Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 28, 1994 TAG: 9409010028
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: D2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
War is hell and never should be. Unfortunately, mankind has never found the road to peace except for short periods. As the Scripture tells us, there will be wars and rumors of wars until the end of time. Sinful nature rules many men who can't escape from the trap of pride, envy, greed, jealousy and hate.
Udall seems to imply that countries such as Germany, Russia and Japan wouldn't consider using such fearful weapons. I'm thankful that none had them during World War II. If they had had them, they wouldn't have hesitated in blowing the world apart.
The object of war is to kill, destroy, conquer and enslave. Had the Allies attempted to invade Japan by conventional methods, I would hate to think of the loss of life for both sides, including civilians. Loss of life from the atom bombs was far less than otherwise could have taken place. I was in the Navy during World War II, and was glad when it was over so that I could go home to my family.
I don't believe Russia will destroy all or even part of its nuclear weapons. It will hide them in tunnels under the mountains. Communism doesn't die quick and easy.
EDWIN R. ROBERTSON PEARISBURG
No such thing as free health care
REGARDING the Aug. 7 Horizon section ``Health care stories'':
Someone needs to tell these people that there's no such thing as free health care in Canada or in any other country in the world, and most certainly not in the phony health care promoted by the Clintonistas.
Carol and Warren Moore opted for the high-cost route when having a baby, after being informed that it would have chronic health problems. A welfare mentality never bothers to ask where the money comes from to pay for health services. It comes from all who pay taxes. The United States government has only one source to fund all of its proposals: taxes, taxes, taxes.
When you make your bed, you should be prepared to sleep in it, not steal the covers from someone else. You incur the debt, you pay it. The world owes you nothing. Anything given gratis via the government is stolen, in legalized Mafia fashion, from the fruits of labor of a producer.
JAMES H. MARSHALL GREAT FALLS
Mining on public land has its benefits
ONE OF your subscribers sent me a copy of your July 23 editorial on the U.S. general mining law (``Gold miners on welfare'').
Since the editorial didn't mention the benefits derived by the general public as a result of mining on public lands, it's quite clear your information source had a bias against the mining industry. Statements such as that 47 superfund mining sites have resulted from weak state regulatory enforcement is further evidence of that bias. If you'd used other sources for your editorial, you would have discovered these sites were created long before there were any environmental regulations, and that state laws today are effective.
The editorial implies that mining is still regulated under the original 1872 mining law. This isn't true, as the original law has been amended many times since its original passage.
The mining industry recognizes that the mining law will be rewritten, and it has been an active participant in providing information (instead of misinformation) on lay issues. Unfortunately, proponents of West Virginia Rep. Nick Rahall's bill, both in and out of Congress, aren't relying on all the facts. They share the attitude of your editorial writer who said, ``Even the most ardent advocates of such governmental intervention should shudder at a policy that favors exactly the wrong kind of industry - the extraction of raw resources.''
Whether it's mineral or vegetable, society cannot survive without raw resources.
HARRY M. CONGER Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Homestake Mining Company SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.
North will continue 'dirty work'
WE DON'T need Oliver North in Congress or in any government office. He'll be just like Reagan - give everything to Iran. Or like George Bush - give it all to Iraq. If you don't want to lose what you have, keep Republicans out of office. They cry too much about taxes.
If North received his Christianity by listening to Jerry Falwell, he is lost. North did lie about the dirty work he, Reagan and Bush did, and they kept it covered up. Keep Democrats in, and you can live well.
THOMAS KIRBY SALEM
Take the time to do it right
HILLARY CLINTON and the rest of the feckless left need to quit talking from both sides of their mouths. One day, she and her mindless followers decry medical cost-shifting; the next day, they're showcasing Medicare as the Utopia we'd have with their favorite stepchild, socialized medicine.
Medicare pays 90 cents on the dollar for services rendered. Guess who pays the other dime? It's cost-shifted to private insurance carriers. Medicaid is even worse, but for the sake of brevity, I won't delve into that disaster. (And, no, I'm not rich or selfish.) Don't misunderstand me, I wouldn't repeal Medicare, but I'd favor forcing 100 percent reimbursement of the system.
Mrs. Clinton and others are trying to ram a government-dictated insurance system down our throats when 68 percent of the populace wants Congress to revisit the issue next year. The reason is clear. This isn't about health care (from Mrs. Clinton's perspective); this is about concentration of power in the federal government over our lives so that people like her, Ira Magaziner and Ted Kennedy can make us wards - dependent on the state. Collectivism is her real goal! If health care was the real goal, the time necessary to do it right with broad popular support would be taken. No thanks to the idea of Czarina Hillary. Contrary to her most deeply held belief, she doesn't know everything!
JOEL COLTRANE ROANOKE
Abortion is legal; murder is not
IN RESPONSE to Fredrick Williams' Aug. 11 letter to the editor, ``Pro-choice on shaky moral ground,'' I'd like to illustrate a few points for him:
First, unless I'm mistaken, there hasn't been a pregnant man to date. Therefore, I'm continually astonished by the overwhelming number of men who feel they have a right to expound about abortion. They'll never know what it's like to be pregnant, so their viewpoints shouldn't be forced upon women. Has Williams ever been a 14-, 20- or 30-year-old woman facing an unwanted pregnancy?
Second, his equation of abortion to the murder of abortionists is ludicrous. Would he soundly say murder carried out by a radical movement acting like a Mafia hit squad is moral? I believe that anti-abortion organizations operate under the guise of morality. If they can now decide what's right and wrong, I'd equate them to the Gestapo in Nazi Germany. The Gestapo didn't like some people's beliefs, so it just exterminated them.
Recently, Cardinal John O'Connor was quoted as saying, ``If anyone has an urge to kill an abortionist, let him kill me instead. That's about as clearly as I can renounce such madness.'' Catholics are well-known proponents of the pro-life movement. If Williams' ideas are correct, O'Connor should believe in the murder of abortionists.
Last, Roe vs. Wade sanctioned abortion. However, I don't recall any Supreme Court case that sanctions the murder of abortionists.
Perhaps, Williams should ponder these points before he writes another letter.
MICHELLE G. KARIM ROANOKE
Make clearance while the sun shines
THE WEATHER was in the 90s for about three weeks. Where were Appalachian Power Co. crews clearing trees and brush away from power lines and poles? They should do this now in the hot weather. This would prevent a lot of headaches for them, and for customers whose power has been knocked out by a line down. Plus, this would save customers from trying to get through to their one emergency line, which is always busy.
I'm sure there are Roanokers who need jobs who could help Apco. This would save the utility from having to do the clearing in 10 inches of ice or snow. Those in charge at Apco should think ahead and prepare for emergencies. I hope we see some crews out now, and not in 10-degree weather when the power is out.
NINA BOARD VINTON
by CNB