Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 27, 1994 TAG: 9407230002
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The cries from these people aren't heard or supported by all. I wonder how loud their cries would be and how much support they would have if a petition were circulated to remove teachings of the Bible from the shelves of libraries and bookstores?
I cannot understand the thinking of people who would exclude one book, and demand that all other books that suit their thinking remain on the shelves.
When one group decides to build a bonfire with books they find objectionable to them and theirs, how long will the fire burn until they have to raid the shelves for more books to keep their fire going?
There's no such thing as freedom of speech unless there's freedom to read all that's been written, so that one may speak on all that he or she approves or disapproves.
``Children Know, Instinctive Taught, the Friend or Foe'' - Sir Walter Scott. If children have good morals taught in the home and houses of worship, there need be no fear of what they may read in the public library.
THADDEUS RIDDLE BLACKSBURG
Rescuing Vietnam's living casualties
THE JUNE 12 Extra section gave a story of two men (``God gives us all a song'' by Fred Kirsch of the Landmark News Service).
One man, a platoon sergeant in Vietnam, gave a young soldier a ``joint'' with the admonition, ``Smoke this, and as long as you're here, you better feel like this.'' One casualty of the Vietnam War was made then. Multiply this many times, and you have some of the real casualties of Vietnam - names not on ``The Wall,'' yet the living dead. (Fortunately, many veterans also went on to have productive lives.)
The other man in the story, the Rev. Lloyd Stephenson, too young to fight in Vietnam, strives today to undo what man No. 1 started - a wasted life. Stephenson, the Catholic chaplain at Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center, teaches spirituality classes on redemption, compassion and putting your life together. But perhaps his most important work is done as choir director for New Horizons, composed of 30 veterans. His dream: for New Horizons to become 50 or 60 voices, and become the voice of recovery at 157 VA hospitals.
Through this choir, many veterans' lives have been changed. Would that other VA hospitals would start patients' choirs, as this former priest of St. Gerard's has done. Give us more uplifting stories of positive role models!
WALLY GEIGER TROUTVILLE
Remember all who served, suffered
I AGREE with Maj. Henry J. Foresman Jr. of the 29th Infantry Division, in his June 17 letter to the editor, ``Telling only half of the story.'' It took courage for him to speak out, and I commend him for letting others know that only half of the story was told.
Being a member of the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st U.S. Infantry Division (``The Big Red One''), we were on Omaha Beach that morning. As Foresman said, you owe it to your readers and the public to set the record straight about accomplishments of the 1st Division, not only on D-Day and after, but what we did before that - in North Africa and Sicily.
In your coverage of the 1st Division, you didn't use enough ink to print my name. I'm not criticizing only you; others are just as guilty.
I have no problem with coverage and credits given the 29th Division, especially Company A in Bedford. Their losses were great, and my heart goes out to those losing loved ones. But our battalion had great losses and their loved ones also suffered. Many men we lost were my friends and buddies. We shared many things together in North Africa and Sicily, even before Normandy. I cherish those memories.
You've been unkind and unfeeling to pick out one group's members, making them national heroes, and not giving credit to others for what they did.
I was on that beach on June 6, 1944. It's still very vivid to me to this day.
FRANK E. KING BEDFORD
The Virginia GOP's message on crime
IT'S INTERESTING to note that while all our elected officials propose ``getting tough on crime,'' while many politicians support removing arms from citizens, and while we are in the wake of a juvenile-crime wave that puts the United States to shame, Virginia Republicans have chosen Oliver North to represent them in this year's U.S. Senate race.
North, as we are all aware, has been convicted of several felonies. Instead of serving time in prison, he's basking in a hero's limelight and running for the Senate!
``Yes, boys and girls, gun-running, cutting deals with despots, and lying does pay, even if you get caught,'' is the message that the results of the Republicans' state convention sends to Virginia's youth.
JOAN PHELPS HOT SPRINGS
The charm and wit of Paxton Davis
THANK you, Peggy Davis, for your June 7 commentary entitled ``The good that comes with death,'' brought about in your effort to deal with the loss of your dear husband, Paxton Davis. Yes, there is good that comes with death. It brings us all together in mutual love and remembrance, reminding us simultaneously of our own frail, tenuous hold on life.
Although I had never spoken to Paxton Davis personally, I counted him as a good friend, and I loved his commentaries in this newspaper, always smiling, chuckling and ``amen-ing'' as I read. Too bad he didn't have an identical twin to carry on. His readers are the poorer for that.
Could I have met you, kind sir, I would have enjoyed thoroughly your wit, charm and your respect for all classes of people. A fond adieu, Paxton Davis.
MARGARET L. RAMSEY RICHMOND
by CNB