ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 16, 1997 TAG: 9704160016
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
MEMO: ***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on April 17, 1997.
A LETTER to the editor by Marcia Abell (April 16, ``Medicine is
needed by AIDS victim'') should have said that her son receives Social
Security disability payments, not Supplemental Security Income.
Prepare kids to deal with stress
THE APRIL 5 Associated Press article (Business section, ``Stressed workers give job ethics the slip'') stated that a survey of 1,324 workers showed that the demands of overtime, balancing work and family and downsizing can cause workers, when under such pressures, to act unethically.
Self-preservation is a basic instinct of life. As high as we are on the evolutionary ladder, we're not free of this. (One's ethics can be sorely tested by an empty stomach.) Fear of retribution keeps most of us honest.
There is a lot of fear and anger out there. For most, possible loss of employment, inability to cope with new technologies and the upsurge in violence are frightening. And ethical dilemmas surround us. It's difficult to have to downsize a lifestyle.
It's true that a good person can, in an extreme situation, crack under the strain of prolonged physical and mental stress. But ethical values learned early in the family tend to stay with one, even in stressful times. This leads me to ask: Just what percentage of those 1,324 surveyed felt they could act unethically ``under pressure''?
It's important to maintain ethical values in the home when raising children, and to provide good role models based on character, not popularity. We know that many homes do not set good examples.
I maintain, however, that good pre-school and early-education programs can overcome this to a great degree. These set standards in the child's mind that will stay with him or her in all but the most severe circumstances. ``As the twig is bent, so shall the tree grow'' isn't just an idle phrase. It's great wisdom.
JACK E. BYRD
HARDY
Taxing churches isn't the answer
YOUR MARCH 21 editorial, ``Tax the T-shirts - and the choir robes,'' was another example of the anti-church and anti-Christian values pushed by The Roanoke Times.
Maybe the law does need to be changed. Your solution is to tax it all. Why not tax none of it?
Yes, the First Amendment prohibits making any law ``respecting an establishment of religion.'' The operative word here is an. I was taught this was intended to prevent government from establishing a single national religion. It wasn't intended to prevent government from respecting all religions.
The amendment goes on to say Congress shall make no law ``prohibiting the free exercise thereof.'' I believe taxation is a form of ``prohibiting.''
In today's world, the government is reducing support for needy people and is asking charitable organizations, including churches, to take a greater responsibility for the needy. You would have the government take more money from churches and ask the churches to take on more responsibility.
NED F. LETTO
CHRISTIANSBURG
Medicine is needed by AIDS victim
REGARDING Ellen Goodman's March 20 column, ``In the AIDS battle, there's hope, not victory'':
I was so thrilled when I read of the hope because it's so true.
My son found out he was HIV-positive in 1984, and he is alive and doing so well. His courage, determination and lust for life have kept him going. He takes all the latest medicines mentioned in Goodman's column. He has days when he has diarrhea, migraine headaches, esophagitis fatigue, thrush and shingles.
He would love to work but cannot. He was determined to be terminally ill, and he gets Supplemental Security Income.
He was suddenly denied Medicaid and his medicine at the end of March. He looks forward to another 20 years, but he cannot afford his medicine. How can they suddenly take it away from him after six years? Why, when he has shown improvement? Something has to be wrong.
MARCIA ABELL
ROANOKE
LENGTH: Medium: 83 linesby CNB