Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 29, 1994 TAG: 9412070035
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Deep down where they really live, do they tell themselves, ``I've got mine, screw the fool electorate''? How gullible we are. How soon we forget. We expect much and settle for little. Maybe we need another revolution to overthrow the whole polluted system and start from scratch again. Jefferson would certainly approve.
RICHARD K. CULBERTSON
BLACKSBURG
Parents must fight for their children
AFTER dealing with my own child and personal experiences, I feel there are no excuses for our children's dilemmas.
Yes, there are plenty of reasons why they're in the predicaments of today. Why do they want to play hooky from school? Why do they want to stay out late? Why do they always complain about being tired?
As a single parent, I have a vision: Let's fight for our children, and stop letting the devil take all that we have, our love and what we hope for.
I read about crime, drugs and children in the newspaper. The media make it look bad. We African-Americans are always tossed to and fro: Lock them up and throw away the keys. For our children, it's not the answer, but only a way for us to escape from dealing with them.
One child surprised me one day when I asked: ``Why do you all sell drugs and do the things you do?'' The teen-ager replied, ``Because there is no father in my life.'' This hurts, but society will say: ``Whose fault is this?'' Well, it isn't the fault of the parent who chose to take responsibility for a child every day.
In my case, the father decided he didn't want to be involved with the child because I needed child support. I can't be blamed for that. I did what I had to do. I suffer along with this child, but there is never a day goes by that I don't say, ``I love you and give me a hug.'' Showing love is the key, because children often feel they're in a world by themselves and that no one cares.
I ask for help as a mother and a friend. I address this first to the schools, then the community and society. If I have your support, I'll continue to fight for my child, your child, our children.
Could we ask for a day to have silent prayer for our children? Could we take a day out and march for our problem children? Our children feel neglected, abused and homeless. They're using and selling drugs. I'm determined to try my best to keep my son alive. What's wrong with us adults and parents? My heart aches every day. Let's come together and support our lost kids. I know we can do this, and we can also take this to our president. But charity starts at home.
SHIRL BURNETTE
ROANOKE
Correction
A sentence in Paul W. Nordt Jr.'s Nov. 28 letter to the editor (``Government can't meet spiritual needs'') should have read, ``Although for all my 80 years I've been identified with a particular branch of my faith, I'm concerned with any form of legalized entreaties to a supreme being.''
Standing behind the hockey team
IN RESPONSE to Michelle Banks' Nov. 20 letter to the editor, ``Some hockey players are rude'':
While she sounds to be an authority on the Roanoke Valley Hockey Booster Club, I don't find her name on our membership roster. Perhaps if she were a member, she'd know that one of the many important functions of the club is to stand behind our coach and players, no matter what. Our motto is ``the team behind the team!''
While it's true that four players failed to appear at a reception, the matter was handled to our satisfaction. Because it was a club function, we don't feel it's anyone's business other than our members as to the reasons and how the matter was resolved. Our members certainly do not consider our players ``rude''! People are unaware of the many appearances and contributions these young men make to help our community's youth.
Everyone involved with this hockey organization knows that the lack of practice at the Roanoke Civic Center is a serious concern. This needs to be discussed with the officials of the city and the Civic Center Commission.
We in the Roanoke Valley Hockey Booster Club are proud of the members of the '94-'95 Roanoke Express, and feel they're an asset to the Roanoke Valley. The cover of the first edition of this year's hockey program says it all: The coach and team are the ``Class of Roanoke!'' We, along with the owners, have worked very hard to build a solid franchise in the valley. Looking at last year and this season to date, we feel we've done just that.
MAGGIE DREWRY ROANOKE
Recognizes good, bad and truly awful
ALTHOUGH I enjoy Mike Mayo's movie reviews, I applaud the addition of Katherine Reed as a movie reviewer for the newspaper. She is to be commended for cutting through the morass of Hollywood hype (e.g., ``The Lion King,'' ``Interview with the Vampire''), and providing incisive commentary on the good (rare), mediocre (usually), and truly awful (all too often) movies available locally.
Although each individual must ultimately reach his or her own conclusions, the value to your readers of a reviewer who recognizes drivel when she sees it shouldn't be underestimated in this day of inflated movie-admission prices.
KATHERINE CLEMO ROANOKE
Take care of basics to save health costs
I'D LIKE to pursue the subject written about by Jimmy Mabry (Nov. 15 letter to the editor, ``Vision and dental programs needed'').
I believe a lot of people wouldn't be in nursing homes today if their eyes, ears and teeth had been taken care of properly. Not being able to see and hear can make one seem senile.
If insurance companies, including the Medicare program, would do a little research, they would find they could save millions of dollars by picking up the tab for needs in these three areas. They would save hospitalization from accidents caused by vision problems, including falling, and from falls and other accidents caused because one can get unbalanced from not hearing well.
Also, the teeth are part of the digestive system. With proper care of teeth, one can save a lot on hospital stays for stomach problems.
There are numerous other ills that can result if eyes, ears and teeth are neglected. I hope for future generations that their needs will be taken care of.
Most of us have taken proper care in these areas. But at prices now, a lot of us senior citizens cannot afford proper care, even though we may work part time and draw Social Security.
GEORGIE HENSON BUENA VISTA
Public education needs more support
I'M A freshman college student majoring in elementary education. I've seen for years how our public schools are being run with the little money they receive now. I don't see how they can operate on much less.
It's aggravating to hear government leaders complain about our education standards. Politicians promise to give more money to our education system, but once in office they see fit to put the money elsewhere. They claim that schools receive enough money to operate sufficiently; therefore, extra funding can be taken from schools and put elsewhere. The truth is that our public schools are operating with old books and out-of-date teaching materials.
State and national governments complain about the number of illiterate high-school graduates. If more education cuts are made, do they expect these problems to get better? The money may be available and used for building renovations, but excess money should be used to improve materials teachers are given to work with.
The school system isn't a toy to be played with by politicians, but rather an investment in our future that should be regarded as something important. What we invest today in our schools will be seen tomorrow in those who will run our country. Can our country survive on what we're producing now? I don't think so.
TONYA FERGUSON BLUE RIDGE
941129 STORY tues 11-29 l TOPIC letters to t KEYWORDK AUTHOR:KARENT11/29/94 6
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