Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 12, 1995 TAG: 9508140021
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Through a veil of bigotry, she sees ``bands of young people sporting purple and green half-shaven hair and multiple body pierces who noisily roam the streets and loiter on farmers' tables.'' They are, she insists, ``intimidating and disruptive'' because there are a lot of them, and not because of any specific act.
Naturally, she doesn't like their music, and she accuses them of panhandling. She says she believes this ``menace'' upsets tourists and other real people.
These are kids being kids. They are, in my experience (which includes visiting the market several times a week), interesting people who bother almost nobody, who seem to have a good time and who are a positive addition to our city's center.
I thoroughly enjoy chatting with them, listening to their enthusiasm and their idealism. They have always been courteous. Their clothes and haircuts are no more radical than those of my contemporaries at the same age (and they bathe regularly, unlike many in my generation's hippie subset). They pierce their bodies and wear tatoos. We dropped acid and blew up buildings.
I have seen police officers shoo them from the farmers' tables at night. That angered me because the tables weren't being used, and the kids were doing nothing wrong. They were simply sitting on the tables, talking and listening to their music (much of which is quite good, incidentally), bothering nobody. But that's cops vs. kids, and it never ends.
Shortridge worries that commerce will be hampered by the children's presence. I believe that, quite the contrary, they add life, color, character and interest to a lively place. As a matter of fact, they were instrumental in revitalization of the City Market, helping to create a night life. I'm glad to see them there, and glad they believe themselves to be welcome. In a few years, their business will be invaluable to the merchants.
I resent her implying these children aren't welcome in civilized society because they're savages. The savagery here is the narrow-mindedness that would eliminate our children from our culture.
DAN SMITH ROANOKE
Feeling the blow of county bills
WHEN I saw the headline on your Aug. 4 Associated Press article, ``A real sucker punch,'' my first thought was that it was an article on the new Roanoke County water-billing system. But, much to my surprise, it was about the hurricane that passed through Florida.
County residents in the past four months have taken a sucker punch from the county. In a four-month period, I will be paying approximately $236 for water and sewerage. This amount is for a family of two. How much is a larger family paying? The amount is for adjustments, according to the staff, to implement the county's new month-to-month billing system. I can't help but think that this new program was ill thought out, with little consideration for the consumer. Something just doesn't add up.
I understood the county was changing the system because the rate was so high that many customers were in arrears and the county was losing money. I now feel they're on my rear, and I really feel sorry for those with unexpected excessive bills that they can't possibly fit into their budget. Perhaps now, they will become delinquent in paying.
The unfortunate people of Florida at least got free water with their sucker punch.
MAGGIE ANNARINO ROANOKE
A water playground is wanted here
WHY CAN'T we have a water park in our area? We drive four hours either south or west for one. Tourism will thrive on this. If I go out of state to a water park, others will come to Virginia!
JOAN SHANNON ROANOKE
Japan is owed no apology
BUD FEUER (Aug. 10 letter to the editor, ``Shedding no tears for the Japanese'') really took the draft-dodging, liberal bleeding hearts to the woodshed.
Feuer is a uniquely qualified naval historian who knows of what he speaks; he paid his dues in World War II.
The only apology due is due the fighting Americans who saw their country sacked by a slew of stay-at-home pinkos and stinkos, and Alger Hiss who, through the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and the Marshall Plan, gave away, before we could retool for peace, what our boys had fought for.
Japan, we still owe you one.
ERNEST F. REYNOLDS ROANOKE
by CNB