Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 7, 1995 TAG: 9501090016
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO TYPE} LETTERS
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
This past summer, my friend and I attended an open conference that was convened by the Governor's commission on welfare reform at the Roanoke Civic Center.
Kirtley's presentation had me teary-eyed as I recalled my childhood in the '30s and my mother's valiant efforts to keep our family together. I learned to read very early when my aunt explained that those marks on paper were my mother's writing to me. No one could pay mom's rent or send her to school. And poor me! I had to get my college at night school while feeding my own kids. So touching, yes. Should we have a pity party? Nah, that story is common as dirt.
Leaving the conference, I paused to chat with someone and my friend got ahead of me. On the steps at the entrance, I found him being berated by three ladies. People like us were mean-spirited, they implied, because he was expressing the plight of folks asked to pay for others' bad choices.
While I didn't embarrass my friend by describing the many hours and effort he and his wife give to the needy every week, I did ask what the most vocal young lady did to get help on her own. Indignantly, she proclaimed that her parents were well off, but she wouldn't ask them for anything.
At that moment, my friend and I realized that someone too proud to ask capable parents for help, but who doesn't mind demanding help from strangers, no matter what their circumstances, wouldn't understand another word from us. We quietly left. Does Kirtley remember us?
Only recently did we read in your newspaper that mean old mom, tired of subsidizing her daughter's promiscuity, tried to apply ``tough love.'' She didn't get away with it. Her daughter ``beat'' her in court.
ROBERT S. TERRY
BEDFORD
Hokies have to take their lumps
I ENJOY attending Virginia Tech football games, and am happy to see the program growing and getting national exposure.
I recently attended the Gator Bowl. Since I attended the University of Tennessee, I wore my orange and white and cheered the Vols to victory. Being from Roanoke, our group of Vol fans purchased tickets through Tech and had the pleasure of sitting in the middle of 18,000 Hokie fans. This didn't bother us, but it did upset more than one Hokie fan.
The disturbing thing about sitting in this area was listening to excuses being given by some Hokies, even before the game started. If they're true Tech fans, they should be proud of their team and its accomplishments, and not feel the need to make excuses for hard times that come their way.
I hope the recent Gator Bowl serves as a learning experience for Hokie fans. I don't mean to anger them, but I hope they accept the bad with the good and realize that to reach the level they strive for, they'll have to take their lumps. So, be proud and hold your heads high, Hokie fans. The year 1994 was great for the Hokies, and a definite step in the right direction for their football program.
JASON PRICE
ROANOKE
Learning lessons from AIDS victims
HURRAY FOR T. Scott Eaton (Dec. 21 letter to the editor, ``Lessons for living come with AIDS'')! Those who know and love persons living with AIDS are learning so many valuable lessons from them. They're teaching us the meaning of courage, love, compassion, tolerance and respect for one another, regardless of race, religious preference, sexual orientation, etc. What a great world this would be if more of us possessed their attitude and love for one another!
My wish for Eaton is that he may continue to live his life to the fullest, as he now seems to be doing, and that a cure will soon be found for this disease.
ELIZABETH REED WOODRUFF
ROANOKE
Higher taxes are in Virginia's future
GOV. ALLEN'S tax cuts and budget cuts are hogwash. All he's doing is trying to make a name for himself so he can run for higher office. And the people of Virginia will be left with paying higher taxes for years to come.
CLEVELAND J. ST.JOHN JR.
VINTON
by CNB