ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, April 8, 1997 TAG: 9704080026
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
Slaps on the wrist won't stop chronic troublemakers
IT WAS STATED that punishment given to misbehaving students is often very light (March 31 news article, "Teens agree discipline needed"). One quoted in the article said school administrators were scared to suspend students because the students might drop out of school.
Let's face facts. Students who continually misbehave will probably not amount to much after high school, even if they finish school. And don't believe ``it's only a cry for help.''
If some students continually misbehave, punish them severely. Otherwise they will think they can do whatever they want and get away with it. If they insist on tearing up lockers, destroying bathrooms and injuring people, and cannot act like sensible human beings, don't treat them like sensible human beings.
Enter these misfits into programs where they're constantly watched. A teacher would stand outside the door, so no more going to the bathroom during class to put up graffiti. No more wandering the halls between classes. A teacher would walk the students single file to the cafeteria.
A slap on the wrist will not teach repeat troublemakers to behave. They need a hard, difficult, even embarrassing punishment to get them in line.
JOHN BODNAR
BLACKSBURG
Homeless man offered his help
I HAVE always had a warm spot in my heart for your lovely state. However, the days of helping a stranger seem to be long gone.
My daughter-in-law recently began working for Bedford County. She had to commute to Roanoke for training recently. As she was approaching the Commonwealth Building at Church Avenue and Second Street, burdened by large training manuals, she tripped over the curb and went sprawling, tearing her hose and getting a bloody knee.
Several people were walking by at the time, presumably on their way to work. Not one rushed to her assistance. In fact, several snickered. Who helped her? An elderly homeless man.
Shame on those who failed to help a young woman in obvious distress. The Good Samaritan has my gratitude, and God bless him.
TERRI KELTZ
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL
Holiday Inn supports the NAACP's efforts
YOUR LOOK may be new, but there's the same old unbalanced reporting. Since Mary Bishop chose to use selective quotes from me (March 6 article, ``Hotels feeling NAACP heat''), I feel compelled to clarify several issues.
I made it clear to her several times that Holiday Inn-Tanglewood is an equal-opportunity employer. I pointed out that I didn't have statistical information in front of me regarding the racial makeup of our staff. She chose to interpret that as ``Carter wouldn't divulge figures on his motel.''
I repeatedly told Bishop that we have a diverse work force, and emphasized that we hire based on qualifications, without regard to race, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, age, etc. I pointed out that Holiday Inn operates in 60 countries and territories worldwide, and our diversity is evidenced by ownership and operation of these hotels, which employ people of a variety of ethnic origins at all levels of the business.
When I spoke about information that is proprietary when it comes to businesses, she interpreted it as relating only to the issue of minority hiring, and quoted me as saying, ``It's nothing that's anybody's business.'' The juxtaposition of that quote with NAACP President Martin Jeffrey's response was designed to create the illusion of confrontation. That's irresponsible since I made it clear that we aren't confrontational on this issue.
I emphasized the cooperative sense that we feel toward the efforts of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. I told Bishop that we're begging people to work in our industry, and I couldn't imagine any hotel in the valley that wouldn't hire a qualified person - no matter what origin.
With your new image, I hope you start practicing a new way of doing business. You may find that you could be a support for the community.
L. GERALD CARTER
General Manager
Holiday Inn-Tanglewood
ROANOKE
Robertson project had good intentions
IN RESPONSE to your March 16 Horizon section article, ``Mining disaster'':
Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition, formed the African Development Co. to mine diamonds in Zaire, Africa, with the blessing of the Zairian government. He hired American mining consultants and an American engineering firm to develop custom dredges for the project. The project failed and he lost a great deal of money.
It's evident the article's writer was attempting to portray Robertson in the most negative manner possible. But the most revealing paragraph stated: ``Robertson's contract with the Mobutu government stipulated that 50 percent of African Development Co.'s profits would be plowed back into humanitarian projects in Zaire.''
How many other individuals or mining companies would enter into a contract to give 50 percent of their profits for humanitarian purposes to the country in which they were mining? Would we be reading about this situation if the African Development Co. had been a success and given millions of dollars in humanitarian aid to Zaire?
SCOTT SHAW
WYTHEVILLE
Watch silently no more the massacre
A VIRGINIA Tech student was killed by a drunken driver. The driver was convicted of drunken driving, given a 30-day suspended jail sentence and fined $500. If this had been your child, how would you feel?
If justice doesn't prevail in these instances, aren't the victims' families actually victimized a second time? Salt into a wound. Where is that salt and where is that wound for the offender, the murderer, the one who destroyed the life?
For years, I became so angry that words failed me when I read of these tragedies. Tears, angry words, frustration - I cannot communicate to those I need to reach in such a manner, for my purpose would be lost.
Many of you know a victim of a drunken driver. Demand accountability. Those who have the means, research the years of this needless slaughter. Make the public aware of this madness and how severe it really is. Publish the results; report the statistics. Those with the intelligence and the means, help people like me to make a point.
Losing a loved one hurts, but losing that life to an act that could have been prevented hurts even worse. Do you know what hurt is? Do you know the point of hurt that makes the sobbing and screaming with pain unbearable beyond comprehension?
Those who have had a loss or injury due to a drunken driver, help stop this massacre. I cannot do it alone. Together with the victims' families and friends and others who cares, we can make a difference. If we don't do all that we can to stop this, we're almost as guilty as the offenders. I cannot be silent any longer. Can you live with yourself if you are?
ANNE BRYANT HALL
STUART
LENGTH: Long : 129 linesby CNB