Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 22, 1995 TAG: 9502240016
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Though good genes play a part, my bicycle plays a greater part. In 15 years of cycling, I've accumulated close to 1,600 hours of unused sick leave, weigh less at 44 than I did at age 24, and am better able to deal with stress.
I've seen far more of the world and this country, thanks to my bike. I've ridden in Ireland, England and Japan. I've crossed Iowa twice, and much of Virginia many times.
When I talk to people in Roanoke about biking, they say they're afraid to ride, and there are no places to ride away from traffic or narrow roads.
For experienced riders, there are many places to ride because we have the skills to ride in traffic, negotiate worn or narrow roads, railroad tracks and untrippable traffic lights.
But then many of us ride more than 1,000 miles each year. For young or inexperienced riders, there are few places in the valley to ride. There are no bike routes or cycling paths to schools, parks or libraries.
Many other areas of the country have made the choice to become ``bicycle friendly.'' They provide wide, inside lanes and shoulders, on- and off-road bikeways and greenway links.
Roanoke is now beginning the process by exploring the concept of a greenway plan.
As someone who depends on cycling for recreation, adventure and continued good health, I hope the Roanoke Valley will support the development of a greenway system to enable more people of all ages and riding abilities to begin to enjoy bicycling.
RUTH LIPNIK
President
Blue Ridge Bicycle Club
ROANOKE
Elitists can rattle their tin cups
MARC JAMES Small didn't go far enough in his Feb. 6 commentary ``Take the `public' out of broadcasting.'' He felt tax dollars taken by threat of force shouldn't be used to benefit the very few.
Small didn't mention that tax dollars are used to support law and medical schools where the number of students is a pittance. In fact, so few members of the tax-paying public go to college that tax money shouldn't be used to educate an elitist few. And since we've gone as far as we can go in raising corn and chickens, why should we spend money for agriculture schools to benefit so few farmers?
Market penetration of The Smithsonian, the Botanical Gardens, the Air and Space Museum, and the Library of Congress is so low that using tax money to support them isn't right.
Threat of force is needed to get students to read so that we don't need to support libraries. And why support art and music classes when so few people become artists and musicians?
Small knows that when people are awash in all that extra money from tax cuts, they'll gladly drop coins in the tin cups of those strange and elitist few soliciting support for law and medical schools, museums and libraries.
CLEMENS J. ACKERMAN
NEWPORT
Marilyn Monroe was worthy of honor
IN RESPONSE to Mary Baker's Feb. 4 letter to the editor ``But do the dogs give a lick?'':
I can't think of why she'd be so upset about Marilyn Monroe adorning a U.S. postage stamp. Monroe is more popular now than at the time of her unfortunate death on Aug. 5, 1962. She was one of the most beautiful women the world has ever seen, a great actress - and extremely intelligent despite her sex-symbol image.
To suggest that Monroe is comparable with Madonna or Roseanne shows ignorance beyond belief, as well as very bad taste.
I suggest that Baker nominate her favorite breed of dog to the U.S. Postal Service, since she obviously knows zip about Monroe. If she were more active in the Humane Society, perhaps she'd have less time to bad mouth and criticize the dead.
Will Baker's image adorn a U.S. postage stamp 33 years from now? If so, I'll submit her own letter in protest.
L. TODD BOYD
DUBLIN
Meeting the needs of unwed mothers
THE ROANOKE Times & World-News is to be commended for the Feb. 5 Horizon section article, ``They're against abortion and they don't want to shoot anyone.'' It's often easier and more acceptable to portray the pro-life community as extremist when actually it represents many in the mainstream. Articles such as this will encourage more moderate discussion of difficult topics.
A valid point is made that the pro-life community must do more than `` hold up a placard ... and should take care of the needs of the unwed mother as well as the child.'' For the past 11 years, the Crisis Pregnancy Center of the Roanoke Valley has done just that.
While clearly providing a pro-life message, we meet the material needs of mothers and their babies. Parenting education is offered, along with practical assistance during the pregnancy. Maternity clothes, cribs and baby supplies are provided through the center. Sexuality counseling with an emphasis on abstinence is offered to individuals and groups. Believing that each individual is created with value by God, we attempt to enable each woman to recognize her own value, and that of her unborn child.
NANCY V. DYE
Member, Board of Directors
Crisis Pregnancy Center of the Roanoke Valley
ROANOKE
Despotism showed its ugly face
ROANOKE COUNTY recently refused to permit electric service to be connected to a trailer in the Roanoke Valley (Jan. 12, ``Frozen out on the wrong side of the line'').
By law, a citizen was denied heat, light and running water. By law, Frances Lamb was forced to sit in the cold and dark. By law, she was placed in the condition of being in a dungeon on her own land.
We're supposed to have freedom to live. This woman had not even enough freedom to live on her own taxed property. It was heartening that citizens moved her trailer to another county to give her relief. But their kindness merely papered over the problem. Every day, many are denied the freedom to live whose cases do not appear in the news.
We seem to be ignorant of the fact that by giving government unlimited powers, the most arbitrary rule can be made legal. And in this way, a democracy may set up the most complete despotism imaginable.
What excuse, besides ignorance, can justify our enduring such government?
JAMES SWECKER
ROANOKE
The special interests of Virginia citizens
THE GROUPS protesting George Allen's brain-dead tax cuts and prison projects, groups he refers to as ``special interests,'' are citizens and taxpayers of Virginia.
This agenda is unpopular with almost everyone, and state legislators voting for it do so at their political peril.
GAIL KRIEG
ROANOKE
All politicians are bad apples
NEWT GINGRICH says the Capitol is a sick place where Democrats and the news media conspire against him.
He's certainly right about one thing: The Capitol is a sick place. The ones who make it sick are politicians of both parties.
How can one politician complain about the ethics of another? They're all sick, and deserve to be on the bottom of the slime barrel.
I hope the press continues to expose all politicians of both parties for what they really are.
CARL R. PADGETT
SALEM
by CNB