United States, which tell much about the president's character and the real person that he is. Voters, it's hoped, will remember President Clinton's absence of character during the 1996 election. In fact, that election cannot come too soon.
KEVIN MEADOR
VINTON
by CNB