Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 15, 1994 TAG: 9407160005
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Admittedly, as a lifelong resident, I'm very biased when it comes to Salem. We're fortunate to have a mayor and City Council with vision. Our schools, police, fire, rescue, recycling, recreation and other facilities are excellent by any standards.
One cannot put a dollar figure on ``quality of life.'' I would stroll with my two children down any street, at any time, never fearing bodily injury or being approached to buy drugs from gun-toting hoodlums lined up and down the street.
Smith may have a great calculator, but he failed to plug the above into his formula. The fact that parking, sewage and access to the ballpark are already paid for was conveniently left out as well.
My children's future means everything to me. And if he would get out from behind his desk and open his eyes, he might get a clue as to how well he has it.
I feel a ``yes'' vote for the new stadium will only add to the quality of life in Salem.
GIBSON BROWN
SALEM
Not ready for prime-time reviews
IN MARK Morrison's July 1 Moody Blues concert review (Extra section, ``Symphony added a touch of class, but it was still Moody Blues rock''), his ignorance came ``blasting, billowing, bursting forth with the power of 10 billion butterfly sneezes.'' (Moody Blues fans know where that line came from; I doubt if he does.)
Morrison's knowledge of the band, its music, lyrics and history ended with the music he'd heard on the radio, which barely scratches the surface of what this band is all about.
This band has been my favorite for 27 years. It has never failed to lift me up and gently set me back down, no matter what kind of day I've had. The music and lyrics are positive (much more than can be said for much of today's music), and listening to it can restore one's faith in self and the human race. I've even heard people saved from thoughts of suicide simply by sitting down with headphones and letting the band take them away from it all for an hour or two.
May I remind, or inform, Morrison that the band was the first to successfully blend rock music with classical, 27 years ago on ``Days of Future Passed''? His implying that the addition of an orchestra was done as some sort of recent desperate attempt to attain a ``regal'' sound was way off target.
Morrison needs to relax some evening with the lights low, candles burning, headphones and a stack of Moody Blues CDs he's never heard before. Then he'll be prepared to review its concerts in the year 2004, when all of today's music has long been forgotten. By the way, the song is entitled ``Legend of A Mind,'' not ``Timothy Leary.''
RICHARD S. KENT
MADISON HEIGHTS
North's bias not shared by majority
NOT SURPRISINGLY, Oliver North has decided to take the low road during the senatorial campaign. He's attacking Charles Robb for Robb's efforts to end the ban against gays in the armed forces.
North has stated that even good soldiers concealing their homosexuality should be banned from the military. North has chosen to ignore a carefully designed Pentagon study concluding that gays pose no health, behavior or morale problems that good leadership can't handle.
He's also publicly supporting a form of discrimination that isn't acceptable. As a veteran and a citizen of a nation that has benefited from diversity, I'm offended by his position.
A large number of progressive organizations have taken steps to end discrimination based on a person's sexual orientation. More than 30 of America's largest corporations, including AT&T, Xerox, Eastman Kodak, Levi Strauss and US West, have established lesbian- and gay-employee support groups.
Many of these companies have also initiated training programs in an effort to end discrimination and isolation faced by homosexual employees. These progressive companies find that homophobia is not only threatening to individual employees, but is a threat to profitability. The organizations found that a collaborative, productive work environment can be achieved through good leadership and a well-developed education program.
North wants to perpetuate a form of discrimination that's rooted in fear and hatred. I don't think his beliefs are shared by the great majority of Virginia voters.
BARRY L. REECE
BLACKSBURG
The magic is back at old Jefferson
IF YOU haven't visited the Jefferson Center lately, you've missed a treat.
My son Pat, Jefferson High School, Class of '65, and I, Class of '37, had the opportunity to tour the center recently. What we saw was the Jefferson magic still working. You'll be amazed, as we were, to see the auditorium seats, doors, stairs, gym and trophy cabinets still in place.
We owe so much to those who saved our high school from extinction. We say, ``thank you!''
GERTRUDE W. LESTER
VINTON
Support North's `reform' program
IT'S EASY to sit back in one's rocking chair and take cheap shots at a man who would dare to stand up and serve our country as few others have.
I'm speaking of armchair generals vilifying the candidacy of Lt. Col. Oliver North. This fine man served our country honorably and courageously as a military officer, and saw firsthand the neglect and arrogance of career bureaucratic politicians.
He literally put his life in harm's way for our treasured freedoms. The least we can do is to proudly and strongly support his heroic efforts to end political welfare as we know it!
Remember, friends don't let friends vote liberal.
RONALD L. HEDLUND
COVINGTON
Warner supported proliferation risk
YOUR June 25 editorial, ``Breeder-reactor boondoggle,'' on the Integral Fast Reactor, i.e., the breeder reactor, was right on target. Despite all of the high-tech hoopla, this technology is a ``radioactive mutant'' with no commercial hopes, but with serious environmental and proliferation risks.
In recent Senate debates, however, IFR advocates from Illinois and Idaho - where technology is being researched - have argued that the IFR is meant to consume, rather than produce, plutonium. Yet, Argonne National Laboratory's documents fully acknowledge the ease with which the IFR could consume and produce plutonium.
Furthermore, General Electric's conception of a commercial-scale IFR boasts that ``by straightforward adjustments in fuel composition and arrangement, the system can be readily adjusted to meet any overall fissile demand scenario, from being a rapid consumer of fissile material ... to a net producer.''
The National Academy of Sciences casts doubt on IFR advocates' claim that the technology was designed to simply consume spent reactor fuel and weapons-grade plutonium. In a January report, the academy concluded: ``For transforming weapons plutonium into spent fuel, the more advanced [reactor] designs do not offer sufficient advantages to overcome their liabilities of cost, timing and uncertainty.''
On June 30, the Senate voted 52-46 to continue funding the IFR, two weeks after the House of Representatives acted again to terminate funding.
Sen. John Warner, once again, voted to retain funding, but Sen. Chuck Robb again voted to terminate. The Roanoke area's U.S. House delegation - Reps. Bob Goodlatte, L.F. Payne and Rick Boucher - voted unanimously to terminate the IFR. A conference committee will meet soon to decide what to do.
MARTIN GELFAND
Research Director
Safe Energy
Communication Council
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Oliver North's talk show
IN HIS ``Inside Virginia'' column July 11, Warren Fiske exemplifies Oliver North's military style of communication - ``Ollie wants to talk - on his terms.'' Thousands of Virginians will not believe North, even if he has his tongue notarized.
DON M. SHIPLEY
ROCKY MOUNT
by CNB