THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 2, 1996 TAG: 9608010144
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 198 lines
The recent flood of church burnings, many of which have been motivated by anti-black racism, have inflicted deep wounds in those members of the church against whom these attacks are directed. We felt that the Body of Christ needed to publicly declare its solidarity and collective outrage about this.
We are white pastors who serve in churches in Hampton Roads that span the spectrum of culture from mostly white to multi-ethnic. Together we want to emphatically state that we join our black brothers and sisters in the hurt and sorrow they feel. As Scripture teaches, when one part of the body suffers, the whole body suffers.
We want everyone to know that there is no such thing as a black church or a white church or any other ethnic type of church. There is only one church, the church of Jesus Christ. An attack against a church made up of mostly African-Americans is an attack against the entire church body. We stand together with them in denouncing the attitude of bigotry and cowardice that has precipitated this conduct.
As Caucasians, we want to ask our black brothers and sisters to forgive the sins of racism that have gone on too long in our country, and now are being manifested by these fires. We are committed to addressing the issue of racism as sin and to striving for godly reconciliation between men and women of every color. Jesus prayed that we would be ``one'' and that is our desire.
We thank all of the pastors and people affected by these tragedies for their Christ-like attitudes and are proud to stand side-by-side with them in Christian love.
Tom Conant, Doug Crabb
and Rafael Santiago
Christian Chapel
Pat Crowder
Coastlands Community Church
Dick Pope
Vineyard Christian Fellowship
Jess Jackson
Westwood Hill Baptist Church
July 15
This letter is in response to ``Why the white flight?'' (July 19 Beacon). Letters like this, from E.M. DuBoise, is chock full of the stuff that myths are made from . . . or hate.
Of all the families on my street, five have been here for less than seven years, and six have been here for more than seven years. Two of the newer families are black. Of the six ``older'' families, only two are not planning a move within the next four years and two of the newer families are planning a move as well. The following is a breakdown of their reasons for moving:
``Old'' Families - 1. (Me) Moving up to bigger and better; 2. Also moving up to bigger and better; 3. Here for 16 years and have outgrown home; 4. Children are grown, need smaller home.
``New'' Families - 1. Military family; 2. Their rented home is in disrepair.
My question for E.M. DuBoise is this: Why is it OK for blacks to seek a better education and environment for their children and themselves, but it's not OK for whites?
I always thought that everyone, no matter race, color or creed, were entitled to freely choose where they live and when they choose to move.
Is it really so difficult to accept coincidence as an option?
Has it come to the point that whites must walk on eggshells, living their lives to please another's delusions? Are whites expected to double-think before putting their homes on the market because there might be someone out there narrow-minded enough to assume a racist motive? Was it ridiculous for me to believe that it was the right of all people, white or black, to live where they choose, when they choose?
I have to believe that Mr. Bill's family across the street and the new black family down the street, will know that I am not moving because of them. I am just looking for better education and a better environment for my children and my family's future.
L. Boutalis
July 19 Accept no substitutes for parents' nurturing
Today's breakdown of the nuclear family is directly responsible for the rise in youth violence. A lack of empathy with the human race and a sense of belonging is missing. There is no substitute for parental nurturing that is so often replaced by electronic amusement.
Pointing the finger at poverty and abuse obviously soothes the souls of those who feel that they take care of their own. The problem lies with who is actually caring for today's children. Parents who are tired or just self-absorbed are quick to flip the switch of techno attention.
Of course, their children will search for human warmth and companionship elsewhere. Their first choice? Peers with no more moral judgment than they have. They cling to the same color clothes like an infant to a special blanket. But learning adult self-discipline to cope with the frustrations of living isn't included in the zoo that passes for most public education.
``Boot Camps''? Why wait for puberty? These children have been tested and drugged as early as 4 years old. Have any of these parents and teachers been made aware of the psychotic side effects of Ritalin? I do not suggest that medication is not helpful in creating balance to the tortured mind, only that it appears used as a quick fix. Indeed the idea that doll house families are about to be epidemic is enough to send me to the medicine cabinet.
Let's stop pretending. Children would be more of a priority to politicians if they could vote. Certainly government could do a great deal in making child care and schooling beneficial to its recipients. Consider the 10-to-1 ratio in the 2-year-old room of your local day care. How much human warmth and companionship can one minimum wage earning adult give to 10 toddlers? What should be done? I like the big purple reptile's approach:
1. We are all part of the human family.
2. You learn big things a little at a time.
3. Everybody cleans up.
Robin Patton
July 20 Amphitheater offers great fun
I attended a concert at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater July 21 and felt compelled to write and let the city officials as well as the public know how much I enjoyed it.
The planners, organizers, designers, etc., are to be commended for the incredible job they have done. I think everything is perfect.
It is a much more enjoyable and comfortable experience than an enclosed coliseum, but not chaotic and disorganized as other outdoor entertainment facilities can be. I think the feeling is the same for the entertainers themselves and that they will definitely want to come back to Virginia Beach.
There is only one ``teeny'' complaint - purchasers of lawn seats should be allowed to bring their own chairs instead of having to rent one.
Shirley S. Fremd
Portsmouth
July 23 Lose the police uniforms
As a longtime resident of Virginia Beach, I was saddened to read in your paper (July 28 Virginian-Pilot) about the gangs that roam the Boardwalk at night to abuse the tourists who we are trying to welcome here as a family fun resort.
I would suggest that most of the uniformed police work without the uniform on and patrol the Boardwalk like a tourist. I am sure that the gangs don't act up when they see a uniformed officer coming.
This might be worth a try as a strategy for curbing the problem.
Cecelia Anderson
July 23 Wards work in Wisconsin
Here's a brief post-mortem on the proposed balanced-district system for electing City Council members in Virginia Beach, which was killed in the May 7 referendum.
Money magazine, in the July issue, published its findings of the 10th annual survey on the Best Places to Live in America. The criteria used for selecting and ranking the best 300 cities were: Economy, Health, Crime, Housing, Education, Weather, Transit and Leisure. Madison, Wis., is at the top of the list, deemed the best place to live in America. Someone said: ``It's not only the best place to live, it's the perfect place.''
Madison, whose area population is 390,300, is governed by a mayor/alderman system. There are 20 aldermen - and guess what? They are each elected by district. So, for all those who predicted doom and were afraid the sky would fall if Virginia Beach were to adopt a so-called ``ward'' system, let Madison, Wis., prove how wrong you were.
Incidentally, in the same survey, Norfolk/Virginia Beach area ranked 117th, up from 283rd last year.
Sheldon L. Corner
July 8 Make recycling simpler
A simple, cost-effective solution to the problem with the Virginia Beach recycling containers would be to raise the deposit slots and attach, by a simple mechanism, light-weight roll-away platforms with steps to cover the full width of the slot line on each side of the container.
The platforms could be moved away while the container is being exchanged and reattached to the empty return. The increased capacity of the container would reduce the frequency of pickup and pay for the platforms well before the city can develop and implement its promised curbside program.
Stuart E. Penner
July 20 Bring bard back to beach
Get ``Shakespeare By The Sea'' back by the sea!
Katherine Hubbard
July 9 Motorist offers apology
Sitting on the side of I-64 and out of gas is not a good feeling. It happened to me on the morning of July 23.
I left earlier than normal to account for the traffic that the George Washington coming into port might cause. After telling myself that I would never run out of gas in the tunnels, I wished that I had included the entire Hampton Roads area. I will admit that I'm one of the first to complain about people who cause back ups because we have to slow down to see why a car is sitting on the side of the road. After sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic from 44 to the Chesapeake Boulevard exit, I glanced down at the gas gauge and said a silent prayer that I'd make it to Hampton Boulevard, but the good Lord had more important prayers to answer.
Thanks to my cell phone, Motorist Assistance came to the rescue. I would like to express my thanks to Mr. Johnson and Motorist Assistance and I would like to apologize to all the drivers who were delayed because of my failure to read my gas gauge.
Debra Watt
July 24 by CNB