Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 24, 1993 TAG: 9303240319
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
THE VALLEY: FALSE PRIDE, SMALL THINKING PLAGUE A DIVIDED PEOPLE
THE FEB 28 edition of the Roanoke Times & World-News laid out in some detail the deepening concern we have for our beloved Roanoke Valley. The loss of Dominion Bank has caused much introspection. What is wrong? Why are we in this fix? Much of the "magic" of our once "Star City" is now dimmed, somewhat lost from view.Our newspaper rather wisely lays it to institutional, governmental and community leadership. But it does not define what is lacking in the quality of this leadership.
The loss of our railroads - first the Virginian and then the Norfolk and Western - were devastations, to be realized the more with the passing of time, and losses never to be regained.
The loss of several home-grown local banking enterprises have been equally devastating. Roanoke is no longer a primary banking center. These losses will be long (if ever) in being replaced. Many lifetime community services have gone down the drain. Capital generated across the years has been dissipated, robbed. Persons have bought into this community capital accumulation and appropriated it to themselves.
A similar thing can be said of our newspaper - once locally owned and always a sense of community pride. We love our newspaper and it belongs to us.
Four competing governments are in our single, beautiful mountainous valley. Their competing rivalry has brought discredit to our honor and prestige. We are a divided people who cannot get our act together.
When Roanoke failed to enter cooperatively with Lynchburg in building an international airport, we revealed the first signs of our present selfishness and narrow false pride. It was the beginning of the smallness of our thinking.
What is wrong with our present leadership? Nothing that is not at the heart of our average citizenship! Our leadership is a reflection of what we are as a people.
We like to think of ourselves as generous, outgoing, thinking of others before ourselves and giving our lives to the larger community enterprises. The generous outpouring of individual concern for one's fellow man is a beautiful thing to see. Often this concern is a shallow veneer, a cover for what we really are as a people.
The bank would not have been sold, except for the selfishness and greed of people. The larger community lost as private individuals gained. The same was true of the railroads. Great institutions speak of service - service to the public - but the bottom line is profit and often individual greed.
Our governments are in competition, and our international airport is a lost dream because cities, governments and people think only of themselves. Common problems and community concerns do not come first in one's thinking. Yet, civilization is built on the principle of individual self-giving to the common good, and personal happiness is found sacrificing one's self for another.
What is wrong with leadership? When we cease to ask "What is in it for me?" and ask "How can I make my life count for others?" - governments, institutions, individuals and society will begin resolving problems. Roanoke may be a reflection of greater America today, and our democratic ways may be on trial as never before.
It has been said that selfishness and greed are our first and greatest sins. There is a better way and we know it to be true. JOHN W. MYERS ROANOKE