Tuesday, May 29, 2007
The answer to violence isn't more violence
Letters to the Editor
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The answer to violence isn't more violence
In response to Robert Marcus' May 14 commentary "Virginia should let citizens protect themselves":
When did we as a nation decide that putting more violent weapons (i.e., guns) out on the street was a sensible solution to ending violent crime?
We are one of the most violent nations on this planet, as well as one of the best armed. Yet, the anti-gun control crowd still seems to believe that we should simply flood the public with even more weapons to kill.
Are we simply ready to dissolve into gunfights in the streets between criminals and "good citizens" who think they are doing the right thing? Yes, that will certainly stem the violent tide.
As for "the screening processes for purchasing or concealing [being so] rigorous," we needn't look any further than the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech.
Apparently those screening processes are not quite rigorous enough, Mr. Marcus.
Scouts enjoy the safety event
ITT Night Vision in Hollins puts on a Scout safety day every year. It includes many merit badges for Boy and Girl Scouts -- from environmental science to horsemanship.
I commend ITT for volunteering their property and workers to help put on this fun day of scouting.
This year Life-Guard 10 landed to the amazement of Scouts young and old. The mounted police also galloped in on their horses and were swarmed by Scouts and scouters with questions.
ITT also provided a free lunch to all who attended and the food was great.
ITT is a fun event on my troop's scouting calender.
Thank you all who helped on the May 12 ITT Scout Safety Awareness Day. It was a great day.
Troop 352
It's boorish to speak ill of the dead
"It is not for us to stand in judgment." One could only wish you had followed your own editorial advice (May 16, "Falwell's judgment day").
Your statement "We hope he was embraced by a loving, forgiving God" is unconvincing.
You then spend half of the editorial listing the things you find offensive about the Rev. Jerry Falwell. Even your attempt to find the positive in his ministry associates the word "indoctrination" with his educational accomplishments.
While many thousands in our area are mourning the death of Falwell, you have shown up at the funeral to shout how much you disliked the deceased. You have a right to express your opinion, but your timing is boorish.
There were those who were hysterically angry at the politics and influence of former President Ronald Reagan. Yet, at his funeral even his enemies paid their respects or at least kept silent.
History will make an assessment of Falwell. It will have positives and negatives. The fact that you were offended will make no contribution to that assessment.
I was not a supporter of Falwell, but appreciate being reminded that Christians have as much a voice in our national debate as anyone else.
Smith missed the point about judge not
I find the outrage over The Roanoke Times' editorial regarding the Rev. Jerry Falwell's death (May 16, "Falwell's judgment day") somewhat curious.
In particular, the commentary by Roanoke's former Mayor Ralph K. Smith (May 21, "On Falwell, The Roanoke Times hits a new low") misses the point of the editorial entirely.
Smith apparently feels that upon death we are no longer responsible for foul words we utter in life that spew hate and bigotry. Falwell was a master at exploiting emotional cultural topics for his ministry's financial gain.
Falwell's outrageous statements were responsible for the press exposure he received over the years. He used this to his advantage. These comments have to be accounted for now that he is gone.
What man, or institution, has that authority? While Falwell believed that he did, the editorial refused to "stand in judgment."
Smith hopes the publishers of The Times will come to realize that they need Christ's forgiveness. He doesn't get it.
None of us need him or Falwell to stand in judgment of who does or does not need to improve upon their dialogue with God. I think that was the whole point of the editorial.
Moore's experience will prove invaluable
Congratulations to Roanoke City Council and Suzanne Moore for her appointment to the Roanoke School Board. Her experience and leadership in the Roanoke schools will prove invaluable in creating a proper dialogue between the administrative staff, school board and the future superintendent.
As a former student of Moore's at Patrick Henry High School, I couldn't be more proud that my former government teacher remains dedicated to the city schools and leads by example in her new civic duty.
Her appointment will help ensure that Roanokers can be delivered a forward-thinking school system to challenge and educate the students of Roanoke.
I wholeheartedly agree with her that the new superintendent should be someone from Roanoke who understands the dynamics and needs of our fair city.
We should not have to look outside of Roanoke for leadership, but rather look within our community to find the candidate who can provide some sense of harmony to meet the needs and expectations of parents, students, staff and the school board.
The future again looks bright for the Roanoke schools, and we've accomplished that with a few familiar faces. I think we need one more.
Illegal immigrants must be sent home
I knew The Roanoke Times would be in favor of the immigration bill because it has everything Sen. Ted Kennedy wants (May 19 editorial, "An immigration bill worthy of our country").
We have no obligation to people who break our laws by coming here. I do not have any problems with immigration, just illegal immigration.
Amnesty does not work. It never has. All it does is give false hope to another group of illegals.
We need to seal our borders and deport any illegals we come across. If they are caught a second time, they should be banned from acquiring citizenship for five years. A third time, 10 years.
We need to punish employers for hiring illegals.
Kennedy will get what he wants, and then block the enforcement parts of the bill. The Democrats did it to Reagan and will do it again.
Parents kept informed by the newspaper
I would like to thank The Roanoke Times for its coverage of the teen gun sales at Blacksburg Middle School (May 15 news article, "Teen tried to sell guns at school, police say").
If it were not for investigative reporters, the parents of children at BMS would never have known about this and other incidents.
There is a conspiracy of silence at the school that would have covered up this incident, just as they did in the John Utin case.
Again, parents would not have known about the former teacher's arrest if The Times had not covered the story.
Please continue reporting on both of these cases.
Parents, like myself, are very worried for the safety of their children in this school. We are not even assured that the student in question will remain suspended and out of the school building. Parents are condemned to wonder if other incidents are being hidden by the school administration.
Keep up the good work, even if the news is difficult to print. In the Blacksburg community, we have all seen the results when warning signs are unheeded.
