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

DATE: TUESDAY, November 9, 1993                   TAG: 9311110442
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long

FARRIS WENT DOWN, BUT HE'S NOT OUT

Did Farris drag George Allen down? Did the GOP nominate a doomed ticket? Was Farris so far from mainstream voters that he would be lucky to get 30 percent of the vote? Are Christians leaving the political scene? The answer is no to all of the above.

Farris supporters contributed to the Allen landslide. Farris received 46 percent of the vote and more than Democrat Mary Sue Terry, who claimed to represent the mainstream voter. He rallied his supporters and sent a clear message: Christians have a voice that will not be silenced, and it will continue to get louder.

Farris will be back and so will his supporters. There are some in the Republican Party who need to realize this and wake up - like maybe John Warner.

MARLENE VANDYKE

NEW CASTLE

Credit Hooters for honest work

REGARDING the Oct. 23 letter to the editor from Tosha Flowers (``Don't give a hoot for Hooters'') concerning Hooters of Virginia, Inc.:

I'm in favor of a person's right to express his or her opinion - pro or con on any subject. What I find objectionable is the malicious way in which it's written. The derogatory remarks were totally uncalled for. To insinuate that these attractive young women are no better than ``dogs doing tricks'' and blatantly implying that they are ``tramps'' working in a ``sleaze bar'' is an affront to their character. By no means do I wish to offend anyone's values or morals when it comes to the type of entertainment they pursue, but I give these ladies some credit for getting out and making an honest living when they could have easily turned to public aid or some type of illegal form of employment.

There are far too many serious problems in our society (poverty, homelessness, the high crime rate, etc.) that need correcting before we start concentrating on something as mundane as Hooters of Virginia, Inc.

KEVIN HALBE

ROANOKE

Help children learn work ethic

REGARDING the Oct. 25 news story by staff writer Mag Poff entitled ``Children follow parents in matters of money'':

I agree strongly with the points made, but a very important point was missed. The allowance should be contingent upon a job well done; some little task the child must do and do well to earn the allowance.

This teaches two very important life lessons to the child:

Money is not free, it's earned.

Take pride in your job, do it well and you'll be rewarded.

Don't make the job too complex. It can be as simple as picking up their toys, helping Mom or Dad with a task, taking out the trash, helping to set the table, etc.

Also, if the child wants something that's a bit expensive and rather beyond their savings abilities, consider the one-half rule. If the child will save up one-half the cost of the object, the parents will contribute the other half.

MEREDITH McGRATH

FLOYD

Some are guilty of reckless walking

I WANT to express my opinion about something that has been gnawing at my patience. The issue pertains to pedestrians who casually, not cautiously, step out in front of moving vehicles expecting them to stop.

Granted, if the person is in a crosswalk, the vehicle must stop. But where do you draw the line? If the vehicle approaches the crosswalk at 25 mph and is less than 6 feet from it, does the pedestrian have the right to walk out in front of it, forcing the driver to slam on the brakes?

Now extend the situation to an area without crosswalks. Is the pedestrian the Almighty to which vehicles should suddenly yield, even at 25 mph to 35 mph? Does pausing for a moment at the curb to let the approaching vehicle pass, even if there is not another vehicle within a quarter of a mile, really make a difference in the schedule of the pedestrian? Is it not more costly for the vehicle to make a sudden stop, maybe risk an accident or even injury, and then start up again?

This issue has irritated me for a long time, but surfaced recently. I was exiting a parking lot when I noticed a woman get out of her car and approach the exit lane. Seeing me approaching, she stopped to let me pass by. The guy who was accompanying her came up behind her, shrugged his shoulders, and said "he'll stop, just walk out in front of him." And he did just that. I have to say that if it had not been for the woman shaking her head and apologizing, there would have been an added design to the surface of that parking lot.

I'm thinking of changing my license plate to DNT WALK.

JON HAGER

BLACKSBURG

Paxton Davis went to extremes

BOB COPTY and Bill Gearhart are two civic-minded leaders in the Roanoke area. As leaders, I'm sure they are used to being attacked by those opposed to their views. Paxton Davis' Oct. 22 column (``Enlisting VMI in race for state's governor'') went to an extreme in opposing their views. He should apologize for attacking their honor.

Davis writes many stimulating columns, but whatever stimulated the column grossly vilifying them is beyond comprehension. Western Virginia needs more leaders with vision and a willingness to stand up for their beliefs. Copty and Gearhart spent their own money to support their beliefs. They deserve better.

HAROLD E. NEALE

BROWNSBURG