Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 27, 1995 TAG: 9509270028
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
She's remiss in that regard when she writes that ``other one-sex schools, in any case, are self-supporting, privately funded institutions.'' The Roanoke Times has contributed to this misconception in numerous articles and editorials concerning attempts to make Virginia Military Institute and The Citadel co-ed.
The fact is that all so-called ``private schools,'' including Sweet Briar, Hampden-Sydney, Mary Baldwin, Randolph Macon Woman's College, Hollins, etc., receive public assistance. Those who agree with single-sex schooling in the private domain but draw the line when the state becomes involved are forced to base their distinction on degree, not existence, of public support.
I find it irritating to hear and read the hypocritical argument that VMI should go co-ed because it's taxpayer supported without suggesting that other taxpayer-supported schools be made co-ed.
Clearly the real objective is to eliminate these male-only, Southern, military academies that are ``out of step with the contemporary world.'' VMI and The Citadel shouldn't maintain their single-sex status due to tradition, nor should they admit women to be ``contemporary.'' They should maintain their status, as should other single-sex schools, because the goal of our educational system should be to present a full menu from which a student can choose the school best-tailored to the way he/she learns and creates the environment in which he/she feels most comfortable.
STEPHEN G. KING
BUENA VISTA
Imagine a world without police
RECENTLY, several hoodlums have been killed while trying to avoid arrest. They had a criminal record, and were engaged in a line of occupation they knew to be illegal, detrimental to the rest of us and dangerous to themselves. There are those who demand explanations from the police as if they were the criminals. Of course, no accounting is demanded of the criminals.
We who would stop if the police requested us to do so because we respect the law, and know the police are only doing its job; we who would neither violently nor threateningly resist arrest with any kind of weapon because we're legitimately occupied, and don't bear arms against the law; we, the law-abiding and potential victims, ought to demand explanations from those who are bent to speak up on behalf of predator elements of the population.
Do we hear loud public inquiries, see much public indignation each time a police officer is wounded or killed in the line of duty? Do we get to read much about the family members left behind or the modest life story of these civil servants? Yet these officers are protecting us all, including the criminals against themselves - a job police do for shamefully low salaries.
Only try to imagine in what hell of murder, mayhem, violence and crass abuses of all kinds we would be tormented if tomorrow we should wake up without police protection. It's high time to expect criminals to bear to the fullest, come what may, all consequences of their life of crime. And we cannot be grateful enough for the protection police officers afford us day and night.
PIERRE F. FASSIE
ROANOKE
Christians need to transform society
REGARDING Herb Detweiler's Sept. 14 letter to the editor, ``The GOP genuflects to Robertson'':
I begin with a quote, ``The self-righteous posturing of the neo-Pharisees of the religious right.'' I don't understand this complicated statement, but I believe every Christian, whatever their name might be, should make a positive influence on our country's society. Christian influence is being felt today as we're getting fed up with the direction our country is headed. Detweiler should thank God for people opposed to the drift of our society into a moral quagmire and spiritual vacuum! We're certainly going down this road, and fast. Does he think Christians should stand idly by while our society deteriorates and goes down the drain?
What's so bad about Christians leading in our country's political process? Absolutely nothing! Jesus Christ taught us that we need to be the salt and light. We should live our lives to overcome and transform our society of its evils and corruption. Who will do this if Christians don't?
C. GLEN STINNETTE JR.
HUDDLESTON
by CNB