Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tech needs a healthier source of inspiration
Letters to the Editor
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From the RoundTable blog
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Tech needs a healthier source of inspiration
Joe Painter's letter, "No pall over Tech, but a new spirit" (Feb. 20), is representative of the troubling psychosis that has swept through the Tech campus.
Painter proudly exhorts, "We must always remember. We are Virginia Tech. We will prevail."
It is all too clear to me that this massacre is being wholly embraced and adopted by many as if they desire to use it to define who they are. This serves to expose the greater problem that exists in the culture today: the general emptiness and lack of direction in so many people's lives.
It would be better to look somewhere other than a crime scene for self-identity and inspiration.
No, Virginia, we're not blue
I am astonished by the conclusions reached by "political experts" Larry Sabato and Ed Lynch ("Primaries show a blue-leaning Va.," Feb. 14 news story). Their assertions that any voter tendencies can be drawn based on the results of the Feb. 12 primary vote is beyond ludicrous -- it's down-right silly.
There are a number of things to remember about the primary and its results, most notably:
1) Going into the primary, John McCain had a comfortable lead for the Republican nomination. Mathematically, Mike Huckabee was still technically in the race -- but not realistically. Therefore, GOP voters may have felt their party's race was a done deal.
2) Virginia's was a dual primary, meaning voters could cast a ballot for either party regardless of their own party affiliation. I suspect a significant number of traditionally GOP voters opted to influence the Democratic result.
These facts seem obvious, yet the learned analysts failed to remind their audience of these points.
The results of the general election in November remain to be seen. But to draw conclusions about the strength of party loyalty based on the results of the primary is an insult to the intelligence of most readers.
Smokers shouldn't force the habit on others
The ridiculous suggestions and comments smokers make in defense of their selfish, inconsiderate habit are absurd. It is time we put an end to the backward thinking and correct the standard to what it should be naturally: smoke free.
If you want to smoke, please, by all means, smoke. Indulge yourself. This is one time that I ask you to be stingy. Do not share. Keep it all to yourself. Lock yourself up in a dumpster or trash can, keep the lid on and smoke till your foul, offensive habit is content. When you decide to rejoin people, please keep that nasty stench to yourself.
Smokers need to be responsible for every puff they take. If smokers cannot contain their discharge when they exhale, they need to wait until they go home and keep it sealed in their homes.
Smokers, it is your choice to smoke, not ours. Keep your choice to yourself and stop violating everyone else's rights. Smoking is a choice, not a right. Stop recklessly forcing it on others.
Virginia needs to invest in early education
When children are ready for school, they are ready for life. Building Children's Futures of the Roanoke Region, a Smart Beginnings coalition, is dedicated to growing Virginia's economy and workforce through investments in Smart Beginnings to help our youngest citizens enter kindergarten ready to learn.
We urge the General Assembly to unlock the human potential in all of our state's children from birth to 5 years old. Investing in early childhood education is the key to their future success.
President, Virginia Western Community College
Chairman, Building Children's Futures
Loophole didn't play into Cho's shootings
I have to respond to Dana Hawkins' letter, "Fight to close gun loopholes just beginning" (Feb. 13). The letter stated that Seung-Hui Cho didn't purchase his gun from a gun show. That part is true. But to say he was able to fit through some type of loophole is wrong.
He purchased his gun from a licensed gun shop dealer. The dealer did everything he was supposed to do, i.e., a background check. The dealer wasn't at fault for what happened at Tech, it was the system. Cho was not in the system's records that show someone to be too unstable to purchase a gun.
Nobody told him to go out, buy a gun and shoot those people. Go back and read the archives on this. Nothing was done about school papers that he had written. Nobody followed up on an order for him to seek counseling. And, come to think of it, the students didn't help either.
It wasn't a loophole slip. It was the system's fault. Besides, fighting to close loopholes won't keep guns from getting into the wrong hands when there are all kinds of black markets that sell guns.
Helpful poll worker was too intrusive
I know there is some controversy about the new electronic voting machines and that workers at the voting locations are probably instructed to offer assistance in case voters are confused on how to work the screens. However, this shouldn't include hovering over your shoulder watching as you vote, and then coming even closer to ask, "Are you sure that is who you want to vote for?"
I truly believe that this worker was trying to be helpful and the question was intended to instruct me on how to change my selection, if I so desired, before touching the final screen to finalize my selection. However, his actions could just as easily have been construed as intimidation and have no place in the voting process.
He should be there to assist if asked or if the voter is obviously confused about operating the equipment, but this particular fellow was overenthusiastic in offering assistance when none was needed or requested. In doing so, he made the voting process an uncomfortable and certainly less private experience than it is intended to be.
Give a handshake, and maybe a check
Kudos and thanks to so many fire and rescue squads that have spent time fighting the recent fires in our area. We take for granted the time and effort these men and women put into making us safer; many of them are volunteers.
Thanks to them all, we went through the fires with little property lost and no loss of life. Whether you live in Bedford, Craig, Roanoke County or elsewhere, all the squads did themselves proud. In our case, Mason Cove, thank you.
My challenge to everyone is to stop by your nearest station: Hollins, Fort Lewis, Craig County, etc., and shake a hand and, if your financial means can afford it, write them a check. Most of these units work on bare-bones budgets.
Thanks for a job well done.
Repay a debt to vets with job offers
I read the article about the recently discharged veterans having a hard time finding jobs (Feb. 10 news story). The reasoning of employers is that they are worried about the veterans' mental health. Well! If it weren't for these men going to fight for their country, these companies would not be here today.
After World War II, the ones who returned had the government giving them a chance at attending college to improve their education and go on to better jobs.
If they lose an arm or leg, they are still capable of doing a job. If employers don't have any compassion for what these soldiers have seen and gone through, then I say, shame. They could very easily help these men (not boys anymore) acquire a job.
Stop thinking of your so-called businesses and get down on your knees and thank God these men came home. There's many who never come home. Wake up. Thank God these boys went over to fight for our freedom so you could have a business to call your own.
