Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 20, 1994 TAG: 9404200074
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
A lot of abuse comes from families on welfare. Are there workshops to help these people get a trade and find a job, so they won't have to depend on welfare all their lives? As taxpayers, we'd rather pay for a trade-teaching program than to support those on welfare who are able to work. Also, some families not on welfare have very stressful situations at home that lead to child abuse.
Child abuse and neglect are unnecessary when there are so many people who'd like to adopt. But adoption is difficult when there are no laws protecting adoptive parents if biological parents change their minds.
We were to adopt a baby at birth. We met the mother early in her pregnancy. She said she couldn't afford or care for another child. The baby was premature, so guardianship papers were signed four days after birth. For 16 days, my wife learned to care for the baby, feeding and loving it. Even though she didn't give birth, the baby was ours all the same. Two days before the baby was to come home from the hospital, the biological mother said she wanted the baby. She was asked to stay and learn to care for the baby, but she wouldn't. She has two other children who've been taken from her once. She's on welfare, but is capable of working, and so is her husband.
Even though we were only adopting the baby, we loved her from the minute she was born. When she was taken away, it was as if she had died. The emotions were so strong and overwhelming. Some said we were lucky that we had only had her for 16 days. A lot of adoptive parents keep children almost a year before losing them. That year is a bonding period for a child, and they feel the loss too.
How long does a biological mother have to change her mind? According to law, it's one year. She also has nine months before the baby's born to make a rational decision that she can abide by. Lawmakers should look at this law and see how stressful it is for adoptive parents. We don't want to go through this again, nor do we want anyone else to go through it.
DAVID and KATHY BORDWINE
SALTVILLE
Storms' fallout can be put to good use
I'M WRITING to you because I think we can do something with that brush from the ice storms. We could use it for paper or make wooden toys out of it. Plus, we could give it to people who need wood for a fire. That would still be burning it, but at least it will be for a good use. It will still cause pollution in the air, but that's a good reason to pollute the air.
SUSIE SNIDER
SHAWSVILLE
Faith must be backed by action
EVERY so often the Roanoke Times & World-News publishes survey results concerning Americans' religious beliefs. And every time they show that more than 90 percent believe in God (April 3 news article by staff writer Cody Lowe, ``Christians feel spirit of renewal'').
This is interesting, but it doesn't tell the whole story: ``You have faith and believe that there is one God. Excellent! Even demons have faith like that, and it makes them tremble. Do you have to be told, you fool, that faith divorced from action is futile?'' (James 2:19, 20, The Revised English Bible).
If those millions who say they believe in God backed up their belief with good works and commitment to God, we wouldn't have crime and many other problems that our nation is plagued with. Rather, we'd have a paradise on Earth. Of course, that won't happen until the Second Coming, because most choose to live their lives apart from God. But the Bible says many times that some day Christ will return to Earth and set up his kingdom. When that happens, the Earth will be a blissful place in which to live. Oh, happy day!
ROBERT S. McCORMICK JR. a LEXINGTON
Rivers don't need a crash of trash
I LIVE in the Ironto area where the trash train has been put in. I'm against the trash train because of all the harm that it could do to the environment. There's a river nearby, and if the train derailed all the trash would go into the river. Mr. Bower, a farmer who lives nearby, has cows who drink out of a pond and ducks and geese who swim in it.
There are alternatives to the trash train, like recycling.
APRIL PRICE
IRONTO
City Council needs Nelson Harris' ideas
I'D LIKE to offer a word of support for a Roanoke City Council candidate who's shown not only a great deal of knowledge about the city, but who's put forth some interesting and fresh ideas for our future.
Nelson Harris has promoted ideas for renewing Victory Stadium, flood reduction, a citizens' advisory board on parks and recreation, and better marketing of our city's assets and attractions. Harris has shown that he's more than simply proud of Roanoke, he's knowledgeable about it.
We need his substantive ideas and brand of common sense on council. We need those who offer more than cheerleader slogans and campaign buttons. Harris is thinking about our future. I'll vote for him for that reason!
TIM PARRY
ROANOKE
by CNB