ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, August 17, 1996 TAG: 9608190030
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
* LET'S HOPE there are traffic jams in downtown Roanoke tonight - brought on by throngs of city residents (and their neighbors) turning out to celebrate Roanoke's fifth All-America City Award. Since some folks apparently think Roanokers don't have enough civic pride, now's an opportune time to show otherwise.
The six-day award-celebration festivities begin on the City Market tonight at 7. There'll be (literally) dancing in the streets.
Roanoke has not won the All-America City Award - sort of an Oscar for best performance by a local government - since 1988. Giving this year's award extra cachet, Roanoke is one of only two cities in the nation - the other is Cleveland - to have won the All-America City distinction five times.
That's quite an honor, and it belongs not to city government or city officials but to all Roanokers. Celebrating the honor doesn't require a belief that all is well in Roanoke. To the contrary: Genuine civic pride is the belief that the health of a city is too important to let problems go unattended.
* TRADITIONALLY, vice presidential candidates are expected to play the role of attack dog for the guy at the top of their ticket. Jack Kemp, sometimes described as the Democrats' favorite Republican, may yet go for the jugular on behalf of the GOP's presidential nominee, Bob Dole.
But if he snarls and lurches, Kemp hints it will be on issues only - nothing personal. Concerning his team's Democratic opponents, Kemp told The Associated Press: ``I know Bill Clinton. I know Al Gore. They are really good guys.''
Considering how heated the campaign could get 'twixt now and November, this refreshing outbreak of civility is worth noting. It may have a short shelf-life.may have a short shelf-life.
LENGTH: Short : 41 linesby CNB