
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 13, 1990                   TAG: 9006130484
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

THINKING OF BABIES AS TAX DEDUCTIONS

SOVRAN BANK'S latest marketing gimmick pictures an absolutely precious little baby with the caption "Without our home equity line, you might have to come up with another tax deduction."

My heart sank to think that anyone, especially a professional organization such as Sovran Bank, could think of a baby as a tax deduction. I'm sure that was not the intent of whoever developed this idea, but it is indeed the message relayed in this advertisement.

Sovran devalues human life by putting its priority on dollars and has lowered its standards to society's way of thinking that having babies is a way of getting a tax deduction. What happens to these children after they are born, the care and responsibility it takes to raise them?

In this time when child abuse is so prevalent, it is easy to see what happens to children who are brought into this world just as a tax deduction. How would Sovran handle the responsibility after planting the "seed" (idea) that having a baby might help someone out financially?

Many people are easily swayed by any kind of advertising. I think it is the responsibility of Sovran Bank as a professional organization made up of professional people to set the record straight. CONNIE J. MOORMAN TROUTVILLE

by CNB