ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, November 7, 1996 TAG: 9611080003
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
IN RESPONSE to your Oct. 28 editorial, ``Abandoning kids to poverty'':
You mention the proposed bill before the General Assembly designed to make it easier for divorced fathers to obtain joint physical custody of their children, and relate that bill to the problem of childhood poverty. You imply a link between proponents of this bill and ``deadbeats'' looking to Richmond for direction as to the ``right thing to do.'' This simply isn't true.
Yes, most of those involved in this movement are divorced fathers with child-support obligations. And, yes, the argument is made that there exists a direct correlation between the amount of time the father is allowed to spend with his children and his propensity to pay this support.
Contrary to what you would have us believe, however, financial support isn't at the center of this legislation. The issue is simply the father's right to equal access to his children, and the child's right and need for equal access to the parents. This bill merely affirms those rights. It's necessitated by a judicial system that is gender-neutral in theory only regarding custody matters.
Proponents are children's-rights activists first and fathers'-rights activists second. Deadbeats? Hardly. These are ``beaten to death'' dads - fathers who have been shut out of their children's lives by court orders, and whose parental responsibilities have been reduced to merely supplying money to their former spouses.
Certainly an outcome of the legislation's passage could be a modification in the amount of child support that changes hands between the parents. But isn't this the way it should be? If the child spends equal time with each parent, shouldn't each parent be allowed to provide the child with the same standard of living? Again, equality and the best interests of the child should be the goals.
I would like to point out the irony in your last paragraph in which you call on Richmond to improve child-support enforcement and, practically in the same breath, tell deadbeats not to look to Richmond for direction. I am reminded of a metaphor involving geese and ganders. But to keep this letter gender-neutral I will refrain from reciting it.
STEPHEN D. RIBBLE
SALEM
More must be done to combat AIDS
YOUR NEWS articles (Oct. 12, ``AIDS Quilt covers acres,'' and Oct. 13, ```I thought this would soon end''') about the AIDS Memorial Quilt in Washington, D.C., is a grim reminder of a national epidemic that's out of control. When in the history of our country did we ever let another epidemic get this far out of control?
Whether it be a "judgment call" from God against people for their wicked living or a deadly virus that has evolved in Africa's jungles, it needs to be dealt with in a far more serious manner than it is at this time. If not, it will surely continue to grow, and will threaten everyone in our country.
Not only will it kill our loved ones by the thousands, it also has the potential to bankrupt our country with a drain on the health-care system. Who will take care of all the sick people as we watch them wither and die by the thousands?
As bad as it is today, just think what it's going to be like five years from now. Education and preaching abstinence from sex and drugs aren't going to solve this national problem.
I suggest we devise a program to test everyone in the United States, and then develop a plan to put a clamp on the spread of this deadly virus. Do whatever it takes, before it's totally beyond our control!
RON PENLAND
WYTHEVILLE
An accounting is due from the lottery
MEMBERS of Roanoke Meeting of Friends oppose Virginia's state lottery because it takes a disproportionate amount of money from poor communities, making it a regressive tax. It sets up unrealistic expectations for those who need to use their resources wisely, and it represents a quick fix for problems that need long-term, thoughtful solutions.
Roanoke Friends are concerned that there be no further proliferation of lottery-ticket machines, especially into family-oriented businesses. Children, whose economic values are just forming, are unduly influenced by the machines' increasing presence.
Friends are concerned that they not make choices for others, yet feel the need to be a ``voice in the wilderness" - to point out wiser directions for using resources. It isn't unpatriotic to refuse to buy a lottery ticket. And though one can say a purchase is voluntary, for those with decreasing hopes and/or increasing compulsions, it isn't.
With ever-increasing media advertising, someone needs to ask: Is a state lottery appropriate, fair or even effective? What is the cost of the machines, advertising, personnel? What is the actual intake and how exactly is it being spent? Such a report is due Virginia's citizenry.
GENEVIEVE WARING
Clerk, Roanoke Meeting of Friends
ROANOKE
VMI's attitude is really tiresome
I AM REALLY tired of comments such as: ``The Virginia Military Institute shouldn't go easy. Treat men and women alike.''
During World War II, two of my cousins were drafted into service because they were nurses. They didn't choose to be involved in that war. During the Korean War, women volunteered and were only required to wear their hair short or in a bun, not have a buzzcut.
I have never witnessed such a sour-grapes attitude as to the acceptance of women at VMI. Shame on this state.
ADDIELEE HAYNES
ROANOKE
It's on the other side of the divide
AS PART-TIME residents of Summit County, Colo, we enjoyed reading Tom Gibson's article "On the Runs" (Oct. 13 Travel page). However, there was one error we would like to correct. Summit County is on the western slope of the Rockies, not the front range. (In fact, most of the good skiing is on the western slope, which gets considerably more snow than the front range.) Gibson may not have realized that when he went through the Eisenhower Tunnel on Interstate 70. Driving from Denver to Summit County, he actually crossed the continental divide.
Your readers may be interested to know that summers in Summit County are as spectacular as the winters, with some of the country's best trout fishing, hiking, climbing and biking, and a music festival featuring outstanding artists performing with two symphony orchestras. And it never gets hot!
KATHLEEN and PAUL ZWEIFEL
BLACKSBURG
Gagging on praise for Clinton
I WAS employed by Times-World Corp. for 43 years, less three periods of active duty in the Navy in World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars. For 11 of those years, I wrote some of the editorials that appeared on this page.
I reread your Oct. 27 editorial (``Re-elect Bill Clinton'') in which you advocated the re-election of Bill Clinton as president. And, once again, I said to myself: ``I wonder how many times the author gagged as he wrote that piece.''
HORACE HOOD III
ROANOKE
A simple solution for trash problem
AFTER READING yet another news article about unsightly trash problems in the downtown business district (Oct. 19, ``Twice-nightly trash pickup weighed in the city''), I can't help but wonder: Duh - has anyone thought of trash cans?
Seems to me that either the city could provide businesses with cans so they would all be uniform or business owners could buy their own. We shouldn't subcontract to private trash haulers when we have city employees who are entitled to the hours of pay that would be contracted out.
Why is it that the bigwigs can't see the cheaper alternatives and quit spending our tax dollars on unnecessary things? Take some of that money and spend it on the children of Roanoke. I'm sure the payoff would be greater.
SHARON BAXTER
ROANOKE
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