Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 28, 1994 TAG: 9403300128
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
It seems that Roanoke's expected to have first call on the $1.9 million in the new $32 billion state budget. How will this money be spent? A pilot program such as several others now operating in the state? Will they decide to pay teen-age girls not to become pregnant? Will they pay teen-age boys to stop fathering these children? Or will they just spend the money on more condoms?
I would think that some emphasis should be placed on parents of these teens. We shouldn't expect schools to do it all, and I doubt that throwing more money at the problem will help. Total abstinence was expected until marriage with teens of my day. Not only were we taught that illicit sex was wrong, but that it would bring shame to the family. My view is that now no one cares. My parents were careful to see that we weren't allowed the freedom to run loose with potential teen mothers. I'm sure parents of teen girls were perhaps more strict. What's changed? Do parents not care?
If parents don't care enough to teach their children total abstinence and to provide the supervision that would assure this, then there's a better way to spend tax money on pregnancy prevention. We're expected to spay or neuter dogs and cats that run loose. Perhaps this, or the threat of it, would have some effect on these teens!
ROBERT M. WIATT BLACKSBURG
End profit motive for drug dealers
I'D LIKE to address a matter of grave concern to the welfare of the United States. It's our paranoia and hypocritical dealings with drugs. I don't use any illegal substances, nor do I feel the use of various illegal drugs is a good idea. I support drug treatment for those addicted to all drugs including alcohol and tobacco, as well as illegal drugs.
It's time we realize the only thing we've done with the drug war is flush $150 billion down the toilet, made drug dealers rich, and turned our streets into a war zone. I've heard the arguments that ``things will get worse'' if we decriminalize drugs. Look around you. The country's condition, and most especially our youth's, is getting worse by the day. We no longer can feel safe in our homes or on the streets. It can only get better if we pull the plug on the economic motivation of drug dealing, just as it did when Prohibition of alcohol was repealed.
The Food and Drug Administration is now making a move toward the regulation of cigarettes. If these become illegal, or access to them is severely restricted, you'll begin to see people killing each other over this product as well as other controlled drugs.
Let's end the madness now. It's time to decriminalize the use of drugs and make them available to those who use them. As a benefit, drugs now illegal would be available for legitimate medical uses and research. An additional benefit would be that money being spent on the drug war could be put to better uses.
WILLIAM PHARIS HARDY
Hitler was also a good spin doctor
CONCERNING letters to the editor excusing Oliver North:
He appears to be a legitimate war hero, and I wouldn't deny him recognition for those accomplishments. However, I grow weary of his defenders' misleading claims. A common example is that he didn't really lie. If he didn't, then his admission of lying was a lie. If his confession was the truth, then he really did lie! I suppose we must disregard his assertions of private meetings with President Reagan - disavowed by Reagan.
Various writers also claim that he's not guilty or was exonerated. The truth: He was convicted of several felonies, including shredding evidence. He wasn't exonerated, but the verdict was overturned because his confession was tainted by a congressional grant of immunity. What disturbs me most is that many distortions and much of his support comes from those who lay strong claims to Christian morality. They seem eager to overlook North's flaws and transgressions while condemning others accused of similar or lesser infractions. I find their views demeaning to the very family values promoted by such groups.
In his letter to the editor, Ernest Fitzgerald (March 7, ``North's book tells a different story'') said he purchased North's book to get North's side of the story. He discovered that North is a Christian, a patriot, a decorated Marine hero who was only following orders, etc. He was brought to court due to Congress' stupidity. (In reality, he escaped from felony convictions due to the stupidity of congressional immunity.)
I applied Fitzgerald's approach to finding the truth behind the liberal press' distortions of Adolf Hitler's record. I bought a copy of Hitler's book, ``Mein Kampf.'' Would you believe he was a misunderstood genius, a great leader whose only aim was to improve the life of the German people? Well, so much for the naivete of believing the convicted criminal's written word.
ROY MILES ROANOKE
Daily caregivers are 'real' parents
WE'RE AWARE headline writers often mislead readers regarding the main point of a story. While the headline writer of the March 10 Associated Press story, ``Kimberly Mays moves in with `real' parents,'' accurately depicted the key element in the article, the word ``real'' in reference to Kimberly's biological parents was inaccurately used.
Although adoption wasn't the issue, the phrase ``real parents'' is so insensitive to individuals who actually raise the children that it shouldn't be used. As parents of adopted children, we frequently note that we're the real parents. We aren't imaginary or artificial. We're the everyday caregivers - individuals who provide love and support through many years of the ups and downs of raising a family. If that's not ``real parents,'' we all need to redefine the term.
We realize the writer used quotes around the word and perhaps ``biological'' was a bit long. (``Bio'' could have been used.) But the word ``real'' is so filled with other connotations that it should never be used in that context, particularly when so many readers see only the headlines.
Our adopted son cannot yet read, but we dread the day he'll pick up a newspaper and read a similar headline and think less of himself because he's not living with his ``real'' parents. As he grows older, he'll learn what we know of his biological parents. And he may or may not wish to share that knowledge with others, but we'll do our best to prepare him for the hurtful comment about us: ``But they aren't your `real' parents.'' Please be more careful.
MARK COURTNEY and TERRI CORNWELL ROANOKE
Both sexes should show more respect
IN RESPONSE to the Feb. 9 Marketplace column by Sandra Brown Kelly, ``If the medium is the message, what are we saying?'':
In the course of an interview, I commented on the trend in advertising to portray more liberated women. While I said that I was comfortable with that general trend, I also specifically objected to ads that show women treating men as sex objects. I emphasized that this reversal was no better than traditional ads in which women are portrayed as sex objects.
I was dismayed to discover that the subsequent article referred only to the first part of my statement, and placed it in a context of ``women who thought it was high time the tables were turned.'' The end result was an impression totally contrary to my beliefs. I feel strongly that women and men should treat each other with respect and dignity, and want to take this opportunity to clarify my position.
NOREEN M. KLEIN Associate Professor of Marketing Virginia Tech BLACKSBURG
Money mania may destroy humanity
THE HUMAN race seems to be racing toward the precipice. Why? It's the universal obsession with the lust for money - the main cause of humanity's woes.
In our own country, money mania has become a religion and our main focus in life. It's become the bottom line to just about every activity undertaken by individuals, business or government. We've never paused to admit to, and acknowledge, its awesome authority and power over us.
As a result of this universal greed, the present world bristles with weapons of destruction. On one hand, the free world pleads for peace. On the other, we stoke the fires of war by selling arms for profit. Humanity's arrived at the final crossroads. We must now choose peace and survival or war and possible extinction. We cannot have it both ways.
JOSEPH J. ORLANDO LEXINGTON
by CNB