Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 23, 1994 TAG: 9406280003
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
My father served during World War II, and was among the Marines who landed in Iwo Jima. I'll always be proud of that and proud of him. My husband protested against the Vietnam War, refusing to serve in a conflict he considered senseless and wicked. I'll always be proud of him and of that, too.
In World War II, we fought enemies who had attacked our country and our citizens. In the Vietnam War, we interfered in another country's fight for the sake of the Pentagon and the hysterics who saw communists under every bed. Eventually, nearly the whole of this country realized it had been a terrible mistake. Those protesting, who had anguished over seeing our young men die needlessly, had been right.
I'm proud of President Clinton for seeing the senselessness and refusing to be a part of that war. I'd prefer to be led by a man who has the courage of his convictions than by one who'll follow blindly any path the government tells him to, so long as a flag is waved in front of him. As for his participating in the ceremonies, how else should that good man honor those who fought there? Someone who has tried to stop a war knows the cost of war very well.
This controversy seems to be part of a larger trend toward thinking in terms of ``us vs. them.'' ``We'' are the right people; ``they'' are the wrong people. ``We'' don't agree with ``them,'' so ``they'' are evil. Even the term Christian has become redefined in narrower terms. To both the left and the right, Christian now seems to mean ``evangelical fundamentalist.''
The first step toward true Christianity is tolerance. Giving our president the benefit of the doubt would be a start.
AMANDA COCKRELL
ROANOKE
North is truly an 'agent of change'
IT'S SAD that the Roanoke Times & World-News will not give Col. Oliver North recognition or credit for having won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.
North is a real ``agent of change'' who'll fight for term limits, lower taxes, a balanced-budget amendment, and make sure Congress lives by the same laws it passes for the electorate. There are too many perks and privileges at taxpayers' expense.
North is right on the issues, and once he has an opportunity to talk to Virginians and run television spots, he'll pick up support of conservative Democrats and independents. I've heard him speak on many occasions, and each time there was a standing-room-only crowd. He's kind, caring and has been through the fire, and he is conditioned to fight the battle for all Virginians in Washington. It's going to be a great victory in November!
MELVIN JOHNSON
ROANOKE
The final judgment is not a court's
WHENEVER abortionists win their lawsuits, they appear on televised newscasts in a very gleeful mood. How they can be so happy to further barbaric acts against the unborn is beyond my understanding. It should be a cause for great mourning.
Abortionists may be happy when they win, but when they appear before God at the last judgment, I believe they'll be greatly grieved, unless they repent and find forgiveness in this life.
ROBERT S. McCORMICK JR.
LEXINGTON
Report discourages sound management
THE MAY 26 Associated Press article (``Forest best for playing, not logging'') doesn't give an accurate picture of the national forests' timber and recreation programs. The article, based on a Wilderness Society report, is biased against national forests' active and balanced management. The data is very questionable.
A check with the Forest Service regional office revealed that the cited national forests returned almost $10 million from timber sales in 1992 to the federal treasury. A Virginia study shows every $1 paid by a logger for timber generates $28 of economic activity, meaning that timber sales in the area generated nearly $284 million of economic benefit. Nearly $40 million was generated in federal and state taxes. The Wilderness Society uses only one part of a three-part Forest Service report in coming to its conclusions. The timber industry provides full-time jobs, good pay and benefits. Forest Service timber revenues and benefits are based on actual figures and valid studies, not guesses.
Tourism and recreation benefits, quoted by the Wilderness Society, are from tourism facilities, such as hotels and Dollywood. National forests have few such facilities. Most wilderness areas, trails, campgrounds, etc., in the cited forests receive little use. Those using them spend little money locally. National forests' greatest recreation use is hunting and fishing. Habitat for game birds and animals is associated with timber sales' improvements.
The sad result of the Wilderness Society's studies is that they lead to restricted and biased management. If one studies natural-resource management, it becomes apparent that national forests should be managed under a balanced, multiple-use approach.
DANIEL B. DEEDS
Chairman, Appalachian Forest Management Group
COVINGTON
From the depths of an author's soul
A FRIEND in the Roanoke Valley who knows I'm a Nikki Giovanni fan sent me a copy of staff writer Kevin Kittredge's May 25 article (Extra section, ``Where's all the rage?''). I appreciated his comments on Giovanni and her recent book, ``Racism 101.''
``Racism 101'' is a book of courage, wisdom and truth, as are all of her books. Books of this nature, written from the heart, are perhaps the most difficult for critics to review. To see in this book ``a loss of power and purpose'' is to underestimate the power of Giovanni's words on the American reader.
To possess the courage to listen to her own consciousness, and to write from the depths of her soul, is perhaps her greatest strength. As in her signature poem, ``Ego Tripping,'' Giovanni's words have the capability to ``fly like a bird in the sky ... '' I look forward to ``Grand Mothers.''
KATHLEEN B. ANGLE
VIRGINIA BEACH
by CNB