ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, November 15, 1996 TAG: 9611150007
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-12 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
WHEN ARE people going to begin to have the guts to speak the truth about the effects of advertising on our youth? Recent comments by Virginia ABC Chairwoman Anne Petera (Nov. 11 news article, ``State lawmaker plans tough fight against allowing hard liquor ads on Va. TV, radio'') leads me to believe that so-called grown-ups are living in a make-believe world.
Petera said ``it may be `a stretch' to suggest that hard liquor ads would promote more drinking among Virginia youth; there's no evidence to suggest there's some turn among youth toward spirits; and the popular perception is that beer is the choice among youth.'' This shows a lack of common sense among some political appointees in our government.
Advertising has one and only one goal - to sell a product and make money. Our young people spend more time in front of a television than they do sleeping. When it comes to young people not turning to the spirits, just ask the family of the mother who was killed by a young drunken driver. Beer wasn't the drink of choice for him.
Petera is beginning to sound like tobacco-company officials who are still saying that nicotine isn't addictive.
As a DARE officer in elementary schools, I attempt to teach young children about the consequences of substance abuse. And sometimes I feel that I am fighting a losing battle - combating the actions of parents who tell their children not to drink or smoke while they have a beer and cigarette in their hand; seeing numerous ads promoting tobacco and beer products during sporting events; and looking at ads placed along the highways in our valley in clear sight of our young people.
In one of the DARE lessons for fifth-graders, we talk about media messages. When the kids are asked about commercials or advertisements they remember, beer or cigarettes ads are the ones most mentioned. Do I need to say more? People, we have a problem.
MYLES W. JACKSON
DARE officer, Roanoke County
ROANOKE
Let other stations provide the blather
YOU PUBLISHED a commentary by Demetri Telionis about what he perceived as a decline in the quality of programming on our public-radio station WVTF. The headline said "Please, let's have less talk and more good music," to which I say amen.
There are numerous other providers of news, commentary, humor and miscellaneous blather in both print and broadcast media. In many cases, these other sources do a better job than public radio can do with its fewer resources. But there is no other regular source for classical music and jazz; the commercial radio stations don't play them. If public radio doesn't provide them, who will?
I wish WVTF would eliminate most of the blather and concentrate on music that is not broadcast elsewhere.
Unless WVTF can show otherwise, I believe the music is the main reason people contribute to public radio. In an effort to attract more listeners, WVTF may be alienating its supporters. I fear it may eventually find itself with many more listeners but very few contributors. Is Virginia Tech prepared to operate the station with minimal public support?
JAMES G. BAYLY
ROANOKE
Airport-issue story just wouldn't fly
WOW! The Roanoke Times has outdone itself once again. Your Oct. 28 article (``Rockbridge airport plan fogged in by controversy'') on the airport referendum in Rockbridge County gave an abundance of coverage to the Chamber of Commerce vote, while it didn't mention the unanimous votes of the Rockbridge Economic Development Commission, the Lexington City Council and the Buena Vista City Council supporting a general-aviation airport in Rockbridge County.
As if the omissions weren't bad enough, the reporter then tried to implicate a local business person in some power play to benefit himself. Unless I missed something and the federal government has done away with awarding all contracts to the lowest bidder, how would he benefit?
Keep up the good work. You continue to make Dumb and Dumber look better and better all the time.
J. STEPHEN LOWDER
BUENA VISTA
Pat Fuller's legacy will live on
IN A DAY of misplaced allegiances and dubious role models, we have been blessed to know someone like Pat Fuller. Her life's role was multidimensional - wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, counselor, missions' advocate and, more recently, patient. In each of these roles, she managed to perform with grace, commitment, love, humor, tenacity and a strength that could only have come from a close walk and a personal relationship with her God.
We will miss her, but we will never forget her and the impact she had on everyone who knew her. She loved those who attended First Baptist Church as a church ``family,'' and she knew our names and our children's names. Her smile was warm and welcoming, and her demeanor unpretentious. We valued her opinions, enjoyed her humorous quips on life, and were consistently amazed at her emotional and physical strength and stamina.
Fuller's legacy is one of love and caring for others. Her example was to live each day to the utmost, depending on God to give victory or acceptance in any and all of life's circumstances.
As a church family, our hearts are breaking with the physical loss of one so precious. As fellow believers, we are rejoicing with Fuller in her victorious homegoing. As recipients of her legacy, we are challenged to live each day on the mission field where God has placed us.
RUTH LUCAS
DALEVILLE
GOP Congress is the saving grace
THE BAD news is that Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton were re-elected. This means no middle-class tax cut, no balanced budget, liberal Supreme Court nominees, babies aborted in the ninth month of pregnancies, more scandals, more cover-ups, more meals on wheels for our military, etc.
The good news is that Virginia went for Bob Dole, even though The Roanoke Times endorsed Bill and Hillary (Oct. 27 editorial, ``Re-elect Bill Clinton''). That means you had no impact whatsoever on the election.
More good news comes from the fact that for two more years we will have a Republican House and Senate. I'm sure your newspaper will continue to help Clinton and his pals attack Republicans by letting them call proposed increases in Medicare and education spending Draconian cuts. Republicans will still be unjustly accused of polluting our drinking water, kicking our elderly out of their homes and starving schoolchildren. This time, however, if Clinton refuses to work with Congress, he will probably be impeached.
The welfare state instigated by the Democrats has bankrupted the country. Liberals have ruined our judicial and educational institutions. Now we have a Democratic president who takes credit for the good things that come from a Republican Congress or Republican governors, but accepts no blame - with the help of your newspaper and other media - for anything bad.
I hope I live to see a Republican president and Congress. We can then begin to fix this country, if there is a country left to fix.
ROB BROWN
ROANOKE
Don't overdose kids with punishment
I BELIEVE that Erica Taylor, the eighth-grader suspended for possession of Midol, was treated unfairly (Oct. 2 news article, ``Drug rule causes pain Midol can't ease''). To even have considered an 80-day expulsion was absurd. It's true she broke the school's policy with possession of the Midol, but she didn't consume the pill.
As stated, she is an honor-roll student, which means she is an intelligent child. An intelligent child who takes a pain reliever one time isn't a danger to herself or other students.
Taylor should have gone first to the nurse, but she didn't. What was done was done, and can't be changed.
I think people are making too big a deal out of something that should be simple.
JANINA DECKER
ROCKY MOUNT
LENGTH: Long : 146 linesby CNB