European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 24, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 12letters to the editor Friday december 24,1993 Europe an edition col Steven s. Hoffman Usan commander publisher a Bernard a Zovistoski. Editor news and editorial Laborah auth of news editor Bill Walker european editor Bob wicket sports editor George Manes cry editor to write us unit 29480 Apo a 09211. Or Postrach 11 14 37 $4278 Darmstadt Germany news Tel fax 06155-601416 to Call us dial 06155-601 plus Extension or Dan 340-8 plus Extension As follows news ext. £37,255,202, 226,326. Sports ext. 225,269,263, 332.321.221. Features ext. 230,245.341. Letters to editor ext. 208. Education Jim Jones ext. 226. Business news ext 326. News bureaus Heidelberg Germany join pit Owen room 117, a re Merllar. 1d4, 63110 hol Delborg car 419, to 1318, Apo a 09103 Telephone Dan 370-7q10 or civilian 00231-33421 Tel fax 06321-27239. Kaiserslautern Germany Kevin Dougherty John Bohmer Steve scholar building 2899, Pul Ashl Barracks Apo a 09227-3717 Telephone on 489-6585 or civilian 003t-53104 Wotan 0631-50690. Nornberg Germany Ron Jensen. Building 31. William of Darby Cavern Apo a 09223 Telephone Dan 400-7250 or civilian 0911-712563 Tol fax 0911-717130. Wur29urg, Germany div Mola Cort building 220,. Room 109, Fau Lonborg Cavern Apo a 09036 Teia phone Dan 350-8770 or civilian 0931-286956 Tel fax 0931-8896770,. Mediterranean Gary Miller. Sue Palumbo and Marian Hamilton. Naples. Italy pc Btu. To 56, Foo a 09619 Telephone Dan 625-4880 or civilian 0817624049/4547 Tel fax 0039-81 -7624049. Northern Italy j. King Cruger Aviano Italy Telephone Dan 632-8176 or civilian 0039-434-66-8176 Tel fax 0039-434-668222.united kingdom Murdith Winder Nancy Torner and Dave Didlo. Building 464 ecs5-uk, Raf Mildenhall Apo a 09459 Lele phone Dan 238-2226 or civilian 0638-642226 Tel fax 0638-718013, Brussels Belgium Rosemary Sawyer do . 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The appearance or advertising in this publication including inserts or supplements Dos net constitute endorsement by the department of defense or the stars end Snipes of the product or services advertised. Safe Waters 1 read with interest the articles on the closing of the Baum older no Academy dec. 20. Actually the support of the Baum older no Academy goes far de Pond the local military Community. It affects military communities throughout Europe. Through the generous support and cooperation of the Baum older military Community and especially the no Academy under the 8th inf div and the 1st army div the american red Cross in Europe has conducted an annual aquatic safety Academy for the past eight years. We primarily trained water safety instructors Sis and lifeguard instructors Luis. Candidates came from All Over Europe. In the eight years More than 1,000 we is or Lei candidates have graduated to return to their local communities and provide aquatic leadership and training to meet local needs for the Community and military regulations. One example is a water safety instructor from Schweinfurt Germany. He was a 1992 graduate of the Baum older aquatic safety Academy and by working through his unit was Able to create an aquatic program which in 1993, trained 4,070 individuals in meeting the requirements of Usa eur regulation 385-2, the Usa eur water safety program. Although we have utilized facilities in bad Tolz Berlin and Baum older and Vicenza Italy to conduct training for aquatic leadership Baum older has been the key location. This is due to the acceptable Pool housing and dining facilities in close proximity to each other and Baum Holder is centrally located geographically. . Dail or. Moh Ringen Germany we done to need Rush in be read several laughable letters in support of airing the Rush Limbaugh talk show. The childlike arguments and cheap rationalizations were easy enough to ignore but then a few of these people got to some misguided ultralight Wing congressional representatives in an Effort to a Force Quot this junk Down the Throat of an programmers. I had the Opportunity to hear Rush when he began to broadcast in Sacramento. It did no to take Long to realize that if a person was not White male protestant and an ardent worshipper of Jessie Helms Ole Rush just did t have much use for them. We have enough problems already with prejudice discrimination and Bias based on race color religion National origin sex and sexual preference. Even As hard As the military tries to eliminate these social cancers institutional racism continues and personal discrimination feeds the prejudice of the racist skinheads and Neo nazis within our military family. We just done to need More of his kind of prejudiced drum beating on our Only English speaking Media source. A a James Anthony Erlanger Germany a. A a. A. Insulting to germans no one wants to see abuse by germans in our conf unities. But lets use some common sense. The Augsburg Bowling Center has implemented an id Only policy for food drink and even renting shoes. In be been on a German american Bowling league the past six years t have met and become friends with Many germans through this league. Its like an Extension of local Kontak clubs. There has been no abuse of this facility to my knowledge. Now after All this Lime the Bowling Center is saying to my German friends Quot you can bowl Here but you can Trent shoes  do you realize How ridiculous this is its downright insulting to my German friends. This customs official needs to find another Way to justify his her position. There Are alternatives. The germans could show their Bowling cards to proving they Are actually on a league for instance. An exception to policy is warranted. A Thomas Kemp Augsburg Germany nato must expand a few weeks ago a citizen of the czech Republic urged the Western nations to accept his country into the North Atlantic treaty organization. Some 50 years ago this same country then a thriving democracy had made a plea to the Western world for support which was sadly ignored. The result was five years of nazi occupation and 40 years of communism. Considering the frightening results of the recent elections in Russia the plea has become even More urgent. Not Only should the czech Republic but also Poland Hungary and especially the Baltic states soon become members of nato to Avert another catastrophe in Europe. A Helga Valenta Sand Hauson Germany editors note the Holiday season has produced a shortage of letters so this feature has been abbreviated. We encourage our readers a especially those who have never submitted a letter a to write to us expressing viewpoints or opinions that Are published daily on this Page. All letters must be signed and include address and Telephone number. Preference is Given to Shorter letters so that More can be published in a timely manner. We Reserve the right to edit letters for clarity length and taste. Send to letters to the editor the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211. Commentary America s tolerance for guns rapidly fading by Helen Thomas president Clinton and a growing number of americans seem to be in sync on one thing guns Are unacceptable. The president has been espousing the need to rid americans streets of gun toting individuals and his Fervour is becoming contagious. For a time he could not Muster the same outrage from the Public that he has Felt Over the destruction of society by Wanton crime drug addiction and the breakdown of the family but now with headlines every Day telling yet one More tragic Story of massive mayhem the people seem to be saying a a enough and asking for action. Passage of the Brady gun control Bill was a major signal that times Are changing and the Public a tolerance for guns is hitting ground Zero. The clamor is growing for even tougher gun control Laws. When the nation s Capi Tal became known As a homicide City Quot the time seemed right for the government to find a solution to the problem. The shooting on the Long Island rail Road train this month that left six people dead was Only one in a series of tragic incidents that has Given the White House a Wake up Call. For Many years the National Rifle association has put its lobbying muscle and Money into opposing any gun control measures thit went before Congress relentlessly fighting every move to make guns More difficult to acquire. Even registering a gun is anathema to the Era and its advocates As Well As Banning certain types of bullets. The association has always contended that the Brady Bill which Calls for a five Day waiting period before a gun can be purchased would be the foot in the door to even More restrictive Laws. Certainly the new Brady Law has Given anti gun forces the feeling that the country is fed up with Wanton killing especially from automatic we Apons and saturday night specials. The president has asked for a tougher stance toward gangs and guns and he May get it. No other president has shown the concern or spent As much time trying to alleviate the crime problem in this country. President Reagan declined to support gun control even when he was shot in 1981 by John Hinckley who walked into a store and bought a gun with no problem. A a a but 10 years later Reagan announced his support for the Brady Bill named for James Brady who was Reagan a press Secretary and was gravely wounded during the attempt on Reagan s life. The idea of keeping tabs on an estimated 200 million guns in this country seems impossible. But like disarming the world or its nuclear weapons disarming this country of its illegal guns is not impossible a if there is the will to do it. American children Are growing up in schools where arguments Are settled by gun Battles. The Cost of crime Means a rising Cost in health care. Crime is on the presidents Agenda and meantime he is rallying support for his next move to curb the further spread of guns unlimited. A a c unit9d pres International 1 i Pont get because it Man. A pm you blew 0neuse6ct off the Anaf Puhy test in. Hot Slocum. Home any else / it la v. I i l t think its because i m a member of the fraternity Community i m being vice Jmiles by your us expectations an that not fair Man.,. Its a greek thing you  lu5ll,Heep me out. Ape you some sort