Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 15, 1995 TAG: 9510130093
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: G-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
I applaud him for addressing a serious problem in our society - ``fatherlessness.'' However, it seems to me that he neglects to mention several important considerations - namely, that we as a society didn't get to this point overnight or without a reason. Many men and women have reached the conclusion that dads are irrelevant because in many American homes, at least during the past several decades, dads were pretty much irrelevant. Though they may have been at home in the evenings or on weekends, they were often not emotionally available to their families - noses stuck in the newspaper, eyes and ears fixed on a television sports program, or too ``busy'' otherwise to connect with their children's psychological/social/spiritual needs. They may have been there physically, but they weren't present in any meaningful way except financially.
About the same time this emotional absenteeism began to be recognized, our nation was developing a comprehensive welfare system that relieved fathers of the one role that was still essential - that of breadwinner. The state welfare system became ``daddy'' to millions of kids whose real dads could now become physically and financially absent as well.
With the welfare system taking care of the children and their mothers not needing their fathers to be around, as they had come to see it, fathers served no real purpose anyway. The only role left for men to play was baby makers. It has become a perverted macho value among many of America's males: You become a man by making a woman pregnant. Then your role as a man is done. No responsibility; no commitment. Then the woman or teen-age girl, often poor and certainly irresponsible, is free to call upon the welfare daddy to provide for her child/children.
Blankenhorn's concern is well-founded, but I hope his solution will be based on reality and not on simplistic platitudes so often heard from the political right-wing. We need welfare reform that doesn't provide rewards for having children out of wedlock, aggressive child-support enforcement services that don't allow men to make babies and split with no financial responsibilities, and comprehensive educational programs that reach men at every socio-economic strata of our society that teach and facilitate them to take their rightful, and as Blankenhorn emphasizes, essential place in the American family - physically present, financially responsible, emotionally and spiritually invested in the lives of their children.
BEN C. ROGERS
ROANOKE
`Middle ground' describes Marye
IN ANSWER to Ernestine Frith's letter to the editor (Sept. 30, ``Pat Cupp is better qualified'') criticizing Sen. Madison Marye:
Her characterization of him as being ``extreme left'' doesn't describe the fair-minded, sensible, concerned and dedicated senator who has worked so hard to represent our area. ``Extreme'' and ``left'' are the least relevant words that could possibly be used to describe Marye. I'm amazed.
Could it be that Frith's view from the ``far right'' is obstructed somehow and prevents her from recognizing ``middle ground'' when she sees it?
JULIA STEWART MILTON
CHRISTIANSBURG
The blessings of year-round schools
IN RESPONSE to Jim Dooley's Sept. 30 letter to the editor, ``The problem with year-round schooling'':
I'm from out West where they have year-round school. I'm in favor of it. Not a lot of parents can afford to send their child/children off to summer camp or take a vacation. I found with my children that they would forget what they learned - not a lot, but some.
Also, there were times I heard them say that they were bored, which then turns into a long summer for all of us.
DIANE BAILEY
ROANOKE
Thomas has worked for human services
I WAS surprised to read a letter to the editor (Sept. 20, ``Thomas hasn't fooled everyone'' by Mr. and Mrs. Mark Palmer) criticizing Del. Vic Thomas' record in the Virginia General Assembly. For 17 years, I was Catawba Hospital's director, during which time I found him to be an exceptional supporter of human services, particularly those services that provide treatment to the elderly and severely mentally ill. Over the years, he frequently contacted or visited the hospital in an effort to keep abreast of the facility's operations and of any needs the hospital had where he could be of assistance. Thanks to this support, funds were appropriated to provide air conditioning to the eight-story hospital building.
On two separate occasions, Thomas introduced amendments to the appropriations bills to add nursing staff and to correct staff deficiencies as cited by the Joint Commission of Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations. Thanks to his efforts, the facility's accreditation wasn't in jeopardy. He also ensured that Catawba Hospital's needs were included in the bond referendum of 1992. This referendum, with voter approval, provided funds to construct a patient-activities building and to fund a sprinkler system for the facility.
Other General Assembly members representing this region have also supported the hospital. However, Thomas has taken the lead in addressing many issues in support of this valley's public mental-health activities. We're fortunate to have such a senior delegate who is readily accessible to citizens and is interested in assuring that quality care is provided to those requiring publicly funded services.
R. MICHAEL MARSH
SALEM
Bell CEOs are the ones overpaid
AS A BELL Atlantic employee and a member of the Communications Workers of America, I was shocked and angered by recently released bonus figures given to CEOs of the seven regional Bells and a few of their competitors. At the top of the list, with a cool $11 million, is the CEO of Bell Atlantic, Ray Smith. This bonus is in addition to the outrageous $3.4 million in salary and $80 million in stock options he's paid.
To give the reader something to compare this bonus figure with, the CEO of competitor Sprint is in second place with $3 million. The AT&T CEO ranks sixth with ``just'' $1 million. These dollar amounts are obscene for any corporate CEO, but especially for the only CEO of the seven regional Bells who refuses to settle a fair contract with CWA. This CEO says Bell Atlantic employees are overpaid. Overpaid? Just exactly who is overpaid?
CWA is asking for a fair contract with benefits and job protection for all its members and retirees. If this company can afford to pay Smith a $3.4 million salary, an $11 million bonus and $80 million in stock options, then it can afford to settle with CWA.
REA SMITH
LYNCHBURG
The guilty must yet be found
IN RESPONSE to Alan Sorensen's Oct. 8 column, ``White eyes, black eyes: Are we seeing the same things?'':
I wish I could answer that troubling question. I, too, would like an answer. Perhaps, if Sorensen or any of his white readers could tell me what it's like to be white, I could provide an answer.
I suppose the next question will be: Do white brains think the same way as black brains? A more appropriate question: Do we (all Americans) think at all? I wonder.
My black eyes see that a brutal double murder occurred, and that O.J. Simpson was found not guilty of those murders. From this, I glean that somebody else had to commit the murders and needs to be found so that justice can be served and the families involved can finally begin to at least have some form of peace. Tell me: What do white eyes see?
Perhaps if the jurors knew what it was ``to be white,'' nine would have voted for a white verdict. I wonder what color the other three verdicts would have been?
SHEILA LAMB PETERSON
BLACKSBURG
by CNB