Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 17, 1994 TAG: 9411180034
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-22 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Bowers blocked every effort made by the National D-Day Memorial Foundation to put the monument in Roanoke by saying it was low on his priority list (Nov. 11 news article, ``Bedford site gets approval'').
Not until Bedford came on the scene did he begin to change his mind. Do you suppose he was thinking of the impact on his political career?
Thanks to Bowers, the memorial is going to Bedford. And I'm glad because that's where it belongs - where people care.
It's to be hoped that the grand sweep the Republicans recently made nationwide will reach Roanoke City Hall in the next election for City Council. The electorate of Roanoke will not forget.
LEE STRAUTIN
ROANOKE
Stooping low to defeat North
ON NOV. 6, editorial page editor Alan Sorensen wrote a column (``How we decide our newspaper endorsements (so-called)'') explaining the how and why of the Roanoke Times & World-News' endorsements of political candidates. The only accurate statement made was that for all he knew ``all of our editorial positions may be disastrously wrong.'' The rest of this column was written to the uninitiated in our society who might actually believe that the newspaper's endorsements ``certainly don't reflect on news coverage.''
I closely followed the election coverage and can honestly say that if you had used ``liar'' and Mother Teresa together as often as you linked that term and Oliver North, I might actually think ``liar'' whenever I saw, heard or thought of Mother Teresa. It's sad that a once-great newspaper stooped to such low shenanigans to try and influence people to vote for someone so far outside Virginia's mainstream. North is an honorable man and without reservation, I cast my vote for him.
I'd like to make a suggestion to the editorial staff: I know you plan to shorten your name next year, and I've thought of something short and appropriate with a nice ring to it - Pravda.
DONALD R. KELLY
ROANOKE
Media emphasis raises questions
IT SEEMS the media have tried to report all details of the case of the murdered Smith boys in Union, S.C. Anyone not familiar with today's coverage of child abuse and murder would think that Susan Smith was the first mother to kill her own children.
On Oct. 22, three days before Smith murdered her children, Pauline Zile reported that her 7-year-old daughter was abducted at a flea market, and the mother went on television to beg the abductor to return her daughter. Five days later the child was found in a deep grave, and Zile's husband was arrested for the beating death. A week later, Zile herself was charged with the murder. She claimed to be a battered wife and prayed that people would forgive her. This case was barely mentioned while everyone's focus was on the Smith case.
Even more puzzling and disturbing is the short space and scant attention given another case reported in the Nov. 8 issue of this newspaper (``Mother killed while trying to save son''). It was about 19-year-old Melinda Canter of Wadesboro, N.C., who sacrificed her own life to save her 3-year-old son by throwing herself into the path of a car, pushing her child to the side of the road. The child is in serious condition and may lose the use of his legs. He, his father and 1-year-old sister could use some prayers, help and attention.
Why is so much coverage given to seemingly chosen people while virtually the same situation elsewhere is handled so casually? Why aren't people like Canter given even more attention for their altruistic actions than parents who kill? In the abuse and murder cases, these women must have shown some signs of disturbance to those close to them. Did anyone notice or try to help?
PATRICIA FAIN HUTSON
NEWPORT
Higher cost for snail service?
I WAS delighted to learn that the U.S. Postal Service is going to raise the price of a first-class stamp by 3 cents (Nov. 9 article, ``32-cent stamp on the way'').
I've found some of my bank statements in my neighbor's mailbox (with permission to look from the owner's son). Mail service for October and this month has been outstanding. My sister mailed a letter on Oct. 24 in Northern Virginia, and I got it three weeks later. On another occasion, she mailed one on Oct. 26, and it took only two weeks to get here.
When they raise the rates, I bet I'll get my mail from her in about a month. Is Pony Express still running?
PEGGY J. TAYLOR
BUENA VISTA
by CNB