DATE: Sunday, August 17, 1997               TAG: 9708160015

SECTION: COMMENTARY              PAGE: J4   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letters

                                            LENGTH:  133 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

VIRGINIA BEACH

At-large elections offer true equal rights

A lawsuit filed recently contends that Virginia Beach at-large elections unfairly dilute minority voting rights (news, Aug. 7). In fact, they provide all voters truly equal rights.

The at-large voting system, legally chosen by the voting population of Virginia Beach, supports the oldest and most basic democratic concept: one person, one equal vote. All have an equal say in the selection of the City Council and School Board members who will make the decisions impacting all of us. No one is represented more than anyone else. No one is left out.

In a fair voting system, my neighbors (African American, Asian American, Caucasian American, among others within two blocks on my street) are given the same say as any other resident of Virginia Beach.

I hope the courts (defenders of the Constitution that they are charged to be) support the status quo.

Neal Jefferis

Virginia Beach, Aug. 11, 1997

Voting system racist? Nonsense

I cannot believe that anyone would consider our Virginia Beach voting system racist or built on a ``block voting technique.''

Carolyn Lincoln claims her lawsuit is backed by an informal group of nine residents who would not be named. What about the 430,000 other residents of Virginia Beach? What about the other residents of her own development of Bellamy Woods?

Ms. Lincoln really missed the point by not pointing out that Councilwoman Louisa Strayhorn was elected because she was the most qualified, not because of gender or race. When taxpayers start voting race rather than representation, then we will have a real problem.

Tom Lilley

Virginia Beach, Aug. 8, 1997

ISRAEL

In West Bank, how quickly we forget

The Associated Press story you printed on Aug. 8 (``Blockade's toll is economic - and personal'') was a transparent attempt to rip sobs from the throats of readers. The story tells of a 20-year-old Palestinian woman for whom ``Israel's closure of the West Bank meant a cutoff from her newborn baby girl, who was undergoing throat surgery alone in a Jerusalem hospital.''

While this is an unfortunate situation, the story's implication - that Israel's awful prime minister, government and army are to blame - is absurd. At least this woman still has a child whom she can see and hold, which is more than can be said for the families of innocent men, women and children blown to bits by Palestinian bombers at the Mahane Yehuda market the previous week.

It was once hard for me to understand some Jews' obsession with preaching the message that the world must never forget the unspeakable atrocities of the Holocaust. But now I understand. Scarcely a week after the likewise unspeakable events of Mahane Yehuda and already we had forgotten, moved on to infinitely more trivial news about how the evil Israelis were inconveniencing the Palestinians by closing the territories.

What would we have them do? Roll out a lovely red carpet with a sign reading, ``Welcome, suicide bombers''?

G. Will Brown

Portsmouth, Aug. 8, 1997

PHARMACIES

Revco wasn't a ``friend for life''

I have been following with great interest all the articles concerning the takeover of the Revco drug stores by Eckerd's. I have also noticed many of the problems some people have had in obtaining their medications - long waits, mistakes, etc.

I, too, think that Eckerd's deserves a lot of the blame, but what I would like to know is: Where was my ``friendly'' drug store, Revco - my ``friend for life,'' as Mary Lou Retton so often advertised on TV? Why didn't Revco present the proper records to Eckerd's? I feel sorry for the pharmacists who have had to continue working throughout all this mess.

Yes, I considered Revco my ``friend'' for many years, but I certainly am disappointed in what our ``friendship'' meant to Revco - not much.

Rose B. Favre

Virginia Beach, Aug. 7, 1997

RECREATION

Bikeways are needed but so is safe riding

Concerning Patrick Lackey's Aug. 7 column, ``More than a pittance, please, for pedestrians and bikers'':

I couldn't agree more; we desperately need more bikeways or runways. Those activities are both healthy for the person and the environment.

However, he could have said a little more about safety. I never see any effort to chastise parents who take their small children on the bike with them or, worse yet, on a separate bike, out onto a highway (and I mean highway, not street). I can't understand why these parents aren't ticketed and prosecuted for child endangerment.

Oh, you might point out to your readers that today's (Aug. 7) crossword puzzle cannot be correctly solved - there are not enough spaces in 39 down to enter ``Gingrich.''

Larry P. White

Virginia Beach, Aug. 7, 1997

(Editor's note: The clue to 39 down was ``immature newt.'')

EDUCATION

Put the limelight on deserving students

I am dismayed and disgusted by the quantity of news coverage that is afforded to the ``innocent,'' well-paid athletes who are forgiven time after time and then commit the same mistakes over and over, apparently to the delight of fans.

I have a grandson who is starting his sophomore year at a Northern Virginia college. It will take the combined efforts of his part-time work, and the full-time work of his mother, father and brother, plus small grants and scholarships to keep him in college. He asked for and received a room in the substance-free building at college. No problem - there is apparently a shortage of student applicants who want to work and study in a substance-free environment.

This young man managed to maintain a B average for the year. How ironic that maybe he will be able to stay in college and all our very well-paid athletes get a free ride.

Blanche R. Brazzi

Ivor, Aug. 6, 1997

CONFEDERACY

``The Flag'' offers an important lesson

Writer Terri Williams understands the importance of Edna Hendrix's exhibit ``Confederate and Union Soldiers in Black and White'' (Commentary, Aug. 3). Her truthfulness regarding black Southerners reclaiming a lost heritage offers an important lesson.

For anyone born below the Mason-Dixon line, the Confederate flag represents his or her birthplace. This fact has nothing to do with how one might feel about it. Some would burn a Confederate flag in a minute except that now, in light of Ms. Williams' story, the specter of black ancestors fighting under this flag clearly begs for reflection, not anger.

Looking at slavery is painful, but that is the nature of holocausts; and if we are to learn from our past, we must overcome our fear of it.

Sheri Bailey

Norfolk, Aug. 12, 1997

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