Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 18, 1995 TAG: 9505180011
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Unbelievably, in the very next paragraph, he says, ``There are many things of which the bombing reminds us. It reminds us that white, conservative male Americans are every bit as dangerous to our national security as darker-skinned foreigners; that Christians are every bit as lethal as Muslims ... ''
I doubt if your newspaper or Fosl can quote me something from the Rush Limbaugh show as overtly racist and bigoted as Fosl's description of dark-skinned foreigners as dangerous and Muslims as lethal.
Given the reputation of his employer, Hollins College, I'm inclined to believe that Fosl's rather ugly remarks about dark-skinned foreigners and Muslims were due more to sloppy writing than bigotry. However, his equally ugly broad-brush comments regarding white male conservatives were quite deliberate.
Any reasonable person would agree that simply being white, male and conservative hardly qualifies one as supportive of domestic terrorism. And yet this is what he seems to suggest. Regrettably, this sort of bigotry seems to be socially acceptable. Fosl and others like him might do well to remember the firemen who risked their lives while searching the rubble for survivors. Most appeared to be white, male and, I imagine, conservative.
ROBERT M. GAMBER
ROANOKE
Let's not call in the thought police
SPEECH, that most basic of human social functions, regarded so highly by the founding fathers that it was granted First Amendment status. Speech, that fundamental right, fundamental urge to express ourselves, our beliefs, our opinions, our needs, our desires. Speech, that tree in a forest that falls regardless of ear to hear.
When I heard our president's remarks about this fundamental right, it frightened me to think that he would attack this simple social function that we hold so dear. Clinton said there must be responsibility for the words we use, and the tone with which we use them.
You see, I disagree with the president in that I believe that we must individually be responsible for our actions. The responsibility lies with the receiver of information to sort out what is good, true and right, and act accordingly. We each retain our own opinions, and occasionally communicate them to others. It is up to each of us to sort the wheat from the chaff, remembering that one man's trash is another's treasure, and that it is through public discourse that we teach and learn new ideas, convey old messages and truths.
Watch your government, people, for it is on the verge of throwing out the baby with the bath water. To punish terrorism before it occurs will require the destruction of liberty for us all. In America, we punish illegal activity, and if we put ourselves in a position of punishing politically incorrect speech, we may find ourselves the victim of our own thought police, afraid to speak our minds and unable to hear the truth. Watch your government, people, because the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.
JOEY ZAMORSKI
SALEM
When an apology is no apology
REGARDING the May 5 news story ``Daughter learns new word: fired'':
When will corporate America learn plain English? When Donald Newman, a spokesman for Structural Dynamics Research Corp., bumps into someone, does he say, ``My timing was regrettable''? I'm sure he says, ``I'm sorry.'' So why does he, along with many others, use the fancy-pants regret version, and in a passive form, no less, for a public statement?
As well as being pretentious, this language usually makes the person apologized to - in this case the man fired on Take Our Daughters to Work Day - even angrier. I easily can envision a lawsuit after this nonapology.
How about telling the truth? ``We made a terrible mistake, and we're sorry'' would do it. Although painful to the speaker, it really apologizes, and so deflects both lawsuits and customer disdain.
If Newman and his ilk can't or won't study something like Rudolf Flesch's ``The Art of Plain Talk,'' then they need to hire me or another business-writing trainer to teach them how to use efficient plain English.
PRISCILLA RICHARDSON
CLOVERDALE
Political discourse can be more civil
SEVERAL opinions voiced in response to your forum on ``Loud and Angry Voices'' decried the acrimonious and destructive nature of political discourse. More than one respondent made a plea for civil, informative debate on the issues.
The League of Women Voters of the Roanoke Area has sponsored many political forums over the years. Our traditional format for presenting candidates' views to the public had been debate, or a modified form of debate. As candidates resorted to attacks and counterattacks in defining themselves, we decided to use another approach.
For the past two years, we have sponsored an Evening of Recognition as a way to present candidates for local offices to the public. The candidates were provided with a period of time to discuss their qualifications and ideas. Speakers understood that their presentations would be stopped should they resort to attacks on their opponents. Rather than stifling debate, this format freed candidates to say what concerned them, and from the tension of defending themselves against politically charged rhetoric and innuendo.
The League plans an Evening of Recognition before this November's elections. The public has already had a preview of the tone of these elections from the polarization in this year's General Assembly. It's essential for the electorate to have the opportunity to see and hear candidates at their best. We believe that the Evening of Recognition provides that opportunity.
JULIE UMBERGER
Presiding officer, League of Women Voters of the Roanoke Area
ROANOKE
2nd Amendment is perfectly clear
ACCORDING to my reference materials, the Second Amendment to the Constitution states: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
It's interesting that we hear repeatedly the last two phrases from the gun lobby and the far right, but they never mention the first two phrases. It's also interesting that this amendment consists of only one sentence, thus all of the ideas are closely related. I note also that the reference to militia is singular.
ROBERT L. PIENKOWSKI
BLACKSBURG
Decreased property value caused by city
REGARDING the May 9 article, ``Despite protests, Roanoke OKs asphalt plant site'':
A lot of sympathy is being sent to Northeast residents from the Signal Hill Northwest area. We had a nice, pretty neighborhood until we were covered up with ashes from Roanoke Electric Steel. After calling in a grand jury, and after the company made necessary alterations in their operations, our problem was resolved somewhat. A big improvement, anyway.
All the while this was going on, problems with a junk yard the city endowed us with have gotten terrible, and our complaints are falling on deaf ears at city hall.
Soon Northeast residents will realize a devastating decrease in property value. Who wants to buy a home in an asphalt-plant or junk-yard area? We can blame Roanoke city for it all.
It's sad to think about revenue the city is making at our expense. The old saying is true: ``Money is the root of all evil.'' Our only weapon is the next ballots we cast.
SHIRLEY A. HUDGINS
ROANOKE
by CNB