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Mill Mountain restaurant would attract too much traffic

I oppose the restaurant on Mill Mountain for several reasons, all of which have been aired numerous times.

But many times people say there is already development on the mountain: the Star, the zoo, the Discovery Center. So what's the problem? The problem lies in the comparable scale of the proposal and its impact.

The Star has a small footprint of 70 by 35 feet, and an 18-space parking lot. It is mostly enjoyed from afar. Most folks who drive to the star are going for the view and for the park setting.

If a restaurant had the same traffic as the zoo, it wouldn't stand a chance. The Discovery Center is a fine example of appropriate scale. Many visits to Mill Mountain are further enriched by this excellent facility, but heavy traffic is not part of its impact.

So, scale is a critical issue here, and the present development on the mountain is suited to the limited space and desirably low-traffic, quiet, natural setting that makes a park attractive.

Harris reneged on stadium promise

It is my opinion that Nelson Harris misled the people to get elected mayor of Roanoke.

He told my wife and me that if he was elected mayor, he would work to save Victory Stadium. At that time, we had no reason to doubt him.

After he was elected, he appointed a new council member who he knew would vote with him to tear down the stadium.

The people who spoke at the council meeting before the vote to tear down the stadium said they would vote council members out that voted to tear down the stadium. If you meant what you said, go vote.

Lea and Wishneff were the only two council members interested in working for people like me and my family.

Now that Lea has seemed to align himself with Harris and his group, I think it is time for him to go.

During the last election, some council members ran on the slate "For the city." I think we should have a new mayor and council that is "For the people" before the city. In my opinion, this is the worst mayor and city council Roanoke has ever had.

Vote for Rosen and the city's future

I encourage Roanoke voters to vote for Court Rosen on May 6 in the city council election. As a lifelong resident of Roanoke, I am encouraged to see, and hope for, new leadership that can help to take our city in a positive direction.

Over the last several years, some members of council have taken to name-calling and a general lack of civility. I have been happy to see that Rosen has been positive and hopeful about our future, and has avoided getting tangled in this sort of unproductive and mean-spirited rhetoric.

Rosen is a small business owner, a strong advocate for improving our schools as a source of economic development and community responsibility, and is committed to working toward the attraction and retention of the younger generation. He is of that generation -- a new leader at a pivotal time in our city's history.

Vote for Rosen. It's time to look forward to the future and not continue to complain about past actions.

Greenways show how cool Roanoke is

Wow, Roanoke city is literally on the right path with the greenways it is developing.

My wife and I rode our bikes on the one that starts in South Roanoke, and what an asset for the citizens of our valley.

Instead of putting up signs that say we are a technology corridor, city management is putting in the infrastructure and utilizing the thing we have most going for us: the beauty of the valley.

The "cool" factor is really starting to show and with it will come the young "geeks" who will take us where the "entering the technology corridor" signs say we are.

The city, through the leadership of City Manager Darlene Burcham and her young staff, is indeed on the right path. Let's hope the rest of the valley leaders will hit the trail too.

Tech spokesman spoke unwisely

I am dismayed at Larry Hincker's comments regarding Eric Thompson's speaking engagement at Virginia Tech. In a statement in which he acknowledged "the importance of free speech," Hincker also said he found Thompson's appearance "incredibly offensive," ("Va. Tech hears from gun seller," April 25 news story).

Hincker is entitled to his opinions with regard to firearms safety, the Second Amendment or any other matter. But it seems unfortunate that he would use his position as spokesperson for the university to give such poor, backhanded service to the ideals of free-speech and open debate.

His remarks were unworthy of a university with the profile and prestige of Tech and doubly unworthy of a professional whose job it is to present that university in the most positive light possible.

Tech's heroic reaction to April 16, 2007, should serve to reinforce its commitment to honest inquiry and free speech. Beyond that, as a premier university in the South, I would hope that Tech would extend the courtesy and hospitality that is emblematic of our region to anyone who visits. Surely our mothers and fathers taught us to behave with better grace than to offer a public scolding to a stranger.

Flashing high beams can be sign of road rage

In response to Scott Clothier's letter ("You move over for officers' safety," April 25 letter): He said the Virginia code states that you have the right to honk or use high beams to urge vehicles to merge right when in left lane so that you can pass them. Well, be careful.

My husband and I were pulled over by a police officer for using high beams to urge a vehicle out of the passing lane. The officer told my husband that this is considered a form of "road rage" and he could be ticketed. Luckily, he was only warned.

In response to move over to keep our officers safe: Yes, move over.

Pope's visit prompts reflection on Christ

We were recently exposed to a very impressive spectacle. Pope Benedict XVI arrived in the U.S. in his private jet.

He was welcomed by President and Mrs. Bush. During his visit, he received the adulation of thousands, often seated on what appeared to be a throne of sorts. His robes were no less than striking.

His every move was recorded on TV. And as I watched the thought occurred to me, "What progress we have made since Jesus walked on this Earth."

Christ washed his disciples' feet, this "vicar of Christ" had his hand kissed by hundreds as they reached for him as he walked by.

Christ rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the Pope in his specially built popemobile.

Christ told his disciples on several occasions that he who would be great must be servant of all. On the other hand, the pope seemed always to be surrounded by attendants (servants?). Am I missing something here?

Blaming Darwin is disgraceful

Linda Whitlock wrote in her April 24 column ("Evolution and aliens"): "Evolution provided the rationale for the eugenics movement, and eugenics the justification for getting rid of the unfit, which, to the Nazis, included the Jews." Whitlock should be ashamed.

Eugenics was the application of centuries-old techniques of livestock breeding to humans. This was artificial selection and owed nothing to Darwin. Just the reverse; Darwin's insight was that the trials of survival in nature would also have a selective effect.

For centuries, the Catholic Church had persecuted Jews as "Christ-killers." Martin Luther wrote "On the Jews and Their Lies," from which Hitler quoted. Anti-Semitism comes from Christian roots, and cannot be blamed on Darwin.

There is no mention of Darwin anywhere in "Mein Kampf." Hitler wrote in "Mein Kampf": "Peoples which bastardize themselves, or let themselves be bastardized, sin against the will of eternal Providence ... " and "the admonition finally to put an end to the constant and continuous original sin of racial poisoning, and to give the Almighty Creator beings such as He Himself created." Hitler was a creationist.