Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 25, 1994 TAG: 9407250010
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
I imagine there are families in Montgomery County suffering disruption due to alcohol abuse. Would a sensitive, well-written book portraying alcoholism as an alternative, acceptable lifestyle be helpful to children of these families? No, because it's basic premise would be false. The alcoholic lifestyle is neither morally neutral nor harmless to the alcoholic and his family. The same holds true for ``Daddy's Roomate,'' and its treatment of another complex problem.
Concerned parents and citizens would like to have some input on what's offered in the children's section of the library. Yes, we have an agenda beyond monitoring what our own children read: maintaining standards of what is appropriate, healthy, legal behavior in our community. For this, we're portrayed as book-burning bigots, hateful homophobes. The issue is immediately framed in terms of censorship that effectively cuts off debate.
Do you think the author and publisher of ``Daddy's Roommate'' (sent free to the library) have no agenda other than helping confused, traumatized children?
SHARON DILLER
BLACKSBURG
Christ was the real agent for change
RECENT ATTEMPTS by the radical right, including Oliver North, to enter government are not just troublesome on a political level. Many good Christians are offended by the radical right's influence, and its attempts to defend that influence with unsubstantial complaints of religious bigotry.
As a devout Christian, I want representation in government by rational people who understand that maintaining a line between church and state is necessary to protect my religious freedom. I strongly resent those who wish to erase that line to advance a political agenda based on a highly selective set of Christian values.
I do not feel as if I'm the object of religious bigotry when people stand up against this radical faction of the Christian faith. I only feel the weight of bigotry when that faction attempts to warp Christian values to mean only some things, such as marital and family devotion, to the detriment of other values, such as love and forgiveness.
Christ was not a politician. The message of his life was that we should seek change through resolve, love, forgiveness and good deeds, not through the support of the megalomaniacal ambitions of a few false prophets.
DIRK MOORE
EMORY
Review deserves a parting shot
WELL, THANK you for giving me a good reason not to renew my subscription to the Roanoke Times & World-News: Katherine Reed. Where did you guys pick her up - a National Organization for Women rally?
Specifically concerning her review of the movie, ``The Lion King'' (July 4, ``Even a 5-year-old can detect lack of heart in `The Lion King'''), I couldn't believe I was reading the review of a G-rated Walt Disney movie. I can only imagine what her review would be like on other animated films, such as ``The Lady and the Tramp.''
With Katherine Reed types at this newspaper, I will not even think about helping to pay paychecks with my subscription money.
JAYE CLARKE
HOLLINS
Let the states set Congress' salaries
THE HEADLINE on Ellen Goodman's July 19 column, ``As Congress treats others, so should it treat itself,'' caught my attention.
I've long been of the opinion that we couldn't afford Congress' excuses, and am amazed any thinking person thinks we can afford another adventure into a nightmare of plunder from the Potomac. Rather than giving us what Congress has, why don't we take from Congress what it doesn't deserve? We've allowed federal legislators the privilege that once was called the divine right of the king.
Sadly, people perish for lack of knowledge and the consequent condition of spinelessness. I believe that the states should set the salaries and benefits that their congressional representatives receive. This would result in representatives' greater responsiveness to his or her people, and less interest in cronies in the fantasy land of foggy bottom.
It's time for writers like Goodman to get their heads out of the clouds, and for Congress to get real. Man is incapable of universal security. Man isn't God; neither is the federal government.
HAROLD A. ROBERTS\ WYTHEVILLE
Is U.S. military being abandoned?
I RECENTLY retired after 24 years from the military, and moved to the most beautiful place I've ever seen - the Roanoke Valley.
In 1970, I enlisted in the Army. I was assigned as a rifleman in an infantry company, and experienced the distinct pleasure of crawling on my belly like a reptile through mud, blood and beer. A few years later, I transferred to the Air Force, and for the remainder of my career I worked as an aircraft crew chief on B-52s, KC-135s and the new BIB.
Throughout those 24 years, the military was kept quite busy. To name a few reasons: Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Somalia and Desert Storm. I felt proud to serve my country and believed our commander in chief was looking out for our well-being. Recently, that seems to have changed.
Since our new commander in chief has assumed command, we've suffered the debacle in Somalia, critical downsizing of our forces, and the unfortunate accident in Iraq, wherein the vice president thanked our soldiers who died in service to the United Nations. Isn't the military still a part of the United States of America?
I'm now retired, but I worry about those left behind. I feel their pain. Do you?
JOSEPH E. SCHROER
CHRISTIANSBURG
by CNB