Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 15, 1994 TAG: 9409160012
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
He states that one-third of U.S. prisoners didn't survive Japanese prison camps. He's much too generous in that statement. More than 13,000 U.S. military personnel - out of 20,000 captives - died horrible deaths from malnutrition, disease, torture and beheading. According to my addition, that comes to more than 50 percent.
Also, Werrell doesn't take into account American civilians who died at Santo Tomas in Manila, and our citizens interned in hellholes in China, Java, Singapore and other death camps in Southeast Asia.
Not one American who survived this horrible treatment from the Japanese has ever received a nickel from the Japanese government, or even an apology. Yet we gave $20,000 to the Japanese-Americans we interned in virtual luxury in the United States - gave them even a daily paper, delivered on their doorstep, free of charge.
The number of Chinese, Koreans, Dutch, Australian and other nationalities butchered by the Japanese is unknown, but it runs into the millions.
Japan got what it deserved. Too bad it wasn't sooner. We wouldn't have had 50,000 casualties at Okinawa in that three-month blood bath.
It's about time sympathy was put where it belongs - with Americans and other nationalities who suffered at the hands of these butchers of the Orient, and not a tear to the perpetrators.
BUD FEUER
ROANOKE
Discover section is a keeper
WOW! What a fantastic section! As a new resident of Roanoke, my family and I found your Aug. 14 Discover guide full of valuable information.
Our family has saved it for future reference. The advertisements have already proved useful in helping us find services and products we were looking for.
Thanks, and keep up the good work!
WENDY MOSES
ROANOKE
U.S. health system is not the best
THE BEST health-care system in the world. This rhetorical ploy, which has become the mantra of the anti-reform elements in Congress, was used by Joseph Califano, and by George Kelley (Sept. 6 letter to the editor, ``There is no health-care crisis'').
Would anyone like to bet that 99 percent of the people who use this expression have no real knowledge of health care in other countries, and could not explain the difference between a good health-care system and a bad one? If this is not the case, I would like an explanation of how to resolve the contradiction with a quotation from the respected journal ``Consumer Reports'' in August 1990. Referring to maternal and child health, something which is of concern to everyone, the quote was:
``Lack of prenatal care translates into babies who are too small when they are born and babies who die soon after birth. The U.S. trails 23 other nations in the percentage of babies born with an inadequate birth weight and ranks 22nd in the rate of infant mortality, behind such countries as East Germany, Spain, and Singapore.''
A related concern is the confusion in the delivery of health care. Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas uses ``health care'' and ``health insurance'' in adjacent sentences as though they were the same thing. As others have mentioned, more and more medical decisions are being made by financial workers, rather than by medical personnel.
``Socialized medicine'' and ``government-run'' health care have become the rallying cries of the do-nothing crowd in the Congress. But where do administration officials and congressmen go for their health care? They go to the government-owned Walter Reed Army Hospital or the Bethesda Naval Hospital.
CARROLL SMITH
SHAWSVILLE
Boones Mill officer deserves a medal
I'VE WATCHED again the indignities to which a loyal public servant has been subjected. This is taking place in a small town in our area, which I once considered an ideal place to live.
I don't understand the good people of Boones Mill allowing this situation to continue. Over a period of time, there have been several news items on the Boones Mill police officer, Lt. Lynn Frith. One that stands out in my mind detailed all the duties this dedicated officer was performing for his town. His 60 hours a week, at a pay of 40 hours a week, has had to have saved the Boones Mill folks a considerable sum. And because he cared, he obviously carried out his job and the extra duties with diligence and integrity.
It seems to me that he has done no wrong and doesn't deserve this persecution from self-serving political groups. Isn't it time for the good people of Boones Mill to stand up for Frith and, instead of criticism, award him a medal honoring him for his love, hard work and devotion to its citizens.
His job has to be tough, so I ask: Who has the guts to take his place should Boones Mill have the misfortune to lose Frith?
GWEN B. HOLLAND
VINTON
by CNB