Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 28, 1994 TAG: 9403010002
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Instead of more power lines, as one letter-writer recently suggested, what we need is more power diversity. Those with woodstoves, gas stoves, springs or hard water pumps, alternative energy sources or backups fared far better during storms than those plugged into Appalachian Power Co. alone.
Maybe the days of old weren't so backward as we like to think. What's really backward is to be so dependent on one outside power source for our basic needs - one that can vanish with the wink of an eye. Our ancestors were more independent and resourceful than that, and lived in a much less polluted world.
In response to letter-writer John C. Leake who blasted Apco for not keeping trees free from electric lines (Feb. 18, ``Utility managers failed''): I wouldn't want to encourage Apco to use more herbicides than it already does. Studies prove these chemicals do find their way to our water supply. I'm not keen to drink these poisons.
Why not arrange burying these lines, as the telephone company often does? We could leave trees intact, lines wouldn't be affected by weather, and people would be safer, as this practice would minimize the electro-magnetic radiating fields these lines create. We've been warned to avoid these fields by the Environmental Protection Agency.
CHRIS FARRELL
FLOYD
Compensate also the Jewish refugees
THE REFUGEE problem is not one-sided. There were 800,000 Jews who exited the Arab countries in 1948, leaving behind billions of dollars worth of property. There is not only an Arab refugee problem. There's a bona fide exchange of populations between Israel and the Arab states.
These facts are largely unknown. Arab propaganda has been guilty of the myth that Israel is a country of European Jews who displaced a native population. In fact, Jewish communities in the Middle East can trace their existence in the countries back 2,500 years. Most Palestinian Arabs immigrated to the land of Israel from neighboring countries, drawn by employment opportunities established by the Israeli Jews.
The number of Jews who left the Arab countries for Israel is larger than all the Arabs who ever departed Israel and the administered territories in the Arab-Israeli wars.
Jewish refugees never received assistance from the international community. Their absorption was financed by the Israeli government and Jewish contributions from abroad.
In contrast, U.N. agencies alone have spent more than $4 billion on the Arab refugees, of which the Arab states contributed less than 5 percent.
If peace in the region is to be based on justice, it must include compensation for Jews who fled Arab countries.
ALVIN W. FINESTONE
CLIFTON FORGE
It's a lie to say North lied
THE DOUBLE standard applied by the media and members of the Washington establishment has reached new heights. As Oliver North recently made himself a candidate for the Senate, the talking heads on television sprang to life to condemn him. An ever-present theme of their spin was the supposed fact that he lied to Congress.
This is complete garbage. Besides the fact that North was exonerated of all charges against him by the court, he never lied. The accusation stems from a meeting, held well before the now-infamous hearings, in the White House situation room with several Congress members who asked North questions he wasn't authorized to answer. He dodged, omitted and didn't volunteer information. The fact is, however, that he didn't lie.
What really upsets me is that an honest North is subjected to this kind of treatment while proven and consistent liars like Bill Clinton and Chuck Robb go unmolested. Clinton lied about draft dodging, smoking pot, a middle-class tax cut, a gas tax, etc.
The media constantly whine about issueless campaigns waged in the mud. They claim to want candidates with a positive message and new ideas. Well, they finally have one - Ollie North!
MARK STRONG
LEXINGTON
A sometimes thankless job
AS A SPOUSE of an Appalachian Power Co. employee, it distresses me greatly to hear some berate and complain about interruption and restoration of power during the recent ice storm.
Sure, it's a great inconvenience. And, yes, I agree, it's no fun to be stranded at home with no power, heat or water. But with patience, preparation and ingenuity, these times can be made tolerable.
I don't pretend to know all that restoring electrical service entails, but I do know it's not as easy as flipping a switch. Unfortunately, it seems that many have this simplistic view of restoring power and, therefore, are short on patience when it comes to their individual needs.
How often we take electricity for granted, and how often we also take for granted the many dedicated men and women whose job it is to keep that power coming.
Perhaps those who are quick to criticize fail to realize that these employees work many long hours under adverse conditions to restore power, while their own families suffer without power in their homes as well.
Shame on those who grumbled about Apco crews stopping to eat a meal! While there'll always be those who are impatient and demanding, there are many more enlightened customers who've expressed understanding, appreciation and praise for the fine way in which a sometimes thankless job was performed.
JENNY STIFF
ROANOKE
Of dime-store specs and posies
REGARDING Edward R. Spruell's Feb. 8 commentary on his five-and-dime memories walking down memory lane while he was at Woolworth's at Towers (``Of Big Chiefs and parakeets''):
While reading his commentary, I started to go down memory lane with him - until I read the paragraph about walking past rows of store-bought glasses that hang from old women's necks. I bought a pair of those glasses when I turned 40 years old, and 40 years old doesn't make an old woman.
About artificial flowers Spruell says go in less-than-respectable graveyards:
My husband (who passed away three years ago at age 46) is buried in a very respectable graveyard, and I place artificial flowers on his gravesite so it will look beautiful during winter, in memory of him.
I hope Spruell's eyesight doesn't go bad and, when his time comes, that's he's not buried in a less-than-respectable graveyard looking up at artificial azaleas and petunias. I wouldn't want him to turn over in his grave at anything artificial.
KATHY GEY
ROANOKE
Second term on the way?
I ENJOYED the Feb. 8 editorial entitled ``Let governors try for 2nd terms.'' I agree with your comments completely.
I introduced Senate Joint Resolution No. 1, which, if approved twice by the legislature and then by the voters, would let governors run for the second term. This measure is currently being carried over in the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee. I expect it will be voted out next year.
MADISON E. MARYE
Senator, 39th District
SHAWSVILLE
Wildlife Center gets no state funds
IN RESPONSE to the Feb. 8 letter to the editor by Sharon H. Mullen (``Don't let ego destroy an animal'') concerning Ed Clark, director of the Wildlife Center of Virginia, and the ``cute cub'' incident:
The Wildlife Center receives no state funding. It depends solely on gifts and contributions, so letters like hers don't help its cause. Why shouldn't it want to collect $1,000 for the cub, if a responsible home can be found for it? It can be quite costly and put a strain on the center's tight budget to maintain an animal like that. Besides, a fee like this might ensure that a trusted person would adopt it. At the Wildlife Center, they've seen too many cases where people think they want to keep such animals, and later find that it's just too much trouble and too expensive. Then the animals really suffer.
Ed Clark and the center's staff are among the most caring and concerned people for animals and our environment that I've ever known. They freely donate many hours of their time and talents every year.
EARLINE H. REID
PENHOOK
by CNB