European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 19, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 10 columns the stars and stripes wednesday August 19,1967 David Broder democracy the Winner at Iowa presidential picnic Marion Iowa six months from now in he chill of Early february when Lowans express their presidential preferences in precinct caucuses the candidates will face the first brutal accounting of Winner Sand losers. A few will walk away taller and stronger but most Wilt come out weakened and wounded their Hopes marked Tor Early extinction. But 10 Days ago in the Park outside Cedar rapids where the Linn county democrats had their picnic it was different. It was quiet end peaceful and Friendly arid most of All thoughtful a place where Good and gentle people in a Sylvan setting could perform one of democracy s most important but unheralded acts listening carefully. Even the rain when it came could not distract them. And the candidates were moved. Sen. Albert Gore jr., one of the six hopefuls who spoke from the open air platform caught the tone perfectly when he said All of us who have come to your stale notice the approach you take. You Are almost worried you might make a mistake and Choo the wrong candidate because you know you have such an almost 1,000 Lowans brought their folding chairs and blankets to the Park in late afternoon. They stood patiently in lines to fill their plates with brat ural and Beans and potato salad and pick up plastic cups of draft Beer. It was a family crowd the youngsters spilling Down the spiral slides while their parents wan dered among the candidates tables picking up Litera Ture and signing their names to Volunteer lists. And then in the Long Twilight with the rays from the shadowed Sun lipping the tops of Low hanging Clouds they gathered to listen to the men who would Lead their party and country. The names and faces were just becoming familiar to them the messages were not hackneyed to their they listened and watched with an intensity that each of the speakers recognized. This it a very special slate a special place and you Are very special people Michael Dukakis said in a tone that seemed More descriptive than flattering. However High the ultimate stakes there is a family feeling to Iowa style presidential politics particularly at this Early stage. It softens the Edge of ambition. Earlier in the afternoon Dukakis and Gore found themselves scheduled Back to Back before some 45 democrats gathered in Mother s Kitchen a restaurant in Tama. Dukakis was still answering questions when Gore arrived it could have been an awkward moment. But Dukakis simply introduced his rival by recalling thai in the 50s and 60s Gore s father the former senator was one of my great heroes for his fights against segregation and the Vietnam War. Gore clearly touched told the Tam ans i be never been introduced by an opponent before and never so now As Young Gore spoke to the crowd his Gray Anthony Lewis poll shows haired father sat on the Steps leading to the platform his eyes and his thoughts seemingly focused far away. Near by Young Richard Gephardt stood talking to Elaine Baxter Lowa Secretary of state. Earlier in the Day at the conclusion Ofa Gephardt Dukakis debate in pcs Moi pics Baxter had ended her status As the last uncommitted democratic statewide elected official by endorsing Duka Kis. Now she stood a Middle aged women holding the string Ofa Dukakis balloon Rakling with the Young con Gressman with whom she had made innumerable Campaign appearances last year As they both pursued their ambitions. If there was any tension in the encounter in did not show in their facial expressions or body language. When Paul Simon was taking his turn in began to drizzle. He hurried through his talk making Way for Jesse Jackson. Jackson had just started when the rain hardened. We will return As soon As we get a break from on High he said. After ten minutes the rain sputtered out and the crowd unrated after 90 minutes of speeches by Joe Biden Gephardt Core and Simon quickly left the food tents and settled Back on the wet seals to listen. Jackson did not disappoint. Often this year he has still in read prepared speeches in a mechanical unemotional tone. But this night he Lei Fly in his preacher style. His rhetoric bounced off the crowd into the Clouds and the rain resumed. If we can survive Ronald Reagan for seven years Jackson said we can stand therain for just a few obedient no one moved. Someone found an umbrella and held it Over Jackson head keeping his impeccably pressed suit dry. The More it rained the More inspirational Jackson became especially on the subject of himself defying the Odds climbing the if you want change meet me he cried. If you want Challenge meet me. If you want Choice meet and then As he led them in chants save the worker. Save the Farmer. Save the children. Give peace a the rain slopped. And so did he. Dukakis facing the impossible Challenge of follow ing Jackson asked do you really want another speech when the conscientious Lowans shouted yes he said i can t believe but he gave it. And they seemed to like him Loo. This night the Lowarl were determined no one would lose and no one did. If there was a Winner democracy was its name. Chwu Mington poll Whit or Alp s. Africa needs Miracle solution to Avert tragedy a first step in resolving political conflicts is to get the opposing parties to talk to each other. Thai is often formidably difficult to arrange. In the Middle East Arab slates refused for decades to talk with Israel now a divided israeli government rejects an internationally sponsored peace conference. As peace plans ire floated for Central America a immediate problem is the unwillingness of the Reagan administration to negotiate directly with Nicaragua. And then there is South Africa perhaps the most tormenting example of All. Its reality was brought poignantly Home to me in a conversation with a noted victim of the apartheid system. He is Parisani Dean of the evangelical lutheran Church in South Africa. Parisani has been detained without trial for four lengthy periods since 1977 in vends that ii one of the tribal homelands that South Africa has declared inde pendent but that no other country recognizes. During his first three detentions Parisani was brutally tortured Hung upside Down Given electric Hocks by Alan. He suffered two heart Aii Acks. Protests by am Nesty International and others helped win his release the most recent detention was from nov. 22, 1986, to last Jan. 30. This time he says he was not physically assaulted. Bui he was questioned from five to 10 hours a Day and threatened with death for him self and members of his family. The effects on his mind were More traumatic. After his release he found that he could not concentrate. For the last five months Parisani has been Al the Center for torture victims in Minneapolis. Or. Barbara Chester a psychologist who directs the Minneapolis Center said in was nol unusual thai psycho logical methods had a More traumatic Etc i on Mansani. He was evidently prepared for physical torture she said when i telephoned her. In Jioji t go to the Core of his being. But the psychological techniques despite All that has happened to him Parisani believes in negotiations As the Way out of South Africa s crisis. And he said the talks must be with the afrikaners who control the National party and the government. Blacks have never had any problem talking to afrikaners he said. It s they who have the problem. It s a Long historical suicide note on the part of the afrikaner the refusal to ult. Today they have become a lonely Volt of 2.8 million in a nation of Over 30 million nol so much because they Art hated but because they have decided to isolate themselves from their fellow president . Botha has been determined Lopre vent talks with the principal anti apartheid Organiza Tion the african National Congress. He excoriated a unofficial group of afrikaners who recently Mel Anc leaders abroad. The reason Parisani said is thai peo ple will think differently if they actually meet the other Side the ideology can Only survive on was there any real Hope of negotiations i asked. Parisani said there were three possibilities. The most pessimistic was an escalation of violence. The second was the Chance of Strong support from the outside world pushing the government to the negotiating table. The most optimistic he said is the Miracle option i Don t think the last Miracle was when Jesus turned the water into wine. There s still room for a South african Miracle. Bui miracles need to be is going Back to South Africa. Even if he stays out of detention he will immediately be caught up in the apartheid Maze. He has been declared a citizen of vend with do right to enter South Africa or go to most of the 111 congregations he i had to choose he said i would pick the Miracle option. Then i would t have to worry about detention or death. But t have to be realistic. Wait Black South african knows what will happen to him the next Day wishes Are not always horses and there fore beggars cannot always 1c a Yort to
