European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 07, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Questions for. All these problems in America Paul Mickey maybe it s because i Haven t actually lived in the United states lately. I Verpent the last 12 years living in Europe and working with the . Force sin Germany i see problems differently than most of my friends and relatives. I can Tell there s something wrong with America when 1. The rights of the individual Are More important than individual rights. The american theory of Justice serves to protect the individual As a single member of society. The european theory of Justice serves to protect society As a group of individuals. European Law Only protects the individual As Long As the individual maintains his Good standing in society. American Justice protects the. Individual at Al costs. American Justice does not always hold the individual accountable for his own actions and often puts the onus of guilt on the Vic Tim. What does that Tell us about our sense of Justice 2. The former second baseman of the Chicago cubs made More Money than All of the second Grade school teachers in the Chicago school system. Ryne Sandberg just retired made $7.1 million a year. The average Chicago school teacher makes $25,000 a year. They could hire 284 teachers for every year Sandberg played for the cubs. We seem to spend much More Money entertaining our Chil Dren than we do educating them. What does that tells us about our sense of values 3. The letter of the Law is More important than the spirit of the Law. Criminals sometimes know the Law better than their lawyers and the police but they have no inter est in promoting Justice. Lawbreakers can get off on technicalities while Law abiding citizens Are frustrated by the system. Justice should be Blind but should it also be deaf and dumb does hat Tell us about our sense of fairness opening laugh Schwadron Usa you re leaving me Agnes frankly my dear i Don t give a Hoot l 0 log postcards 4. A mass murderer is guaranteed free Legal Aid but an expectant Mother can t always get free medical Aid. We Are currently de bating a National health care system but we Are already spending too much on helping Crimi nals milk the Justice sys tem for All it s Worth. What does that Tell us about our sense of Priori ties 5. The War against Iraq was much More Success Ful than the War against drugs. It took Only four Days of ground fighting to enable the coalition forces to declare Victory in Iraq. The Federal government has been fighting a War on drugs for Over 15 years with Little or no Success. / what Doe Thattell us about our sense of commitment 6. It takes two paychecks to support one child in Stead of one paycheck to support two children. The two income family has become the Rule rather than the exception and that leaves precious Little time for the care and nurturing of children. We have come to expect that the welfare of our children will be  others. What does that Tell us about our sense of family Pride 7. A spouse has to die before a Case of Domestic violence is taken seriously. The . Simpson Case is just the tip of the ice Berg. The old adage that what goes on behind closed doors should stay there is a death sentence for abused spouses. Thousands of women in Ameri Ca Are battered each Day and the courts seem virtually helpless to do anything about it. Whom docs the Law protect More the victim or the attacker what does that Tell us about our theory of Justice 8. Drunken Drivers spend More time on the Road than most people who commute to work. Potential murderers who can kill with their cars when drunk Are Given their licenses Back so that _ they can drive a work. What does that Tell us about our common sense 9. A Man s Home is his prison instead of his Castle. Violence in America is at the breaking Point. Drive by shootings car jacking and mass random killings make the headlines every Day. European tourists Are fearful of travelling to America Espe. \ Salt a Pepper shakers to shirts daily to Florida they have become targets of terror by common criminals. People Are staying at Home and Locking their doors because they Are afraid to walk the streets. What does that Tell us about the land of the free and the Home of the Brave 10. We spend More Money keeping convicts in jail than we spend keeping homeless families off the streets. Should convicts be allowed to demand to sets in jail and get More spacious accommodations than homeless people what Are judges thinking of when they give in to the frivolous demands of grandstand ing lawyers whose Only purpose is to win a court Case and get their names in the paper where is society heading who is directing the course the judges blame the lawyers and the legislators. The legislators blame the complexity of the Law and the Way lawyers twist the Legal system. Society Only wants them to practice the kiss principle  simple Stu pid what does this Tell us about our Basic sense of jus Tice _ America is a great nation. We have always been at the forefront of social change and Progress. We have the Power to fix our problems and the National re solve to create a better world for ourselves and our children. It s time we must begin to tackle these is sues. Paul Mickey works in Augsburg Germany contents from the cover 4-7 wearing it out. Odds & ends 8 Erma Bombeck on restful motherhood. _ in tune 9 tie Maze of Cable channels. _ this week s films. 10-11 military circuit listings. Chuck Mchon the mask television listings 12-15 local Cable and satellite schedules. Home entertainment . 16 producing erotic videos. Sidelights 18-19 Prince valiant plus Andy   21 on Parade 23 Wiat s new with Bruce Willis. " last laugh _ .24 Dave Barry on anger. Sunday is a weekly supplement of the stars and stripes " editor Bucky Fox cover Story design Susan Harris production Bernard Jfhn san editorial assistance Louis d. Pierce Page 2 sunday August 7,1994