Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 26, 1995 TAG: 9504260018
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Your Aug. 18, 1991 edition had an article (``Out on the streets'') about a destitute man named Milton Baker who had been living in his automobile for 25 nights after losing his job and apartment.
The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, make it clear that ``believers'' are commanded to help those in need. Since the readership of your newspaper is approximately 140,000 souls, my conservative calculations demonstrate the following must have happened:
On the day the 1991 article appeared, at least 10 percent or 14,000 people read the article.
Of those 14,000, 53 percent or 7,420 take the Bible literally.
Of those 7,420 Bible believers, 10 percent or 742 decided to respond immediately to Baker's plight by driving to his location.
This high response caused traffic jams on the roads and highways converging upon his location.
I read the Aug. 19 edition of your newspaper, but didn't find any reports about these traffic jams. Is the poll wrong, or did I make a mistake in my calculations?
RAEBURN S. GRASTY
ROANOKE
Children must be taught respect
IN ANSWER to Dick Lambert's April 10 letter to the editor ``The administration of Mr. Clean'':
Just who does he think he is, bashing the president? How dare him! Has he no respect?
Does Lambert know that one of the biggest problems we have in this country today is that many children have no idea what the word ``respect'' is? They're not born with nasty, negative, disrespectful attitudes, but learn these things from parents.
Young people are our future. They need the best education and the best examples we can give them. We have to be the best we can be for them, so stop being the worst you can be. Stop putting stumbling blocks in their way. Teach them respect, one of the most important and useful things they'll need - respect for themselves and their peers, respect for grown-ups and our leaders.
We have to be good, kind people, and respect others if our children are to grow up with healthy, happy attitudes. Think about that! Some day they'll be leaders, too.
KATHLEEN NICHOLS
SALEM
Mayor's divorce is a private matter
I WAS distressed to see your newspaper sink to the incredible low of the March 27 article in the ``& Now this'' about Mayor David Bowers and Alison Weaver. This is no better than a titillating gossip column, and I thought the Roanoke Times & World-News was better than that.
How the facts reported could possibly be considered newsworthy escapes me. To have reported the mere fact of the divorce might just barely be acceptable since Bowers is a public figure, but to have reported about his dating and his attendance at a dance is outrageous. Moreover, I can conceive of no circumstances that justify reporting the terms of the divorce settlement. That the article meets your editorial standard is distressing.
Bowers and Weaver should be able to expect a little compassion from the media, and shouldn't be held out for public scrutiny over such a private matter. If this were 1925 and divorce were an uncommon matter, it might be different. But in 1995, this is just not a matter of public concern. I feel that they are owed an apology by your newspaper.
THOMAS B. DICKENSON
ROANOKE
Health, safety and environment at risk
THERE IS an anti-regulatory movement in Congress now, and some Congress members are more concerned about regulation costs in private and public sectors than about protecting Americans.
Health, safety and environmental protection would be underminded if Senate bills 343 and 291 are passed. While cost-benefit analysis and risk management should be considered, it's important that government provide essential benefits such as health and safety to Americans.
Senate bill 605 is referred to as the ``takings'' legislation. It would deregulate the private use of private property. This bill could result in billions of dollars being spent for compensation by federal, state and local governments.
MARY JANE ZODY
BLACKSBURG
by CNB