European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 4, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10letters the stars and stripes 1 writer salutes leaders in july 4th tribute july 4 Marks the Dawn of american Independence. Ironically it was also the Day which sounded the death Knell for three american presidents. Thomas Jefferson died first on july 4, 1826, having achieved his greatest ambition a to see the 50th anniversary of american Independence. John Adams our second president died on the same Day within hours of Jefferson a death. He a was 90 years old the longest lived of any . President. Jefferson and Adams were friends political rivals and co signers of the declaration of Independence. Five years later James Monroe our fifth president died on the fourth of july. He was 73 and deeply in debt. July 4 was also the birthday of president Coolidge who was bom in 1872. Coolidge loved his native Vermont both for its natural Beauty and a because of her Arm Landers dear Ann Landers i find it increasingly difficult to make sense out of what is happening these Days. A person can get arrested for throwing a couple of Beer cans out of a car onto the Highway. He or she can also gel a hefty Fine for spitting on the sidewalk or smoking in an elevator. But its of for performers to dance naked in a nightclub because they Are a expressing themselves a and the right to express yourself is protected by the first amendment. Crazier still a it is of to bum the american Flag. The . Supreme court says so because of that first amendment thing again. Thousands of people have fought and died for that Flag but if somebody wants to show disgust for our country and bum this Symbol of Freedom he can do it and nobody can Lay a Glove on him. Please explain this to me. A no name in Knoxville dear Knoxville what you refer to As a that first amendment things is the reason people from the world Over Are trying to get into this country. They Are guaranteed Freedom of expression which is what Liberty is All about. People who bum the Flag Are expressing their Lack of respect their anger or their disgust for this country. They Are making a statement. The Law of this land says they have a right to make that statement. The first amendment gives that right. A i never worry about a government that allows people to say w whatever they want. Its when a government tries to shut people up that i get nervous. Thanks for giving me a Chance to say this on the fourth of july. Dear Ann Landers i am writing about your insensitivity to parents who do not restrain their children when in a car. Obviously you done to realize that children unbuckle the car seats and scat belts themselves. I have on More than one occasion stopped three times on one Block to re buckle threaten and yes even spank my children. They then wait until in Mon the Highway where i can to Stop and unbuckle themselves again. Two of my children were involved in a serious Accident with my husband. Both had unbuckled themselves. They Learned nothing from that experience. We have tried reasoning threatening screaming and spanking and have even turned around Ana gone Home. Once i tied the car seat straps together but the child took off All her clothes and wriggled herself out. Our children Range from 2 to 10 years of age. The 10-Ycar-old is As Baa As the younger ones. She was one of the children in the Accident. You Are Quick to criticize parents. Why done to you give us some advice i am willing to do anything to keep my children Safe. And in a sure millions of parents would be grateful for some help with this problem a not kidding in Danbury Conn. Dear Danbury i see More Here than just the problem of keeping the kids safely restrained in the car. It appears that there is an ongoing Battle in your family about who is in charge and the kids Are winning. If you Don t get control and exercise parental authority soon there is going to be hell to pay. 1 urge you to get family counselling at once. Obviously whatever you Are doing is not working. You All need professional help. Special Gem Happy birthday Sis c creators Syndicate indomitable  he had a Point. But indomitable americans were never limited to Vermont. They be characterized our country a landscape for the last 214 years. Every country of course has a cast of characters but americans have always stood out. Independence meant Freedom and Freedom led to an individualistic Strain in the american psyche which bred both giants and Genius along with encouraging eccentrics and excess. ,. A at lest we forget a glance Back recalls some favourites a some famous some Unsung Bui heroes nonetheless a who personified diverse visions of the american dream. Shawnee chieftain Tecumseh fought White armies sporadically for 30years in a futile Effort to secure his Peoples Freedom. The greatest of the Patriot chiefs was involved in Many classic confrontations with the . Army in 1791, the 23-year-old military Genius led the shawnees to Victory Over a 3,000-Man Force commanded by Gen. Arthur St. Clair. Some 600 american soldiers died in the Battle. Brig. Gen. A mad Anthony Wayne Defeated Tecumseh a forces in the Battle of fallen timbers four years later by utilizing Superior numbers in a fight famous for the ferocity of Indian attacks. Tecumseh led those attacks. Mountain men were formidable warriors too. From about 1825-1845, trappers roamed the american West a battling indians wild animals and the elements to live away from the constraints of civilization. Armed with rifles handguns and Bowie knives they lived in a Savage land. Hugh Glass was Tom apart by a grizzly and left by companions to die. Instead he crawled 100 Miles with maggots swarming Over his wounds. He survived to become a legend. John Johnston was another legend. After a band of Crow indians killed his pregnant Squaw Johnston spent years retaliating. He killed and scalped More then 40 Crow warriors to earn the title of Dariek a Saroka a killer of crows. Violence was a part of life on the Frontier and Sam Houston saw his share too. No american Ever had More guts than the father of Texas. The 6-foot-6-Inch Man led texans to Independence beating Santa anal a forces after they had slaughtered americans at the Alamo. A native of Tennessee Houston fought against the Creek indians in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend taking an Arrow in the thigh and suffering other wounds but prevailing. Later As a . Senator he championed the cause of cherokees and other indians. Henry David Thoreau preferred a quieter life and lived one. The author of a Walden a a classic paean to nature was one of americans great non conformists. He lived alone outside of Concord mass., writing and thinking. Thoreau believed that most people led a lives of quiet desperation because their lives were a frittered away with  he aimed to show them a better Way and his writings still hold relevance to go getting americans today. The career of Victoria Woodhull Claflin still holds interest too. Claflin was the feminist who ran for president in 1872 and �?T76. She advocated free love birth control permissive divorces and Shorter skirts. Although never elected she retained influence by running a brokerage firm and editing a popular journal. Isadora Duncan lived what Claflin preached becoming probably the most controversial american Art Jefferson Adams pen pals is in the 20th Century. The Mother of Modem dance not Only broke ground in her artistic discipline but inspired fascinating gossip concerning her love affairs and Radical politics. During one performance she bared a breast saying to the audience a this is Art a in a different sense a wild Bill Quot Donovan was a work of Art. The thrice wounded Donovan was the recipient of the medal of Honor for his leadership of the fighting 69th inf regt in a win a bloodiest campaigns. He gained Fame As the a father of american intelligence for his direction of the office of strategic services Oss during Wii. He argued for the founding of the Central intelligence Agency Cia after the War and served with distinction As ambassador to Thailand during the Early 1950s. Duke Ellington was about at the Peak of his career at that time. Ellington transformed jazz into a major Art form completely original to the United states and dominated by Black americans. Most of his 3,000 musical compositions gave tonal expression to the Black experience in America. The hipster was feted by Kings and presidents and received at least 15 honorary degrees from major universities. At a time when Segre a Tion reigned in the american South Ellington travelled through the area in two Railroad cars because a that was the Way the president  the Duke was a King. The Bottom line is that a country is nothing More than its people. That a Why America has stood tall. A Steve Snyder Stuttgart West Germany Coolidge Tecumseh Thoreau Houston Duncan Ellington i am a 27-year-old civil Engineer. My hobbies Are playing basketball swimming outings with needs Ana pen Pat writing. A Al m Abing room 207 Victoria shoppes Iii bldg. Upper Mab i Street. Baguio City. Philippines 2600 my hobbies include going to horse races theater and Cinema and watching loot bail and Rugby. A Pamela Beattie 6 Whitehall Avenue Appleby Bridge near Wigan wn6 Stu England i am 26 years old. A Aqapita s. Caga 5o Guma Meja text. Carmen Bagayan de Oro City. 9000 Philippines i m a 23-year-old administrative Ottimer who enjoys swimming writing and meeting people. A Angela Nicholson 3f j 5 Smith lied Street Gorgie. Edinburgh eh11 2ph Scotland United kingdom my hobbies include Reading the Bible travelling cooking and growing fragrant Flowers. I am 21 years old. A Mary Jane Jalbuena Purok Pageda it Tanque Bacolod City. Negros Occidental Philippines l m a Serviceman interested in pen pals from ail Over. I Jove got. Jazz. Travelling cooking and meeting new and interesting people. I m 35 and an Aries. A Turner w Youngbo 2356. Apo n y. 097s5