
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 16, 1991                   TAG: 9102180319
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A/11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BRIAN SEITZ
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

COMMEND TRUDEAU FOR PATRIOTISM

CRITICIZING representations of the current war in the cartoon, "Doonesbury," Curtis E. Nester (letter, Feb. 2) warns that the comic strip "could only create fear and depression" in a child. If he is correct, then cartoonist Trudeau is doing his job well.

As a response to a war whose only certain effects will be massive-scale death and destruction, a bit of fear and depression seems far more reasonable and responsible than the nationalistic, bellicose flag-waving to which so much of America seems to have succumbed. The image of the citizens of a democracy acting like good soldiers - marching behind the commander in chief, no questions asked - is both frightening and depressing, as is the equally pertinent image of a citizenry (including the bulk of the news media) transforming itself into an intercontinental cheerleading squad.

The coalition will eventually "win" this war, and Iraq eventually lose. But the cost will be high for America, for the members of the coalition, for every country in the Gulf region, and for the future of the Middle East. As a region, it will not recover soon, despite the allegedly stabilizing presence of the U.S. military (!), which will no doubt remain in strong numbers long after the current episode.

In direct contradiction to Nester's image of "a throwback to the '60s," those who are concerned about this war are focused on the danger it represents for the present and the future. Trudeau is making an effort to tilt at the enthusiastic non-account the federal government is painting for We the People, and he should be commended for his patriotism in so doing. A people questioning and debating the policies and actions of its government is a far surer sign of a democracy's health than gung-ho acquiescence to a censored war for which we have still not received a clearly articulated justification.

A certain amount of fear, depression and skepticism about the situation may be more appropriate than the self-serving delusion that we are, of course, doing what is moral, just and right, having made actual - unleashed and guaranteed - what had been Saddam Hussein's potential to be a threat. Thank you for providing "Doonesbury" to the Roanoke Valley. It is only a cartoon and thus maybe only a detail in our daily lives. But all the details count, especially since our government is actively withholding them from us at this point. At least they haven't censored Trudeau yet.

by CNB