DATE: Saturday, October 25, 1997            TAG: 9710230019

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:  108 lines

LETTERS TO EDITOR -- THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

VIRGINIA BEACH

Sandbridge follies don't

deserve our tax dollars

Mother Nature made another of her unwelcome visits this past week to the Sandbridge area of Virginia Beach. She carried off vast amounts of beach and pieces of precariously built houses.

A local man interviewed on the TV news implied that this was a classic example where government should step in and save Sandbridge. Actually, this is a classic example of arrogance, to build a house directly in the teeth of the relentless Atlantic Ocean. No amount of bulkheading at any cost to taxpayers will keep the ocean from reclaiming the beach at Sandbridge and anything in its way.

It's hard to feel sympathy for the gambler who builds on the beach at Sandbridge and to pay tax dollars for his folly.

John Close

Virginia Beach, Oct. 20, 1997

CHESAPEAKE

Say no to

new expressway

As a Chesapeake resident, I greatly disapprove of the Southeastern Expressway that Virginia Beach is trying to push through Chesapeake (news, Oct. 9). The expressway will come directly from the amphitheater, proposed new stadium and proposed golf course, and the heavy traffic will cross Battlefield Boulevard and on to Routes 104 and 64.

Those of us who try to get to Great Bridge between 4 and 7 p.m. just love the idea of all the new traffic joining us on these roads. Let's stand up and say NO to Virginia Beach on the proposed expressway.

Daphne A. Crockett

Chesapeake, Oct. 9, 1997

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Biblical defense

is chilling, flawed

It took me a long time to puzzle out what Joseph N. Kickasola was trying to say in ``Capital punishment and the Bible'' (Another View, Oct. 11). Working at it revealed that his argument boils down to this:

It was good for God to kill Jesus.

Governments that kill prisoners are acting like God.

Therefore, it is good for governments to kill prisoners.

The argument is both chilling and flawed. What scares me, though, is Mr. Kickasola's view that evildoers are sacred. Does he really mean to suggest that Hitler, say, or Pol Pot, or Saddam Hussein are somehow equivalent to the historical Jesus?

My own view of capital punishment is that godless governments should be stopped from indulging in it, whereas God-fearing ones would never.

Todd Roberts

Norfolk, Oct. 12, 1997

Crucifixion a key

example of injustice

Joseph Kickasola's argument that the crucifixion of Jesus is the biblical justification for capital punishment represents the most convoluted logic I have seen in recent years.

To suggest that the execution of Jesus, one of the most unjust acts of any civil government in history, somehow represents God's sense of justice is beyond my ability to comprehend.

The Christian theological view that this event is critical to the salvation of humanity in no way changes the hideous, senseless and inexcusable cruelty of Jesus' death. Indeed, the efficacy of the crucifixion demands that Jesus be a totally innocent victim.

The current popularity of capital punishment in this country is not different from the crowd outside the palace in Jerusalem crying, ``Crucify him!''

Lee Kreider

Kill Devil Hills, N.C., Oct. 11, 1997

ON THE ROAD

Love your fellow

driver as yourself

A few thoughts after reading Russell Baker's Oct. 11 column, ``Up to my neck in rising tide of coarseness'':

The word ``overpopulation'' is a humanistic term that diminishes the value of God-given human life. It implies that it would be better if some of us weren't here on Earth. Who shouldn't be here - me? My children? My neighbors? And why? So there would be fewer cars on the road?

Angry and dangerous drivers are not the result of overpopulation; they are people who lack basic character qualities, such as patience, self-control, responsibility, tolerance, love and forgiveness. They've forgotten (or never learned) how to ``love your neighbor as yourself.''

Valerie Keel

Chesapeake, Oct. 11, 1997

222 YEARS OLD

Navy's birthday

bash a success

I'd like to thank the people of Hampton Roads for throwing the Navy an unforgettable 222nd birthday party! The hard-working citizens of this area certainly made us feel appreciated.

Hundreds of people dedicated countless hours to ensure that Fleet Week `97 had something for everyone. The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, Hampton Roads Council of the Navy League, Norfolk FestEvents and the Military Diplomats were among the many who made this year's Fleet Week special.

As commander, Naval Base Norfolk, I was delighted to see so many of our Hampton Roads neighbors join in the celebration. I'm already looking forward to Fleet Week `98 - I know it will be the best ever.

R. T. Ziemer

Rear admiral, U.S. Navy

Norfolk, Oct. 17, 1997

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu