Reflections on the Town of Buchanan
Editor:
About post-pandemic, things are beginning to open up; schools opening on schedule; also some businesses opening. Many products are hard to get.
I think the economists are wrong about what products are available or hard to find. They say only lumber, used cars and fuel are up. I think they have never been to a store or machinery dealer. Things are all at least up some, about doubled, from a year ago. I bought some bolts that were $16 last year; this year, $22. What about groceries? All are up.
All my life, I’ve lived in the Buchanan district of Botetourt County; however, never in the Town of Buchanan. I have a pretty good memory and remember a lot about Buchanan. One thing that has come up lately is police protection in the town, which uses a county sheriff’s deputy. When this was implemented, it was an on-duty deputy who would patrol the town. Any one deputy could be used, paid regular deputy pay and reimbursed by the town. The original town charter stated that a police department had to be maintained by the town. However, it was decided by council to use the Sheriff’s Department. This was called for by a referendum, which was never done.
Another thing was Jessie Burton’s article about the N&W Railroad Depot being moved to Explore Park in Roanoke. Not doubting her word, but I have no recollection of this. However, the town had a chance to have it rolled back where the railcar now sits. The railcar that is there is from a different railroad, not even N&W.
Anderson Harris
Buchanan
Supports school superintendent’s stance
Editor:
Some thoughts prompted by Leigh Martell’s letter in last week’s Fincastle Herald.
Might the way American history has been taught throw light on our difficulty in living up to our lofty ideals? What, for instance, if every child in America was taught that the “all men are created equal” clause in the Declaration of Independence actually bestowed special status upon White propertied men only? Emphasizing this to our youth would in no way disparage our Founding Fathers whose revolutionary achievement was to dare to depart from the monarchy model in order to create a bold new republic. It would additionally highlight, however, the heroic nature of every advance made thereafter to extend the understanding of equality to include non-propertied Whites, women, and all who are non-White. Talk about cause for national pride!
Or what if our youth were taught that every time they recited the Pledge of Allegiance, they were honoring an aspiration rather than a fact when they ended “with liberty and justice for all”? Would this not underscore not only a lofty ideal but the courageous advancement at great cost toward the progressive realization of this ideal that is continuing to this day? This would seem to be a threat only to those of a particular race reluctant to relinquish the claim of superiority, which has been their justification for privileged status throughout our entire history.
If Leigh Martell is correct in quoting the school superintendent as saying that what is important is “doing what’s right for kids” even if parents aren’t always in agreement, then I applaud the superintendent and pray he resists the pressure to continue whitewashing the history of America.
Charlie Finn
Fincastle
Writer says county is permeated with bias
Editor:
As I listen to the controversy surrounding the recent School Board meeting and the Confederate monument, and read Ms. Martell’s letter about CRT in last week’s Herald, I must ask whether we have truly examined our own biases?
It seems to this writer that Botetourt County is permeated with bias and privilege – where was the public statement from elected officials on recent events such as Juneteenth and Pride Month? Where was Mr. Larrowe for this photo op? Does Sheriff Ward know who George Floyd was and does Botetourt County police in the same fashion Derek Chauvin did? Again, these questions in national discussion have been largely met with silence on a local level.
Perhaps this silence comes from an unwillingness to look at our own hearts, but it seems to me our county, and our elected officials, have some self-reflection to do. Silence and inaction cannot be tolerated.
Tim Whatley
Daleville
