HEADLINE: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published:
Section: Editorial
Page: A8
YORK SHOULD TAP TALENT
We have to face the reality that the York County School Board
has some major funding problems requiring a great deal more than
even more tax increases, incremental funding by the supervisors
and such things as lowering thermostats and holding positions
constant.
What is more frustrating is that the funding problems have been on the horizon for several years with no apparent long-term planning to manage those problems. Continuing to operate on an emergency basis is neither wise nor responsible management. The superintendent has wisely noted that quick fixes have a destructive cumulative effect. Reality requires that the school budgetbe modified and probably reduced. It must be done in such a way that quality programming is not hurt.
Is that possible? The answer to that question lies in the approach devised to address the problem.
York school officials could take advantage of the pool of talent available in the greater Williamsburg area that could be of help. Most of those people have no ax to grind, no political position to protect, no loyalty to any particular program.
They are, however, committed to quality education for their children. They possess the needed objectivity and skills required to take on the daunting task of assisting school officials really define the problems and long-term solutions.
I point out the availability of extraordinary local talent to discourage the school board from going to the extreme of hiring consultants to do what could be done locally on a voluntary basis.
William Bullock Jr.
York County
THE MELTING POT
Reference Rodney A. Flores' Jan. 3 letter, "Racism circumvented,"
regarding the TV show "Frasier":
No, racism was not averted when Frasier's father's joking reference to Philippine mail order brides was deleted. Truth and freedom of speech certainly, but by no means racism.
Does your call for censorship of admitted truth in the name of cultural diversity also prevent us from publicly or legally condemning, in whatever fashion to include biting humor in a TV comedy, the cultural practices of polygamy, drug use and clitoral mutilation of infant girls to name but a few?
These too are existing practices of certain
cultures whose immigrants are found in the United States.
No society or nation has survived by emphasizing the differences
among its people (typically war results). I learned in school
we were a melting pot and were great because of it. And if you
will think about it, the concepts embodied by the terms "cultural
diversity" and "melting pot" are mutually exclusive.
Iron, nickel, chromium, carbon etc. have unique properties standing
alone, but combined in the pot from whence the term derives,
steel is produced.
We cannot have many languages, sets of laws and mores and flourish as a nation. We must have a value system and we must choose because all values are not equal. Our respect for benign differences and individual freedom should ever be confused with our right and duty to say something is wrong.
Brian D. Lytle
Hampton
PUT GAMING TO VOTERS
Riverboat gaming is currently the fastest-growing new tourist
attraction in the country.
The riverboats currently in operation typically attract over 1 million passengers a year each. In addition, riverboat gaming is not seasonal. Unlike many tourist activities, riverboats will create business and jobs for restaurants, hotel and shops not just in the summer, but year-round.
I encourage our legislators to support the bill and allow the voters to decide on this issue in November.
T.D. Marks
Hampton
CONSIDER FEELINGS
Please consider the feelings of the elderly and the young parents
of children and adults who have committed crimes. Some of the
elderly are not well and don't need the publicity.
In cases in which the suspects and the victims are relatives, the elderly have a hard time adjusting to this and relationships are ruined. We are not all perfect. We can't say what we would have done in the situations.
Alberta Lockley Edwards
Topping
COMMENTATOR MISSED
Radio station WTAR just canceled Mike Rau's talk show. Rau was
liberal, but he offset the two major conservative talk shows
of Rush Limbaugh and Gordon Liddy. He had more savvy than other
local political talk show hosts who seem to be broadcasting based
on reasons other than substance.
Rau is replaced by a nationally syndicated "Joe Something Show." I listened intently for three hours but could never understand what the man's last name was due to his strong blue-collar Boston accent.
I am no die-hard fan of Rau's, but due to the programming decisions at WTAR we've lost a capable political commentator who at least gave us some practical information that had regional and state import, and they've replaced it with a superficial stab at entertainment.
Hopefully, another radio station will pick up Rau soon and he'll give a better balance to his political commentary.
Joyce Sabo
Hampton
CHUNG NOT SO DUCKY
I would like to say hooray to Jan. 13 letter writer Randall Foskey,
who made his opinion quite clear about how rude and insensitive
Connie Chung was to Newt Gingrich's mother.
I feel the same way and I will never feel the same about Chung. I used to think she was very sweet, but she shows everything that looks like a duck and acts like a duck is not necessarily a duck. I agree with everything Foskey said.
P.A. Harle
Newport News
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