Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 27, 1994 TAG: 9405310116
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
A news article in The Washington Post quoted Boucher as saying it appeared likely that a cigarette tax would pass Congress as part of the overall health-care reform bill. Fast incorrectly assumed that because Boucher said he thought something would pass Congress that he necessarily supported it. As a math professor, he should know this faulty reasoning doesn't add up.
Boucher adamantly opposes any attempt to raise taxes on tobacco as a means of financing health-care reform, and Fast knows this. It's a shame he seems willing to say or do anything in his first attempt at public office.
Boucher is a true friend of Southwest Virginia's tobacco farmers and would never do anything to jeopardize an industry vital to our region's economy. Just last year, he sponsored legislation requiring cigarette manufacturers to obtain 90 percent of the burley and flue-cured tobacco they use in manufacturing cigarettes in the United States from U.S. farmers, regardless of point of sale. The 90 percent minimum-purchase requirement became effective this year and helps our tobacco farmers compete with foreign-grown tobacco.
MARK R. GRAHAM
ABINGDON
Don't drown out parents' voices
I APPLAUD your May 8 Extra section article, ``Pure - and proud of it'' by staff writer Beth Macy. It's great to see intelligent young men and women thinking for themselves and not falling prey to negative peer pressure. They should be commended for having the guts to stand up for their moral values. It's encouraging to see this.
One disappointing portion of your article was the comment by Planned Parenthood's executive director, Kathryn Haynie. As an employee of an organization that derives funding from abortionists, condom sales and other contraception forms, she's presumably against anything that decreases their bottom line.
The national push to have abstinence taught in our public and private schools comes from concerned parents. We don't care about making money, but we do care about our children. The article was outstanding, except for your insistence on including the same old tired lines from an organization fighting for its existence.
Would it be better to separate the two, giving Planned Parenthood its own separate article? I'm sure some parents (according to Planned Parenthood) believe their teens just can't control their emotions, and these parents would be happy to have their pictures and quotes in your newspaper. Parents who believe our children have morals and want to know it's OK to abstain would like to have our voices heard. And we don't need an employee of an organization that makes money on propaganda against our teens correcting us.
BARBARA TURNER
ROANOKE
Virgil Goode, a true Virginian
CHARLES Robb, who isn't a true Virginian, was born in Arizona where he lived until he joined the Marines. When stationed in the nation's capital, he met his wife, the daughter of President Lyndon Johnson. This connection, with its many contacts and great wealth, was responsible for him being elected as Virginia's governor, and later as a U.S. senator.
In his own statement, Robb said that some of his conduct when governor wasn't appropriate for a married man. We might add that it wasn't appropriate for the governor of Virginia.
To give voters a better choice, state Sen. Virgil Goode is a candidate for the Democratic nomination to the U.S. Senate. He's a native Virginian, a man of intelligence and integrity. If he wins the nomination and the November election, we can count on him to give Virginia the same competent representation and loyalty he's given his district as a member of the General Assembly.
ERMINIE K. WRIGHT
ROANOKE
Students get a taste of local government
STAFF writer Joel Turner's May 17 news article, ``Roanoke students witness government at work,'' was greatly appreciated. It confirms the many positive activities that city students and city government personnel are pursuing.
A highlight of Student Government Day was the opportunity for students to ask questions directly to City Manager Bob Herbert, School Superintendent Wayne Harris and Mayor David Bowers.
Thanks go to Marion V. Howard and her Office of Youth staff for sponsoring, coordinating and financing the program and a delicious luncheon.
MARJORIE S. SMITHEY
Youth Service Citizen Board Member
ROANOKE
Arts groups will miss Victoria Bond
I WAS extremely sorry to read about Victoria Bond's impending resignation (May 13 news article by staff writer Jeff DeBell, ``Conductor ready to follow a different drummer''). I remember that during her first concert she conducted without a score in front, or a rail behind. And she levitated! She not only revitalized the Roanoke Symphony, but galvanized all the arts.
Artemis had the honor, in 1987, of sponsoring the world-premiere performance of Bond's jazz composition ``Scat'' at its 10th annual celebration, Artistic License. A year later, she also led the Roanoke Symphony Quintet in ``The Poetics of Music,'' a poetry/music performance co-designed and cosponsored by Artemis and the Roanoke Symphony, and which later toured some of the schools.
As if that weren't enough, she also played cocktail music for us - on a harpsichord! In addition, she's been a patron for many years and contributed poetry (selected through a blind editing process) to the Artemis journal.
I'm sure many other art organizations will feel her loss as well.
ANN WEINSTEIN
Artemis, Past President
ROANOKE
Vote of confidence for Warner, Goode
REGARDING Donald R. Hagerman's May 17 letter to the editor, ``North will fight battle for Virginia'':
I'm also a conservative who supported President Reagan for both of his terms of office. I also supported John Warner in the past. Unlike Hagerman, I'll continue to support Warner as he seems to be the only Republican in sight who can be depended on to do what's right for Virginians, regardless of the political consequences.
I saw an epitaph on a TV show recently that said, ``Loyalty above all except honor.'' The Nazi said, ``I was only obeying orders.'' Col. Oliver North said, ``I was protecting my president.'' I see the loyalty. Where's the honor?
In Warner, Virginia has a senator whose accomplishments make us proud. North's accomplishments make us sad that a valiant soldier could sink so far.
I will change a habit of many years and not vote Republican in this next senatorial election. Instead, I'll vote for Virgil Goode of Rocky Mount, a conservative and a man whose integrity will never be in doubt.
JAMES H. BATEMAN JR.
ROCKY MOUNT
It was the music that really mattered
REGARDING the May 12 news article by staff writer Mark Morrison, ``Grime - er, grunge - doesn't pay'':
The band, Alchemy, was chosen by students for its type of music, not its type of dress. Therefore, the band should be paid in full.
Who made the decision that it was so important to ruin a special prom night for the kids? Teen-agers have enough problems, so wouldn't it have been simple for officials to put themselves in the year 1994, and not judge band members on their naked legs?
It's ridiculous to beat a working-class band out of its hard-earned pay. Band members are just trying to make a living, and isn't that what we need to teach teen-agers - to do their best and treat others the way they would want to be treated?
Kids will long remember the stink that was made over the bare legs, rather than memories they should have been able to make by enjoying the band. Which is really more important?
WANDA HARTBERGER
BLUE RIDGE
by CNB