ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, February 28, 1997 TAG: 9702280090
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
Lawyers have bungled the system
I READ your Feb. 4 Associated Press news article (``ABA: Halt death penalty'') concerning the American Bar Association's view on the death penalty. Isn't it ironic that lawyers are arguing that the death penalty is unfair, racially unbalanced, etc.?
Whoa! What is wrong with this picture? If the laws and punishments are unfair, then it's the fault of the lawyers who wrote and enacted them. Could it be that those who have reaped large fees from taxpayers in appeals are now complaining that something is wrong?
Murderers, molesters, drug kingpins and rapists do not do their crimes with racial motives. They just do crimes. It makes no difference to me whether the criminal is white, black or purple. The criminal's payment should be swift and just.
The problem lies in the criminal-justice system that allows convicted criminals and lawyers to make appeals to every Tom, Dick and Harry in the system. Lawyers can now jump from one jurisdiction to another on a whim.
If the U.S. Supreme Court upholds a conviction, then the convicted person should be executed. Lawyers should not be able to jump back down to a ``friendly'' judge to overrule this land's highest court. This has to stop.
Taxpayers pay lawyers' fees and pay for the care and support of the criminal. But no one stops to consider the victims. The ABA has no concern as to whether victims' rights were violated or if victims suffered during their deaths.
It's time for the people to be heard. This country wasn't built for criminals or for the convenience of lawyers. It was built for the majority, and the majority is supposed to rule.
STEVE HARR
SHAWSVILLE
A cheap shot at Promise Keepers
IN RESPONSE to an article on your Feb. 8 religion page, ``Beware those who'd bemoan church'':
It's unfortunate that syndicated religion columnist Clark Morphew felt it necessary to take a cheap shot at Promise Keepers for alleged arrogance about the condition of the church.
It's also unfortunate that he doesn't have his facts straight about Promise Keepers. He states, ``They have 20 big rallies a year, a bunch of smaller seminar events, and that's it.'' He fails to state that the mission of Promise Keepers is to unite men through vital relationships to become godly influences in the world - and that includes the church. In fact, one of the seven promises a Promise Keeper makes is to support his local church by honoring and praying for his pastor and actively giving his time and resources.
In addition to conferences, Promise Keepers trains a vast network of volunteers to work with pastors and church leaders to strengthen the men's ministry within local churches. In Virginia alone, for example, there are more than 80 volunteers who have been trained and are performing in this capacity. Hundreds have received training to help make the men's ministry in their churches more effective.
Far from being arrogant about the condition of the church, Promise Keepers is working every day to strengthen the church.
FRANK K. HUMMEL
MONETA
Eagle Rock didn't play it smart
TOUGH luck, if Eagle Rock does not get its $2 million bridge (Feb. 5 news article, ``Eagle Rock not `willing to die' without a fight'') and its poor old village just dries up. I guess money's tight at the Virginia Department of Transportation these days.
Or is it?
Here in Tech City, things are different. We're getting a $100 million ``smart'' road. This road has faced significant public opposition since its inception, and comes with serious environmental impact. It's designed to relieve congestion on another $100 million-plus highway (3A, the bypass connector), which hasn't even been built yet. And by VDOT's own admission, it will only be at 40 percent capacity 25 years from now (forecast of 24,000 cars per day in 2021, but with a capacity of 60,000).
Lucky us, we're still gonna get it! Hey, if only Eagle Rock's bridge were ``smart''?
MICHAEL S. ABRAHAM
BLACKSBURG
Dr. Butler was a great human being
A BRIEF tribute to urologist Bill Butler from a patient of 22 years (Feb. 7 news article, ``Surgical clinic co-founder Butler dies at 73''):
If today's young doctors could have known him as a patient, each would be a better doctor and a person. Butler was more than a superb physician - he was a great human.
He communicated to me every medical detail of my affair with kidney stones. He explained the what and the why, as though I fully understood even the medical terms. That earned him my 100 percent trust.
I brought him plums, and he gave me back plum jelly. He invited me to his son's graduation at Virginia Tech because he knew I would like to hear the speaker.
The nurses with whom he worked loved him as only they can describe. (My wife was one of them for 15 years.) The medical profession has lost a great leader and example. The community has lost a great ciitzen. His host of patients has lost a friend and a healer.
J. WAYNE POUCHER
BUCHANAN
Blacks should decry state song's demise
IT IS ANOTHER sad day in the annals of Virginia history. We have let history revisionists sweep another chapter under the rug (Feb. 18 Associated Press news article, ```Carry Me Back' is all but gone'').
Why do I never hear persons of African descent say they're proud of the part their forebears played in the making of our great country? They labored so hard in the cornfields, as our state song says. I am sure those who worked in a cornfield know what James Bland, author of the song, was talking about.
I think it's a shame that the slaves' descendants haven't decried the passing of our state song. It's a soulful and heartfelt song, and a tribute to Bland and his people. Lift up your heads and be proud of the part slaves played in our Virginia history, our great state.
Will we next ban George Washington from our celebration of President's Day because he had slaves? We have all but left out Lee and Jackson from Lee/Jackson/King Day.
It doesn't pay to think anymore. Just sit back and let the government (ol' Massa) take care of old Missis (me).
NINA McCORMICK
ROANOKE
Judge serves Roanokers well
AS COUNSELORS, we testify frequently before Judge Joseph P. Bounds. His decorum on the bench reflects firm authority tempered by warmth, compassion and a view to the realities of life (Feb. 15 news article, ``Some say he's crossed a line'') .
In our experience, his case decisions are wise, equitable and carfully reasoned. We're fortunate to have a person of his skill and stature serving the citizens of Roanoke.
DOROTHY S. CLIFTON
ROANOKE
Editor's note: This letter was signed by three other counselors.
Child bravely sends a message
I READ Beth Macy's Feb. 11 column, ``Ads aimed at making people think before the abuse starts.''
What a brave young lady to be willing to endure the possibility of a negative reaction to her likeness in a billboard. I've seen the billboard a number of times, and it hasn't lost its powerful effect.
Having seen firsthand the effects of child abuse (I've served on the advisory council of the Battered Women's Shelter), I applaud the creators of the ad. And most of all, I applaud Meghan Petrine.
JACKIE BLEDSOE
ROANOKE
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