Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 30, 1994 TAG: 9408190007
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The American Medical Association embraced the EPA findings as fact and held a press conference, knowing the results were possibly flawed. Your July 22 newspaper reports a judge's refusal to dismiss tobacco-company suits against the EPA seeking the withdrawal of the report (``Tobacco lawsuit alive'').
This lawsuit needs to be heard so that the tobacco-company scientists' testimony is given the same respect and attention that have been given, up to now, only the government side. What has been done so far by Congress members and the head of the Food and Drug Administration is right out of the Old West: ``Get the ropes - let's give these tobacco folks a fair trial, and hang 'em!''
JACK S. POOLE DRAPER
Talk about intolerance
I'M OFTEN dismayed by the partisan political bias expressed in the editorial pages of the Roanoke Times & World-News. Your characterization of Oliver North as a criminal who attempted ``to subvert the Constitution'' (July 11 editorial, ``Lawyers for the defense'') and your characterization of the last Republican National Convention as a ``hatefest'' (July 10 editorial, ``Cute talk in an ugly campaign'') are inaccurate and unfair.
The demonization of North has been going on for years now. I listened to him during the Iran-Contra hearings. What I heard was a patriotic, well-intentioned, hard-working military officer who'd been trying his best to serve his country and his commander in chief. He did seem to show a lack of common and political sense, however. So, perhaps we'd be better off with one of the other candidates as our senator. But is it necessary to continue hurling invective at him?
Concerning the alleged ``hatefest,'' it's unfair to characterize an entire convention after one speech delivered there by Pat Buchanan. He was, after all, rejected in his bid for nomination. Besides, even Buchanan doesn't hate homosexuals. He is, however, strongly opposed to some of their political goals. His opinions are certainly not surprising, since conservative Christians are likely to believe the Bible's teaching that homosexuality is sinful.
So far as hatred is concerned, those who are politically to the left are just as likely to be hateful and intolerant as are those who are politically to the right. And perhaps the editorial page could be put to better use than to fuel the fires of hatred, mistrust and misunderstanding between these two polarized groups.
JOHN BESSETTE ROANOKE
Far right on parade
MEMORIALIZE July 20 as a Far Right Holiday - the day they took over your whole Commentary page.
First, Cal Thomas whines (``Liberal elitists just don't get Limbaugh's satire'') that Rush Limbaugh's detractors allege ``factual errors'' in some of his comments. His defense: ``Big media make factual errors, too.'' (So there, one error deserves another.) Thomas tells us that Limbaugh has been called a jerk which, he adds, means those who like him are jerks, too. (If you say so, Cal.)
He says Limbaugh is really a humorist. I must try harder next time I hear Limbaugh discuss Hillary or Bill Clinton to find in his viciousness those elusive gems of wit. Limbaugh never intended to smear all women, only a few, says Thomas. Fair enough. After all, Limbaugh, champion of home and family, is, to date, only on his third wife.
Completing that far-right page July 20 was Rick Boyer's argument that government and religion belong together (``Where would we be if religious right ruled?''). Be not deceived by his crafty intertwining of religious quotations with the Constitutional Convention of 1787. No prayer was recited during the four months of deliberations. God isn't mentioned in the Constitution. This superb document was the creation of ``We the People.''
MIKE COHEN HUDDLESTON
Voters deserve to elect school board
I'M SORRY to hear that Barbara ``Bootie'' Chewning was put off at the idea of campaigning to retain her seat on the Roanoke County School Board (July 19 news article by staff writer Joel Turner, ``Board member put off by campaigning'').
It's high time voters and taxpayers have the opportunity to select this board, which oversees their children's education and budgets a substantial amount of their tax dollars. To that end, I announced my candidacy on April 23, and since then have been going door to door, campaigning among my neighbors and gathering signatures for my petition.
As to Andy Lucas and Wayne Newman, I don't know either of them, but their procrastination in announcing their candidacies suggests to me a certain lack of commitment to the cause at hand. There's only one candidate for the Windsor Hills School Board seat, that being myself.
RAYMOND C. DENNEY ROANOKE
by CNB