Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 30, 1995 TAG: 9506070001
SECTION: EDITORIALS PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
In the name of ``educating society,'' the General Assembly has legislated compulsory school-attendance for children and punishments for parents who don't conform to ``school system recommendations.'' These can include dosing with behavior-control drugs. Clearly, the public-school regime couldn't exist without the support of an armed force, fines, warrants and imprisonment.
Public school-state terrorism against families will eventually convince all but the sheep among us that the idea government can be a social agency for good is a false idea. It was tried in earnest in dozens of tormented countries during the past century of socialism. It failed everywhere in everything but the creation of misery and poverty. Yet we persist along the same general line.
Eventually, the separation of school and state will be seen to be as essential to our individual welfare as is the separation of church and state.
The same edition of this newspaper contained the editorial ``Wanted: welfare that works.'' Its focus was that recipients need jobs, health care, day care, etc., to get off welfare.
Here is a welfare plan that will work: Put those on welfare into a state, local or federal government job. For each one placed, bump one government employee into the job market. The very fact that individuals get onto welfare is proof of their aptitude for government ``service.'' Even the least-able welfare recipients understand ``the system.'' If they have no other skills, make 'em school-court judges.
JAY RUTLEDGE
ROANOKE
Bush-Reagan deficits still rankle
HOW BRAVE of former President Bush to cancel his membership in the National Rifle Association (May 11 article, ``Bush parts with NRA''). He and Ronald Reagan ran up our deficit by billions of dollars during their administrations.
If he wants my respect, Bush can take his millions he earned from the oil fields and help pay on his bill.
He probably couldn't hit a rabbit anyway!
DAVID DUFF
LYNCHBURG
God has been put on the shelf
THE LATEST act of terrorism in Oklahoma City, resulting in unspeakable horror and tragedy, is another shocker that has shaken our nation recently. We are not invincible. The United States is no longer the ideal place to live - a shining light on a hill to millions all over the world who have looked to America as the potential fulfillment of their dreams.
Many may wonder why. All we have to do is review the moral and social decline that has slowly been undermining our beloved homeland for many years. A vast majority have put God on the shelf; the Bible is considered obsolete; and film makers and advertisers cater to the lust of the eyes and the flesh, supporting and glamorizing subversive behavior for their financial profit.
A program description on A&E impressed me. Called ``The Ape Man,'' it implied support of the theory of evolution. It added casually somewhat as an afterthought: ``Some people reject evolution, believing God created humans.'' How typical of the denigration that Christianity has been experiencing in every area of our society, from the heads of government to our schools.
Is it too late for caring people to act? Perhaps, with such overwhelming odds. But still to come is the certain future judgment.
MILDRED SADLER
SALEM
No longer will it look or be rural
I CAN understand the undercurrent of frustration about government. The Toms Creek basin in Blacksburg is the last major piece of land in the corporate limits for development. This basin has approximately 2,000 undeveloped acres, and has maintained a rural look, with farms, houses and several neighborhoods. The town has accepted community input on rezoning this area that is presently designated as R11 (limited residential, that is, one unit/acre or .7 density). The majority in the community want to keep the rural look by keeping this density while grouping dwellings in clusters.
(See May 19, 1994, survey results; April 24, 1995, community-involvement meeting; May 3, Spring Valley Association community meeting; May 15, community meeting; ``Cluster the Same or Lower Density'' petition, May 8.)
Yet some town leaders seem to turn a deaf ear to the community's desire. Don Wells' proposed Spring Valley development is one example. Wells, a Roanoke resident and experienced in commercial developments, says he wants to ``create a community'' in Blacksburg by putting 200 units on 96 acres (2.1 density). I asked him how could he create a community when he'll not even listen to one.
The basin's rural landscape is what gives us the best of both worlds! This proposed 200 percent higher density isn't rural, even if labeled a ``rural village'' or ``hamlet.'' He doesn't really have to listen to the majority. For this, we have elected officials and town leaders who can stay objective enough to listen and hear the community majority, instead of railroading a minority view.
MOISES QUINONES
BLACKSBURG
by CNB