European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 07, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Last laugh Public deserves right to name National insect i am sick and tired of our so called a a representatives in Washington being influenced by powerful special interest groups on crucial Federal issues. As you have no doubt gathered i am referring to the current Effort to name an official National insect. This Effort which i am not making up was alertly brought to my attention by Rick Guldan who son the staff of . Representative James Hansen of Utah at least until this column gets published. Rick sent me a letter that was mailed to con Gross persons by the entomological society of America. An a a entomologist is defined by websters As a a person who studies the letter urges rep. Hansen to support House joint Resolution 411, which would a designate the Monarch Butterfly As our National the letter gives a number of reasons including that a the durability of this insect and its travels into the unknown emulate the rugged Pioneer spirit and Freedom upon which this nation was the letter is accompanied by a Glossy political Campaign Stylc brochure with color photographs showing the Monarch Butterfly at work at play relaxing with its family Etc. There a also a list titled a organizations supporting the Monarch Butterfly a including the friends of the monarchs the National fond London England o o to s o Quot the latest fighting seems to have erupted after a red Cross ambulance reversed into a in land pest control association the Southern Maryland Rock and Mineral club and the Saginaw county Mosquito abatement commission. Needless to say i am strongly in favor of having an official National insect. If history teaches us one lesson it is that a nation that has no National insect is a nation that probably also does not celebrate soybean awareness month. I also have no problem with the Monarch Butterfly per be. A per see is greek for a unless it lays eggs in my butterflies Are Nice to have around whereas with a lot of other insects if they get anywhere near you your immediate reaction As an ecologically aware human being is to whomp them with a hard cover work of fiction at least the size of a moby but what bothers me is the Way the entomological society is trying to slide this thing through Congress without considering the views of the average citizen who does not have the clout or social standing to belong to powerful elite a a insider organizations such As the Saginaw county Mosquito abatement commission. Before Congress makes a decision of this magnitude we the Public should get a Chance to vote on the National insect. We might feel that in these times of world tension we done to want to be represented by some cute Little flitting Critter. We might want something that commands respect especially in Light of the fact that the soviet Union recently selected As its National insect the chernobyl glowing Beetle which grows to a length of More than 5 meters and can mate in midair with military aircraft. Fortunately we americans have some pretty darned impressive insects ourselves. In South Florida for example we have Industrial cockroaches that have to be equipped with loud warning beepers so you can get out of their Way when they Back up. Or we could pick a fierce warlike insect such As the fire ant although this could create problems during the official White House National insect naming ceremony a Washington a in a Surprise development yesterday which political observers believe could affect the 1992 election Campaign president Bush was other Strong possible candidates for National insect include the gnat the imported japanese Beetle the chigger the praying mantis Jiminy Cricket the laughing mantis the lobster the dead no kidding George Washington a favorite activities shopping betting on cockfight betting on horses foxhunting attending theater Duck shooting dancing playing cards source the making of the president 1789 if a Man never shaved in his lifetime. Time saved a 20 weeks length of Beard a 30 feet additional weight a 4 pounds a based on 70-year life expectancy source Gillette safety razor co. A amps Sharon Kilday bugs in your Light fixture the skeet shooting mantis and sen. Jesse Helms. I could go on but my purpose Here is not to name All the possibilities my purpose is to create strife and controversy for no Good reason. And you can help. I recently acquired a highly trained Well staffed modern research department. Her name is Judi Smith and she is severely under worked because i never need anything researched other than the question of what is the Frozen Yogurt flavor of the Day at the cafeteria. So in masking you to write your preference for National insect on a postal card. If you Send a letter the research department has been instructed to laugh in the diabolical manner of Jack Nicholson As the joker and throw it away unopened Send your card to National insect Survey co Judi Smith the Miami Herald Tropic Magazine 1 Herald Plaza Miami Fla. 33132. Judi will read All the entries and gradually go insane. Then ill let you know which insect is preferred by you the people and we can Start putting serious pressure on the Congress. If All goes Well this could wind up costing the taxpayers millions of dollars. In closing let me stress one thing because i done to want to get a lot of irate condescending mail from insect experts correcting me on my facts i am Well aware that sen. Helms is technically a member of the arachnid family. Aristedes Havana Cuba \ its. \ copyright �1990, cartoonists amp writer Syndicate Page 24 c to plus sunday october 7,1990
