THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 3, 1996 TAG: 9611010209
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letters
LENGTH: 47 lines
Enough already!
I am sick and tired of the media declaring that my vote doesn't count and that the results of our upcoming elections are already decided.
Much is made of voter disinterest and apathy in this election, but who could blame the voter for staying home in his or her easy chair, especially in cold or rainy conditions, when the ``scientific polls'' confirm it's all over.
Those of us old enough to remember the Truman-Dewey race know that the press can be wrong! I urge every supporter of conservative government, balanced budgets and putting ethics and character at the head of our country again to exercise your responsibility and vote for Bob Dole on Nov. 5. Let's show the media that they can't create the ``truth'' just by saying it is so over and over again.
I will borrow a quote that has made me stop and think: ``Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don't vote.'' It is time that we, as citizens, did something about it.
Judith F. Gastler
New Zealand Reach Tiger helpers
It was a happy occasion to be a small part of the relocation of the Naval Aviation Depot's industrial tiger to its new role as ``Oscar the Tiger'' at Oscar F. Smith High School. I'm sure that the artist and the tiger's creator, John Mascoffian, is also delighted. However, it's important to recognize several others in the chain of events leading to Oscar's adoption.
Credit goes to Capt. Ted Morandi, NADEP's commanding officer, who authorized the donation; my wife, Nancy, who first saw the tiger at the NADEP decommissioning ceremony and asked if he could be donated to the school; Marge Nicholson, who introduced the idea to the school's principal, Dr. Jan Andrejco; coach Bill Myer, who coordinated the transporting of Oscar with some help from members of the school grounds team; and finally, Dr. Andrejco, who saw an opportunity to link the NADEP's past with the community's future.
The industrial tiger originally embodied the commitment and spirit of the employees of NADEP. As a former NADEP employee and alumnus of Oscar Smith, I'm grateful that the spirit can live on among the students of Smith High in what we'll always think of as ``our tiger.''
L. Lyle Bagley
Virginia Beach by CNB