Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 6, 1994 TAG: 9406080004
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The irony of this editorial lies in its timing. On the day of publication, the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce Crime Prevention Committee sponsored the Roanoke Crime Prevention Summit. A group of dedicated, hard-working law-enforcement and criminal-justice professionals from throughout the valley met with private citizens and spent their Saturday exchanging ideas and concerns. Conspicuous by their absence were representatives of the business community and print media.
The following day, your readers were told of a Pizza Hut robbery in Radford, but no coverage was given this crime-prevention effort. Perhaps, in our complacency, we'll only take prevention seriously when our neighborhoods are lost to lawless elements. Surely, it would be wiser to not lose control of our communities in the first place.
Well-attended, properly reported, ongoing efforts by groups and individuals in our valley could be effective and could be truly called ``making a serious effort on crime prevention.''
ARTHUR L. KRAUS
ROANOKE
Public should keep eye on the prize
I'M SICK and tired of reading new allegations involving President Clinton. Every time one thing is cleared up, something else comes up. Those making unfounded allegations against the Clintons are trying to create a cloud of suspicion. They create lies to make citizens lose sight of the true goal.
I read the May 14 article in this newspaper and was sickened by it (``Falwell markets anti-Clinton video'' from the Los Angeles Times). Falwell cannot afford to throw stones at anyone.
You only get unfounded allegations from rich and powerful people who are afraid of losing their power. I'd look deep into the past of those making them. I haven't lost sight of the prize due to the cloud surrounding it.
DANIEL LEWIS
ROANOKE
For the kids' sake, 'put drugs down'
REGARDING the May 20 article in this newspaper, ``A little girl's brutal life ends with a brutal death'' from the Associated Press:
It was a terrible story to read: A little 10-year-old girl taking care of her siblings, not going to school, and sometimes sneaking out at night to play in a playground infested with prostitutes and drug dealers.
When I read stuff like this, it makes me feel less than a man and a father because I was one of those ignorant persons selling drugs, destroying playgrounds, and making tragedies like this one easy to happen.
I say to my brothers who are still selling drugs and who also have children: Take a look at this tragedy and learn from it. It's time to step up and be fathers to our children, to put drugs down and get control of our families to keep tragedies like this from happening in the future.
WILLIAM A. WEST
COEBURN
Clute takes page from Falwell's book
IN A May 24 news article, Sylvia Clute suggests that Sen. Charles Robb traded his vote on the Clarence Thomas nomination for favorable treatment from federal investigators (``Clute suggests Robb deal'' by staff writer Margaret Edds). Clute says she has no proof, but the ``circumstantial evidence is compelling.''
Jerry Falwell is selling a tape for $43 (May 14 article, ``Falwell markets anti-Clinton video'' from the Los Angeles Times) with a lot of allegations about President Clinton, including some vague hints that he might be mixed up with murder. He has no proof, but ``compelling circumstantial evidence.''
I think Clute is a pawn of Falwell and is acting as his agent. I have no proof, but circumstantial evidence is very compelling.
C. JAMES HODGES
Fincastle
Familiarity breeds editorial content
YOUR May 16 editorial (``The Grand Old Voluntary Assn.'') refers to ``horses hindquarters'' and Virginia Republicans.
There is an old adage that ``it takes one to know one.'' And, judging from your blatant liberal, political bias and various editorial contents, there are certainly enough of them around the Roanoke Times & World-News to surely recognize one wherever it may appear.
ROBERT B. BROWN
ABINGDON
Lowered standards would defeat VMI
YOUR May 25 editorial, ``A hue and cry that's hooey,'' indicates once again your lack of understanding as to what Virginia Military Institute is all about.
The last paragraph reads, ``Ours is a wonderful country, the greatest on Earth, and it will be even better when women enjoy fully the opportunities made available to men.'' You imply that women should have access to the ``VMI experience.'' The only way they could survive would be for VMI to lower the physical standards. The end result would defeat VMI's mission and the ``VMI experience'' would be history.
JACK M. BURNETT
VMI, Class of 1945
ROANOKE
by CNB