ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, December 24, 1996 TAG: 9612240120
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
AFTER reading your Dec. 14 Associated Press news article (``Want your career to disappear? Just say the `N-word''''), I wonder why the writer and the people quoted ignore the much bigger issue involved?
As disturbing as it is to hear the ``N-word'' used, it should be even more disturbing to everybody to know that laws can be passed and upheld by the courts that whittle away at our constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech. Do we still have the freedom of speech that can stand the test that I may hate what you say, but I will fight for your right to say it?
LYNN HAMMOND JR.
ROANOKE
Holiday need not be picture-perfect
A LONESOME Christmas as an only child made me more determined to make Christmas more special for my family. I have grandchildren now, and it's important to have a holiday that they will remember.
A vision: a beautiful tree decorated to perfection with packages all wrapped with name tags that won't fall off. Cookies, cakes, homemade breads and candies, all wrapped in foil and put away in the freezer for that special time.
Wreaths and lights are all on the outside; Christmas dinner is in the freezer, just waiting. I further envision that nobody will have a bad hair day and everybody will be on time.
My house will be cleaned, and I can enjoy all the Christmas programs at church and on television.
But in reality I know, with my family, that can never happen.
Here is the way my Christmas seems to go year after year:
Money will run short, and presents have to wait till the last minute. Time will run out and I'll be wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve. The tree will be up two weeks before it gets anything on it, and the day we finally get it all together the cat will see fit to attack it.
The wreath will be up, but the outside lights never seem to get out of the closet. The turkey always falls apart, and we always forget the oysters for the dressing. The cakes and candies never make it to the freezer. I usually buy a cake to go with two pumpkin pies.
My six grandchildren would never let me have a picture-perfect Christmas. But, it's nice to dream.
By the way, I've learned that I can just leave what I can't get done. I still see the specials on television, and I see the Nativity at church. It doesn't help a bit if I miss these. After all, it's Christmas.
MAGGIE STEVENS
ROANOKE
Popular toys are feeding greed
IN THE middle of this Christmas season when we are all so busy and hurried trying to get that last-minute shopping done, we should be so thankful for those who have gotten out ahead of the crowds in their attempt to make shopping easier for all of us.
Why, these thoughtful individuals have managed to search the shelves far and wide to come up with the "Holiday Barbie" and "Tickle Me Elmo" that I couldn't manage to find for my children. They generously offer them to me (if I am the highest bidder, of course) so that I can present them on Christmas morning as though Santa dropped them right down the chimney himself.
Wow! Holiday spirit at its finest.
For all of you who are advertising these wares for auction - shame on you. And for all of you who are willing to support their greed by playing into their scheme - shame on you.
Christmas is about the Christ child. I hope we aren't totally losing sight of that. Merry Christmas.
RENE WIMMER
SALEM
Human suffering takes priority
HOW UTTERLY charming it was to read Arthur Poskocil's Dec. 15 response (letter to the editor, ``When Animals are raised as meat'') to my earlier letter to The Roanoke Times (Nov. 26, ``Hey, mashed yams have feelings, too.'') concerning the treatment of edible poultry!
Such delicious arrays of adjectives describing my character! "Stupid, insensitive, smug, and empathetically challenged."
My dear sir, have you been talking with my wife?
Let me take a moment from my busy hobby of pulling the wings off flies to reply:
When I was young, I read and enjoyed E.B. White's novel, ``Charlotte's Web,'' in which the farm animals had a wonderful existence and everything turned out peachy keen at the end.
Unfortunately I grew older and graduated to contemplating John Steinbeck's ``Grapes of Wrath'' and the ravages of man's inhumanity to man against the backdrop of the Great Depression. In other words, as much as I like animals, I find it hard to get teary-eyed over processed poultry when there is so much human suffering and starvation in the world today.
I wish all those with the luxury of raising their stock in comfort the very best wishes. Rest assured, Mr. Poskocil I would never write with such a poison pen concerning your intellect.
Cruel childish mockery? My good man, lighten up!
CASEY HASH
ELK CREEK
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