Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 26, 1994 TAG: 9407220006
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: E2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Marshall Coleman: Since he used to be a Republican, he already has one strike against him. He also once claimed to be pro-life, but has since flip-flopped. Since you can't trust his stand on ``reproductive'' rights, he's obviously not the one.
Douglas Wilder: Although a social liberal, he's proven to be fiscally conservative, and you couldn't possibly endorse a candidate refusing to tax and spend and fund all left-wing programs this newspaper espouses. Scratch Wilder.
Oliver North (shudder at the thought): This candidate obviously has nothing going for him. He is pro-family, pro-life, anti-big government, conservative, Republican - and he claims that God is on his side. If that last alone were true, we know that you certainly don't want to be on the same side as God. Sorry, Ollie.
Charles Robb: Surprise, surprise. Chuckie, Chuckie, he's our man. After all, what other candidate has all the credentials you so passionately endorse - pro-gay rights, pro-abortion, pro-feminist, pro-big government, Clinton rubber-stamper, etc.?
One thing is certain. There will be a clear choice in November. Only one of the contenders is a true conservative, is pro-family, pro-life, anti-big government, and represents the values most Virginians hold dear. In spite of all your rhetoric about the religious right, I believe more Virginians would rather be identified with that group than with the pagan left.
Let's see which candidate the majority of Virginians will choose when they hear the facts, and filter through all of your propaganda. My bet and vote goes to North. Go Ollie!
DON ASSAID ROANOKE
Teachers' raises don't keep pace
I WOULD like to set the record straight. The information in your June 9 news article (``Roanoke schools chief rewarded with a raise'' by staff writer Joel Turner) about the raise given to Roanoke school superintendent Wayne Harris indicated his 4.6 percent raise matched that of the teachers. I wish!
This coming school year will be my 30th year of teaching for the city schools. My raise for next year will be 2.975 percent. For the past four years, I've received less than a 3 percent raise each year, except for the year salaries were frozen and we received no raise!
We veteran teachers also do a good job, but the School Board didn't see fit to reward us in a similar manner.
CAROL YOSAFAT Woodrow Wilson Middle School teacher ROANOKE
Editor's note: The average pay raise for Roanoke city teachers is 4.6 percent, according to the School Board budget. Raises for individual teachers vary.
Politicizing hunting and fishing
SPORTSMEN across Virginia should be upset regarding the appointment by Gov. George Allen of an acting director for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. State law says that the director shall be appointed by the department's governing board.
The individual appointed by Allen is well-qualified, but that's not the issue. I understand the board interviewed candidates just as qualified as the appointee. The governor has politicized the director's position.
Some questions need to be answered if this is left to stand: Will this person answer to the board or to the governor? Will his decisions be based on good natural-resource management, or what's good politically?
Becky Norton Dunlop, Allen's secretary of natural resources, told the board: ``Let's make sure that we are all singing out of the same hymnal.'' The problem with that is the only hymnal provided comes from the governor's office.
In Virginia, we have one of the best game-and-fish departments in the nation because it's been kept free of political influence, and it has a superior staff. I know that board members serve at the pleasure of the governor, but I urge them to do what's best for the future of our natural resources, not what's politically correct. Keep our hunting and fishing free of petty politics.
ELI JONES JR. TAZEWELL
Flood-plain issue up in the air
WHEN FIRST developed, buyers and builders in the Brookside, Sun Valley and Palm Valley area were deceived by Roanoke County government and real-estate agents since the flood plain was never mentioned. Even today, prospective buyers are not informed of possible water problems.
Before the November 1985 flood and afterwards, meetings were held with the Board of Supervisors, engineers and others who were supposedly knowledgeable. Nothing has yet been accomplished to solve present and future problems.
The board promised there would be no more building of any kind in the flood zone, and that no houses would be constructed on the last large tract of land along the creek. However, so-called beach houses on stilts (May 26 news article by staff writer Jan Vertefeuille, ``Stilts idea may not float''), which do not blend in with the area's brick split-level and ranch houses, are now going up. This construction will cause future flood levels to be higher, and also put extra pressure on the overloaded sewer system.
The once-deep Carvin Creek has filled in through the years and now holds much less water. Cleaning, dredging and widening the present shallow creek might help keep flood waters off our property.
Unless something is done soon, the Board of Supervisors' lack of concern and foresight will result in extensive damage, possible injuries, loss of life, and perhaps total destruction of the entire neighborhood if there's another storm the magnitude of Hurricane Juan in 1985!
BETTY H. PROSS ROANOKE
Letting others do all the shooting
IT'S DISGRACEFUL that the Roanoke Times & World-News printed the June 4 news article by staff writers Greg Edwards and Mark Morrison (``5 who joined the Great Crusade'') on Willard Marfleet. He wore the American uniform and was trained to fight and defend, but chose ``not to fire his weapon'' on the bloody beaches of Normandy. However, he certainly didn't mind other American soldiers around him firing their weapons and killing the enemy. Some most likely killed Germans who could have fired on and killed Marfleet. Had he fired and killed one German, that would have been a German not shooting, killing or wounding his fellow Americans there.
It was also stated that Marfleet ``tossed the one hand grenade he carried into a hedgerow, `pin and all.''' I hope no German picked it up and used it to kill any Americans.
Marfleet angers me and probably many veterans of all our wars. He professed to be a non-soldier, but took a soldier's military disability.
American soldiers - lovers of life, too - fought to defend, protect and preserve every American's freedom. We live free today because of their awesome efforts, shed blood and supreme sacrifices. Many of these men also died on those beaches, and in the hedgerows, for Marfleet. Sad, isn't it?
K. LOUISE PADGETT SALEM
Family values can't be legislated
I'M A committed Christian and believe that Jesus Christ is my savior, he died on the cross bearing my sins, and three days later he arose from the grave. I also believe I have a responsibility to be Christ-like in all choices and situations I face. As a human, I fall short of my goal. When I do, I humbly ask his forgiveness. I'm not perfect.
As a Christian, I'm offended to the point of outrage by certain religious activists and conservative columnists who label me a bigoted pagan liberal just because I don't agree with their political views. I don't believe that when I stand before my God that my political leaning will either keep me out of or get me into heaven. Rather, my faith and his grace will decide the matter.
Truly, this country will not enjoy the revival it needs by the power in government, but by the power in each human heart. The return to true family values cannot be legislated by Congress. It must be lived by people - of all political views.
VICKI WRAY ROANOKE
Wondering about author's family tree
IS H. Odell ``Fuzzy'' Minnix a direct descendant of the Brothers Grimm (June 14 commentary, ``Hoax of the '90s: Gamble your way to affluence'')?
JUDY MORETH ROANOKE
Memo: ***CORRECTION***