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

DATE: TUESDAY, April 16, 1991                   TAG: 9104160514
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

MOST ARE BLIND TO U.S. HYPOCRISY

I MUST admit amazement at the variation of opinions expressed by us Americans. Some have forgotten that America was the land of the Indians and all others here are foreigners in the sense that their ancestors were not from America. The land of the free and home of the brave belongs to a terribly mistreated people who befriended the foreigners and lost their nation.

Now, our country seems intent that the world go by our rules or be punished in any possible way, and there are several countries whose economy is in shambles because of our embargoes and trade policy. Other than England, I am sure those with us in the Persian Gulf were our allies only because of promises of increased aid, forgiven debts, other forms of bribery and arm-twisting.

Remember who fired the first shot in the gulf. Iraq offered to withdraw from Kuwait more than once if the Arab-Israel situation were brought to a conference. Who refused flatly? Our government.

Now that there has been mass destruction and killing, who brought up this issue four days after the temporary cease-fire? Our government.

Who invaded Panama and killed many Panamanians? Who fired the first shot? Who dropped the only atomic bombs ever? Who refused to meet with Arafat in New York a few years ago before the gulf matter arose? The United Nations had to meet in Geneva with Arafat then.

The nations who voted to impose the food embargo against Iraq are the ones guilty for the starvation in all of Iraq - north, south and central. There was no outcry against the food embargo. Why?

We are a confused nation, ready to condemn and see only what we want, as some parents are about their children. Most parents cannot see the truth about their children, and most Americans cannot see the hypocrisy of our government. MARIONETTE WIGGINS MARTINSVILLE

by CNB