Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 20, 1995 TAG: 9503210009
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
There's a whole subculture in our society that looks for ways to sue somebody and become monetarily set for life. The proliferation of nuisance lawsuits has resulted in a proliferation of lawyers, and the two feed each other. I'm not saying that someone injured through another's negligence shouldn't be compensated, but some reason should be applied in making the award. Our society is far from perfect; people make mistakes, sometimes resulting in injury.
We've forgotten how to be responsible for our own actions. I guarantee that if a cap was placed on these awards, our lawsuit industry would take a nose dive. Our society has no conscience, and the person bringing suit has no concern that it might close down a business or financially ruin a family.
Former Gov. Doug Wilder has a chance to set an example. The metal on his suspenders set off the metal detector at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. As a result, he was manhandled by an overzealous security guard, who used poor judgment in interacting with Wilder. The man was fired, and Wilder made a statement about ``pursuing other action.'' I hope he'll turn the other cheek, acknowledge that the man made a mistake and has paid for it, and let it go at that.
I quote McGovern: ``Supporting curbs on the American lawsuit industry ... is about being reasonable and responsible. There was a time not so many years ago when a lawsuit for damages was literally a court of last resort. We have to stop seeing each other as plaintiffs and defendants, as possible targets for every accident that happens.''
Let's keep in mind the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. What a near-perfect world this would be if we followed that directive.
GEORGIA F. CHAPMAN
BEDFORD
Judge teacher on merits of her work
UPON reading your Feb. 23 editorial (``In defense of doughnut disorder'') about Rhonda Welsh, drama director at Pulaski County High School, I was appalled at the lack of support exhibited by the Pulaski County School Board. Having coached forensics and directed theater productions for 23 years at the high-school level in Virginia, I've traveled many miles with teams and casts. It would be interesting to know if any School Board members have accompanied drama teams when they are competing at events, or if they have attended any of the past seven state championships when Pulaski competed. Few schools in the state can boast this record.
Perhaps if School Board members and administrators became more involved, they'd see that businesses react differently to a disgruntled teen-ager than to a disgruntled adult, though the value of each one's dollar is the same. I imagine that Welsh's choice of a motel with continental breakfast was for the purpose of saving money. I do the same because funds are especially tight for events that have no regular gate receipts. It's true that young adults are louder and often less inhibited than older adults, but I've seen and heard adult groups who certainly missed being role models.
One wonders also at the irony of this newspaper's editorial on the subject. I don't recall seeing any major headlines about state championships in the performing arts while sports pages are rife with headlines if a Southwest Virginia athletic team competes.
I've never met Welsh, but did judge her work in the AAA state championships several years ago. It was memorable, compelling and innovative. I wonder if any School Board members were in Charlottesville on March 6 to see her cast perform in another state championship competition. Let them sit through eight plays and then evaluate her work. To inspire young actors and actresses requires not just talent but also character and dedication.
JENNIFER JERRUE BRADLEY
ABINGDON
Young does not mean stupid
IN RESPONSE to James Lileks' Feb. 24 column, titled ``Kids today are, like, totally stupid?''
I'm 13 years old, and am sick of adults who think children today are stupid. I'm sick of people who look at teens like they're going to steal something when they go into stores. I'm sick of the term ``slacker,'' which implies that I'm lazy. I work hard in school and get A's and B's. I strongly object to someone calling me lazy.
Baggy pants and hats are just clothing - they're not IQ tests. Do all adults forget, once they reach 30 years of age, the things they did when they were children?
Lileks said that he doesn't mean to tar all children, but the smart ones will only go to college to protest and shut down campuses.
Maybe some of these sullen youths are a little upset over pollution, AIDS, and a $1 trillion debt that are to become our inheritance in a few years.
KELLY McCARTY
VINTON
by CNB