ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, September 18, 1996 TAG: 9609180054
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
SOMEONE is going to have to work really hard to explain this one to me: In California, and in Virginia as well, adult males are allowed to marry young females that they impregnate (Sept. 8 article, ``Pregnant teens allowed to wed impregnators'').
Never mind that sexual intercourse between the two is considered statutory rape or child molestation. According to the state, it's in the interest of the family that these marriages are permitted.
Meanwhile, in our nation's capital, our illustrious leaders have been busy protecting families by rejecting same-sex marriages. A number of my gay and lesbian friends have had union ceremonies and live in spousal relationships. I've never once felt their relationships endangered my five children or my marriage, or that we needed Congress to protect us from their influence.
I've never felt their values conflicted with mine as a Catholic or with my husband's as a Jew. In fact, their deep devotion to one another in the midst of so much public disdain and controversy has been a source of inspiration and respect to us as a couple. I dare say most ``straight'' marriages would have a difficult time coping with such outrageous condemnation, and yet our gay and lesbian friends manage to thrive - raising children, going to work, paying taxes and living very ordinary lives.
In this age of ``family values,'' why we refuse to acknowledge a large segment of society that deserves to be recognized as a family (yes, with undeniable values) and yet permit rapists to marry their young victims is beyond me.
When will we learn that sexual orientation is just that, no more or less? It doesn't determine moral fiber or character, nor does it threaten anyone or anything. Lawful gay and lesbian marriages can only strengthen families. What could they ever do to hurt them?
FAYE O'DELL NOVA
ROANOKE
Perhaps Perot has the solution
TWO GUYS were having difficulty balancing their budgets. They each spent more than they earned. One said that he would balance his budget by reducing his income. The other one decided to increase his spending to gain a balanced budget.
Someone suggested that they should become politicians. They did so, and they did well after that, although their constituencies had a problem.
But hey, isn't there a fella down in Texas who knows how to keep his income above his expenses, and who also wants to become president?
Vote on Nov. 5, only after thinking.
ROLAND CANADA
RADFORD
Hateful opinions need a balance
I COULD not believe the letters to the editor published on your Sept. 9 commentary page in response to your Readers Forum question (``Are area schools integrated enough?'').
Were they really the best responses you had? One didn't say anything at all, and the other two were, at best, ignorant and, at worst, evil.
I have nothing but admiration for all blacks in the United States who haven't been embittered by the continuing insiduous attacks on their morals and their integrity as a group. It's amazing how so many people only see what they want to see, and ignore any facts that are contrary to their own narrow opinion.
I've found both good and not-so-good people in every race and in every nationality with which I've ever come into contact. Maybe others haven't been so fortunate because they have automatically expected the worst from anyone they perceive as being different from themselves. This opinion isn't only divisive and hurtful to the individual. It's also much more responsible for the rise in violence in our schools and in our society than integration has ever been.
Your newspaper has done a great disservice to the community by printing those hurtful, hateful letters without other opinions that would give a true counterbalance to them.
SUSAN V. TEMPLE
ROCKY MOUNT
Just call him Mr. Fix-it
THE BEST commercial on television this year has something for everybody. Seems it's a new way of advertising cigarettes.
This man, who loves your children, says that they can't smoke. Apparently, parents can't stop them so he has to. He's the same man who promised us lots of change during the past four years. Well, I counted mine, and it sure wasn't much. He thinks it's OK for everybody to do anything they want to - except to smoke. He's really mad at the smokers. The best I can figure it's because they have to inhale.
There's nothing this man can't fix. He's going to fix welfare by taking the checks and giving them to businessmen so they will hire welfare recipients. Isn't that smart? He's going to be so mad when none of them wants to work.
His wife tells mothers they don't have to worry about their kids because the whole village is going to look after them. That's really nice to take away all that responsibility.
Her husband is upset because the kids can't read. He's going to put aides in all the classrooms to help the teachers. If that doesn't work, he'll put more aides in to help the aides. Now you see how government works and spreads.
If the kids still don't learn to read, he's going to lose his patience and put them on the superhighway and send them to some place called cyberspace. That might be best for them because he wants the rest of us to ride the rails across some bridge and go into the 21st century. I think he's on the fast track and doesn't know exactly what part of the century he's going into, so I'm leery about jumping into something like that.
BETTY AKERS
ROANOKE
LENGTH: Long : 107 linesby CNB