Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 27, 1995 TAG: 9508250039
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: G2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
We're supposed to be U.S. citizens in a free country where we're promised justice, too. However, it seems more and more like we're being controlled and dictated to by rich people in Washington who want us to believe a lot of baloney.
Washington, D.C., has nonsmokers who want to dictate to all building owners, factories, public businesses, printers, etc., and scare them into believing that more kids are smoking tobacco. They're not, and those kids who do smoke don't care about advertising on signboards or in magazines. If they want to smoke, they will. Their parents or guardians are the ones who should try to stop them from smoking - not Washington.
Those in Washington who want to stop kids from smoking are the same ones who want to control tobacco farmers and companies and put tobacco under one roof - controlled by government. This will only generate and promote more crime, not stop it. If they have their way, they'll have convicts and ex-convicts committing more crimes to get tobacco to sell on our streets. And kids will get it, too, by stealing at home or where ever. They'll steal cigarettes or steal money to buy them.
Also, it will be dangerous for a smoker to carry a pack of cigarettes. These cons and ex-cons will rob people for the sake of getting tobacco as well as money from them. Like kids, they don't care about signboards, magazines or vending machines. These machines can be controlled by business operators without the federal government dictating.
Why not help smokers, too? Let rich building owners provide a vented room for smokers only. Greyhound should also provide buses for smokers who pay to ride for hours on the buses.
KATHERNE JETER ROANOKE
Blacksburg police acted responsibly
I HAVE read with concern the expressions of negative public opinion regarding the shooting in Blacksburg. I for one am thankful that men and women will risk their life so that I might live in a more civilized world. Let's make no mistake, the world - even Blacksburg - is getting meaner.
Each day, police officers leave for their shift not knowing what they'll face in the coming hours. Mostly it's all routine, but when that routine is punctuated by quickly unfolding events, officers must react.
The unbelievable criticism I've heard about shooting this man for brandishing a BB gun is ludicrous. It's unfortunate that someone is dead, but let's put the responsibility where it should be - on the one who drew what appeared to be a deadly weapon in a public place.
GREGG WOOD ROANOKE
Mantle dodged military service
ANYONE remembering Mickey Mantle in 1953 will know he was a military draft dodger. He claimed he had osteomyelitis of the knee. The pre-entry examining physician classified him 4F. Mantle proceeded to run the bases with speed and no pain.
In 1955, at age 27 when I was drafted, another physician accepted me for service although I had had osteomyelitis of both knees since age 13 . The physician said that since I could walk, run and didn't have Mantle's money, my term of service would begin at Fort Dix, N.J.
Research people before they're praised!
THOMAS L. GRANGER ROANOKE
Adding $9.5 million to the waste pile
I'M A BIT confused about a couple of situations in Roanoke. Being disabled, I am bothered by waste. I watched recently the machinery turn Jackson Middle School into a pile of bricks, glass and wood. From what I gather, the school is being rebuilt to accommodate disabled children and to bring it up to codes of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This renovation will cost $3 million.
Then I read your Aug. 19 article about the heat in the walkway (``Hotel bridge is a well-baked scene'') that was built to connect Hotel Roanoke to the downtown area. I drove over to see this since I've never seen $6.5 million before.
As I watched the school fall, I saw chalkboards and other materials being dumped on the pile. A huge waste. The school could have been made totally accessible with very little money. A few changes in the bathrooms and the addition of an elevator would have done the trick.
Is the walkway really needed to go from the hotel to downtown? What did people do before? Was there a major problem walking by way of the street? Also, is it accessible to wheelchairs? Despite all the ballyhoo regarding the hotel, most of the times when I drive by the parking lot is not full.
That $6.5 million plus $3 million equals $9.5 million. Take away $5,000 for school elevator, and that leaves $9.495 million that could have been put to better use in the community. There are homeless, jobless, disabled and elderly people who could have benefitted. The city, for instance, could have made other areas more accessible to the disabled, with curb cuts, etc., instead of complaining that it doesn't have money to fix these things.
If you took $15,000 and gave the needy $1,250 a month for a year, this would take care of 633 Roanoke area families. I think that would have better served the community than building a walkway and rebuilding what was a perfectly good school.
Well, I guess some things are more important than the needy. Now you see why I'm confused.
JIM KIMBALL ROANOKE
Faulkner let down many women
REGARDING your Aug. 19 article, ``Faulkner drops out of Citadel'':
I'm very disappointed with Shannon Faulkner's actions. After fighting for 2 1/2 years to get into The Citadel, she drops out after not even a week of participation. She stated that she thought it would be disjustice if she stayed and killed herself for the political point. Well, if it wasn't for the political point, then what was it for?
I'm completely for women's rights, but my views on The Citadel and the Virginia Military Institute situations are very much undecided. I feel that by dropping out and not at least giving ``hell week'' a second chance, Faulkner let a lot of women down.
Faulkner also stated that it may have been different if there were more women involved with her, and she felt isolated from the male corps. She knew all along that she was the only woman, and did she really expect the male cadets to welcome her with open arms?
Whenever you start fighting for a particular cause, you should be aware of all it will entail, and be prepared to handle whatever comes your way. Don't back down after you get your foot in the door, and possibly slam it for others who may have admired the courage and determination that was put forth into getting it there in the first place.
STACY SOWARDS VINTON
The grungy results of poor planning
A FEW months ago, your newspaper surveyed readers on how we can improve Roanoke. I think current greenway proposals touch on part of the problem: local indifference to environmental concerns.
For example, highway litter accumulates steadily, but there are no posted fines. Litter has the degrading effect of wall graffiti on civic pride and a town's spirits. Combined with other eyesores, it can drive away desirable residents. Why the lack of enforcement?
Haphazard strip development makes parts of Roanoke indistinguishable from Scranton, Macon or Toledo. Each day, more open areas are bulldozed and paved over. Cheap strip development stretches from Botetourt to Blacksburg. A respect for Roanoke's green areas along with commercial and residential growth based on planning could check the ugliness, but where is the local outrage or will to change?
The emphasis of community planning to date has been profits only. Roanoke residents must live with the grungy consequences of that. An indifference to environmental aesthetics hurts our valley.
THOMAS C. KIRKWOOD ROANOKE
by CNB