Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 30, 1994 TAG: 9403300130
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The point of a system of district representation wouldn't be to ensure the success of a certain type of candidate, but to ensure council members who are prepared to give voice to certain types of communities' concerns. As you noted, at-large council members (of whatever minority) must answer to the entire electorate. But there are legitimate disputes about what constitutes the ``welfare of the city as a whole.''
In such disputes, interests of the city's various communities need to be heard. Council members answerable to a portion of the electorate would be in the best position to advocate the interests of that portion in a vigorous and principled debate toward a broader definition of what's best for the city as a whole.
The African-American minority is clearly a community whose interests should be, and appropriately are, protected under federal law. But other minorities in Roanoke would also benefit from a system of district representation. Southeast Roanoke voters may never have had a voice on council. They and other unrepresented neighborhoods clearly have common cause with the African-American community in supporting the kinds of changes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People proposes.
ELLIOTT HIPP ROANOKE
Propaganda clouds the timber issue
CHARLES Blankenship and I wrote a letter to the editor (Feb. 5, ``Multiple-use philosophy governs forest management'') outlining the importance of multiple-use management for the resources of the Jefferson National Forest. John Martin, Westvaco forester and Appalachian Forest Management Group member, questioned (March 10 letter, ``Six decades of success ignored'') whether we really supported multiple-use management or if we had some other objective in mind.
Blankenship was trained as a forester and spent a substantial part of his forest-service career managing timber. He was also the officer in charge of planning for multiple-use management for the Jefferson National Forest. To accuse him of some hidden agenda contradicting work of a lifetime is not credible.
Over the past 17 years, I've supported timber harvesting as part of the management of the Jefferson and George Washington national forests. In my writings, I've developed a large public record in support of multiple-use management, including timber harvesting that is economically and environmentally sound. I defy Martin, any other logger or forester to find in my writings a philosophy opposed to multiple-use management.
Martin questions whether I really support multiple-use management because I've filed appeals on timber sales. But it's precisely because I believe in it that I've filed administrative appeals on badly designed timber sales.
What concerns me is that a constant bombardment of misinformation and propaganda by the timber industry may cause some to think its statements are true. It's hard to carry on a dialogue about how the Jefferson National Forest should be managed when industry spokesmen resort to personal attacks, innuendo and falsehoods.
While beating the propaganda drum may be emotionally satisfying for them, it will result in a polarization in which everyone loses. We don't need a replay of the Pacific Northwest controversy here. What we need is participation of all interested parties to achieve solid planning for multiple use.
JAMES LOESEL Secretary Citizens Task Force ROANOKE
Sentence mocks justice system
REGARDING William R. Layne's trial: I find the recommended ``life in prison'' disgusting, to say the least. Life in prison, if he actually remains there for life, will be a picnic compared to what he deserves. I'm not unsympathetic to his ``rough'' childhood, but I do fail to see how that should allow him lesser punishment.
What about the innocent and beautiful little girl he violated in the worst way and killed? It's hard to understand how the jury suddenly forgot all they had seen and heard. Layne had absolutely no mercy for Phadra, but we're going to let him continue to live. They feel sorry for him? Only the Lord and Phadra know the real pain, fear and agony she felt.
Layne committed a horrid, senseless, inexcusable crime, and the jury and his attorneys feel he has the right to continue to breathe. What about Phadra? Layne gets his hands slapped and three square meals a day. She's been violated twice, once by Layne and once by the courts. After this, it will be very hard for the American people to have any faith in our judicial system. Justice wasn't served.
SANDY JONES DALEVILLE
Doonesbury ought to be dropped
I RECOMMEND that the Roanoke Times & World-News bury the comic-strip series ``Doonesbury'' by Garry Trudeau, which is rarely funny. Isn't that the idea of a cartoon? The social and political issues raised reflect a far-left secular and socialist mind-set. The satire is low grade and its focus/agenda needs a reality check.
Take the slam on ``boring church'' on March 20. For many, school, work seminars, political conventions, sales pitches, newscasts and even cartoons are boring! Like too many artists, media elites and writers, Trudeau mocks the conservative or historical Christian elements/groups that made this nation free. Boring churches are like bad restaurants - in time they close. I look for the best for my family, which includes real worship with a real God and real friends.
With all the other bad news in the newspaper, maybe Trudeau's strip needs to be titled ``Doomsbury.''
DAVE HILLIS ROANOKE
by CNB