ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, July 19, 1996 TAG: 9607190005
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
CLIFF SHAFFER'S letter to the editor (July 8, ``AEP should give up on the power line'') about the American Electric Power transmission-line project is misleading.
The Forest Service didn't, contrary to his statement, ``recommend the line not be built at all.'' The Forest Service has stated that it makes no recommendation at all on a private-land route. In reality, by its decision not to allow the line to cross federal lands, the Forest Service has de facto recommended building the line on private property. Shaffer and project opponents should be concerned about this, since the draft environmental impact study shows impacts to people and the environment will likely be higher than on those routes that cross federal lands. We think opponents and the public have reason to be concerned.
Shaffer also makes the illogical statement: ``Even if AEP believes that the line is in the best interests of Southwest Virginia'' AEP should withdraw the power-line proposal. This transmission-reliability project is essential to the best interests of Southwest Virginians, and therefore AEP ethically and logically should continue to support it.
Shaffer fails to mention that Virginia's State Corporation Commission, in December 1995, agreed that ``there is a compelling need for additional electric capacity.'' This need is due in part to increases in electricity usage in Giles County (up 94 percent since 1970) where he lives.
He offers no solution to a worsening problem. Recent news coverage of Western-state blackouts illustrates what can happen when transmission capacity isn't reliable.
BILL TANGER
Coordinator, Coalition For Energy and Economic Revitalization
ROANOKE
Customs, attitudes are not sacrosanct
IN WILLIAM R. Paxton Jr.'s July 4 letter to the editor, ``VMI will lower standards for women,'' he expressed concern for the current integrity of VMI's standards with the admittance of women.
Has it never occurred to people who share his opinions that some standards might be raised, that some harmful and stupid customs might be eliminated? Yes, I'm sure that a number of physical changes will have to be made to accommodate women, but they don't have to include lowering standards. Until I put some thought to it, my first reaction to female cadets was also negative and narrow-minded.
Paxton's letter also stated, ``[W]e should try to save some of our history and tradition as this will keep us connected with our roots ... '' I agree that we should save our history (and not just some of it). History is irrevocable; it cannot be changed. But tradition is another matter.
According to my dictionary, tradition means ``a belief or custom handed down, an inherited pattern of thought or action.'' It has also become a synonym for conformity, often based on sentimental feelings (in this case, macho exclusiveness). It can be changed and replaced. In fact, history is an account not only of events, but also of changed traditions such as the end of slavery, child labor and the suppression of women.
As for being ``connected with our roots,'' Paxton's view is more like being in bondage to the past. It would be more productive to be aware of and sensitive to the positive contributions women can and will make in the future than to continue 19th century customs and attitudes. Let not the male population set limits for women - let them set their own.
ROSEMARY HAWKINS
ROANOKE
Honor for Ashe is to be celebrated
THE RECENT unveiling of the Arthur Ashe monument in Richmond was attended by a number of people waving Confederate flags (July 11 Associated Press article, ``Ashe monument unveiled despite protests''). One Henrico County resident was quoted as saying that the statue's location amounted to a hate crime. Another person said the placement was meant to "debunk our heritage."
Putting up a statue of a great American is hardly a "hate crime." I would go so far to say that the Civil War - one of the saddest hours of American history - was itself nothing more than a semi-organized rampage of hate crimes, the purpose of which was to ensure that blacks remained slaves, property and objects to own. If that isn't hate, I don't know what is - except, perhaps, the idea of devoting an entire avenue to monuments honoring people who fought and died in that misguided war.
Whose heritage is being debunked? We're all part of the same country that is now, and always has been, made up of people from a variety of cultures. To jointly honor one of those people is celebrating our heritage, not debunking it.
I wonder if there would have been as much outrage if the statue had been of a white man who wasn't a Civil War ``hero.'' Somehow I don't think so. What's important here to those opposing his statue is that Ashe was African-American, not that he didn't fight in the Civil War.
It saddens me to think that on the brink of the 21st century we still haven't learned to stop being afraid of - learning instead to celebrate - people with different skin tones, languages and customs.
MARY CLIFFORD
ROANOKE
Don't interfere with panel's work
IN YOUR July 11 news article (``County school costs may top $120 million''), it is pointed out that a 21-member residents' panel has been appointed by the Roanoke County School Board. The panel's job is to build support for a new package of school improvements. School officials hope the committee will help persuade voters of the needs for school improvements and develop a consensus on the projects. At the same time, the School Board has hired an architectural firm to assess school needs throughout the county.
It appears that the School Board doesn't learn very fast. This is exactly what happened during the Cave Spring fiasco. They hired a consultant who was told what to do, and a citizens' committee was formed to sell the program. The voting taxpayers were smart enough to see through the plan.
If the residents' panel isn't given a free rein, unobstructed by prejudiced consultants and board members, the program will fail again. There was never a time during the Cave Spring meetings when the consultant wasn't there telling us what decisions to make. It's time for special-interest groups to allow the residents' panel and our school administrators to do their job so that Roanoke County can continue its tradition of having a superior school system.
JOHN E. REED
SALEM
Burial issue is best left to the mother
REGARDING your July 1 & Now This ... column headlined ``Moving to flower-friendly plot'':
I was recently involved in helping Frank Roupas in the planning of several funerals, including Melody Caldwell's funeral. As a father of four children, I must agree with the mother. Melody is still her daughter. Roupas was very kind to help, but it should be the mother's decision as to what to do.
DONALD E. WORK
SALEM
Smoking cigarettes is irresponsible
DAVID ALLAN Roberts' letter to the editor (July 2, ``Do-gooders distort facts on tobacco'') contains very few facts.
Unfortunately, so-called lite cigarettes that contain less nicotine and tar are just as dangerous as regular cigarettes. To satisfy the need for nicotine, a smoker simply inhales more deeply, smokes more of each cigarette or smokes a greater number of cigarettes.
Roberts accuses those who favor regulation of the tobacco industry of ``using selective information to promote their agenda and influence a constituency.'' What is ``selective information''? There is general agreement that cigarette smoking kills more than 400,000 Americans each year. And 50,000 scientific studies have demonstrated that it's harmful to humans.
He also mentions the revenue that states receive from taxing tobacco products. These taxes do not begin to cover health-care expenses related to cigarette use. These expenses exceed $60 billion a year. Virginia's current cigarette tax of 2.5 cents per pack is ridiculously low - in fact, the lowest in the country. We must encourage our state legislators to correct this as soon as possible. Taxing cigarettes 40 cents per pack, as many states do, would increase revenues and discourage children from smoking.
Roberts blames health-care costs of tobacco on ``irresponsible'' use of cigarettes. I am at a loss to think of a way to ``responsibly'' use this product.
DAVID O. LEWIS, M.D.
MARTINSVILLE
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