THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 25, 1996 TAG: 9609250002
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 33 lines
This is an effort to counteract the message contained in the Russell Baker column of Sept. 14 concerning politicians and family values.
Mr. Baker and those who hide behind the cliche' that morality can't be legislated, fail to recognize the underlying cause of deteriorating moral values and the contributions that politicians (and journalists) can make to correcting the problem. His discolored rhetoric bothers me greatly, not only because it is wrong but because it ``papers over'' the problem.
There is something that politicians can do to help restore morality in the citizenry. First, they can take action to reverse the campaign that is being waged to keep the truth about creation out of our schools. Second, they can speak out against the bold-faced lying that has become the ``tool of choice'' by the Democrats from the president on down.
These are things that have a significant impact on the way our young learn ``real world'' behavior. They are being taught by word and deed that nothing is real; that lying is not only acceptable but necessary for success.
They are not being taught to idolize the one responsible for the creation of such magnificent things as the atoms of matter system, the living cell system, the DNA/gene code system, the solar system, etc. They are being taught to idolize things like ``Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan and a benevolent government,'' which are not ``real.''
Think about the contribution you and our politicians can make so that ``the light'' you and they project does not send the wrong message.
MILES PELTON
Virginia Beach, Sept. 14, 1996 by CNB