ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 19, 1996 TAG: 9612190016
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-14 EDITORIAL EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
THERE are two ways to go about convincing people that a certain opinion is wrong. One is to demonstrate with evidence and reason that your contrary opinion is correct. The other is the way Joe Kennedy chose in his Dec. 16 column (``Bone doctor's opinions seem out of this world'') discussing Dr. Ross Mackay's opinions on the physiological makeup of women - with ridicule.
Just because most of the media, and perhaps even a majority of Americans, have bought into the idea that the female of the species is equal to the male in every way doesn't necessarily make that opinion correct. Mackay was obviously writing to an audience of other orthopedic surgeons seeking to encourage them to challenge the too-easily accepted prevailing views and consider the real physiological differences that exist between men and women.
I am writing to defend Mackay for a couple of reasons. One is that I've known him professionally and socially for more than 10 years. He's an honorable, thoughtful, decent man - and an outstanding surgeon - who deserves better than being likened to an alien. The other is that I am the father of a young woman who is a scholar-athlete at the University of Nebraska. In fact, she has been both a high-school and college All-American swimmer. Her developing years included several orthopedic and stress issues that lead me to believe that Mackay's opinions could very well be correct.
And the icing on the cake of the Mackay position came the next day in your newspaper's Associated Press news article (``Citadel suspends 2nd cadet'') about the two female cadets at The Citadel who were temporarily removed from military responsibilities for orthopedic reasons - pelvic stress fractures brought on by excessive marching!
Could our resident ``Martian'' be right after all? The least we should do is hear him out rather than just laughing him off.
DON K. CLEMENTS
NARROWS
Va.'s windfall went to other states
THE GOVERNORS and children of seven states owe Gov. George Allen a letter of thanks. In a particularly bizarre political move, characterized by Lt. Gov. Don Beyer as a "lonely crusade," Allen refused to allow Virginia localities to participate in Goals 2000. The other 49 states gladly joined the government's effort to improve education in America. Most school districts in Virginia wanted to participate as well.
But Allen protested a federal "invasion" of states' rights and turned away $6.7 million this year. Those of us who have read the brief federal document find nothing invasive about it. It's a very flexible program, and the U.S Department of Education encourages localities to develop programs to fit their own unique circumstances.
Why did Allen choose this strange path? Some people speculate that he's currying favor with the political far right for a possible run for the U.S. Senate next time around.
Meanwhile, Virginia's share was distributed to California ($798,000), Texas ($553,000), New York ($513,000), North Carolina ($147,000), Kentucky ($109,000), Tennessee ($121,000) and Maryland ($102,000).
I hope the governors and school children of those states will properly thank Allen for their windfall from Virginia. The sacrificial lambs - our school children - might write letters of a different sort.
FRANK WILLIAMS
ROANOKE
A computer setback
WE THE people, who are the proud owners of a new bridge into the 21st century, have encountered a slight setback.
It seems we cannot figure out how to reprogram thousands of mainframe computers used in business, banking and every aspect of our lives to recognize the year 2000 A.D. in the 36 months we have to come up with something.
If interest were calculated from the year 1996 to the year 2001, the mainframe would pick that up as the year 96 to the year 01 and compute 95 years of interest. ``Ancient'' computer programs didn't take the first two digits - only the last two - of any year into consideration. No one knows how to fix the problem quickly or easily.
It's conceivable that a new car loan could be processed so that the five-year payback would exceed $30 trillion.
The question must be asked of those who would actually buy a bridge into the future: Would you obligate yourself to pay $30 trillion for a car worth $20,000? That's a monthly payment of $500 billion.
MARSHALL TACKETT
BUCHANAN
Roanoke County needs a new school
I WRITE this letter to the editor as my teacher unsuccessfully tries to yell an English lesson over the sound of a jackhammer drilling on the other side of the wall. No one is able to concentrate on his or her work. The period is out of control and wasted because of the confusion everyone is dealing with. Our new "spur of the moment" seating chart doesn't help. My 28 classmates and I are pushed against the wall on our right so as to avoid the dust, water, mud and asbestos that fall from time to time out of huge holes in the ceiling.
I have to say we've done pretty well coping with the unending construction for four months now, which has caused the hectic changing of classrooms, schedules and lockers. And we don't want to forget the days of taking algebra tests in 90 degrees, and having to leave the windows open now in freezing temperatures so that the dangerous dust will have less chance of killing one of every 10 kids in my class.
For all you parents reading this in your air-conditioned homes and flipping out, did you know that your children have also been walking on asbestos tiles? Of course, they did so courteously put that nice gray carpet over them 25 years ago, but it's beginning to wear out. Asbestos scares me.
Please, open your eyes. I am speaking for my classmates, none of whom can vote, and I'm reminding you that you can. We need a new school. This one is limiting our ability to learn, and now there is a danger to the children in staying here. Help enforce a change.
SARA PAGE
Cave Spring Junior High School student
ROANOKE
First kill the lawyers?
IN REFERENCE to Laura LaFay's Nov. 25 news article, ``A bitter month on death row'':
The subtitle really caught my eye, and I'm sure it caught the eyes of many attorneys who read the newspaper that day. The subtitle exclaimed the following: ``Lawyers for five men scheduled to be executed in Virginia in December say the appeals system was stacked against them.''
Now, that should make lawyers think, shouldn't it!
WILMA N. THURMAN
MONETA
How would Native Americans feel?
IN RESPONSE to Ben Rossell's Dec. 6 letter to the editor, "Third World refugees aren't welcome here":
Rossell disagrees with allowing refugees from Third World countries into Southwest Virginia. He says that "the ancestors who built and established this beautiful valley were not from the Third World countries" and suggests a poll of area residents would agree with his position, "I for one do not welcome these people.''
I have no position on this issue. I simply have one question for him: When Native Americans listen to ``us'' lament the impact of immigrants to ``our'' country and oppose further immigration today, do you suppose they laugh or cry?
KATHY DAVIEDS
PILOT
Joy, pride should be parade's focus
REGARDING Norman A. Woods' Dec. 10 letter to the editor (``Restore parade's original name'') about the correct name of the Christmas Parade that follows a route from the corner of Brandon and Grandin avenues to the corner of Grandin and Memorial avenues (Greater Raleigh Court, Raleigh Court, Virginia Heights, Grandin Road):
Why not put aside the names of those who originated the parade, those who now sponsor it, and the name of the street the parade route takes - wherever it starts and ends? Children from all over the Roanoke Valley participate in this annual event. Their relatives and friends, along with the neighborhood residents, line the street to watch. Why not focus on the joy and pride the children have in their parade, and call it simply "The Children's Christmas Parade?''
PATRICIA EVANS
ROANOKE
LENGTH: Long : 153 linesby CNB