Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 9, 1994 TAG: 9407280030
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Yes, we know there are wives who abuse their husbands, but, they are in the very small minority, about 5 percent. More women are being abused than men. That's a big difference. You can't begin to put husband-abusers on the same par with wife-abusers.
Why do men stay in an abusive situation? For women, it's hard to get out. But for a man who's established in the business world, it's much easier.
I take exception to the statement that it is a very rare man who will strike out and harm a woman without extreme provocation. Unfortunately, there are some men who will take out a day's frustrations on their wives, or who come home from the local bar and beat up on their wives just to prove they are men.
No one has the right to abuse another human being. That goes for women as well as men.
Incidentally, safe-home programs generally accept abused men as well as women. At least they did at one where my husband and I did volunteer work.
BARBARA B. CRAWFORD COVINGTON
The religious still have citizens' rights
ROBERT F. SHIPP, in his June 21 letter blasting Cal Thomas (``Resisting `creeping' perversion''), mistakenly equates religious dogma with positions on social and political issues. While members of a religious group usually have their views influenced by that group's official dogma, this is not always the case. A power-hungry individual who privately disavows a church's teaching may remain within that body to use its power base for his or her own ends. Others who differ from that group dogmatically may still agree with most of its members on some social issues.
Shipp applies the terms ``religious'' and ``dogmatic'' to conservatives alone. He would magnanimously allow them to practice their religion individually or behind closed doors, but would bar them from reaching out on public issues, especially in concert with others of like mind. He ignores the existence of religious liberals - members of tax-exempt churches and sects with decidedly leftist dogmas, who are actively working to change the political and social landscape. Evidently he has no qualms about the imposition of this brand of religious dogma on civil government.
While our varied religious perspectives do impact our social and political views, this fact does not disqualify any citizen from public-policy debates. That Shipp advocates such a step reveals his own repressive, authoritarian bent, and gives me renewed respect for the wisdom of our founders.
BETH M. STENBERG ROANOKE
Gender-neutral approach is needed
SINCE O. J. Simpson's downfall, the newspapers, radio and television have gone plain nuts about abusive husbands. Social Service counselors, the judiciary and other entities of power seem to be stacking the deck against men.
I've had the opportunity to work with families with similar problems through a large union, the jail system, and a couple of 12-Step programs. I've found many men are abused by their girlfriends and wives to the point that they're almost forced to commit crimes.
The time has come for society to start balancing the scales of justice concerning the abuse issue. If not, there'll be more cases of the O. J. Simpson scenario.
EMERSON H. GILMER SALEM
Plowing ahead on the power line
PEOPLE in Bland, Montgomery and Pulaski counties are in for one ugly surprise. Those public meetings that the Jefferson National Forest scheduled for July will display maps with potential corridors for Appalachian Power Co.'s 765-KV power line in their back yards.
Are any Forest Service meetings being held in these three counties? None, but each county is mentioned in federal notifications.
Forest Service regulations and the National Environmental Policy Act require local-government involvement and informational meetings with comments to be taken from the public. Why not this time? More than 21/2 years ago, public ``scoping'' did take place in Craig and Roanoke counties. For the Forest Service, that's good enough to squeak by as legal.
Our Jefferson National Forest is about to make the same mistake that the Apco study team at Virginia Tech made. Without waiting for Virginia and West Virginia to fully find a ``need'' for this power line, the Forest Service thinks that selecting a corridor somehow legitimizes it.
GEORGE O'NALE
NEW CASTLE
Give a break to small businesses
PRESIDENT Clinton's Health Security Act, and its requirement that all employers contribute for health care, will give Americans what we need - an equitable way to spread costs while providing quality coverage.
The legislation's opponents argue that employer mandates will hurt small businesses, but that argument is just one more smoke screen to shield big profits.
Today, 62 percent of businesses with under 100 employees offer health insurance. Not only are these companies doing the right thing, but they're paying top dollar to do so. Small businesses spend up to 40 cents out of every health-care dollar for administrative expenses - far more than big businesses. Plus, they're carrying the weight for those irresponsible employers who do not offer insurance. Health-care providers charge people with insurance more to offset those without coverage. The Health Security Act will stop rewarding irresponsibility and give responsible small businesses the break they need.
L. WAYNE FRIEND ROANOKE
by CNB