Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 2, 1993 TAG: 9312020013
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ray Reed
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A: The answer is: ships are NOT traditionally named after women, even though lonely sailors in literature like to personify their vessels as "she".
European captains in the late Middle Ages may have been on a romantic kick with such names as the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria, but the trend didn't take hold.
The U.S. Navy names its ships for admirals, presidents, cities and states - but not women (no surprise in this man's navy). Kitty Hawk is a carrier and a beach town in North Carolina but not a ranking officer's love interest.
Commercial vessels can be named almost anything, often for their owners or home ports. Exxon Valdez says it all, doesn't it?
And what else but a ship, and one identified by its hugeness, could take on a name like Titanic? Mighty few parents would name their baby for a behemoth.
Racing yachts often are identified by character traits. Intrepid, Courageous and Resolute have claimed the America's Cup.
Bodies of water spawn names. The stars that guide ships also name them.
Some ships are named for women, and perhaps just as many for men (The Edmund Fitzgerald was named for a man, we presume.) Most ships, though, have non-personal names.
Editorial score sheet II
Q: Of the Roanoke Times & World-News' editorial endorsements in the recent elections, how many went to Republicans? J.T., Roanoke
Q: I wonder if any of those endorsements were Republican. N.N.
A: Two Republicans were endorsed. Of the 14 candidates endorsed, 12 were Democrats.
Both Republicans - John Shiflett in Botetourt and Henry Jablonski in Montgomery - were elected county supervisors.
Lest someone might be drawing up an agenda here, let's look back to the previous legislative elections, in 1991.
In five House of Delegates races, endorsements went to three Republicans, a Democrat and an independent. (The Republicans were Tommy Baker in Radford, Ken Rush in Rocky Mount and Emmett Hanger of Augusta.)
In state Senate elections in '91, Democrat Carole Pratt of Pulaski was endorsed. But in Roanoke's Senate race between Democrat Granger McFarlane and Republican Brandon Bell, an editorial assessing their qualifications withheld any endorsement.
In Roanoke city and county races that year, the endorsements were 5-1 in favor of Democrats.
Six of those '91 candidates won, and six lost, perhaps proving once again that endorsements serve best to bring logical thought into a few votes that otherwise might be cast at random.
Whether the voters agree with editorial writers is not as important as their participation.
Perhaps the real value to this party score sheet is this: Candidates must have merit to receive an endorsement. If both parties nominate good candidates, that's even better.
Got a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.
by CNB