
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 11, 1995                   TAG: 9505110129
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-18   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

DON'T SUCCUMB TO PARANOIA

THE OKLAHOMA bombing was a national tragedy. There is another national tragedy stirring in its wake. It is the ill-conceived and hastily written anti-terrorism legislation being pushed through Congress.

This legislation involves increasing the powers of federal agencies, and decreasing civil liberties for law-abiding taxpayers.

Much of the paranoia driving this legislation centers around alleged bomber Timothy McVeigh's tangential association with the Michigan Organized Militia.

Most militia members are law-abiding citizens who commit no acts of violence. Most militias have publicly condemned the bombing. A few radicals have been highlighted by the media to portray all militia organizations as extremist, racist and terrorist armies.

By similar logic, one could conclude that all Republicans are inflammatory bigots like Alfonse D'Amato, or that all Democrats are homosexuals like Barney Frank.

But the tragedy here is not the inaccurate portrayal of the militia movement. It is the legislation this portrayal has propelled. The legislation is intrusive, and of dubious value. Even Janet Reno admits the proposed measures would not have prevented the Oklahoma City bombing. All they will do is increase federal powers at the cost of our liberties.

History shows that if we surrender our liberties to gain a little security, we will lose both liberty and security. When we give up our freedoms, the criminals have won.

TODD PUKANECZ

BLACKSBURG

Israel must hang on to its heartland

THE CAUSE for unrest in the Middle East isn't the Israel-Palestinian conflict. The fact is that war is endemic in the Arab world, and the Moslem Arabs have been waging war against each other and their non-Arab neighbors for centuries.

As much as Arabs hate each other, most are united in their greater hatred against the land of Israel.

The Moslem Arabs have built vast war machines for the ultimate ``jihad'' to drive Jews into the sea.

The focus on the Palestinian plight is to divert attention from their domestic problems and inter-Arab conflicts, and to direct Moslem Arab frustration against Israel, the ``infidel'' Western outsider.

The suggestion that Israel divest itself from its historic heartland, the 2,362 square-mile West Bank, and from the Golan Heights would be a step toward suicide.

ALVIN W. FINESTONE

CLIFTON FORGE

The devil is in the delays

I'M SURE the devil is gloating over his crowning achievement.

That is the system whereby when one calls a business and needs to talk to a specific employee, a machine answers saying that ``Patty Sue'' or something similar (a catchy, cutesy double name) isn't at the desk, and all I need do is leave my name, number, date, Social Security number, mother's maiden name, age and a short sentence stating the reason for my call, ad nauseum.

Further, there's a mere implication that someone will return my call at some time in the future. I think this stupid system is called voice mail when, in reality, its purpose is to allow employees extended breaks and absence at the expense of customers and patrons.

I wonder what the devil is working on to come out with next.

GEORGE SANDERSON

ROANOKE

by CNB