ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, August 23, 1996 TAG: 9608230026
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-14 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
ISN'T IT interesting how writings over 2,000 years ago by the wisest man who ever lived are so accurately descriptive of our times?
Millions of dollars are spent on studies trying to find out why crime is so rampant in our day, yet it's totally explained in one sentence from (gasp!) the Bible: ``When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of the people are filled with schemes to do wrong.''
Moral people are sometimes amazed at how quickly gay-pride marches have proliferated in our country, and how quickly the scope has widened. Originally, the demand was to accept gay and lesbian practices as ``normal.'' But the very week a president catered to them, the field widened to include transgendered, bisexuals and pedophiles.
Again, the Bible has a concise explanation as to how this came to be: ``The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.''
But Solomon also gave the answer to these problems when he wrote this message from God: ``If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.''
The cure is to turn away from wickedness, not endorse it because so many are doing it.
ALBIN CRUTCHFIELD
ROANOKE
Salem's award will be world-class
JUST A line: If Roanoke is an ``All-America'' city, Salem must be ``All-World.''
JIM L. CONNER
SALEM
Critics missed out on Olympic spirit
I READ yet another article recently that complained and micro-analyzed the Olympic Games in Atlanta. It seems that a significant segment of the media and certain individuals (not to mention the International Olympic Committee) saw the games of the 26th Olympiad as a negative event.
A group of which I was a part spent four days in Atlanta and had a great time. We had been warned by friends to be prepared for long lines, crammed buses and trains, and terrible heat. What we found were long lines that moved at a reasonable pace, buses and trains full of good-natured people from all over the world who enjoyed talking about the day's events, and that the August heat of Georgia required plenty of Crystal Springs water and Diet Coke. (Pardon me, didn't mean to mention an official sponsor - don't want to get too commercial.)
What a thrill it was to witness, in person, Michael Johnson break the world record, Dan O'Brien win the decathlon, and U.S. runners dominate in the relays. And we never tired of standing during the medal presentations or singing ``The Star-Spangled Banner.''
But there was more to this experience than the pride we felt witnessing the success of American athletes. Whether in the Olympic Stadium (with 83,000 other track and field spectators), the Georgia Dome (watching China vs. South Korea in women's basketball) or in Atlanta Fulton County Stadium (watching the U.S. baseball team overwhelm Nicaragua for the bronze medal), it was apparent that people of all nations appreciated athletic achievement and perseverance.
What we witnessed was the Olympic spirit - 197 countries coming together, competing to the best of their abilities and enjoying Atlanta's hospitality. Billy Payne, members of the Atlanta Committee for the Games and Atlanta's citizens should be congratulated for hosting such a successful event for the world.
BRUCE M. WOOD
ROANOKE
Scriptural advice easily ignored
YOUR AUG. 13 news article (``Falwell holds no regrets over fusing politics, pulpit'') quotes the Rev. Jerry Falwell as saying, ``I had to go back to the Scriptures and look for biblical support for this so-called separation of church and state ... and I found none.''
He didn't look very hard.
Jesus said: ``Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.''
He also cast the money-changers out of the temple, saying: ``Do not make the house of my Father a house of business.''
If Falwell wanted Scriptural advice regarding the fusing of politics and the pulpit, the gospels again provide the answer. Said Jesus: ``You can't be enslaved to both God and a bank account.''
Falwell and his descendants (the so-called Christian Coalition) conveniently ignore Jesus' words when the message contradicts their lust for money and/or political power. I doubt Jesus would approve.
BO CHAGNON
Roanoke
Budget deficits offer nothing positive
REGARDING Paul Caldwell's Aug. 14 letter to the editor, "A positive look at budget deficits":
It was an impressive piece of writing, and I would encourage him to continue to develop his journalistic talent. However, his knowledge of economics, math and logic doesn't speak well for the education he has received so far at Blacksburg High School.
He defies the economic data by assuming that every family is deep in debt and has the goal of adding to that debt throughout life. The fact is that many of us have the goal of becoming debt-free and accumulating savings, particularly for our retirement years.
Caldwell's math needs some work since he fails to calculate the effects of interest expense on both the family and the nation. Most families struggling under 18 percent to 21 percent interest rates for consumer debt would argue that it's the cost of borrowing that has robbed them of their dreams, not a lack of credit. And most families would be better off if their annual tax bill didn't include an average of $2,000 to $3,000 to pay the interest on the national debt.
He defies logic when he argues that a government deficit is "necessary to move some of that money [held by the wealthy] toward society's middle and lower classes." In fact, our country would have an annual budget surplus without the crushing burden of the interest on our national debt. More money would actually be available for social programs if interest payments to holders of government bonds, many of them wealthy, didn't have top priority over all other expenditures.
I wish Caldwell good luck with his writing, and I wish the faculty of Blacksburg High School better luck with their classes in economics, math and logic.
RANDY WATTS
CROCKETT
`Nonaffluent natives' don't lack pride
REGARDING your Aug. 16 article, ``Pride in the Star City lacks luster'':
When I was first approached about attending the mayor's summit, the invitation made me feel 10 feet tall. After attending the morning session, I was still on the proverbial cloud nine. However, after reading that article, I came back down to earth. I am one of those nonaffluent natives the article mentioned with a lot of pride in the Star City, my community and myself.
I had no idea that my tax dollars were paid any differently from those neighbors in the afternoon session. Therefore, I won't stand by and watch the inner city or the highest poverty pocket in the Star City be the area that care forgot!
Regarding Sue Gotwalt's statement citing the morning crew coming from the ``lower end of the income spectrum,'' that may be true. But something was left out. Some of us haven't missed out on anything that life has to offer, and we have passed this same positive message on to our children.
Being a native, I never miss the opportunity to give a personal tour to interested newcomers or first-time vacationing tourists to our community. It's comments like Gotwalt's that make some native Roanokers fearful of voting for those individuals who are not locally grown.
There were members of the morning group who have traveled extensively and do have the experience of other places to make a comparison. While the morning crew may not be affluent, some of us have what Gotwalt is going to need in this ``pride campaign'' - and it's called knowledge, influence, pride and trust.
NORMA R. SMITH
ROANOKE
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