Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 12, 1994 TAG: 9408030005
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
My father smoked a couple packs of cigarettes a day until he came down with throat cancer in 1987. The cancer was advanced, so they had to cut a hole in his throat and remove part of his voice box. We thought all the cancer had been removed, but he suffered more pain when it spread to his lungs and throughout his body.
In the end, the pain was so terrible that we couldn't touch him because it hurt him so much. He used to tell people in a very low, whispery voice, ``Please don't smoke. Look at what it did to me.''
We lost the most loving, wonderful father, husband and grandfather in the whole word. I look at my grandchildren and cry because they'll never know this sweet man as we did.
Recently, we buried my aunt. Yes, my friend, another heavy smoker, and so loved by her family. Cancer keeps claiming members of my family, and smoking has killed them.
How long will you smokers deny the facts? Until it kills you? Please, for the sake of those who love you and for your good health, believe the experts and save yourselves. Smoking could, ultimately, take you from the ones you love.
BOB GREGORY ROANOKE
Liberals shouldn't play blame game
YOUR FIRST two letters to the editor on June 29 emphasized exactly what's wrong with our country.
In ``Abortion news may be deceiving," Leigh Faulconer stressed her lack of respect for life in this country, and promoted the feminists' true agenda. In "The Republicans' smear campaigns,'' Frances Johnson promoted liberal bias, and a denial of individual responsibility. Johnson emphasized the sincere belief of a liberal: Don't bother our guy because he's a Democrat, he's above justice, and we need him to take care of us.
The feminists' agenda is to allow women to do whatever, whenever and however they please, at others' expense. When lowering the abortion rate is chastised as preventing women from getting rid of ``unwanted children,'' one wonders: Is anyone really wanted but themselves? What would they do to ``unwanted children,'' from conception up to 18 years old, if they're in charge? Thank goodness, at this point, most women see the feminists' selfish desires for what they are, otherwise we may all become ``unwanted.''
Johnson and other liberal cheerleaders must quit blaming others for their leaders' lapses. Did Oliver North twist Chuck Robb's arm as he received back rubs? Playing the liberals' blame game, let's blame Bob Dole's henchmen for handing Clinton his first joint, leading him to adulterous behavior, forcing him to bilk thousands from Arkansas taxpayers, and reacting indecisively in handling foreign affairs, administrative appointments, etc.
JAMES W. DOOLEY BLACKSBURG
Add to public stock of recreational land
TO ADD to Stephen W. Hiner's thoughts on ``An opportunity to help disabled'' (June 24 letter to the editor):
The Finwick Mines Recreation Area in the New Castle Ranger District of the Jefferson National Forest offers disabled people a fishing pond, a trail over a wetland area and a picnic area, which is wheelchair accessible.
The U.S. Forest Service wants to add more than 2,000 acres to the Finwick Mines Recreation Area for recreation. This is private land now. But if the Forest Service gets it, it will be ours to hunt, fish, hike and to horse-back ride. One reason the Forest Service doesn't have it now is because Congressman Bob Goodlatte didn't vote for it when the bill came up in Congress. If we can spend all this money overseas, some should be spent in our own back yard to buy land for public use. This land in the Lignite Community Tract would also have accessible trails and picnic areas for the disabled.
GEORGE K. FLINT BUCHANAN
Take care of Americans first
REGARDING the June 30 article entitled ``Haitians flooding U.S. base'' from Knight-Ridder Newspapers and the Associated Press:
I don't understand how we can take in so many refugees and provide them care when many Americans can't afford care due to modest incomes. Also, there's no help for senior citizens in America. I know, and it makes me sad. Lots of us can hardly make it due to the cost of medicine, no insurance, and no means of getting it.
I'm not selfish, but we older Americans need help, too.
FRANCES GROGAN BUCHANAN
Discipline is now called child abuse
SPOUSAL abuse, child abuse, murder, rape, drive-by shootings, etc. A 13-year-old arrested for murder in Florida; a valedictorian has to get a substitute for the commencement exercise because he'd been convicted of burglary.
How many remember reform schools? I remember three kids sentenced to one for awhile. This occurred during the '50s and '60s. Three kids out of all I went to school with!
Pregnancy? Very, very few. Those who were got married. Welfare? I never heard of it.
Who's to blame for this complete disregard for society? Start by looking at your local courthouse, statehouses and Washington, D.C. Juvenile and adolescent laws have been relaxed to the point that youngsters commit crimes with virtual impunity from 6 to 18. Do they really expect a person, after up to 12 years of crime, to become a model citizen on the 18th birthday? What happens is police just put 18-year-olds they arrest in adult cells with other criminals.
Growing up, I was punished for misbehaving. Now, it's called child abuse. When a child tells a teacher that he or she got spanked by a parent, and here comes the sheriff, something is wrong. I don't believe there's any hope for this country. Spare the rod and spoil the child.
GARY K. SPENCE CHRISTIANSBURG
Sterilization was Virginia's shame
I WAS horrified by the June 26 Horizon section article on forced sterilization of sexually active, unmarried teen-agers during the '20s, '30s and '40s (``An elite said their kind wasn't wanted'' by staff writer Mary Bishop). It was shocking to read that Virginia law ``provided the framework for the Nazi sterilization act, under which hundreds of thousands were rendered sterile in the years immediately before the Holocaust.''
I wondered how on earth Virginia's citizens could have allowed this to happen. And then I remembered Robert Wiatt's March 28 letter to the editor (``Prevention begins with parents''). He said, ``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!''
Heaven help us if we ever return to the days when government decides what reproductive choices women and men are allowed to make.
DINA DANIELS BOONES MILL
Memories of other times, other trains
I READ with much interest Rose M. Jones letter to the editor (June 27, ``Depot Day was a bell-ringer'') about the 611 rail excursion from Roanoke to Pulaski. I went on this trip also, and it brought back many memories - the sway of the cars, the clicking of the wheels, the smell of smoke.
I remember military movements while stationed in the United States in 1943-44. My longest trip at one time was from Miami Beach to Mitchell Field, N.Y. I went to Europe by ship in January 1945. We docked in LeHarve, France, and I was transported to Bonn, Germany, on the famous 40-and-eight freight cars. They carried 40 men or eight horses.
I think my last trip by rail was probably in the late '50s. Then, my wife would take our children from Roanoke to Washington, D.C., and on to Baltimore for their annual summer vacation with their grandparents in Dundalk, Md. The excitement of their train trip concealed the sorrow of leaving Daddy.
Arriving in Pulaski several weeks ago, I was surprised to learn of Depot Day. It seemed like a miniature Festival in the Park in Roanoke. I walked through the town and found an attractive, quaint restaurant called The Renaissance, a very classy restaurant with excellent food, and easy on the pocketbook.
The train trip to Pulaski took about 21/2 hours - the top speed was 40 mph. The 611 is capable of speeds of more than 100 mph. On a recent trip to Abingdon, I drove by Pulaski on Interstate 81 in about an hour.
This trip will always be in my memories, and I look forward to my next one!
BRUCE W. JANNEY ROANOKE
by CNB