Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 2, 1994 TAG: 9410040003
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: G2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
She says politics `` ... touches everything in our lives and the future of our country will largely depend on the political leaders we have ... '' Well, OK, but maybe it shouldn't. There are a few, and I meet more every day, who believe politics shouldn't touch nearly everything in our lives, and who believe politicians and government are not the means for solving ``societal problems.'' We (I) believe a very good case could be made that government action causes a great many problems, societal and otherwise.
Political and government action is coercive, inefficient, and open to control by special interests. Seldom has it done what was intended at its inception. As Peter Drucker said: ``The only things a government can do successfully is inflate the currency and wage war.'' No, I don't think a good case can be made for that kind of ``action.''
On the other hand, maybe trying to get "None of the Above" on the ballot is the kind of involvement Fisher calls for - real grass-roots political stuff that would compel those running for office to take a stand on issues. Heck, maybe issues would come to the forefront of debate. Maybe defined, articulated positions based on philosophical premises would get more voters to the polls, and people would find reasons to vote for something rather than against something.
I've been going to the booth since 1964, and only occasionally have I found someone or something to vote for. It's frustrating, but I pull the lever for personal choice and write ``None Of The Above'' in the space provided. I never see it counted on TV or in the newspaper next morning, but I sleep with a clear conscience.
I don't consider myself a negative force that polarizes or works against common good, just a guy who said: ``These guys aren't the answer. They don't even have the right questions.''
There were four; now three. Maybe next week there'll be only two. It doesn't matter. Come Election Day, in the Senate race, ``None Of The Above'' will get at least one carefully considered vote.
ED CABANISS ROANOKE
Priorities reflect readers' interests
DEMATRESS A. Hichcock's Sept. 13 letter to the editor (``Priorities should be with the living'') unwittingly underscores the point of the very letter she criticizes (Nancy A. Gibbs' Aug. 31 letter, ``Priorities are out of joint''). The real issue had little or nothing to do with Ernie Irvan as an individual, an athlete, or with the story of a courageous man's struggle for life. Those are properly newsworthy items. Irvan is an exceptional athlete, with many accomplishments to his credit. Certainly he deserves our prayers and the chance to be successful at what he enjoys. We wish him well, and we want to be kept abreast of his condition.
What's remarkable is the seeming absurdity of giving the passing of Dr. Linus Pauling so little coverage by comparison. It isn't absurd at all.
Among other things, Pauling won two Nobel Prizes in different fields. Characterizing him as ``a 93-year-old deceased man who lived a long and successful life'' is roughly akin to describing the Grand Canyon as ``a good example of soil erosion,'' and speaks volumes about the writer.
With all due respect to Irvan, the mere thought of comparing the careers of a two-time Nobel Prize winner and any athlete should be laughable. Unfortunately, it isn't, and editors know it. No one should impugn them for their allocation of coverage. My guess is that editors are painfully aware that an extremely high percentage of their readership knows (and more importantly, cares) a great deal more about stock-car drivers than about Nobel Prize winners, and the newspaper's priorities quite properly reflect those of its readers.
R. BRUCE LOWRY BLUE RIDGE
History's revision isn't appreciated
ALLYN MOSS (Sept. 16 letter to the editor, ``U.S. owes Japan an expression of regret'') states that the United States owes Japan an apology for using the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki because these were ``military acts that violated the laws of `acceptable warfare' as established by the Geneva Convention.''
Moss brushes aside the fact that the use of these bombs saved more lives, by ending the killing, than the number of military and civilian casualties that resulted from the bombing.
I don't know why Moss is attempting to rewrite history. Is it yet another attempt at political correctness? Those who spent our youth fighting in the Pacific from Guadalcanal to Japan resent later generations, not well-informed, telling us that we were monsters. We were patriots, and we didn't run to Canada!
PATRICK J. TRAVIS PULASKI
Expand, don't cut, the museum
THE Virginia Museum of Natural History's primary purpose is to serve Virginia. This is best accomplished by being a ``museum without walls,'' with traveling exhibits, programs and a network of branch museums. In 1993, with a budget of $2 million, the museum served every county in the state, reaching 1.2 million people. At a time when Americans are falling short in science education, this filled a vital need - and at the bargain price of $1.67 per person.
Returning the museum to private funding in Martinsville and Henry County, as recommended by the state panel studying ways to save money, would guarantee the elimination of this service because no one locality can or should be expected to provide for the entire state.
Martinsville was the only locality interested in the museum in the beginning. I know because I've been an active volunteer since before its doors opened in 1985. The city, county, businesses and private citizens of Martinsville and Henry County gave the state a gift worth several million dollars when they turned over the museum in 1988, and it would be wrong to take it away from us now.
The museum's purpose is also to study Virginia's natural heritage so that future generations might not lose the riches we have today. Research, collections and education are things you can't charge admission for, but they're more important than entertainment.
Virginia had no trouble finding millions of dollars for Disney, but cannot come up with a pittance to ensure that poor children in the hills and hollers get the same quality of education as those in the wealthy crescent from Northern Virginia to Virginia Beach. The whole situation sounds suspiciously like ``rob from the poor to give to the rich.''
In Virginia's best interest, the museum not only should keep its headquarters in its hometown of Martinsville, but should receive more funding so that it can expand its network of branches, outreach programs and traveling exhibits, including, perhaps, a branch at Explore Park in Roanoke County.
GAEL M. CHANEY MARTINSVILLE
North's role in Nicaragua is twisted
DOUGLAS MASSING'S Sept. 9 commentary (``North's legacy is pain and shame''), which blamed Oliver North for the current economic hardship in Nicaragua, was a one-sided twisting of history and truth. It wasn't North who brought hardship to Nicaragua, but the Marxist Sandinistas who betrayed their country to communism and brought on a civil war.
If the Sandinistas enjoyed such support from the people, why did thousands of Nicaraguans risk their lives to form a rebel army and fight them? It was partly because of North that these Contras were able to break the communist hold on their country.
Today, for all its problems, Nicaragua isn't a communist Cuba. A Marxist army doesn't threaten Central America and the Panama Canal. There are no Nicaraguan bases for Russian submarines, patrol bombers or MIG fighters as there are in Cuba. Best of all, there's no prospect that young Americans might have to die fighting a war in Central America. This is the true legacy of North. It's one reason among many why he should be elected to the U. S. Senate.
TOM TAYLOR ROANOKE
Sidewalk surfers need their own park
OVER THE past six to seven years, skateboarding in the Roanoke Valley has increased to the point that the need for a public skateboard park would benefit skateboarders and non-skateboarders. The park would give skateboarders a place to go and practice their sport. It will also cut down on the number of skateboarders skating in places they're not wanted, such as in front of stores and other places.
As the number of skateboarders increases in the valley, so does intolerance of the sport. A public skateboard park would be the perfect solution to the problem.
MATT CREWS ROANOKE
by CNB