Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 26, 1995 TAG: 9508290003
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A man can be convicted of rape, sentenced to prison, be an accused wife-beater, and when released from custody, enter the boxing ring within six months of his release and earn $25 million in less than two minutes.
What a bunch of idiots the American public is to pay to see this farce.
Something needs to be done to correct this situation - or are we too far gone in our love of sporting events to even come to our senses? We have no difficulty coming up with this kind of money, but find it difficult to provide a quality education for our children in our public schools.
HARRY NEWMAN
SALEM
Greenfield gave protection to many
WHEN the historic Preston home ``Greenfield'' burned in 1959, it can be argued that this was, taking history alone into consideration, the greatest tragedy to occur west of the Blue Ridge.
As evidence, I submit words from a letter that was written on July 27, 1763, from William Preston, builder of Greenfield, to his brother-in-law, the Rev. John Brown:
``Our situation at present is very different from what it was when we had the pleasure of your company. All the valleys of Roanoke River and the waters of the Mississippi are depopulated, except [for] Captain English and a few families on New River who have built a fort ... .
"They intend to make a stand till some assistance is sent them. Seventy-five of the Bedford militia went out in order to pursue the enemy, but I hear the officers and part of the men are gone home, and the rest are gone to Reed Creek to help ... James Davies and two or three families that dare not venture to travel.
``I have built a little fort in which are eighty-seen persons, twenty of whom bear arms. We are in pretty good position for defense, and, with the aid of God, are determined to make a stand. In five or six other places of this part of the country, they have fallen into the same method and with the same resolution. How long we may keep them is uncertain.
"No enemy has appeared as yet. Their guns are frequently heard and their footing observed, which makes us believe they will pay us a visit.
"My two sisters and families are here and all in good health. We bear our misfortunes so far with fortitude and are in great hopes of being relieved. ... ''
Had the ``little fort'' not existed, more than likely I wouldn't be writing this letter. My great-great-great-great grandmother (Preston's sister) and her children were in that fort.
However, that isn't what provides the historical significance of Greenfield. There were hundreds of individuals who have served in high places (senators, representatives, governors and at least one vice president) in both state and national governments whose ancestors were protected by Greenfield's walls in those bleak days.
Since urbanization of Greenfield appears to me to be a foregone conclusion, I hope future patrons of the complex will occasionally pause and reflect while eating their Big Mac or getting their tire changed that they are standing on hallowed ground.
MALCOLM BRYAN
ROANOKE
Bedford can't trust Lynchburg
EVERY YEAR at about this time in the comic strip ``Peanuts,'' Lucy promises to hold the football for Charlie Brown to kick. And every time he tries to kick it, she pulls the ball away and he misses and falls down.
In real life, could anyone possibly be that gullible? Nobody could possibly fall for such a trick again and again.
Then why did the Bedford Board of Supervisors accept Lynchburg's nonbinding, probably unenforceable promise not to annex? This creates for the voters the illusion that Bedford's problems have been solved when they have not.
The supervisors know Lynchburg's track record. They know Lynchburg has annexed parts of surrounding counties every 20 years or so. Just like clockwork - like this agreement that ends in 20 years. All the evidence shows that Lynchburg City Council, like Charles Schultz's Lucy, isn't trustworthy.
When will this cartoonlike behavior end? Apparently never, if Bedfordites allow designing politicians with private agendas to do their thinking for them.
But if voters agree to consolidate Bedford County and Bedford city in November, they can make an end run around all Lynchburg's city councils or any others who think their hollow promises will be believed. Such promises are worth as little as Lucy's.
Charlie Brown may never learn, but that doesn't mean Bedfordites have to imitate him.
ANITA and H.F. GARNER
BEDFORD COUNTY
by CNB