DATE: Friday, November 28, 1997             TAG: 9711270004

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B14  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:  101 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

VIRGINIA BEACH

Thanks for recycling,

sorry we bashed it

I want to say a big thank you to Virginia Beach City Council for the new recycling program.

Council is owed an apology from many of us who sounded off when the SPSA recycling program was discontinued and who vowed we'd never participate in recycling again. Needless to say, the current program beats hauling our recyclables to the bins and watching them overflow.

But, more than that, the new program is so much better than anything SPSA ever did. I just want to say it was worth the wait!

Kim Craft

Virginia Beach, Nov. 17, 1997

BIAS IN SCHOOLS

A father's tears

echo 30 years later

Some black parents are challenging the Virginia Beach school system because they feel racial bias is causing their children to be punished at a rate disproportionate to their enrollment. In his Nov. 8 letter, Lawrence Field posed the question, ``How can anyone with a modicum of intelligence buy into this nonsense?''

This brings to mind an incident that took place over 30 years ago. I was 5 years old, and it was the first time I recall seeing my father cry. In August 1959, the public schools in Prince Edward County closed rather than integrate. As my father sobbed, he repeatedly said, ``I fought for this country (World War II), yet my children are being denied an education.'' There were folks back then who also felt it was ridiculous for blacks to be alarmed and cry ``racism.''

Let's put aside for a moment the ``bad elements'' who have infiltrated the classrooms. There are good kids who are being unfairly punished simply because their skin is black. These parents have every right to be concerned and alarmed.

As in society, the school system is particularly hostile toward black males, and they are systematically being driven out of public schools. Behavior that is sometimes considered ``normal'' for white kids is considered ``abnormal'' for black kids.

I am totally against frivolous lawsuits, and I'm against folks using their skin color as a crutch or to justify bad behavior. However, racism does exist. These parents are reacting as any other loving parent would. Just as my father wept more than 30 years ago, black parents weep today.

Vanessa L. Story

Norfolk, Nov. 12, 1997

PARTY POLITICS

Voters are looking for

creative candidates

The analysis of the past election (Commentary, Nov. 16) was interesting but missed some points.

The Republicans won in 1994 on the strength of innovative ideas in the Contract With America. They lost in 1992 and 1996 because the presidential candidates were unable to articulate any new ideas. The American people didn't repudiate either party; they repudiated candidates who proved themselves unworthy of their confidence.

George Allen's tenure was characterized by aggressive pursuit of change: parole reform, welfare reform and new Standards of Learning for grades K-12. That the Democrats could find so little in the Allen record with which to taunt Gilmore and the other Republicans is nothing short of astounding.

The car tax was a brilliant pre-emptive strike that showed Gilmore as a man with ideas, not simply a guest on Governor Allen's coattails. By making a statewide issue out of a local tax, Gilmore proved his ability to listen to what people wanted and then think ``outside the lines'' to find solutions to those felt needs.

As the Republicans and the Democrats look forward to 1998 and 2000, they would do well to act intelligently and treat the electorate as intelligent. He who simply wants an electoral promotion, or who wants to maintain the status quo, is likely to be retired.

Douglas E. Foster

Virginia Beach, Nov. 16, 1997

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Help, don't hinder,

your community's police

The recent trend of condemning decisions made by police officers infuriates me.

I am the mother of a Chesapeake police officer. My son has been punched, kicked and verbally abused by so-called well-meaning neighbors while he was arresting a felon in their neighborhood. He has accompanied young abused children after his shift was over, waiting for Social Services to pick them up. He has broken up domestic disputes, only to go to court and have no one show up.

The police work long hours with little pay. Home life is difficult for a dedicated man. The divorce and suicide rates are higher than other professions; life expectancy is low.

How ungrateful we are. We hire public servants and then dare them to do their job. These men and women put their lives on the line every day and we, the public, render them powerless to do the job.

I challenge the communities to lend a hand, get involved, get to know the men and women who are protecting your neighborhood, and encourage obedience to the law.

Deadri B. Horan

Portsmouth, Nov. 14, 1997

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