ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, June 26, 1996 TAG: 9606260005
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
WHAT HAS happened to our patriotism? It amazes us how few people displayed our American flag on Flag Day (June 14) or display it on any other day (Memorial Day, etc.). One sees many flags with pineapples, Halloween symbols, etc. It baffles us, whatever the reason for not displaying our American flag.
Do people - young and old - realize that we wouldn't be here today if it hadn't been for all the veterans who served during World Wars I and II? How about showing some patriotism by displaying our American flag, especially with July Fourth just around the corner.
GERALD and ALICE FLYNN
VINTON
Putting business before children
IN A TIME when our country's focus is centering more on increased funding for our children's education (May 23 news article about Roanoke schools, "More students, more cash"), why has the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors decided to chop $1.4 million out of that county's elementary-school budget?
The county schools have a three-page list of needed items that this cut will eliminate, ranging from new buses to teachers' pay raises. (Botetourt teachers' salaries are among the lowest in the area.)
While Roanoke County is trying to push its elementary-classroom ratio down to one teacher per 15 children, Botetourt's stands at one per 21. Meanwhile, the county's population continues to swell.
The School Board, outraged parents and teachers, and Blue Ridge Supervisor Wendy Wingo pleaded for at least some of the money, but were refused. Other supervisors say the money could be better spent enticing new businesses into the area. In the meantime, the School Board has been asked to come back July 16, after the start of the new fiscal year, to decide whether more funding is available.
I'm not a teacher, though I'm working on my teacher certification now. But I won't want to teach - or live - in a county where the local government puts its children's welfare last.
DANNY ADAMS
VINTON
Prayers' exclusion leaves a void
MY WIFE and I have attended the graduation ceremonies of our six children at the old Jefferson High School, Patrick Henry High School, Virginia Tech, Roanoke College and Radford University where prayer was always a significant part of the program. Recently, we attended a graduation ceremony at the Roanoke Civic Center where prayer wasn't included, and we left with an empty feeling - like something was missing.
I am not a very religious person. However, I feel that excluding prayer from these ceremonies only accomplishes a negative result.
HARRY D. MOOCK
ROANOKE
`Conservative' has lost its meaning
IT IS becoming difficult to determine exactly what so-called conservatives are trying to conserve. It certainly cannot be a sense of decency and civility from times past. All one must do is disagree with one of these self-appointed champions of virtue to be called a host of derogatory names.
Apparently, there's no desire to conserve respect for the symbols of our society. If one reads the newspaper and recognizes disrespect for the president and other properly elected officials, one can hardly find respect for the institutions they represent. In times past, scurrilous remarks made about and toward a president would have gotten you a visit from the Secret Service.
So-called conservatives don't seem to be concerned with moral character or personal conviction. Two years ago, Virginia conservatives supported a confessed liar and convicted felon for senator. The fact his conviction was overturned on a technicality was of great solace to Ollie North's supporters, but I doubt a technical reversal would have been heralded as justice had the felon been black and convicted of drug charges. So-called conservatives tried to punish Sen. John Warner for his personal convictions because he wouldn't support North. It seems party loyalty should be more important than honesty or conviction.
One is expected to believe that conservatives are interested in less government intrusion into peoples' lives and greater fiscal constraint for government. These same people demand that books they find inappropriate be kept out of public libraries and would force prayer on children of diverse religious backgrounds. Many have their hands firmly stuck in the cookie jar of Social Security and Medicare while decrying ``welfare.''
If one draws any meaning from the term "conservative'' as applied today, it would be that those who claim the title wish only to conserve what they find worthy of conserving for themselves.
TAL ROBERTS
BLACKSBURG
LENGTH: Medium: 90 linesby CNB