Monday, April 28, 2008
Roanoke is on the upswing under Mayor Harris
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Roanoke is on the upswing under Mayor Harris
All you'll need to remember, when voting for mayor of Roanoke in May, are the improvements made in the economic and environmental conditions of our city during the last four years under the leadership of Nelson Harris.
The rebound in the city's population reflects the city's attractiveness as a place to live and do business, the result of progressive leadership by the current mayor. As a downtown resident, I see progress everywhere, from the reopening of businesses along Campbell Avenue to the art museum and parking facilities.
Improvements are being made at the Market Building, Center in the Square and what was Billy's Ritz. A Social Security Administration building is under construction. The City Market area is crowded with local residents and visitors enjoying Roanoke's great new downtown.
Ukrop's store and Colonial Green homes exist because of Harris' support. The Carilion Clinic has the potential to become the Mayo Clinic of Virginia. New greenways provide convenient opportunities for citizens to stay fit and enjoy nature.
As a former council colleague, I enthusiastically support the re-election of Mayor Harris.
U.S. owes refugees some hope
The cost of the Iraq war is staggering. The greatest cost however, is not the billions of dollars in military expenditures. The human cost is the most devastating.
In addition to the tens of thousands of people killed or crippled for life, millions have fled their homes. More than 2 million refugees are in surrounding countries, another million in their own country.
These displaced people exist in slums without heat or hot water, little or no health care and no schooling for the children. There are reports of women becoming prostitutes to help their families survive.
The United States has done almost nothing to help alleviate this huge problem resulting from the war we started. In the last year and a half, only about 3,500 refugees have been accepted into our country. In response to a U.N. appeal for the 2008 refugee aid, the U.S. contributed $83 million, a little over 1 percent of what we spend monthly on the war.
Where has our compassion gone? The U.S. needs to lead in urging world response to the refugee crisis, beginning with our own example. To do so will give desperate people hope for the future.
Lives ruined? Expel the thought
Barbara Skinner, like too many other people, just accepts the charges made in the ridiculous movie "Expelled" at face value, without bothering to check the facts ("'Expelled' review missed the mark," April 24 letter).
I encourage anyone who thinks "Expelled" has shown that scientists who support Intelligent Design have been unfairly treated to go to expelledexposed.com/ and read the facts. None of the claims of people losing their jobs, being denied tenure or otherwise ostracized because of their links to ID is true, and the site provides all the details one needs to see this.
For example, the makers of "Expelled" lied to Richard Dawkins in order to get him to agree to be interviewed, and then they selectively edited his comments to make it seem like he actually supports the idea that advanced alien intelligence started life on Earth. Of course he doesn't believe that, but the people behind "Expelled" had an agenda, and they weren't going to let truth or facts get in their way.
Don't let yourselves be fooled by these charlatans. Intelligent Design doesn't belong in the scientific discussion (because it's not science), but lives and careers aren't being ruined over it.
What a waste of needed money
In the midst of the never-ending campaigning for president, I have been struck with what to me seems an absurdity: the amount of money being spent for the campaigns.
For the past few months, we have been hearing about one candidate raising $20 million or another raising $40 million per month. All the while they are talking about how to improve our lives. I can think of many vital and important needs in our society that could use the hundreds of millions of dollars raised for these seemingly never-ending debates, speeches and ads. (These debates, speeches and ads are vital and really improving the lives of Americans.)
Isn't it beyond absurd to throw this money away when it could really do some good? Not even considering deserving charities, how about roads, schools, law enforcement agencies, the military, etc? If the candidates are not able to see this or even want to spend the money in useful ways, shouldn't there be reasonable caps put on campaign spending? Oh wait, the people who would put those caps on spending are also candidates.
Rescue call cost too much
I recently had to have care from Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Squad. I was treated very well by the EMTs and appreciate their services. I was, however, shocked and disappointed after receiving my bill to find out they do not participate with Anthem BCBS health insurance company, thus allowing them to bill me at a higher cost.
I assumed that the local rescue squads would participate with one of the larger insurance providers of the region. I guess the almighty dollar crosses all areas of medical care.
I do not discourage anyone from using the rescue or ambulance services at all. I was cared for very well, so well I considered donating money or purchasing a barbecue dinner, but not anymore. They already got it with the "non-par" charge.
Disabled youth also need long-term care
On the issue of long-term care planning ("As we age we need to reset priorities," April 22 editorial):
Think about children with developmental disabilities, placed in long-term care facilities. Virginia is now planning to rebuild training centers for individuals with disabilities.
Long-term care planning includes not only the aged and infirm, but children and youth with disabilities. Please take a look at the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities and the release of their 2008 Biennial Assessment. It is a stunning realization of the true meaning of long-term care planning.
Also, visit olmsteadva.com to learn about community integration, the Systems Transformation, Money Follows the Person and State Profile Tool initiatives.
Virginia Board For People With Disabilities
Good reason not to take ID seriously
I'm writing to clear up some misconceptions commentator Linda Whitlock ("Evolution and aliens," April 24 column) picked up from Ben Stein's movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed."
Science doesn't stifle revolutionary ideas, it encourages them. Einstein showed classical mechanics was incomplete. He's remembered precisely because he questioned the establishment and was right. If Intelligent Design "scientists" had results to show for their theory, they would be celebrated, not silenced.
Science ignores ideas shown to be wrong. There's a reason science treats the intelligent design and the storks-deliver-babies "theories" the same. They're not science and we already have better explanations.
Science isn't obligated to take cranks seriously. Darwin is not responsible for the Holocaust. Linking the theory of evolution to Hitler's actions is like blaming Newton for the bombs Hitler dropped because of the theory of gravity. It just doesn't follow. European hatred of Jews predates evolutionary theory by hundreds of years.
Only results matter in science. Remember Pons and Fleischmann, the Utah scientists who promised a breakthrough in cold fusion and free energy back in 1989? It made for a great David and Goliath story, but it flopped because it couldn't produce. Same thing with ID. For more information, see the Web site expelledexposed.com.
