Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 11, 1995 TAG: 9504110092
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
First, a civics lesson. The military is commanded, guided and ordered by civilians, elected and appointed by the people of our country. Redman participated in this process, so she's responsible for the outcome.
Now I challenge the validity of her facts. Where did she get the numbers of ``hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians dead'' and ``many thousands of Iraqi children ... killed as a result of our bombing''? Was she in the Gulf counting bodies? The Allied coalition leaders didn't count. Are her figures attributed to the Iraqi government? That's a reliable source we all trust.
The military objectives, as established by the United Nations' civilian leaders, were to oust the Iraqis from Kuwait, not kill their country's leader. Don't forget the lives we saved on both sides by our decisive victory.
In actual fact, the defense budget is shrinking, and the most powerful and positive military force in the world is getting smaller. Just ask civilians living near a military base that has just closed or is about to. Ask civilians of Haiti, Kuwait, Rwanda and South Florida if they think our military is too big or a negative force in the world. Every deployment the U.S. military makes (which costs lots of money) is by the order of our country's elected civilian leaders.
Military units around the country are involved in civic actions that, if paid for by a community, would never happen or bankrupt the local economy. The military helps young people by giving them a skill, education, discipline and a sense of purpose - benefits that last beyond their service to the country. Redman needs to take the time to investigate the lives of those who serve, and to get her facts straight. She sounds like a young person who is frustrated that she missed the war protests of the Vietnam era. We have come a long way since then.
RICHARD HOLLAR
LEXINGTON
Behaviors are a matter of choice
IN REFERENCE to two letters to the editor referring to remarks made by House Majority Leader Dick Armey directed toward Rep. Barney Frank, the former referring to the latter as a ``fag'':
The Feb. 18 letter (``Armey's apology wasn't required'' by Robert L. Johnson) refers to the homosexual ``lifestyle'' of Frank. The March 9 letter (``Gay lifestyle is not a choice'' by John D. Boenke) refers to gay ``lifestyle'' not as an ``adopted behavior'' but ``something one is born with.''
If the argument brings any clarification, the letters will have been helpful. Personally, I have no patience with those who refer to others in derogatory terms as in the matter between Armey and Frank.
Generally, the public fails to differentiate between ``lifestyle,'' as referred to in both letters, and homosexuality as a reality. Homosexuality is a reality to some people as is heterosexuality. It's increasingly questioned whether this orientation is a matter of choice. But the style in which one chooses to live out that orientation is indeed a matter of choice.
Some people choose to act out their sexuality in a chosen lifestyle of relationships with other people. Some choose to live their lifestyle in celibacy. Both are choices.
A. HEATH LIGHT
Bishop, Diocese of Southwestern Virginia
ROANOKE
Fix the DUI law, for the good of all
IN RESPONSE to the March 10 article, ``New DUI law in jeopardy'':
When the Virginia legislature finally musters enough fortitude to try to do something to reduce the number of drunks on our highways, some bleeding-heart court decides it's too tough on the drunk to take his or her driver's license and try him or her for driving under the influence. It appears that the mission of the court system is to do all in its power to protect the rights of lawbreakers, and to disregard any rights of victims or potential victims.
One of these irresponsible drunks broadsided my daughter's car, and only by a miracle is she alive today. The drunk's blood-alcohol content was .351 percent as determined in the emergency room of a local hospital. The blood-alcohol content was never mentioned in court, probably because some minute technicality hadn't been followed.
When came the day for this 31-year-old drunken driver's hearing in court, he didn't appear. The judge delayed the hearing for two hours, and asked his lawyer to try to locate him. In about two hours, he staggered into the courtroom escorted by his mother. As the hearing progressed, we were astounded to learn that he would only be tried for reckless driving. He was found guilty and fined $75, which his mother paid. This drunken driver didn't even lose his driver's license. He died of a liver disease before he could kill some unsuspecting driver.
I hope legislators can find some way to remedy this situation with the DUI law.
JOHN M. SHUMATE JR.
ROANOKE
by CNB