European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 26, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 10 letters the stars and stripes go sees politics As wonder that never ceases political activity ii America can be safely characterized by a trite cliche wonders never cease. The word wonder Here does nol entail it being wonderful perhaps the reverse. In seems hat the circus never begins to falter certainly no one in Light of the eve Coli of the last year can dispute that. In a sense it healthy that americans laugh and poke fun at their electoral system however regrettable for the Candi dates. This mirth can be experienced by participants from every Hue of the political spectrum. To effectively follow the election process i mus first divorce myself from my legitimate role As a Mem Ber of the . Armed forces and remember that whatever the outcome i will keep Faith in my duly. Second 1 must ready myself for the Energy needed to observe a pingpong match and a merry go round simultaneously. Lite american political Arena is somewhere Between the soviet system where watching politics is like watching cheese grow Mold and the italian system where any diligent onlooker becomes Walleye from the frenzy. Presently there Are two preachers different in just about every aspect but their desire for office a professional midwestern Farmer who wears a Bow tie and until recently a retired general. The differences the outlooks Are so Vail and so eagerly spouted that even farm animals in Iowa shoot them sidelong glances from their troughs. Take for example the likeness of Pat Robertson. Such a portrait could Only be taken seriously if on the cover of mad Magazine where it would at least fit harmoniously. Here is a Man whose most ardent sup porters hold prohibition of abortions u inc nation s most pressing Issue. Robertson however goes even further than that. He supports the proposition that abortion should be banned so that we have a More populous nation and hence a broader Tan base and hence a solution 10 the National debt torturous logic indeed paradoxical that in this sense even the holy reverend put a Price on human life. He is of course also smugly oblivious to the massive problems of child care problems so great that the United Stales already has a higher infant mortality rate than scores of other nations. Robertson has other and More inane ideas that 1 will pass Over just As the More sensible republicans already have. Bush and Dole May not be the most exciting people but they at least recognize a serious contender and have hence taken to mauling and hooting at one another. They realize that if Robertson were elected the White House May implode. Nature abhors a vacuum. The democrats have had an even rougher going they have had to live with Gary Hart the recent butt of dozens of comedians and Media agent. Han t vague plea that if the founding fathers had been put under the same Microscope that he has been under then they never would have been elected is absurd. First it attempts to put Gary Hart on the same level with Jefferson Madison and Washington a thought at which i cringe. Second All of our Early leaders acted under the prevailing norms of the Day which were considerably Dif Ferent. Jefferson was never a Soldier and disliked pub Lic speaking As much As politicians today love it. Washington was ugly cold and humourless. None of them would have won in elections of today because they were products of their time. It is my belief that Washington would rather have submerged himself in the icy Delaware than kiss baby on Public television and that Jefferson would never have succumbed and Kow towed to the plethora of professional cheerleaders that now occupy so Man political rallies. Their dispositions were simply not amenable to such displays. Third and perhaps most important As i splice the historical falsehood propagated by sen. Hart Jefferson ii of plagued by a Public scandal for years. It is now referred to As the Walker affair by Dumas Malone an eminent Jefferson scholar and entailed an alleged affair he had with a woman married to one of his Best friends. The Story was created by lighthorse Harrylee one of Jefferson s impeccable political foes and is now largely disbelieved however in Cost him a great Deal of grief and discredit at the Lime. Still he was a two term president. I pass Over the moral and ethical issues of Hart s affair As too Sticky in which to Nemesh oneself. He i building quite a dissertation on his own anyway. Yet i can 1 Sec Why anyone cares. If he spends his time carousing then he is the same time losing ground by not spending his Idle hours shaking hands. If he had spent More Lime with Donna Rice he certainly would not be in the political outhouse in which he now wallows. His ensure Campaign has been reduced to reiterating the phrase new ideas and defending i personal life. I implore Gary Hart to change his mind yet again Bow out and the serious and combative candidates have at it. Am i being Loo critical the answer is plainly no. America s history is plagued with political brawling and intrigue sometimes leading in the hallowed Days Hart Speaks of to fatal duels. It has been years since we elected a president with so blatant a disrespect forthe judicial Branch As Andrew Jackson. A great Many northerners at the height of the civil War. Thought Abe Lincoln a. Tyrant and a Des pot. Can you imagine anyone claiming that toddy our presidents Are no longer us openly belligerent and ethnocentric As Teddy Roosevelt. Times change and so do people although both imperceptibly. We be had our share of scandals mistakes rogues. But we become in association with them More Able to Sec them. 1 remain totally confident that our sys tem whatever its problems will Crank out another follow blk if perhaps minutely flawed president 1st . Milt n. Ill More Berlin rules for Riding bikes in Europe discussed i watched a program recently on an concerning Safe bicycle Riding. One of the first rules stated on the program was that a bicyclist should ride with the flaw of traffic. I have heard this Rule so often and for so Long i wonder if 1 am missing something that is apparently obvious to people who think that this is a valid Rule. To my Way of thinking it should be common sense that Riding against the flow of traffic is much safer for the simple reason that a bicyclist can readily Sec on coming traffic in front of instead of behind him and take if necessary evasive action to avoid a collision with a motor vehicle. Many years ago i remember having an argument with a policeman As to who i should Nde my Cycle with the flow of traffic which e was not doing at the time. As i can recall he came up with three reasons 1. In is the / i. I am sorry but am not going to obey any stupid Law when u could be dangerous to my body.2. The or Lutric Speed lie tween a bicycle Ami a just int is Lea if he whirr is moving with Thesli m of traffic As t ppm ii to against ii. Therefore any chill Nim that Tisil occur would be less severe Villi Ike lower relative Speed. The idea litre is to avoid an Accident in the first place. The Sec and be seen con Cepl fur outweighs the relative Speed argument be cause any collision at any Speed is potentially fatal to the bicyclist. 3. In is Gai if training far Vorng Hin lists Taal Lawshe same traffic Laws As do Zilfi Rirs of motor vehicles Tir cause then the Bluj Ulisis will lie for an Locinta to these traffic Laws Flint they learn to drive a car. 1 actually remember this cop telling me this. How incredibly idiotic the operation of a bicycle and a car Are so different that i do nol understand the value of such training ii would be Sis ridiculous to say that Young bicyclists should be trained to ride in the Middle of the Lane so that when they Icorn to drive a car they will be properly accustomed and will not attempt to drive on the shoulder of Fth Road. Devon Las Blob org a Germany editor s note c. Struck of the us Reub safety office replies we Are pleased for this Opportunity to respond to your letter pertaining to Safe bicycling on Public roads. For their own safety bicyclists must follow the same traffic Laws 19 Alt other traffic participants. Driving on the right Side of the mad is he pm in Germany. Breaking this Law can be costly a Truh Navy pm be held responsible for All Daman and injures they cause. One exception to this Rule does Clil. If there is Only one bicycle path on either Side of the Road and by a posted sign travelling in both directions is authorized then Riding against the pm of traffic but Only on the separated bicycle path 1 aut Huritte. While pushing a bicycle the Somr traffic rules As for pedestrians apply. Within the City but without pedestrian walkways walking on the right me of the Road is the Law. Outside the i y. Walking on the left Side against the traffic is req Lri a Riding with the now of traffic provides uniformity. Lets pedestrians Deal with one traffic direction and simplifies traffic Maneu vers such us turns. For recreational bicycle tiding the use of special maps offering bicycle hours exclusively on bicycle paths and farm roads in recommended. Bicycling Der ins hours of darkens is extremely dangerous and proper uniting and marking is critical. Leaders urged to take care of their troops i am nol writing to voice a complaint but to in family has problems the leadership expects the wife to crease the awareness of the simple quote take care of handle the situation while the husband or Soldier is Tou .1 i i i i., .11 i accomplish the Mission without having any emotional your we As leaders say that All the time but in actuality it is More lip service than anything else. 1 am a Captain in the army and while i was a com Mander two elements of importance were the accomplishment of the Mission and the sincere concern and care for soldiers. You cannot accomplish the Mission without soldiers. It becomes increasingly difficult to accomplish the Mission with soldiers who have prob lems. It is apparent that the senior leadership is More Content with furthering their own careers at the a a Csc of Junior officers and enlisted soldiers. If the involvement or support. Ii is implied that the spouse is to raise the family and All the Soldier has to do u Soldier. If the spouse works that makes it even More difficult to handle personal and family problems that May arise. The Lack of involvement by the Chain of command creates a negative climate for both the Soldier and the family member. I will be leaving the service within the next couple of months. I am not bitter nor am 1 regretful. I Only ask that we As leaders take on the full responsibility of being ask the senior Chain of command to gel personally involved with the concern and Well being of the family. If a family member is in the Hospital maybe a phone Call or a visit could make All the difference in the and care for the soldiers Means sacrifice. 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