Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 20, 1995 TAG: 9509200012
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
I think women should have to sign up for the draft on their 18th birthday, just as men, or suffer the same consequences as men. Women have been pushing for equality for many years, and I think this is the way to take one step closer to that equality.
MICHAEL LEE
CHRISTIANSBURG
Straight Street is an alternative
REGARDING your Sept. 4 article, ``Somewhere to hang'':
It breaks my heart to see our youth so bored that they have to sit around the City Market looking for something to do. However, it burdens me more to see society judging them.
Yes, some teens, as well as adults, do drugs, drink and cause trouble. But we shouldn't judge all because of some. Who cares how they dress? Does what they wear hurt anybody? People dye their hair every day. Who cares if it's yellow, brown, red, purple, or green? It's just the color of hair.
I wouldn't do body piercing. But who does it hurt except maybe the one getting the needle pierced in him/her? People, we have to quit passing judgment on our youth. They're our future, and need our support. We need to love them unconditionally, without regard to class, race, clothes or appearance. We're not their judge!
If we don't accept them and give them positive attention for who they are, they'll get attention somehow. It's our choice. Positive or negative?
A new alternative to the market for teen-agers is called Straight Street. You can play basektball, volleyball, board games, socialize and be accepted for who you are. It's a new program at the downtown YMCA for seventh- through 12th-graders. Straight Street is a place for everyone, and you can be sure that if you give respect, you'll receive it.
DONNA WILLARD
SALEM
A really frightening sight on the market
MY COMPANION and I recently attended a function downtown. Before departing, we decided to venture around the City Market area to see firsthand the cause of so many complaints focused around Roanoke's youth. We were a little disappointed to see that they were all basically just sitting around conversing with one another and didn't seem to be bothering anyone. We thought for sure we would get to see some of the ``sights'' that have been so vividly described in this newspaper.
We were about to enter our vehicle when we witnessed a horrifying scene. There, in the middle of the street, a young man, who could be classified as the ``yuppie'' type, proceeded to forcefully throw his girlfriend onto the pavement. Her head barely missed smashing onto the pavement as the rest of her body went sprawling across it. He then grabbed her up and threw her into his red sports car. It was during this astonishing act that one of those ``hoodlum'' types tried to help the young lady, but the gentleman (and I use this term ever so loosely) told him he didn't need any help.
The young lady tried to escape the car as he entered the driver's side. She almost made it, but he put her in a choke-hold and started screaming at her that she was making a scene. At this point, quite a few people had come to help, and my friend started yelling for one of those police officers over by the market baby-sitting those kids. None came to her rescue.
Kudos to a woman who stepped up to help. Fortunately, the young woman was able to get away.
How about it, Roanoke? Who would you rather have showcasing our wonderful downtown market area - the people who look different or the high-class jerk?
RAINELLE FLOWERS
ROANOKE
A clear memory of Warner's offense
REGARDING your Sept. 14 editorial on John Warner's recent appointment to a new committee position (``John Warner in ascension''):
You got in your usual ``digs'' against the ``right-wing'' activists who yearn to dump Warner, but you conveniently omit the most important reason for this ``yen.''
Had Warner only refused to support the party nominee, as you stated in your editorial, I'm sure most party faithfuls would have forgiven him. This, as you well know, wasn't the case.
He actively recruited, backed and campaigned for an opponent that he knew to be nothing more than a spoiler to the party nominee. Remember? I do and so will many others when the time comes.
RAYMOND A. SIMMONS
ROANOKE
Cal Thomas has no moral capital
I READ Cal Thomas' Sept. 13 column, ``On both sides in Beijing,'' and I must speak up.
Using the label ``pro-life'' is a misnomer that unfairly clouds the abortion issue. I'm pro-life myself in that I think human beings have the right to life. Yet, I support pro-choice because no one has, as of yet, scientifically proven when human life begins. Until that's done with incontrovertible evidence, no one can speak as if he knows the facts of the matter.
Thomas' attempt to hide behind the veil of logic doesn't work either. He says that Hillary Rodham Clinton is illogical because she believes it's wrong for government to prevent women from having abortions. Yet in Beijing, she stated that governments shouldn't force women to have them. In other words, she thinks government doesn't have a right to make the choice for women. There's nothing illogical about that. Thomas should take another course in philosophy.
Does this mean that I have no moral capital either, just as he believes of Clinton? Absolutely not. I try to have the highest morals. If anyone is illogical with no moral capital, it's Thomas because he tries to pass his beliefs on as facts. All that does is spread more confusion in the world. And we've got enough of that.
CHARLES E. MARCUM
BEDFORD
Was parkway bought or stolen?
YOUR Sept. 12 editorial (``Neither all peaks nor valleys), which was responding to the Sept. 11 article (``Pretty road stirs ugly memories for landowners'') about land acquisition for the Blue Ridge Parkway, is correct in stating that the ``parkway is a gem.'' You are also correct in stating that the priniciple of eminent domain for land acquisition is correct and may be necessary - that is if it's acquired at a fair price. There's the catch. Many times a fair price can only be obtained through the courts.
I believe it's fair to say that the farmers who lost their land to the state were up against a more than formidable foe. Probably most of them just couldn't afford court action. One thing is certain: If the going price being paid was $18 an acre as the article said, then the land wasn't bought, it was stolen.
WILLIAM M. GUTHRIE
DUBLIN
Thomas hasn't fooled everyone
AFTER reading your Sept. 3 newspaper, I can see that Vic Thomas not only has the public fooled, but also your newspaper (``General Assembly races in our area''). How can he be considered a conservative when he supports racial quotas and free taxpayer services to illegal aliens? How can Thomas be considered a conservative when he voted against Gov. Allen's original welfare reform package, three times voted against putting violent criminals in prison for a long time, voted against protecting small businesses, voted against raising academic standards in our public schools, voted against tax cuts, and voted against the people's right to have initiative and referendum?
We're voting for Jeff Artis in November. He believes in personal responsibility, accountability, and isn't trying to win an election based on an image that isn't true.
MR. & MRS. MARK PALMER
ROANOKE
by CNB