Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 16, 1994 TAG: 9408240017
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
To my dismay, several letters opposing his point of view appeared in this newspaper, therefore compelling me to speak up.
We must realize, as Americans, that each time we allow police action like this to go unchallenged, we lose a little bit of our freedom. When Pandora's box is opened, where will it end?
Are all police roadblocks acceptable, for any reason? If probable cause is required to stop a vehicle, what is the probable cause here? There is none. The police are simply stopping everyone, making a few arrests, hoping for a big splash in the media to show they're tough on crime.
Meanwhile, the 99.9 percent of us who've committed no offense must be insulted, harassed and demeaned so the police can make their point. Any time you leave your house, you must fear that they may be around any corner, day or night.
Since the fall of communism, there's been a saying: Russia is getting more like the United States and the United States more like Russia. Let's not be so apathetic and blindly trusting toward our government to let that happen.
ANTHONY S. COOPER
ROANOKE
Smoking's dangers vs. alcohol's
LISTENING TO the news recently, I heard that some people were trying to get tobacco classified as a drug. I've had it with people condemning smoking. Those screaming the loudest may be the ones who are killing themselves with alcohol.
How many smokers kill or abuse children? How many wives and husbands are beaten or murdered because of a cigarette? How many happy homes are destroyed by smoking?
All we hear is raise taxes on cigarettes. What about alcohol? If more taxes were placed on booze, and the attention were given to alcohol abuse, people would know what the real ``killer'' is.
Because of alcohol, children are abused, and wives and husbands have to pay the price of constant abuse. A lot of women, as well as men, wouldn't be in shelters or afraid their spouses were going to kill them if it weren't for alcohol use. Families wouldn't be forced to grieve over the loss of a loved one caused by a drunken driver.
Smokers should stand up and fight against constant harassment by others because they smoke.
PAT BURNETT
VINTON
Oliver North lied to save lives
DID OLIVER North lie?
I'm reminded of another time and place when similar lies were told. During World War II, American servicemen parachuted out of their disabled airplanes while over France. Many French people would hide them. When the Nazi soldier knocked on their front doors, French patriots would look the Nazi right in the eye and lie, ``No, I have not seen any Americans.''
That's exactly the kind of lie that North told. He misled a half dozen left-wing congressmen who were doing everything they could to help communists in South America. Had North revealed information to them, within minutes that information would have been sent to the communists, and a lot of freedom fighters would have been killed.
We need more liars like North.
ELVIN POE
HIWASSEE
Fairness is also a health-care issue
THE WRITER of the July 27 editorial (``Why universal coverage?'') is either unaware of the serious shortcomings of the Canadian-style system, and of European countries' attempts to move away from such systems, or is a fully committed socialist. By the way, it didn't work in Russia either.
Further, the editorial stoops to President Clinton's level by bringing in the middle class. Where are the polls showing that 81 percent of the insured are satisfied with their insurance? And how about the cost of any universal coverage plan? Even the Congressional Budget Office estimates more than $100 billion. As for ``polling results'' that show huge margins of Americans don't want to lose insurance if they lose their jobs or spouses, the question dictates the answer. What if the question had included the respondents' willingness to pay taxes for this benefit when they wouldn't expect to use it, but others would? A very different result, I would wager.
The editorial states, ``Extending coverage to millions of Americans who lack it will be costly.'' Why not add fairness to this by stating some of the estimates of just how costly it would be? Who are the middle-class uninsured, and what percentage of the population do they represent? What is fair about leveling the expense for all? Isn't this just plain socialism? By rejecting all other plans except the Clintons', isn't the editorial simply another pitch for their plan?
Major editorials such as this are so biased and full of deliberate untruths that one shouldn't wonder at the low esteem in which people hold the news media. The reading public deserves better.
HAROLD L. DODSON
FAIRFIELD
Homemaker damns her profession
TRIXIE AVERILL, the new chair of Explore Park's governing board, hasn't only raised doubts as to her ability to carry out her duties on this board, but she's also damned a worthy profession with faint praise.
In the Aug. 3 news article in this newspaper (``GOP activist `housewife' to lead Explore'') announcing her election, she came across as silly and incompetent when she referred to herself as ``a little ol' housewife'' whose husband ``won't let her have the checkbook.'' Homemakers have worked hard for generations in the home and community, often with little or no recognition. Ms. Averill has received recognition, but chose to belittle her profession, and thus the profession of countless others, by making those comments.
Unfortunately, because home work and volunteer work are unpaid labor, much of it is taken for granted or not even seen as work at all. It's refreshing and encouraging to see a homemaker named to a position such as this. How many more homemakers, however, will be named to boards or commissions if they present themselves as Ms. Averill did?
When someone receives an appointment, it should be an indication of the person's ability to do the job, not because of the ``Republican activist stuff'' that person has done in the area. Her comments do not inspire confidence in her ability to, in her words, manage a ``million-dollar budget.''
I'm a homemaker who is proud of the work I do in my home and for my community. I know how hard the work can be, and, unfortunately, how often unappreciated it is. It's not unusual to be perceived as ``nonworking'' because I don't get paid. It's unusual and very disappointing, however, to have my profession devalued by another homemaker.
MARGARET MARTIN
ROANOKE
Youth programs hurting for funds
FOR THREE years, I've attended Community Development Block Grant public hearings in the Roanoke area where citizens have unanimously chosen youth issues as their No. 1 priority. However, youth programs are unable to receive adequate funding to meet the needs of the valley's young people.
Private funding can be obtained for a portion of the budget for these organizations, but more public funding must be made available to expand and meet our youths' ever-growing needs. What happens to existing programs that work, but cannot obtain the funding to run their organizations at full scale?
I work for the West End Center for Youth, a private, nonprofit organization. This summer alone, we've had to turn away more than 50 young people because of inadequate funding. We're a program in the Hurt Park and West End neighborhoods of Roanoke city, where children are constantly exposed to crime, sex and drug activity. To my knowledge, we haven't had an active member become pregnant in the nine years I've been with the center. We exist to get children off the streets and into a structured and caring environment.
Children are our future, and we must invest in them if we want a future. Give them the skills to be employable, productive and to contribute back to the community. If children are to say no to our community's negative forces, we must give them positive options.
KATHERYN R. HALE
Executive Director
West End Center for Youth
ROANOKE
by CNB