Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 17, 1994 TAG: 9408100001
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: E2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Term limits are a movement of the people, not politicians. No politicians have voted to limit their own terms, and I don't expect our own entrenched legislators to suddenly see the light.
As mentioned several times in the commentary, success of term limits has come through the initiative process. What Sincere failed to point out is that, unlike 25 other states, Virginia citizens do not have the right to initiate legislation by petition, and to vote for or against it on the ballot. As long as the General Assembly continues to hold a monopoly on enacting legislation, don't expect to see term limits or any other legislative reform.
The initiative process would open the door for the will of the people to become law. It's not going to come easy, though. Our legislators are loathe to let people enact even 1 percent of the laws we all live under. That's because they realize that, like term limits, 1 percent could break their stranglehold on the power to control events.
We must elect new legislators who'll acknowledge the people's given right to govern, and who support the initiative process.
The monied interests supporting our legislature will fight initiative. After all, it's much easier to control 140 men in Richmond than millions of Virginia voters. It's a battle that's been going on since 1914, but until the fight is won, don't expect any reform in Virginia.
ERIC SHEFFIELD BUENA VISTA
Concert made old hippies happy
ONE TREMBLES a little approaching a review of an event experienced as transcending. Will it do justice, as much as words can, to the magnitude of the uplifting, hinting of the ecstasy to those unable to attend? Or will it be an exercise of the intellect that ends up, for missing the fire, damning with faint praise?
Alas, Mark Morrison's review in the July 1 Extra section, ``Symphony added a touch of class, but it was still Moody Blues rock,'' of the Moody Blues concert at the Roanoke Civic Center on June 29 missed the fire. I applaud his appreciation of the ``regal'' contribution made by the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, which was truly magnificent. But his basic point - that otherwise it was pretty much your ``average'' rock concert, ``regal maybe, but never fine art'' - leaves the impression that if you had other things to do on that night, you missed nothing extraordinary.
He was right about one thing. It did make a lot of old hippies happy. The heartening thing, given the exhilarated response of the vast majority privileged to witness this spellbinding marriage of music and poetry, is that the spiritual legacy of the hippies - making love not war, envisioning spirit permeating the universe, and thus finding jubilant reason to sing - is alive and well in none other than Roanoke!
CHARLIE FINN FINCASTLE
Praise for another Nobel prize-winner
A BUSINESS article (June 10, ``Arden signs Pauling'') in this newspaper prompts me to write my first-ever letter to the editor.
The article concerned the fact that Professor Linus Pauling is receiving funds from Elizabeth Arden cosmetics company for skin research. The first sentence stated that he was the only two-time Nobel Prize winner. Although it's true that he did win two prizes - one in chemistry and the peace prize - he isn't the only two-time Nobel laureate.
The late Professor John Bardeen of the University of Illinois won two Nobel prizes, both in physics. The first, awarded in 1956, was for his involvement in development of the transistor. The second, awarded in 1972, was for his development of the theory of superconductivity, along with Cooper and Schreifer.
I'm a chemist and fully appreciate Pauling's many contributions to science. However, the two areas that Bardeen advanced probably have had, or will have, a greater impact on our lives than any other pair of technologies. From the transistor evolved the chip and all electronic devices we know today. Superconductive materials are already in use at relatively low temperatures, and new materials that would be superconductive at ambient temperatures are being aggressively pursued around the world.
Bardeen's work, in my mind, is a generally unrecognized example of the long-term value of ``fundamental research'' to society.
HARRY W. GIBSON Professor Department of Chemistry Virginia Tech BLACKSBURG
Editor's note: As originally written, the article said Pauling is the only winner of two ``unshared'' Nobel prizes. The word ``unshared'' was taken out in the editing process, causing the error.
Harmful effects from secondhand smoke
REGARDING THE July 5 letter to the editor by Myrtle Adams entitled ``A smoke screen for other dangers'':
She needs to get her facts straight concerning secondhand tobacco smoke's harmful effects. I have a severe allergy to all forms of tobacco smoke, even in minute quantities. This has been proved from years of allergy testing and documented by at least three physicians.
Yes, I have no less than a dozen family members who smoke, including two adult children. Both my best friends smoke. Not one of these individuals feel their freedom is infringed upon when they aren't allowed to smoke in certain areas. Fifty percent of my friends smoke; only 2 percent of their friends find smoking limitations to be an infringement on their rights.
At least Adams has the freedom to choose whether to be in the presence of smokers. Those suffering immediate and sometimes serious reactions from secondhand smoke don't. Because smoke spreads so far so rapidly, we cannot go to restaurants that don't have extremely large, enforced no-smoking areas. We dare not go on shopping trips - someone else must buy our groceries and other necessities. Enjoying bands, concerts or other public gatherings is out of the question. The same goes for using public restrooms.
Ensuring that all persons are able to enjoy the same pleasures, privileges and necessities that others enjoy or use is hardly discrimination against anyone.
PATRICIA D. DEEL CLOVERDALE
A born-again Christian has peace
``HAPPY PEOPLE,'' published in 1978 by Jonathan Freedman, says that ``unreligious people are as happy as religious people.'' This guy is either a rip-roaring nut or he's never met a born-again Christian.
My life changed from one second to the next - instantly went from depression to total peace - as soon as I asked God to forgive me of my sins. Look into the eyes of a real born-again Christian, and you see peace. We still have problems, but the spirit of Christ in us shares our struggles and supports our drive to win. We live in his success.
BEN MYERS ROANOKE
Venture deserved cartoon's nuking
POOR Dick Hawkins (July 3 letter to the editor, ``Carter's diplomacy no laughing matter''). He actually took Carter's trip to North Korea seriously. The cartoonist (Benson, June 21 Opinion page cartoon) was correct - it was laughable.
Had Carter been serious, he would have taken with him his world-renowned ``nukear'' consultant, Amy Carter.
CHARLES STEWART PULASKI
Basic rights being infringed upon
VERY FEW, if any, Bedford County property owners are aware of a bureau in our county called the Land Use Guidance System. It was passed and approved by our Board of Supervisors.
Land Use Guidance System has the power to control what we do with our own land. This is not the Board of Zoning, but a separate department. This goes against our basic rights as property owners, and is a big step in government control of our private property.
It's unbelievable our supervisors set up such incompatible regulation. As voters and property owners, we can make ourselves heard to them as a group. They have to either dissolve or renew the Land Use Guidance System regulation by the end of this year.
ELLA F. MILLNER BIG ISLAND
A Republican point of view
YOU HAVE an excellent newspaper, and a brilliant columnist in your Ray L. Garland. How fortunate to have this outstanding Republican, who is pledged to support Ollie North, to offer his opinion fairly and impartially - from the Republican viewpoint.
DOUGLAS F. FLEET TAZEWELL
by CNB