European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 05, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes Page 11 Ann Landers letters dear Ann Landers please let me Tell your readers that people who indulge in Gay hashing Hurt not Only Gays but another group of people As Well 3 they number in the millions i am a member of your Church choir your neighbor across the Street your daughter s sunday Choo teacher the Butcher who slices your meat and the cop on the  son is Gay. He does t have Pink hair and he does t Wear Mascara. He is an excellent water skier and an avid Chicago bears fan. He is intelligent and hard working and he has a terrific sense of humor. He is extremely handsome and girls have been Chas Ine him since sixth Grade. Your daughter would be crazy about him and you would think he s a Marvel Ous catch. You would never know that he was Gay unless he told  stereotype of Gay men is not accurate. The vast majority have no visible signs. About one of 10 men is Gay so you must know a few. And i la bet you have dealings with some who you would swear Are  Are extremely skillful at concealing their sex Ual identity because they would prefer to live a lie rather than risk the hostility and humiliation. We parents suffer More than you can imagine. We May have spent months even years learning to accept them. We support them through their depressions and our own As we try to face the fact that we shall never see them in the traditional roles of Hus band and father. My son did not choose to be Gay. Please understand this and remember that it could have been your son. A Parent dear Friend thank you for reminding us that parents of Gays often carry a heavy Burden. We know a great Deal More about homosexuality today than we did 20 years ago. The More enlightened we become the less hostile. Thanks for writing. Dear Ann Landers funeral Homes often give family members printed cards to Send with a message that sounds a lot like this perhaps you sent a Lovely card or sat quietly in a chair. Perhaps you sent a funeral Spray. If so we saw it there. Perhaps you spoke the kindest words that any Friend could say. Perhaps you were not there at All just thought of us that Day. Whatever you did to console our hearts we thank you so much whatever the part. I Don t want to add to a grieving person s Burden but when you Knock yourself put telephoning cooking for relatives consoling the children driving Kin to the funeral and the cemetery you Don t appreciate a Mes Sage saying perhaps you did something but i m not sure of what it  i consider this pretty shabby treatment. What do you think ., fort Worth dear  I agree. In my opinion those All purpose cards should be abolished. C creators Syndicate readers reply to ignorant Yankee letter this is in response to a letter by a woman from Alabama. I sympathize with her about the derogatory remarks made to her about her Home state. Americans tend to be proud of their Home states especially being overseas. However is it her answer to this situation to make Adverse or slurring remarks about other states i was stationed in Alabama. They do have paved roads and the residents do Wear shoes. I did see a Fine selection of Homes. I am from new York and we do have slums. But what do alabamians Call the shacks i saw people living in where empty containers were outside to collect water we Call them slums in the North. And i guess the Young kids i saw in Birmingham wearing jackets with skulls being arrested by the police for fighting with other kids wearing similar jackets Are members of  we Call them gangs up North. So what is an answer to this situation people need to realize that every state has Beauty and a Rich Heri Tage to be shared by All. Unfortunately every state also has places that perhaps have been neglected too Long by society. When will it All end when people Stop saying it s a state problem and say it s an american problem or perhaps just Stop saying you people in that state have All kinds of problems and realize that these Are problems we As americans All face. The unemployment rate the homeless situation the crime rate the fight against drugs the aids epidemic etc., these Are not state problems they Are problems that face America. We As americans must unite to defeat these problems. To this writer i say that the next time someone makes painful comments about your state do not re Spond with More pain. Instead enlighten them on the greatness of your state. Tell them about the great americans that your state has produced. Knowledge will defeat ignorance. Sgt. 1st class Jose Perez or. Berlin. If it is Intel gence you seek Why undermine your own by Labelling ignorant persons As ignorant Yankees the military Community is comprised of americans. It is neither Southern nor Northern. Why lower your self to a level where you revive the existence of and Render significance to the inanity and divisive sabotage that the Mason Dixon line effected priya Butani Macdonald Bobingen West Germany exactly How far will the stars and stripes go where Are the glorified responsible editors Reading this paper does t give anyone a clue. What s the possible purpose of printing letters claiming All americans Are pigs or All Yankees arc ignorant i gladly fit in both categories and i definitely am neither i m proud to show my Economy quarters to my landlord. I m proud to be an american in Europe. I m equally proud to be from the great Northern states. The letters you recently printed proves Only ignorant people appreciate ignorant comments. I Don t blame these people. I blame you it s time the stars and stripes displayed More responsibility in this area. I understand the letters to the editor column is for items that have interest for the entire Community. You have proved me definitely wrong. The letter writers should have taken their complaints directly to the responsible person not the whole euro Pean theater. Above All you should not have allowed letters like these to reach print. This is one Reader who strongly suggests that the stars and stripes reevaluate its position on junk letters. Step one should be to immediately Stop considering inflammatory letters such As these. The second step is to acquire an editing staff that will do their Job by saying no the editor s criteria for printing should be is this of interest to everyone it should not be How Many people can we make angry with this one come on stars and stripes Cut the garbage come on editors get real staff sgt. Bryan Sloan Geilenkirche West Germany Jungle expert badge explanation Given could you please explain the army s policy on Wear ing of the Jungle expert badge it seems that every unit i go to there is a different policy for wearing it. It is a military school but a 670-1 or a 672-5-1 does t state whether or not the Jungle expert badge can or cannot be worn with the bus or class a uniform. Name withheld Schweinfurt West Germany editor s note Jeffrey m. Welty military personnel management specialist office of the Deputy chief of staff personnel he Usa eur replies the Jungle expert badge is a locally authorized Spe Cial skill badge awarded to graduates of the Jungle operations course in Panama. It is not an approved army badge and therefore not authorized to be worn on any army uniform. Pen pals i am 33 and collect business cards. Lora Schrock Box 5108 apon.y.09123 i enjoy Are Reading listening to music meeting people. I am 18 years old. I would like pen friends Between the Ages of 18 and 28 years old. Marvel Thoma Mcgrath . Ewarton ., St. Catherine Jamaica West India i am an 18-year-old student interested in hav ing friends in different countries. My hobbies in clude Reading books singing and cooking. Maria Liza patinas Cogon old escalante6124 Negros Occidental Philippines i am a 16-year-old Wales native with a bubbly personality. Sara Thomas 31, the Hill Beaufort ebb Vale gwentnp3 son Wales United kingdom i would like to make friends from other parts of the Globe. I am 25 years old. . Babes 877 Apacible Street Taft malate Manila Philippines i would like very much to hear from anyone who would like a pen Friend. I am 20 years old. Anne Marie Cummings 24 Siskin Road offer ton Stockport Cheshire sk2-5tx England i am 23 years old. My favorite Singer is Madonna my favorite actress Brooke Shields. I like playing the guitar and watching american movies. Lanie c. Abingt of Ocean Pearl gift shop & jewelry 33-d Omeha or.  de Oro City Philippines the or is Andje Helpes to a european edition col. Gene e. Townsend Usan commander editor in chief it. Col. Suzanne l. Phillips Usan Deputy commander editor in chief Marie Kominicki Mert Proctor Deane b. 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