ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, December 18, 1995 TAG: 9512180002
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
THE ROANOKE Times must be proud of one of its endorsed political candidates. Sen.-elect John Edwards hasn't been officially sworn in and he's already making sensational front-page news (Nov. 30 article, "City jury finds for the birds'').
Ironically, it was on Nov. 22 that another Roanoke attorney, Jeffery A. Fleischauer, treated us to his sardonic commentary (``Making the case for trial lawyers"), which essentially asserted that we would be living in the equivalent of a Wild West Soviet Union had we not been blessed with 70 percent of the world's attorneys.
Edwards takes that kind of reasoning to a new level with his courtroom triumph. Facing down that heinous bird-squasher must have brought back gilded memories from his days of prosecuting the largest bank robbery in local history. I'm not surprised he brought such an obscene travesty to court. After all, he's a card-carrying trial lawyer. Sen. Brandon Bell did try to warn us.
The disturbing part is the cast of willing accomplices it took to put on this charade. Just how complicit was the judge in this endeavor? Did he actively participate or did he spectate from the sidelines as this unfolded? Did the doctor's favorable (and unbelievable) testimony assure the full payment of bills? My God, what was the jury thinking? Any award is an affront to common sense and decency, but $135,000? What would they have awarded had it been a collie or a kitten?
The scary aspect is that voters sent Edwards to the state Senate to join many other like-minded trial lawyers. The touching television ads with his mother and his pledges about education aside, Edwards can now work to expand this field of law. Perhaps he'll introduce a bill that forbids the intentional infliction of emotional distress to students by giving them anything less than a grade of C. That would, no doubt, improve educational performance on paper.
Look out, Roanokers. Don't hit your neighbor's cat or dog with your car, and make sure nobody is around when you squash that pest or vermin, because Edwards and the trial lawyers are in the state legislature working for you!
JOHN P. KEMP
ROANOKE
Roanokers have gone to meddling
THANK YOU for your Nov. 30 editorial (``If the `smart' road is at risk, why?") regarding the proposed condemning of land in Agricultural and Forestal District 7 for a proposed road through the Ellett Valley of Montgomery County.
With all respect, we citizens of Montgomery County beg to remind the good people of Roanoke that this is our property, our county, our leadership and our decision. So will you folks just please kindly butt out. Incendiary editorials don't help matters one bit.
JOYCE BOWLING
BLACKSBURG
Deploy troops to fight evils at home
MY HEART aches for the parents and loved ones of the young Virginia Tech student who was killed for no reason whatsoever. This year has been a year of tears, depression, sleepless nights, etc., for me, because the last time I saw my daughter was last Christmas Eve. She was brutally slaughtered by a thrill-seeking, drug-crazed beast.
He's locked away, but gets three meals a day, a bed to sleep in, television, exercise equipment, education, etc. My child loved to read, cook, picnic, take nature pictures and do so many other things that she can never do again. He took her life, and his should have been taken.
I voted for President Clinton and will do so again, but I don't support his sending our young men to Bosnia. Keep them here at home, put them on the streets, give them orders to shoot to kill the vermin that are destroying our society. We live in a society where we're afraid in our own homes. I can remember the times when we didn't even close our doors at night, much less lock them. The judicial system is totally out of control. It has reached the point that the victim is the guilty one.
The holidays mean nothing to me without my child. Maybe God will forgive the beast who took my child's life, but I can't and never will.
IRENE GROVES
ROANOKE
Review didn't do the show justice
WITH ALL due respect to Katherine Reed's review of Mill Mountain Theater's ``She Loves Me'' (Dec. 2, ``Fine acting, sets can't save this too-long musical''), I'd like to offer another opinion.
I saw the play and loved it. The story was engaging, the sets were superb, the singing was fabulous, the pace was quick and the dialogue was snappy. I thought all the characters were perfectly cast, especially Marvin Einhorn as Mr. Maraczek. I think Reed missed the mark in describing his character. Maraczek was a paternal and benevolent employer; his anger and hostility were due to specific circumstances. I won't go into more detail because I don't want to spoil one of the play's surprises for those who haven't seen it yet.
Reed also complained that the play was too long, and that some songs weren't memorable. My opinion, and that of everyone I know who has seen the show, is that the songs were delightful. Many of them served as dialogue, telling the story as well as entertaining the audience. I must admit, however, that I found the last song to be very disappointing. And the reason is that as soon as the song began, I realized that the show was ending.
I'm going back to see the play again, and I recommend it to others. In my humble opinion, ``She Loves Me'' is a winner.
BETTY LIEDTKE
ROANOKE
LENGTH: Long : 101 linesby CNB