ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 17, 1996 TAG: 9603150016
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: F-2 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
I READ Sue Given's letter to the editor (March 1, ``Why the Junior League needs to be for women only'') concerning admission of males to the Junior League. Her argument against this is that it would violate league members' First Amendment rights of free association. So far, so good, intellectually.
Then comes the nonsequitur: Rotarians do not have the same right.
This position brings to mind a couple of questions:
What is her (and her group's) position on The Citadel and the Virginia Military Institute?
What is the concept of equality? Do I detect the smell of bias, elitism, hypocrisy or intellectual bankruptcy here?
Given cannot have it both ways!
If the argument is to be one of total equality, I'm in her camp. But if this is selective equality where ``equality'' is jammed down any organization's throat, then I'd qualify the governmental rules as the same kind of tyranny that we fought so hard against.
Let's try this: Males, leave the Junior League alone. Let them be. Females, leave The Citadel and VMI alone. The freedom of choice is what it's all about. Federal intervention is wrong!
JOHN E. PHILPOTT
WIRTZ
Civic Center holds potential danger
I AM CONCERNED about what seems like a potentially disastrous situation - the Roanoke Civic Center auditorium's seating arrangements.
I attended a concert there recently, and had a seat in the first row of the loge. As I looked down upon the main floor, it hit me that the potential was there for a major catastrophe in the event of a fire or other emergency.
The problem: There's no center aisle to provide access in and out of the seats in the center area. I hate to think what could happen if all those people suddenly rushed for the side entrances in an emergency.
I lived in the Boston area, and still have chilling memories of the Coconut Grove fire where hundreds of people were trampled to death or suffocated beneath piled-up bodies at the entrances. People aren't inclined to wait patiently when an auditorium is filling with smoke. They often panic, and in that panic is the potential disaster for our Civic Center auditorium.
I've been told this design conformed to existing regulations at the time the auditorium was built. But people have to be able to get to doors quickly in an emergency. The fire marshal's office said it shares my concerns, especially since there apparently are no sprinklers in the building.
Why couldn't they take out a few seats in the center of every row to make a center aisle? It seems as if saving lives would offset the potential loss of revenue. And I feel most people would prefer to pay extra for a ticket rather than have to put up with the inconvenience of climbing over others to get to their seats and the potential danger of this situation.
JUDITH R. DAMON
ROANOKE
A breeding ban may be necessary
IT SEEMS controversy over the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and humane treatment of animals has no end. There are solutions, and Salem is an example of what those can be.
Each locality must make a commitment to care for animals in its jurisdiction. Making another responsible for warehousing and eliminating unwanted companion animals only increases the problems. The SPCA should refuse to accept payment from surrounding counties for these services.
As in police protection for humans, agencies that are responsible for animals would serve better if they were referred to as "animal protection" agencies instead of "animal control." We wouldn't like our police department to be known for "human control." This change wouldn't prevent the agency from exercising control when necessary, but would put a kinder label on an important service.
Overpopulation can be addressed in a number of ways. Salem offers a free spay-and-neuter day annually, with the cooperation of some area veterinarians and with funds from the city and concerned citizens. Also, the veterinary college at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg may be able to provide sterilization for animals available for adoption from shelters.
Public awareness must increase to the point where the long columns of "free pets" and "for sale pets" in local newspapers diminish. Breeders could make a voluntary commitment not to have more litters until the shelter population reaches manageable numbers. Until every dog and cat with an agreeable personality is assured a loving home, let us have a temporary voluntary ban on breeding.
PAT PRATALI
SALEM
LENGTH: Medium: 92 linesby CNB