Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 20, 1995 TAG: 9510200027
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAVID A. BOWERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Given the news over the past week or two about certain racial divisions in our country, which none of us want to see, which none of us shall seek to encourage, we must be about the business - whether you are a community leader, a government leader, the media or a citizen - of encouraging the dialogue among many different citizens in our community and in our nation of bringing together and coming together of our citizens.
It doesn't really matter whether council votes one way or the other on some of these issues, whether we endorse one thing or another. It's really not addressing the problem by just our endorsement or our vote. I don't know whether that's really addressing greater social concerns that, I think, are in some ways causing all of us to question what America is about these days.
Without question, the city of Roanoke is resolved to respect all individuals of any race, of any sex, of any creed or of any color. I think it is safe to say also that the city of Roanoke is resolved to stand against any form of discrimination.
We want to do the right thing, we want to do the positive thing. As these issues come forward, it's with that in mind that City Council should seek to be facilitators in a communitywide dialogue to continue this effort in our democracy. It's the citizens' effort to bring our citizens together.
Where I once went to a segregated school in Roanoke, I'm pleased to see 25 years later young people of many nationalities. In fact, during the past year the members of City Council and I took an informal listing, and came up with more than 25 known nationalities that now live in our city. It's not just white and black anymore; we are the whole spectrum of nationalities and colors here in Roanoke. We have become, over the past 25 years, not just a segregated society, but in some ways an integrated and cosmopolitan society. We have a long way to go, but we've come a long way.
So to those who are from Lebanon, Vietnam, Greece or from Turkey, those who are from China or Japan, or those who are of black origin in this country or of Native American origin, and those of us who are Irish or German, or of other white nationalities, we all must seek to live among ourselves in peace, harmony and understanding.
I think that's the sensitive approach to these issues, these social issues that are gripping this nation - more so than really our community at this time. But let's not forget that we're part of a nation, and that we need to do our part, too.
Fair-minded, reasonable, moderate citizens can agree on these principles.
The Million Man March can be a very positive influence in our country. We do not endorse any kind of anti-Semitic, anti-Catholic, anti-white or anti-woman positions endorsed by anyone, in any march. But we want to be a part of, and we want to contribute to, and we want to support, those things that are positive in our nation and positive in our community.
I don't really see that much divisiveness in Roanoke. But in the nation at large, I do. I still think Roanoke should do its part, and so I would like to ask council to join me in requesting the city manager to reformulate the Community Relations Task Force.
That's an organization which has served ad hoc from time to time to deal with such issues here in our community. Perhaps it is appropriate that it come forward again to discuss these issues, or any other issues dealing with human relations in our community, and report back. We may not be able to solve the nation's problems from this level, but we can certainly do what we can to address our own concerns.
David A. Bowers is mayor of Roanoke. This is adapted from his remarks at the City Council meeting on Monday.
by CNB