ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, October 20, 1996 TAG: 9610220107
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
MANY OLDER citizens perceive the younger generation as ``the lost generation.'' People feel that the youth are corrupt and are not as morally and politically enlightened as the older generation. There are young adults who have chosen to live a politically incorrect lifestyle. But to stereotype all young men and women as being "lost" is extremist.
Sexual immorality and crime have been a part of our planet as far back as historians can record. The difference between our country's older and younger citizens is that the younger crowd has spoken out on topics that were once considered taboo. Youth's voice has brought a better understanding to such issues as sexually transmitted diseases, abortion and homosexuality.
Some people consider the openness of youth to be radical, but, after all, radicalism has been the key to the breaking of many barriers.
People shouldn't determine the future leaders of the United States by a person's sexuality, race or gender. Recognize each young person as an individual and focus on the intentions of the human being.
The future is in the younger generation's hands. With optimism and hard work, the United States will continue to be an excellent country where we have the right to be a radical or a conservative and to have our voice heard. DEBBIE L. CUNY LEXINGTON
Gay-bashing is the sin
I WISH you wouldn't print letters like Lyle Anthony Miller's of Sept. 28 (``No comparison to racial bias''). Evil, ignorant spewings like that do not deserve a forum.
It's hard to believe there are still people who see homosexuality as a choice or lifestyle or a plague. There have always been, and always will be, millions of gay people all over the world.
All sexuality is natural and normal for that person. And comparing homosexuality to child molesting or other offenses shows so much ignorance and small-mindedness. Two consenting adults together create no offense because there is no victim. No one gets hurt.
If any activity seems a sin to you, don't do it. But hurting, harassing and lying about others is a sin to me. So is misrepresenting God and true righteousness. God made me and millions of others gay. And God doesn't make mistakes, not even 10 percent of the time. WAYNE MICHAELS DUBLIN
Clinton can't claim to be a patriot
AS WE draw nearer to the presidential election, I am amazed as I read letters to the editor from people who totally disregard everything Bill Clinton has done.
How any veteran could support Clinton is beyond me. While brave young men were fighting in Vietnam - losing their limbs to land mines, and more than 55,000 losing their lives - draft-dodger Clinton was smoking pot and protesting the war on foreign soil.
It amazes me how he and the real president, Hillary, can act so concerned over the welfare of young children, and then Clinton vetoes the partial-birth abortion ban. How can any decent human think that it's OK to kill a baby? But then, who ever said that he was a decent human being?
It would really be nice if Clinton would come clean and tell the truth about Whitewater and Gennifer Flowers. But based on his track record, I doubt if he's capable of telling the truth.
Meanwhile, Clinton and Vice President Al Gore continue to court the homosexual and lesbian community by hosting meetings, luncheons and banquets with known, blatant homosexuals.
Clinton can beat the drum all he wants, but he's no patriot. He continues to try to take away the liberties of decent, God-fearing people.
If America is to endure, we must liberate ourselves from the presidency of Slick Willie Clinton. MIKE ALLRED BUCHANAN
Goodlatte's record is anti-children
I KNOW most citizens in our region are supportive of their public schools and of the health and safety of our children. The 6th District electorate needs to know the following about our congressman, Bob Goodlatte.
* He opposed congressional efforts to protect children's health and safety through preventing their exposure to hazardous conditions in schools, including exposure to asbestos and lead paint.
* He voted to take back $1.7 billion in resources for education approved for fiscal year 1995.
* Goodlatte voted to cut resources for public education by more than $40 billion over the next seven years.
* Our representative voted to eliminate or cut funding for important programs that help young people prepare for the jobs of the future, including vocational-education, adult-education and school-to-work programs.
* Goodlatte voted to make deep budgetary cuts in health, nutrition and other programs for children, reduce support for student loans and set targets for future spending that would reduce federal support for education by at least $36 billion over seven years.
* He voted for private-school tuition vouchers for District of Columbia schools.
Jeff Grey, the Democratic challenger for Goodlatte's seat, whose wife is a career public-school teacher and advocate for children, wouldn't have voted to cut educational funding or reduce protections for our schoolchildren. If you truly care about all of our children and the importance of quality public education for them, vote for Grey. GARY WALDO UNISERV Director ROANOKE
Lottery winnings will benefit others
REGARDING the question (``What would you do if you won the lottery?'') on Sept. 29 in John Levin's ``Wealth'' column:
* I will give $5,000 to each of my relatives and friends who are in good standing. (You know who you are as I've already told you.)
* I will have a party for everyone in downtown Roanoke on the City Market, with pizza, food and everything to drink that the law will permit. The party will begin at 6 p.m. for four weekends.
* I will ask people to write with any request, so that I can help the needy.
* I will buy a house on Patterson Avenue, and have a rooming house so the homeless will have a place to call home sweet home.
* I will buy more cemetery spaces in Evergreen Burial Park to help the needy. I've already donated seven spaces.
* I will not buy a new car or new home for myself. I will continue to drive my three Black Beauty Buicks that are more than 40 years old. Paid $100 for each one.
Happiness is making others happy. FRANK G. ROUPAS ROANOKE
Let's welcome those from up North
THE LAST TIME I checked, this was a free country. Everyone is free to live where he or she wants. Dick Culbertson (Oct. 5 letter to the editor, ``The invasion of Old Virginny'') doesn't seem to agree. If he took the time to get to know Northerners, he would see that we're no different from Southerners.
Our country has all different accents - the Southern accent is only one of them. Virginia-born Virginians should be proud that people from other states want to live in this beautiful state. MARIA WILLIAMS ROANOKE
Clinton's concern is all a pose
YOUR BLATANT bias was hardly subtle with your front-page photographs the day after the first presidential debate. They showed President Clinton in an attractive pose gesticulating meaningfully with his hands, while the shot of Bob Dole showed him quite dour and expressionless. These photographs were obviously selected as favoring the White House incumbent.
Clinton is very clever at posing, at ``appearing'' concerned about America, all the while largely enjoying the game of being president.
I support Dole! His vastly superior competence for that high office makes it urgent that the nation support him. PAUL W. NORDT JR. SALEM
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