ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, April 8, 1996 TAG: 9604080074
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTER
REGARDING Edwin Plunkett's death: Billie Patton will grieve for many days for the loss of her fiancee; families will mourn their loved one's death. And my anger grows as I reread the headline, ```He didn't deserve to be shot like that,' girlfriend says'' (March 26 article). I feel that several issues must be confronted before we forget this episode.
Domestic violence is the No. 1 cause of women's death in this country. Statistics show that as many as 68 percent of the murders of women are committed by a spouse, boyfriend or live-in lover. Was it going to take near-death for Patton to wake up and smell the alcohol? She obviously was frightened; she called 911 three times in nine months. The police came. What were they supposed to do? Wait for orders from Patton?
I'm sure Patton has made all the standard statements regarding her abuser: ``When he's not drinking, he's so good to me. He promises he won't ever hit me again. I know I really make him mad; it was all my fault.'' No woman deserves to be hit, kicked, choked or sexually assaulted. And until we convey that message loud and clear to every male and female, her attitude will prevail.
How could police have thought that Plunkett wasn't a threat? He had a gun. He pointed the gun at the officers. Doesn't that constitute a threat?
There are so many victims in this unfortunate incident: Plunkett, now dead; Patton; Plunkett's family; and the police officers who will carry the memory of his death with them for the rest of their lives.
We must educate our children that violence isn't acceptable, under any circumstances. Start in the elementary schools; ingrain this in the minds of impressionable children.
We must also support victims of domestic violence. Provide safe housing for victims and their children. Abusers should be made aware that violence will not be tolerated. The first phone call to the police from a victim will mean automatic arrest for the abuser. The victim must take responsibility for pursuing legal action. Financial aid must be made available to the victim when needed.
Allow law-enforcement agencies to perform their job without incrimination from the public. Use whatever force is necessary to subdue the attacker. And provide punishment be to the fullest extent of the law. We cannot tolerate this atrocious crime we've labeled domestic violence.
TRENA S. BOUDREAUX
BOONES MILL
How convenient for memory to fail
OBSTRUCTIONISTS? Yes! Sens. Paul Sarbanes, Christopher Dodd and Carol Moseley-Braun. While sitting on the Whitewater investigation committee, they have only one agenda - to be obstructionists.
We have not seen them try to get at the truth, which should be their duty. Typical liberal denial. They have an ideology to protect. Should the Clintons' and others' house of cards fall, they also will be affected.
Witnesses have used the words ``I don't recall'' more times than Carter had little liver pills. When beneficial to self, their answers are immediate and memory is excellent. But should something be worrisome, they have no recall.
Professional lawyers have excellent memories. Check them out at a trial anytime. Using the words ``I don't recall'' is in itself cause for great suspicion.
I hope the committee will hang on in its search for the truth. At the end, it should reveal how many times ``I don't recall'' was used by every witness.
HAROLD E. DUDLEY
BLACKSBURG
Genetic engineering may be the cure-all
LARRY Bernath (March 7 letter to the editor, ``Gays aren't gay as a matter of choice'' in response to Karen Kennedy's Feb. 26 letter, ``Hate is not basis for religious beliefs'') says that homosexuals do not choose to be homosexuals.
In the past decade, there has been a search for a "homosexual gene," and this gene, along with others, may have some merit in explaining human history and how we should view one another. I'm sure there must be genes for alcoholism, adultery, murder, rape, pederasty, smoking, obesity, liberalism and conservatism. I suspect there's even one that makes a person pro-choice.
Adam and Eve had to eat the fruit, Cain had to kill Abel, and Hitler had to hate Jews. They had no choice. Now I have a strong urge to rob a bank. I have no choice - that's where the money is.
Gosh, I wish heredity were more benign. Maybe with future genetic engineering, chastity and celibacy could be made inherited traits.
CECIL R. BROOKS
HUDDLESTON
Court, Allen don't feel workers' pain
REGARDING your March 2 article, "Court limits benefits'':
I've worked in a factory for almost nine years, and know firsthand the toll hard work takes on your body. I've recently suffered with severe pain in my left shoulder and arm. My doctor suspects it's from overuse, but I'm unable to receive workers' compensation. Some days I'm barely able to go to work because I've lost sleep due to the pain. I try to avoid my medication because it upsets my stomach.
The justices who made the decision not to include carpal tunnel syndrome in workers' compensation apparently don't know what it's like to put in a hard day's work. Gov. George Allen seems to be more interested in businesses than injured workers, since he vetoed a bill last year that would have included carpal tunnel syndrome in workers' compensation.
I'm thankful that workers have Del. Clarence "Bud" Phillips and House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell on their side.
STEVEN B. WOODROOF
MONETA
Readers will think for themselves
IN DANIEL J. McGrath's March 5 letter to the editor (``Community doesn't accept liberal views''), he complained that the newspaper ``doesn't attempt to reflect the conservative views of the vast majority of its readers, but instead attempts to force the liberal convictions of editorial writers down our collective throats.''
The function of the editorial pages of a newspaper isn't to reflect the views of readers, but to challenge them to think. If your editorial pages only reflect my views, why would I need or want to read them? I already know what my views are. Fortunately, almost every day I find in the editorials some ideas and opinions with which I agree, others with which I disagree - and some on which my mind is still open.
As for writers forcing convictions down my throat, that doesn't happen. Why? Because my teachers back in the '30s taught me that reading is much more than phonetically deciphering and swallowing a written message. Reading involves examining and evaluating a writer's words, facts, ideas, motives, techniques, logic, etc. Reading in the true sense of the word challenges and perhaps even modifies one's thinking, and also prevents one from blindly accepting the printed word. Editorials expose one to many ideas. They seek to persuade; they cannot force a discerning reader to accept any view.
It's the task of schools in a democracy to teach children and youth how to read and evaluate the printed word, and how to think. If we succeed in that, we needn't worry about any writer telling them what to think.
GERALDINE PLUNKETT
ROANOKE
Pro-abortion views don't make it right
IT IS A favorite tactic of The Roanoke Times to promote liberalism by finding individuals who look like spiritual people and hold liberal positions on moral and social-justice issues. In "Can faith affirm right to abortion?" (March 12 article), you parade for all to admire a Catholic, a Protestant and a Jew who believe that a woman has the right to have an abortion. There are good, religious people, you want to tell your readers, who are pro-abortion.
It doesn't matter how many Jews, Protestants, Catholics, members of the clergy or members of the flock you find who agree with your liberal views. Abortion is the murder of unborn babies, and it's a violation of the Fifth Commandment. It's a serious offense against God to have an abortion, provide and promote abortions, and counsel women to have abortions. It's a sin to be a member of a political party that's pro-choice. It doesn't matter how many people you find who confuse freedom with license, forgiveness with toleration, acting according to one's conscience with moral relativism, and who call the result religion. God hates abortion!
JEFFREY LEHMANN
ROANOKE
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