Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, August 13, 1993 TAG: 9309110275
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
The big difference is that the pioneers knew where they wanted to go, had a pretty good idea of how to get there, knew why they were going and had some inkling of the consequences of their journey.
Today, bandwagoneers just hop aboard. There's never-a-thought-in-their-little-brain dedication to ``the cause,`` which could be freeing Willie, blocking clinics or some unworkable plan to get maniacs off the highway. Whatever it is, it's do it now, do it with fireworks and flair, and solve the problem forever.
The ``problem'' has to have a quick solution because, in about two weeks, there'll be a different problem and a new and more glamorous bandwagon to hop aboard.
Heaven forbid one should be caught still beating the drum for a cause that has crested. One could lose their place on the next bandwagon.
The Ross Perot bandwagon must have broken an axle. The Bill Clinton bandwagon? Horses are being shot by friendly fire. The gay-and -lesbian bandwagon, stopped by the Abbott and Costello routine, ``Who's on first.'' The evangelical bandwagon: your money or your eternal life. The Ollie North bandwagon - money needed to grease (fill in your own fantasy).
Think! Your money, and more importantly your time, should be spent on something to better the situation. Not just protest it. Drive the darn wagon; don't just ride it!
DOUG GRAHAM
SALEM
by CNB