Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 2, 1995 TAG: 9511150081
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: E2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
One might say: If we get bored because everything is so perfect and there's nothing left to do, we could branch out in space just for the heck of it, or we could go into Third World countries and help them plant corn.
After all, if there are other planets with life out there, what could we offer them? Terrible crime, drugs, unwed mothers, homelessness, car jackings, AIDS, corrupt government, absent dads, and guns and knives in schools don't sound much like bragging rights!
After all the billions of dollars we've spent, they would say: ``Go away. You've failed with your planet, and we don't want you to come around and contaminate us or ours!''
DONNA GARRETT ROANOKE
Was principal playing hooky?
IN A story by Tolstoy, the Russian novelist, he wrote that the saddest thing he ever saw was a drunken woman in the gutter on a street in Moscow. Her young boy was crying, saying, ``Mother, please get up. Let us go home.''
The saddest thing I ever saw in Roanoke was when I was visiting an elementary school. I saw an 8-year-old boy sent to the principal's office for a disciplinary measure. We waited 15 minutes. I told the young student that since the principal wasn't in his office, he should go back to his class because he'd miss lots of activity and learning. He left. I waited an hour or so.
When the principal finally came, I asked him where he had been. He said that his mother was in a nursing home, and he had been to visit her. I hope schools use the services of truant officers to bring to school absent students.
Jefferson once said, ``In order to safeguard democracy, each and every one of us must act as a soldier.'' I hope everyone gets involved on behalf of our youth. It does make a difference.
ZEMONE K. McMANAWAY ROANOKE
Media can't pick the GOP candidate
I BECAME aware in past weeks of the media push to have the Republican Party nominate Colin Powell to run as its presidential candidate. I hope that when the Republican Party does nominate a candidate, it will be based on qualifications for the office, and not on media hype.
I believe there are men much better qualified for the position - Phil Gramm, being one.
GLENNA RICHARDSON SALEM
Two schools are better for students
REGARDING the building of a new high school in Roanoke County (Oct. 18 article, ``Experts see 1998 finish for school''):
The controversy is whether the county should build one big high school or two smaller ones.
I think two smaller ones should be built because it would enable more teen-agers to participate in sports. Also, a better watch could be kept on students, and students would have smaller classes where more attention could be focused on the students individually.
Students and future students of Cave Spring High School deserve more attention, and it would be for their benefit.
MARGARET TAYLOR ROANOKE
Environment needs responsible care
I WAS enraged and terrified as I read your Oct. 23 article "Environment entrusted to private sector." I'm well informed of the disastrous environmental decisions being made on the federal level, but in Virginia? I was enraged that here at home such narrow, short-range vision is the Allen administration's approach to our precious environment: loosen air- and water-permit standards, censure "sensitive" environment publications, hope the private business sector will self-regulate its polluting, and prevent citizens from suing the state over air and water permits. And to think that not only is this administration doing such damage to previous environmental policies/standards, but I'm paying for Becky Norton Dunlop's job as secretary of natural resources.
I'm scared Virginians will feel as I have - resigned that we can not have an impact on government. I'm scared we'll give up in despair.
We need to honor, respect and preserve our air, water and our plant and animal communities. We're responsible. We are contributing to their decline by allowing such people to lead us. When we allow destruction of our environment, we're essentially destroying ourselves.
I believe we can make a difference: Act, vote and find out the environmental stance politicians have taken. Inform yourself and insist on being heard. Complacency will destroy us.
NANCY G. SHANK LYNCHBURG
by CNB