Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 22, 1995 TAG: 9509220049
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
On voting the pure party line, Trumbo was hard to top. On key votes, he varied only once.
At the other end of your scale were folks like Sens. Virgil Goode and Madison Marye, and Del. Vic Thomas. They voted the issues, despite their party's preference.
In Trumbo's case, however, of 18 Republicans in the Senate, only two were more partisan than he was. Heck, he even voted the straight Republican Party line more often than House Majority Leader Dick Cranwell voted the party line on the Democratic side.
It's apparent that Trumbo's independence is simply political mumbo jumbo.
BOBBY KIBLER NEW CASTLE
A cathedral equal to Europe's finest
YES, St. Andrews Roman Catholic Church is Roanoke's cathedral - no question about it. Certainly, you've seen its exterior from some direction. But have you been inside? If you haven't, you must! It's beautiful beyond words.
Having seen some cathedrals in Europe, with endless delight, I feel that I can make the above assertion. So, let's put credit where it's due and express our many thanks, much delight and appreciation to the leadership and membership of St. Andrews - dating to some years back when plans were drawn, construction was started and completed - and continuing at present in maintenance and upkeep.
W. HOLLEY ENGLE ROANOKE
Marijuana is also a health threat
A PAGE 1 headline on Sept. 13 read ``Teen marijuana use nearly doubles.'' An editorial headline on Sept. 15 read ``A race to save kids from smoking.'' It calls for a hefty increase in cigarette taxes to help suppress smoking, especially among adolescents.
I was listening to a radio talk show when a teacher called in. She explained that as cigarettes become more expensive and harder for teens to get, teens will switch to the next cheapest alternative - marijuana.
Which is the lesser of the two evils?
ROBERT McGEORGE ROANOKE
Proposal needs a reality check
REGARDING your Sept. 17 news article (``Church to Allen: `We are doing about all we can do''') concerning Gov. George Allen's remarks at the Second Presbyterian Church in which he apparently indicated that since the state was no longer willing to provide services to its poor citizens, that churches should pick up the slack:
I can only conclude from such naive remarks that Gov. Allen doesn't actually belong to a church. He may profess to being a Christian, may even attend a church, but he doesn't belong to one. It's apparent that he hasn't involved himself in the ongoing operations of a church - meeting a budget, raising funds, staffing Sunday school, helping with food pantries and attending to the multitude of activities required to make a church congregation function.
If he did, he would know that it's far beyond the scope of a religious body to begin to meet the needs that exist in our state.
Historically, churches have provided sources of assistance to the low-income community as part of their mission. Pressed with overwhelming needs, churches provided leadership in persuading government of its responsibilities in addressing the needs of all its citizens.
For Gov. Allen to now suggest that this responsibility be given back to the churches suggests that he has no concept of what it takes to make a church function or the extent of need that exists within the commonwealth.
EDWARD B. MORGAN ABINGDON
by CNB