Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 25, 1995 TAG: 9505260003
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A16 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The idea started with Blue Ridge Public Television as part of its community outreach. The event involved three area schools, a local artist and the zoo's animal experts. The children were fifth graders from Roland E. Cook in Roanoke County, West Salem Elementary in Salem, and Westside Elementary in Roanoke.
The zoo was filled with intricate painted murals, impressive and fanciful paper sculptures, and powerful prose and verse created by young minds. Each child received a certificate by P. Buckley Moss, one of the project's major funders.
My purpose in writing is to attempt to discourage folks who continually malign all our youths due to the actions of a few, and to also point up that the encouragement provided for children by the artist, the zoo, teachers and many volunteers shows a caring community. I want to help dispel the notion that school administrators and teachers don't care about our children, and that they don't seem to be able to do the jobs we expect of them. For this project, teachers invested many hours of their own time.
Another important aspect of this effort was the level of cooperation from three different schools in separate political districts. I understand that school administrators and teachers met many times with folks at Blue Ridge Public Television and Mill Mountain Zoo to organize and schedule the event.
I wonder how many of those in charge of the three local governments attended any portion of the fair, contributed in any way to its execution, or were even aware that it was going on. I suggest that those in positions of power look at those in their jurisdictions who perform the ``grunt work,'' and see just how much good can be and is accomplished through cooperation and dedication to a common cause.
Thanks to the Foundation for the Roanoke Valley that provided funds to cover ticket charges for every family, to area artist Mimi Babe Harris, to zoo personnel, Amy Chattin and the participating teachers. This outreach project is just one example of what Blue Ridge Public Television does for our community.
HAROLD FORD ROANOKE
Welfare-reform law is applauded
REMOVING ONESELF from the welfare line can be done. I believe the state's new welfare program will break the habit of depending on others to do for you.
Yes, there are men on welfare raising their children, and my hat is off to them. But I'm specifically speaking to young women. I've been there but am not there now.
A Webster's Dictionary should be given with the first welfare check, and the words faith, sacrifice, commitment, aggressiveness, persistence, determination, self-respect, responsibility, mother and love should be looked up and used in everyday life for those who are lazy and who have given up. After defining those words, apply them, get out there and start the ball rolling to become self-sufficient and to be a role model for your children.
Roanoke has a lot of caring, supportive people and organizations who give support, but you need to make your goals and objectives known.
I treasured that 10-minute chance I received last year when I spoke to Gov. Allen's Commission on Welfare Reform. I'm disappointed, though, that I didn't get the chance to serve on the commission. We need limits set somewhere and by somebody. I hope that I'll be asked in the future to repair or patch some of the program's loopholes. I hope this welfare-reform bill will have a goal of making more responsible individuals out of single parents who aren't responsible, and also for those who will maintain the family unit as far as the child-care issue while we educate these individuals.
LYDIA BARLOW ROANOKE
Other TV stations should take note
I APPRECIATE Channel 10 for its decision not to renew the ``Ricki Lake Talk Show.''
The May 15 Extra section article (``Channel 10 saying goodbye to Ricki Lake'') quotes Channel 10's general manager, Randy Smith, as saying the show did not fit into the image the station tries to maintain as a community leader.
It's to be hoped other stations in this area will notice the positive response, and act accordingly.
BARBARA B. RICHARDSON ROANOKE
Public is too quick to pass judgment
WHATEVER happened to innocent until proved guilty and the right to a fair trial? How could this ever exist in a society where we are so quick to pass judgment, assume the role of judge and jury, and convict and impose sentence upon the accused before he or she is even given the right to defend his or her actions?
Even if found innocent of all charges and the case is dismissed by the court, society has by this time managed to rob an individual of dignity and pride.
Punishment doesn't begin after the court decides its verdict; it has already been implemented by public condemnation. How can we have a clear conscience when we allow this to happen? What gives us the right to individually inflict judicial sentence?
Maybe not everyone is influenced by this type of environment, but those who have skeletons lying in their closets are surely the first to jump on the bandwagon. Perhaps in time we can reinstate and strengthen the fair and kind virtues that once existed, and eliminate the hypocrisy that is now rampant in our society.
MARY W. HUDSON SALEM
Nasal twang is not a requirement
IN RESPONSE to Mark Morrison's May 15 review of the John Michael Montgomery concert (``Montgomery's show only a little bit country''):
Where has this reviewer been? Not all country singers have the nasal twang of long ago! Montgomery is one of the most talented performers to come out of Nashville in a long time. The reason country music is so versatile is because performers don't stick to conventional country songs. Everyone around me went wild when Montgomery played the Bob Seger and Allman Brothers songs.
Young people are the reason country music is where it is today. From the looks of the crowd, there were people from 10 to 50 years of age there, and they all loved it!
Morrison, give us a break. As a fan-club member, I was appalled at your lack of knowledge about what country music is today.
NANCY M. FERGUSON SALEM
Medicare is on its last leg
ACCORDING to government officials, Medicare is on its last leg and, by the turn of the century, there won't be enough money in its coffers to pay a dime toward medical bills. If this is so, then blame hospitals for their outrageous billings and, of course, the doctors, too.
Recently, I was admitted to the hospital for a certain illness. All I needed was medication and a place to rest for a week. The billing for this short stay was more than $6,300. This amount is outrageous for the type of service received. What would it have been if I'd had an operation? The amount doesn't bother me, because Medicare will pay 80 percent of the billing and my supplement insurance will pay the rest - not a dime out of my pocket. But just think of the billings Medicare will receive from all the patients in this one hospital, and you'll see why Medicare is on its last leg.
Doctors are cutting their own throats, because once Medicare is gone where will they get their money? On my recent visit to the hospital, the doctor's billing for a five-minute morning visit to say ``Good morning and how do you feel'' was outrageous, too.
Government is trying to balance the budget, and thoughts are there to cut monies from Medicare. Instead of cutting Medicare, I think government should investigate the costs that hospitals and doctors bill to Medicare.
RUSSELL W. JOHNSON VINTON
by CNB