Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 7, 1994 TAG: 9408090010
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: D2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
These same folks, who would scream of racism had Disney not given African animals the voices of African-Americans, cry foul when those voices sound identifiably black, or when the animals for which they speak behave too much like real animals. These same people, all too ready to shout charges of sexual harassment at any man who dares compliment a woman's looks, are furious when the king is not a queen!
A favorite theme of the politically correct is ``empowerment,'' but they believe it only comes via a government entitlement for those choosing to define themselves as victims. They're unwilling to recognize the empowerment that comes as the fruits of the labor of those willing to earn it. Thus, they don't like a film with a message implying that it's only when one takes responsibility for his or her own problems that society's problems can be solved.
Disney's plans for a historical theme park in Northern Virginia further enhance that company's value as a target for the politically correct. They fear any effort that will make history enjoyable, especially if it fails to pay homage to their version of history, which sees Washington as an oppressor of slaves, Betsy Ross as a victimized seamstress, and Jefferson and Lincoln as racists. I suspect if the Rockefellers had waited until today to propose reconstruction of Williamsburg, these same folks would oppose their plans to glorify the colonial oppressors who brought slavery to America and forced the indigenous Americans from their ancestral lands.
I wonder how these people can take themselves so seriously, but they do. And they'd like to impose their brand of humorless Puritanism on us all. All in all, there's really not much difference between the outlook of the politically correct left and the religious right.
JIM MARCHMAN BLACKSBURG
Listen to the forest pros
I WRITE this out of fear of what is not happening in our national forests after reading outdoor editor Bill Cochran's July 18 article, ``A close cut.''
The Forest Service manages our forest resources. I define management as planning a sequence of events to bring about a desired result. Often, management events achieve many desired results.
It sounds as if those in the news want Mother Nature to manage all our forest lands, which is fine in some areas. However, she can be a messy housekeeper.
Do you remember the results of hurricanes Hugo or Andrew in forests, the effects of the Southern pine-bark beetle and gypsy-moth infestations in and around the Roanoke Valley, or the threat of wildfires to our woodlands? These events were ``natural,'' creating many of the same results that proposed timber sales will achieve, except we'd let our trees go to waste. Mother Nature does things her own way, and it doesn't concern people.
My fears build when groups tell me their results are worthier than mine. Hunters, bikers, bird watchers, boaters, etc., partially own and have rights to use our national forests. Difficulty arises when some groups try to take away other groups' rights. Every acre shouldn't be managed strictly for timber production, nor designated ``wilderness.'' To find a balance is a challenge for the Forest Service.
The Forest Service includes many natural-resource professionals, who have years of education and hands-on experience in managing forest land. We should listen to these professionals, and give them freedom to manage our resources to the best of their abilities. Be ready to question, not convict, their management decisions.
TODD GROH TROUTVILLE
Virginia's first lady has it all
REGARDING Lucy H. Lee's July 25 letter to the editor, ``There's no confusing Susan Allen with Hillary Clinton'':
I was shocked by the scathing attack Ms. Lee made on Susan Allen's character. I hope she was more upset with staff writer Alec Klein's assessment of Ms. Allen than with Ms. Allen herself. Ms. Lee seems to have contempt for any woman who embraces family values and motherhood. Moreover, she dismisses Ms. Allen's humility as a sign of weakness, and implies that Ms. Allen isn't half the woman that Hillary Rodham Clinton is.
Ms. Lee describes Ms. Clinton as being ``intelligent, confident, articulate and clever.'' As one who has met Ms. Allen and heard her speak on her husband's behalf, I can state confidently that she is all of those things, and one more: She is (heaven forbid!) beautiful.
TERRI G. CORDLE SALEM
Anti-smoking rules have gone too far
I GUESS history has a way of repeating itself. When we began to settle what is now our nation, women took a back seat. Years later, the color of one's skin dictated where you could go in public, like theaters and restaurants, and where you sat on buses and trains. This was called segregation. Then it came to be called what it really was - discrimination. In the past, it always seemed the minority - women and the African-American people - got kicked. Today, it's the majority.
In this country today, after you omit children, I believe there's a lot of smokers. Shifting to special areas, some businesses and certain places forbid it altogether.
It seems that history repeats itself, but this time it's gone overboard. I agree that those who have a real problem with smoke shouldn't have to sit beside me in public or other places. They should have places they can retreat to. And they have my sympathy for having the problem. But a complete ban on cigarettes? The way it's going now, I'm completely mystified.
What ``they'' are telling me is that I cannot kill myself with cigarettes, if I want. But if I could do it with alcohol. Supposing I, as many others, am not affected by smoke. Then, where is my freedom?
Never in my life have I ever knowingly harmed anyone, and I don't mean to in the future. But since my future is shorter now than a lot of people, let me decide what's best for me.
JAMES H. GUILLIAMS ROANOKE
Veterans are for honoring
TRULY, this is the time to honor all American veterans - young and old, dead and alive, men and women.
Whatever the color of our skin, as Americans, we have had down through the ages relatives in wars defending freedom. Whenever veterans are present, we shouldn't judge them but honor them. For without these brave men and women, we wouldn't have our freedom to choose where we live, work, play and pray.
KENNETH McCAIN ROANOKE
North defended liberty
OLIVER North should be elected to the Senate due to his high moral purposes. Extremism in defense of liberty and freedom is no vice.
He represented the executive branch when the dangerous submarines of the U.S.S.R. were operating in the Caribbean Sea and the U.S.S.R. was establishing a base in a port in Nicaragua.
The fact is that he was caught in the power struggle between the executive branch and Congress. There was no way to maintain the secrecy essential to our naval operations if Congress had to be fully informed. This conflict has been going on for years.
We don't need more politicians in the Senate. We need real men there, like North.
JAMES D. BROWE SR. BEDFORD
Credit Cranwell with stalling, too
I READ the July 29 letter to the editor by Oscar J. Honeycutt and Jack Mayer entitled ``Give Cranwell credit for retiree deal.'' Give me a break! What these people seem to forget is that these taxes were collected illegally during the tenure of Cranwell and his statehouse cronies, who also fought tooth and nail against refunding the taxes under the previous Democratic administration. Had Mary Sue Terry been elected, I'm convinced this issue would still be unresolved.
Why did Cranwell and the Democrats currently controlling the legislature wait so long?
VICTOR M. DANDRIDGE III STAUNTON
by CNB