Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 22, 1994 TAG: 9404230005
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
I agree that teaching our children abstinence is essential as a defense against AIDS and pregnancy. However, by totally ignoring the fact that they're having sex, we're showing them disrespect as individuals with feelings. By teaching safer sex practices and giving out condoms, we aren't saying, ``Go ahead, have fun.'' What we're saying, if we're good communicators, is, ``I don't approve of your activities, but I'd rather you be protected than dead.''
The old way of loving is simply a falsehood. People have always had sex before the knot is tied. And by focusing on marriage, we leave out those who aren't engaged in traditional lifestyles, including lesbians and gays, cohabiting heterosexual couples, etc. We need to remember that everyone has his or her own lifestyle, as well as his or her own moral views.
By taxing condoms, a young man or woman may find that the price is too far out of their reach and not buy them. This doesn't mean they won't have sex; it simply means they'll probably have sex without condoms. Taxing cigarettes is different. If you can't buy the pack, you can't smoke. It's true that the only safe sex is no sex, or abstinence. This is why most educators are now calling it safer sex.
STEPHANIE HART BLACKSBURG
Virginia has other words and music
A LETTER to the editor by Frank Williams entitled ``Hilarious `history' of the state song'' was published on April 1. I'd like to share some related information.
As a library employee, I'm in the process of preparing a review of the ``Encyclopedia of Virginia.'' Page 8 of this particular reference book is subtitled ``State Song.'' To my surprise, three compositions are noted as being used in ``the Commonwealth at public gatherings or patriotic occasions.'' James Bland's ``Carry Me Back to Old Virginia'' is described as ``the most familiar and best-loved song dealing with Virginia.''
Another composition that's ``used in some parts'' of the state is ``Call of Virginia,'' words by Lillian Smith and music by B.T. Gilmer. Still another ``very popular and widely used'' composition is ``Old Virginia,'' words by Dr. John W. Wayland and music by Will H. Ruebush.
In light of the above information, perhaps residents who find the wording to ``Carry Me Back to Old Virginia'' in poor taste should investigate the lyrics to Virginia's other state songs.
TINA VAUGHN CHRISTIANSBURG
Thinking Virginians will 'go North'
ATTENTION all Virginians who are able to think for themselves. We don't need the Roanoke Times & World-News or John Warner telling us how to vote.
Some news articles published by this newspaper are political, not necessarily news items.
As for Warner, Liz Taylor got rid of him years ago. We're slow catching on.
Oliver North was never charged with perjury. Those calling him a liar should take personal inventory.
Students from the University of Virginia may not be as gullible as Warner might think (March 31 news article by staff writer Margaret Edds, ``Warner says `other' would win'').
It's been a cold winter, but the correct way to go is North.
ZELDA WOODSON ROANOKE
Law-enforcement: matter of priorities
MOMENTS before I arrived at the City Market Building where I was to dine with my husband, brother and my two small children, a prostitute and wino discussed business on the front stoop, in broad daylight and in front of my brother. He was amazed at the sight.
When we left 45 minutes later, who would come pulling up in his little steel steed but the king of Roanoke ticket writers, Officer Cassell. My sense of justice is somewhat disturbed. Who's the bigger offender, a prostitute or parking violator? Or do the Billy Laynes deserve a bigger break in this world than the pregnant woman with two small children who got multiple parking tickets (April 2 news article by staff writer Ron Brown, ``She wouldn't be in such a thicket if only she'd paid up her tickets'')?
I'm not saying let the parking violator off. People should be responsible for their actions. But I'm not sure that we're directing our law-enforcement efforts in the matter of priorities.
CATHERINE T. BENSON ROANOKE
Could Warner say 'I like Ike'?
GEORGE Orwell, in his novel ``1984,'' had a recurring theme: ``He who controls the past controls the future.''
Sen. John Warner, Virginia's liberal Republican senator, stated that Lt. Col. Oliver North is unfit to serve in the U.S. Senate because he misled the Senate about Iran-Contra, or covert operations. Budget Director Jim Miller calls North ``a fraud.'' At one time, when North was making President Reagan look good with such things as the Achille Lauro affair, Grenada and the Libyan bombing, Reagan called him ``a national hero.'' Warner and Miller have short memories.
I recall when another Republican war hero misled the Senate, the media and the world. There was quite a stir in this country about trust, or the lack of. I'm referring to President Dwight David Eisenhower and the downing of the U.S. spy plane, or the U-2 affair. Eisenhower flat-out lied when he said the plane that crashed on May 1, 1960, was a weather-research plane that had flown off course into Soviet airspace, going down near Sverdlovsk, Russia. Of course, Eisenhower didn't know the Soviet empire had captured alive Francis Gary Powers and had also taken the photo-reconnaissance equipment intact. Powers' poison needle was also found, as were gold coins and tape recordings of Soviet radar signals. I guess Warner would deem Eisenhower unfit for office for having misled, or lied, to protect a covert operation.
MARSHALL A. COBURN NARROWS
Let's not return to McCarthyism
IN A March 30 letter to the editor by Dave Hillis (``Doonesbury ought to be dropped''), it was suggested that ``Doonesbury'' be dropped from the Roanoke Times & World-News. How can anyone actually suggest such a thing?
To begin with, it was said the strip reflects a ``far-left secular and socialist mind-set,'' which is simply the current phrase for communism. Have we yet again regressed to the close-minded ignorance of the McCarthy years? Have we as Americans begun to label every opposing viewpoint as evil and therefore communist? Censorship's a disgusting and hideous atrocity.
Perhaps one day people, as a whole, will grow up and shed the ignorant philosophies that have marked such societies as Nazi Germany and Communist Russia.
MATT LONG ROANOKE
Miller is GOP's best shot at Senate
THE ONLY person who's savaging the Republican Party is Oliver North. Contrary to opinions of Richard Alvarez (March 28 commentary, ``Miller is savaging the Republican Party''), Jim Miller is the only Republican who's poised to beat the liberal incumbent Chuck Robb.
According to a recent Mason-Dixon poll, Miller is tied with Robb. North is in the same spot in the poll where he's been since before his candidacy announcement in January - 17 points behind Robb. Virginians have already made up their mind about North, and 50 percent of them have a negative opinion. North cannot win because people simply don't trust him.
LAWRENCE D. PROCISE HAMPDEN-SYDNEY
Parole chief isn't above the law
``I'VE SPENT a good part of my life putting criminals behind bars, and I'm not inclined to be letting people out at the first possible moment some law might say they can get out,'' said John Metzger III, the new head of Virginia's Parole Board. (April 5 news article by staff writer Michael Stowe, ``Career enforcer plans hard line at Parole Board helm.'')
That's what we need - more people in corrections and law enforcement who aren't concerned with the law. It certainly seems he (like most criminals) isn't concerned about some silly law that doesn't fit his own personal policy.
TOM VanNORTWICK HENRY
by CNB