THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 18, 1997 TAG: 9702180009
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letters
LENGTH: 103 lines
BIAS
A tip on racism: Don't put up with it
I realize racism will never disappear. However, no one, black or white, should put up with it.
I encouraged my only sister and her children to move from Michigan to Virginia to be closer to me and give this area a chance.
She got hired as a waitress at a mostly white restaurant. During her training, she waited on a white customer who had her going back and forth (for coffee, etc). Before he left, he tipped a white waitress who did not serve him.
Because of this incident, I gave her a ``tip'' - leave! There are other job opportunities out there where she will not have to worry about bringing home $5 after working seven hours on her feet.
I told her there are good people in Virginia of every nationality, so don't give up.
Annette Caldwell
Portsmouth, Feb. 11, 1997
MILITARY
Health workshop raises a lot of ``ifs''
Some ``ifs'' about the Feb. 11 article, ``Military medicine: Doing more with less'': If military budget cuts are necessary, if any of the 2,000 military and civilian health professionals at the meeting were transported here by commercial airlines, if the transportation was paid for by the U.S. government, if there was enough information presented to take approximately five days at the Cavalier Beach Club and if a more cost-effective location could have been found at the local base theaters, gymnasiums or the hanger deck of an aircraft carrier. . . .
If any of these ``ifs'' are true, then it is no wonder that $4.5 billion dollars is spent on health care by the Navy. If it is spent on ideas like this, the GAO should recommend a more cost-effective way of doing business.
Rondel D. Brendle
Virginia Beach, Feb. 11, 1997
ENVIRONMENT
Score a victory for
visual pollution
Natural beauty in Virginia has taken a slap in the face by both the House of Delegates and the Senate. They voted to allow the destruction of publicly owned trees in front of billboards.
The initial proposal, slipped in at the last minute, called for ``selective trimming of vegetation obstructing motorists' views of outdoor advertising structures'' and that ``no trees more than 9 inches in diameter shall be cut down or removed unless they are diseased or unsightly, or they endanger the health or retard the growth of other desirable vegetation.''
This was skillfully worded - ``selective trimming'' would mean chain saws removing trees, ``vegetation'' means those big, bad trees, ``no trees more that 9 inches in diameter shall be cut down or removed.'' When expected opposition arose, it was made less objectionable with an admendment changing the 9 inches down to 4 inches. This is like proposing to chop off nine of my fingers, then retracting and saying, ``No, I'm only going to amputate four fingers. Isn't that a wonderful improvement?''
This destruction of our trees is going to be administered by the Virginia Department of Transportation, which is like letting the fox guard the henhouse. And with all the caveats, as ``diseased'' - any plant pathologist can find disease organisms on almost any plant - this would allow the billboard owners to plant a couple of ligustrum shrubs, then claim that ugly holly and dogwood trees are endangering or retarding the growth of their desirable landscaping.
Now, we can hope the governor will veto this legislation. Don't hold your breath. Visual pollution advances in Virginia.
B. H. ``Pat'' Bridges Jr.
Virginia Beach, Feb. 12, 1997
GOVERNMENT
River cleanup is our business
I read with interest the federal government is allocating money for the study of the cleanup of the Elizabeth River (``Clinton seeks $200,000 for river study,'' Feb. 8).
It is not the responsibility of the federal government. It is the businesses and people who live within the river's system.
Waiting for the federal government to fix a problem in your own back yard is stupid.
Mark Wayne Trace
Chesapeake, Feb. 10, 1997
VIRGINIA BEACH
Water isn't
the only issue
I cannot believe the city of Virginia Beach, the largest city in the state, can only think one priority at a time. I don't believe they (City Council members) could tie their shoe without discussing water first.
I look at Virginia Beach's water problem as real and I hope they are successful in the ensuing court battle. I too want to water my lawn and wash my car. But I work in Norfolk and want the things an inner city can provide: a new downtown shopping mall next to quality restaurants, and a new arena so that my wife and I can enjoy some of the finer things after work.
I am not that crazy about hockey. I've been to a couple of Admirals games, and would certainly go to a few Rhinos games, but more important would be the other events that would be drawn to downtown Norfolk and its activities.
Since I spend one-third of my time in Norfolk, it doesn't bother me if you spend a $1.50 of my tax money on something I would use frequently.
James Blaine
Virginia Beach, Feb. 8, 1997