ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 21, 1996 TAG: 9602210010
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
I AGREE with Bill Tanger (Feb. 15 letter to the editor, ``Let's be ready for the electric car''), co-chair of the Coalition for Energy and Economic Revitalization, when he states that we must be ready for high energy use in the future. However, I disagree that the energy source should be coal. It's dirty and nonrenewable.
If West Virginia is to furnish large portions of that energy, why not use renewable sources? Water power is the greatest untouched energy source, and is available in the mountains. Other renewable sources are the sun and wind, which we'll learn to work with in the future.
If we must send this power to far-off areas, why not put the lines underground? A physicist from Oxford University, speaking at Washington & Lee University several years ago, revealed that it's possible to place the lines in gas-filled tubes, and transport the power underground. In fact, in the case of long distances, it's nearly as economical as the overhead lines.
Attack 21st century problems with solutions that are also 21st century. You might even make the electric-line paths into trails for horse riding, which would be extremely attractive for us in Virginia. Instead of calling it the 765-Kilovolt-Line Scar, we could call it the Appalachian Bridle Park.
ALICE WILLIAMS
LEXINGTON
Choosing a new song for Virginia
VIRGINIA is my home, but what American doesn't look to Virginia for historical and emotional heritage? Songs are a part of this heritage, and I hope the state will choose well a new song.
``The Old Dominion'' by Adele Abrahamse makes the back of my neck prickle - as a good and stirring song should do. I like the words, which look to the past but also build toward the future.
I'm now writing my 76th book. I've used Nelson County as a background for some of my mystery novels. It seems to me that ``The Old Dominion'' does justice to the natural beauty I see out my windows. And, most important, it's both distinctive and singable. The title, of course, is perfect.
PHYLLIS A. WHITNEY
FABER
Downgrading evil in China
I SIT here numb with denial after reading Walter Reich's Feb. 2 article, "Nazi methods in modern 'dying rooms'.'' In his attempt to comment on a heinous situation in China, he ends up disgracing the very event he comments on.
Reich invokes the specter of the Holocaust in an apparent attempt to upgrade the degree of moral outrage that the murder by neglect of those Chinese babies should invoke in any decent person. The grotesque begins right after he bestows the comparison on the report from China by stating that if the reports were in fact confirmed, then "it should be clear ... it would not amount to the Holocaust or even a semblance of it"! He coolly and logically explains that nothing could ever be as evil as the Nazis killing Jews. The starvation of Chinese babies by Chinese adults isn't as evil because it's just same-race genocide rather than the full-blown religious genocide inflicted upon the Jews.
His comments reek of the most insidious cultural arrogance I've ever seen in print. Reich seems much more concerned with preserving the pecking order of historical horrors than with the horrible suffering of those children. He could preserve the macabre cachet of the Holocaust much more easily if he just gave the Chinese government some moral instruction from the United States.
The Chinese could eliminate the world's condemnation altogether if they would just speed up the process so it occurs three months before birth. Instead of genocide, the Chinese would then have the very sophisticated Western institution of "choice.'' We would probably give them some foreign aid to fund it. As with many things today, it appears to be a problem with timing.
JOHN P. KEMP
ROANOKE
Speak out about those assessments
TAX assessments are causing lots of grief to citizens, especially the elderly, people who have lost jobs and those not on pensions.
I live in the county, but also own property in the city. Several of my assessments went up as much as $8,000 in one year. This is ridiculous and uncalled for.
As citizens, we need to voice our opinions more frequently. We may have to organize in numbers to make our voices heard. I challenge all citizens to make yourselves heard at the real-estate assessment office, and demand that corrections be made.
DON DIVERS
ROANOKE
Take steps to prevent tragedies
THE HOUSE fire on Jan. 30 that took the lives of Christopher and Harlie Howard was a horrible tragedy. As a family member, I'd like to thank the community for its support, encouragement and generosity.
I think it's important for us to look at the great loss we've endured and make sure that this kind of tragedy doesn't happen again. Each of us should have ample smoke detectors for the size of our home, and a fire extinguisher should be a standard fixture in every home. It shouldn't take a tragedy like this to make us see that we need to protect ourselves.
TONYA S. ROBERTSON
SALEM
Cruelty to animals is unacceptable
REGARDING Mary Knapp's Feb. 12 letter to the editor, ``A killing sport is not entertainment'':
I agree with her 100 percent. To me, this is cruelty to animals and/or birds. Perhaps we ought to turn that man loose naked in the woods, let some of the wild creatures go after him and see if he considers it sport. To me, it's not sport - it's bloodthirst.
I'd like to see this and so-called wild-animal hunts eradicated.
D.A. GOOCH
DUBLIN
Democrats' ideas benefited blacks
IN RESPONSE to Jeff Artis' Feb. 6 letter to the editor, "Democrats play blacks for suckers." His major claim to dubious fame appears to be his unfounded pride in being a black Republican and his ability to offend with so few words.
I, a black, have to wonder where he came up with the idea that blacks are Democrats because they think the Democratic Party is without racial shortcomings. If that were a criterion by which we join and/or participate, then those of us with any intelligence wouldn't be affiliated with any group, would we? We also wouldn't go to grocery stores, malls, plazas or any of the myriad places where we're snubbed, shadowed, patronized and generally treated like second-class citizens.
For Artis' information and edification, many of us choose to support the Democratic Party for a wealth of reasons, and I would hazard a guess that none has to do with not being referred to by the N-word. The fact is that many of us owe our present positions to the existence, at one time, of anti-poverty programs - a democratically supported idea whose reality taught us job skills, people skills, articulation, grace, confidence and the wherewithal to succeed. In times of need, others of us have had to seek assistance, and we have thanked a merciful God for providing us with a way to feed, clothe and care for our children until we were back on our feet. Republican types with whom Artis aligns himself would eradicate or severely curtail the means by which the poor survive. Not live, mind you, just survive.
So, to Artis I say: Life has apparently been very kind to you. Apparently, you've never been hungry, lived with the knowledge that your babies are hungry or never had to scrape for a substandard job. I hope you never find yourself in a less-than-satisfying place in life where you might have to turn somewhere for help while your Republican brethren are in power.
SHARON H. JONES
ROANOKE
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