Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 22, 1994 TAG: 9408120006
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
You state, ``In many cases we need swifter and harsher punishment,'' with which many agree. You also state that there is ``the little matter of the Constitution, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.'' The Constitution should not be disturbed. Granted.
But the prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment doesn't forbid the death penalty, which is still in effect. Wasn't the whipping post in effect at the time the Constitution was written? In Delaware, the whipping post wasn't abolished until 1971, a few years after Maryland abolished it. Were we in violation of the Constitution for 195 years? Surely the Constitution's framers were aware of what was going on in those days. Also, for some 100 years, it was customary in our Navy to flog men through the fleet for their misdeeds.
Because we, the people, have grown soft toward crime, the criminal flourishes.
The Constitution hasn't changed, and it doesn't forbid caning.
JOSEPH A. McDONALD ROANOKE
Faith brings rewards later
AS REVEALED in his July 6 letter to the editor (``Faith doesn't promise happiness''), John Hodges has missed the point of Cal Thomas' June 22 column entitled ``Total eclipse for a man who had the world.''
Contrary to what Hodges says, nowhere in the column does Thomas advocate ``religious faith as the key to happiness,'' at least in this life. What Thomas is saying is that those who have religious faith, who ``believe in another, higher world,'' don't invest all their time seeking gratification, riches, etc., in this life. They know that such a pursuit is ultimately vain and empty. In fact, Christianity teaches that the faithful must be willing to suffer in this life as each person takes up his own cross to follow Christ.
People of true faith, not just ``religious'' people, know there are no guarantees in this world, and they don't expect, nor do they always have, happiness in this life. However, they do have the security of the knowledge, through faith, of their unparalleled rewards in the next.
This fundamental principle of Christianity, often obscure to the world and difficult for the world to understand, is the point of Thomas' column.
ROBERT N. JOYCE JR. LEXINGTON
A sure fix for town's problem
I HAVE sat quietly on the sidelines while Boones Mill ponders its traffic problem (July 8 news article by staff writer Todd Jackson, ``New mayor has hands full in Boones Mill''). Now I feel compelled to offer some suggestions on how to replace Officer Lynn Frith and his Camaro police car. The goal is to slow down traffic and cut down on town expenses.
Install speed bumps on U.S. 220 at both town limits. Rather than destroy their vehicles' suspension, drivers will be forced to slow down.
Install a toll booth at both town limits. This will have the dual effect of slowing traffic and boosting revenue. Perhaps Frith can man one booth and the mayor the other.
Put an empty police car at both town limits. Each could have an intimidating-looking fake radar-detector and a life-size cardboard cutout of Frith.
Build a bypass around Boones Mill. This way there will be no traffic. Residents can continue to fight among themselves, and we won't have to hear about it.
S. CHASE TURNER ROANOKE
Film review marred by political beliefs
REGARDING THE July 4 movie review by Katherine Reed in the Extra section, ``Even a 5-year-old can detect lack of heart in `Lion King''':
Her review of Disney's new film is completely flawed. Her personal and political beliefs kept her from a complete, accurate and fair film review. Reed's original thesis for slamming ``The Lion King'' is for its ``cynicism, lack of heart, and utter lack of strong female characters.'' She never said why she believed this was true. She is disturbed, for instance, that the film has no ``correct'' roles for female characters, but she doesn't explain what a correct role should be.
What really floors me is the comment about the quality (lack thereof) of animation. Was she sleeping when the stampede scene left the audience breathless? Computer-generated images gave it eye-splitting realism. What facts back up her statements?
The movie has a fine, underlying message about remembering who we are, what we are, where we're going, what bravery and responsibility mean to young and old, about facing the past to overcome our fears, and learning from it. I believe she missed what the film was trying to say.
MARK EDWARDS ROANOKE
Beauty where it used to be bare
MARILYN ARBOGAST, our city horticulturalist, has produced another miracle. She has transformed many bare spots and empty median strips into places of beauty. Her color combinations are eye-catching, as is the star-shaped flower bed at the Roanoke Civic Center.
She and her hard-working crew deserve our congratulations for a job well done!
HELEN FITZPATRICK ROANOKE
Quality of life also warrants respect
IN REFERENCE to James W. Dooley's July 12 letter, ``Liberals shouldn't play blame game,'' about abortion and lack of respect for life by feminists: What about respect for quality of life? The right-wingers don't want women to have abortions, but at the same time they don't want to help support the children that are given life in single-parent and low-income families. They constantly advocate reducing welfare and housing benefits, and are fighting health-care reform.
As for the ``liberal blame game,'' heaven knows I won't blame previous Republican administrations for preventing fetal research that could have saved the life of my father, who died from Alzheimer's disease, and for the suppression of THC treatment for terminal cancer and AIDS patients.
WALTER BIBB VINTON
Allen can't hear if he won't listen
I'D LIKE to express my disappointment in Gov. Allen's lack of appearance at his own welfare-reform commission's meeting on July 13 at the Roanoke Civic Center.
The Republican Party has already deemed who the unworthy and worthy are in our society, thus leaving those at the meeting with a pretty good idea of what this administration plans to do regarding welfare reform.
Commissioner Kay Cole James, however, did leave this writer with the feeling she'd been heard - at least by Ms. James.
Allen's token visits around the valley were fine. But if he really cared, he would have been at the meeting to hear what people like Paula Kirtley, myself and others had to say.
How did Allen expect to ``hear what the recipients had to say'' when he wasn't there to hear it? I bet if it had been a meeting for bankers, he would have been there.
SANDRA MANETTA SALEM
Do not need new govt. agencies
EMPLOYER mandates and cost controls are tools that build sluggish and bureaucratic government agencies. Examples of unreformed government health care exist in the paper trails and forms created to deal with Medicare and Medicaid.
I feel guilty for having such lack of faith in government's ability to reform health care. Market forces are controlling costs now. I don't believe we need to establish new government agencies to manage the reform process.
New government agencies mean additional costs, additional forms and increased regulations with the guarantee of equal or improved health care.
ROBIN BARNHILL ROANOKE
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