Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 13, 1994 TAG: 9411160066
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Boucher insults the region's pride by saying that what isn't good enough for Prince William County is more than good enough for Wythe County. The faults with Disney's project cited in Northern Virginia are just as valid in Southwest Virginia.
Disney's cartoonization of history remains abhorrent in a region whose history is no less dear to its people than Haymarket's is to its people. Increased traffic, litter, noise and disruption to the area around Disney's gigantic project is, if anything, more of an issue in the more peaceful, less frenetic 9th District. Environmental concerns, such as air, noise and water pollution, and excessive use of groundwater wouldn't disappear if the project moved 200 miles southwest.
Finally, it hasn't somehow become more justified, at a time when Virginia is wondering where to find $2 billion for prisons, to give away $160 million in taxpayers' money to a corporation that pays its chief executive officer more than $200 million annually.
Boucher, Fast and Disney should interpret opposition to putting a four-lane highway across Mt. Rogers as a warning. People of the 9th District won't necessarily accept so-called development that benefits the developer far more than the district. The district's way of life and its pride are not so readily for sale.
Mr. Boucher, I believe, is wrong. There will be opposition to making the 9th the Mickey Mouse district.
SCOTT A. DAMON TANNERSVILLE
Attitudes about rape have changed
I'M ONE of the rape victims featured in the Sept. 26 news article (``Tragedy spawns crusade'') that was written by one of your staff writers. I commend your staff writer on the article as I feel she wrote it with compassion.
However, I would like to expound on a portion that I felt improperly portrayed my parents' reaction. While it's true they wanted to keep the news of my rape as quiet as possible, the article should have further stated that their reason was for my protection. In 1979, society didn't view rape in the same manner as it does now. And at that time, everyone felt that silence was the best way to protect the victim.
I would like to thank my parents, my family and my husband for the love and support they gave me. God and my family are my strength. Without them, I never would have been able to overcome the devastation of that horrible night of April 12, 1979.
CONNIE SEAGLE RURAL RETREAT
Article on prayer was refreshing
THANK you for an interesting news article and picture (``Students harness prayer power'') on the front page of the Sept. 22 Virginia section. It's so refreshing to have articles of this nature.
I commend those teachers and students.
MARIE WERTZ ROANOKE
For change, count on the GOP
THE NATIONAL debt is now nearly $4.7 trillion. It has grown by about $600 billion in two years. This country needs a change. We need a change in Congress. Vote for Republicans in November.
LOMA LOWE FLOYD
Torturing animals is not sport
IN MY mailbox recently, I received information relating an eyewitness account of an activity known as ``canned hunting'' in which confined animals are brutally slain by ``hunters.'' The methods of killing selected by these ``hunters'' are determined by the degree to which the upper body and head of an animal might best be preserved intact for mounting as trophies. In terms of an animal's pain and suffering during the kill, there is no consideration. As a result, animals are put to slow, agonizing and lingering deaths by bow and/or firearm in ways that are equivalent to torture.
I was astonished to find that the brutal slaying of animals by such inhumane methods is completely legal in all but two states (California and Wisconsin). I was moved to tears by the account of this cruel practice by individuals indifferent to their prey's suffering. This is not hunting. This is not sport. This is slaughter.
WENDY C. MUSTAIN SALEM
It's cruel to deny parole to inmates
ABOLISHING parole will not benefit anyone. People have to be punished, but to the extent of never giving them the opportunity to have a second chance is cruel.
If offenders are up for parole and turned down year after year, regardless of good time, what kind of adverse effect do you think it has on them? Each time they're turned down, it means another year before they're eligible again. In a year's time, they could lose their families, jobs, homes, everything they had prior to being incarcerated. What kind of effect would that have on anyone? Bitterness, desperation! Is it any wonder we have repeat offenders?
Most people who have spoken out against parole have never been to a prison to see the inmates they're so quick to keep behind bars. Those inmates are someone's father, mother, husband, wife, child, sibling or friend. Think how you would feel if it were someone you cared about. Would your feelings against parole be the same? I think not!
PAM AYERS ROANOKE
`Bland' Robb is the safe choice
ON NOV. 8, I'll vote for the re-election of Sen. Charles Robb.
As an ex-Perot supporter, I appreciate Robb's honesty regarding our fiscal situation. The primary factor that seemed to unite Perot adherents was their recognition that our country's financial problems were only going to be overcome by some hard choices. Robb supported the budget accord that has helped slow down our rapid descent into bankruptcy. He has been honest to tell us that there are no easy answers, and that we'll all have to sacrifice. He was a fiscally conservative governor, and I believe he's equally responsible as a senator.
As someone appalled by the proliferation of guns in our society, I appreciate his vote to ban assault weapons. I believe I share a conviction with most Americans that we must arrive at some rational gun-control measures.
As a woman who sees the erosion of reproductive rights, I appreciate Robb's forthright stand for a woman's right to choose an abortion, and support of strong programs for family health. Many of these programs are designed to help people voluntarily control their fertility, and thereby reduce the need to even consider abortion.
Yes, Robb is bland and unexciting. Oliver North is charming, charismatic, some have even said mesmerizing. My husband, my brother, and two brothers-in-law served in a war half a century ago that was started by a dynamic leader. Charismatic leaders, especially those who repeatedly show they have no respect for the truth, scare me silly.
NANCY R. EDDY ROANOKE
North a victim of `smear' headline?
A HEADLINE on the front page of the Oct. 8 Virginia section read, ``Ex-Navy boss smears North.''
There you go again! You had to print the condemnation of Oliver North in your news article, so you impugned the motives of the next person to denounce this man who seems to feel (like some infamous historical figures) that any lie will do, and that the public will swallow it if it's big enough. Your headline writer knows that a lot of readers won't get past that headline, and that the verb ``smear'' in a political context implies false denunciations. So, poor ``Ollie'' is a victim of a smear campaign!
Far more accurate would be, ``Ex-Navy boss exposes North.'' But this would be implying truth to former Navy Secretary James Webb's statement, editorializing in the opposite direction. So I'd settle for a neutral, factual headline, ``Ex-Navy boss denounces North.''
When will you stick to reporting the news in the ``news'' pages? If your news editor or headline writers want to get their opinions across, I'm sure the editorial editor would be only too pleased to give them a forum.
MORTON NADLER BLACKSBURG
by CNB