ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, December 19, 1995 TAG: 9512190022
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
IT WAS with tears in my eyes that I read the Dec. 6 letters to the editor from Rodman S. Moeller (``Seniors must help pay the piper'') and John W. Slayton (``Democrats have tried to help'').
I am 39 and lucky to have had parents and in-laws who ``survived'' the Depression, and fought in or lived through the ravages of World War II. My parents and in-laws viewed these times as part of the human condition.
It was always stressed to me to never expect a handout, to work hard, to share what you have, and to love your family and country. Unfortunately, my in-laws are dead now, but they continued working into their 70s.
My father is 73 and still works as a substitute teacher in a large urban system in Maryland. Never once have I heard my parents insinuate that, because they have paid their chronological dues, government owes them unlimited benefits. In fact, they taught me that the value of hard work is simply the knowledge of a job well done.
Maybe our lives have become too comfortable, and we have forgotten the value of sacrifice. Maybe it's time we all realized that we, as adults, must think about the ethical legacy we leave our children. No one owes us anything. We owe it to our children to be thankful for what we do have.
KATRINA G. LANDON
ROANOKE
Living costs don't justify low pay
I WOULD like to address the cost-of-living issue in Roanoke. While reading your Nov. 28 article (``Teachers union considers cost of living'') regarding teachers' pay raises and the adjustment made in their national standing due to the cost of living, I became very disgruntled. What comparison is being used to figure cost-of-living expenses? Several people who have lived in and outside the Roanoke area say it's more expensive to buy a home and live in Roanoke than in other areas because the pay is much lower.
Before moving to Roanoke in 1984, I lived in Michigan where I was an orthodontic assistant making $7 an hour. My first job in Roanoke was as a dental assistant making $5 an hour. I was told that was the going rate due to the low cost of living here. I quit work for a few years to stay home with our daughter. When I returned to work in l991, I worked for an orthodontist making $6 an hour, still $1 less than what I made in 1984 in Michigan. Those I worked with in Michigan are now making $13 to $16 an hour, with great benefits.
As stated in the article, the average teacher's salary in Michigan is $46,575, and in Virginia it's $33,907. I would like to share actual facts comparing Michigan to Virginia in cost of living. My sister lives in Kalamazoo, and her house compares to ours, as do her two cars. Her house cost $20,000 less to buy. Her real-estate taxes are $489 more a year than ours, yet her family doesn't pay personal-property taxes on its vehicles or have vehicle inspections, which equals out the difference in our real-estate taxes.
Their house insurance is $48 more a year than ours. They pay 44 cents less for a gallon of milk and 30 cents less for a loaf of bread. All the groceries we've compared, as well as diapers and infant formula, were much cheaper up there. A light taco from Taco Bell is 20 cents cheaper than it is here. I've also done comparisons while visiting Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. I can honestly say that the cost of living is definitely not cheaper here!
We love Roanoke - it's a wonderful place to raise a family and the people are friendly and special. But I feel there's an injustice in saying the cost of living here is cheaper, thus the reasoning for low pay.
TARA WHITE
ROANOKE
Emphasize early education
A DEC. 6 letter to the editor (``Higher education is the top priority'' by Sue Griggs) that stressed higher education as ``the No. 1 priority'' is disturbing.
``As the twig is bent, so shall the tree grow'' tells me that the No. 1 priority must be preschool and early education. Phrases like ``an ounce of prevention ... '' and ``penny-wise and pound-foolish ... '' are more than trite homilies.
Consider the devastating rise in crime, drug usage, poverty, illegitimacy, illiteracy and sexual diseases among our children: 35 percent of eighth graders have tried or currently use drugs, inhalants, etc.; 12 percent of them have smoked marijuana; and 13 percent of all weapons violations are by children. In 1960, five of every 100 births were illegitimate. In 1991, the rate was 30 per 100, and it's rising. Four thousand children age 6 and under in Roanoke do not have adequate health care. The majority in our prison population are illiterate or borderline literate.
Of course, college is important. (Even remedial classes for many entering high-school graduates!)
Reading to preschool children does wonders, but the sad fact is that so many young parents today aren't readers.
Obviously, our country's future rests on the health and education level of its citizens. One must either stress preschool and early education as the No. 1 priority now, or build more prisons and be prepared to spend billions of dollars in law enforcement and social costs. One suggestion is to institute a federal Reading Is Fundamental program in our early-education efforts.
JACK E. BYRD
HARDY
Propaganda won't sell the smart road
AFTER READING your Nov. 22 editorial (``Dead end for the smart road?''), it appears as though scare tactics are being used to have the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors reconsider its decision.
It also appears as though the proponents' lobbying groups are living a fantasy if they really believe the New River Valley will experience the growth they project for traffic and that millions of dollars in potential economic development will be produced by the "smart'' road. This isn't factual; it's propaganda!
A better plan would be to spend taxpayers' money wisely by concentrating on Alternate 3-A, and to begin that project without delay. No one mentions that the smart road has funding for only two miles of the needed six, and that the interchange - several miles away from 3-A - would shorten the drive to Roanoke by approximately 5 minutes.
Also, regarding stated purposes of the smart road:
Congestion along U.S. 460 will be alleviated by constructing 3-A.
A direct link between Christiansburg, Blacksburg and Roanoke will be created by 3-A and the smart road would be a duplication.
A new and very costly road doesn't need to be constructed for the purpose of having a proving ground for high-tech highway innovations. It's a waste of taxpayers' money. Technology can be incorporated on any existing road or as an addition to 3-A.
The smart road is a pet project of a group of business and government leaders who are trying to intimidate and coerce the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors by projecting horrendous consequences if this project doesn't become reality. Not everyone is gullible!
ROSE M. GESSNER
BLACKSBURG
Parade is passing Roanoke by
WHILE WATCHING the Roanoke Christmas parade with my niece and nephew, I experienced a very disturbing event. The crowd seemed to become extremely excited when the Black Knights and another similar group from North Carolina approached. These groups dance and perform routines that traditionally have been considered trademarks of historically black Greek-letter organizations and university bands.
As these groups passed, a migrating herd of multicolored faces and varying ages, trying to catch another glimpse of them, nearly knocked us down. As I regrouped and checked to see that my niece and nephew were OK, I became very upset.
Later that evening, I realized the source of my distress. I was not and am not upset at those individuals who felt the need to chase the groups that had put on such a lavish show. However, I find it very frustrating that area residents have such limited occasions to experience certain cultural events. It seems anything not considered worthy of promotion by ultraconservative influences in this area is neither seen nor heard.
Spending most of my life here, except four years in college and a summer in Richmond, it's obvious that people in this area oppress any activity that doesn't fit into their white-male, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant, heterosexual scheme of things. (Many minorities also buy into this way of thinking.)
Wake up, Roanoke! We have about 40 years of catching up to do. The rest of the world has left us behind (as have many of our recent college graduates). We need to pull together to end this sexist, racist, homophobic, stereotypical community that exists. All of you who wish to hold on to the past, keeping things only comfortable for yourselves, watch out. Change is inevitable, and we're tired of being controlled and oppressed!
SCOTT L. MOTLEY
ROANOKE
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