ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 22, 1995 TAG: 9512220012
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
MEMBERS of the Christian right are being misled if they believe politicians of any stripe will lead this country back to family values. Newt Gingrich isn't John the Baptist; he's Newt the Baptist. Pat Buchanan isn't Moses. Don't expect him to cast his pronouncements into stone.
Our government, judiciary, law enforcement, schools, charities and churches are now being populated by misfits spawned by our dysfunctional society. Eventually, these institutions will be staffed and even led by the flawed spawn, thus rendering them ineffective.
Now we must begin our crusade within our families. For example, are we willing to disconnect our televisions en masse to protest the violence, smut and schlock invading our homes? Will we renounce the rampant commercialization of Christmas so our families can truly celebrate it as a Christian holiday? These are but two examples of the many things we must undertake so that the slide into the abyss can be halted. At the moment, the ball is in our court and nowhere else.
EMERY A. WHITE
SALEM
Absentee dads are often the victims
REGARDING your Dec. 2 article, "Defendant on food strike sentenced'':
I applaud Harold Michael McTeer, but he shouldn't have been sentenced for not paying child support if, as he claims, his ex-wife wouldn't allow visitation since his children were young. The court system today allows the custodial mother to do anything she wishes with the child or children, and it doesn't uphold justice. Any mother who consciously and willingly disobeys a court order shouldn't receive child support.
Too many mothers use their child or children like pawns in a chess game. Many mothers try to turn their children against the fathers. All of a sudden when it's time for the father's weekly visitation, the mother has places to go. Or the mother takes the child or children some place so the father can't pick them up on time. Mothers knowingly disobey court orders.
Many mothers refuse to communicate with the father about the child's or children's welfare or school activities. Mothers don't allow the father to participate in the child's or children's life at all.
Yet when we hear about cases like this, it's the father who is made out to be the villain. Many mothers ignore the fact that they are the ones who initiate the hostile attitudes that they incur from the fathers.
TRINA ALACHNOWICZ
ROANOKE
Good will toward all - even lawyers
REGARDING Christopher P. O'Connor's Dec. 5 letter to the editor, ``Trial lawyer failed to make his case'':
Lawyers are trained and take an oath specifically to defend their assigned side. Right and wrong do not apply. Like a debate, a side is assigned; you do your best.
We dislike them specifically for doing this. We feel it's amoral not to ``do the right thing.'' But lawyers are directed to do their very best for whichever side they represent. Morality has nothing to do with it; truth and fairness play no part. This is the system we require.
O'Connor raises wonderful questions about fairness and fair play, and we should address these problems of justice with all our energies. Let's not attack lawyers, however, for their lack of fairness.
O'Connor says that ``too many lawyers care more about winning than about doing the right thing.'' Yes. Then his last sentence states, ``I would certainly expect a better effort from my lawyer.'' Exactly.
We have so many good reasons to hate lawyers we can let this one go.
This is the season for love and good deeds, and I feel cleansed to the soul for having said a kind word in lawyers' defense. Surely I now have a secure spot in heaven, and can look for many presents under the tree.
TOM BERDEEN JR.
RADFORD
Robb got it right on flag burning
AMEN on how Sen. Charles Robb voted on the constitutional amendment on flag burning, and why he voted that way. Amen again.
Shame on Sen. John Warner for the same reasons. Shame again.
HAROLD E. BOWMAN
SALEM
Demand proof of road's benefits
REGARDING the ``smart'' road and the Montgomery County supervisors:
Were they elected to protect the interests of their constituents or the interests of Virginia Tech and outside big businesses? Is there a conflict of interest in some supervisors' close association with Tech and Blacksburg?
Has anyone given them any solid proof of the economic gain the smart road would bring or just predictions of what some think will happen? Do they really believe the two-lane smart road has the physical capacity to carry the predicted automotive travel some say will use this ill-conceived smart road?
Do supervisors have the intestinal fortitude to finally stand up against the ``big boys'' and do the right thing for their constituents?
When I was in engineering, we were taught to utilize what was already installed, and to then upgrade and improve the existing facility. This would lower the expenditures needed. This could be done on existing roads now in use, such as portions of U.S. 460 and Interstate 81.
ELLIOT F. BRUSSEAU SR.
CHRISTIANSBURG
Tech must give an accounting
UPON READING the Christy Brzonkala-Tony Morrison articles in The Roanoke Times (Dec. 1, ``Woman says Tech denied her justice in assault case'') and the Collegiate Times, we find it shocking that university Provost Peggy Meszaros would overrule the sanctions of the official Virginia Tech judicial body. We feel the provost should address her actions in detail and explain fully what compelled her to override the punishment handed down by the appropriate committee, as well as address all precedent for this action.
We find it equally distressing that President Torgersen, when questioned by your newspaper, failed to adequately address the reasons behind the administration's decision. Also, we find it alarming that he would in any way criticize the Collegiate Times. If it weren't for its willingness to pursue this story, would we have had the opportunity to gain even "a tiny sliver of the reality"?
We hope that the university administration has acted appropriately. We, therefore, hope for a full account of its actions.
RANDOLPH DOTSON
Graduate student, Department of History
SABRENE BLEVINS
Graduate student, Department of Sociology
Virginia Tech
BLACKSBURG
America can't stop the fighting
REGARDING Christopher Moore's Dec. 7 letter to the editor, ``America has an obligation to Bosnia'':
If he feels so strongly that we have an obligation in Bosnia, why doesn't he go there and help? I'm sure he will not - he wants others to do the dirty work he advocates.
Nothing the United States can do will stop the fighting there. It has been going on for centuries, and will go on for years more. What we're seeing now is the aftermath of the lid Tito put on the infighting, which has now been released.
JIM FICHTEN
ROANOKE
Criminal's rights leave victim to suffer
I HEARD on the news recently that a little girl was on a New York subway with her family when a man attacked her with a hypodermic needle.
Now, because of this man's ``rights,'' this girl and her family will have to live in fear for the next six months. Why? Well, the attacker's right to privacy protects him from having to tell about any sicknesses he might have.
Why should the criminal have any rights? He gave them up when he intentionally stabbed this small girl with a needle. For the next six months, her parents will be constantly in terror. Will their daughter die? Is it OK to let her play with other children? If she gets hurt, how will they clean the injury?
Is this fair? A criminal's rights being more important than the innocent's? What has our country come to?
ERIN LYNCH
MONETA
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