Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 23, 1995 TAG: 9504220001
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: G-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
But is it too much to ask that I not be bombarded with obnoxious, manipulative, state-sponsored ads for gambling in the form of these endless lottery commercials on AM radio?
Under Gov. George Allen's leadership, the state is stridently promoting something everyone agrees is a bad habit - gambling. Again, I say if ``the people'' want it, so be it. But nobody wants to listen to these awful commercials. Honestly, a good gambling commercial cannot be made, as it will inevitably be engaged in the morally dubious effort of enticing people to do something stupid. Virginia shouldn't allow gambling advertisements of any kind.
In a whiny voice, ``Did you remember to buy your lottery ticket ... , governor?''
JAMES T. SHIRLEY III
BLACKSBURG
Forests survived dire predictions
TO CELEBRATE its 100th anniversary, Field & Stream magazine is including short articles, captioned "Looking Back," reprinted from 100 years of their publications. They can be quite entertaining. February's issue included a short article by Charles Wisner Barrell that originally appeared in 1907.
``Within 20 years, at the present rate of the consumption of wood,'' wrote Barrell, ``expert scientists, men who are supposed to know, have coolly estimated there will be no forests left in these United States.'' Also, ``wherever there is a grove of trees, large enough to be profitably converted into toothpicks, may be heard the diabolic and remorseless screech of the sawmill or the cold, calculating tones of the wood-pulp manufacturer as he reckons how many editions of the yellow dailies his spruce holding represents.''
Rhetoric from the big-10 preservationist organizations - Sierra Club, Wilderness Society, etc. - bears a disturbing similarity to what Field & Stream published 87 years ago. By Barrell's calculation, the forest industry should have put itself out of business four times over by now. Instead, its commitment to staying in business by practicing sustainable forestry has resulted in a full one-third of the U.S. land mass remaining forested - about the same proportion as in 1907. (Virginia residents can boast that our state is 61 percent forested.) As a direct consequence, forest-dwelling species such as white-tailed deer, black bear, grouse and turkey have increased greatly in numbers - in some cases from the brink of extinction.
Over the years, Field & Stream has come to recognize how today's responsible forestry practices generally benefit wildlife. One wonders if today's anti-logging groups will eat their words as gracefully 80 years from now.
RICK MEYER
Division Forester
Appalachian Technical Division
American Pulpwood Association Inc.
ROANOKE
Is `Dead Serious' pursuing safety?
I READ an article about Darrell Frank and his band/organization ``Dead Serious,'' which stirred in me many feelings. There was initial shock at the concept of a $5,000 bounty for killing criminals; understanding of why it will probably be well-received by a fearful populace; and cynicism that it's just a gimmick to earn fame for Frank and/or his band.
Notwithstanding the merits of the proposal, I write in hopes of desensationalizing one aspect of his mission. The article quoted Frank as saying (in reference to the first bounty yet to be claimed), ``I hope it's a woman that it happens to - an elderly woman. That would be really, really great.''
This statement scares me. By actually wishing that anyone, much less an elderly woman, be faced with a threatening situation at the hands of a dangerous criminal, Frank reveals his own sinister side. Could it be that he has never faced such terror? I have, and there were four of them. I defended myself the best I could, and would have been legally justified in using deadly force. Perhaps morally justified, too. But instead of wishing my attackers dead, I wish I had never been attacked. And I would never wish that a fellow human being be threatened with violence, face the terror I felt then and the anguish I felt for years afterward.
So I wonder: Is it really the safety of people Frank pursues? If so, then I beg him and his followers to beware of deriving pleasure or profit from the victimization of others. 'Tis certainly nothing for which any thinking, caring person would wish.
BRENDA RENEE CONNER
CHRISTIANSBURG
Assumption wasn't par for the course
IN STAFF writer Beth Macy's April 6 column (``Ladies' Day and the annual call from Mom''), she asked the reader to ``stop me before I make pun again!'' I'm taking her up on her offer. I suggest that she stop long enough to consider two words used in her column: ``Annual,'' as defined by Webster's Dictionary, means ``occurring once a year: yearly.'' And ``rumor,'' quoted from the same source, is defined as ``a statement or report current but not authenticated.''
The idea that a battle of the sexes takes place at Blue Hills Golf Club on an annual basis to kick off the spring golf season isn't true. When club pro Johnny King described the situation as a rumor, she decided to portray the membership as being ``sliced right down the middle.'' I've played at Blue Hills for more than 12 years, and Ladies' Day has been a part of those years as long as I can remember. That's an example of annual.
Macy's analysis of the situation consisted of quoting from only one named source, King. I'm curious as to the basis for the rest of the column. One could almost say that some of the report wasn't properly authenticated. That's an example of a rumor.
It insulted male and female members of Blue Hills by categorizing them by gender only, without regard to their thoughts on the matter. While I'm sure there are those who agree, to assume that all men and women are pitted against one another on this issue is, well, an assumption at best. I happen to support Ladies' Day, as do most courses in the valley that have such a policy.
Please, Macy, do me a favor the next time you decide to do a column using all of your golf terminology. Take a Mulligan.
C. ALLEN WILKERSON
SALEM
Roanoke's diversity was celebrated
WITH THE ``trial of the century'' blaring the overtones and undertones of racism in America, the primal dissonance that led to this crescendo of violence and tragedy, we then heard with disbelief a U.S. senator horn in with senseless insensitive mimicking of its capable Japanese-American judge, and brash big-city lawyers ethnically ridicule a Chinese-American criminologist. Enough is enough!
We in the Roanoke Valley can give thanks to the movers and shakers who organized and conducted on April 8 the outstanding fifth Local Colors festival in the City Market. All told, 25 countries/cultures paraded in local persons, costumes, flags, banners, foods, music, dance, martial arts, artifacts, crafts, photos, maps, face-painting, calligraphy, etc., all united with humor and a good time.
The 3,500 who attended during the six hours of well-planned activities registered votes of welcome by their enthusiastic presence. Our community's ``points of light'' included Vice Mayor John S. Edwards, Jim Sears, Matt Kennel and Pearl Fu (Roanoke's Citizen of the Year, '94), our ambassador of the Blue Ridge and Roanoke Valley. Highlights were the Scottish Bagpipe Band, Police Academy and National Guard representatives, the Girl Scouts, the Athenians, the Newcomers, and a fashion show. Staff assistance from Center in the Square, Virginia Western Community College and Roanoke College helped to keep things happening on time!
Yes, we can take pride in welcoming unity as Americans in diversity. As all joined in singing ``It's a Small World'' and ``Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with me,'' this harmony, with feeling, said it all.
ROBERT F. ROTH
ROANOKE
by CNB