ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 11, 1996 TAG: 9602120062
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
TYPE: LETTERS
I was truly saddened to read that due to threats of violence the diversity sign was removed. The cowardly tactics of making threats reminds me of the Klan, Nazis, and others who do not respect the rights of their fellow Americans. You may disagree with the Diversity message, but I plead with my fellow Virginians to honor our native sons, Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Henry, and respect the right to freedom of speech which they worked, fought and prayed for to pass down to us.
Christopher Tuck
Blacksburg
New rec center's posts a hazard
I am writing to tell you how disappointed I am in the Town of Christiansburg's decision to continue to fix up the old Lowe's building for a recreation center.
I have lived in the Town of Christiansburg for all 13 years of my life. I have been playing basketball in our town's recreation leagues since I was about 6 years old. We have had to play all our games at either the National Guard Armory or the high school and middle school since the town didn't have its own facility. We have needed a recreation center for many years
I like the idea of finally having a new recreation center, but the gymnasiums located in the proposed recreation center are not what I had in mind. I don't think we'll be able to play our best if we have to worry about avoiding the large poles that are located near the playing floors. I would also like to know how they are planning to protect us from injuries we could receive if we run into the bleachers. These bleachers are to be located on the floor behind each basket.
I would like to ask the Town of Christiansburg to think of our safety. I think it would be best to tear down the building and start over with a new, safer building.
Robbie Hockett
Christiansburg
Don't mix politics, law enforcement
Hearing and then reading in the paper about the dismissal of two of Montgomery County's top officers, Dan Haga and O.P. Ramsey, brings a tremendous slap of reality to the residents of Montgomery County.
Not even in law enforcement is there a line drawn in politics. Law enforcement and politics should not be mixed. Law enforcement personnel are there to protect us, regardless of race, sex or political preference.
In the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department, politics seems to be calling the shots and the destiny of two of the finest men in the department. Mr. Haga and Mr. Ramsey, both of whom have qualifications, education and experience, lose their jobs with the only justification being the grand state code, that deputies serve at the pleasure of the sheriffs.
Were these two men dismissed because newly elected Doug Marrs has a personality conflict with them? Or were they not reappointed because both of them ran against Mr. Marrs in the election?
How does a decision such as this benefit the residents of Montgomery County? If this was a political motion or a personal vendetta, then how can we be sure that we will have the protection and law enforcement Montgomery County needs?
The rationale behind the decision to dismiss Mr. Haga and Mr. Ramsey, with their expertise in their fields, should be questioned by all concerned residents of Montgomery County.
I would like to think, and hope, that the decision to dismiss Mr. Haga and Mr. Ramsey would be re-evaluated.
Elsie M. LaRue
Christiansburg
Sodomy merits opposition
Madelyn Rosenberg's column Sunday, Jan. 28 is internally contradictory, addresses the wrong issue and sends a message that is culturally and socially destructive. I do not want to engage in a homophobic diatribe. My heart goes out to the AIDS victims and their friends and families. The community should be compassionate. However, the community should not encourage destructive behavior.
Culture. Webster's defines it simply as the act of developing the intellectual and moral faculties, especially by education.
Rosenberg's logic is contrary to fair and open dialogue. She says that if the community finds sodomy wrong medically, socially, culturally, and morally the community ``needs a lesson.'' Her view is unreasonable because she fails to make a case for homosexuality as either acceptable or enriching behavior. She attempts to label the community's objections as intolerant based on homosexual behavior being some diverse cultural norms. She uses an example of her experience in Vietnam to support that position. I have lived in Asia for several years and in Vietnam for one year. Rosenberg does the Vietnamese and oriental cultures an injustice by her comparison.
The community has reason to object to the sign. Virginia's state code prohibits sodomy. A homosexual introduced AIDS into the United States. Persons spread the AIDS virus engaging in homosexual acts, the use of dirty needles by drug addicts, heterosexual sex by a person with AIDS and, in rare cases, by blood transfusions. The social cost in human suffering, death, public and personal expense from AIDS (homosexual behavior) is overwhelming.
The question is not diversity. The issue is providing a culture in our community that promotes socially enriching behavior that our community, especially our children, may model and grow on. The issue is developing a culture in which the individual in the community assumes responsibility for his or her behavior, each individual is accountable for her/his behavior and respects community members, laws and institutions.
Homosexuality is socially destructive. The AIDS epidemic causes suffering in the families that feel the pain and loss of family. The cost in medical resources and financial costs divert funds from programs that could improve our community.
Homosexuality is culturally destructive. Homosexuality does not contribute to the act of developing the intellectual or moral faculties.
Rosenberg commented that no one had called about there being only one school nurse for Montgomery County. I would ask how many nurses they could hire with the money currently being spent on the AIDS problem? Why not prevent AIDS by education and culture building behavior?
T. Lee Richards
Blacksburg
Bible forbids homosexuality
I am responding to Madelyn Rosenberg's article in the New River section of Sunday's paper. She seems to be unsure about the purpose of the removal of a certain sign in Montgomery County. This was not objected to because of the message ``Diversity Enriches.'' This is true in some cases, but homosexuality and lesbianism are different. This has nothing to do with other races as she insinuated. In Lev. 18:22 it states that this is abomination unto God.
Their sexual preferences are their own business, but we do not want it advertised. She comments that if the sign had been put up by Asians, the NAACP or the Jewish community, it would have been accepted. Probably so. It is not a sin to be a Jew or black or Asian.
Ruby L. Flinchum
Christiansburg
Bowl coverage appropriate
This letter is in response to the continued crying of the Wahoo faithful. The Roanoke Times did an excellent job of covering the bowl victories of both Virginia schools, the coverage was both adequate and fair. Unfortunately, people like Mr. Stinnett and Mr. Bast, in their letters from Jan. 28, obviously do not understand the significant differences between the Hokies (Big East champions) defeating Texas (Southwest Conference champions) in the Sugar Bowl, and the Hoos' (Atlantic Coast Conference champions) Peach Bowl victory which featured the fourth choice from the ACC and the fifth choice from the Southeast Conference (an injury-decimated 6-5 Georgia team). I would hope that even UVa fans could see the difference in the level of bowl competition each team faced. The Sugar Bowl, due to the Bowl Alliance, is in a different tier of bowls from the Peach. Unfortunately the Wahoos were unable to represent the ACC in the Bowl Alliance. Based on the importance of the game, the Hokies should have received more attention because they went to and won a bigger bowl.
The comment about Tech facing easier competition from the letter ``Somebody had to burst the bubble,'' was pretty ridiculous. It was Tech who defeated four ``top 25 teams'' during the year, one of them was UVa on their home field, and let's not forget Tech also defeated a Texas team that defeated UVa. As far as the level of competition on the basketball court goes, the Atlantic 10 is a competitive conference containing the No. 1 team in the country, and they have been involved in several close conference games. The Hokies did defeat UVa in Roanoke by 12 points in December, and they are an ACC team. Obviously it is tough being the No. 2 team in the state.
Earl Petzold
Pulaski
Rec center safety, size questioned
I moved to Christiansburg only five months ago. Therefore, I do not know all of the history on the purchase of the Lowe's building for use as the town's recreation center. However, from what I have learned since moving here, through articles in this paper and through discussions with friends, I have concluded that for the Town Council to continue with its plans for this building would be a waste of taxpayers' dollars and a disservice to the community. The Lowe's building should be torn down and a well-planned, state-of-the-art recreation center should be built either on that site or on the site previously selected by the Recreation Committee.
It is clear that the present building is not suitable for a recreation center. Of course, the primary issue is safety. How can we have confidence in a building whose roof has collapsed twice and which suffered from severe structural defects even before being purchased by the town? Of secondary importance is function. The plans for the basketball courts, though now to be regulation width, still are unsatisfactory in that the location of the bleachers and support posts will be present safety hazards. In addition, the building itself, were it of sound construction, is too big and would require vast empty spaces to be heated and cooled, thereby wasting more dollars.
Christiansburg is in dire need of a state-of-the-art recreation facility which will serve all residents. Not only will such a facility attract industry and business to the town, but it will also greatly enhance the quality of life of its residents. However, such a facility should be built to serve the need of our community for 50-plus years. The town should spend the money now to build a facility of which the town can be proud.
It is time for the members of the Town Council to admit their error. I understand their hesitancy to do so, but encourage them to have confidence that the people of Christiansburg will appreciate such an admission in lieu of continuing to support a course which has been proved mistaken.
Terri LeGrand
Christiansburg
LENGTH: Long : 188 linesby CNB