ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 22, 1996 TAG: 9612240004
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
I FEEL obliged to write as a result of your excellent news article (Dec. 8, ``Lottery's future not a sure bet'') on the dilemma the state is in regarding lottery revenue.
As with the case of alcohol, drugs and tobacco, gambling is addictive, particularly to youth and the less well-educated. It reinforces the trend in our society to get rich quickly by gambling or making it big in professional sports. By running those ``cute'' television commercials sponsored by a state agency, children and adults are told that gambling is OK, the state advocates it and it's fun.
Since the state sells liquor, runs and promotes the only legal gambling available, and makes much revenue from cigarette sales, why not adopt the other addictive curse on our society - drugs? The state could undercut the price of drugs on the street and rake in great revenues. In addition, the state could resurrect the movies of the 1930s and 1940s depicting the alcoholic as a good-natured, fun-loving drunk and show how much fun being drunk is. Maybe the state could start its own ``happy hours.''
There are all kinds of opportunities to further burden our rehabilitation and law-enforcing agencies, not to mention the pain of affected families. It's very disturbing to see state lotteries accepted as part of our society. If this trend isn't stopped and reversed, there is no doubt in my mind where our society is heading.
JAMES A. FORD
ROANOKE
Take a closer look
at the '60s and '70s
IN RESPONSE to Erik Ranberg's Dec. 2 letter to the editor, ``How about a swift kick for all the whiny baby boomers?'':
He proved himself to be narrow-minded. A substantial number of baby boomers didn't rebel against the ``establishment'' of this country in ways he cited. As for those who were nonconformists, the 1960s and 1970s were among our country's most emotionally troubling times.
As most boomers were entering adolescence, we saw our beloved leader, President John F. Kennedy, shot to death - not once, but repeatedly on television. We then learned of Martin Luther King's murder and witnessed Sen. Bobby Kennedy being killed a few years later.
We, too, were dealing with the Vietnam War that many boomers and others were against. Many believed that our country wasn't threatened enough to warrant so much grave personal danger. Generation X doesn't have these things in their realm of experience. Never have their brothers, friends and lovers been sent off in as many numbers to fight a seemingly senseless war to them.
Many boomers turned to each other and mind-altering drugs to ease their pain. The vast majority straightened themselves out by their early 20s and lead productive lives, paying well into the Social Security fund. The large number of boomers retiring will strain the Social Security system far more than irresponsibility.
Our parents enjoyed larger incomes on the whole than their parents did, and made sure that we had all in life they could give us. It isn't their fault or ours that we were over-indulged as children. But, tragically, it was hard for us as teen-agers to see the need for working hard for what we needed when we couldn't understand need itself.
I know many people will understand my letter. I think Ranberg will not. I leave him with this: If so many young people were so adversely affected in the 1960s and 1970s, then couldn't this period of time use a closer look?
LAUREN GUNTER
ROANOKE
Show courtesy to
cleanup volunteers
I WAS helping clean a section of Twelve O'Clock Knob with my youth group recently, and I was amazed at the number of cars that came past us at 50 to 55 mph.
Just because it's a rural road and the speed limit is 55 mph, one would think that drivers would slow down to pass people picking up trash if the "Clean Up Crew Working" sign is up. People need to pay more attention to these signs and give volunteers the courtesy we deserve. After all, we don't have to be there.
Because the sign could have fallen down or people may not have noticed it, we had cars in front and behind us with orange flags and a flagger and orange vests for everyone. Still, people sped past us. And one car came around our back car and almost hit one of our leaders.
I feel drivers should show some courtesy to highway cleanup volunteers. They should drive a little slower until they pass the group and are in no danger of hitting someone.
KRISTIN WEARY
ROANOKE
Need to convert to
metric system now
YOU PUBLISHED an Associated Press article on Dec. 1 (``Slowly, the metric system is creeping into American life'') concerning the progress of converting to the metric system in our country. Much was written about the slowness of the process because of our current culture.
It should be realized that culture is a dynamic phenomenon, not a static one. Through the ages, peoples' culture has continually changed. Witness the industrial revolution in England, invention of the automobile, advent of the airplane, etc. Changes should be examined on their own merit, not with the philosophy of ``what's good enough for grandpa is good enough for me.''
Two primary reasons for converting to the metric system are being able to compete in world markets; and once learned, the system is much easier to use. Either of these is sufficient reason to make the change now.
Soft drinks are packaged by the liter and mouthwash has followed suit. What's so abhorrent about buying gasoline the same way? When we buy a bag of potatoes or six pork chops, what difference does it make if they are weighed and priced by the kilogram?
A good dose of adult education is needed; otherwise, we are caught in a vicious cycle. Secondary-school students are taught the metric system, if they were as fortunate as this letter-writer. But it's soon forgotten because it isn't used.
How does one get ``up to speed'' in understanding the metric system? Buy and study an elementary book which describes the system. Buy a metric ruler and a scale (a postal scale is on the market), and use them at home at every opportunity. Ask your local school board to organize a metric class for adults.
RICHARD W. RUSK
BLACKSBURG
Hunting keeps
nature in balance
IN RESPONSE to Alwyn Moss' Dec. 5 letter to the editor, ``Hunting for sport is bloody murder'':
Hunting for sport is part of the ``balance of nature.'' If the deer population went unchecked, it would soon balloon to staggering numbers and one result would be vast crop, tree and shrub damage. Unless you want to risk a deer flying through your windshield after impact, you would be forced to drive at a very low rate of speed. Eventually, millions of deer would consume all the crops and we humans would be doomed. With humans removed from the balance of nature, the wolf and the cougar would once again take up their part in maintaining the ``balance.''
The main argument for limiting our own population and preserving numerous tracts of wilderness and roadless areas is that these areas are the best classrooms to learn about the balance of nature and our role in it.
However, Moss may have a good point. It's possible that too many of today's hunters seek status, publicity, money or are just killing for fun (definitely bloody murder). Hopefully, those responsible for teaching the art of hunting will emphasize compassion for the life of a fellow animal. Before actually hunting, the hunter should become an expert shot and take only ``dead'' shots. A hunter should utilize all parts of the animal, and a young hunter should be taught to be thankful for all the fine products the animal provides him or her.
We will continue to be a vital part of the balance of nature, but we must exercise knowledge, skill, empathy and thankfulness as the Native Americans did long ago.
RON PATT
DRAPERte
LENGTH: Long : 146 linesby CNB