Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 14, 1994 TAG: 9407140050
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Regional growth could be encouraged through improvements in our communication, as well as in our transportation systems. Perhaps if we could rely more on the ``information highway,'' we could decrease our need to build more paved highways. Transportation projects are important, but are quite expensive.
If and when new roads are built, time and fuel will still be spent to travel between the New River and the Roanoke valleys. Maybe it's again time to ask: ``Is this trip really necessary?''
As society becomes increasingly information-oriented, communication lines, whether personal, professional or academic, become more important. Blacksburg has a massive pool of information, but it's now long distance to many.
RUSTY RILEY SHAWSVILLE
Goode is a winner; voters are losers
AFTER THE Democratic primary election for the U.S. Senate in June, all Virginia newspapers touted Chuck Robb's win and Virgil Goode's loss.
Goode didn't lose. Virginians are the losers. Registered voters had a chance to vote for a candidate who came to us scandal-free, with 20 years of experience, holding the same values that we hold dear, a vision, and a sincere commitment for change for our state and community. Mr. and Mrs. Registered Voter sent a message by not going to the polls that they are uninterested in the betterment of Virginia, uninterested in change and progress, and prefer candidates carrying baggage of scandal and controversy.
Silence is consent. So now, maintain your silence, regardless of what the candidates do or say. By not voting, you've surrendered your squawking rights. You had the opportunity and you blew it, which makes you all losers. Opportunity only knocks once.
By sending Goode to Washington, we could have sent a message to the rest of the country: We're tired of the ``buddy'' system, ``more of the same,'' and of a free-wheeling government that is playing fast and loose with our morals and money. Who knows - perhaps we could have started a trend of electing honest officials. Yes, Virginia, there's a Santa Claus, but you slept through Christmas!
Oh, degenerate sons and daughters of Virginia, it takes winners to love winners. Goode is a winner and will never be anything else.
LINDA B. CROOKE HARDY
Deal early with children's problems
IN DEFENSE of teachers, we should put blame where it belongs - on parents and the home. Children's early school years are the most important years of their lives for getting a worthwhile education. The first time a child brings home a poor report card or fails, parents should find out why. Any teacher who has passed muster by the Virginia Board of Education would bend over backward to cooperate with parents who want to help their children make good grades.
Sometimes a child is disobedient, and cannot be handled by parents or teachers. Maybe obedience school would be in order. We send our pets to obedience school, so why not our children?
Behavior problems should be taken up early in a child's school years. Don't wait until the child fails. Healthy children, and kindness in teachers and parents, will go a long way in taking care of many problems.
People have the freedom to do as they please. Why not use that freedom to help your children get a better education? Some parents are doing this, and it pays off because their children will have a better future. Children need the best education they can get in days like we're having.
NANCY COLLINS ROANOKE
Reducing benefits just doesn't figure
PLEASE EXPLAIN: If it's true that the best way to get better politicians is to pay them more, how can we expect a better voluntary military by chipping away at the military's benefits?
RAY CONNELLY TROUTVILLE
Male-bashing roars against 'Lion King
I FELT compelled to write regarding one of the most whining, inaccurate and missed-the-point reviews I've read in a while. I refer to staff writer Katherine Reed's review of ``The Lion King'' (July 4 Extra section, ``Even a 5-year-old can detect lack of heart in `Lion King''').
My 6-year-old son and I thoroughly enjoyed the film. It had all the admirable qualities most Disney films have - entertainment, good basic values and excellent characterizations (voices included). And when you left the theater, a good feeling was experienced.
I was offended by her comment concerning lack of strong female characters. Did she watch the complete movie? Simba's girlfriend and the future mother of his children was a very strong character. She was portrayed as being at least equal to Simba in a sense of adventure, and actually physically superior. In all the ``wrestling matches,'' she always ended up on top of Simba.
The fact that nature has offended Ms. Reed's feministic agenda must be Mother Nature's fault. Everyone knows that the dominant male lion is in charge of ruling the pride. It doesn't mean that lionesses are weak or incapable. In fact, it's known that the female lion provides the food supply and takes care of the family's general needs. That's nature.
Her male-bashing stance reminded me of another movie review done by a feminist on the movie ``Gettysburg.'' That reviewer's complaint was that there were no strong female characters in that movie. Well, imagine that. It was about the battle at Gettysburg. Perhaps we should rewrite history and introduce an all-female regiment who could reenact Pickett's charge. With all the current animosity toward men in general, such a group of feminist soldiers might perform well.
Essentially, Ms. Reed's commentary was typical of our whining society, which simply wants to place blame and find fault with life. How sad.
J. LEN HALE GOODVIEW
Act to prevent domestic abuse
I FOUND it extremely distasteful that this newspaper would print Alex V. Derfen's letter to the editor (July 1, ``Men, too, are victims of abuse''), especially during a time when domestic violence is finally being put in the forefront throughout the United States.
Many men do want to love, protect and provide for the woman in their life. Many others do not. If they did, my friend and colleague, Sandra Smith, would still be alive.
When Ms. Smith of Roanoke was brutally murdered by her ex-husband of eight years, her children lost their mother, her parents lost their only daughter, her brothers lost their only sister, and many of us lost a dear friend. [James T. Smith was convicted and sentenced to 107 years in prison.] We can't bring her back. But we can prevent domestic violence.
Many abuse victims are blamed because they won't leave or prosecute their abuser, but we must not blame them for this. They're afraid. They know there isn't enough protection for them, and that threats from the abuser are real.
Now is the time for us to unite and stop this tragedy before your loved one or friend becomes the next fatality.
TAMMY JAVIER Co-founder, Victims of Injustices Cry Enough
VINTON
Southside Va. wants road completed
YOUR JULY 5 editorial, ``The road not to be taken,'' is the second one in recent months in which you question completing U.S. 58 into a four-lane road from Virginia Beach to Cumberland Gap. You apparently know little about the area of Virginia south of Roanoke.
I live in Stuart along U.S. 58, and we have a daily parade of tractor-trailers using this highway. It's the shortest route to Interstate 77 and I-81 for many trucks in this corridor of Virginia, and they also use it going to Virginia 8 and Virginia 103, to get to North Carolina and other Southern states. The mountain's terrain described in your editorial must not affect this daily truck traffic.
There are approximately 17,000 people in Patrick County, and I imagine they're disappointed that you would write such an editorial without checking the facts. Completion of U.S. 58 is necessary if Southside and Southwest Virginia are to survive in the coming years. We're grateful that the General Assembly and Gov. Allen see that this improvement necessary for our economic growth. We seem to get little help from our two Northern Virginia senators in Washington.
Next time, check the facts before you write such editorials.
LYLE CLARK STUART
by CNB