European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 18, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Ceausescu something to laugh about by Randy Mccain staff writer r romanians. Who once dared criticize their government Only in whispers Are no openly telling pres about the late Nico a Ceausescu newspapers Many of which Are enlivened with pointed political cartoons Are also popular items. Citizens in most a or cities stand in line Lor hours to get their hands on the latest editions of such papers As Romania libera and the Transylvania Gazelle in the past the newspapers were nothing More than organs for Ceausescu. And they did t speak the truth said 24-year-old Cystian Dumitrescu. A student in Bucharest now they Are the most wanted the Okes and cartoons Range from the cynical to the Sublime Here s one about Ceausescu before the revolution. Ceausescu telephones the most honest Man in Romania to ask his opinion on several important mailers Tell me do the people Hale me Ceausescu asks yes. They Hale you the Man who cannot Tell a lie answers. And do you hate me Ceausescu asks yes i do the Man replies. And is it True the people plan to kill me the romanian Leader wants to know. Yes they want to kill says the honest Man. Would you like to kill me too Ceausescu asks yes i would comes the answer. One More thing after i m dead is it True that the people want to spit on my grave yes or Ceausescu. That s True too the honest Man replies. And you sir. Do you want to spit on my grave Ceausescu asks the honest romanian answers. I can t Bear standing in line three hours " or How about this one Ceausescu. Mikhail Gorbachev and chinese Leader Deng Xiaoping Are wandering in the desert without food they decide to split up to look for something to eat Gorbachev gives each Man a whistle. The first one to find something is to signal the others Deng Xiaoping wanders alone until he hears a shrill whistle he follows the sound and finds Gorbachev roasting a slab of meat Over an open fire the chinese Leader joins the feast you he says after a few moments of silence. I Don t like this Man Ceausescu " if you Don t like him Don t eat Gorbachev says one recent newspaper cartoon cast barbs at the National salvation front the transitional government that took Power after Ceausescu s death the front and Many opposition parties plan to Field candidates in democratic elections May 20 the cartoon shows a hand feeding ballots into a meat grinder. Each vote is for a different political party the front the National peasant party the Liberal party and the social democrats. When the Voles come out the other end each one reads the finally Here s a More optimistic cartoon ii was published earlier this month on the front Page of a newspaper in Brasov. It simply shows a smiling Man slicing a loaf of bread As each of nine slices is Cut a new letter appears on the bread s crust the final word de to or a by. Today it s the most popular word in Romania report fro Romania romanian television once dominated by exaggerated reports of economic Progress and homages to Nicolae Ceausescu. Is getting hip Well almost in recent weeks state television has drastically increased the amount of time it is on the air. Expanded its news coverage and added entertainment programs. Music videos Are one Welcome change of Pace one night recently the likes of Elton John and ub40 were on the air. Their music videos were copied from the West s sky Channel network and played takes on a new look Back for More than an hour. Another recent addition is a talk show that alternates Between news and entertainment in Early february the show featured segments on a Bucharest Rock band and a Man who suffered a head injury in the december revolution Paul Catana a 59-year-old factory worker in Piatra neat. Said he s watching More to than Ever. Before the revolution. To broadcast Only two hours a night from 8 p m to 10 p m he said. There was no need to watch it ii was All about Ceausescu. And it was nothing but lies he said. Now slate television s Day begins with a morning newscast and continues past Midnight state to is also demonstrating a bigger commitment to carrying the news of the Day although Many of the newly created political parties in Romania say the network systematically ignores them in Early february state to featured a speech by Doina Cornea an outspoken critic of acting president Ion Iliescu and a leading dissident during Ceausescu s last years also the trials of four discredited Ceausescu advisers were televised in late january. The trials of Interior minister Tudor Postelnicu Lormer head of secret police sex communist party Secretary Emil Bobu. And politburo members Manea Manescu and Ion Dinca Drew Large audiences seeing the once feared leaders Small and helpless on the to screen elicited an unusual reaction in some viewers. When i see Postelnicu now As such a poor Man i have compassion for him said Angelica Onu of Brasov Romania. When i look at him i see a Tost Man " stars and stripes bookstores stars and stripes Bookstore this month s super discount pictorial history of the american civil War is a stars and stripes super Saver selection for the month of february. You la save $4 off the original cover Price of $15.95 for this comprehensive pictorial account which documents the land and sea campaigns of this awesome War relating them in graphic narration and maps. The discounted Price for pictorial history of the american civil War is Only $11.95 at a stars and stripes shopping Center Bookstore near you. And you can save 25% off or More on this month s selection of other super Saver hardcover titles. These include photography Cook books classic Art bodybuilding etiquette space technology children s stories and More. O 30 Tom co Cdo o at stars and stripes bookstores customers save Money every Day with our discount in programs. Customer savings already total More than 5700,000 in fiscal year 1990. You la o find stars and stripes bookstores Well stocked with popular magazines paperbacks and a a Hub Tammi mtg hmm hardcover books All discounted for you. Stop in and save today in stars and stripes bookstores stars and stripes bookstores sunday february 18, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 17
