ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, May 31, 1996 TAG: 9605310008
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTER
IN RESPONSE to your May 25 editorial, ``Limbaugh and the censors'':
A lot of ink was spent defining Rush Limbaugh and his book, ``The Way Things Ought to Be.'' The real issue here is defining those responsible for what our children read in school.
I have two children enrolled at Montvale Elementary School. One is in kindergarten and one in the first grade, and they eat in the same cafeteria and play on the same playground with the rest of the children. The question is: Who do I want to be in control of what it is my children are exposed to each and every day at school - the teachers, staff and principal, who are trained, paid and truly concerned about the students - or one parent?
The rights of fourth-graders to read what they want to read, or what their parents want them to read, can certainly be exercised at home, where education should begin. All parents should have the right to know that our children are seeing, hearing and reading those things approved by parents as a whole (a parent-teacher association, school board, etc.).
My vote goes to the teachers and principal who, in often chaotic times with too often too little authority, persevere to do what they think is best for our children.
``The Way Things Ought To Be'' are the way things are at Montvale Elementary School.
JAY INGE
MONTVALE
Mountains to ocean, clean it up
EARTH DAY came and went, and several critical issues were not addressed. Pollution has become a major problem in this state. From Southwest Virginia's coalfields to the Chesapeake Bay, we've abused Virginia's natural beauty.
The coalfields have been strip-mined so harshly that coal counties are stereotyped as ugly and barren. This was once gorgeous land. Reclamation has been of little help so far. Perhaps it would be better if our taxes could help more with this area.
Northern Virginia is overpopulated, which causes air pollution. Since it is essentially a Washington suburb, the standard of living is higher, and there are more cars than average. People and industries have polluted the gorgeous Potomac River by releasing chemicals and litter. If the number of cars could be cut back, air pollution would decline. Lobbying congressmen or the Environmental Protection Agency could benefit in strengthening laws on waste disposal. Stiffer fines might deter littering.
The Chesapeake Bay suffers from polluted rivers such as the James and Potomac that are its tributaries. If factories in Richmond, Hampton and Washington were more cautious on waste disposal, we might again have a beautiful, natural and clean bay. The bay used to be home to a vast number of oysters and fish. Bringing them back for harvesting would help our economy.
Roanoke has its own problems. Smog is heavy, and though this is partly due to the mountains, we still must seek to combat it. Car-pooling and tougher laws on emissions could go a long way.
Some of these are matters for Congress, but hearing from you will influence its members.
DANIEL C. PITMAN
TROUTVILLE
Pastor's prayer told the truth
IN RESPONSE to an article in your May 23 newspaper (``Pastor's prayer `made everyone mad''') about a prayer given before state legislators in Topeka, Kan., by the Rev. Joe Wright:
The truth is sometimes hard for us to accept. But after reading Wright's prayer, it's obvious that it is the truth. How correct he was to point out that both Christians and non-Christians would like to twist the truth around to make ourselves feel comfortable and to justify our actions. Many fail to live by God's truth.
Another headline the same day said ``Gay weddings in trouble.'' I'm thankful there are ministers still standing by God's truth and who will not change it, lest they should offend someone. Jesus told his disciples that those who preach his word will be persecuted just as he was persecuted.
I would suggest to those in the legislature who walked out on the pastor's prayer, and those now complaining so loudly, that the truth hit a little close to home.
BOBI ARNOLD
ROANOKE
Rescue squads need our support
AFTER READING Alvis Hardy's May 21 letter to the editor (``Community lacks timely rescue service''), I must respond. Even though I understand his intention in decrying the lack of a rescue squad in the Bonsack community, a few glaring errors in his letter show a misunderstanding of the volunteer emergency-service system.
The Read Mountain Fire Station is not the closest to Lord Botetourt High School. The Troutville Fire Department and Troutville Rescue Squad are closer by several miles. These two fine volunteer organizations have existed for more than 40 and 30 years, respectively, and provide emergency service to the Troutville, Daleville and Cloverdale communities.
The Roanoke City Fire Station on Orange Avenue is not the closest emergency-medical help available to Bonsack, but Read Mountain Fire and Rescue Squad is. The city station doesn't have an ambulance, and operates only as a first-responder station with combination fire-fighter and emergency-medical technicians on the engine. The Read Mountain unit has well-equipped response vehicles, and has EMTs, cardiac technicians and several paramedics among the volunteer members. It is able to provide emergency treatment and care for any situation until an ambulance arrives from the nearest rescue squad.
Hardy noted that ``staffing a rescue squad is a challenge.'' He's correct, especially when the community being served feels a rescue squad is a ``service that all citizens should be able to expect.'' This means the government is expected to provide the service with no requirements for community responsibility. Just ask the volunteers to repeat some of the responses they receive when doing their door-to-door fund raising. (``I paid my taxes,'' etc.)
I challenge Hardy and his Bonsack Ruritan Club to help increase community involvement with the Read Mountain Fire Department and Rescue Squad. Then maybe it will have enough volunteers to staff an ambulance. That's the only way it's going to happen!
MICHAEL W. ROCK
Life member, Troutville and Virginia Tech rescue squads Member, Blue Ridge Fire Department
BLUE RIDGE
Goodlatte is no friend of workers
REGARDING your May 12 article, ``Nominee unknown, but `the fire's there','' which concerned the Democrats' nomination of Jeffrey Grey for the 6th District seat presently held by Rep. Bob Goodlatte.
It's true Grey is a relatively unknown candidate. That's just fine with me. While I haven't heard his first campaign pledge, I certainly feel like I know Goodlatte very well. By his voting record, I know where he stands on issues important to working men and women in our district.
I know that of the past 17 votes Goodlatte cast on issues important to federal employees - who do, by the way, qualify as working men and women - that Goodlatte was completely consistent. (The issues included gutting workplace safety, cutting federal employees' retirement, replacing employees with convicts, cutting health benefits, collective-bargaining rights, shutting down the government twice and cleaning up the environment.)
Goodlatte voted with that Capital Hill group known as the ``Republican freshmen,'' and in lock step with their leader, Newt Gingrich, against workers' interests every time he had the chance.
I suppose, to be fair, I should at least commend him for his devotion to duty and his attendance. He didn't miss a single chance to vote against workers' issues.
In a world of catchy slogans, we'd be remiss if we didn't have one of our own: ``We will remember in November.''
RICHARD FITCH
National representative
American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO
LEXINGTON
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