Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 25, 1994 TAG: 9407220005
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Unfortunately, communes came under fire as occultish, sinful and derelict. Some of them did earn those descriptive titles.
Nevertheless, I'm reminded of the initial concept in light of our recent winter struggle (power failures, loss of water, health threats, floods). Many were uncomfortable for days and days. But, boy, what a reminder to re-think priorities - or, rather, to be forced to stop and think about homelessness, freezing cold, government, arrogance, poverty, television, telephones, waste, ignorance.
I'm so pleased in this increasingly selfish nation to belong to a cultural heritage that still urges us to reach out to each other when the chips are down. May we be daily reminded of what ``down there'' can possibly become. May we all schedule into our busy time a commitment to one moment, hour, day, phone call or letter to voluntarily reach out to each other, to take care of our land and critters, to protect our natural resources, and maybe just take a nature walk to be humbled.
SARA EMILY BLACKSBURG
North is right for the times
I TAKE issue with comments in your June 7 editorial on Oliver North (``Oliver North, Republican''). He didn't ``take to new depths the insider behavior against which he rails.'' Those depths were reached by Ehrlichman and Haldeman 20 years ago. They voluntarily committed criminal acts in dedication to a man they regarded more highly than our Constitution.
North was a Marine under orders, and a military officer obeys his superiors. When they give him a job, he responds with total commitment to their authority. North is the answer to the decline of values that you say he's an example of. He's been there, has paid the price, and knows what basic areas need changing when he gets to the Senate. He's the man for such a time as this!
ROGER BUSH CLIFTON FORG
'It feels like a real fight'
THE ROAD to decadence and ruin lies in trying to appease the insatiable appetite of the godless. For regardless of what we say, think or do, ultimate truth remains: Each of us is held responsible and accountable.
William James put it this way: ``If this life is not a real fight, in which something is eternally gained for the universe by success, it is no better than a game of private theatricals from which one may withdraw at will. But it feels like a real fight.''
SCOTT DAVIS SALEM
Workers need not settle for peanuts
REGARDING Stephen Hampton's June 8 letter to the editor, ``Blowing hot air about good jobs'':
The real reason Roanoke will never attract anything but $5-per-hour jobs is the hour-wage mentality that's widespread among Roanoke's working people. They're locked into a false sense of security that hourly wages, large or small, mean something sure or permanent. Just ask the legions of now-unemployed workers at General Motors, IBM, Radford Arsenal, etc., about job security. Somehow local folks seem to think that it's better to get small hourly wages for an effort vs. high earnings for a result.
Get smart! You can't get a lot for a little. Try for a change a job paying you big earnings for big results, as in commission sales or some other type of risk-equals-reward employment. Quit whining ``poor me,'' and signing up for unemployment and assorted freebies. Stand tall and refuse to be a drain on the system, but rather be a contributor.
WILLIAM C. COSTEN MONET
Kids need a little praise, please
I'M A William Fleming High School student, and I have searched this newspaper for any news articles about local graduation ceremonies. I looked in the June 18 Virginia section, and was taken back by the Associated Press article entitled ``Graduates cheer burglar at ceremony.'' When I started to read the article, I found out why it was written. You printed an article about a graduation on the other side of the state just because controversy was involved. The valedictorian had pleaded guilty to armed burglary and grand larceny.
I was present at William Fleming's graduation. It was a very impressive ceremony, but this was apparently not newsworthy in the media's eye.
Why does this newspaper print articles about ``fallen angels'' while choosing not to print stories about successes and achievements of teen-agers? Is this newspaper telling the public that the only way to get attention or to get noticed is to do something wrong? How can we, as students, be expected or be motivated to do what's right and succeed when notice is only taken when we make mistakes? A little praise every once in awhile can go a long way.
AMY R. JOHNSON ROANOKE
by CNB