European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 17, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes Page 11 Ann Landers dear Ann Landers i am in my Junior year of High school and nol doing very Well. When 1 was in the ninth Grade. 1 had a very demanding history teacher whose reputation was Well known. He assigned killer re search papers Tough Book reports and toads of outside Library work. His tests were murder. I complained to my parents because i did t want to work that hard. Also the chemistry be tween us was t the greatest. My parents came to school and had a meeting with the principal. I was taken out of that teacher s class and placed in another class where the kids had very Little Homework watched films a lot and never dunked. Now. When i look around. I Sec the students who sweated it out with that Tough teacher and they Are doing a lot belter than i am. They Learned discipline and Good study habits. I wish my parents had insisted that i stay in that class and do the work. I still Don t like the teacher but i have to admit there was no horsing around in his classes. He was t trying to win any popularity con tests. He did what a teacher was supposed to do. He taught. Please Tell kids not to take the easy Way out. Tough teachers and hard courses May not be a barrel of fun but i hey teach you something. Too late smart. Casper Wyo. Dear Casper thinks for a letter i can relate to. When i was in. High school. I Opl cd out of taking latin because science pm easier. I have regretted it Ever since. I also ducked French and i m sorry about that Loo. When i As a teen Ager there was no Ann Landers. You kids have me. I Hope you listen. Dear Ann Landers a near ago last Christmas the Man i was going with gave me a very expensive piece of jewelry. When he presented it to me. I was speechless because it was much too lavish a present Given the nature of our relationship. My first reaction was to Tell him i could t accept such an expensive gift but i was afraid of hurting his feelings. I thanked him profusely and wore it when we were together which pleased him. Several months later the relationship fell apart and ended on a sour note. Now i am wondering what to do with thai piece of jewelry. I will never Wear it again because it is too much a reminder of the bitter arguments and awful things we said to one another when we parted. I can t return it to him. Because he has moved out of the City and i Don t want to ask anyone where he is. I look the piece to a jeweler last week and asked what he would give me for it. The answer was. Nol nearly what it s Worth. Secondhand jewelry goes Way Down in value when you try to sell  he advised me to Wear it and forget about where it came from. Ii seems a shame to Cash it in for a fraction of what it s Worth but i m sure i la never Wear it again. Any suggestions. Ann lost sparkle in Santa Ana dear sparkle hang on to the jewelry and keep your eyes and cars open for a Charity auction. Ask around. A Friend or colleague Mill surely know of one sooner or later that piece could bring a handsome bid and you will feel at Tully Good about donating it to a worthy cause. Writer comments on military benefits we be just read the proposal of president Bush in regards to inc increase of Down payments for Homes bought with a backed Loans. We could t help but wonder if the 4 percent figure was reached in order to offset inc whopping 4 percent pay increase that military Scricc members received this year. We can t help but wonder if in this Issue. President Bush is counting on the silent obedience of most scr  he has. In fact been listening to too Many generals who upon retirement will not have to worry about Down payments on Homes. The things most civilians in the United states do not realize Are i that military members with 16 years seniority can make $ 1,391 a month our Case 2. That military  with families can spend up to $2,000 on moves out of their own pocket 3. That because of the Point Structure now used for promotions in is virtually impossible to get promoted and the army can let you go at 18 years for no other reason than the fact you Haven t been promoted there is no place to complain 4. That the much renowned Benefit system has deteriorated to the Point that military families in Mili tary hospitals pay for care in a Cost sharing situation much like Many civilian policies and getting seen can take up to six months 5. That president Reagan s tripling of the military budget at peacetime did More for military contractors than it did for the service members and their families 6. Upon retirement 20 years or More soldiers get 50 percent of their pay in our Case $695 and an 80percent champs insurance coverage. Our experience has been that doctors and hospitals require pay ment first and individuals then request reimbursement which can take up to four to five months. If you do not have the Money and Don t live near a military Hospital you re out of Luck we have always considered the military a Public service Job and not a place to get Rich. When we retire if we arc permitted to Complete our 20 years we in tend to continue in Public service. We feel that like being a member of Congress you give a lot and get your rewards within. We do feel however that presi Dent Bush should remember the truth when proposing tax Laws Hal Benefit those in private service and when proposing reductions of military benefits relying on the general Public s misconceptions about military service. We Hope the average military family will choose not to be passive in regards to this proposed Cut. Dennis c. Nicholson Stephanie Nicholson Obe Rursch West Germany airman finds rewards in fulfilling duty i would like to talk about inc air Force image. This is not a speech on clean Cut Green blooded. . Joe. This is about the real air Force and its Mem Bers namely myself. I try to picture myself As a Recruiter painting wonderful dreams to Young hopefuls. But All i can see is retrying to Tell them How the air Force usually is. Not All of us get to be the glamorous fighter pilots like to cruise. Most of us arc the lowly airmen1 who constantly do the unglamorous Job of getting or. Hero into the air. No problem the Young hopefuls say i be seen the commercials with them wearing their Snappy uni forms smiling at the cheering crowds with their Glam Orous smile but wait i add. There arc two sides to every  let s look at some experiences of an actual member with four years in. I signed in the delayed enlistment program at 17, convinced i wanted to be a part of the painted pictures of glory. To a boy straight out of High school life is nothing More than a Kickback and relax attitude. Once you join up however you arc thrust into shall we Call in the real  i quickly Learned about the different types of people in this world. The types who feel they arc gods and you should feel grateful to be in their presence. The two faced Friend who would gladly sacrifice you if it would meet his ends. You Sec the ones who can t handle the pressure and become the alcoholics or maybe the suicides. You can see the slow and terrible breakup of marriages As the spouse decides reminder All letters to the editor must contain the full printed name and address of the writer and must be signed. We do not read unsigned letters but we Hill withhold your name on request and protect your privacy. To taste the  these things sound terrible and thai is True but along with these you will Sec love Friendship and dedication that you will never Sec anywhere else. You will Sec love Between people More True and genuine than any soap opera. Friends so close that they will gladly go out of their Way to help you in a time of need the dedication of people doing their Best for what they believe in. You May not get the Job of or. Hero the Pilot with his glamorous smile to the cheering crowds. What you do get though is maturity Confidence and Pride in who you arc and what you do. You May not get your wonderful painted dream but if you listen very hard you might just hear inc cheering crowds. Sgt. Michael Hay Raf Lakenheath England base closings discussed in response to your cover Page article on the  closing i had a sobering thought. If the United states closed one base a year in the Pitburg Kaiserslautern area of Germany it would Only take 250 years before this portion of . Troops were returned from foreign soil. David w. Holdefer Garls Edt West Germany fraternity seeks members the United kingdom chapter of Kappa Alpha in inc has been approved i am teaching All members military and civilian of this Noble fraternity throughout England we need to come together m me Bond to worn on planning Tot the presentation of the Cut Apter to the Brothers the ceremony is scheduled or mid March or Early april few More information Contact  pc Boi ism Raf Check funds Apo 09193-5000 Eum Okam edition col. Gene e. Town8end, Usan commander editor m cruel it. Col. Suzanne l. Phillips. Usan Deputy commander editor m cruel Marie Koui Nocki Mert Proctor Jeanc a Mcdermott production manager managing editor circulation manager True newspaper is an authored Uno Boal Puma Lam Lor members of the or Pitary services oversees Content of the stars and stripes Are nol necessarily the Olli Cial views of. Or endorsed by. Me us. Government. 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