Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 22, 1995 TAG: 9503220032
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Why don't you explore facts as to why Salem or other areas of the Roanoke Valley have fewer children eligible for these programs? Is it possible that there are invisible boundaries keeping these people in the city, or economic reasons that stick the city with the responsibility of caring for a disproportionate share of people who need governmental help?
I have no doubt that Roanoke would love to provide for every individual needing help, but where are the bucks coming from?
Perhaps your newspaper would tell us how much and when you contributed to the CHIP program. While you're at it, tell us how big the newspaper's business-license tax is.
Instead of taking shots at Roanoke city, why not take shots at the citizens around the city who continually refuse to consolidate the valley. Instead of getting together, diluting the problems and pooling this valley's talents as a whole, we continue to have our own separate communities, and let someone else handle all the problems. And your newspaper tries to fan the flames of discontent - to keep pitting each against another.
You praise Salem for $37,000, but never mention the things Salem doesn't do to carry the load that is left to Roanoke. Shame on you. Roanoke certainly deserves a better newspaper.
JAMES K. MORGAN
ROANOKE
Give readers facts about gun laws
READING your Feb. 24 editorial ``Retreating on gun violence,'' I detected two very disturbing premises.
First, you imply that law-abiding citizens who lawfully apply for and are granted a concealed weapon's permit will cause a ``proliferation of ... gun-related violence.'' I believe this illustrates your subconscious belief that there's no difference between criminals with illegal guns and law-abiding citizens with legally obtained (one a month, after a background check) guns. You lump us all in with violent predators of the criminal world simply because we have succeeded in disallowing any crackpot judge from capriciously abridging our constitutional rights. You smear the good name and character of Virginia's law-abiding citizens, and an apology or clarification is in order.
Second, your newspaper always refers to the National Rifle Association as if it were some disembodied evil entity with no basis for existing. The NRA is an effective lobbying group because a huge number of Virginians are members. The power or influence the NRA can assert is directly proportional to the size of its membership. I would wager it has more members than the American Civil Liberties Union.
The editorial mentioned that Virginia joins the ranks of 22 other states with liberal concealed-weapons laws. You should do an article that gives facts regarding what's happened after those states enacted their laws. Did violent crime go up or down? How many criminals were shot or scared off in the commission of a criminal act by an armed citizen?
Keep sob stories to a minimum, and give us accurate, balanced and unbiased facts. Let readers make up their own minds if our new concealed-weapons law is ill-advised, based on other states' results. The citizenry is better served with facts than with liberal sour grapes.
JOHN P. KEMP
ROANOKE
Fanning flames of racial hatreds
CONFEDERATE patriotism compels me to voice my outrage at the Benson cartoon on your March 4 editorial page. It depicted hooded Klansmen holding the Confederate battle flag, standing fast against affirmative action, called ``1995's Wedge Issue.'' It shows how contemptuous Benson and this newspaper are of any opposition to guilt-driven social agendas. Programs like affirmative action are defended because they help to assuage guilt-ridden consciences.
The ``wedge issue'' presumably refers to the divergence of thought between whites and blacks on the justice and wisdom of discriminating programs to ``make up for'' past discrimination. The scapegoat South, with its large black population, legacy of slavery and Jim Crow, is smeared by the media to suggest that any opposition to affirmative action is driven by racism. Never could opposition to a policy be driven by its inherent flaws or by intelligent reflection of its counter-productive social qualities.
Distortions of Southern history and truth about the Confederate flag have fanned the flames of racial hatreds, and recently bore fruit in the murder by four black youths of 19-year-old Michael David Westerman of Elkton, Ky. His only provocation was the Confederate flag displayed on his truck. Such intolerance is the direct result of the media's support of attempts to rewrite and discredit our history and heritage. Success of this campaign is a source of great anguish among we few who know the truth. Our voices are heard only faintly because we don't own and operate the varied means for disseminating information to mass audiences. We don't control Hollywood studios, and aren't personally vested yet in the political machinations that control who is promoted for candidacy of the major parties. Our voices are ignored as ``Big Brother'' brainwashes the masses through half-truths, omissions, lies and myths.
Still, the eradication of loyalty to Southern political thought and ideals can never occur so long as there are those who will speak on behalf of truth. We must speak out against hate groups misusing our flag. They, and small-minded ``new South'' proponents who have capitulated to the rich and powerful, must not be allowed to succeed in overseeing the death of Southern culture.
WAYNE D. CARLSON
DUBLIN
Catch those lazy littering lugs
AS I travel U.S. 460 to Roanoke, it's disgusting to see so much litter - large bags of garbage, some busted open with cartons and cans, and clothes blowing everywhere. It's especially an eyesore in the winter with no grass or foliage to help cover some of it.
I'm sure a lot of littering is done at night by people too lazy to take their garbage to a dumpster or pay to have it picked up. What if everyone just pitched their bags on U.S. 460 or any street or highway?
Do these people ever get caught, and what is the fine? They should be made to pick up trash every day for 30 days, plus pay a fine.
Flowers have been planted in the median strip, and soon they'll bloom and the grass will get green. But will we be able to see the beauty for the trash? Hey, let's clean up our act!
CLAUDIA GOULD
TROUTVILLE
Build friendly roads for cyclists
KUDOS to Ruth Lipnik, president of the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club, for staying in shape on her bicycle, and seeing the world from it. (Feb. 22 letter to the editor, ``Pedal pushing for fun and health.'') As founder and director of the Wilderness Road Bicycle Ride, Southwest Virginia's largest annual social and recreational bicycle ride, I know too well the popularity the sport could enjoy in our region, but as yet does not.
Unfortunately, Southwest Virginia isn't the easiest place to ride. The hills are tough and always will be. But the biggest detriment to safety and enjoyment is the lack of suitable on-road amenities. Because many rural roads throughout our region are narrow, winding and shoulderless, cycling can be a helmet-raising experience. It seems to me that most avid cyclists hereabouts learned cycling elsewhere, and became comfortable with traffic before tackling our roads.
A shining example of what can be done right: Virginia 723 from Ellett to Luster's Gate near Blacksburg was widened and straightened last year, and had a paved shoulder added. The popularity of this short stretch of road for cyclists should grow by leaps and bounds this summer riding season.
If planners and engineers can build friendlier designs into new and re-engineering projects, the health, adventure and recreational benefits of bicycling will undoubtedly reach a greater and appreciative audience.
MICHAEL S. ABRAHAM
BLACKSBURG
by CNB