European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 17, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The fiddler plays at the so called a wailing Wall tial criticism in front of Leipzig a City Hall. A amps photos by Scott a. Miller slag heaps of uranium waste from a Bismuth mine Tower Over the Small town of Ronneburg. A amps map texts criticizing worldwide intolerance and injustice a called the a wailing Wall locally a Are Laid out on cobblestones in front of the City Hall in Leipzig. A the Les guest Igia. R and get rate find Nan Parks amp Anks Are she service to the kinds of glasses used to serve drinks in the bar. There is nothing wrong with either. On a Wall in town someone sprayed the word  eating in the Gera hotel is a problem. Despite the hotel s policy of serving All hotel guests we fail to get into any of the four restaurants or in the bar. Quot this is the Best place for Miles around and people Reserve tables months in Advance Quot the receptionist said. We follow her suggestion and eat at the miners culture House a few blocks away after standing in line for 30 minutes. You have be very hungry to eat this simple fare but it s also extremely cheap a about $3 for a Steak Fried potatoes and two Beers. We share a table with two men and a woman who Are fascinated that americans Are in Gera. Quot our problem now is that we re All amateurs in democracy a the politicians and the people Quot says Dieter one of the group. Quot first we had the holy roman Empire German nation then feudalism then Napoleon then Hitler followed by stalinism. Oppressive dictatorships a All of them. You can t expect much from  feb. 25 we head off to Mol Bis one of the places vying for the title of most polluted town in East Germany. The Rev. Karl Heinz Dallmann with his red rimmed eyes shallow breathing and cough assures me that he is in Good health. Why can t i believe him Dallmann gives us a full account of the area s troubles. Quot another problem is Ronneburg Quot he said. Quot the Bismuth mines there. You passed the slag heaps near the Highway to get Here. About 10 stories High. Too bad they Don t glow so people would know How radioactive they Are. Just filled with uranium waste for the next god knows How Many years. Quot some West German scientist told us that we did t have to worry about chernobyl a we had just As bad a catastrophe sitting out near  we leave the pollution of Melbis behind and head to Leipzig. Leipzig is not Only the town where the East German non violent revolution began but also the site of the Thomas Church Home of the famous Thomas choir once headed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Martin Luther once preached from its pulpit. In front of the old City Hall Klaus the fiddler performs his weird prance and tune. Nearby his friends spread out a network of cardboard signs bearing texts and messages criticizing intolerance and injustices in the world. About a Hundred people Mill around the network which Klaus Calls Quot the wailing Wall Quot to read the cards. Quot we began in Cologne and decided to expand to Leipzig six months ago. City officials tried to Stop us in Cologne but have left us alone Here Quot Klaus says before starting to saw away at his fiddle. Feb. 27 Scott and i visit the museum at Colditz a former prison for Allied officers that was considered impossible to flee. The museum contains artefacts used by prisoners to Aid in their escape attempts museum custodian Stefen Hempel is still fascinated by the deeds and ingenuity of these men. But Hempel is also fascinated by Aln Quot when i used to drive to Berlin i d listen Lor Dave Dudley now i can travel West and hear Aen for hours Quot feb. 28 we eat breakfast in the hotel Thuringia in Eisenach 15 Miles from the West German Border then we drive out to bad a Lungen to spend the Day with the East German army once we get to the base the commander of the motorized Rifle regiment and the assistant division commander Call the visit by the stars and stripes Quot a historical event Quot a several times Over. Quot we want to show you that we have nothing to hide and that our peaceful intentions Are serious Quot says col. Erich Madler. Quot besides Quot the colonel says Quot what should we hide we have All the nato manuals and you have  porch 17,1990 the stars and stripes a a a a i Page 15