ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, July 8, 1996 TAG: 9607080138
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
I WISH to thank Jefferson National Forest Supervisor Bill Damon for his decision to recommend the no-action alternative in the environmental-impact statement for American Electric Power's request to build a 765-kilovolt power line across federal lands. This decision goes against big-business greed and for the people of this region.
Until this point, the process consistently favored AEP at every turn, greatly understating environmental impacts of the project. The economic section fails to mention the most significant negative economic impact: Building the line would expand AEP's ``coal by wire'' policy, which already forces our region to import $250 million of electricity annually.
Even though the environmental-impact statement casts AEP in the best possible light, negative consequences of the line proved too great for Damon to accept.
Recent statements by AEP officials and advertising consultants have tried to give the false impression that his decision pushes the power line off federal lands and onto private lands. A ``non-federal'' route was studied, and Damon could have recommended that option. Instead, he recommended the line not be built at all. Of course, federal agencies have no jurisdiction on private lands. It's physically possible to build a power line entirely on private lands. However, AEP admits the private-land route involved isn't practical. Thus, this decision effectively stops the line.
AEP officials said they intend to lobby Damon's superiors to reverse this decision. While a reversal is unlikely, it indicates that AEP intends to drag things out.
A company truly serving the public's best interests would recognize that this is a poor choice. AEP has already wasted many millions of ratepayers' dollars on this project. AEP has disrupted the lives of many individuals, and will continue to disrupt real-estate transactions and home building so long as the power-line proposal remains on the table. Even if AEP believes that the line is in the best interests of Southwest Virginia, the responsible view would be to recognize that the people to be served have rejected it. It's time for AEP to withdraw the power-line proposal, once and for all.
CLIFF SHAFFER
Chairman, Citizens Organized to Protect the Environment
NEWPORT
Explore is getting its act together
I AGREE in part and disagree in part with Frederick G. Stephenson's June 30 letter to the editor (``Explore's offerings not as advertised'') criticizing Explore Park officials for running a misleading workshop advertisement and for adopting higher admission fees in 1997.
Yes, his first complaint was fully justified. We devoted an entire staff meeting to the subject of his letter to try to ensure that all future Explore Park programs would live up to their advance billing. (Our telephone calls to Stephenson - to apologize, report on actions taken, and invite him to consider teaching a workshop at Explore himself - didn't connect.)
No, the planned admission-fee increase isn't "ill-advised.'' Living-history parks are labor-intensive operations. At Explore, at least 12 staff members must be on site before we can open the park to the public. We have been encouraged to become more financially self-sufficient - to increase the earned-income (admission fees, gift sales) part of our operating budget to shift more of the cost of running Explore away from general tax funds. (Incidentally, there will be no increase next year in the price of Explore's annual pass - the most economical way for our Roanoke Valley neighbors to frequently visit the park.)
What isn't often acknowledged in news-media coverage of Explore is that the entire cost of developing the park - including the cost of moving and reconstructing all of the park's historic buildings - had been paid for with private gifts. Explore is a public-private partnership. Currently, the park's entire capital (construction) budget and nearly a quarter of its operating budget are covered by gifts and grants from private corporations, foundations and individuals. Compare this with any typical state or national park, where the entire budget comes from taxes, and Explore is a bargain.
We thank our private underwriters and our regular visitors, as well as the many units of government, for their support. And we appreciate constructive criticism such as Stephenson's.
M. RUPERT CUTLER
Executive Director
Virginia's Explore Park
ROANOKE
The high court's egregious intrusion
THERE OUGHT to be little surprise at the recent Supreme Court decision (June 27 article, ``VMI must admit women, Supreme Court rules 7-1'') concerning the all-male policy of admittance at the Virginia Military Institute. These nine nonrepresentative, nonelected judges have as much power as the other two branches of government combined. They declare something unconstitutional and it has the force of law.
This type of intrusive behavior into strictly a state concern is precisely what's wrong today. The radical egalitarians have scored another ``victory.'' No matter that the freedom to attend a single-sex school is deprived to half the population. No matter that very few women desire to break VMI's doors down. No matter that Virginia tried to compromise with these arrogant know-it-alls by establishing an all-female VMI-modeled school. ``Plessy vs. Ferguson'' and ``separate but equal'' have cast a long shadow.
Real freedom and liberty for Americans has been reduced once again in the name of high-sounding rhetoric. We grow closer to the day when the feds will confiscate our guns in the name of public safety. We grow closer to Big Brother and limitations on saying or thinking what we wish.
Virginia, with her politically correct and cowardly politicians, will bow down to big government. God forbid any of them have the gall to dissent vociferously at this meddling. It wasn't so long ago that a different Supreme Court would have found this type of federal intrusion unconstitutional. But that was before we had a government that bent over for special-interest groups and when liberty reigned.
WAYNE DAVID CARLSON
CLAYTOR LAKE
Coming together to overcome racism
REGARDING The Back Pew column by Cody Lowe on June 30, ``Courage overcomes hatred'':
I also wonder what motivated Keshia Thomas. What she did was totally out of character with the rest of the crowd. But, nonetheless, what she did was commendable.
I wonder if her actions will come back to haunt her? Will she be labeled an ``Auntie Tom'' by her own race? I hope not! Maybe she's a die-hard American who believes in the First Amendment right of freedom of speech.
Although some people wear symbols, carry banners or say things you don't like, this is freedom of speech. Many Americans of all races, colors and creeds have fought and died to present and preserve this right for each of us. It doesn't give us the right to inflict harm on any person, and it also doesn't give us the right to burn anyone's place of worship.
A lot of nationalities live in this country. And unless they're illegal immigrants, they're all Americans - regardless of where they come from. And, yes, everyone has a right to be proud of his or her heritage. Every race has its icons, banners, symbols and clothing, and should be able to display them proudly.
Racism has been around since time began, and may never go away. But if 40,000 blacks and whites would gather to denounce it, might not that be a good starting point? All people of all nations must take part if this is ever going to happen.
WALTER L. MEEKS
ROANOKE
Motives for checks are what's troubling
IT IS AMUSING to see that the "Roanoke Astonisher" (a k a The Roanoke Times) would print a letter to the editor from someone such as Katherine Maner (July 2, ``Too much ado on background checks''). She says that background checks are an everyday occurrence, which they are. However, when this confidential information is requested by an opponent like Bill Clinton and his bumbling idiots, the only use could be for political mudslinging and blackmail.
It seems like the press and Maner choose to forget the actions by the Nixon White House. The Clintons and their crowd have done the same thing, and anything less than a full-scale investigation would be criminal.
DON PRICE
ROANOKE
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