European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 7, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday May 7, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 3gender is key Issue in governor races los Angeles apr in gubernatorial races across the country gender has become an Issue As female candidates clash with their male opponents on abortion sexism and the importance of putting a woman in the statehouse. Women like Dianne Feinstein in California Ann Richards in Texas and Barbara Hafer in Pennsylvania Are in the forefront of what some observers expect to be a breakthrough decade for women in politics. There Are three women now serving As governors two of whom Are retiring and at least 10 women Are considered to be serious gubernatorial hopefuls this year. A a it a a testament to the women a movement a said Shana Weiss of the Hollywood women a political committee. A a it a no longer a symbolic movement but a real kind of recognition that women Are equal players in the political  sensing a political change Feinstein has made the very fact that she a a woman an Issue in her Campaign urging voters to make history by electing her the states first female governor. A this is a big moment for me and a historic one for women a she said in announcing her candidacy. A much thought and deliberation preceded this decision. I am a non incumbent in a race against two entrenched statewide figures a a woman in a Field of  Feinstein faces attorney general John Van de Kamp for the democratic nomination. The Likely gop nominee is . Sen. Pete Wilson. Van de Kamp has responded by pointing to what he Calls his Strong record on feminist issues and accusing Feinstein of using gender to obscure her own record. A if a Man were to stand in front of a crowd of men and say a vote for men because As a fellow Man i can help menus interests a i can be labelled a sexist a said Duane Peterson Van de Kampus spokesman. A a in a sort of surprised she a doing  the Prospect of making history also is a theme in Joan Finney a bid to win the democratic nomination for governor of Kansas. But in Finney Scase the significance of her becoming the states first female governor has been Woven into speeches subtly rather than offered As a major Campaign Issue. In Texas meanwhile there has been nothing Subtle about Richards democratic Campaign against Republican candidate Clayton Williams. Gender politics had stood in the wings because of Williams anti abortion stand and opposition to the equal rights amendment. But it took Center stage when he revealed he went to prostitutes when he was a teen Ager and a College student. Earlier Williams said head be uncomfortable running against a woman because he grew up in a a a Many a  he also made a comparison Between bad weather and rape and passed it off As a joke. A if it s inevitable just relax and enjoy it a he said. Williams has denied being a sexist but acknowledged the remarks were insensitive. Though All three California gubernatorial hopefuls Are pro Choice on abortion Feinstein a Campaign has contended that a female governor would be More Likely to strongly defend abortion rights. A a Man can be a staunch defender of abortion rights. Many have been a said Feinstein spokeswoman Dee Dee Myers. A but there a a visceral reaction that women have to the Issue because they Are  ties from Page 1 in 1968, Havel vowed that a United Czechoslovakia would fight Back if anyone else attempted to intervene again. It was a comment that he also made shortly before he swore in a group of soldiers entering the czechoslovakian army earlier in the Day. A we Are inspired by our Liberty and we will do our Best to protect it a said Havel a playwright who was jailed during the communist party a Rule of his country. His speeches however were not antagonistic. The soviets who liberated most of Czechoslovakia were credited for their role in the fighting. A total of 140,000 russian soldiers died on czechoslovakian soil. No figure was available on . Deaths. A i would like to express my gratitude to those who died for our Freedom a Havel said. A those who forget someone else died for his Liberty Are not living a proper  the atmosphere surrounding the weekend Celebration was festive. Bands played on a stage in the City Square against a backdrop of murals picturing gis with grateful czechoslovakian. Nearby czechoslovakian men dressed in . Military uniforms took turns sitting in Vintage world War ii jeeps. Black the former childhood movie Star did her part to make the Celebration festive As Well. During the ceremony Black declared in czech a i love Pilsen. I love Czechoslovakia. I love or. President and Olga his wife a Black who was appointed by president Bush has a special kinship with the country. She was in a hotel in Prague the country a capital when the soviet tanks thundered into the City in 1968 and turned the Prague Spring into a communist Winter. While there she saw a Soldier shoot a woman. The country faces Many changes she said. A just ahead lies a future of new and heavy responsibility a but also Gigantic Opportunity for every czechoslovak a she said. A forty five years ago americans and czechs were equal to the Challenge. Today once again a Lone czechoslovakian Flag stands in the foreground along with hundreds of american tags in downtown America stands with Vou shoulder to  Pilsen. Thousands of people spent the weekend celebrating the renewal of .-czechoslovak Friendship. America stands with you shoulder to shoulder czechs still overwhelmed by Freedom by Randy Pruitt staff writer Pilsen Czechoslovakia a figure this one out. Last year or. Voclav bar Kisek was fined 500 Koruna $30 in the spa town of Mariansky Lane in Western Bohemia. His crime flying an american Flag in front of his House. A it is forbidden a bar Kisek said he was informed. But that was last year. This year bar Kisek said the mayor asked him whether he would furnish an american Flag to be put up at the police station. Bar Kiseko a situation illustrates the changes that have been sweeping Czechoslovakia for the past six months. A country that toed the communist party line was suddenly Cut free. With Freedom thrust upon them the czechoslovak Are overwhelmed Uncertain and a Little frightened. Joroslav Choc an actor and a spokesman for the political party civic forum said sudden Freedom took the country by Surprise. A everything went from nothing. No one was ready for such changes a he said. A for 42 years the entire nation has been kept under dictatorship of the communist party. There has not been any single leading Post to be held by another Man other than a member of the communist  Choc said even the Porter at the . Tyl theater in Pilsen had to have Good credentials with the communists. A the biggest problem now is the people Are not Able to make their own decisions and to find out just what real democracy  Choc said people still remember 1968, when soviet tanks and troops crushed a student movement that sought greater social reforms. A they Are still afraid a he said. A it is a big problem. People have Liberty but they done to know what to with  although there Are As Many As 23 political parties four dominate a civic forum socialist party Christian democrats and social democrats. Civic forum has been Given credit for bringing out recent reforms throughout the country. Jana Zelmanova a spokeswoman for the information and culture Center in Pilsen said the czechoslovak do not know what Type of democracy they want. A some of the people think it the government should be in the hands of the businessmen. Some think most Power should be in the hands of the state. There Are As Many opinions As there Are people in this country a she said. Unlike the United states which suffers from voter apathy three fourths of the czech people will cast ballots in an election Zelmanova said. A half though done to know for whom  vote a she said