Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 9, 1994 TAG: 9405100015
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Abortion nonexistent? It's common knowledge that thousands of women found ways to get abortions back then. Some safe; some unsafe. Some legal; many illegal and risky. In 1968, a full five years before the legalization of abortion, an estimated 1 million American women had abortions.
Regarding the 200 percent increase in the birth rate, her figures are misleading because they only refer to ``unmarried teens.'' In 1960, if you were pregnant and unmarried, chances are you got married by the time you gave birth. Shotgun weddings are rare today. So comparing statistics between unmarried teens in the '60s and the '90s presents a distorted view.
If you look instead at all teen pregnancies, the numbers tell a different story. Even though the U.S. population has greatly increased since 1960, the number of teen births is actually lower today. In 1960, there were 598,746 teen births. In 1991, there were 531,591 teen births. And much to the surprise of those opposing family-life education, the teen birth rate in America peaked in 1957, when sex education was nonexistent in the classroom as well as many homes.
LINDA APPEL
ROANOKE
A journalistic focus on the Golden Rule
I COMMEND Cody Lowe and this newspaper for helping a gay couple search for the open arms of Christian fellowship (March 13 ``The Back Pew'' by Cody Lowe, ``Gay's letter challenges churches'').
This issue and the earlier one on the Jesus Seminar are among other efforts by Lowe to bring common sense, an open mind and a strong religious foundation to the often-bitter debate over religious beliefs. In a world of rapid change and growing diversity, we need journalists like him.
Approvals of the idea of a religious home for the gay couple were disappointing in their sparsity - about 20 percent (April 10 ``The Back Pew'' by Cody Lowe, ``Anonymous gay couple: Readers respond to couple's search for Christian fellowship''). But I suppose we should be happy that it wasn't much weaker, considering the poison coming from too many replying to Lowe's invitation to write.
How easily some ignore the Golden Rule and forget the basic principles demonstrated by the good Samaritan, not to speak of the son of God. When they harbor hatred, they conveniently remember only the words of an angry God, never those of Jesus. Their hatred is of what they don't know, and in their ignorance what they fear.
CLAYTON BRADDOCK
NEWPORT
Fast needs to quit carping
STEVE Fast is making a serious error in his campaign for Congress by attacking Congressman Rick Boucher's record. The public is far more interested in knowing what a candidate would do to advance this region's economy, improve education, give us better roads and improve the quality of our lives than in knowing why that candidate doesn't like his opponent.
If Fast wants to be taken seriously, he'd better shape up. He's made a very poor impression to date by his carping, complaining and negative attitude.
TONYA CORVIN
ABINGDON
Some showed Nixon no respect
TO ALL who couldn't give President Richard Nixon one day's peace and respect:
The words Jesus spoke to the self-righteous Pharisees seem very appropriate: ``He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.'' (John 8:7).
LORI A. HOOKER
VINTON
Is VDOT fudging on goals for U.S. 58?
THE VIRGINIA Department of Transportation strikes again!
I read the April 18 news article (``Sweet struggle'' by staff writer Kevin Kittredge) about the plight of Nancy Galli's fudge industry, conceivably a benefactor and promoter of the ``We Have It Made In Virginia'' campaign. According to the article, she's been forced to render virtually ineffectual her primary means of advertising: ``VDOT workers noticed the sign ... '' four months after it appeared. Does this indicate our VDOT administrators spend more time politicking than efficiently enforcing their own ordinances?
Citizens interested in, or connected with, the ``improve U.S. 58 and destroy a forest'' project through the Mt. Rogers national recreation area south of here should find the irony almost laughable. But the reality isn't funny.
Galli lost business and had to dismiss employees due to VDOT's sloppy ordinance enforcement. More significantly, numerous legislators have held the U.S. 58 Alternative 2A project close to their hearts in terms of the employment opportunities and economic development it will bring to Smyth County and surrounding regions. Galli's business serves the nation and Canada, indicating significant income, economic benefit and positive public relations for Virginia - the very results VDOT and legislators forecast in routing U.S. 58 through the Jefferson National Forest. VDOT's actions on this do not indicate the least support for increased economic activity along U.S. 58.
I can't help wondering at the stark contrast: VDOT enforcing this ordinance based on the federal Highway Beautification Act while irreparably damaging land in the vicinity of the Appalachian Trail with its plans for Mt. Rogers.
I wish Ms. Galli the best of luck in fighting for her business.
MAXIANE MOODY
ROANOKE
Lost-cause symbol on losing side again
``LAND of the free and the home of the brave.'' This applies to the Stars and Stripes, but apparently not to the Stars and Bars. The lost-cause symbol isn't intended to be forced on any group of people, but it is reminiscent of feelings of thousands who felt threatened by antagonistic forces.
Both my grandfathers were Confederate veterans who were hard-working; neither owned slaves. There were approximately 20 veterans living in my town when I was young, and all were working men, not slaveholders.
Practically all Southerners admit that slavery and segregation were wrong, but it isn't, and wasn't, confined to the South. President Franklin Roosevelt's mother was opposed to Eleanor's attempt to integrate the White House staff. Cartoonist Bill Mauldin, in his book ``Back Home,'' writes: ``When I first started doing a lot of cartoons about Negroes and bigotry, I was warned by the syndicate that I would probably lose most of my Southern circulation. I think it is funny as hell that while I lost some of my Southern papers, the biggest number of angry and vicious letters I received, and the most cancellations I got, were from places far north of the Mason-Dixon line.''
More than likely, German and Japanese flags flying over their respective buildings in the United States don't inspire joy by Jews or Bataan Death March survivors, but I haven't heard of any organized effort to have them removed.
Let's hope the courts don't demand the destruction of the statues or graves of Lee and Jackson in Lexington.
CLAYTON HAMMOND
BUENA VISTA
Congress launched North's candidacy
DURING the Iran-Contra hearings, Congressman Jack Brooks asked Oliver North if he'd ever helped draft a plan to suspend the U.S. Constitution. Brooks was silenced by Sen. Daniel Inouye who said the subject dealt with national security and questions regarding the matter could be brought up during a closed-door session. Inouye, playing North's antagonist on television, was meticulous in protecting North from being publicly associated with such ``national security'' matters as drug-smuggling and imposition of martial law. Candidate North, monstrous offspring of those hearings, was thus born, and it was Inouye who pulled him out.
I don't think Americans are well-served by the ridiculous charade of one thoroughly rotten branch of the federal government investigating another. Those hearings demonstrated that the political establishment sees the Constitution as an encumbrance. We saw this under Bush, and we're seeing it now under Clinton. It would probably be wise to oust Robb and countless other political hacks who, either by accident or design, are ruining this nation. But let's be cautious in choosing their replacements.
MICHAEL S. BARBER
ROANOKE
by CNB