THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 20, 1995 TAG: 9504200002
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
I can really sympathize with the ``cruisers'' at Northside Park (news, April 14). I remember as a teenager how we would cruise up and down the Virginia Beach Resort Strip on Friday and Saturday nights.
The more cars and slower the traffic flow, the better - as far as we were concerned. We felt the police were just there to hassle us and prevent us from having a good time.
Unfortunately, the hotel owners and the city did not agree with our viewpoint and Virginia Beach adopted an ordinance in which a person caught going around the loop more than twice would be cited for a violation.
I was certainly angry about that legislation. However, I never felt my civil rights were violated. When any group of people congregates in such numbers as to restrict the use of an area by other people, something has to be done to limit access to that particular group. It happened to us at the Beach. It has now happened to others at Northside Park.
All too often these days when minority groups feel slighted, they cry racism in order to bring attention to their cause. Speaking as a white male from the suburbs, there will be many people who will say that I just don't understand.
Well, they should remember what happened to the boy who cried wolf. Cry racism too many times without just cause and people will stop listening.
PAUL G. McGRATH JR.
Chesapeake, April 17, 1995 by CNB