ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 18, 1996 TAG: 9604180003
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
APRIL 15 - what a great day in America! Tax day! Yes, I sent my extra donation in on April 15, and am so glad I did. At lunch, I actually saw where some of it goes.
I was behind a lady and her 2-year-old baby in the checkout line at a local grocery store. On the counter were eight six-packs of Coke and Sprite, three bags of potato chips, three candy bars and a large bag of cheese popcorn. Total charge, $19.73. Without blinking an eye, the lady whipped out two $10 food stamps and gladly thanked the cashier for her 27 cents in change.
As I walked to my car, I felt very fortunate that my hard-earned tax money was helping to feed a needy family.
STEVE DOYLE
ROANOKE
Voters were blinded by dollar signs
IN RESPONSE to the recent bond referendum, I'd like to give a student's point of view.
As a sophomore at Cave Spring High School, I know firsthand how frustrating it is to be pushed around, stepped on, yelled at and squeezed into classrooms. Strangely enough, that didn't seem to be the issue in the election. It was how it affected taxes.
Taxes go up and down all the time. The least we could do is put taxes to good use. Granted, more planning is needed to be positive that the community will pay a minimum, but I don't think anyone saw beyond the initial dollar signs.
It's doubtful a new high school will be built in two years; therefore, this referendum didn't affect me or benefit me in the least. However, the children we educate today are the ones who will be taking care of us tomorrow. I would think people would care enough to want the best for the future leaders of our community. Believe it or not, this referendum did affect everyone.
ELIZABETH KISER
ROANOKE
Dodging the issue is more comfortable
REGARDING Cody Lowe's March 24 article, ``Diversity enriches'':
Why do those two words cause such an uproar? I'll tell you in one word: homophobia - the irrational fear and hatred of lesbians and gays!
The truly sad part about all of this is that it isn't just those ``unknown" homosexuals out there whom homophobes are hurting. In many cases, it's their own closeted lesbian and gay children or other family members who suffer.
Southwest Virginia doesn't care that lesbians and gays face discrimination every day, and live in fear that they could lose their jobs, children or the love of family members if someone finds out. And God forbid, don't dare put up a billboard that might imply that it could be OK if you're homosexual. We can't deal with the issue. We might have to question our own beliefs!
CHARLES TURNER
ROANOKE
Reason for trips is just a guess
KEITH Furr found plenty of opinions to disagree with in his Feb. 24 letter to the editor, ``Facts discredit foes' distorted view of the smart road.'' But in spite of the pejorative and accusatory title of his letter, he found not one single fact ever written by any smart-road opponent to refute!
On the other hand, he tells us the reason the railroad won't work from Blacksburg to Roanoke is that most travelers are making the trip for the purpose of shopping. In my research, asking both proponents and opponents, I've found that while the number of trips has been counted, the reason for them has never been studied. I suspect that if it were studied, Furr's ``fact'' would likely be found untrue. Simply stated, this isn't a fact.
GLENN SKUTT
BLACKSBURG
City voters are being shortchanged
IN READING your April 7 article (``Gripe: `Of the people,' it's not'') about the candidates for the Roanoke City Council election, I have a comment.
I think Roanoke City Council's perception of the ward system is all wrong. I came from Midwest Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota, and all the communities had the ward system. The mayor was the only one who was an at-large candidate; council members were elected by wards.
Besides living in Sioux City, Iowa, and Omaha, Neb., I lived in communities of 5,000 or less. And, in each case, they had the ward system, not a modified-ward system. Candidates should do some homework before they say Roanoke is too small to have a ward system. In my opinion, the people are being shortchanged without one.
RICHARD J. BRAUNGER
ROANOKE
LENGTH: Medium: 88 linesby CNB