Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 19, 1995 TAG: 9504200001
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: EDITORIAL EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
I had dinner in the new Regency Room, and was so pleased to see that so much of the original structure was still intact. I was also thrilled with the inclusion of classic appetizers and entrees that were served on china with a similar dogwood pattern. As always, the meal and the service were elegant and sophisticated.
I remember wonderful celebrations at Hotel Roanoke: dinner for special occasions, bridal showers, wedding receptions and Mother's Day luncheons. The endearing part of this evening was that three generations - my daughter, my father and I - had the opportunity to reminisce about my childhood memories while simultaneously creating the same memories and traditions for my daughter.
SANDI MARLOWE
ROANOKE
Agency's staff shows courage
WHEN I learned that Planned Parenthood of the Blue Ridge would begin offering abortion services here in Roanoke, I wept with compassion for the brave women and men who work for this organization. Now their own lives may be endangered due to their commitment to women's reproductive rights.
This endangerment is neither right nor fair. Planned Parenthood's long-time goal has been to educate women on family-planning options before an unexpected pregnancy occurs. The reality of this is that we're dealing with human beings - creatures who are altogether too imperfect - and unwanted pregnancies do occur. Without passing judgment, Planned Parenthood in Roanoke will be able to provide a safe and legal medical procedure for women facing a crossroads in their lives. But regardless of their function within the Planned Parenthood organization, every staff member and volunteer like me could be placing their very lives on the line for acting on their beliefs. There's something wrong with this picture!
How many anti-choice lobbyists have been stalked, shot, vilified or physically threatened by the ``opposition''? How many have been murdered for their beliefs? When will anti-choice extremists recognize that there are very few who are pro-abortion. Those I know who support choice abhor the thought of abortion, yet they defend the right of women to choose.
When will we be able to tear down the walls between us, and work together toward our shared goal of preventing unwanted pregnancies and deterring the spread of fatal sexually transmitted diseases? If pregnancies didn't occur, abortion just wouldn't be an issue, would it?
It takes courage to stand up for what you believe. It takes even more courage to put aside your differences and work together. Come on, folks, let's make Planned Parenthood a safe haven for everyone.
FAITH DOWER
ROANOKE
Health-care providers do care
IN RESPONSE to Mary Therese's April 4 letter to the editor, ``Prolonging life for profits'':
Perhaps we should look at the use of skilled beds in acute hospitals through the eyes of someone who sees the positive outcome of such care.
If elderly patients require a longer time to recuperate than what's considered the ``normal'' length of stay, where do they go? Skilled nursing beds are sometimes limited in rural areas.
I cannot speak for the Roanoke Valley area, but I don't think all health-care providers have the same goal. Physicians that I have observed want the elderly taken care of. They're as concerned about health-care costs as anyone, but will not let a patient suffer due to this. I'm not saying we live in an ideal world, but I surely don't think health-care providers perform procedures or order treatments to cause a patient to suffer in order to gain financially.
When I walk through a skilled unit in a facility, I see human beings who were productive all their lives, and I feel it's our responsibility to care for them. We cannot pick and choose who should get this care. Also, some treatments and procedures patients receive may be palliative treatment to prevent suffering.
Some people are not medically oriented, regardless of their education. All health-care providers can do is try to educate people about advance directives, etc., but it's still an individual decision. Sometimes people are just not accepting of the outcome, no matter what care was provided.
SUE CLARK
LEXINGTON
Attitudes breed trouble in schools
REGARDING the April 2 editorial, ``A healthy dose of responsibility'':
Why not go further? While parents or caregivers need to be responsible for children's health, they also need to be responsible for their children's attitudes.
All privileges of freedom must have the responsibility of keeping and promoting those freedoms. Parents must insist that home, school and society's rules are followed, and that educators and lawmakers be respected.
Regardless of a child's background, most want to learn, and most teachers want to help them learn. Knowledge is readily available in our schools. However, society nurtures malcontents who disrupt learning. I don't think society really knows what happens in school classrooms every day.
Society says reason with students, make lesson plans varied and fascinating, allow ``exceptional'' students their uncontrollable outbursts, keep disruptive pupils in classrooms because they can't be deprived of their rights! Reason with a child who says that taking isn't stealing, with a defiant child who interrupts the lesson with hand-waving or finger-snapping, with a pupil whose shoulder is touched to get attention and he says that you hit him, with the vocal pupil who declares authority is bad, with a pupil making obscene gestures or writing obscenities?
Each interruption disturbs learning and spreads seeds of more disturbance. Borderline malcontents join in, and even good students wonder if it's true schools aren't good.
Schools are good; they're not the problem. The public is blaming the wrong villains. Society has to respect schools, and had better start building and not tearing down.
This isn't the best comparison because I'd never give up on a child. But think of a bushel of apples with a few bad spots. Go along with the bad spots - they'll get well. Ha! Should you allow them to spread decay?
ELSA LOWE
SALEM
Eliminate housing discrimination
REGARDING your April 4 editorial ``Frances Lamb's immobile home'':
Three cheers for Lamb. She was being discriminated against by those who make the rules, but she stood up for her rights. We all should be encouraged to do so more often.
Also, three cheers for those in Richmond who recognized the discrimination against manufactured homes, and passed a law protecting the rights of citizens - thus, protecting them from local-government discrimination.
In the past, we've had laws that encouraged discrimination. Today, we look back and find it hard to believe what happened. Let's hope we continue to eliminate bad laws.
WILLIAM D. WARD
ROANOKE
Cooperation is a model for nation
THAT you can have your cake and eat it, too, was proved recently by the cooperation of developers and conservationists (April 5 article, ``Parkway plans to be presented'').
Three cheers and many thanks to Len Boone, real-estate developer; Gary Johnson, the National Park Service's chief planner; Jim Olin, former congressman and co-chairman of a parkway preservation group; Carlton Abbott, Williamsburg architect and son of one of the key designers of the parkway; Steve Musselwhite; Lynn Davis of Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway; and others who worked together to preserve the views from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Their accomplishment is a beautiful example for this whole nation, and the best way to save our precious natural heritage.
NANCY J. YOUNG
BLUE RIDGE
by CNB