ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, November 26, 1996 TAG: 9611260061
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
HOW REFRESHING it was to read Karen Davis' Nov. 21 poignant commentary (``Turkeys suffer mistreatment from birth to death''), which dealt with the plight of the domestic turkey. However, she ignores many other basic cruelties that occur every day.
What of the teeming insects - yea, the lowly ants and earthworms - that are trampled mercilessly in our daily travels?
Shall we pity the noble blades of grass cruelly cut down by the monstrous suburban lawn-mower owner?
The holiday table is also a regular smorgasbord of criminal activities. Life forms of many types are consumed by gluttonous beings with insatiable appetites!
There is another form of life raised in crowded squalor and harvested unfeelingly for consumption by the gastronomic villains of caloric consumption.
Ms. Davis, who hears the cranberries scream?
CASEY HASH
ELK CREEK
Many have failed white-glove tests
IN RESPONSE to Joseph E. Schroer's bitter and sarcastic letter to the editor (Nov. 10, ``Clinton supporters must be proud''):
In 1992, Clinton was asked about his preference of underwear. While this isn't a serious question about national policy, to have stonewalled on such a minor question would have been foolish.
Schroer's second point was that President Clinton is awaiting trial for sexual harassment. I wonder if Schroer ever once questioned why Paula Corbin Jones' own sister has labeled her a ``gold digger'' in the national press? Or why the state trooper who initially brought Jones to Gov. Clinton's hotel room says he did so at her insistence?
Schroer's third complaint is his distorted belief that Clinton has advocated drug use for teen-agers. As anyone watching the presidential debates could plainly see, Clinton didn't advocate drug use. And other members of his generation, including House Speaker Newt Gingrich, assumed public office after going through the rite of passage of smoking pot.
Schroer conveniently overlooks that Clinton offered to support the legislation to ban partial-birth abortions if exceptions could be made in cases of rape, incest or when the mother's health is at risk. Most Americans would allow those exceptions. The Republican-dominated Congress ignored the president's request in an unsuccessful attempt to cost him the election.
My problem with people like Schroer is that they assume Clinton is the only candidate to fail their moral white-glove test. George Bush once committed the war crime of strafing a Japanese sailor floating helplessly in the Pacific. Phil Gramm once invested in a soft-core porno movie. Bob Dole's 1988 campaign paid the largest fine in the history of the Federal Election Commission for taking illegal contributions. Should we judge their careers solely on these examples? I believe we should not.
I cast my vote in this election having studied the issues and, yes, the characters of the candidates. Schroer, my conscience is clear. Who are you to question that?
CHRISTOPHER H. BROWN
ROANOKE
Truckers save many drivers' lives
WHILE DRIVING recently down Peters Creek Road, I was headed northeast in the left lane, near a piggyback big rig. Realizing this big guy was getting in my lane, and hearing his air brakes and horn, caused me to speed up to get out of his way.
As I made it past the nose of the truck, there was some fool in a little red car coming off Interstate 581 who decided to teach a trucker a lesson on getting over for oncoming traffic. Only this know-it-all doesn't know that there is a car (namely mine) on the trucker's left.
By braking and swerving just enough, this courageous trucker risked his life to miss me and the intruding driver who seemed oblivious to the death that he had almost caused. When the shock had worn off, I realized it was too late for me to thank this trucker for saving my life.
My son drives a big rig part-time to pay for his education so that he can get off the roads. He tells me that he and his fellow truckers have these things happen every day. They know that if they hit a car, the driver is dead, so truckers routinely risk their own lives to avoid the consequences of foolish people.
Since I am unable to personally thank this trucker, I hope these words will express my gratitude to the trucker who saved me and to all truckers who put themselves at risk for the safety of us all.
SUE DeLONG
ROANOKE
Tech football boosts the economy
YOUR NOV. 8 editorial (``Does Tech need big-time football?'') fully demonstrates that editorial writers are out of touch with the real world, as are some of our politicians.
When Virginia Tech has a home game against a major college foe, the area motels, restaurants, gas stations and merchants are flooded with business. Roanoke business in general benefits greatly from this influx of tourist dollars.
As for me, I'm glad Tech continues its goal of having a major college football program, and my views are shared by many thousands. If you doubt it, you should have been at the Sugar Bowl last year.
JIM MOORE
TROUTVILLE
LENGTH: Long : 102 linesby CNB