DATE: Monday, October 13, 1997              TAG: 9710100015

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B10  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:  102 lines

LETTERS TO EDITOR -- THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

NORFOLK RACE

For a new beginning,

we need Todd Fiorella

In response to the Sept. 29 letter, ``In 87th District, a tough act to follow'':

We supported Thelma Drake in her campaign and as a public servant.

Our mothers held the seat of president of the PTA in local high schools. Our children attend Granby High School and are grateful to Thelma's contribution to the renovation. But as far as any real change in our district, we have seen nothing that can be attributed to just one person.

Holding the house seat for the 87th District is a huge responsibility, and we believe that Todd Fiorella's qualifications and experience in human relations will far exceed anyone's expectations.

As natives of the Ocean View area, we have seen the attempt for over 30 years to wash out prostitution. Sure, the prostitutes go away, but we know they come back.

So, Thelma, your efforts have not gone unnoticed. Unfortunately, the old way is not always the best way. Fresh ideas and a new beginning are what the 87th District needs, and a new beginning means Todd Fiorella.

Anna Valderrama

Pamela Vaughan

Norfolk, Oct. 2, 1997

BUSINESS

Ax-meisters wonder

why loyalty is passe

Your Sept. 29 business article, ``Employers now looking for loyalty,'' detailed the emerging realization by many businesses that loyalty is harder to find these days.

Gee, how rough for the poor businesses! This country's business community has just spent the last four years engaged in ruthless and widespread mass firings to protect their bottom line, and now they have the audacity to wonder why their employees don't feel loyalty?

Any manager or executive who wonders why this is the case most obviously needs to be ``downsized.'' That way, he or she will have all the time to research this issue fully. The rest of us don't have time to research it. We're busy showing up at those jobs. A paycheck is necessary when you're loyal to the idea of feeding your family and keeping a roof over their heads.

Pardon us, the workers of America, for not feeling so loyal at the office anymore.

Scott D. Henrichsen

Virginia Beach, Sept. 29, 1997

MILITARY

No hallelujah

for closing chapel

A 21-gun salute to the admiral for closing Chapel In The Woods.

We will all sleep better knowing the U.S. Navy will save $9,000 a year.

Nothing is sacred.

John A. Morris, PhM3/c

U.S. Navy Reserve

Norfolk, Sept. 30, 1997

POLITICIANS

We all share blame

for broken promises

Your Oct. 5 editorial, ``Promises, promises,'' seemed to skirt the edges of who is really at fault for promises not kept by politicians. Note I said politicians, not representatives. We are at fault for re-electing our representatives based on promises they make until they made the transformation to politician, concerned with maintaining their position at the expense of the electorate.

Regardless of who is elected this November, Gilmore or Beyer, the tax structure will not change since the politicians will change only the name of the tax and then boast of how they kept their promise.

Norfolk will continue to tax its citizens and lose them to the suburbs of Chesapeake and Moyock, N.C. Mr Oliver and his cronies will continue to build white elephants, and Virginia Beach will continue to build golf courses and try to imitate Disney World.

Raymond L. Fields

Norfolk, Oct. 5, 1997

MEDICAL ETHICS

Passmore case

a double tragedy

Regarding Ann Sjoerdsma's Sept. 22 column, ``Heart in hand, human outcome of mutilation case is troubling'':

There were actually two tragedies in this case. First, it is indeed tragic that Thomas Passmore's hand was not reattached. He was, undeniably, mentally ill when he cut off his hand. However, if he was competent to consent to surgery to reattach his hand, must he then not also have been competent to refuse consent? It is the patient's right, not the physician's, to decide upon and consent to the treatment.

The second tragedy was that Mr. Passmore's physicians were subjected to the ordeal of a lawsuit for not reattaching his hand. His physicians did what they could, within the law, but in the end had to respect his decision not to have his hand reattached.

Ms. Sjoerdsma should understand that there is a vast difference between legal competence and mental illness. Many people who are known to be mentally ill are routinely considered legally competent by the courts to refuse psychiatric hospitalization.

Richard Wertheimer, M.D.

Chesapeake, Sept. 22, 1997

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