www.roanoke.com

Stop giving Bush a pass to ignore laws

As we hear more lies from the Bush administration, GW is now comparing Vietnam to Iraq.

Strange that four years ago when many of the populace compared the invasion of Vietnam to the invasion of Iraq, we were told that it was a totally different situation by the administration. They put the occupants of the White House above question by Congress, NATO, the United Nations, American and allied citizens as GW ferried Osama bin Laden's family out of America for their protection.

Then, he swore to "get" bin Laden, moved the attack to Iraq where the oil disappeared, along with weapons of mass destruction they supposedly had but U.N. forces were unable to find. Kind of like the pre-emptive strike against voters in Florida.

GW has ignored international law, and the world's citizens will continue to pay the price. Either we are a nation of law, or we are not.

Why is our president excused from knowledge of law, knowledge of the consequences of battle, knowledge of the consequences of decisions, because criminals destroyed the World Trade Center buildings?

This is not a conspiracy theory; just following reality.

Too many TV ads are inappropriate

I wholeheartedly agree with Alan Lowe when he says he is disturbed about TV commercials concerning erectile dysfunction (Aug. 19 letter to the editor, "Some commercials just don't belong on TV"). These commercials need to be removed from TV.

Frankly, I would like to see alcohol commercials removed, also.

Many young people today believe that what they see on TV is the gospel truth.

The public needs to speak out when commercials are offensive or downright wrong.

Old Southwest has fences to mend

While I can sympathize with Aubrey Hicks and the unfortunate circumstances surrounding his dealings (or lack thereof) with Roanoke's Architectural Review Board regarding the removal and repair of his roof, I am disappointed (but not surprised) in Judge William Broadhurst's decision to overturn the ARB and city council (Aug. 22 news article, "Historic win").

I am deeply concerned with the precedent that has been set. This ruling provides an opening for absentee landowners, slumlords and other disaffected parties to ignore guidelines and regulations, and ultimately pay only a $100 fine for their "misunderstanding."

It's time for the neighborhood, the city and the Hicks family to move beyond this issue. Hopefully, this will serve as a wake-up call that the ARB needs a complete overhaul of its procedures.

The ARB is tasked with an important role. However, vast irregularities and inconsistencies in the process have distracted from its overall mission. The lengthy ARB process and extended timeline, as well as other issues, have resulted in a lot of frustration and posturing from both sides of the room.

In order to move forward and successfully protect our historic past, all parties must realize that we are working toward the same goal and come to some basic understandings and realizations.

Old Southwest

Believe this: There was an atheist in the foxhole

Religion sometimes uses the "no atheists in foxholes" argument in response to atheism. Simply, it implies that everyone finally believes when faced with death.

This misnomer can be countered with a name, Pat Tillman, an NFL hopeful who gave up millions to go into the Army and finally died while deployed in Afghanistan. Tillman was an atheist.

New details on his death are known. His reply to a fellow soldier, who told his chaplain that he was hugging the ground at Tillman's side "crying out to God, help us," and Tillman said, "Would you shut your mouth? God's not going to help you. You need to do something for yourself, you sniveling ... ."

The misconception that God is the only default when one is under threat is clearly disproved by Tillman. His story is not unique in warfare. Throughout history, there have been countless soldiers who have died in combat who were atheist to the end.

I would like to think that the argument "no atheists in foxholes" has died with the death of Tillman. But, at best, I feel it is another nail in the coffin of the misconceptions of atheism.

Put the Vick-watching time to better use

Animal welfare advocates have doubtless watched in amazement the unfolding hoopla of the Michael Vick case. How ironic.

We have a celebrity involved, so -- at least for the next 15 minutes -- people are outraged on behalf of our animals.

But the Vick case is hardly the most horrific animal abuse case seen in Virginia, and our local shelters would welcome even a fraction of the outrage Vick has garnered when it comes to the horrors they must witness every day.

Instead, Vick will be a nine days' wonder, and after he is trotted off the stage of public outrage to languish in the prison cell he deserves, the forgotten victims -- the dogs and cats we have abused, neglected and abandoned -- will still be languishing in their own prisons, which is precisely where they were when the hoopla started.

If we have time to gawk at Vick being pilloried on television, we have five minutes to call our state legislators and ask what they plan to do to strengthen the penalties for torturing an animal, or why Virginia can't pass a mandatory spay-neuter law. Come on. Five minutes.

Vick is yesterday's news. Turn off the television, and do something that really matters.

Where are the other dogfighting cases?

We now know that the horrible charges that have been leveled against Michael Vick and his three co-defendants are true. I don't understand why anyone would think that watching dogs trying to kill each other is "entertainment."

The callous abuse of those dogs is heartbreaking. I certainly think all four deserve long prison sentences.

My question, though, is: Why don't we hear about other investigations?

When Vick and his friends were betting thousands of dollars, were other groups involved? Why aren't they being prosecuted?

Or was this investigation about bringing down a successful black man?

Let's nominate David Walker

Do we want to keep floundering in a political wasteland, or do we want results that will protect and help our children and future generations of Americans?

After reading Dan Radmacher's Aug. 19 column, "Could America be the next Rome?", I am convinced -- and I am quite serious -- the most important decision we have as Americans is to try to elect David Walker, the present comptroller general of the United States, to be president in 2008.

Improvements noted at transportation museum

Over the last five years, our family has made frequent visits to the Virginia Museum of Transportation.

During a recent trip to the museum, we noticed definite improvements to the facility, including a wider range of exhibits offered, new signs explaining the history of the rolling stock, new stairs that allow the patrons to look inside previously closed-off equipment, and even cleaner and brighter rooms.

We believe that Beverly T. Fitzpatrick Jr. and his staff should be commended for the fine work they are doing at the museum and the steps they have taken to preserve a valuable part of the valley's transportation heritage.