European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 14, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 10 a the stars and stripes columns . . Should face question of German unification distributed by King features Syndicate to Mumm the Goffi mews Tofica Kolin letters come from Germany. They arrive in response to columns i have written saying German unification is going too fast too Many fears arc being papered Over. The columns said Germany a neighbors and victims should testify on How they could Best be helped to rest easy in their hearts that yesterday will not become tomorrow. Some letters Are full of fury. Far More interesting Are the letters courteous in Lone from Young germans who seem puzzled and Hurt. One Way or another they ask the same questions Quot should the sins of the fathers be visited upon the children Isnit that what the nazis did a no that is not what the nazis did. What they did was Slaughter millions and millions but not because the fathers and mothers of the butchered committed any sin. They were slaughtered because the nazis were driven by the bestial passion of hatred to wipe both parents and children from the face of the Earth exterminate them. Just As nazi Germany a victims committed no crime their forefathers committed no sin beyond being born and giving life. It is sad that the distinction still has to be made. But those of us who arc still Bone nervous about the idea of Germany once again emerging As the most powerful nation in Europe cannot walk away from the first question. If great sin is committed by a nation shall guilt pass from Parent to child i think the answer is guilt no but inheritance yes. Germans born too Young to be part of the German sin arc guilty of nothing. That is those who do not Admire what their parents did or try to whine it away a or nudge each other with nostalgia for the old Brown Days. Not everybody in the parties of the German nationalist right is confined to a wheelchair. But our parents do leave us heritages sometimes heavy to Bear but impossible to put Down. Nazi Germany left today a Germany a heritage of distrust disgust and fear from a Good part of the world. That Burden has been lightened by those germans who since world War ii have not Only denounced nazism but done something More important a shed Light on its shadows in German politics and education. But the heritage of fear still exists. Germans old or Young who deny it arc endangering themselves and those around them a As we All do by denying the truth. Judith Miller of the new York times has written an important powerful but Calm Book on the emotional and political techniques that nations including Ger Many still use to deny or try to forget the holocaust. The Book will be published in May by Simon amp schuster and is so pertinent to the unification Issue that you might want to Jot Down its title a one by one by every Day the nervousness becomes More obvious As More people speak up a the poles saying they will keep soviet troops on their soil european nations demanding to be part of the unification process israelis pondering German contributions to the libyan chemical weapons Plant. Only in the . Is there no real discussion. This country for All its Pride in political individuality usually follows its Leader. President Bush has not even bothered to talk to us about unification one of the most important events of our time. You can see Why a its embarrassing. As Chancellor Helmut Kohl said so knowingly the West supported unification when nobody thought it would happen. Years ago the Western governments should have prepared step by step measures to Deal with the prob lems and fears unification would certainly bring up. They did not and now they Are the victims of their own hypocrisy. Gunter grass the West German novelist says that because a unified Germany was a precondition to Auschwitz the very right of German self determination is open to question. My heart agrees with him. My head says move on. Concentrate on getting More talk started about How to make unification a carefully thought out process a of concern not just to German politicians but All who share the Earth with them. Guarantees against yesterday Are impossible but safeguards could be built into the German government including acceptance of International accountability. Preparation for the dangers As Well As opportunities of unification is important to All people. For none is it More vital than those who will live with the future As surely As they inherited the past a Young germans without sin. New York times Tom Wicker Bush sees transportation needs for others to remedy Here is another example of what close observers have come to expect of George Bush one Day he declares the nations transportation system is a beginning to break Down and warns a we cannot afford inadequate inefficient the next Day he announces a new National policy that will do nothing to improve the a inadequate inefficient transportation system he has just correctly denounced. But if against All Odds it should improve the gains will not result from new leadership by Bush or increased investment by the Federal government. Another example one Day Bush Calls for a essential new capacity. In transportation systems of National significance to meet critical National the next Day he unclothed As new policy an old discredited Turkey cutting off Federal funds for Amtrak. Yet what a left of the National railway passenger system has been improving its performance thus providing a essential new capacity Quot As Best it can while its need for Federal subsidy has declined. Congress moreover has refused repeatedly to abandon Amtrak even while Ham stringing it politically and financially. Still another example on the one hand the president cites the need for High Speed rail systems for trips of 100 to 500 Miles. On the other in his so called new Federal transportation a policy a no Federal funds except for research Are provided for High Speed systems. Meanwhile numerous states including Texas Florida California Ohio and Nevada already Are moving ahead with their own plans for these modern rail lines a no thanks to the Man living in the White House who approves invading Panama and Mouths platitudes about National transportation needs. And one More Bush a transportation statement claims a shortage of Federal funds requires a transportation Trust fund balances Quot to be spent a Over time in a fiscally responsible in fact the administration is not now spending responsibly or in any other manner Over time or at any other Pace the billions collected in Federal taxes and held in special Trust funds for aviation and surface travel. Why because if the Money were spent for the purposes for which americans were taxed the Federal deficit would appear larger than it now does a a Prospect the White House does not have the stomach to face. And the worst example of All from the night of his nomination in new Orleans Bush has insisted he will tolerate no new Federal taxes. That is one pledge on which no one can charge him with default. And it remains the proud hallmark of his administration no new taxes. Yet he now Calls for a variety of added taxes clumsily disguised As a user fees a More Highway tolls for example. For transportation needs As earlier for education requirements Bush also Calls on the states and localities to raise their taxes to meet a problem even he concedes is fundamentally National rather than local. Competent state officials will Tell you its infinitely harder to ask their constituents to pay higher state taxes As a result of Bush s Strong assurances they will not be asked to pay higher Federal taxes. But poll after poll has shown the american people would be willing to have Federal taxes raised if they were shown it w As Lor a Good and necessary purpose. What a fundamentally lacking is not More Effort by the states. More than 4u of them for instance have effected educational reforms of varying Quality Ana Cost since 1982, As Federal expenditures for education have declined by 30 percent since 1980 a not by coincidence the Reagan and Bush years. Nor Are All the states As noted Aboc shirking transportation responsibilities. What a most critically lacking is m hit White House a the political Couray. And the a vision things to face the Nuci sity for National action and National vestment to meet National needs. The states can should and olten i help. They cannot replace however effective action needed in Washingto a read his lips better watch his hands instead. George Bush talks big and does i on education he makes pron1lscii,. Shuns performance on the Environ a now on transportation he state need but hands the Job to someone c a new York times
