Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 5, 1993 TAG: 9311060194
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
First of all, I'm responsible for my actions. No one can force me to make a choice to do something against my will. If I yield to peer pressure or get hooked on drugs because of their availability, those are my choices. Regardless of the reasons for my actions, the fact is that I make a choice and must endure the consequences of my actions. I cannot put the blame on anyone but myself.
On the other hand, I can make good choices instead of bad ones. And learning to do this would begin in early childhood as a result of being taught and instructed by loving and caring parents. I'm convinced that in our society there are parents who do not choose to be responsible to this extent. If I'm responsible enough to have a relationship that produces a baby, then I should be responsible for its growth and development. And there again, I make choices in these matters. I choose to have that relationship and I choose the way I bring up the child.
Second, I must disagree with the idea that drug dependency is an illness comparable to the common cold. None of us would choose to have a cold, the flu or any other bacterial or viral illness. We don't have a choice in these sicknesses. But the long dark journey into drug abuse begins with a wrong choice, and the results can be devastating not only for the user but for society as a whole.
The bottom line is choice and the realization that once we choose, we are 100 percent responsible and we cannot lay the blame on anyone else. So stand up, people, and be accountable for your own actions.
ELIZABETH J. MARTIN
HENRY
Old-style bottles serve twice as well
AS WE ALL know, there's a large concern in our society today about environmental problems. Many things are being done to help ``save the environment.'' One thing that has become very popular is recycling. Paper, plastic and glass can now be recycled, as well as aluminum cans. People collect cans and turn them in for money.
At one time, most glass drink-bottles were returnable and you would save money when buying a new drink. Why do we see nonreturnable drink bottles everywhere? If returnable bottles were the only type sold, they could be returned for money, recycled and used again.
Just think how many drink bottles you see on the side of the road as you travel to school or to work. The number of aluminum cans on the roadsides has decreased greatly, because they are picked up and turned in for money. If drink bottles were all made refundable again, there would be a lot fewer of them on roadsides, too.
Think about it. You would be saving money and saving the environment at the same time.
TINA JONES
PENHOOK
Pondering passing of auld lang sign
ON A BEAUTIFUL fall afternoon, as I was standing recently behind my place of business, I glanced toward a small green knoll close by and saw an old familiar sign being unceremoniously taken down. In its place was a new green-and-white sign. Behind it stood a flagpole with Old Glory waving briskly in the wind. I had a strong urge to run over and lower the flag to half-staff to honor an old friend's passing. While I do understand that a sign is an object, it does represent familiar, friendly faces - our comfort zone, if you will.
I do not pretend to always understand corporate takeovers and the like. I do understand looking out for yourself, the pursuit of the almighty dollar and wanting to be king of the hill.
I know that we live in a constantly changing world, and I have often heard bigger is better. In my short life span, I have learned that change has not always been for the best and sometimes bigger is just too big.
At one point in history, it was said that the sun never set on the British Empire. As the new sign continues to build its empire over which the sun will never set, will we be served, exploited or ignored?
I know not what the future holds, but I can only hope that one more facet of small-town America will not be swallowed by the corporate giant.
JOHN BILLOS
NARROWS
DMV is there, but try to find it
THE DEPARTMENT of Motor Vehicles' new Crossroads location is Roanoke's best- kept secret! What was the criteria for selecting a location for the new consolidated DMV office? It was certainly not a decision based on being easy to get to. Actually, it's not even visible unless you happen to already know that it's inside the mall area.
Recently, I had to go to this new office. I first drove the length of Crossroads Mall and saw nothing that would indicate I was in the right place. Undaunted, I set out on foot, but still no DMV. I stopped and asked a guard if he could direct me to the new office. ``Sure, go all the way through the store. The Waccamaw entrance on the inside is right across from the DMV.'' Why didn't I think of this myself?
When I left DMV, again through Waccamaw, the same guard was directing stopped traffic. Drivers were leaning out their car windows asking where the new DMV was. Again, the response was, ``Park and go through the store ... ''
I appreciate the work done by the DMV staff, but someone did not have the customers in mind when this location was selected.
GREGORY FREEMAN
SALEM
Lexington's doing fine, thanks
ON MARCH 23, the Roanoke Times & World-News ran an article by staff writer Jay Taylor on Downtown Lexington and about how three store closings were forecasting the end of downtown (``Doors close on a different time''). I'm happy to report that your forecast proved incorrect, and we're continuing to thrive, in spite of two major-chain discount stores opening just outside city limits. Lexington has no storefront spaces available for lease, and daily we have people inquiring about renting retail space downtown.
We're fortunate and we know it, but being the envy of most small United States towns does not come easy. Merchants and property owners work hard to preserve their downtown and have a genuine love for their town. Without these two ingredients, you'd find empty storefronts.
I'd like to invite you to return to Lexington and talk with merchants and property owners. You'll not find the dying downtown you reported on a few months ago.
WOODSON A. SADLER JR.
Executive Director
Downtown Development Association
LEXINGTON
Don't convict teachers in media
WHATEVER happened to the quote, ``innocent until proven guilty?''
The Roanoke Times & World-News on two different days (Oct. 13 news article by staff writer Laurence Hammack, ``Lawsuit claims teacher abused disabled child,'' and Oct. 19 news article by staff writer Mike Hudson, ``Parents say abuse problem shrugged off'') has already decided two teachers in the Botetourt school system are guilty of mistreating children. It seems that newspapers and television delight in taking innocent people apart just for a sensational story. However, there are always two sides to every story.
The teacher, Cindi Higgins, grew up in my community, went to church and taught a children's class in the church I attend, and I've known her since she was a child. From the time she was a teen-ager, she always wanted to work with children with special needs. She's a person with high morals and good character.
Cindi and the teacher's aide, Margaret Garrison, have been trained to teach children with special needs, and it's unbelievable for me to think that these charges against them are valid.
BARBARA L. HAYMAKER
MONTVALE
Firm made extra effort on project
WHILE the basic facts in Joel Turner's Oct. 22 news article entitled ``Trash train will be late leaving station'' are accurate, I'd like to clarify a few nebulous points.
The public needs to know that there are four projects involved here. The actual landfill itself at Smith Gap, the Tipper Building project at Smith Gap landfill site, the railroad from Roanoke to Smith Gap, and then the trash- transfer station, which my company, Thor, Inc., is building. The other three are being constructed by other firms under separate contracts.
In our industry, there's an important distinction between a project being late and one being delayed due to extraordinary weather conditions. All four projects have experienced major delays due to such a wet spring, but Thor's project is essentially ready for the beneficial occupancy of the owner. Our staff and subcontractors have put in a lot of extra hours to make up for the weather delays, and they have done an exemplary job. The photo associated with the article is of our site, and the train will be ``late leaving'' from our project, but through no fault of ours. So I would be remiss if I did not clarify our position. The train will be ``late leaving the station'' because it has no place to go.
PAMELA T. CROW
Marketing Director
Thor, Inc.
ROANOKE
by CNB