ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, September 27, 1996 TAG: 9609270008
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
I DON'T want to speak for the late great Tupac Shakur, but I feel someone has to respond to Cal Thomas' Sept. 18 commentary (``The death message of Tupac Shakur'') on ``gangsta rap.'' It's critics like Thomas that Shakur spoke against. Of course, Thomas wouldn't understand Shakur or his lyrics. He wasn't singing to Thomas, but was singing to his ``homies'' - his friends, people on his level.
If a listener goes deep into Shakur's music, they will hear a cry for something better in his life. He had intelligence - maybe more street intelligence than book intelligence. If he were to sing about roses, cornfields, pickup trucks, beer or his old lady, he would be considered a good country singer. But if Shakur sings about guns, the streets, blunts or sex, he's considered a bad rapper. Why? That's where he's from, that's what he knows, that's the truth, that was his life. A country singer sings about what he knows, and Shakur sang about what he knew.
He would have been the first to admit that he was in it for the money. Coming from the ghetto and poverty, he surely was in it for the money. I know I work my job for the money.
Critics say that Shakur influenced kids to commit violent crimes through his lyrics. But if one were to listen to his lyrics rather than prejudge them, one would find that he was always saying ``I'' - never saying ``you'' or ``yo kids.'' He spoke about his experiences. If he was teaching kids violence, then so is Batman, the Power Rangers and the Ninja Turtles. Violence is reality and Shakur knew it.
JONATHAN AYER
ROANOKE
Paying on time isn't freeloading
REGARDING the Sept. 11 news article, ``Fee targets `freeloaders''':
I am one of those persons who always pays the bills on time each month, but I think most people who do the same thing as I are not ``freeloaders.''
nWe spend at least the cost of postage stamps (32 cents each time) to send our checks to credit-card companies.
nWe are controlling ourselves not to spend more money than we earn. If we spend a little bit more, we will decrease our food, electricity, telephone or water usage to keep the spending limit. Sometimes spending problems lead to serious discussion with our spouses. The energies consumed in exerting self-control are huge and not easy. We suffer a lot of pain to keep paying our bills on time.
nPeople spend more than needed because of credit cards. Though we try very hard to control ourselves, credit cards tempt us to spend more. We buy many things on impulse when we see the ``sale'' signs because we can pay with the cards. If we have to use cash when we buy, at least we cannot buy when we don't have the money.
I am sure we spend much more to buy unnecessary goods after we get the credit cards than before. We don't feel we are ``freeloaders,'' but we are the best supporters of the card companies. So, the new charge must not target us, and it should be collected from somewhere else.
TETSUJI SAKAGUCHI
ROANOKE
Litter cleanup is educational
REGARDING Adam Albertson's Sept. 19 letter, ``Cleanup efforts aren't appreciated'':
I apologize to Albertson for the thoughtless folks who disappointed him with their lack of stewardship for the area he cleaned with his father on Aug. 28 on Hershberger Road and Interstate 581. Litter cleanup is hard work. It's like housework - it's never done.
What the Albertsons did is responsible and a learning action. Folks seeing them work learned something important, and seeing the orange bags after they finished created thinking, too. Even his letter is a teaching tool. It's hard to believe thoughtless folks want their cars cleaner than their planet. I was encouraged, however, of how wonderful people can be when I saw full littter bags along the highway on a trip last month in North Carolina.
Litter doesn't seem to have ownership, and it also attracts litter. So we have to keep on trying. I applaud Litton Fibercom for their spot adoption and encourage their continued efforts. Thank you for your responsible attitude. The citizens of an ``All-America City'' need to think similarly about our valley.
ANN MASTERS
Executive director, Clean Valley Council
ROANOKE
Killing for convenience
I MUST take strong exception with David Nova's Sept. 18 commentary, ``Real families need late-term abortions.''
Please do not be taken in by the letters he has included from three women who have had this procedure. They describe it as kind and loving. These examples are very much the exception.
The truth is that late-term abortions are most often performed for no medical reason at all, but for convenience.
God gave us this commandment, ``Thou shalt not kill.'' He didn't say you may kill if the other life is inconvenient to you. Only God has the right to decide who lives or dies.
JEAN M. WEATHERMAN
ROANOKE
Give candidates a 30-day limit
WOULD IT not be better if candidates had only one month to campaign? It would save a great deal of money for the taxpayer. Also, the candidate would have to stick to important issues and not waste time with all the hot air and lies they now throw about!
WILLIAM GARRISON
HENRY
LENGTH: Long : 105 linesby CNB