European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 12 a the stars and stripes monday november 18, 1991 thes european edition circulation 100,000 col Gene e. Townsend Usan commander publisher Bernard a Zovistoski editor Bill Walker european editor Deborah Aba her news editor c Bob Wicker sports editor Bryan Nolan City editor George Manee special sections editor to write us Apo a 09211 or Postrach 11 14 37 6100 Darmstadt 11, Germany n e is Tel fax 06155-601416 to Call us dial 06155-601 plus Extension or ets 348-8 plus Extension As follows news ext. 237, 255, 282, 226, 326. Sports ext. 225, 269, 263, 332, 321, 221. Features ext. 230, 245, 341. Letters to editor ext. 206. Education Jimi Jones ext. 226. Business ext. 326. News bureaus Bremerhaven Germany Ken Clauson building 103, Carl Schurz Cavern Apo 09069 Telephone ets 342-6659 or civilian 0471-68762. 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Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available Tor Purchase use or patronage without regard to race color religion sex National origin age marital Stalus physical Handicap political affiliation or any other non Merit Factor of the purchaser user or  stars and stripes departmental directory col Gene e. Townsend. Usan commander publisher Christopher a. De Donga u. Col. Thomas e. Conrad Usa general manager Deputy commander Marla Kohl Nickl production manager Dale Estee advertising manager William Haslar in Cullion director Chris Ryan comptroller business offices circulation for Home delivery service and inquiries Call the office nearest you listed below Germany Berlin civilian 8331846. Ets 332 3548 Bremerhaven civilian 0471 85168. Ets 342 8119 Rhein main a civilian 069 692050 of 692565. Ets 3306025 or 7103, telex 412712, Cen Reg Tel fax 069694087 Kaiserslautern civilian 0631-57070 or 57079, ets 4897100, Tel fax 0631 50696 Munich ets 440-6209 Nurnberg. Civilian 0911 -712558. Ets 460-7001. Stuttgart civilian 0711 -546743, ets 420-7175. Italy Naples civilian 003981 5685306, ets 625 5306 Vicenza civilian 0444 515358, ets 634-7545. Tel tax 0444 300 641 Spain Madrid ets 665-5807. Civilian and Tel fax 003416561465 Turkey Istanbul civilian and Leteux 0090 1 -1724843 United kingdom Newbury civikan063b 44768, Dan 266 3209 circulation Tel fax 06155 60141 7 advertising display Germany 06155601247 or 601309 classified Germany 061554>01349 advertising Tel fax 06155 601412no laughing matter recently an unfortunate announcement was made by magic Johnson. Johnson Learned that he like millions of others has been taken captive by his the aids virus. The press quickly grabbed onto the Story As the sports Community reached out to its Friend. The morning of the announcement i was waiting for a 6 30 . Formation to begin. One of my platoon cos giggled mockingly a do we have any lakers fans out Here magic Johnson has  he continued laughing. How can anyone be so heartless As to laugh at the inevitable death sentence of another human being jokes about the news rippled through the formation. Last year a Friend of mine lost her father to aids. I could not help but think of Jonsy and her family. Her father was no one of Fame or Fortune just a common Man yet his death was no less of a loss. It truly saddens me to think anyone can find humor in a disease that knows no Bounds. Aids knows not age sex race religion or social stature. So think before you mock such things. Aids is not a laughing matter. Let us instead Pray that it won t be our father brother Cousin aunt grandparent or Friend next. Concentration on a cure rather than jokes is time much better served. A Crete Hen Johnson Hanau Germany a a passing on prejudice last week while walking Home from school something happened that greatly upset my 6-year-old son. How do 1 answer his a Why quota 8-year-old boy was taunting another 6-year-old about the color of his skin. My son is a White Quot the older boy is a Black Quot and the Little boy who was badgered is  sounds clinical does t it if Only it were so easy. I draw attention to the Ages of these children because they Are just that a children. Children mimic what they see and hear at Home More than anywhere else at this Early stage. Their Good and bad Are forming now. Listen to them and see if you hear your words coming out of their Mouths. If you Are prejudice Cal most Likely they will he too. You Are in control. Lets give our kids love and Security instead of a Quot better than you Are attitude As babies we were All born equally helpless not knowing anything about our skin or the language we would he Laughl to speak. We have Learned everything from others especially those to whom we were closest and from whom we sought love. It s easier to grow with an open mind than to carry a Crutch that will become heavier As we go along. Children fighting because of race today will be adults with hatred tomorrow. It does t have to he this Way. A Marcia Davis Baun Holder Germany a offended for Good reason 1 am writing in response to several letters including a Call pm thin skins Quot Quot much ado about names Quot Etc. Although 1 am not a native american 1 am highly offended and not just a Little angry. People have stated Over and Over that the  american Indian movement is cashing in on the publicity of the Atlanta braves and the Washington redskins who Are doing so Well. Why not Isnit the Best time to bring attention to your cause when there is already some attention focused in that area As far As native americans being offended by the actions of the braves fans their reasons Are valid. We have always portrayed the Indian As being More Savage than he was a when it was our own brutality that caused it. If anyone doubts Check out a copy of Bury my heart at wounded knee by Dee Brown at your local Library. We stole their land and their dignity. We continue to do so. But if we had a team whose fans simulated picking Cotton. I m sure the a act would quickly put an end to that. Let s All show a Little respect. In Case you done to know its native american month and not National pick on  because they re trying to bring attention to their cause month. A Frances l. West Heidelberg Germany editor s note a i letters from readers expressing their viewpoints Are published daily in this space. All letters must be signed. We Reserve the right to edit letters for clarity length and taste. Preference is Given to Shorter letters so that More can be published in a timely manner. Letters should he addressed to letters to the editor the stars and stripes Apo a 09211. A a a letters requesting information or assistance Are answered in a feature called readers action line which appears on Page 16 every Day except thursday and sunday. Such letters should he addressed to readers action line the stars and stripes Apo a 09211.Only trying to help 1 am an airman who after three months of switchboard aug menace duty would like to Clear up a few misconceptions about your base operators. The Calls Are answered in order of priority and then in the order they arc received. The operators handle not Only Telephone information but also connecting Auto on Calls european and stateside morale Calls and tie lines to other bases. The also assist in at amp to us sprint and Sci hookups. I done to know what it is like at other bases but Here at Raf Lakenheath there Are no computers to punch up the desired number. All numbers Are either looked up or memorized. I have gained a great respect for the information the operators have stored in their Heads. Despite what most people think the Quot information Quot line is not where you Call to ask what the Exchange hours Are or what train you need to take to London. Operators also do not know How Long a line will be Busy or who is on it. You a he surprised what people expect. Just like any other Section on base the switchboard has regulations they Are expected to follow. They also have supervisors and a commander to whom they must answer so do not beg them to do something they have told you they cannot do. Try to remember that operators Are trying their Best to do their jobs. Most switchboards Are undermanned because of civilian hiring freezes. Although that makes it difficult to provide full service at times the operators Are there to Stetters to the editor Sist you but not be abused. A airman 1st class Jacqueline Waugaman Raf Lakenheath England cartoon As editorial a recent writer opined that a tank Mcnamara cartoon was not anti Hunting. Of course it was. What else could it have been there were no disclaimers about a Good Hunters is. A bad  the print medium is a powerful medium. In three Little cartoon panels an irresponsible and Clever person can pass off As entertainment his personal beliefs that ought to have been relegated to the editorial Page. As a Hunter i do try to ensure that my first shot is lethal and puts the animal Down. Those who would take Joy in the suffering of an animal have no place in a civilized society. But i done to stalk for a lethal shot merely to preclude unnecessary suffering. I have a far More practical reason. I have no desire to track a wounded animal Over Hellas Halfacre. I can assure the uninitiated it is not one of life a pleasures. However those who Don t track a wounded animal they have shot should be forever banned from Hunting. I am personally not surprised that each year brings new examples of idiots who take up rifles and head for the Fields and Woods. When discovered they should be banned from Hunting. But we done to. We have idiots who drive cars and Fly planes. Their licenses should also be permanently revoked hut we Don t do so. So what is the Point in commenting about the atrocious behaviour of a few except to suggest that All Hunters Are similarly atrocious a Jack else ram Stein a Germany a no receipt needed please inform your readers that a receipt is not necessary to return merchandise to the commissary As was stated in a stars and stripes article oct. 16 concerning the recall of Van Campos Beans and Wolf Brand Chili. Unfortunately stripes inadvertently left out the word a a not in the article where it stated a a receipt is necessary for a refund at  when i read the article on the Day that it appeared i immediately called the newspaper and requested a correction. An article appeared the next Day that provided further information on the recall and contained information that a receipt was not required. As a matter of fact the defense commissary Agency which was established on oct. 1, has adopted a a satisfaction guaranteed Quot policy. This Means that customers May bring Back any item they have purchased except cigarettes from any commissary at any time for any reason and receive a refund or Exchange. This is just one of the actions that the Agency is taking to provide its customers with better service. I can assure or. She Stople who wrote to you regarding this Issue that i too am a commissary shopper. 1 certainly would have been the first one to stamp my feet if 1 were told that 1 needed a receipt to return a recalled item. As the spokesperson for the deca european Region 1 question any policy that seems to counter the customers interests. Other commissary management personnel listen and look for a solution. Customer satisfaction is our primary concern. A Denise m. Gomes deca european Region