Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 7, 1994 TAG: 9403080006
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Parents, clergy, teachers, politicians and other youth leaders must be called to task on this major issue that's devastating our society. Family values must be challenged and cultivated f+iimmediatelyo or all of our society as we know it will die.
The Lord's perfect plan for the family and individuals, time-tested for 4,000 years, must be instilled in us again. Usually, if we don't hear this message from our churches and synagogues, society doesn't supply it anywhere. Through active individuals (like Beatty) congregations at work, family-oriented representatives in our government and devoted prayer, our society can be positively impacted and reclaimed.
Parents, teachers and leaders must be challenged to re-evaluate parenting and teaching messages on which children are being raised. They must evaluate candidates and representatives in our government on the positive family-oriented issues they stand for and carry through to the vote.
Today's youth must be challenged in their decision-making. Choices are active, not unavoidable nor excusable due to apathy. Abstinence classes taught in our valley have proved very effective. They instill a foundation for teens to actively defend themselves against negative peer pressure and teach them how to carefully educate their peers in sound reasons for abstinence. Parents and teachers must be educated on the positive aspects of abstinence and see that the majority of youth f+iareo abstinent.
Parents and teachers can never take an apathetic mind-set - ``kids are going to do it (sex, drugs, alcohol, violence) no matter what we say'' - without having negative impact. Youth are reasonable. Give them something positive to build on.
KAREN B. SCOTT
BENT MOUNTAIN
Tourism vs. children's education
REGARDING Tony Williams' Feb. 8 letter to the editor, ``Liberalize the 180-day mandate'':
It's nice to know there are parents like him who care more for the almighty dollar earned through tourism than the type of education their children receive.
I was raised in a state not dependent on tourism dollars. Our schools opened in late August, and we had that ``family vacation'' on Labor Day that he is so worried about losing.
Tourism earns money all year long. It's in effect in June when our children are still in school. Should we limit their education because it interferes with tourism activities?
Business owners and tourism proponents need to realize that Virginia's future isn't only dependent on tourism dollars, but also on our children's education and the quality of their home life. Is it no longer possible or allowed for our young people to work after school and on weekends if money is needed?
By all means, as Williams suggests, ``push for a repeal of the 180-day law and a June 6 closing.'' But save the disparaging remarks and disappointment when children don't receive an adequate education and are unable to earn enough money to spend on Virginia's tourism.
WYLENE S. DORAN
ROANOKE
Forests' protection, now and then
JAMES E. Loesel and Charles A. Blankenship take issue in their Feb. 5 letter to the editor (``Multiple-use philosophy governs forest management'') with statements made earlier by two letter-writers, Charles Moss (Jan. 5, ``Foresters use scientific principles'') and Jim DeMoss (Dec. 28, ``Harvesting helps forest survive'').
Loesel and Blankenship evidently don't know, or won't admit, what Virginia's forests conditions were in the '30s when the U.S. Forest Service began protection and management activities in what's now the Jefferson National Forest. They conveniently forget these forests had been clearcut to provide charcoal for the iron furnaces, from about 1800-1920, and that large areas were graded to provide bark for the tannin chemicals needed by the leather industry. These activities weren't under foresters' supervision.
The forests of Virginia's mountains are all second- and third-growth except for a couple of very small areas of a few acres. The forests they say need protection from harvesting are the same ones that have been under management by trained foresters who understand natural-resource management.
DANNY B. GOODBAR
GOSHEN
Are women ready for VMI rituals?
I AGREE with Patricia Schaaff (Feb. 12 letter to the editor, ``VMI gives taxpayers their money's worth'') on admitting women to the Virginia Military Institute. I wonder if Dana Hudson, whose picture appeared that same day, knows that the first thing they do to cadets is shave their heads. I hope if she gets in, and likes long hair, that her hair grows fast!
If women want the VMI experience, let them have it. They should do the exact same things the men do. And I wish them good luck!
PEGGY N. DUDLEY
UNION HALL
Maybe its time for a name change
AFTER READING Leslie Taylor's Feb. 8 and Feb. 9 news articles (``Controversial SPCA shelter administrator fired'' and ``Some SPCA members ask for directors' resignation'') about the Roanoke Valley Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, I looked at my copy of the SPCA newsletter, ``Scuttlemutt,'' to see the staff listing.
After recent firings, here's how things stand: Staff: executive director, bookkeeper, receptionist, secretary and six attendants. Positions no longer on staff: shelter administrator, humane educator and adoption counselor. What they now have is a skeleton with no vital organs. There are people running the business, but no one to educate the public on responsibilities of pet ownership, pet overpopulation and related subjects.
Something is definitely not right here! Why was the SPCA started anyway? What's its purpose? Why keep the title, ``Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,'' if it's becoming just a place to house and destroy unwanted animals?
If the positions for a humane educator and adoption counselor had to be eliminated due to budget cuts, the SPCA need to change its name. DOA Pound would seem to suit it just fine.
TAMMY CLARK
ROANOKE
North's book tells
IS OLIVER North being trashed by the liberal media and many writers for good reason? I didn't know, so I purchased his book, ``Under Fire,'' to get his side of the controversy.
He's a Christian, patriotic, and was wounded several times as a Marine and decorated for heroism in the Vietnam War. Afterward, he was sent to Washington and ordered to keep the Nicaraguan Contras alive and fighting for democracy. He did as he was ordered and now Nicaragua is a democratic country.
Because of the political stupidity of Congress, North was brought to court on charges connected to his efforts to help the Contras.
He lied, but not under oath, to a group of congressmen. Many knew he was lying and said nothing. He had to lie to protect the lives of undercover agents, to keep the Contras alive, to protect the leaders of the countries that were helping the Contras, and to protect President Reagan's hide. Don't throw mud at him until you read his book and have an informed opinion.
ERNEST FITZGERALD
COVINGTON
Sending money out of state
SAM Lionberger Jr.'s letter to the editor (Feb. 17, ``Storm confirmed power line's need'') concludes that the recent ice storm somehow ``proves'' the need for Appalachian Power Co.'s proposed 765-kilovolt/500kv power line. He incorrectly states this area is supplied by one major power line.
In fact, the Roanoke area is served by two major and four smaller high-voltage lines, with a total transmission capability of more than 6,000 mw (all Apco's winter peak in January was 6,887 mw). During the storm, they lost one of the major lines (345 kv) when a tower collapsed from ice loading.
What Apco's Virginia service area lacks is enough local generating capacity to meet its own demand. Lacking that, we rely on 100-mile-plus transmission lines, like the one that collapsed, to get power from West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.
Simply put, the 765kv power line proposal is American Electric Power's preferred alternative to meet forecast customer demand because, at the same time, it allows AEP to increase its ability to deliver ``surplus'' power to Virginia Power during our winter peak. Though great for AEP shareholders, it perpetuates West Virginia and Virginia's dependence on other states' resources.
Other alternatives exist to meet or reduce the area's forecast demand growth, ones that wouldn't continue the $150 million per year flight of capital from Virginia ratepayers to other states, nor damage a pristine section of the New River.
DAVID BRADY
NEWPORT
by CNB