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December 28, 2006
VA: Cox's Chapel No Place For A Prison
12/28/06
Cox's Chapel no place for a prison
John A. Duvall
Duvall lives in Comers Rock and is a retired United Methodist pastor.
The Roanoke Times has earlier reported plans for a state penitentiary on New River in Cox's Chapel community in Grayson County. Evaluation is ongoing.
Grayson political leaders are hyping this prison as a cure-all for the county's ailing economy. Couple this with the implied blackmail that it must go to Cox's Chapel or "almost certainly not be in Grayson County," along with the claim it would keep area youth at home with jobs guarding convicts, and Grayson officials and the private contractor appear to think they're making a convincing case.
I believe the result will be destroying a historic community and sacrificing the honest toil, way of life and noble citizenship of generations upon the reckless altar of unfeeling expediency.
Further, the county supervisors reportedly stand "unanimous" in this venture. Thus, the question arises of who represents, and offers to protect, the rights of the multiplied scores of area citizens who happen to disagree? If Samuel Johnson were alive, I think he'd now write, "The last refuge of scoundrels" is no longer patriotism, it's rule by confidential unanimity!
It's also argued a prison will hasten area public water systems with low rates guaranteed. I think dependable water/sewer systems, with reasonable prices should be expected, with or without a prison.
The truth is, prisons have become big business trafficking, sadly, in human wreckage. Virginia has more people locked away than the entire populations of Grayson and Carroll counties and Galax combined. Without possibility of parole, the numbers skyrocket.
Additional space, when required, should be built only at industrial locations. Planting a multimillion dollar common jail along the banks of the picturesque New River in the midst of a nationally recognized rural community, however winsome the site, ought to be the last thing Grayson leaders or Virginia corrections officials advocate, or do.
Grayson County's pastoral beauty and quality families are legendary. Both must be nurtured and protected. I urge Virginia leaders to summarily decline the Cox's Chapel site.
http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary/wb/wb/xp-97674
Posted by lois at December 28, 2006 09:45 PM