ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, July 20, 1996 TAG: 9607220129
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
THE FIRE department receives a call - ``house on fire with people trapped.'' The first truck pulls up to find heavy smoke coming from the house. Only three firefighters are on the truck, and the next closest truck is on an EMS (emergency medical services) call. Fire stations have been moved out of the neighborhoods, and the trucks and manpower available in the city have been reduced to save money.
``Four people die in house fire.'' Such headlines will appear on a regular basis if the chief of the Roanoke Fire Department is allowed to implement his proposals to cut the department's staff and equipment.
As a former firefighter with the Roanoke Fire Department, I was proud to work for the best department in the state. Citizens should be outraged at the suggestions presented by the current fire administration.
When the fire department merged with EMS, it gave the department approximately 40 additional personnel. If these people are trained as firefighters and used to complement the firefighting staff, quality service to the citizens can be maintained.
Remember, your fire department is like an insurance policy - you pay into it for years and may never use it. But when you do need it, it's nice to know you had enough coverage.
TOM BISHOP
BOONES MILL
Clinton lacking by Bible's sex standards
IN THE U.S. House of Representatives recently, there was a debate and a vote on a bill that would define marriage, for the purposes of federal law, as the union of one man with one woman. Proponents claim this is what the Bible teaches. But is it?
In Genesis, Abram is married to his half-sister Sarai but sires a child by Hagar. Lot's two daughters conceive by their father, and thus begin major tribes. Jacob marries two sisters, Leah and Rachel, and sires children by their servants Bilhah and Zilpah.
In Judges, we read that Jerub-Baal, son of Joash, had many wives and at least one concubine. In II Chronicles, Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines.
In the book of Esther, King Xerxes, while drunk, commands his wife to "display her beauty" before his guests. She refuses, so he casts her out and holds a three-year beauty contest among the virgins of the kingdom to find her replacement. Each night, a virgin who has had a full year of beauty treatments comes to him. In the morning, she departs. The one who pleases him most is made queen.
In the books of Samuel, we read the story of King David. He had seven wives who are named and more who are not, plus concubines. He dallies with Bathsheba and later marries her, after he contrives the death of her husband Uriah. In I Kings, we read that at the end of his life, he has the kingdom searched for the most beautiful of virgins to "lie in his bosom and give him heat.'' This book also tells of King Solomon, the wise, who had 700 wives and 300 concubines.
President Clinton stands accused of making an improper and unwelcome suggestion to Paula Jones. What a wimp! He certainly doesn't come up to biblical standards. He should try to be more like King David who was "beloved of God.''
I frankly think the Bible isn't a perfectly reliable guide to ethics.
JOHN HODGES
BLACKSBURG
Buried power lines may be the answer
I AM GLAD that ``H.D.'' asked about putting the American Electric Power 765-kilovolt power line underground (July 9 What's On Your Mind column headlined ``AEP: Buried lines too expensive''). He received all of the standard answers why it couldn't be done, but I think that these need to be looked at more carefully.
Certainly it would be expensive, but what is meant by ``expensive" in the electric-power business where no costs are small? Costs can be contained since the entire several-hundred-mile line need not be underground - perhaps only a critical 50 miles or so.
Power companies have argued that the effects of electromagnetic fields are minimal, but now it's convenient to bring them up as an argument against underground cable. This type of cable is a co-axial, shielded design, however, and so no electromagnetic fields escape - except possibly at poorly installed junctions.
AEP is right that "it's never been done with a lengthy, 765,000-volt line." AEP went to great effort and expense to develop the 765-kv overhead line 25 years ago. Perhaps now is the time to realize that room is running out to install these huge "suspension bridges" across the land, and to put the extra effort into developing 765-kv cable.
DAVE MILLER
ROANOKE
Public bus service isn't practical
REGARDING YOUR July 10 news article, ``Leaders push tax for buses'':
Is public transportation (bus service) practical in Roanoke? The city buses serve 2,500 people per day, five days a week. They serve 1,000 people per day on Saturdays and Sundays. The buses are serving 21/2 percent of the 100,000-plus population. However, this is average for cities in the United States.
With reported subsidies of $1,364,000 in 1995 and $1,407,000 in 1996, it's costing taxpayers $5,456 and $5,628 per rider per year.
Again I ask: Is publicly subsidized bus service practical?
HENRY WIESEN
VINTON
LENGTH: Long : 102 linesby CNB