European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 28, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes dear Ann Landers the letter from distraught in Pennsylvania about the woman who was being physically and mentally abused by her husband was disturbing. The Public needs information about family violence. It is not a private matter it is a crime. Too Many people including the victims believe that nothing can be done about it. This sends a message to batterers that they can get away with it. People need to know the real reason a battered woman stays. She stays because she feels worthless and believes she deserves the abuse. Or because she has no place to go. Or he has told her that if she leaves he will find her and Hurt the children. Teachers and neighbors often look the other Way because they Don t want to get involved. It starts with an argument and name calling and a shove. Then he knocks her into the furniture until she Falls in a Heap somewhere. The next Day she lies to family and friends or the people at work when they comment on her swollen lips and Black eyes. If you hit a stranger on the Street you will be arrested. Dogs get More Protection from abuse than women. Fortunately Law enforcement policy is changing. Many counties now have a mandatory arrest policy to Deal with Domestic violence. This Means an arrest must be made even if the victim refuses to press charges. The police will also inform the woman about the service agencies and support groups that will Helper. We should t wait until the abuser comes within inches of killing a woman before we Stop the violence. We must Call the police As soon As we become aware that a beating is in Progress. Batterers Are time bombs with lit fuses. When we turn our Heads and ignore a woman who is getting the daylights beaten out of her we contribute to the  is Learned behaviour and it can be in Learned. I know what i am talking about because i have lived through it. No Ann i Ani not a battered  am a male and former wife beater . Dear . Thanks for an excellent letter with an o. Henry end ing. I Admire you for turning your life around. It is quite extraordinary to go from wife beating to educating peo ple on How to put an end to this cruel and destructive behaviour. Bravo dear Ann Landers you missed the boat in your answer to exhausted in Madison the woman whose husband awakened her every night for sex leaving her exhausted to face the next Day. Ann Don t you recognize a Power trip when you see one this woman offered to accommodate her Hus band at any other time but he wants sex Only when it is inconvenient for her. Maybe he s jealous of her Job and wants her to be too tired to be a Good teacher. I bet anything that if she refuses to have sex in the Middle of the night that Bozo would continue to Wake her up because depriving her of sleep is what he i really trying to do. The Man is worse than selfish and inconsiderate he is sadistic. True Blue fan in Portland  Portland sounds logical to me and frankly this possibility never crossed my mind. I think you re onto something. The things i Lear from my readers los Angeles times syndicated columnist Landers welcomes your letters you can write to her in care of the stars and stripes Apo 09211  forces Page 11 letters european edition col Jeffrey m. Cook Usa commander editor in chief it col Suzanne l Phillips Usan Deputy commander editor in chief Marie Kominicki Mert Proctor Deane b. Mcdermott production manager managing editor circulation manager this newspaper is an authorized unofficial publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of the stars and stripes Are not necessarily the official views of or endorsed by the . Government the department of defense or the . European command. The appearance of advertising in this publication including inserts or supplements does not constitute endorsement by the department of de sense or the stars and stripes of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for Purchase use or patronage without regard to race color religion sex ways suggested to solve Bank problems again there has been a letter in the stars and stripes telling me Why it is my fault that there Are lines at the Banks and the commissaries. Why do i have the audacity to shop when it is convenient forme will i never learn the whole thing is indicative of one of the biggest problems in today s bureaucratic de business world a Good excuse is As acceptable As Good results. If a Bank or store manager can convince the Boss that the lines Are someone else s fault the pay raises promotions and bonuses just keep coming. I would like to offer my list of ways to get rid of the lines 1. Hire More tellers and Cashiers. 2. Expand facility hours. 3. Schedule for Peak hours 4. Anticipate that human beings get sick go on leave and Are missing from work and prepare Contin gency plans. 5. Demand better facilities and More Teller stations. 6. Streamline services and procedures to reduce customer processing times. 7. Add More automated Teller machines where lines form. If there Are still lines put in even More machines 8. Provide More staff training so customers can be processed without delays for questions on proce dures. 9. Develop a consumer oriented attitude in top management that does not allow lower Levels of supervision to blame their problems on the customers. 10. Relieve any manager of duty who does not show specific results in reducing lines and improving service. Long lines regardless of the excuse Are sign of failure. Most importantly please Stop lecturing me on my shopping habits or listing All the things you can t do. The lines will not disappear until we refuse to accept them As Normal. Thomas Boam Frankfurt West Germany editor s note Yvonne Wise manager pub Lic affairs merchants National Bank and Trust co. Community Bank replies your list of 10 ways to get rid of Bank and commis sary lines is interesting. With the exception of num Bers 1 and 10, we have dedicated our total efforts toward accomplishing the goals you mention. Merchants Bank has made impressive strides in customer service and automation since assuming the military banking contract eight Short months  list prompted one i would like to make new consumer oriented management As of may1988 40 Green machines on line by the end of february All 88 machines by May 31,1989 placement of 30 entirely new on line machines More user Friendly Bank statements new banking facilities at Bleidorn and Hana Wolfgang shopping Center expanded Bank hours at Larson Barracks her zone Nakrach Conn Barracks 97th general Hospital Drake Friedberg and Kirch cons branches services and procedures improved and update Don an ongoing basis introduction of Check safekeeping March 1 updated automatic rent and Utility payment sys tem for greater flexibility implemented Courtesy information desks reduced unnecessary paperwork accelerated training in customer service and Cross Selling techniques Bank renovations completed and or on going at bad Kreuz Nach hell Nikon bad sibling Heilbronn binding in bad Hersfeldt Lindsey Friedberg Erben Heim Berlin Mcnair Berlin Truman Plaza me  Bundlach Larson Barracks Hillesheim and Firth faster turnaround on loan applications Bank participation in in out processing Center located in the Frankfurt dental clinic building where customers May either open or close accounts monday through Friday 8 30 . To 12 30 . Special customer rates for certificates of Deposit. I am Happy you have Given me the Opportunity to make this list. It serves to reinforce the Pride we Al feel in merchants Community Bank. Relief fund s Auto loan policy explained of nil pm a i nov Al .4.�_. A i i recently my husband was driving to work hit a Patch of Black ice and lost control of the car. It rolled and was totalled. Because the value of our vehicle was less than 6,000 Marks we were not Able to Purchase comprehensive insurance. This was our Only vehicle. Living 10 Kilometres from Post makes it necessary to replace it As soon As possible. When i telephoned our army emergency Relief representative she informed me that they Are Only authorized to Grant Loans for the repair of an Only vehicle not the replacement of one. My question is what is the difference Between re pairing an Only vehicle that does t run or replacing an Only vehicle that was exchanged for the Cost of the towing services Lisa r. Gels Gie Belstadt West Germany editor s note Pat Federico army emergency Relief Are program coordinator office of the Dep Uty chief of staff personnel he Usa eur replies the information provided by your local Are representative is Correct. Are Loans May be Given Only to repair essential privately owned vehicles not to replace them. Soldiers Are responsible for obtaining insurance to protect their automobile investments. Most German Tariff insurance companies and All nato Tariff insurance companies offer comprehensive collision rates for vehicles priced under 6,000 Marks. While the Cost of insurance May be High depending on such factors As vehicle horsepower and the driving record and age and marital status of the insured each individual must decide for him or herself if it s wort the risk not to have full coverage. Are assists for Pov repair costs primarily involving necessary mechanical repairs not covered by warranty. Normally these repairs Are not Accident related since those costs should by covered by insurance. Vehicle repair estimates provide a fair equitable and verifiable basis for determining the amount of assistance needed. Vehicle replacement however would be difficult to evaluate because Are sections do not have the in House expertise to assess the fair Market or Book value of used automobiles. There would be no equitable Way of determining an appropriate amount of assistance because everyone would have a different idea As to what would suffice As a replacement vehicle. Therefore the inability to apply the same Standard for All and the potential for abuse of the system makes assistance for Pov replacement inappropriate. Pen pals please include me in your pen pal column. I am on a . Navy ship an would enjoy having a pen pal. Y m my hobbies Are bodybuilding writing poetry travelling and photography Johnathan b. Collins  Mccandless of 1084 Fpo . . 09578-1444 i m a 12-year-old american girl. I would love to have pen pals who Are 10-_ 1 4 y63ls old. " cheerleadin9 and Pla soft a a Nicole Dohogne a co 3/58 Ava Reg Apo . . 09457 on flu a " aq0d marital 8tatus physical Handicap political affiliation Orang other non Merit Factor of the purchaser user or Patron. Military address the stars and stripes Apo 09211 International mail the stars and stripes Postrach 111437. D-61006a is Edtl 1 Gerry Tynt a Flesheim civilian 06155 6010 ets 348-5741 or 348-5823. Telex 110.332. Tel fax 06155-601376. New York office room 401 252 Sev e., new York 10001, Tel area code 212 620-3333 348-5741 or German Daryl Green Deedee Arrington Doke a m227-3717 ""p"�n9ets 489- Munich Germany Charlie Bowden building 16. B stairwell 2nd soured Apo 09407 Telephone ets 440-7320 or Telephone Auto on 625-1110 ext Washington . 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United kingdom Civ. Newbury 0635 44768 Auto on 266-3209