ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 21, 1995 TAG: 9512210028
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-14 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
AS REPORTED in your Dec. 15 news article (``Marijuana trial is unlikely''), a deal has been cut with seven of 10 defendants in a pending federal trial. The other three might be allowed to enter bargained pleas as well. Their offense? Oh, cultivating several hundred pounds of marijuana.
There's no way, of course, to know how many hundreds of pounds were grown and sold before these operators, described in the newspaper as ``small time,'' were apprehended.
Mr. Prosecutor, why were so many allowed to bargain? Without a doubt, you and the judge involved are, by your actions, indirectly recruiting others to enter the get-rich-quick world of dope-dealing.
The money's great. You probably won't get caught for a few years and, if you do, you can always cop a plea.
Attorney Jonathan Rogers, as quoted in The Roanoke Times, deserves particular recognition for his opinion of America's drug problem: ``This is silly - this is marijuana. Get real.'' When Rogers' client comes by to pay his bill - in cash, no doubt - he should ask to see a nice, full bag of dope. Inside that bag, I bet is some unknown kid's first hit. And some other kid's last.
BARRY A. PRICE
FANCY GAP
A setback for freedom of speech
I WAS shocked when I read the Nov. 28 news article, ``Christ essay case won't get review.'' Any person from any group believing in free speech should be appalled that this was allowed to happen in the United States. Every believer, regardless of faith, should be concerned that one's right to express his or her belief is being threatened.
I'm sure our forefathers would be astounded that the very freedoms for which they came to America and suffered for are so easily forgotten. America is a land like no other. It will only be blessed as long as its foundation is the Lord Jesus Christ.
The girl wouldn't have been scrutinized had she written her essay on any other person in religion, such as Muhammed or Buddha. What's happening in America? What kind of freedom of religion or freedom of speech should our children expect in the future?
The Supreme Court justices' interpretations don't coincide with the freedoms on which this country was founded. Is there anything concerned Americans can do? Yes, we must stand up for our freedoms and let our voices be heard in next year's elections.
BONITA WHITLOW
ROANOKE
Fire marshal should be thanked
IN RESPONSE to your Dec. 16 article (``Christmas tree called a fire hazard'') regarding Friendship Manor's violation of three safety-code sections and the subsequent removal of its 10-foot Fraser fir:
Friendship Manor's spokesman Ken Srpan summarized by saying that ``if we're indeed in violation, we're going to comply. It's just sad, that's all.'' No, what's sad is reading or hearing on the news of the tragic death of people (elderly or any other) in nursing homes or other places of public assembly caused by fires.
Srpan's facility should have received the fire marshal's news with gratitude, instead of reacting with an obvious, immature power play (replacing a beautiful tree with a table of poinsettias and a card explaining that a fire marshal was responsible for the loss of the tree).
Why didn't he just thank Fire Marshal Donald Gillespie and his assistant, Rodney Ferguson, for doing their job well in keeping his residents safe, and then buy a beautiful 10-foot (or even bigger) artificial, noncombustible or flame resistant tree? Will the real Grinch please stand?
LINDA H. SNEAD
SALEM
Ready and willing to share the burden
I SAY ``amen'' to Jim Bush's Dec. 5 letter to the editor (``Don't assume geezers are greedy''). I wish I had written it myself.
I, too, am a senior citizen who doesn't share Rep. Rick Boucher's ``opposition to the legislation being promoted by the new congressional majority.'' I am likewise appalled by his untrue assertion that it would result in ``deep cuts'' in Medicare funding. It's bad enough that he promotes this distortion of the facts, but more tragic is that it's echoed all the way up to President Clinton.
Similarly, the American Association of Retired Persons (of which I am a member) doesn't represent my view that we senior citizens should share in an effort to balance the national budget. Whatever pain we may endure in the short term is nothing compared to the disaster our grandchildren will experience in the future when the escalating national debt and its interest will destroy all of the currently popular ``social programs'' that seem to endanger efforts to balance the budget.
Whether or not John Kennedy would approve my applying to this situation his famous statement, ``Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,'' that statement seems appropriate to me.
GORDON OGRAM
FLOYD COUNTY
LENGTH: Medium: 96 linesby CNB