ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, May 2, 1996 TAG: 9605020001
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
I AM A member of the West Point class of 1977. We were the seniors responsible for training the first women admitted to the U.S. Military Academy in 1976. Needless to say, I've followed with interest the court cases regarding the admission of women to the Virginia Military Institute and The Citadel. But I'm also bewildered by their opposition to admitting women.
During the summer of 1976, I commanded the Fourth New Cadet Company. I was in charge of approximately 150 male and 25 female new cadets, and 30 other senior cadre members. Many of these women were the daughters of generals, colonels and sergeants major. They were Army brats who loved the Army and wanted nothing more than to be professional Army officers.
Some, but by no means all, had difficulty keeping up physically with their male counterparts. Instead of making excuses for their performance, the women of my company worked out in their ``spare time.'' (I enclose ``spare time'' in quotes because there's no spare time for new cadets at West Point.) These women got up early on Sunday mornings, the only morning we didn't schedule physical training, and ran while their classmates slept. This didn't go unnoticed, and soon some men also challenged by the physical regimen followed their example.
As a group, the first women at West Point were superior academically to their male classmates, and were every bit as physically and mentally tough. In my experience, they have enhanced the educational experience of West Point, and the female graduates are making invaluable contributions to the Army today. So you can understand my bewilderment at the opposition to admitting women to VMI and The Citadel. As I see it, these excellent institutions are opposing opportunities to become even better.
KEVIN G. KELLY
ROANOKE
Three sure signs of spring
IT USED to be that there were two sure signs of spring. But here lately, I've noticed three.
Being able to look outside and see a robin in the yard. Surely, warm weather is on its way.
Whenever there's warm weather, you're sure to run up on a police roadblock. There's nothing like being out with your family on a nice day just to be stopped at Checkpoint Charlie.
Well, you'll have to guess for yourself. But has anyone stopped and bought gasoline lately?
BOB TAYLOR
SALEM
Try alternatives to chases
NORMALLY, I support the police department, which ordinarily does a good job. But the fatal crash that occurred on April 21 due to a foolish car chase by police has caused me to voice my opinion on this situation.
Once again we have innocent people killed by a senseless and unnecessary car chase! There's no reason the police couldn't have taken the license number of the vehicle that Scott Allman was driving and picked him up later. Even if the car had been stolen, as Officer J.L. McPhail said he thought at one time during the chase, the car wasn't worth the lives of three innocent people.
It's time the police department started acting more responsibly and took license numbers, set up roadblocks, etc., instead of placing the life and property of innocent people at risk. It's time chasing is done only in cases involving murder, when the suspect will likely flee the state.
EDDIE SHEPHERD SR.
ROANOKE
It was his decision to break the law
NO, THE police didn't make Scott Allman a murderer, as his father stated. Allman - as a 21-year-old adult, not a mixed-up kid as his father claims - made choices in his life that led to the fatal event. If he was so terrified of jail, as stated in your April 23 article (``Police defend fatal chase''), why did he continue to make decisions that would lead to jail?
Police departments across the country are responsibly examining their procedures for handling situations where people refuse to stop. Let's not turn the world upside down and blame the police. Look to the person who made the decision to break the law.
MARY TOMLINSON
ROANOKE
Voting is a duty; don't dodge it
TODAY the citizens of the United States consider voting to be a right. By observing our voting behavior, we see that we exercise this right only when it's convenient.
Voting is a responsibility. It's the duty of every citizen who is eligible to vote to carry out this responsibility.
Please remember that at our nation's birth only a minority of white men were considered responsible enough to be entrusted with the vote. Three constitutional amendments and one Civil War later, all qualified citizens age 18 and over are now entrusted with the voting responsibility.
People have many reasons and excuses for not carrying out this duty. In my opinion, they all add up to a refusal to accept their responsibility for our country.
Thomas Paine said, ``Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must
JESSICA R. SMITH
SALEM
Moore advocates citizen involvement
I SERVED with John Moore for 12 years on the Salem School Board. Since that time, I've continued to know him through his service with the Salem Educational Foundation as a board member and as chairman of the resource committee.
He takes duty and responsibility very seriously. He was always prepared for every School Board meeting, and arranged his personal schedule to accommodate School Board functions. During his more than 12 years on the board, I can recall only one meeting that he was unable to attend.
I believe Moore is exactly who Salem needs on City Council. He's interested in education, will bring a new fiscal responsibility to council, and is an advocate of much greater citizen involvement. He's on record recommending that citizens should vote on all major discretionary capital projects, such as a swimming pool and golf course, and on all bond issues. And he feels that the citizens' vote should be binding on City Council.
I believe a vote for Moore on May 7 would be a vote for a better City Council.
GLENN O. THORNHILL JR.
SALEM
Voters should elect Haskins
I HAVE known Harry Haskins for more than 30 years as a co-worker, neighbor and friend. He has always been friendly and polite, and he communicates well with others. When I worked with him in the Virginia State Police, he was fair and highly respected as a gentleman and as an officer.
He has been loyal to Salem for the past 20 years as its chief of police. He was very efficient and professional in this field.
It would be beneficial to the citizens of Salem to elect Haskins to City Council on May 7.
BENJAMIN C. NICODEMUS
SALEM
Two tragedies are not comparable
I FELT offended when I saw the April 20 articles (``Pain is fresh a year later'' and ``Memory of Koresh honored in Waco''), with the one regarding the Waco incident alongside the one on the Oklahoma bombing. I feel there's no relationship nor should there be any comparison of these two incidents in the lives of our citizens.
The Oklahoma bombing was an incident in which many innocent victims were killed, through no choice of their own. The people at Waco chose to be there, and knew it was possible they would be persecuted because of their beliefs and their extremist leader, David Koresh. Innocents were also killed at Waco, but they had an opportunity to leave and didn't. Those in Oklahoma had no chance to leave the building before it was bombed.
MARY JO MARKHAM
SALEM
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