Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, December 5, 1994 TAG: 9412060053
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
I understand this, for it's good to be considerate of the feelings of others. But it is God who created us and provides all the good things that we enjoy. Therefore, his feelings should be uppermost in our minds. And from what I read in the Bible, God is grieved by our wrongful acts and words.
If true religion and morality were taught in the home as well as in church, and then backed by school systems as was done in the earlier years of our nation, the crime rate would be greatly reduced and other ills of our nation, which are caused by a lack of spirituality, would evaporate.
ROBERT S. McCORMICK JR.
LEXINGTON
Construction boom isn't the culprit
THE NOV. 12 news story about the College of Global Studies at Radford University (``Construction of global college at Radford University delayed'') was misleading to an alarming degree. It implied that a ``boom in the recovering construction market'' was a significant factor in driving bids $2 million over the roughly $4 million budget, never suggesting that the project's budget might have been totally out of line to begin with. The public needs to know:
While construction indicators are up slightly over the past couple years, there's nothing even remotely approaching a construction boom in our area.
There were five responsive and very competitive project bids, with the lowest three general contractors within 1.5 percent of each other. In a boom time, the university would have been fortunate to receive a total of three bids, and the span would likely have been a lot greater.
The architect's design and estimate could and should have achieved the owner's target budget. Nothing has occurred in the construction industry that would lead to that degree of inaccuracy. A gross disservice has been dealt the university, to say nothing of the five general contractors who expended several thousand dollars each in preparing their bids, all for nothing. Also, students and faculty will spend at least one more semester in a make-shift environment.
Referencing a rebid, your staff writer wrote ``changes to the ... building are not expected to be substantive. Rather, materials will be scaled back.'' In fact, if substantive changes weren't made and the same project were bid again later, prices would only go up. Also, future costs for essentially the same project, substituting less expensive materials, couldn't possibly reduce the project cost by $2 million.
The university and the commonwealth should have done everything possible to avail themselves of the results of this very competitive bid. Unfortunately for the university, the state, the faculty, students and taxpayers, that window of opportunity has now closed.
JOHN P. WHITTLE
President, Thor, Inc.
ROANOKE
Editor's note: The news story was based on information released by Radford University.
Tech properly carried the flag
IN RESPONSE to Franklin P. Washbush's Nov. 18 letter to the editor, ``Tech needs lesson in flag etiquette'':
The Nov. 12 news story (``War hero Murphy is remembered'') was incorrect. The American flag was never dipped to the ground.
The Virginia Tech Corp of Cadets Color Guard, under the guidance of Sgt. Major Frank A. Lungrie, chief ROTC instructor, displayed proper flag etiquette in a superior manner. As senior vice commander of VFW Post 5311, I was the coordinator and participated in the ceremonies for Audie Murphy, and I can verify that the ceremony was conducted in a military manner.
ROBERT T. BELL
LTC. USA (Ret)
CHRISTIANSBURG
Editor's note: A correction ran on Nov. 22 noting the error in the news story, ``War hero Murphy is remembered''.
Media shouldn't idolize a traitor
EVERY DAY, unknown numbers of veterans from America's wars die. The most attention the media normally pay to the passing of these heroes is an obituary item. That's no big deal since most of these veterans did what they merely considered their duty to their country. They neither asked for nor expected glory or riches in defending America.
Now, Jerry Rubin, whom I consider a traitor to his country, has died from injuries resulting from the only thing he ever did well: breaking the law. (He was jaywalking.) And the media have continued the frenzy to idolize him ever since he first opened his filthy and vulgar mouth years ago. Well, who gives a damn? I hope Rubin enjoys the special little corner of hell that's been reserved for such traitors.
FRED GABBERT
BLAND
No truce with betrayers of values
TO THE lady who suggests we shake hands with those "conservative Christians" who voted for Sen. Charles Robb, I'd like to say: Drop dead. (Nov. 28 letter to the editor, ``Time now to fight together.'')
I don't want anything to do with Christians who vote for promoters of abortion, homosexuality, pornography and higher taxes. Christians who support these actions would vote for Satan if he ran on their party's ticket.
CHARLES R. HAYNES
RADFORD
Jesse Helms is not a class act
SEN. JESSE Helms' recent injudicious remarks about President Clinton (Nov. 23 article, ``Helms' friends squirm'' from the Associated Press) are absolutely appalling. One has to wonder what leaders and people of other countries made of all this. As Helms' fellow Republican and a moderate conservative, I was totally embarrassed by his off-the-cuff remarks. I didn't think he was being funny or talking tough. Rather, he showed a lack of judgment; a lack of class.
Even though he's admitted error, I'm not going to be so quick to forget. Instead, I'll be listening to him very carefully as he steps into his very important position of chairing the Foreign Relations Committee. Let's hope he'll rise above the fray and become a more polished politician!
MARY NESTER-BAUMGARDNER
LYNCHBURG
Recall the reason for the season
I HATE Christmas for what it's become, and for what I've let it become! Displays, decorations, colored lights, tinsel and commercialism have crowded out that mystical wonderment, that inner warmth felt with the telling of that old story of the simple birth of the baby Jesus - the true Christ-mass!
Perhaps it's too simple for our complicated, chaotic times - peace on Earth, good will toward man. With our minds being invaded by the media, especially television, how can we have any thoughts of our own?
My mother told me a story long ago that pretty much analogizes what's happened to Christmas. A couple planned a party to celebrate the birth of their new baby. Much preparation was made - decorations, food, drink and music. The guests arrived in a festive mood. There was much laughter, cheerfulness and conversation. In the lull of all the activities, someone asked: ``Hey, where is the baby?'' There was a silence broken by a scream. It seems the baby was placed upon a bed where all the guests had piled their coats. The baby had been smothered to death!
DICK MALLEN
ROANOKE
Trinkets won't feed the hungry
A NOV. 28 news article (``Dreaming of clean Christmas'') reports that Downtown Roanoke Inc. and city officials are considering replacing worn-out tinsel Christmas decorations at an estimated cost of $300,000.
Why not take the cost of the decorations and donate that money to Roanoke charities? Do you really need tinsel trinkets on the lampposts when people are homeless and hungry? Wake up, please!
REVELLE HAMILTON
BEDFORD
by CNB