European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 04, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse Monday november 4, 1965 the stars and stripes Page 11 Ann Landers dear Ann Landers while donating blood recently i saw this published by the american red Cross. I Hope you can print it. It might persuade somebody to give blood. Also it May re mind them that the life you save could be your thanks. . In Conn. Dear . Thanks for the item. Thanks too for the port wary to remind people that to is a jog to aids from contributing Wood. A sterile materials Are used. The american red Cross mood donor program us a offend because of this misconception. Help them oat folks. What Good is a blood donor a mood donor b food for people who go throne windshields and red lights. For somebody with leukaemia. For people being operated on. For Barefoot of Cha who an not careful. For victims of violence. For Haemophiliacs so they can Hoe As normally As possible. Of dare devils. For someone undergoing dialysis while waiting for a kidney transplant. For people who fool around with in. For Little kids who manage to a Cap a bottle of something poisonous. For people who Are badly burned. For new mothers needing a transfusion. For a new baby who needs a Complete of blood Supply. For someone open heart surgery. For cancer patients. For someone with a severe cast of hepatitis. For kids who fall out if Trees or anywhere else. For anybody any age with bleeding ulcers. For people in the wrong place at the wrong time. For the Ery tired with severe anaemia. For people who run into thing. For All the people who Are in a lot worse shape than most people you know. A blood donor is Good for life. Dear Ann Landen i just read the letter from the Man in Philadelphia who took the can of crab meat from the supermarket. His letter and your reply could t have come at a More opportune time. Two weeks ago i got caught shoplifting a pack of cigarettes. I was scared to death not to mention the embarrassment and Humilia Tion. Store Security took me into an office and asked for my id. I filled out a form listing the cigarette and their value. I too. Bad no reason for trying to steal them. I had enough Money with me to buy six Cartons. From the store i went directly to my Parish priest he did his Best to Calm me Down but that night i barely slept. When 1 finally dozed off i had night mares. I thank cod that the store manager for whatever reason did t have me arrested. I too look at the paper each morning scared to death that my name and that shameful deed will be printed for everyone to see. I live in a Small town where this sort of thing would be consid ered could it possibly make the local press even though it happened several weeks not i be be .1 a nervous wreck Over this. It on Rny mind constantly and i m losing a Reghl. Please find room in your column and put my mind at ease or prepare me for the worst. Sign me Learned my lesson in Wisconsin rhe Chance that this Bic Dent my make the papers at Tua . Ite Tore manager Gate you a break Ana of Tor r t not report it. So Stop mortar Long yourself St Rov Nerer to do Sny Lutaf � Nln. If you re Stid a wreck a week after Yon read this get some is ousting. Clean up your act when travelling in Europe after much thought we feel compelled to write to you hoping you will share our thoughts with your readers. We returned this week from a wonderful tour of Russia by bus. It climaxed 40 years of world travel for us and was a Fine experience. We have avoided Tours in the past preferring to do our own thing and now we understand Why we will avoid hours with americans in the future. The tour company did a Superb Job of planning this adventure. The guide Ger Man was the answer to anyone j prayers in her performance. The bus Driver was Excel Lent. But the passengers Why do americans travel we assume they want to see How the people of other countries live. Why then do they expect life and customs in other countries to be american one of the prize remarks of a fellow trav Eler was we arc letting the German wait ers trained to do things the american and would you believe that they were expecting the tame of the russian waiters housekeeper botel restaurants food and All facilities we would not have been sur prised if they had demanded to have an american Flag raised Over he Kremlin or in red Square. Americans Are privileged people and they Are pampered and spoiled by their Standard of living in the states if they travel at Home they have to pay american prices. Why then when they travel abroad do they expect american five Star hotels at Low prices when they select a tour Why do they expect gourmet meals cooked the american Way and witling to pay so Little Why do they constantly compare what they Are seeing with Podunk Back Home if Podunk is so Good go there in Stead. Perhaps More disturbing the Points already expressed is the general pick of consideration for fellow travellers. Each person on a bus tour has a different reason for travel. Some go for education. Some go for the purpose of impressing their friends later. Some go to escape from the Job or the children. We have found a sampling of each on the three group Tourt we have experienced. Never have we seen such a total Lack of Good manners and consideration for others get the facts straight please and so the summer of 1985 finally draws to a close but not without one final Demon stration depicting with total clarity a growing fundamental problem pertaining to the freedoms guaranteed to us in the Bill of rights. Citizens Are Quick to invoke the first amendment right of free speech when a situation arises which they consider intolerable however these same citizens Are far slower to assume the responsibility of becoming knowledgeable on the subject Over which they Are losing so much sleep. Whether it be aids apartheid tax legislation nuclear disarmament or the Federal deficit everyone seems to have either an opinion or solution to problems which Are boggling some of the Best minds in the nation. It would appear that if a problem causes one so much concern that they feel the necessity to speak out publicly one would be very sure to have at least a few facts and figures assembled in order to give strength to projected arguments. This Assumption however is not the Case. Repeatedly Over the summer in the stars and stripes and those carried on televised news programs reported citizens speaking out on the issues who not Only made blatantly erroneous statements but also accused anyone not sharing their views of either apathy or idiocy. Witnessing a 30-year-old, overweight housewife dressed in jeans and an old sweatshirt accuse a Well respected medical researcher of not knowing a thing about scientific data which that same doctor had studied continuously for More than a decade would have been laughable if not for the numerous protesters who screamed their assent. This aids protest scene was not unlike similar confrontations Between the vociferous Public and experts who have Nade a career out of studying subjects about which they retold they know nothing. The right to free speech and protest is not in question in this argument. However that which is provided in the Constitution should be used responsibly and the priority responsibility should be knowledge in the subject especially before trying to influence the opinions of others. Opinion Polk have gained in popularity and Are watched More closely than Ever before. When average citizens Are approached by a pollster and queried they do not wish to appear to be uninformed and thus offer an answer whether they held an opinion previously or not. Not everyone is expected to have an opinion on every subject and o offer an opinion on a subject on which one has no knowledge is the height of ignorance. If citizens really wish to influence others during protests or meetings far More would be accomplished by first gathering information organizing a concise and accurate argument and then and Only then speaking publicly in order to change a situation. This manner of protest is what our founding fathers had in mind so Long ago when they drafted the Constitution guaranteeing each citizen the right to knowledgeably address the issues of the Day. Spec. 4 Brian h. Schwan garbled Germany thanks for halloween treats 1 am writing this to thank the families living in base housing. Those of us living off base Miu those peculiarly american celebrations on Hal Loween unless we visit friends on base. We Are thanking All of you because we realize it u More Effort on your part be sides lire extra expense of More candies but you do it so very Well and so very generously pen pals f i 27 a mob old a i would Ilki 10 Corr Pond with american and tur huh to put. My Hobo Lttie move i. Coho Cllia Boom of Melni. A Clurn. Sjma 47m tend co adj a Kindom of Soult Aram the magic you All created this spooky halloween night is talked of for months after the fact and i m sure is an indelible memory in our children s minds. A special thanks to those who invited us this year and the wonderful residents of Ramstein housing whose generosity and creativity u great the cancel family Oberbey Uhach Germany Pike Publ la my my in your column. I am fluno am my Hown an bating a Adlung. Miming to Roulic com cling Damn Voa Tybal and wrong a Nielandt. I am if Waart old. Gonna Flat of bal Anioay Pon Savadra Naor Aai oct Nanlal Mil Pirp Plant As on this trip. There were those who never stopped talking even when asleep. There were those who hassled Over pennies when foreign Exchange was involved. There were those who were Rowdy and those who demanded two seats having paid for one. Complain complain com Plain. They even complained when the Driver had to Stop for Gas. It was wasting their time. If americans particularly the military affiliated people who have far More Opportunity to Sec the world than their friends Back Home want to travel do it with an open mind and show some Good manners. Stop complaining about every facet of the military life from the commanding officer Down to the packers and movers. Remember every person aboard the bus has his or her own problems and really does t care about the soap opera life of strangers. One final comment dress code. People in All countries focus on americans we realize everyone has a personal Standard of dress. But try to elevate standards a bit. It seems Fine to Wear faded Blue jeans to be comfortable on a bus. To the Ballet or opera never Don t insult any Host coun try by dressing like a bum. Remember even martians have feelings fellow americans clean up your act. If you travel be respectful to All. If you can t accept the Way of life in other countries slay Home. Briefly in selecting a tour. You get what you pay for. Don t pay Economy prices and cd oct deluxe be reasonable. Stop complaining enjoy your travels and let others do the same. Name withheld san Francisco Mohan lotion . Black will m. Of Stocton . Meek Mott procht Doh a Nucaso Aramany. Bonn. Of. Kaiui. I to. Ets n. A. Itt Bro Mortim. Cd. Pm Mil him ets no. 3o-�m Rhoton Moln Frknk Ful do. It my or 4nsts, my. M2s ets not he or Jed. To
