Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 25, 1994 TAG: 9410250055
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The government renting this man's house was bad enough, but paying all of his moving and living expenses for one year? How is it that the government has money to spend on something like this, but no money for Pell grants for needy students?
I lost my job in September 1993 at the age of 47. I decided to go back to school, living on savings and my wife's income. I figured with some government grants and loans we could make it. I've been turned down for Pell grants twice because we made too much money in '92 and '93, which was less than $25,000 combined. This money was already spent, so it's not like we still had it.
There are countless students like myself who cannot get a dime from Uncle Sam, while a dictator like Cedras, who reportedly has millions in Swiss accounts, gets to rent his property to the United States, and gets his moving and living expenses paid.
Please tell me that I dreamed up the whole story, and that our government hasn't totally lost what little mind it once had!
RAYMOND S. BARROSSE JR.
ROANOKE
Fear, hatred and ignorance are evil
OUR SYMPATHY to Cynthia Moritz whose Oct. 12 letter to the editor (``Let's not celebrate perversity'') regarding ``Celebrating Diversity'' shows such intolerance, ignorance and fear.
The God we worship warns against judging others, and against casting stones of hate and prejudice. Our God is love. Period. No qualifications.
Religious intolerance aside, though, we'd like to inquire from which organization she received her training in genetics so that she can state so emphatically that homosexuality isn't genetic. Finally, since Ms. Moritz believes homosexuals are ``recruited'' and not born, we'd like to know what recruitment tactics would be necessary to ``confuse'' her and make her ``turn'' homosexual.
It's true there's evil in our country - fear, hatred, ignorance and prejudice. Fortunately, they're correctable. It's sad that those most in need of tolerance are the most intolerant.
DON and BRENDA RINGSTAFF
ROANOKE
Oldie song for North's campaign
IT'S BECOMING clearer and clearer that Oliver North's campaign song should be the oldie: ``How Can You Believe Me When I Say I Love You When You Know I've Been a Liar All My Life?''
DORIS R. BROWN
HUDDLESTON
Homework hotline is unneeded fluff
MONTGOMERY COUNTY school officials again have managed to show how out of touch they are with what goes on in the classroom, and to undermine the development of responsible students.
It seems that a fund-raiser has been planned in cooperation with Wade's grocery stores to support a homework hotline allowing students to access by phone their homework assignments and plans for the next day.
Isn't this just wonderfully convenient and state of the art? As if teachers didn't have enough to do, now they'll have to put this information into the hotline system every day. Why is it so important for students to be able to call and find out what's planned for the next day? To decide if it's worth going to school at all? Since some classes have students with various needs and abilities, there may have to be several different sets of homework, etc., which means the teacher can spend even more time on this stupid idea. Worse, students will no longer need to learn to listen, and to take responsibility for their assignments. A child who doesn't have his or her homework for the next day has a new excuse - the line was busy.
Wade's generosity has been misguided. I suggest that the funds be used for some real luxuries - like books, laboratory supplies, school field trips, art supplies or needed repairs. I'm sick and tired of this fluff. I'd like to see concrete support for our teachers, and not more meaningless junk to take them away from their real purpose - teaching our kids. What will we have to cut out of the budget next year when our tax dollars have to pick up the bill for this hotline idea?
BRIAN WARREN
BLACKSBURG
Passing judgment on diversity
REGARDING two recent letters to the editor about our valley's ``Celebrate Diversity'' billboards (Oct. 10, ``A sign of fearful times'' by John and Mary Boenke, and Oct. 12, ``Let's not celebrate perversity'' by Cynthia Moritz):
When I read things like Moritz's letter, I cringe inwardly. When I see where someone spray painted ``Kill Fags'' on a billboard, I shake my head in dismay.
As I write this letter, I just got home from Roanoke Memorial Hospital where my wife's brother is dying of AIDS. He's surrounded by family and friends, some of whom have been there for days. I've never met a finer bunch of men and women in my life.
When I was growing up, the Jesus I learned about loved everybody. I recall that he hung around with the poor, the lepers, the prostitutes, etc.
It seems there are those in our population who want to wrap themselves in Jesus, the flag, and take over this country. If the rest of us allow this to happen, then we probably will get what we deserve. Like it or not, there's diversity here in the United States. Why don't we all remember: ``Judge not, lest ye yourself be judged?''
CHUCK KING
TROUTVILLE
by CNB