Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 4, 1994 TAG: 9408040041
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Like a Rocky movie, the challenger comes from a strong ideological position - pro-family, defender of individual rights, a spokesman for the working class. Fast holds a doctorate in mathematics from Virginia Tech, and is the coordinator for the mathematics department at Bluefield College. He appears bright, articulate and outspokenly honest. His biggest election barrier reflects a flaw in our political system.
In May, Boucher reported 20 times more money than his challenger. How? Because he's carrying more than $386,088 from previous years, and has received an additional $107,000 from political-action committees. Boucher now holds more than $590,311 to aid with his re-election bid.
Can Steve Fast, or any challenger, be heard when being outspent by more than 20 to 1? Do we risk losing the best of our potential leaders because they cannot overcome the money issue? Do we want a political system where the incumbent has a 85- to 95-percent chance of re-election? Can we keep our political system free from corruption if incumbents have such an unfair advantage?
BOBBIE STEELE
NARROWS
A judicial outrage in child-abuse case
OUR JUDICIAL system has struck another blow against children. Peter L. Williams, director of the Hollins Park Preschool, was allowed to plea-bargain his way into a possible 12-month sentence in the molestation of a 4-year-old child (July 21 news article, ``Preschool director makes deal'').
What kind of justice system do we have that exploits children in this way? Because this female child is only 4, is she not worthy of more respect than this from the courts? What kind of message does this send to the children in this country? Our children are deemed to be a gift from God. We should treat them as such. To allow this type of plea-bargaining to continue in our court systems is an absolute outrage.
BARBARA HALL
ROANOKE
Immigrants contribute a lot
JAMES Williams Sr.'s letter to the editor (July 21, ``Protect Americans' proud heritage'') on supposed American heritage demonstrates the ignorance still present in America today. Although America must contend with the rapid influx of immigrants to this country, one must not overlook their contributions to the United States, a nation of immigrants. Many immigrants, such as my mother, have become citizens, pay taxes, vote, and espouse great pride in the United States. Moreover, many Jews fled Hitler and the Holocaust to emigrate to the United States, where they've made invaluable contributions to academic and scientific institutions. We've all heard of Albert Einstein.
Furthermore, Williams' assessments of black people lacking lodging, clothing or God before slavery are grossly inaccurate. Such provisions already had existed in Africa. Besides, there are more humane ways than genocidal slavery to provide clothes, a roof over [our] heads and God.
His letter succeeds in illustrating the anti-immigrant sentiment and paranoia rising in this country. Such paranoia is alien to true American ideals. Unless one is indigenous to the United States, we all are descendants of immigrants. Why they came yesterday is no different or better than why they come today.
SYNTA KEELING
ROANOKE
Insurance fraud must be stopped
IT WAS with a sense of gratitude that I read the Associated Press articles in this newspaper concerning Trigon, formerly known as Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Virginia. (July 20, ``Trigon's practices probed;'' July 21, ``Trigon not punished - for now;'' July 22, ``Trigon probe expands to D.C. affiliate.'') It didn't take an official probe of the attorney general's office to make a believer out of me.
As a professional and a pastor, I've seen more than my share of innocent, hard-working people being victimized by insurance companies. I personally struggled on behalf of a parishioner with the ``great'' Trigon. It should have read ``great'' dragon. Even intervention of our congressional representative's office only made a small, short-lived dent in the problem that needed to be addressed. I get an achy-breaky feeling just thinking of the travesty insurance companies are perpetrating on people who are at the mercy of a desperate situation.
Insurance fraud really irritates me. It's time that we fight for our rights, and stop allowing these wolves in sheep's clothing to destroy our fundamental privileges and rights to American health care.
WILL SHEWEY
RADFORD
Chewning's service tough act to follow
I READ the July 19 news article (``Board member put off by campaigning'') on the election of School Board members, and it really hit home. Bootie Chewning is my mother, and I don't think I've ever been prouder. Her decision not to run for the School Board was one of the hardest decisions she's ever made. She's held a position on the board for 12 years - 12 years of hard work. She loved it, but doesn't like the idea of having to campaign for something she's been doing for so long.
I used to think of it as another meeting she had to attend, another phone call that came in during my phone calls that she had to take, but not her. Anything for the community. Now that I'm grown up, I understand the importance, and hate to see the community lose such a dedicated representative. I know how much heart and soul she and other board members have put into their positions. I'm not sure anyone who has not served on, or had a family member serve on, a board has any concept of how much time is involved. It's overwhelming. How much energy is involved. It's exhausting. And how much genuine concern is needed.
I hope whoever seeks this position has all the qualities needed, and whoever is elected will do as great a job as Mom did. It'll be a tough act to follow.
I wish people had ``followed the advice and voted no twice'' - like Mom and Charlsie Pafford (representing the Windsor Hills district for 12 years) suggested. Maybe this will prove hindsight is really 20/20.
ANGIE CHEWNING
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.
Honor the father to support the child
IF YOU want fathers to support their children, give them their children! If you want money, get a job. If you want more money, get another job. If you want to support a child, honor its father - don't persecute him.
Abandon child-support enforcement. You can't get a father with a gun. Teaching dependence and martyrdom isn't good parenting. Good intentions pave the road to complacency, and complacency is deadly. God save us from those who do for us in the name of good!
JOHN N. SMILEY
ROANOKE
The Founders' wisdom
REGARDING the July 20 commentary entitled ``Where would we be if religious right ruled?'' by Rick Boyer.
Thanks to Boyer for writing this great commentary, and to the newspaper for printing it! Finally, someone is quoting history correctly. Incredible is right - America should study the wisdom of our Founders and, more importantly, where they got their wisdom!
DONNA WILSON
ROANOKE
Police are doing their job
I COMMEND you for publishing the splendid July 20 commentary by Rick Boyer (``Where would we be if religious right ruled?''). He had a very interesting approach and some real food for thought.
Also, I want to comment on the July 21 piece by the Radford professor who resented being stopped for a breath test (``Less cheer, more fear'' by Tim Poland). Really, I was surprised that he seemed to be so naive about the problem of drunken driving. Perhaps he's never stood before hundreds of people and conducted a funeral when a young person died in a drunken-driving accident, or has never stood before mangled corpses of people with broken necks or swollen heads from needless automobile accidents. Again, perhaps he has never had to try to comfort a family who has lost a loved one in a drunken driving accident.
Our police deserve to be commended rather than criticized on this issue.
JOHN D. COCHRAN
Minister of Education and Pastoral Care
First Baptist Church
ROANOKE
by CNB