Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 17, 1995 TAG: 9504170001
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
When finished, it will be first class, just as Mayor Taliaferro promised.
The oohs and aahs will far outnumber the naysayers' ``I can't believe it cost this much.''
You won't need mass transit to get there.
Would you rather be sitting here to watch a ball game or in the Bronx (we're talking night games)? And you'll still have money in your pocket when you leave the game in Salem.
If the cost of going first class is a little higher than expected, so be it. It's because of people like Taliaferro that I choose to live here, and, most importantly, to raise a family here.
It's refreshing to hear Taliaferro say, ``I don't mind taking the blame, if there is such a thing.'' As far as I'm concerned, no harm, no foul, no blame.
ROBERT W. SOUTHARD
SALEM
City firefighters are sitting it out
I'M APPALLED that we have forest fires raging in Craig County and surrounding areas, and out-of-state firefighters have come to our aid when Roanoke city firefighters are sitting at home!
My husband is a city firefighter, and would love to be helping out, but the city doesn't sanction it. You would think Roanoke would round up all its off-duty personnel and any spare equipment, and rush to the aid of our neighboring communities. But that's not the case. Roanoke would rather see hundreds of acres burn and possibly homes lost than chance a higher insurance premium or disability coverage later on.
I don't want my husband in harm's way any more than the next wife, but why the city refuses to allow him to do the job he was trained for and loves when there's such urgent need is just beyond me. It certainly says something about neighbor helping neighbor!
RUTH BAILIEY
BLUE RIDGE
Where's concern for O.J.'s children?
ANOTHER POINT of view on O.J. Simpson: Neighbors heard and were awakened by the incessant and plaintive barking of Nicole's Akita. It's amazing that the two young children of Nicole and O.J. weren't awakened also. Justin and Sydney lay asleep in Nicole's residence as the murders occurred outside and until the bodies were found.
If Simpson is guilty, he would have given no thought or cared about his children being so close to the brutal attacks. He would have had no idea when or who would have discovered the bodies - it easily could have been them. He wouldn't have cared or given thought that his children could have been awakened and ventured onto the scene of the bloody and vicious attacks as it was happening. Too, he wouldn't have cared that they were alone and vulnerable as their mother lay dead and he had fled the scene. It's very chilling to consider that these young children could have stumbled onto the bloody and grisly bodies. It's awful to think O.J. could be so cold and cruel to murder two people, but it haunts the soul to consider he could have given no thought to his children, and what would have happened to them if they had come upon the murders in progress or discovered the bodies of their mother and Ron Goldman.
If he's innocent, I haven't heard him voice fear over the children's vulnerability to have been victims also of an unknown perpetrator. I have heard him declare his innocence, but no demands to find the perpetrators or worries over his children.
When these children were awakened by police, Sydney had told one of them that she heard ``Mommie's best friend'' and she heard ``Mommy crying.'' It's a blessing this child didn't go to see what was wrong.
Whether O.J. is guilty or innocent, it's horrid to consider what could have happened to these two children.
K. LOUISE PADGETT
SALEM
Pols score low on the laughometer
SEN. AL D'Amato's recent controversial remarks about Judge Lance Ito were as irresponsible as were Sen. Jesse Helm's remarks about President Clinton a few months ago.
I don't understand why these political leaders compromise themselves on nationally syndicated radio talk shows. Rush Limbaugh, Don Imus and Howard Stern promote propaganda and demagoguery on a daily basis against our government, under the disguise of humor. These quick-witted talk-show hosts are just mean-spirited at times, not to mention sacrilegious - particularly Imus! I'm sure they have their own agenda, which is to up their ratings, but must they enlist the help of America's leaders?
Whenever I hear that a politician/wanna-be-comic will be a guest on one of these shows, I merely sit back and wait for them to "bomb!"
MARY NESTER-BAUMGARDNER
LYNCHBURG
by CNB