DATE: Friday, August 15, 1997               TAG: 9708150005

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B10  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:  104 lines

LETTERS TO EDITOR -- THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

MILITARY

Admiral Cole

deserved better

When a military officer, and in particular a senior officer, is accused of behavior ``that was unacceptable in the workplace,'' he/she is virtually defenseless. Unlike civilian executives who are judged in the broader marketplace of values and commerce, senior military officer careers are exclusively in the hands of their immediate superiors. Simply the taint associated with an accusation, groundless or not, is enough to ruin an exemplary career. That is, unless the individual's superiors have the moral courage to do what is right.

Rear Adm. Robert S. Cole is an exemplary officer and an exemplary human being. He has a genuine concern and warmth for people and is a man of high principles and integrity. His substantial contributions to the country, the Navy and this community are a matter of record. For a career such as his to be ended under a cloud because of the vague and unsubstantiated accusations described in the Aug. 6 Pilot is an outrage and should cause men and women throughout the Atlantic Fleet to fear for the security of their own careers.

The Navy's handling of this case is frighteningly reminiscent of the weak, self-serving and politically expedient leadership that nearly sank the Navy during and immediately following Vietnam. Bob Cole deserves much better.

J. S. Good

Virginia Beach, Aug. 7, 1997

Navy motto: ``Nice

guys finish last''

I am both saddened and angered that Rear Admiral Cole is to be relieved of his duties after complaints from female employees, and also that the concept of ``sexual harassment'' is being taken to the extreme. It seems that the phrase ``Nice guys finish last'' is becoming par for the Navy and that female employees are becoming mercenaries.

The fact that an innocent officer with an impeccable and impressive service record is being relieved secondary to those few who feel empowered by the ``sexual harassment'' bandwagon is pathetic.

It is time for the Navy and the media to step back and stop the ``sexual harassment'' insanity.

W. Lyn Mohn

Chesapeake, Aug. 7, 1997

LANDSCAPE

Crape myrtles

beautify and inspire

It is such a pleasure to ride down our streets and see the beautiful crape myrtle trees in bloom this time of year. They add so much color and grace and uplift the spirit.

Many, many thanks to Fred Heutte, who did such a wonderful thing in planting these trees all over the city for us to enjoy. He will, indeed, be remembered.

Elizabeth Pappas

Norfolk, Aug. 7, 1997

SPORTS

Give WNBA

a chance to score

I read Bob Molinaro's Aug. 3 article on women's basketball, and I was pained. First, he speculates on the WNBA supporting itself. My question is: Are we supposed to know this so early on in the season? Even a new business takes four or five years to see a profit.

He says it's thriving because of financial mega-support and advertising. I haven't seen a professional sport yet without financial support and advertising. So why say the WNBA is a success because it has a Sugar Daddy? It implies that women succeed only with the financial help of a man. I don't hear that term associated with the NBA, NFL or NHL.

If the WNBA is promoted heavily, it's because it's a new league. You want to get it out in the public eye. The men's professional leagues know the advantages of advertising and work it for all it's worth.

I think it's great these women get to make a career playing in their own country and aren't forced to play overseas to make a living. They now have that option. It gives our young women who love basketball something to dream and hope for. This is long overdue. I only wish Virginia had a team.

Robin S. Blackwell

Chesapeake, Aug. 7, 1997

SPSA

There's no waste

in competition

Former Suffolk mayor Andrew Damiani's defense of the Southeastern Public Service Authority (Another View, July 28) was quite understandable. Suffolk enjoys a significantly reduced tipping fee for its own municipal waste because it hosts the SPSA landfill, and it has just as many votes on the SPSA board (one) as my city, which has some seven times the population.

Fortunately, Suffolk's current representative on the SPSA board, Chris Jones, joined his colleagues from Chesapeake and Virginia Beach in voting to allow the private sector to bid on transportation of trash as well as its disposal. Unfortunately, the board defeated the transportation proposal, which was a victory for SPSA's paid staff, but a loss for citizens who deserve to know if waste companies can provide the same or better service for less than government.

Eventually SPSA and its supporters, like Damiani, will recognize that competition works. Hopefully they will learn this lesson before SPSA assumes even more debt which the taxpayers may have to ultimately cover.

Roger M. Pierce

President

Orbital Technologies Inc.

Virginia Beach, July 31, 1997

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