European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 27, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse The stars and stripes Friday March 27,1987 writers reply to Vilseck students concerns this is in response to the Vilseck american High school class of 99q s list of America s problem. How refreshing to know thai the adults of tomorrow care about our country future today for they will be the caretaker of the present duh generation when we Art Loo old to care for ourselves the problems of our country May seem frightening but As i see it god gives Man a will and what we do with that will is up to us. You can be drug free. You can focus your Energy on your families and the Well being of your country. Or you can do the opposite and make a tradition out of the Crisco Ihal Bave partially crippled our nation Al ready. The Choice it yours. The fact that you have shown concern of America s behalf tells me America will be just Fine. Jennifer Wiy nun . Germany what a Noble minted up Bunch. You Are Correct to be concerned about the traditions of Progress it Down by our forefathers although it takes More than adolescent logic to see that materialistic self seeking adult have made America the great country it is. 1 take Issue with this number one problem our Constitution guarantee life Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness. The individual Pursuit of Happi Ness has done far More for the needy of the world than the Pursuit of virtue could Ever Hope to do. 1 refer to men and women of j real vision who relied not on popular approval but on their own strength of purpose los a their unique ideas become reality. Look who benefits from the product of the Wrights the Fords the he tells Packard proctors gambles and Kimberly Clarks. Next time you play your stereo eat a Candy bar clean the toilet or blow your nose esk yourself if you re capable of such creativity As that from which you Benefit. America us one of the few countries that gives individuals the Freedom to create and to Market their ideas. They May go broke. They May gel filthy Nch. It none of our business. What mailers is that every successful Enterprise creates jobs. Jobs remove people from the crippling dependency of the welfare payroll never mind if someone gets Rich in the meantime. I Hope before you become America s caretakers you la do some self seeking and perhaps come up with some unique ideas to alleviate the other 10 problems you listed. Don t worry if your ideas make you Rich. Pm one who1 forgive you. Lit it. Barbara l. Run by to bin Trarbach Germany we Are a group of German High school students who participate in an English conversation class. We wish 10 respond to the Vilseck american High school class of 1990 s letter concerning what they feel Are the Druyor problems in the United Stales. We discussed your concerns in detail and would like to offer our own prioritized list As a matter of interest and comparison. These Are what we see As the major problems in Germany which will have a direct influence on our future. 1. Nuclear Power. 2. Pollution. . 4. Unemployment and future Job opportunities. 5. Politicians who Are not oriented to the future Only the present. 6. Adults who Don t care about the future. It it interesting to note that our first concerns arc directly related to dangers to our health and Only then come social problems. Your first problems Are social Only the last ones on your list Are health hazards. We can Only assume thai your social problems Are larger than Dura. However it it Well known that such trends eventually appear in our society and we should be aware of these at possible major problems for our future. We do indeed see some signs such As increasing divorce rates an increased interest in material goods and a breakdown of the extended family unit. You might find it interesting that we do not share your problem of teen age pregnancy and do not foresee ills As a problem due to a More open attitude and belter ten education. The same is also True for alcohol and drugs. Because of our social system our homeless Are fairly Well cared for. Our voter rate is fairly High which indicates to us that our silent majority do express themselves at least in this Way. We would need More information on your crisis in education in order to comment on this. We feel our educational standards Are very High. School and learn ing is a serious subject we Hope our views have been of interest to you English concern ton South . Kennedy Ham Diri Pladt Germany Angelika Eberhardt Anne a Wassmann Michael a Nirann Juji Natt Imre Berlin Schmidt Andrew of Nehlich to no homing Kali Riidu Kolumun Ulrike a Roschel surf Lone Hochberg Johanna Michel seb Udan Haasner congratulations to this class for having the maturity to begin to address our society s problems at such a Young age. Having lived in 15 different military and civilian communities All with the same Basic problems facing them i would like to offer my suggestions to your question How will we Lead you can begin right now to develop the leadership skills and knowledge needed to prepare you for solving the 11 issues you have identified. Stan by getting involved in your own Community and urging others to do the same. This is so simple for Young and old alike. Ii is done by volunteering. You will not find your number one problem uncaring materialistic self serving adults coaching youth sports programs conducting sunday school classes staffing medical and dental clinics for the red Cross raising Money for your school through the pts and Booster clubs and supporting wives clubs in their efforts to raise your Quality of life go to your army Community service or air Force family serv ices and ask How you can help. Next ask everyone you know Over the age of 18 of they voted in the last election. If the answer is no they arc a part of the silent majority that you listed As the second major problem society faces. Resolve to Regis Ter and Volel support those political leaders who arc responsive to the needs of your Community. Yes it s difficult to do when we live so far away. To keep up with their actions you must read newspapers and news magazines watch to news programs and write to them. Let them know you arc aware of How they vote on issues thai arc important to you. For your problems numbers six through 11, you can join together with others who share your concerns. There Are National organizations already in place which Are trying to solve these issues. Your Library can provide names and addresses for you to write for information thanks class of 1990, for caring about America s future. Good Luck in your efforts to help solve our problems. Carol Steu Awger Kali Lautem your list of priorities arc Correct but uncaring materialism and self seeking knows no age Barrier t wholeheartedly agree we the people of the United Stales of America need to get involved. Too Many just Sil Back and Gripe about everything and do Noth ing waiting for someone else to do it far them it is time we put a Stop to the corruption and Dis honesty in our political leaders. I would venture to say 95 percent of the politicians who run for office and that we the people the voters put in office Are self seeking. Thai does not say too much for us. Do you know of anywhere in the world an employee can give himself a raise i know of nowhere except in the Senate and Congress of the United Stales since we the voters put them in office and they Are supposedly there to work for us they Are our employees. I think As their employers we should do As any other employer with employees who did not do their Job should do fire them. The United slates is supposed to be a country run for and by the people not politicians. As for the drugs family crisis aids pollution and the problems in school i know a lot of people Don t want to hear this., but once we Lei one woman take god Oul of our schools and country the rest was inevitable. The United Stales has almost become an other Sodom and gomorrah and we know what happened there Don t we one More i would like to add to your list our Justice system. More and More people Are. Losing Faith in it. It is supposed to be there to protect the innocent and punish the guilty but too often docs the opposite. What has the older generation taught you not enough 1 am afraid but Don t judge us Alt the same. How will you Lead better i Pray than past Genera Lions. If this class is an example of the leaders of ten Morrow i say our country will be in Good Kilby Germany complaints can often help readers say this letter is a rebuttal lot. Col. Peter f. Isaacs recent goodbye message. I know that the Only Way some things get changed in some communities or commands is by the soldiers and dependents bringing certain situations or shortfalls if you will to the appropriate person or persons. I have been in the army for 20 years. This is my second Lour Here and believe me there have been not a few but a truckload of changes throughout tsar eur. I feel the Only reason these changes have come about is because people care. The american servicemen and women deserve the Best they can gel. They should not Settle for less. You said you read the stars and stripes every morning. You must have read what the government said about the priority placed on the uniformed services overseas. The army takes care of its own As Best it can with what Congress gives it every fiscal year. Whoever complains or writes to the editor is exercising his right to Freedom of speech. 1 Don t have to understand a person s opinion but i have to respect it. I am glad 10 hear you enjoyed your tour in Ger Many. Maybe if someone had Noi complained about something somewhere your tour might have had a Kink in it. Just because your Lour was hassle free does not mean everyone else s has been. The letters to the editor Section is for inc sol Diers and if the editor feels a letter should be primed so be it Freedom of the press. 1 think the editor should print More Garfield and Blondie cartoons. Right now i m Happy until i can find something to complain about Kaiserslautern How fortunate for you. It col. Isaacs that you and your family never experienced mistreatment from Dodds an radio and television cafes mar Etc. Perhaps it s All in one s perception h s just my perception of All the Many annoying things that have happened to me and mine Over the years. The difference m How people react to these annoyances is a result of How people interpret the situation. I d like your definition of whiner i be often found in 20 years As an air Force spouse that the soca led Whin or gets things done Geu things changed and makes things happen by whining la the right people. If people did t write their letters to the editor i would t know a lot of what i know about life in Europe. Perhaps you yourself read the letters and foresaw changes you could make before people stood before you i will agree that i Don t Tike hearing people complain and complain but if i hear it 1 attempt to defuse the complain by realizing that that Penon is upset and they perceive a problem. They Are Noi interpreting the problem like others might. I let them talk about it and give them suggestions about where to go and who to Sec about a solution. The less people Are aggravated and annoyed the better they perceive Dodds. An radio and television cafes mar Etc. In t it Nice that you and your family have had a super six years in Germany i and most people have had Good and bad experiences. Apparently you be Only had Good ones. Vickie a Bairn Proem Germany pen pals i wow a to come tend with Pipla from mar cd Kirin. I in j2 ind won in t Ghan Naty. Fly hem in drava big. Wiling lining to a mite swim Ortw and playing Una pui4.numt Ai Anisiy it Macy Sov walking film spank Hospital 1 Row Iron Cartra 1zi1saute Albia i atm to cd upon win pop it Piator ably l he t it Grawi float Togo and wort m Rua Arenar by inc xxx a Reading Iii rung Refl Jok. I in 23 p. Moratti Eul b4abag.vawieanegro ont Nul Phr ipod no t gtd a pan pall Naro amen Giaui my Daia b writing pan and hit Ennd to in sic. 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