Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 17, 1993 TAG: 9310280340
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: D2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
When my oldest son commented on the Hooters billboard recently, I spent a few minutes explaining to him why I felt that such an establishment is demoralizing to women. I do not consider myself a prude. I do not spend time concerning myself with what is politically correct. I accept the fact that we live in a democratic society, and as long as others are not breaking the law, they are free to speak as they see fit. Yet, I feel compelled to let you know that from now on my children will not be allowed to read the Roanoke Times & World-News until I have made sure that they will, in fact, be reading news.
In regards to your Oct. 6 article by staff writer Beth Macy on Hooters in the Extra section (``Cheap thrills - or bust''), what exactly do you find newsworthy about a ``breastaurant''? Or about an individual who chooses to patronize an establishment because of ``large, firm breasts''? Why would you desire to quote someone as saying that breasts are the basis of a woman's attractiveness?
Did it not occur to this paper that it may have been more informational and educational to report on Billy Harbour`s ``somewhat checkered past''? He may believe that his criminal activity is ``old news'' and unimportant because it was not ``a crime of violence.'' Is that how the victims of his crime feel? Is that how your audience feels? Is that what we want our children to believe? Not me. Not my children.
SANDRA S. SUCHOCKI
ROANOKE
Farris stands for mainstream values
APPARENTLY Don Beyer has determined that his only chance of defeating challenger Mike Farris for lieutenant governor is to paint him as a right-wing extremist. Pretty desperate tactics for an incumbent to be forced to use.
According to Beyer and the Democrats, it's perfectly OK for the Democratic Party to be taken over by left-wing, pro-death, pro-homosexual, pro-big government, radical minorities. But let someone step forward like Farris - a pro-life, pro-family, mainstream candidate who believes in empowering individuals, not government - and immediately they want to silence him. Witness the same tactics being used by that Democratic stronghold, the Virginia Education Association, and by school-board officials, who are conspiring to keep conservative Christians off school boards and Parent-Teacher Association committees!
These are the same ones who profess to defend First Amendment freedoms of speech and expression and who decry the religious right as being narrow-minded and intolerant? I agree with Farris - they are religious bigots!
It's high time Virginia threw out these hypocrites and whited sepulchres who promise everything and deliver nothing. It's time Virginia rejected the liberal social agendas and experiments and the tax-and-spend policies of the past 12 years. It's time we vote for a candidate who embraces the hopes, dreams and values of the majority of our state and not the views of the radical few. That candidate is Mike Farris!
DON ASSAID
ROANOKE
Honestly now, Allen knows better
GEORGE Allen, the Republican candidate for governor of Virginia, labels his television spots with the line: ``An Honest New Generation of Leadership.'' One of his commercials carries a heavy attack on Mary Sue Terry, the Democratic candidate, blaming her for an increase in violent crime while she was attorney general.
Allen knows that in Virginia the attorney general is not responsible for prosecuting violent crime. That job belongs to local commonwealth attorneys.
When a man brags of how honest he is, hold onto your wallet!
AUGUSTUS C. JOHNSON
SYRIA
Beyer's bigotry is on display
REGARDING the recent ads attacking Mike Farris, candidate for lieutenant governor, by his opponent Don Beyer, which recently aired on television and radio:
I'm appalled at Beyer's attack on Farris' religious beliefs. As a Catholic living in the South, I'm very sensitive to the religious bigotry that I've experienced and am very distraught over Beyer's hatred toward someone's religion.
I applaud Farris for sticking to his beliefs and displaying integrity in the face of such anti-Christian hatred.
ANTHONY CONRAD
COVINGTON
Handguns are still best for defense
REGARDING Whit Gravely's Oct. 8 letter to the editor in the Roanoke Times & World-News, ``A rising tide of guns and violence'':
I agree with his disgust at the inequities in our system of sentencing, but let me point out the shortcomings of his misconception of handguns.
First, he points out the preference to use a shotgun or semiautomatic rifle for defense instead of a handgun. A major danger in utilizing a rifle for defense in one's home is that most rifles, with adequate power to stop an attacker, would present severe over-penetration into thin walls found in apartments, trailers and most homes. This would put neighbors and family members at risk in other rooms and/or buildings.
Another danger is that a shotgun is designed to propel not a single projectile, but many. These projectiles present a very good defense, but they are much more likely to hit undesired targets than a well-placed shot from a handgun. Also, long guns are much harder to maneuver in small areas such as the narrow hallways found in most homes. Statistics show that most shoot-outs, in defensive situations, occur at an average of seven yards or less, which does not allow for much maneuverability of a long gun.
Modern advancement of ballistics has created handgun bullets that are much more effective in stopping human attack and less effective in penetrating walls and body armor to protect homeowners, police, friends and family.
The next time Gravely is ready to take everyone's handguns away and suggests the use of rifles and shotguns, just think about whom he is really endangering.
ROBERT K. SNEAD
FERRUM
Farris has no hidden agenda
REGARDING the Oct. 7 story in the Roanoke Times & World-News, ``GOP group lines up behind Don Beyer'' by staff writer Bonnie Winston, that a group of Republicans, led by ``Jinks'' Holton and Bob Crutchfield, are supporting Don Beyer: ``Big debt Don Beyer'' was the first statewide Democratic official to endorse Bill Clinton for president.
I've been an activist in the Republican Party for more than 25 years and met Mike Farris last year at the Republican National Convention in Houston, Texas. Many active delegates were impressed with his credentials and with the steadfast philosophy that has prevailed throughout his adult life. He is a very intelligent constitutional lawyer, is running a debt-free campaign, and will work hard to lift the standards of public education. Can there be any fault with this undertaking?
As to the statement, supposedly made by Farris, that public schools are a Godless monstrosity: Just think for a moment. God has been kicked out of the schools and they are a bloated bureaucracy, run from Richmond, and should be returned to local school officials and parents because we know more about the psyche of our children than the state.
I challenge anyone who has a negative impression of Farris to meet him personally, as he campaigns across the state. See for yourself that he is no ``stealth'' candidate with a hidden agenda before making up your mind on hearsay.
Virginians need not look far to see the plague of moral decay engulfing our nation's capital and our fragile society in general.
I'm proud to say we have one of the finest teams running for state office in a quarter of a century. Let's elect George Allen, Mike Farris and Jim Gilmore on Nov. 2 because they are men of character, integrity and Judeo-Christian principles. We have had, for too long, the ``anything goes'' mentality in our nation.
PAULINE JOHNSON
ROANOKE
But nobody is laughing
WHEN I read or hear what's happening in the Clinton administration, I'm reminded of the old Laurel and Hardy movies. In every one of them, Laurel would say at least once: ``It's a fine mess you got us into this time, Ollie.''
MARY W. JACKSON
ROANOKE
by CNB