European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 25, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A writer laments sights sounds of War the helicopters have arrived. They throb Over the streets of , heading for the Cavern. Coming into the House just now i sighted eight of them in a line and hurried upstairs to watch from the bedroom Balcony. I watched them for a Long time through the naked Trees. Dark Green cicadas against the Cloud sullen sky Blades like a nato above them. They grew tiny As they neared the Cavern then hovered before dropping one by one to the Field near the Exchange where i had seen other helicopters earlier in the Day. On the ships they go and Down the new ones drop to take their places. T hey Are going to War. Yesterday i passed a Convoy of tanks. Sleek Beautiful machines on dark Green flatbed with hashing Orange lights. Just off the autobahn they headed for the Cavern. They arc going to  Landers in 1955, the year i began writing this column i wrote an essay for Christmas pay. Reader  was extremely rewarding and i have reprinted it annually with topical modifications. This is my message for 1990 dear readers today is Christmas. What has happened to peace on Earth Good will toward men in Many parts of the world there is no peace and in the hearts of Many men there is nothing that could pass for Good will. Our youth insist that we Are poisoning the environment. They resent living in a world they did no to make. But what generation Ever made the world it had to live in. / a although our universities arc once again places of. Higher learning racism has feared its ugly head on some campuses across the country. And i fear it s going to get worse before it gels better. Unfortunately the War on drugs turned out to be a colossal  the increase in the number of homicides is staggering and much of it is drug related. Although alcohol is still the most abused drug of All marijuana and stronger substances like crack cocaine Are commonplace  and senior High schools. Wot too Long ago a it year old boy was shot lie had $ 17,000 in his pocket. Why stay in school when you can get Rich dealing drugs this  message too Many Young people Are getting. Suicide is the second most frequent cause of death among teen agers in this country. The first is accidents every 90 minutes a teen Ager in anic Rica will kill himself. More bad news is that venereal disease is Epi a Demie arid now there is aids for which there is no vaccine and no cure. One of the grave threats of the 90s, As i see it is that we Are becoming desensitized to filthy language  a Bage a a arts and Rotten stuff on to. Violence bigotry and talking dirty must be tolerated we arc told because we dare not endanger Quot Freedom of  l am firmly against censorship but Liere is the moral outrage against All the filth whatever happened to decency As John Underwood wrote so eloquently in the Boston Globe Quot civilizations do not give out they give in. In a society where anything goes eventually every a thing  / every Day we All must make decisions that determine the direction in which our lives will move no one no matter How Vise can make the right decision every time. To err is no disgrace the disgrace lies in not learning front our mistakes picking ourselves up Duse ing ourselves off and trying again. Because this is an advice column 1 spend the greater part of every Day with grief and trouble. Poes it depress me no it does not after 35 years i still find writing this column immensely rewarding. I realize that Many people who write to note Don t want advice they just need someone who will listen to them. My column has provided me with an Opportunity to Shine a spotlight on ignorance and fear Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. I am Well aware that mine is an enormous responsibility and i shall.try1 never to let you Down. You dear readers Are my friends. You invite me into your Homes and often we have breakfast together. I want to he therefor you always. If you feel the need to unload or blow your top Register a Gripe or Tell me off emas close its your Mailbox god bless and have the Best year Ever. A a v v. A. Ann Banders a a a c creators Syndicate  to Ann Landers stray be addressed in care of tire stars and stapes. A Apo new York 092i1, be forwarded Toner a the old gym housed the British troops not too Long ago and now it houses americans and they too Are going to War. But it All has Little to do with Langon or arc Mchaven or Germany. The men still build new streets through the old pastures near our House. Women still walk to the a a tier sick for the Day s groceries pushing babies in prams covered with plastic against the Fain. Schoolchildren conic and go and the buses run on Lime. T wrapped my  Christmas boxes on the Day the Hospital was alerted a everything perfectly Normal. But it in t Normal at All. ,. I cannot shake the filing of unreality. This is not fort Banning ga., 1 constantly remind myself and this is not an exercise. This is real. As real As it can get. Dread a and a bittersweet sadness a permeates the very air i breathe. People i am used to seeing arc no longer there. Never living on the Economy As we do have i Felt so isolated and alone for my neighbors simply do not comprehend what this is All about. Though my German friends try very hard to understand they arc not a part of it As the pulse of their lives around me is not part of it. I want to run into the housing office and demand a place where i can be with other spouses who must endure this awful suspense. For. Though no hostile shot has been fired no declaration of War has been made the men of the army have relinquished their hold on their families and on their everyday jives and gone off to War. And in to is the bittersweet sorrow. If there is a Point to this letter it is simply to share with you the apprehension of one dependent. I cannot help but Feci after Reading the news lately that we Are being propelled toward an event that looms like a storm on the horizon and that we arc helpless to avoid it. All my Hopes go with those who must leave and they Are Ever in my prayers. A Eileen we incr Bremerhaven Germany a a Christmas greetings we would like to wish the Scricc members in saudi Arabia a merry Christmas and a Happy new year. Our thoughts Are with them. A class 6a German gymnasium Lauda Germany All letters to the editor must contain the full printed name and address of the writer and must be signed. We do not read unsigned letters but we will withhold your name on request and protect your privacy. Ail letters Are subject to editing