Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 18, 1994 TAG: 9405180052
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Mental illnesses have been grossly neglected and misunderstood for too long. Costs of depression alone rank the disease among other major health concerns, including coronary heart disease ($43 billion) and AIDS ($66 billion).
The business community and others concerned about the costs of providing nondiscriminatory mental-health coverage should look closer at the true cost to business for not covering mental-health care. For example, of the $44 billion spent on clinical depression in this country, more than half is borne by employers, according to a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management and the Analysis Group, Inc. of Boston. The study shows employers pay $3,000 per depressed employee through lost days on the job, low worker productivity, hospitalization or even suicide.
These facts cannot be ignored:
Of the 12 million Americans who have clinical depression, 72 percent are in the work place.
Depression strikes during a person's most productive years, between the ages of 25 and 44.
Depression ranks as one of the five top health problems seen by employee-assistance programs.
We should look at ways to reduce costs of mental illnesses rather than debate whether we can afford them. We already pay a high tab by not covering mental-health care for all Americans.
DIANE KELLY
Executive Director
Mental Health Association of Roanoke Valley, Inc.
ROANOKE
Quality parenting is the control factor
THE MAY 3 editorial, ``No safety in county's numbers,'' speaks pointedly to the notable disparity between Roanoke city and Roanoke County rates of teen-age pregnancies, each leading the state in opposite directions. Why so great a difference in bordering communities? The answer wasn't readily forthcoming.
Do we really know why teen-age pregnancy mounts so high in the city and is so low in the county? The real answer is the quality of parenthood. No one can ever achieve better, or reach higher, than he or she knows. In a vacuum of ignorance and superstition, people can go nowhere. All of us look up to our role models, and most of us idealize our parents, even amidst their shortcomings. If there's no parent, or if the existing one is bereft of all insight and idealism, what hope is there for the offspring? Such tragedy is only perpetuated.
Outstanding parenthood is not only greatly needed and wanted on every street today, but it's the most fundamental and basic solution to our most intransigent social problems. It's more than bread and meat, more than public housing; it's one of spiritual values.
Educating young parents in spiritual values is our great need today. If God isn't a reality in controlling our lives, what hope is there for the human race?
JOHN WYNN MYERS
ROANOKE
A divided city is now reunited
CHARLES A. Kennedy (March 16 commentary, ``Slaying fellow sons of Abraham'') recalls how, 30 years ago, he sat on a bench near the armistice line dividing West and East Jerusalem. It was decorated with a biblical quote about the need to ``love God and your neighbor.'' According to him, Israel has been persecuting Arabs and should start heeding the commandment on the bench.
Kennedy failed to explain that the reason he was sitting near an armistice line was due to Arab violence and aggression, not because anything Israel has done. Jerusalem was divided by the Jordanian Arab army, which invaded newborn Israel in 1948 and occupied the eastern part, or Old City, of Jerusalem. That's not what I'd call ``loving your neighbor.''
Instead of making peace with Israel, Jordan's King Hussein insisted on occupying eastern Jerusalem and maintaining the barbed wire and no-man's land that divided the Holy City into two. During Jordan's occupation (1948-1967), Hussein barred Jews from living there, or even visiting their holy places. He sent bulldozers to destroy 58 synagogues in that part of the city. Jordanian authorities even took Jewish tombstones from the Mount of Olives Cemetery to pave latrines in Jordanian Army barracks. Legislation designed to restrict Christian presence in the Old City was also enacted.
If Kennedy were to return today to that bench near the armistice line, he'd find no line at all and the divided city has been reunited, developed and beautified, thanks to Israel. Israel permits free access to the city and all its holy sites to members of all faiths. Even when Arab terrorism compels the Israelis to take extraordinary security measures, access is limited for only brief periods.
MORTON A. KLEIN
National President Zionist Organization of America
NEW YORK, NY
Sex can wait for a marriage vow
THANK YOU for the article on abstinence and the fact that teens are reaching out to other teens about the need to abstain (May 8 Extra front article, ``Pure and proud of it'' by staff writer Beth Macy).
There have been several articles recently in this newspaper on teen pregnancy about programs to reverse the trend. It would have been nice to have the entire article focus on the advantages of abstinence. The youth interviewed all discussed the need to abstain.
Married couples who refrained until their wedding night should have been interviewed instead of Kathryn Haynie, executive director of Planned Parenthood. She felt that sexually active teens would be on a guilt trip from the "True Love Waits" program. What's worse - a teen who feels guilty or a 15-year-old pregnant girl? Haynie also said people should wait until they have a ``meaningful relationship.'' Wrong! God created marriage and sex, in that order. Wait until you take a vow before God to be committed to only one and enjoy the gift that God created.
I hope all teens will see the need to abstain and wait until marriage to share their gift.
KEITH FARMER
ROANOKE
Clute can bring back the honor
MOST people I talk to almost despair thinking about the upcoming Virginia Senate election. For many, the main choices appear limited to a convicted felon and admitted panderer, candidates who've made Virginia the target of jokes, sarcasm and pity. The other candidates don't offer much that's either promising or change-oriented, except for Sylvia Clute.
Maybe it's time for good sense, a quality Clute appears to have in abundance. She has broad experience in law and government, sensible positions and good ideas. Clute is thoughtful, dignified and reasonable, adjectives with a lot of appeal, though they're not frequently associated with the current Senate front-runners.
In addition to her intelligence and leadership, Clute can bring genuine honor to Virginia based on a solid record of real achievement and lifelong commitment to high standards. What a refreshing change!
THOMAS M. SHERMAN
BLACKSBURG
Illegality, not fairness, is the issue
I TAKE issue with Lewis Young's May 3 letter to the editor, ``No damage done to federal retirees.'' He used approximately 250 words to give an example that has absolutely no bearing on the question.
Fairness is not an issue. Many, perhaps most, laws could be debated as to fairness. The fact is a law was broken. I don't recall any state official referring to this matter as other than a matter of taxes illegally collected.
I always thought the U.S. Supreme Court had the final say. However, on two occasions, it's advised Virginia that repayment must be made to federal retirees, but this hasn't been done.
I cannot understand how the state of Virginia can escape making full restitution of taxes illegally collected.
RALPH W. FOSTER
ROANOKE
After-prom parties are a success
THE EXCELLENT April 28 Neighbors article (``After the prom'') by Karen Davis concerning after-the-prom parties created an awareness of the communities' role in the raising of our children. It was timely and very needed.
Two other co-sponsors names weren't mentioned: Mike Slenski and his executive staff at WROV AM/FM radio, and Jill Thomas at Fox 21/27 TV. Their generous air time promoting individual schools' parties and grand-finale events is vital to their success.
SUELLEN HODGES
Co-chair, Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition
ROANOKE
by CNB