Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 3, 1994 TAG: 9407050001
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: E-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
I've been particularly bothered over the past decade about what appears to be a constant rotation of professional politicians from one job to another. It's my opinion that the last thing we need in this country is a new crop of professional School Superintendent Frank Tota on display as the highest-paid retired superintendent in the world? That would at least let him do something for the money he's receiving.
LEWIS T. PATSEL
ROANOKE
Carter's diplomacy no laughing matter
I FOUND the June 21 editorial cartoon, which depicted former President Jimmy Carter returning from North Korea, to be in very poor taste.
We should praise Carter, not deride him or make fun of his big, friendly smile. It appears that he's helped defuse a very volatile and threatening situation in North Korea by using his diplomatic skills to bring us closer to a peaceful solution of a very perplexing problem. And his message to President Clinton wasn't that we should ``put more teeth into'' our North Korean policy, but that we should listen and communicate more effectively with the North Koreans, rather than threaten them with punitive actions.
I recognize that good-natured humor is sometimes appropriate, and often helps us avoid taking ourselves and our problems too seriously. But I believe this cartoon was inappropriate, because it seemed to ridicule a man I consider to be an outstanding American - one who is donating his time and energies to help make this world a better and safer place for us all.
DICK HAWKINS
ROANOKE
A chauvinistic view of women's choices
REGARDING Bud Jeansonne's June 15 letter to the editor, ``A law won't prevent pregnancies'':
He says, ``Every woman who gets up in the morning has the choice to reproduce that day.'' We don't do it on our own, as the chauvinistic letter suggests. And anyone who was raped or sexually abused sure didn't make any choice.
Jeansonne's statement, ``It has nothing to do with health care,'' also lacks logic. What about pregnant women who can't afford prenatal care, or women who can't afford an annual gynecological exam? An exam could detect chlamydia, a leading cause of infertility in women, or an illness that could be treated, but will go undetected and may result in death.
Regarding his comment, ``I believe abortion is such a controversial issue because people inherently know it's wrong'': I guess it's easier to judge someone, without knowing whatever the situation was to bring a woman to make the choice of an abortion. Being a man, he'll never have to face such a decision.
I'd like to see documentation for his statement, ``There is no way we can be sure that women will die if they don't get abortions.'' According to an article in this newspaper, the World Watch Institute says more than 200,000 women die from illegal abortions each year worldwide. Even Randall Terry, Operation Rescue's notorious leader, admits that thousands of American women will die each year if abortions are outlawed. Judging from the lack of compassion (and logic) Jeansonne expresses, I imagine he believes Terry is just some bleeding-heart liberal.
APRIL M. MOORE
ROANOKE
Neighborhoods, fight for schools
I WOULD like to commend Robert Benne for his June 22 commentary entitled ``In schooling, small brings large rewards.''
I've watched, with interest and great concern, the decline in education provided for our young people today. I'm not blaming classroom teachers. Having spent almost 40 years in the classroom, I'm deeply concerned about trends in our educational system, and understand the teacher's position.
I cannot express any ideas other than those expressed by Benne, but I believe that he has the answer to the problem: Forget about consolidation, and go back to smaller schools. Benne said that ``neighborhoods and small towns should fight fiercely for their small schools,'' and funding and control should revert as much as possible to the local level. I would join with him in urging them to do just as he has suggested.
KATHERINE HUMPHRIES
VESUVIUS
In Korea, another day remembered
FORTY-ONE years ago, on July 27, 1953, at 10 p.m., the Korean War came to a close. I was an 18-year-old Marine serving with the 1st Marine Division on the western front. Our mission was to prevent the enemy from breaking through the historic invasion route into Southern Korea.
Three days before the truce was to be signed on July 25, the enemy struck. I was on Hill 111, the right flank of our division. It was estimated that our sector received 54,000 rounds of artillery and mortar fire. The Chinese infantry swarmed up Hill 111 and was beaten back after a fierce fire fight. They were trying to capture as much real estate as possible before the truce. Had they broken through, they could have captured Seoul in an all-out attack. The Marines held, and two days later the truce was signed. The 3rd Battalion, Seventh Marine Regiment, suffered heavy causalities. But the enemy didn't gain an inch of ground. On July 27, we all waited for what seemed like an eternity. At 10 p.m., the war was over.
The fight for Hill 111 doesn't compare with D-Day or other great battles. But for a young Marine in a strange, lonely land so long ago, it ranks right along with any great battle. I hope our present youth will never have to fight a second Korean War.
On July 27, 1995, a memorial will be dedicated for the Korean War.
JERRY D. RICE
ROANOKE
by CNB