ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 17, 1997 TAG: 9704170024
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-16 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
About ``A plain view of Mill Mountain,'' April 12:
From NILA MILTON, Roanoke
Please leave the mountain as it is. Its natural beauty can never be replaced.
About ``Sounding a retreat from public-school choice,'' April 13:
From STEPHEN SBORAY, Bedford
I agree that there could be significant damage to the principle of public-school choice if Roanoke County raises the nonresident fee to the proposed $3,200. I can sympathize with residents of Roanoke County who are calling for a higher nonresident tuition. However, if the county chooses to take this route, the higher fee should be phased in so as to not cause a significant financial burden to nonresidents who choose to send their children to county schools. Also, it would not be fair to uproot children who are happily settled in a county school if their families can't afford the higher fee.
About ``The Confederacy isn't rising again,'' April 14:
From JEFF WILLARD, Roanoke
The NAACP should go back and study the history books and the fact that the Civil War was not fought over slavery - it was fought over states rights and independence.
From JAY BENDER, Roanoke
As a white man, I think it's ill-planned, ill-mannered and ill-conceived. If we are really going to commemorate the Confederacy, let's face the evil of slavery. Let's talk about it and the wounds that were inflicted. Let's grow up. Let's unite. Let's show the world that Virginia can fight racism.
From BEN ROSSELL, Blue Ridge
If the black community can celebrate Black History Month, I feel the white community has every right to celebrate the history of the War Between the States. After all, it is part of our history.
From PEGGY ALDHIZER, Bedford
There is no respect in trashing another's heritage. The divisive situation is nurtured constantly by the NAACP. What is considered racially demeaning or embarrassing is often blown out of proportion. It then becomes absurd, and is reduced to a constant whine of give me, give me, give - or else. Our governor handled this correctly and with class.
From WILLIAM FIELDS, Abingdon
I think the NAACP could better speak to issues of slavery that have to do with sweatshops, including corporate sweatshops overseas - issues that are more relevant today.
From HARDNEY A. GIBSON, Roanoke
For Linda Byrd-Harden to say that what Allen did is fascism is totally ridiculous.
From DICK PARKER, Blacksburg
I, for one, am getting pretty tired of having everything the government does classified as racist. The most racist organization in American today is the NAACP, so we ought to start protesting everything it does. This having to be politically correct is a bunch of hogwash.
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