Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 27, 1995 TAG: 9507270023
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A while ago, your newspaper expressed its disgust with several witnesses who did nothing to help a female convenience store clerk as she was beaten mercilessly by a skinny punk.
Today, we're all witnesses as we watch the Bosnians being beaten (slaughtered) mercilessly by Serbian punks. And still, we do nothing to help.
Make no mistake: However we try to rationalize our ``Bosnian policy,'' we're showing the world that we don't have the moral courage or intestinal fortitude to help anyone - not convienence store clerks or Muslim babies - if there's no guarantee that we will ``win.''
And that disgusts me!
JEROME C. WATKINS
SALEM
Next, Vinton's own civic center?
SINCE ARRIVING in the area 16 years ago, I continue to be amazed at the clannish nature of the local governments. Each seems to be determined not to cooperate with the other, to duplicate facilities or have something that the other(s) do not have when a cooperative effort could have produced something much better. We have two civic centers, and Salem hopes to open in the near future a baseball stadium that its teen-agers' grandchildren may still be paying for.
Considering all of this, it's with pleasure that I have noticed recent cooperative efforts initiated between Roanoke County and city. We need more of this rather than the attitude, ``If you will not play my way, I'll take my toys and go home.'' Cooperation just might result in better services with a little less cost to taxpayers, who, by the way, also pay for petty ideas and decisions.
The town of Vinton has expressed a desire to annex most or all of east county. Vinton says it needs the room, and will provide better service to the citizens. The county provides about half of the costs for town services at present. Why would sanctimonious town leaders believe we would want to pay more taxes? For what? Should, as a matter of intelligence or divine intervention, the town give up its charter, possibly we would all be better off. Then we could all work together to attract business and industry. Under the current philosophy, I wouldn't be surprised to see a civic center and hospital on Vinton's agenda.
JAMES C. MARTIN
VINTON
Democrats don't own Goals 2000
IN YOUR newspaper, you mention the opposition of Republicans in the U.S. House to "Clinton's education reform initiative, Goals 2000" (July 21, ``Panel votes to end family planning help'').
Help me out here. Goals 2000 was the initiative of Republican President George Bush. President Clinton inherited it. Now Republican congressmen want to abolish Goals 2000 initiated by Republican Bush. Republican Gov. George Allen has refused to participate in Goals 2000 initiated by Republican Bush.
Am I missing some hidden logic here?
JAMES M. MOORE
BLACKSBURG
Trying to show a nonviolent way
REGARDING the July 23 Associated Press article, "Americans detained in Israel":
As a member of the Christian Peacemaker Teams, I would like to clarify what was said about our team members being detained in Israel. The beauty of what our team is trying to do there wasn't reflected in the article.
CPT places trained peace activists in potentially violent situations in an effort to prevent the need for armed intervention. Team members are ready to risk their lives for peace in the same way soldiers risk their lives to make war. Our intention isn't to take sides in a hostile conflict, but to stand against all violence.
Our approach is summed up by the words of another team member, Kathleen Kern, who had this to say to an Israeli settler who harassed her while she watched the others being arrested: "I am no one's enemy. If I see you being attacked, I will try to protect you. If I see a Palestinian being attacked, I will try to protect him."
Hebron is the site where Baruch Goldstein used an automatic weapon to massacre 50 people in the mosque in 1994, and remains one of the most hostile places on the West Bank. Our team is attempting to share with Palestinians and Israelis their knowledge of alternatives to killing in resolving their differences.
The CPT is a program of Mennonite and Church of the Brethren congregations to bring Jesus' teaching about loving enemies to real-life situations where people are threatening to kill one another. We have active peace teams in Haiti and Washington, D.C., as well, in the hope that our small efforts can help lead the world away from its dependence on violence and killing.
JOHN REUWER
RADFORD
by CNB