Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 10, 1995 TAG: 9501100048
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
A case in point: On Jan. 5, we read three adjacent letters to the editor (``Allen's downsizing of state government'' by George F. Snyder, ``Taxpayers' help should be limited'' by Teresa DeWeese, and ``Welfare recipients are the scapegoats'' by Paula Kirtley).
Snyder's letter extols the virtues of downsizing government and business; DeWeese's raises the issue of working, even two or three jobs, to stay off welfare; while Kirtley's explores the perpetuation of poverty.
All are well-written, logically argued, passionately presented - and their contents are even mutually supportive, to a degree.
Yet the contradiction cries out, loudly and clearly: Downsizing, multiple jobs held by the same person and the ending of welfare don't mix. If all folks are to work for a living, business must have jobs to offer. Downsizing reduces the number of jobs. If all folks are to find work, two or three jobs can't be had by just one person.
Where is the collective logic in these three letters? If truth rises from contradictions, the Roanoke Times & World-News is surely a fountainhead of truth.
ROGER W. O'DELL
ROANOKE
Fires could have been prevented
WHEN WILL they ever learn? At least three recent fires in Roanoke have been caused by children playing with matches or lighters.
It's so easy to prevent some accidents, injuries or deaths by thinking ahead - by removing throw rugs that could cause a fall, by turning pan handles toward the stove, and by keeping matches and guns out of children's reach.
MARY-MARGARET BROWN
ROANOKE
Pro-abortion mentality is violent
THE VIOLENT actions exhibited by John Salvi III at abortion clinics in Massachusetts and Virginia aren't the result of the pro-life movement. Rather, they're more accurately the result of the pro-abortion mentality that upholds a personal choice to decide if and when life is sacred and worthy of respect and protection.
The Catholic Pro-Life Foundation of the Blue Ridge upholds that all life, from conception until natural death, is a gift from God and therefore worthy of respect and protection. We pray for the souls of innocent children killed by abortion as well as the souls of those performing the violent act of abortion. To be truly pro-life is to respect all life and denounce all violence.
The foundation denounces the violent acts of Salvi and other violent acts at abortion facilities. We will continue to work peacefully for an end to the violent death of unborn children. We ask those committed to life to pray with us for an end to abortion and the violence it has seeded throughout our world.
PATRICIA HENRY
ROANOKE
Lethal injection is not more humane
ON JAN. 24, Virginia will have its first chance to test its new killing machine. Last year, the General Assembly approved lethal injection as the new-age way of killing its prisoners who are sentenced to death. Del. Phil Hamilton of Newport News was finally able to convince his colleagues that it was more ``humane'' to inject a lethal dose of drugs into the bloodstream of a prisoner strapped to a gurney.
While it's true there'll be no more charred bodies or the stench of burned flesh, we shouldn't think that lethal injection is any more humane. It should be noted that the electric chair - and before that the gas chamber, firing squad, hanging and the guillotine - were all introduced because they were more humane.
Don't be fooled into thinking that there's any less torture involved in strapping a prisoner to a gurney, having him lie there while ``technicians'' probe for an appropriate vein, then waiting for the saline solution to clear his bloodstream, and continue waiting for the administration of lethal drugs. There are a number of cases where technicians had to spend quite a bit of time probing for veins until they came up with the right one, and cases of the needle springing loose and spraying witnesses sitting nearby. We'll also likely see more death sentences handed down by juries since they can rationalize that lethal injection will hurt less.
Lethal injection also reopens debate concerning the medical establishment's involvement in state killing. We shouldn't be led to believe that this apparent ``clean and sanitary'' form of killing is any less torturous than any form yet devised.
HENRY HELLER
Chair, Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
FABER
Museums' treatment lacks fairness
YOUR DEC. 27 editorial, ``Out of sight, out of mind?'' misses an important point.
Your comment regarding the governor's budget cuts for museums and cultural organizations stated, ``The Allen administration says it's time such groups look to private funding sources. Fair enough.''
I don't believe it's near ``fair enough.'' Is society only served well by museums and cultural organizations that win the approval and support of those with sufficient economic power to make a private contribution?
As you conclude, it may be ``a fact of life.'' However, it is not ``fair enough.''
THOMAS C. SPENCER
LEXINGTON
Education will suffer if BPOL tax goes
THE PRIMARY topic of discussion at a recent Roanoke City Central Council Parent-Teacher Association meeting was Gov. Allen's proposal to reduce taxes, specifically the elimination of the business, professional and occupational license tax, which underwrites a significant portion of Roanoke city's public-education funding. While the top budget priority for the state should be to ensure appropriate funding for our children's education, the loss of this source of revenue will have a detrimental effect on the quality of education available to our city's youth.
Roanoke receives $8 million annually from the BPOL tax, and more than $3 million of the tax is appropriated directly to our city public schools for educational purposes. Eliminating this tax would require that the city schools make drastic reductions in teacher positions and educational services to our children.
It's imperative that all possible sources of funding for public education be retained. In order that the votes of our representatives in Richmond accurately reflect the views of their constituency, it's necessary for the public to respond now.
JOANN HAMIDULLAH
President, Roanoke City Central Council PTA
ROANOKE
Citizens concerned for the needy
WORDS couldn't begin to express Roanoke Area Ministries' deep gratitude to citizens of the Roanoke Valley for their generous response to the Good Neighbors Fund. The people demonstrated, as in times past, that this valley and surrounding area is caring, compassionate and willing to join in a common effort to help neighbors.
This overall effort couldn't happen without the invaluable support of the Roanoke Times & World-News. The newspaper set a fine example for others to follow in encouraging people to work in cooperation for the common good of less fortunate citizens.
As an ecumenical urban ministry, RAM's major mission is to help people with emergency situations. The monies raised are used in their entirety for emergency outreach. During 1994, because of citizens' care and concern for the needs of others, RAM was able to provide assistance to thousands of families and individuals who found themselves in crisis situations. Because of the success of this year's fund, RAM will be able to assist a comparable number of people in 1995.
RAM is grateful to all Good Neighbors Fund participants for their generous expressions of concern as well as their support of our area's disadvantaged.
JULIE HOLLINGSWORTH
Executive Director
Roanoke Area Ministries
ROANOKE
by CNB