Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 17, 1995 TAG: 9510170031
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Blankenhorn's book proposes what many of us have known for some time: We need a new set of values. Our current values system isn't working. The values and lifestyles we cherished in this country before women's lib, before divorce ran rampant and even before greed did work. But do we have the courage to say, as he suggests: ``Hey, maybe we made a mistake. Can we change our minds, and go back to the old system?''
Some may not remember the old system. It went something like this:
A man and a woman got married. They committed themselves to staying together. (Seems like it went like this: ``for better or worse.'') Then they had children and applied that same commitment of responsibility, love and oneness to those children. No family was ever happy all the time, and no one is ever foolish enough to promise that will be the case. But they did work together to the best of their ability, alternating times of sacrifice for each other and for their family.
I agree with Blankenhorn that most of our societal problems today stem from fatherlessness, but perhaps with a smidgen of motherlessness that equals parentlessness. This occurs when mothers go to work to support the single-parent families produced by fatherlessness. Or when mothers in two-parent families go to work to help buy a first house in town, a second house (no homes, only houses - homes cannot be bought), a third car, a fourth television, a fifth VCR, a sixth stereo, a 20th Super Nintendo game, etc.
So if we can just recommit ourselves to simple family values of the good old days, put some staying power into our marriages and - What was the other thing? Oh, yes - abolish greed, we should have it made.
JUDY PERDUE
SALEM
State needs realistic gun controls
AT THE League of Women Voters-sponsored forum, candidate Pat Cupp supported the liberalized law on carrying concealed weapons. He cited Florida as a valuable example of the benefits that Virginia could also see.
Florida passed a new concealed-weapons law in 1987. In 1987, handgun homicides were 569; by 1989, the rate was 700. The rate dropped only after a background check was required and voters approved a three-day waiting period (by a margin of 85 percent to 15 percent).
In 1994, Tampa and Miami were the fourth and fifth most violent cities in America. The Miami Herald reported on Dec. 28, 1994, that Florida is the major source of firearms trafficked nationwide for illegal sale. This isn't what I want for Virginia!
I'm proud of Sen. Madison Marye and Del. Jim Shuler for standing up for realistic controls on handguns, and for opposing the concealed-weapons law in Virginia. Realistic regulations of guns protect the public, sportsmen and our law-enforcement officers.
Marye and Shuler will get my vote in November.
GAIL KING
BLACKSBURG
Branscom in Botetourt
BOTETOURT County is becoming a more urban county as it rapidly grows and develops. The need for a full-time prosecuting attorney has been established and certified. And for the first time, we'll elect a person to this position.
Joel Branscom has proved himself as a first-class, full-time prosecutor with his 10 years experience and as chief assistant prosecutor of Roanoke city. His knowledge of Botetourt cannot be questioned, having been raised and educated in the county before furthering his education in college and law school. He's a property owner and homeowner in the county. Even as a student, he proved himself in research, preparation and presentation as a member of the Lord Botetourt state champion debate team.
We need to elect Branscom, a first-rate prosecutor, as commonwealth's attorney to a first-class county - Botetourt County.
DeWAYNE R. BLOUGH
CLOVERDALE
The smart road is not a done deal
CONTRARY to what the Virginia Department of Transportation, Virginia Tech and the media would have us believe, the ``smart road'' isn't a done deal. Two public hearings are coming up, and it's crucial that we have a strong showing of public opposition to this boondoggle. This region's citizens should keep in mind that the smart road has nothing to do with transportation, and isn't necessary for research. It's about money - short-term profit for special interests at a great cost to taxpayers and the environment.
Anyone who missed VDOT's Oct. 5 information meeting in Blacksburg didn't miss much. The high-tech, taxpayer-financed advertisement for the project was a miracle of misinformation and noninformation. It was deja vu all over again.
To those seeking real information about the project,VDOT has been a stubborn impediment. The 1993 Final Environmental Impact Statement has never been available at the library, as VDOT promised. According to VDOT personnel, to get a photocopy of the statement would take a couple of months and would cost $50. At the information meeting, only one copy of the recent addendum to it was available for a quick look. Again, a photocopy would take weeks and would cost $15 (for 24 pages).
VDOT's public hearing on the smart road is on Oct. 18. Traditionally, a public hearing is a forum where citizens can express their concerns and each speaker's comments are heard by all. As part of VDOT's continued effort to keep the public in the dark, the agency has denied us this forum. At the smart-road hearing, we'll only be allowed to speak to a tape recorder and/or submit written comments. This effectively prevents the public exchange of ideas that empowers citizens and threatens special interests. VDOT hopes it will discourage us from attending. It is to be hoped VDOT is wrong.
On Nov. 13, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors will hold a real public hearing to help supervisors decide whether to approve condemning land for the smart road. To approve it, they must determine that construction of a four- to six-lane highway through Ellett Valley would have no adverse impact on agricultural or forestal district lands. Surely, after hearing residents' concerns, they'll conclude that this is impossible, since 144 agricultural/forested acres would be paved over and the Wilson Run district would be cut in half. Surely, they'll listen.
SHIREEN I. PARSONS
RINER
Clinton's warped view of America
WHEN BILL Clinton assumed office, he promised to appoint an administration that looked like America. Well, how has he done?
If we look at his Cabinet, we see that Clinton's version of America includes people such as Mike Espy, Henry Cisneros and Ron Brown - all being investigated by special prosecutors for various acts that include lying to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, accepting illegal gratuities and income-tax evasion. Meanwhile, Webster Hubbell is serving a prison term, and Federico Pena awaits the outcome of a Justice Department investigation.
Well, perhaps Clinton has done better in his choice of White House staff. Let us examine the record. Here we see that the president's version of America includes such outstanding exemplars of public service as: David Watkins, forced to resign for misusing a Marine helicopter for a personal golf outing; Bernard Nussbaum, forced to resign for impeding the investigation into his deputy's ``suicide''; and William Kennedy, forced to resign for improprieties involving the FBI. The record also includes the dismissal of the White House travel-office staff. In addition, we notice that Bruce Lindsay, Betsy Wright, Patsy Thomasson, Ira Magaziner, George Stephanopolous, etc., have all seen fit to hire private counsel as they testify before congressional committees, independent counsels and various grand juries. Meanwhile, Lloyd Cutler and Abner Mikva, counselors to the president, resign.
Is this what Clinton sees as America? A nation of hustlers, prevaricators and felons?
SCOTT ANGELL
HILLSVILLE
by CNB