Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 10, 1995 TAG: 9507100110
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Eenigenburg's prayer caused controversy, but at the recent annual conference of the National Association of Student Councils, a majority of the student leaders supported prayer in school.
Two hundred eighty-one students - 60 percent of those attending - thought time should be allowed for prayer in public schools, while 190 opposed that idea.
The students, from every state in the nation, voted after hearing speakers on both sides of the issue.
"Right now the message many public schools send to students is that religious expression is worth little or nothing," said Ben Bull of The American Center for Law and Justice, an organization founded by televangelist Pat Robertson. "There's outright hostility. We need to bring some sanity in front of public education."
The point is to get government out of the issue, countered Jim Halpert of People for the American Way, a civil liberties organization.
"Government can play an important role in other ways" instead of allowing time for prayer, Halpert said. "Schools can and do teach values such as respect and non-violence, and they can teach about religion and its role in history, literature and social studies.''
Energy on insulin
Diabetes has no cure, but exercise and a proper diet can decrease insulin dependency and increase energy levels.
Just ask Charles L. Ray III, a 33-year-old diabetic whose energy never seems to wane when it comes to sharing the message. He is so enthusiastic, he helped write a public service announcement and garnered air time for it.
Ray, born and raised in Roanoke but now a Raleigh, N.C., resident, has spent many hours writing letters and soliciting sponsors for a public service announcement on the International Diabetic Athletes Association. He said he did not keep track of the time or money it has taken to get the spot done.
``I compare it to like a second job,'' Ray said.
Fox television (Channel 21/27) agreed to shoot the announcement, in which Ray begins by stretching, then lifts weights, moves to a Stairmaster machine and closes by jogging away from the camera saying, ``You are not alone; I run on insulin, too.''
``My personal goal is to make everyone aware that exercise plays an important role,'' Ray said. ``I can really say this, because I used to be one of these people who didn't take care of myself.
``I was 25 or 26, and I felt like I was 46.''
Ray said exercise allowed him to decrease dramatically the amount of insulin he needs, and his energy level increased.
Ray is working to have stations across the country use the spot.
And he is taking on another public service announcement project - billboards about the IDAA.
For more information about the IDAA, Ray encourages a call to the association's toll-free number: (800) 898-IDAA.
You don't look like Bill|
Some people may think Washington, D.C., is a world away from Roanoke, but President Clinton recently helped Jean Phillips buy a dress.
The Roanoke woman went to Leggett Outlet Center at Valley View Mall on July 2. She chose a dress she liked and wrote a check for it.
When the cashier asked her for a picture ID, though, she had none. She had changed pocketbooks earlier in the day and had left her driver's license in the other purse.
However, she did have a letter from Clinton with her, and the address on it matched the name and address on her checks. So the store accepted her check.
Phillips had written a letter to the editor about the president. It was published in The Roanoke Times, and she had sent the clipping to him. He wrote back to her.
She didn't think she would ever use the letter to prove her identity.
"I thought that was funny that I could use Bill Clinton's letter as ID," she said.
Carolyn Martin, the human resource office manager for the store, said Phillips' ID was one of the strangest ones she has seen. But since the purchase was less than $30 and Phillips had credit cards that matched the signature on her check, she thought she could take a chance on it.
by CNB