ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, April 16, 1996 TAG: 9604160033
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
AS A RECENT home-purchaser in Roanoke County, I was disappointed with the low voter-turnout and the result of the school-bond referendum.
Although my wife and I have no children, we nonetheless understand the contribution that adequate (if not superior) schooling gives to a community.
I was particularly distressed by the number of county residents interviewed on the referendum who insisted that there must be "some other way" to raise the necessary funds without issuing bonds or raising property taxes. Indeed, there are. In fact, I quickly tallied 10 alternatives for raising capital for schools. I offer them for your consideration:
* Shop class/home-economics class rummage and bake sales.
* Roanoke County wins Lotto.
* Raise school-lunch price to $36 million dollars. Sure, it's expensive, but if only one kid forgets his lunch!
* Do we really need all those teachers?
* Let students pay their own way: one hour of class for each hour of hard labor.
* Combine school- and prison-building projects: Cave Spring Maximum Security High School.
* Drop English requirement. When are these kids going to England anyway?
* Toll booths on Electric Avenue.
* Corporate sponsors for school stadiums.
* And the No. 1 alternative fund-raising scheme: Bally's Cave Spring High School and Casino.
The frightening thing is that some county residents might actually seriously consider some of these.
JOHN S. KOEHLER
ROANOKE COUNTY
Why sidewalks are needed
I HAVE a problem with the sidewalks in Vinton. There are no places to walk since we don't have sidewalks on most of the streets. It's hard to walk places without getting hit by a car.
I wish Vinton would pay to get sidewalks put in, at least at the busier intersections. I think they forget about people who don't have cars or aren't old enough to drive them.
KIMBERLY KASTNER
VINTON
Union flag flew as slavery thrived
YOU STATE (March 21 editorial, ``Rebel flag without a cause'') that the Confederate flag flying over some Southern capitols offends black Americans and many other Americans because it's a flag of racism and slavery. I think you're degrading the wrong flag. Try the Union flag. Slavery was legal in the Union for 84 years before the Confederacy was ever born. The Confederacy died in April 1865; the 13th Amendment wasn't passed until December 1865.
I know this newspaper is working under a handicap, being that the editorial writers are damn Yankees and liberal Southern scalawags. But please at least try to find some that can read a history book.
PATTI HUTSON WRAY
WIRTZ
Church needn't fear Freemasonry
IT MUST be a slow news day when you pick up the Associated Press story (March 28, ``A bishop's threat tests consciences'') from Lincoln, Neb., citing Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz's scurrilous and unsubstantiated attack upon several organizations - including the Freemasons, the Rainbow Girls, and Job's Daughters. I'm certain those organizations present a real threat to the Catholic church! Maybe the bishop is aspiring for his red cardinal's miter.
Citing Freemasonry as a "secret organization" is only one of his untruths. Also, many Masons in Roanoke and Virginia are Catholic, and there's certainly nothing in Freemasonry that would preclude a Catholic joining our fraternity.
The bishop isn't quite into the 20th century; never mind that in 2001, we start the 21st century.
SAMUEL C. PALMER JR.
Grand King of the Grand Chapter
of Royal Arch Masons in Virginia
ROANOKE
Many scientists do reject evolution
THE WRITER of your March 14 editorial ("Teach kids real science") needs to read a couple of good books: "Evolution: A Theory in Crisis" by Michael Denton and "Darwin on Trial" by Phillip E. Johnson.
Contrary to the editorial's view, a substantial body of scientists does reject evolution as the means by which life originated and is sustained on the Earth. Evolution has failed to explain the sudden appearance of complex life forms in Cambrian rocks and the lack of transitional life forms ("missing links") throughout the fossil record.
In addition, no plausible theory exists for the spontaneous generation of DNA and RNA. Breeding experiments in plants and animals produce only limited change, contrary to evolutionary expectations. Perhaps the biggest objection to this theory is visible to all: How can a process that's supposedly propelled by blind chance create the vastness of nature with all its interdependent complexity? Is it not reasonable to suggest a supernatural source for this?
And why not let students see both sides of the creation/evolution question and decide for themselves?
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the skies proclaim his handiwork, Day unto day they pour forth speech, and night unto night they display knowledge." (Psalms 19:1-2.)
BILL SEATON
BLACKSBURG
Housing inspectors know the difference
AS AN enlightenment to Joan Phelps (March 22 letter to the editor, ``Go after deadbeat tenants, too''), perhaps a little time could be well-spent investigating what the current proposal for a certificate-of-compliance ordinance would actually accomplish. It's easy to see, when acquainted with the provisions of this ordinance, that it would provide protection for the landlords from the very type of tenants Phelps described.
Obviously, if a rental facility passes inspection and then is damaged or destroyed by the tenants, the inspector will be able to ascertain that. There's a visible difference between noncompliance with building codes or ordinances and damage caused willfully by a tenant.
ANN LEFFLER
NEW CASTLE
Buyer's age is a judgment call
IN RESPONSE to your March 22 editorial (``A judge's hurtful decision'') regarding the Roanoke County General District Court case in which Judge George Harris Jr. dismissed a criminal charge against a clerk who sold beer to an undercover informant under the age of 21 at the Quick-Ette in Roanoke County:
As an attorney who was present in the courtroom during the trial, I have a different perspective from that of the editorial writer. It appears to me that there's a general misunderstanding of the law regarding the sale of alcoholic beverages to a person under the age of 21.
The criminal statute provides that no person shall sell any alcoholic beverages to any person when at the time of such sale he or she knows or has reason to believe that the person to whom the sale is made is less than 21 years of age, interdicted or intoxicated.
In this case, I don't presume to know all of the reasoning behind Harris' decision. However, it was clear to me that the underaged informant, who was present in the courtroom, appeared to be about 35 years old. In fact, it was very difficult for me to believe that the informant could possibly be under the age of 30.
If the legislature wants to make it a crime for a clerk to sell to anyone under the age of 21, then the appearance of the person attempting to buy an alcoholic beverage wouldn't be at issue. However, the statute passed by the legislature provides for a judgment call as to a person's age.
If any member of the public has a concern with the reasonable-belief standard that's provided in the statute regarding the sale of alcoholic beverages, then I believe the concern should be directed at his or her legislator .
It would also be helpful if The Roanoke Times would make a better effort at determining and providing accurate and complete information.
A. KRISTIN SHANDOR
SALEM
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