THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 11, 1996 TAG: 9602090218
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 143 lines
As city coordinators for the Washington for Jesus Rally, scheduled for April 29 and 30, my husband and I recently sent out more than 150 letters to pastors in Suffolk and the surrounding areas.
We invited them to a breakfast and conference to learn more about the rally. Do I dare confess that only one pastor came? Now the obvious question is why?
But first, I have a few questions of my own. Why, for instance, can Louis Farrakhan gather almost one million men to march in Washington, D.C., with little difficulty? Why can Ira Glasser muster a crowd of ACLU activists at the drop of a hat? Almost every other special interest group, including daytime TV talk show hosts, can gather a following, but Bible-believing, church-going, tithe-paying professing Christians cannot! Why is that?
Is it because we are so cold and indifferent to what is going on around us that we can't see past the four walls of our Sunday school classrooms? Is it because we are so disillusioned and disappointed in our judicial system that we really don't think it will do any good?
Are we so busy having bazaars and bake sales that the church has lost her focus and priorities? Don't we believe in the God of the Bible and the power of corporate prayer for our nation?
I was not a part of WFJ 1980, but I did have the privilege of participating in WFJ 1988. Now, eight years later, we are going back again. I don't want to think about what the condition of our nation will be eight years from now if something doesn't change today. Violence, teen pregnancy, AIDS, drug addiction, suicide - all real problems with no real solution.
As a Christian, I believe that Jesus Christ is the only solution for our nation. I don't know where you will be on April 29 and 30, but we will be on the steps of the U.S. Capitol building declaring that we want our nation back for God.
Kathy Peaks
Open Door Church
Kings Fork Road
Suffolk If you want to change things, vote in May
How often we hear the statement, ``That is not right.''
One of the most important rights is to vote. Will you use this privilege, or will you sit around and gripe about your government even though you do not participate in the election process? Get involved. Election Day is Tuesday, May 7. The last day to register to vote is Monday, April 8. For voting information, call the city registrar's office at 925-6391.
The Virginian-Pilot of Feb. 5 reported ``Round 5: Fighting City Hall to save shop,'' the story of William E. Beamon Jr.'s suing the City of Suffolk to retain his business on East Washington Street. The city's first offer was $20,000; its last was $71,800, the story said.
Steal it if you can get away with it. What a way for our city government to behave! The businesses to be demolished were offered 93 percent of the assessed value of their properties, plus 10 percent in relocation cost. The next time you receive your real estate tax bill based on the total assessed value of your property, try reducing the bill by 7 percent and see what occurs.
Losing your business and your ability to work and provide for your family are of no interest to your city government. Is this responsible government? Is this right? Why are citizens being forced to sue their government to protect their property and their name? Mr. Beamon provides the answer: It's not money but principle.
Look at another idiosyncrasy in the way our city government behaves. In a Dec. 18 letter, the commonwealth's attorney, in response to my letter of Nov. 28, 1995, on the legality of the city manager's authorizing July 3, 1995, as a paid holiday, stated, ``Such action does not constitute an official action by council. That can be accomplished only by a recorded vote of council in open session.''
The city manager was in violation of the Code of Virginia. Where was council? They too were negligent in carrying out their sworn duties. Was this right?
What action was taken against the city manager for violating the City Charter and the Code of Virginia? Council members Rogers, Milteer, Brown, Jones, Carter and Underwood voted to give him a 3 percent salary increase. Was this right? Violate the law and see if you will be rewarded or held accountable for your actions. Councilman Harris voted against the increase.
What recourse do we, the citizens of Suffolk, have? File a suit? You will pay for the attorney to sue and the city's attorney to defend the council's action. Is this right?
The commonwealth's attorney provided the answer in his letter of Dec. 18: ``City Council is elected by the voters in the various boroughs. Council members are accountable and answer to the voters at election time. Therefore, the voting citizens of Suffolk hold the ultimate power and control over the direction of the City of Suffolk.'' It's time for a change. Go to the polls and vote.
Talmadge C. Jones
Harbor Road
Suffolk Animal cruelty is focus of group bound for area
In response to the letter by Larry Rawls of Smithfield, concerning PETA's moving its central office to Norfolk:
First I would ask Mr. Rawls to research the organization (People for Ethical Treament of Animals) to become better informed about its intentions and goals before making sweeping generalizations concerning its objectives. PETA's intent is not, and has never been, to force individuals to become vegetarians or vegans.
Instead, it works to make people aware of the cruelty that animals suffer every day at the hands of uncaring consumers. Its members work to end using animals for testing of cosmetics and household products and to stop the unnecessary torture of animals. One of PETA's focuses at the moment is to stop Gillette from testing such products as shaving cream on rabbits and other small animals when these tests have absolutely no relevance to humans.
Neither is it PETA's intent to force us to wear ``gloves lined with cotton seeds or corn husks.'' It is, however, its intent to encourage us to re-evaluate the belief that we have the right to harm other creatures so that we can appear fashionable.
It would have us ask ourselves if it is worth trapping several minks and subsequently murdering them by electric shock so that one person may feel more important than others for owning a mink coat. PETA does not ask us to deprive ourselves of warmth or food but merely to eliminate the use of certain glamour products when there are a number of alternatives that are not produced and consumed at the expense of innocent beings.
I would also ask Mr. Rawls, and anyone who may think as he does, not to confuse a completely independent organization such as PETA with other political issues as abortion. PETA makes absolutely no connection or reference to any political issue except the humane treatment of animals. Being a member of PETA has to do with being a compassionate human by being humane to animals and is completely separate from being a Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative.
If Mr. Rawls truly understood animals, their place in the world and PETA's intent to preserve that place, as he professes to, he would understand the schoolboy antics he proposes would not discourage PETA's efforts.
Mr. Rawls needs not fear PETA's presence. I promise it will not invade his home and force him to surrender his steak, nor will they place guilt upon that enjoyment.
He is the only one who can manufacture that type of guilt, and he has clearly displayed it by voicing concern about the proximity of PETA's headquarters.
To any others who may have concerns, I assure you PETA's presence will be a positive addition to the lives, human and animal, in and around our area and in the nation as a whole.
Amy Rhodes
Rhodes Drive
Windsor by CNB