ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, April 5, 1997 TAG: 9704070003
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
The president exhibits moral hypocrisy
ANYONE LOOKING for conclusive evidence of the hypocrisy of the Clinton administration need look no further than the March 5 article, ``Human cloning off limits.'' How can he support abortion and then, in regard to human cloning, warn against the temptation ``to play God''?
Clinton says: ``Each human life is unique, born of a miracle that reaches beyond laboratory science. I believe we must respect this profound gift.'' Profoundly true and noble statements that seem more easily attributable to the pro-life movement than to a man who supports not only abortion, but partial-birth abortion.
Human cloning, he said, had ``troubling'' legal and ethical implications. What is truly troubling is this age we live in when society takes the moral high road in expressing horror at the idea of human cloning, and in the same breath supports killing the gift of human life within a mother's womb.
Clinton warns against playing God, but those who support abortion or human cloning are playing God. We cannot have it both ways.
The horror is that so many of us accept this moral dichotomy without even blinking an eye.
GERARD E. SWITZER
ROCKBRIDGE BATHS
Firefighters must be there when needed
I SUPPORT Roanoke city's Fire Department and assisting agencies, and am against letting go any of our firemen and closing any fire stations.
In 1989, when I came home from college to spend the Thanksgiving holiday, I saw a low, blue beam of light in the wood wall of my mom's back porch. It struck me as curious because that's all I saw. I walked slowly down the steps leading to the back porch, mesmerized by the light. I stooped to look, and it looked like an ember slowly burning in a fireplace. I opened the porch door, and smoke billowed out of the house.
A blaze soon developed from inside and outside. As my mom frantically looked to see where the smoke was coming from, I told her that we needed to get out.
I called 911 and gave the dispatcher the location and other information. Within minutes, firemen arrived with full firefighting attire and hose. The fire was immediately extinguished. They disassembled the smoldering boards and rehosed down the remains.
Firemen saved my home, and I owe them. I am not going to let this issue rest without giving them the support they deserve.
Keep the firemen and fire stations in place; ditch the quint trucks.
These guys are one of our most justifiable insurance policies. And when May comes around and the city collects personal-property taxes, this and the police department are two good reasons to pay the ``grim'' revenue department.
No one needs to suffer the death of a loved one because the city proposes to let go and close down our fire protection.
E. ROY GUERRANT
ROANOKE
Veggies lovers eat high on the hog
REGARDING Almena Hughes' March 19 Food article, "If you know where to look, you can find veggie meals for lunch":
My husband and I are vegetarians and, in our opinion, Angler's Cafe serves the best vegetarian fare in town.
In addition to the vegetarian options on the regular dinner and lunch menus, chef-owner Steve VanMetre always has a vegetarian special, which has a lot more imagination and flair than the fare featured in the lead photograph: Rainbo rolls, cole slaw, potato salad and apple sauce (what my aunt terms "white food" ).
All full-time and occasional vegetarians need to know that there are fabulous and tasty concoctions served up daily at Angler's. They include polenta, portabella mushroom puffed pastry, flavored pastas with fresh vegetables and many creative sauces, stir-fried veggies over cellophane noodles, vegetarian burritos and chili rellenos (my personal favorite).
Being a vegetarian in Roanoke doesn't relegate one to an unfulfilled life of eating side dishes.
JULIE G. HODGIN
ROANOKE
LENGTH: Medium: 80 linesby CNB