DATE: Monday, September 29, 1997            TAG: 9709260021

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:  126 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

TOBACCO

Message to Clinton: Butt out on smoking

President Clinton has flipped his lid if he thinks he can stop teens from smoking, or any person, for that matter. He's wasting taxpayers' money on a lost cause.

Teens are going to start stealing cigarettes and then the youth crime rate will rise again.

If he raises the tax on cigarettes by $1.50, then I'm going to smoke in any public place I want to because I pay taxes, also.

Sheryl Caudell

Chesapeake, Sept. 18, 1997

HOUSE RACE

In 87th, a tough act to follow

After reviewing the Sept. 17 articles about the `97 race for the House of Delegates, I feel compelled to comment.

Todd Fiorello has been recommended by friends I hold in high regard. He seems to be very capable, and I encourage him in his ambition to be a public servant. Therefore, I would like to explain why I will not be able to support him in his bid for the House seat from the 87th District.

Running for office is much like applying for a job. Even though you are qualified, it is easy to be beat out by the applicant with a proven record, and a performance record is what Thelma Drake has.

Her community service goes back years before she was elected to office. I first voted for Thelma as president of the Granby High School PTA. She was the driving force that finally browbeat the city fathers into the much-needed renovations at Granby. Thelma has been a leader in every aspect of the revitalization of our Ocean View neighborhoods.

So, Todd, please don't be discouraged by the results of your first attempt at public service. You've just picked a hard act to follow.

Kimberly Keller Brazzi

Norfolk, Sept. 17, 1997

WELD NOMINATION

Power-broker Helms made a fool of himself

The sham between Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., and William Weld was our government at its worst. It was frightening to watch on television the lengths to which a U.S. senator would go just to satisfy his ego. What I observed was a self-righteous, self-centered, power-hungry old man making a complete fool of himself.

The senator opposed Mr. Weld's nomination as ambassador to Mexico solely on the grounds that he is soft on drugs (use of marijuana). This is a case of the kettle calling the pot black. Both marijuana and tobacco have been classified as drugs, and we all know that tobacco is a moneymaking staple for North Carolina as well as Virginia.

After seeing Helm's bad use of power brokering, possibly the good voters of North Carolina will see fit to put him out to pasture during the next election.

Thomas M. Hitchings

Chesapeake, Sept. 17, 1997

PAT ROBERTSON

Coalition could learn from Mother Teresa

It has bugged me for years. What is it that is so distasteful about the Christian Coalition's blatant political activism? Then, as I was reading Cal Thomas' fine Sept. 22 column about this subject, the images of Pat Robertson compared to Mother Teresa came to mind. Can you imagine Mother Teresa being questioned about mining interests in a Third World country? Or getting involved in anything political?

The Master has a simple message: ``Love others unconditionally as yourself.'' Do we see this lived in the Christian Coalition's treatment of gays? Of anyone? Pat Robertson and his followers just don't ``get it.'' All that power and opportunity could be used so much more effectively. What Mother Teresa could have done with it.

Carole Devine

Virginia Beach, Sept. 23, 1997

QUEEN ASTRID

62 years ago, another royal tragedy

Millions of people around the world will long remember the fatal car crash that took the life of Princess Diana on Aug. 31, 1997. However, it is quite astonishing and rather uncanny to look back on how history has a way of repeating itself.

I am referring to another car crash that took place on Aug. 29, 1935, that took the life of another beautiful royal. Except this royal was the 29-year-old popular queen of the Belgians, a princess from Sweden and also a striking beauty in her day. Her name was Queen Astrid, the wife of Leopold III, king of Belgium and cousin to King George V of England, Queen Elizabeth's grandfather.

She and the king were vacationing in Switzerland and planning on hiking in the mountains when their car, driven by Leopold, went off the road, down a 95-foot embankment. Queen Astrid was killed instantly and King Leopold suffered a fractured rib and several cuts to his face and arms.

The following two days witnessed the tolling of church bells, and Queen Astrid's elaborate casket cortege draped in black was taken through the streets of Brussels. Like all Belgian royalty, she was laid in state at the gray-walled palace, better known as the Hall of the Thinkers, while Belgians and other notables filed past her coffin.

Queen Astrid was loved by her people and was known for organizing relief projects. She was best remembered for pushing her own perambulator in the parks, instead of a nanny. She left behind three small children, Princess Josephine, 7, Prince Baudouin, 5 and Prince Albert, age 15 months and the present king of the Belgians.

Now, 62 years later, another tragic automobile accident - same month and with similar circumstances - has taken the life of another beautiful royal, not to mention leaving two children motherless.

Robert B. Hitchings

Norfolk, Sept. 10, 1997

HOMOSEXUALITY

Ellen has a right to her opinion, too

In response to the Sept. 20 letter by Glenda Buchanan, ```Ellen' more toxic than Joe Camel'': If she does not want to hear what Ellen DeGeneres has to say, she doesn't have to watch her. She has a choice - to watch what she wants, listen to what she wants, believe what she wants.

Gay doesn't have to be OK to her or her children.

I think morality is about more than sexual behavior. However, I respect Ms. Buchanan's right to express her opinion in a public forum, just as she should respect Ellen DeGeneres' right to do the same.

Aimee M. Estes

Chesapeake, Sept. 22, 1997

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