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

DATE: TUESDAY, March 26, 1991                   TAG: 9103260475
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

POORLY POSITIONED TO TEACH DEMOCRACY

A COMMERCIAL on my favorite radio station in Roanoke has a little tune with this line: "Defenders of world liberty, we did what we had to do."

First, nobody threatened to do us in if we didn't go to Iraq. Second, who appointed us defenders of world liberty?

Our country is not in a position to be teaching other countries how to be democratic, with our severe drug problems and murders in broad daylight. We have homeless probably outnumbering the troops we sent overseas six months ago. We have policemen (who are supposed to defend our communities) beating black men for being black.

I think all the people of the United States of America need to take a good long look in the mirror and ask: "What morals do I have left and how can I use them today?" MELISSA T. PAYNE COVINGTON

by CNB