European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 31, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes Friday March 31,1989 readers give views on desecration of Flag t have never been More disgusted or ashamed of a group of americans than when i rend the article about our country s Flag being displayed an the floor of Floc Art Institute of Chicago. Fit what right docs the school or the Chicago police department allow this they claim the first amendment. This however is carrying personal rights Loo far. Men and women have served under Noel. Yes. Died for what the stars and stripes rep. Resents. Every Dity that i Render Iio nors to the colors lying High and proud hewing in the wind my hear mourn for the one lying on a floor with americans tooling Down on her. Stuff sol. Brian j. Ila Geurty cd Rah vast Germany congressman Sonny Montgomery wants to expand the already oppressive and dangerous Laws against Flug desecration while fanatic veterans in Chicago terrorize museum goers. The situation reminds me More of the Ayatollah Iran and Stalin s Russia than it does the country i signed Tjho serve. If you offend the Ayatollah s religious sensibilities lie hires goons to kill you. If you offend he self a pain cd sniper patriots notion of americanism they Send a red necked sheriff to throw you under the  the result is a policy state like atmosphere of suspicion fear and hate a schoolteacher is threatened with Tosi of Freedom her family with loss of its loved ones  by nil reports innocently stepped on a piece of dyed cloth. Is hat the America we ask soldiers to fight for it is not the unc i went to Vietnam for. It is not the one i signed up to serve As an army civilian and army Reserve officer  an oath to the Constitution. As far As i can remember neither the oath nor the Constitution mentions the n  the Flag is merely the touching Symbol of my loyalty not the substance of it. Only a very shallow Patriot would say that he fights for the  think ing men devote themselves to the Constitution and the Liberty it represent. The shallow ones  now trying to destroy the Constitution in the name of the Flag have almost made me ashamed to Call myself a Veteran. For heaven s Sake let us Stop the Progress of their evil work before they make us All ashamed to Call ourselves americans. Marry f. Noyes Iii v Wiesbaden West Germany i am writing in reference to the Art exhibit where the american Flag was placed on the floor. It is be cause of my patriotism and dedication to my country that i am serving in the armed forces the Way i see it the american Flag is a Symbol of my country and my country is a Symbol of Freedom,1 which i love. The american Flag is not and never Wil be a floor Al far pc Pleta wipe inc in feet on. ,. My Grandfather father and Uncle along with Mil Lions of other patriotic men and women have served proudly in the armed forces of the United states. Many Nave been disabled or killed by an enemy who wanted to. Change our Way of life these patriotic individuals have shed their blood so that americ could remain the Symbol of ,.which it. Has. Been for almost 213 years. " Scott Tyler and  Willt his Art exp Hibit arc very ungrateful to their ancestors and fellow americans who gave their lives so they could be free. I would never let anyone wipe their feet on me bul that is the Way that this Art exhibit makes me feel Scott Tyler is taking advantage of his Freedom by walking All Over me All other members of the. Armed forces and veterans alike. Personally it makes me sick. What is his next project going to be burning the Constitution of the United Stales so he can study the color of the flames. Spec. Bryan Ritchie Mflwc Hetler West Germany the controversy Over the Art exhibit in Chicago that features a Flag on the floor Points out the Way we be misplaced the Flag. Misplaced in the sense that the Flag itself is not the object that it represents. The Flag is a representation of us All. It puts All of us americans into an easily recognizable visual sym Bol. Bul that s All it is. A Symbol. It is a piece of cloth bleached and dyed red and Blue. To say As one Viet Nam Veteran did in a recent article in the stars and stripes a personally shed a lot of blood defending the Flag is ludicrous. Is he saying thai More than 50,000 americans died defending a bleached and dyed piece of cloth or did they die defending a abstract idea of personal Liberto and self determination for inc population of South Vietnam an idea that the american people have taken under their Wing As their own what has happened in this controversy is the piece of cloth has taken on life at the a Pense of the abstract idea it represents one thai has been shrouded behind the Lack of objective thinking personal Freedom has taken a Back scat in the fight la protect its greatest Symbol. When you stand in the movie theater or at a base Ball game when 1 he National Anthem plays you re standing in Honor of inc people the music represents not because it s Nice music. When you Salute the Flag you arc remembering the people it represents not bowing to a piece of cloth when you walk of a Flag you arc walking on a piece of bleached and dyed cloth. Just As when oppo a cols of the United states Burn an american Flag they arc burning a piece of cloth but arc not putting a scratch on the people that it represents. ". 1 defend the creators of inc exhibit. Id find the. Exhibit s right to exist. I would not walk on the cloth in order to get to the Ledger strategically placed be Hind it out of respect for the persons this act would  the same Lime. I am also a vocal supporter of the abstract idea it represents and the people who make it happen. As an aside remember free expression and per Sonal Freedom applies to All persons not Only to those who agree with you. Spec. Thomas Porter Worms West Germany new enlisted evaluation system discussed i would just like to take a moment to comment on the Ai r airman performance report system. I know that this Section is usually reserved for complaints about the salad or at Burger King and the total disregard for apr 35-10, but i feel i must comment any Way. S. The current apr system is now under Ruvis Cuenl. It is Iny understanding thai everyone will be put in the average Block and Only the exceptional airmen will make it to the top blocks. Correct me if i m wrong,.bui thai is How the current  . Work. Eventually the new system will fall into the same problems of the old one everyone Wingel. The highest rating. The main problem lies not  system but in the integrity of the apr that arc written a solution to the problem is really fairly simple. Ii Meiji  nine blocks there should Only be three. The top Block will be for the average airmen. I firmly believe thai the airman who works hard docs his Job and comes to work on Lime deserves a Good apr the written  apr would be Cut Down to simple facts and achievements about the very Day performance of inc individual. The next lower Block would be for i Host whose performance is marginal and needs improvement but can possibly make n to the top Block. The lowest Block would be for those who Are routinely in trouble and should not  re Tel isl. The Bottom two blocks would have to be Justi fied with paperwork because if someone s performance is marginal it should be documented this system would reduce the favouritism that is so prevalent in the current system. It would also open up the awards program further for the really exceptional troops who give More than their share to the Mission. It would make the apr a tool for evaluation of performance and riot a competitive race for the top spot by the Way i also Hope that Burger King docs not take the salad bar out at our base. Senior airman Michael e. Short Raf bunt Waters England. Editor s note col. L. Rice Miller director of personnel plans he Safe Dpi replies a new enlisted devaluation system Kes will be implemented throughout the air Force beginning May i. The new system will provide formal performance feed Back procedures delete the requirement for performance reports on airmen Basic airmen and some airmen firs Cluss and eliminate endorsement inflation. In addition the new system should reduce the administrative Buntyn of Protti Isginn performance reports. New forms including feedback turks him and  reports with be introduced with the Hen system. The new yes has two primary objectives. In a. To provide rates with candid performance feedback so they Nill know How Well they Are doing. Second to provide an official retard of  rendered by officials in the riling Chain who Art close to lie actual wort enl room Cal. This information when incorporated into Tonj considered with other parts of an airman s record be comes a Bash for sound personnel decisions there is currently much information misinformation floating around concerning the new s Stem. For exam pie there is no intention to Force ratings Donn to inc average Block with few Ever making it to the lop Block. To ensure a Safe personnel officers and enlisted me fully aware of the new yes Saff Headquarters will Send briefing teams to major installations through out the command to april. The teams will Brief on Why the system win developed Haw  into being what ii will accomplish and when it will be implemented we Are sure that when the bases Are. Fully briefed on All aspects of the new system thai most will agree the sys tem Sifor the better Addi Loimil informal Iota on spec iils can be lined from your local consolidated base personnel office Capo or from the Bric find teams visiting your arts in april ,. Pen pals Wouk i b a of to fix country. Nigh publish our turnip in your pan Tat column. Set a Dungon Fyk Sprx of Fern. To till cup by corp. 17jjfrmamij5�rrtmavb Sunn to Btu in up of Liptai pub huh my we in poop tfx time my Jay Al. _. 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