THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 22, 1996 TAG: 9609200002
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 34 lines
I read with amusement and dismay the Teenspeak feature in the Daily Break section on Sept. 13, (``It was announced this week that Oprah Winfrey made $171 million in 1995-96. Athletes also pull in multimillion-dollar contracts. Is their contribution to society commensurate to their earnings? Should it be?'')
The Marxist question these unsuspecting teens are asked presented a golden opportunity for them to extol the virtues of a free-market society that has provided for their private education, as well as the subsequent financial opportunities available to everyone, regardless of race or gender. Instead we heard an alarming discussion of whether an American citizen ``deserves'' to be a multimillionaire.
Their answers seemed to parallel the class-envy views shamelessly spewed forth by our politically correct president, his political lackeys in Congress and the liberal minions of public opinion ensconced within the ``unbiased'' media.
But our schools, public and private, share much of the blame, too. The average student spends 12 to 16 years of their life in a classroom, and the most many of them come away with is the false hope of ``job security.'' We must pass on to each generation the historical significance of the entrepreneurial spirit that made this country great. America is about freedom, and without financial freedom, we are not free.
Teenspeak is a great service to our community, and should serve as a warning shot across the bow to parents, administrators and teachers!
PHILIP A. ROBINS
Norfolk, Sept. 13, 1996 by CNB