Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 25, 1995 TAG: 9504250083
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Last week when I asked them about their fears, every hand went up with a worry. They're frightened that it will happen here to our day-care centers or to their parent's place of employment. Some are having nightmares.
Parents need to take the time to listen, to comfort them, and to help them face their fears. Fears cannot be faced unless one talks about them. I could see the relief in the children's faces, even after our short conversations.
In addition, turn the news off or if you feel your child needs to see it, watch it with them and be active in talking with them. Answer their questions.
This tragedy affects us all. Please listen to our children. They need our support and comfort in face of this world disaster, and in all future global catastrophes. Remember, all of us are affected. Don't forget the children.
DONNA WILLARD
SALEM
Why can't the public help the skaters?
ROANOKE has many fine recreational facilities and organizations of which we should all feel proud. Children and adults can participate in a wide array of team and individual sports in our parks and school grounds.
I wonder, though, about ``skaters.'' My 12-year-old son likes skate-boarding, and has owned skateboards for four or five years. He likes to get some fresh air every afternoon, weather permitting, and usually travels five or six blocks to visit with other kids in the neighborhood.
He was stopped by a policeman recently, and was told to stay off the sidewalks, avoid all public areas - or else risk being fined and having his board confiscated. Imagine how upset he was! It seems unfair to me that skaters have no legally designated place. A police-department spokesman explained that skate-boarding must be on private property, if the owner is willing to risk the liability (for injuries and property damage.)
Surely, this community has the legal know-how and vision to find a creative approach to this problem. Perhaps schools and churches could make available their parking lots at designated times?
Many people have a certain prejudice against kids with unusual hairstyles, baggy clothes and other trappings of the "alternative" culture. Not all skate-boarders fit the negative stereotype, and I'd like our community to allow them a chance to be together, outside, without fear of arrest.
I hope our children can learn how to confront injustice without becoming cynical, subversive or just plain mad.
ELLEN A. BROWN
ROANOKE
Coverage accents the negative
I WAS amazed and distressed to see the April 15 headline. In bold, black banner print, you screamed out: ``USAir viability in doubt.'' I thought headlines of that size were reserved for assassination attempts on presidents, mass murders and devastating earthquakes. It must have been a slow news day indeed, if a note in a stockholder's report can generate front-page coverage of that proportion.
It's certainly no secret that USAir has suffered deep losses during the past few years. Your newspaper has been very conscientious in reporting each and every setback incurred by our company. This month our pilot group reached a tentative agreement with USAir that includes sizeable wage concessions, and other labor groups continue in negotiations to help return USAir to profitability.
Piedmont/USAir and the Roanoke Valley have a long association. We had a crew domicile here, continue to have maintenance facilities at the Roanoke airport, and a large number of employees work at the airport or live in surrounding counties and commute to other USAir work sites. It's amazing that our hometown newspaper continues to report any item concerning our company with the most negative viewpoint possible.
Buried deep in your article was the fact that USAir was increasing the number of seats on jet flights in May. Couldn't your headline have cited this, and read something like, ``USAir increases service in Roanoke''? I realize that would be supportive and positive, but probably not sell as many newspapers as one predicting the imminent demise of this company.
I'm confident USAir will survive. Perhaps as it restructures and works to control costs, it might curtail all jet service to Roanoke. Is this your newspaper's goal?
TED ABERNETHY
USAir pilot
MONETA
by CNB