European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 20, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page to the stars and stripes columns Flora Lewis does anyone really want German unification Paris the German question is again at the heart of european affairs. It is getting attention in a Concrete an human Way. As thousands of East Ger mans encamped in Hungary began the Long Hack Road to the other Side of i hair divided country. But for All the embarrassment it is causing the hungarian and both German governments it is a minor incident com pared with the issues posed by the two Ger Many now that Europe anticipates the end of the cold War. Stalin thought he solved the German problem by partition and the Iron cur Tain. The West Learned to live with it rather comfortably but it was obviously a fragile Brittle solution maintained Only by Force. The cold War provoked even required a Western commitment and unrelenting rhetorical Campaign for Ger Man reunification and self determination. But it was obvious that nobody in Europe but the germans found the idea appealing. France in particular set out to forge sturdy links to Anchor the Federal re Public in the West with full support from every successive government in Bonn. Talking about a Distant future with United Germany was All right because nobody thought they would have to facet. In a thoughtful unpublished article he wrote shortly before he died last month the new York times James Markha surveyed the questions arising now. He had been Bureau chief in Bonn be fore coming to Paris and he knew Ger Many Well. His understanding and his reporting led him to scoff at the scary scenarios advanced by some american commentators of a West Germany about to aban Don the West in order to achieve reunification and seek domination. It is a Nice trick of history1," he wrote that one of the greatest challenges fac ing the West As this Century closes will be reconciling its own interests with a goal it has Long espoused without Ever think ing it would be  he was a first rate observer and analyst and knew the deep concerns of West germans As they watched developments in the East. They do feel a Spe Cial responsibility a special tug a special interest in these relations. But they Don t want to be overrun with easterners not even East germans and ethnic germans from farther away Carl Rowan we order a East germans to whom their Laws give automatic citizenship in West Germany. And they Don t want to be detached from the tremendously rewarding Inte Gration in the West that has brought Security and Prosperity. Markham quoted Dieter Schroder head of the West Berlin mayor s office we arc finally confronted with the real Ity of our own demands. We gave speeches All the time about the changes we wanted to Sec in the East but no one is really ready for the changes that might  West Germany has done a great Deal to prop up East Germany s communist regime. The thesis is it was helping Fel Low germans obliged to suffer under that imposed system. But it was reinforced by the Hope that their situation could be made tolerable enough that they would stay at Home if the barriers were torn Down. That is Why mayor Walter Momper of West Berlin said last week that too much talk about Early reunification sins against the people in East Germany giving the East Berlin government a cheap excuse to avoid the reforms that Are  this was clearly a retort to . Ambassador Vernon wallers who said on the radio that it is not Normal with two Ger Many and that he expected reunification soon. According to his scenario the soviet Union will soon want to unload the soviet bloc to focus on its own problems turning its allies Loose. He seems to include East Germany. Czechoslovakia Romania Cuba and North Korea whose regimes oppose Mikhail Gorbachev s reforms and would like them to fail. That is a very rash View and does t take into account the dangers a sudden crumbling of the soviet Empire would have for everybody including the West. Markham in his commentary reported that Gorbachev told Johannes Rau head of Nord Rhein westfalen during his recent visit that if he failed his Succes Sor in the soviet Union might be a fierce military  Markham noted that it could be an Appeal for sympathy butt reflects an abiding preoccupation else  president Bush who has been deftly responsible by moderating his approach to Poland and Hungary and avoiding any appearance of intervention tossed of the remark that he expected the Berlin Wall to fall in his presidency a bit risky even if he counts on re election. This is a time that permits great Hope. The West must encourage those who strive for democracy. But it must also soberly consider the Western adjust ments needed As the East lurches to change and be careful not to provoke upheaval through false promises or dire warnings about Germany. C the n w York Elf in Frank should be treated like any congressman those of us who insisted that the homosexuality of rep. Barney Frank d.-mass., was irrelevant to his work As a congressman seem now to face a dilemma. How do we Deal with revelations that Frank hired a male prostitute to be his sexual partner then made the prostitute Stephen l. Gobic his household employee for 18 months during which Gobie ran a prostitution ring from Frank s Home i say there is no special problem Here. We treat Frank the same Way we would treat a  congressman who hired a woman prostitute bedded her Down in his domicile and let her operate a prostitution ring from his place. We would be asking for the resignation or ejection from Congress of the heterosexual lawmaker on grounds that his behaviour was egregiously offensive and his judgment so bad As to Render him unfit to make the Laws of the land. It is no assault on Gay rights or anything else to say that what Frank did was lacking in taste and discretion and beyond that simply dumb dumb dumb. I find serious problems of credibility in this sordid mess. Frank says he hired Gobic As his housekeeper and Driver in an Effort to rehabilitate this male prostitute whose past was unsavoury to put it mildly. This claim that Frank was engaged in bedroom therapy is not compelling of belief. Frank says he was conned by Gobie and never knew that the prostitute was running a sexual business from the congressman s Home and that he kicked Gobic out when he Learned what was going on. It is hard to believe that a Man who showed such smarts such intuition and  in House hearings and deliberations could not know for is months that Gobic was Selling sex from his residence. Gobic says Frank knew All about the sex business and wrote letters to protect Gobic and the sex ring. The problem is that Gobie is As distasteful As and has about As much credibility As one of the Garden slugs that arc hiding among my lettuce plants. Gobic is a Slimy character who admits that he s trying to parlay this scandal into a movie to or Book Deal in which Pecan make More Money than he did As Pimp and prostitute. But we Don t have to fully believe either Frank or Gobic. All we have to do is note that Frank has admitted to actions that most americans would find morally intolerable for a heterosexual member of con Gress. We can without guilt find those same actions cons Brablc for a homosexual lawmaker. Frank ought to resign not because As some have written his actions Hurt the democratic party and the cause of  what Frank did regarding Gobic and what Gobie did under the shelter of Frank s roof Haven t a Damn thing to do with democrats or republicans liberals or conservatives. What is at stake Here is the reputation and integrity of the Congress and All the elements of government. Frank has sullied the House of representatives and All who serve there in ineradicable ways. He let lust Lay on him stupidities that arc almost beyond belief. He ought to admit this and resign immediately without forcing the House ethics committee to a through Long a rated hearings about his culpability in this wicked extravaganza. North America Syndicate