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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 6, 1993                   TAG: 9301060304
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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PARDONS SHATTERED TRUST IN GOVERNMENT

PRESIDENT Bush's pardon of former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, and the other five indicted or convicted for Iran-Contra violations of law, harms our nation. It repeats the message that the system and those in power look out primarily for themselves. If you are unemployed and disaffected, or if you are on the street and wondering how you are going to make it, the news of Bush's preferential treatment to insiders shatters the hope that the government cares about you. Bush, our public servant, has put personal gain ahead of national interest.

The office of the president has exceptional power to evoke decency, dignity, integrity and optimism among the citizenry. Bush missed the opportunity to be a symbol from which uprightness might trickle down and bring good will and moral rectitude to a nation where so many are discouraged.

President Bush seems to be blind to the adverse consequences of self-serving action. Cronyism in the White House gives birth to national cynicism, distrust and disgust of government, and adds to the social despair. Does he want to kill the memories of what made this nation great? RODERICK D. SINCLAIR BLACKSBURG

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