Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 12, 1995 TAG: 9503100025
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: F-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
I feel compelled to respond as one white male. I admire Barrera for her success in a competetive business world, but must take issue with the crux of her discussion.
hO e says that ``the angry white males are experiencing what women and minorities have lived with for years.'' I, for one, don't appreciate being stereotypically categorized into a group that she blames for perpetuating discrimination. I was raised in a single-parent environment in a rural community, and have worked since graduating from school. I don't have much but feel I've honestly earned what little I have. If I become unemployed (again), I know that with persistence and hard work I can again find a productive job. If one is denied the opportunity to compete due to discrimination, that's wrong, and must be remedied. But please don't include me in a large group of white males responsible for discrimination, environmental destruction, global warming, extinction of the woolly mammoth, and anything else that's convenient. Why, I don't even own an ``Old White Boy League'' baseball hat!
Barrera suggests that equality is the answer to discrimination. I agree, but suggest that her diatribe does nothing but further polarize. It's difficult to come together on an issue if forces are continually drawing factions apart. I'm a perfect example. I knew I was a white male, but didn't realize I was angry until I read her letter.
TOM PRIDGEN
BLACKSBURG
Elk could find a home in Giles
REGARDING Outdoor Editor Bill Cochran's Feb. 20 column about elk (``Bring back the elk''):
Giles County had elk in the '50s. At the time, I was president of the Giles County Wildlife Association. Our club was interested in getting more elk for our county.
We had contact with a cattle buyer from Bland County. This man would have the elk dehorned and given shots, for $30 each with no charge for delivery from Montana. But our game warden found out about the elk, so he contacted Richmond and put a stop to it.
If we had elk once, why not now if the land supports them? Why not put a few in Giles County?
A friend of mine killed a 1,400-pound elk when in the county, so the habitat must be suitable.
LEONARD H. SPAUR
PEARISBURG
Let others follow Salem's example
ON FEB. 19, Parade magazine had a marvelous story about Spay/Neuter Day USA. This nationwide campaign to prevent needless slaughter of unwanted dogs and cats by promoting free sterilization one day a year is a magnificent opportunity. The success rate of reducing numbers of animals brought to shelters by preventing parenthood is well-documented. One unspayed dog can lead to 28,244 puppies in nine years, and an unspayed cat can lead to 14 million kittens.
Salem joined in this venture, offering free surgery to Salem animals. Other valley localities and the Roanoke Valley Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals need to follow this example. Let's reduce the numbers of animals that are abandoned and euthanized by controlling the problem where it's the least painful and the most effective.
Congratulations to Salem and to the Doris Day Animal League that sponsored Spay Day USA on Feb. 28. How about a repeat later this year?
PAT PRATALI
SALEM
Baseball fans are not miserable
REGARDING Kevin M. Meredith's temper tantrum about baseball fans (Feb. 20 letter to the editor, ``Fans have screwed-up values''):
It seems he, not they, needs to grow up.
For the most part, baseball fans are happy people who enjoy life. Whiners like Meredith are always mad at the world. They are envious, jealous and pouty if all minds aren't thinking alike for the good of the state.
Baseball fans have included presidents, inventors, artists and others who have made this country great. In other words, baseball fans have included people who enjoy life and do participate in society, not just those who are miserable, and who whine and complain.
Meredith needs to lighten up and enjoy life. If he can't, he needs to help out in areas he sees that need fixing. He shouldn't just fester in his own stew.
JIM DOOLEY
BLACKSBURG
A full night's sleep - on the taxpayers
YOUR FEB. 17 article (``Police forces to grow'') reported that Glen Lyn will be awarded a federal grant to hire a second police officer because the one they have is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
I don't begrudge Chief Blake Walkup some time off, but I don't remember that purpose being mentioned in the debate over the recently passed national crime bill. I recollect that the crime bill funds are to fight crime. The article didn't report Glen Lyn's crime situation. Just how rampant is its crime, and what are its statistics? Is it expected that a second officer will reduce its crime problem? Will it try other crime-reduction programs such as midnight basketball?
Even if Congress intended for our tax money to ease the workload of small-town police departments, this sounds like another bureaucratic half-measure to me.
Glen Lyn will now have two policemen, each on call 12 hours a day, seven days a week. It won't be too long before Sen. Ted Kennedy will note the unacceptability of that situation and sponsor another crime bill awarding more federal grants for more policemen. No doubt, there also will be numerous records, reports and forms to be sent to the Justice Department's COPS FAST bureau, so an administrative staff will have to be added to the Glen Lyn Police Department.
If Glen Lyn's problem isn't crime, but just the need for the chief to get a full night's sleep from time to time, maybe there are solutions other than the rest of us picking up its tab. It could try volunteer auxiliary police or deputies, combining services with other localities or increasing its local taxes to pay for part-time help.
I know nobody can do it alone; even Andy had Barney to help out. But I'd like to see how Sheriff Taylor would handle a bunch of Washington bureaucrats who showed up in Mayberry to ``award'' them a federal ``grant'' to pay Barney's salary.
WAYNE P. AYERS
ROANOKE
Criticism of Thomas missed the mark
I FIND it unfortunate that Judith Adkins (Feb. 20 letter to the editor, ``Sen. Bell offers what voters want'') found it necessary to criticize Del. Vic Thomas' efforts to gain long-term predictable funding for area museums as a way to argue against positions taken by a Jan. 30 editorial (``The Bell curve at the assembly'') about Sen. Brandon Bell. I question why one must criticize another in an effort to boost an opinion or position they hold as important.
I've followed Thomas' career in the legislature, and found that he strives desperately to act in the best interest of our area and his constituents. He has stood for many worthwhile causes, including continued and predictable state funding of area attractions and educational museums. He knows well the educational and economic importance of our museums and attractions, is well respected by Republicans and Democrats locally and in the legislature, and is a conscientious and faithful elected official.
Let's repudiate the need to criticize others as a way to make our point or gain support for our own causes and candidates.
SANDRA C. NEIGHBORS
ROANOKE
by CNB