Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 7, 1995 TAG: 9503070063
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
He states that they can be fighter pilots because they won't get dirty or stabbed by an enemy's bayonet. In my opinion, he overlooked something. Women are capable of being stabbed, hit, choked, beaten and tortured. Look at all the battered wives in the United States, and how many survive in much worse conditions than war. They see no end to their ``tour of duty.''
JOY CICMAN ROANOKE
Whatever happened to `paid in full'?
I CAN remember back 50-some years ago when you bought a house to live in, if you had the money to buy it, and when you got it paid for, it was yours. Today, if you buy a lot and house, you never get it paid for in your lifetime because you pay a thing called taxes to create salaries and retirements for people too lazy to work. The saddest thing is that when all of the hard-working people are gone, who will do the hard and dirty work?
LOUIS W. LAMB ROANOKE
`Other' group needs to be scrutinzed
THERE IS some confusion within our community that warrants clarification. An organization with a name much like that of the American Heart Association is soliciting funds. The problem isn't that it is soliciting, but that many residents do not realize that their contributions aren't going to the local American Heart Association.
The American Heart Association takes great pride in the work it accomplishes in our city through the effort of more than 3,500 local volunteers. It's the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to the reduction of disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Our record of funding research and community programs is available for review to anyone.
There's no connection between the American Heart Association and this other group. Yet we've received a number of inquiries about the other organization, and we want to make sure the public is aware we're not one and the same. We caution anyone receiving mail solicitations to closely scrutinize the organization represented.
I'm proud to be an American Heart Association volunteer, and want to make sure Roanoke's citizens are careful to be sure they know who they're giving to when solicited by any ``heart'' organization.
STEPHEN A. PURVES Chairman, Roanoke Division American Heart Association ROANOKE
Moving drivers' ed to summer school
IN RESPONSE to Joel Turner's Feb. 15 article regarding Roanoke city schools' proposed policy regarding drivers' education (``Counselor makes case for driver ed''):
Superintendent Wayne Harris has made many contributions to our city schools. Perhaps his most significant has been to raise the expectations of all students so they can develop and/or realize their full potential. The proposed shift of the drivers' education program to summer school is part of that effort. It means students will have more time for academic courses, advanced-technology electives, foreign languages, fine-arts electives, and business-technical courses such as computer repair, marketing and electronics.
The article implied that the school system wasn't sensitive to the needs of economically disadvantaged students and the summer-school tuition that will be required for drivers' education. That simply isn't true. If a student is eligible for free or reduced-rate lunches, the tuition is waived.
All of us have a responsibility to demand the best possible education for our students. Harris' proposed scheduling of drivers' education is part of a much larger effort that will significantly enhance the learning environment for all city students, while maximizing the effectiveness of the school-system budget.
JOHN H. SAUNDERS Member, Roanoke City School Board ROANOKE
Trees - a symbol for the newspaper
THE ROANOKE Times & World-News took an excellent position on the importance of trees to Roanoke city and to the quality of all our lives in the Feb. 19 editorial (``A tree grows in Roanoke''). Yet your property is devoid of trees.
I encourage the newspaper to set a good example by planting trees on its own property, and by encouraging others to follow suit. (And please, not the ubiquitous Bradford pear or, as some call it, the plastic pear.)
Considering the lack of city funds for keeping Roanoke green, this would be an act of good corporate citizenship. Considering the importance of trees to your newspaper, this would be wonderful symbolism.
BILL TANGER President Friends of the Roanoke River ROANOKE
by CNB