I would like to use Tina Workman of Downtown Roanoke Inc.'s logic for just a moment ("Festival going less green this year," Feb. 10 news story). Since she has a "vision" of diversity for the Shamrock Festival, I propose a few changes for other events in Roanoke.

Let's diversify Local Colors with electronica and trance music. How many more would come out for that?

How about having country music at the Henry Street Festival?

The Big Lick Blues Festival would have to include the Lawrence Welk Orchestra.

Fiddlefest would be required to mix in some rap bands to diversify.

The point is that all of these events are meant to be homogenous by definition.

To diversify a homogenous event is to destroy it by its very definition.

If any of the above changes were proposed, there would be an outcry, and it would never happen.

Diversity can be good; don't get me wrong. But diversity in the wrong place can be devastating.

With all the letters and what I hear in town, this festival is getting a bad reputation from the first event.

And no wonder; the premise is totally silly.

BILL McCLURE
ROANOKE

Shame on Virginia

Your Feb. 9 article "Va. limits hours of part-time workers" states Virginia will limit workers to no more than 29 hours per week to avoid having to pay millions to provide them health care benefits, as mandated by the federal Affordable Care Act.

This is the moral equivalent of corporations sending jobs oversees to avoid incurring the higher cost of employing U.S. workers.

Incarcerated felons get better health care coverage than our part-time workers.

Virginia's conscious decision to limit workers' hours to avoid providing them health care coverage is a shameful reflection on our state, its politicians and citizens who allow this to happen.

DR. ROBERT SLACKMAN
ROANOKE

Weather Journal

53 mins ago