ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, October 24, 1996 TAG: 9610240007
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
VIRGINIA RICHMOND'S Oct. 11 letter to the editor (``A principal shields a child from porn'') contained some major inaccuracies. The most glaring one was her statement that the book she questioned (``Wonder'' by Rachel Vail) was immediately pulled from the shelves of the Franklin County Public Library.
If a patron has a complaint about a book, a process of reconsideration of the item begins with the individual filling out a form. The Library Board then evaluates the material and makes a decision about the merit of the complaint. During the review process, however, the book remains on the shelf for public use.
Richmond was correct about the importance of parents becoming involved with their children's reading habits and helping them make book selections. But what one parent may deem suitable for his or her child may not meet another parent's expectations. What one parent may view as inappropriate material, another parent may see as a realistic attempt to deal with the problems of adolescence.
After all, the public library serves the entire community, and has materials for patrons with all tastes, needs and value systems.
DAVID E. BASS III
Director
JOYCE E. TUKLOFF
Children's Librarian
Franklin County Library
ROCKY MOUNT
Dole, Goodlatte must be rejected
ALMOST EVERY day I read letters to the editor extolling the virtues of the Republican Party and its philosophy, and how we would be so much better off if the GOP ran the government. Some letters are taken virtually word for word from one right-wing radio talk-show host or another. The writers seem to be quoting the party line rather than using independent thought to express an opinion.
These letters usually mention how much better we will be when Sen. Bob Dole and Congressman Bob Goodlatte take their proper places in our government. I suggest we think about what these two individuals represent.
Dole doesn't seem to have any clear idea where he would take the country. He vaguely mentions ``building a bridge to the past.'' I must assume the past he wants to take us to is one where individuals have little or no protection from businesses that care nothing about individual workers and only about profit margins, a past where no one cares about the poor and the waste of our limited resources. His campaign is disintegrating into personal attacks on President Clinton that leave most people disgusted and angry.
Goodlatte takes pride in his close association with House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is the chief architect of the Republican assault on the poor and elderly. Goodlatte votes with Gingrich most of the time and is solidly behind the drastic changes the extreme right-wingers propose. He's also close to the Christian Coalition, and supports its efforts to force its particular brand of religion on everyone. He seconds its efforts to curtail our freedom to watch and read what we choose.
Goodlatte is working hard to bring organized prayer into our schools. Whose prayer would it be? His? Pat Robertson's? Goodlatte also supported Oliver North for senator, and brought to town Congressman Sonny Bono, whose comments seemed totally out of touch with reality.
Do we really want these individuals with this extreme right-wing philosophy running our government? I hope every voter will dig deeper into exactly what these people stand for, and repudiate their views by electing their Democratic opponents.
TIM AUSTIN
ROANOKE
Voting will help keep 'em honest
``ON THE Dole" Dole wants to take us back to the good old days. He wants to give us a tax break. This, coming from a man who helped shut down our government last year to balance the budget?
Newt Gingrich is waiting in the wings to end Medicare, cut school lunches and build orphanages. Most of all, it seems, he wants to hurt the working poor.
Again, "Ol' Big Ears" in Texas is saddling up to ride out and check under the hood. Does he know the intake from the exhaust? He won't say for sure.
There are a lot of Bonos out there shooting off their mouths. Bill Clinton isn't doing that great, but the economy is chugging along. Guess I'll have to vote for education and to move forward.
No matter how you vote, do it. Our votes let them know that we're out there watching.
BILLY RICHARDSON
SALEM
A handshake is not a crime
DURING THIS campaign season, I have been only mildly interested in the race between Mark Warner and John Warner. However, your Oct. 10 news article (``John Warner admits the photo's faked") got my full attention.
As the article pointed out, altering photographs to dramatize, exaggerate or distort an event or relationship for political gain isn't new. Although I don't approve of it, I wasn't particularly surprised or shocked that a politician, his staff or consultants would be a party to this kind of deception. Unfortunately, I learned to be cynical about people in politics as a young voter during Richard Nixon's fall from grace.
The aspect that angered me was the vicious arrogance of John Warner's (and apparently Bob Dole's) media advisor, Greg Stevens. He implied that anyone who shakes hands with President Clinton is "ethically challenged" by virtue of association. Regarding this issue, I'd like to make two points:
* Besides world, religious and business leaders, Olympic athletes and countless proud Americans, Dole, Newt Gingrich and numerous other Republican leaders have publicly pressed the flesh with President Clinton.
* This incident is at best a reflection on John Warner's inability to direct and control his subordinates, and brings into question the quality of his ethical conduct.
If John Warner's agents reflect his way of thinking, then I believe we should seriously consider his ability to effectively represent Virginians. If he considers himself to be so morally and ethically superior to the president, such that he wouldn't even shake his hand, then I think we must ask if he's able to interact and successfully negotiate with other politicians. And more importantly, if he's capable of representing the public.
SCOTT CLUCAS
BLACKSBURG
The United Nations merits our support
IT IS APPROPRIATE today, on United Nations Day, that we review our obligations to this organization whose charter the United States ratified in 1945. Although Congress recently approved the payment of this year's dues, we as a nation are in arrears over $1.5 billion, and are responsible for 74 percent of the United Nations' debt. It's ironic that while accusing the United Nations of inefficiency and irresponsibility, the United States is contributing to its fiscal crisis.
The United Nations' combined budgets are equal to the funding for about five B2 bombers, aircraft of questionable strategic value. Although Congress seems to be holding back on paying what it owes from prior years ($7 per capita) because of criticism of bureaucratic inefficiency and mismanagement at the United Nations, Congress seems to make no such demands on our defense budget, which costs $1,000 per year for each United States resident.
Despite its flaws, which are not irreparable, the United Nations is an essential forum for working out increasingly interrelated problems of the world. What was true in 1954, when President Eisenhower said it, is true now: ``With all its defects, with all the failures that we can check up against it, it still represents man's best organized hope to substitute the conference table for the battlefield.''
TOM NASTA
President, Steering Committee
Plowshare Peace and Justice Center
ROANOKE
Editor's note: This letter was also signed by seven other members of the committee.
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