Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 16, 1994 TAG: 9406270125
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
I believe that Ramsey Clark has scooped you on this by three years. He founded the Commission of Inquiry for the International War Crimes Tribunal. He attended the Nuremberg War Trials as a young man, knowing the judicial precedents of this famous trial. Clark was U.S. attorney general from 1961-1968, helped draft the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and headed the presidential Task Force to Watts following the riots. Recently, he worked on behalf of many arrested in the upheaval following the Rodney King verdict. Not only is he a great jurist but also is author of the best-selling ``Crime in America'' and ``The Fire This Time - U.S. War Crimes in the Gulf.''
Your editorial stated: ``Those who would raise the old bugaboo of threats of sovereignty should be reminded that, as Americans, we believe sovereignty belongs to the people, not to governments. We also believe that no one, even acting under orders, should get away with murder.''
How true - but will you follow through when the shoe is on the other foot? Having been in many naval battles of World War II and served in the Defense Department, four years in Vietnam, I see war as nothing but ignorance and murder on both sides. Call it crusade, blitzkrieg, Agent Orange, atom-smashing, gassing, mother of all wars, but it's nothing but genocide on all sides.
As a nation, we've been charged with 19 separate crimes against peace, war crimes and humanity crimes in violation of the United Nations' and the 1949 Geneva Conventions. Your editorial was great, and I hope you'll acknowledge Ramsey's ad hoc commission, as we're liable, too.
GRANT HALLOCK
CHECK
Applying standards to other schools
I READ with interest the May 29 commentary by Sara L. Mandelbaum (``Wrong, VMI and Citadel: Women are not a toxic virus'') concerning the Virginia Military Institute and the Citadel. Could the headline be changed to ``Wrong, Hollins, Randolph-Macon College for Women and Sweet Briar: Men are not a toxic virus''? Aren't they just as guilty as are all male or female single-sex colleges?
True, Hollins, etc., are all private colleges. But again, are they private? I'm sure there isn't a college or university in this country that isn't dependent on state and federal grants, loans and scholarships for its existence. I suggest Mandelbaum switch the references, applying them to all male and female single-sex colleges if she's really interested in fairness and justice. If females aren't going to affect the uniqueness of a VMI or the Citadel, then how can any single-sex college justify the reason for its existence?
Permit me to change the quote of Carol Gilligan used by Mandelbaum just a little: ``Hollins College's false female-male dichotomy and sex-based stereotypes produce a `psychologically noxious' environment in that they teach a distorted view of human psychology, deny the complexity of human experience, and subordinate `essential human qualities'.''
GEORGE K. SLOUGH
ROANOKE
Falwell tape seeks only the truth
I'VE READ with dismay various letters responding to the May 14 article from the Los Angeles Times entitled ``Falwell markets anti-Clinton video.''
I don't know enough to comment about the video's cost, but I'm certain, based on what I've seen of this video, it's informative and seeks only the truth. This same article spoke of Gennifer Flowers and Paula C. Jones, who ``allege sexual improprieties on the part of Clinton,'' which the president has denied.
Excuse me, but didn't we have a similar situation a couple years ago when the media dragged the American people, as well as Clarence Thomas, through mire on national television in the name of sexual harassment? Were Anita Hill's allegations more substantial than those now made against Clinton? I think not, but it does show the media's hypocrisy.
I admire and applaud Jerry Falwell for his willingness to stand up and speak the truth. I'm thankful for those who present the truth and the facts, so I don't have to depend on the biased liberal media.
ROGER AVERHART
BLACKSBURG
Flooded homes are a concern
I SEE that Habitat for Humanity is building 14 homes on Kellogg Avenue. How did it get permits to build in a flood zone?
When the creek flooded homes that were there years ago, the owners didn't rebuild, so why build now? If there should be another flood, owners could lose their homes and a life could be lost this time.
MARIE FOLEY
CATAWBA
Editor's note: According to Roanoke city officials, the houses are near but not in the flood plain.
Operation Nordwind mustn't be forgotten
AN OTHERWISE admirable TV documentary on D-Day was marred by historical error denigrating achievements of many brave American soldiers.
According to Dan Rather, the Von Rundstedt offensive that was halted at Bastogne was Hitler's last offensive of World War II. Not true. The last offensive was Operation Nordwind in the Vosges Mountains, a threat as grave as that through the Ardennes. Nazi operations had been planned as a double-pincer movement - through Belgium in the north, through Alsace in the south. In both instances, a Nazi victory would have opened a path to the Atlantic that would be ideal for panzer maneuvers.
The northern thrust, known as the Battle of the Bulge, was fought by seasoned American and Allied troops. The Vosges thrust was stopped by green troops receiving their baptism of fire from the Germans' battle-hardened 6th SS Mountain Division.
The three rifle regiments of the 70th Infantry Division, operating as Task Force Herren and attached to the 45th Division, were hit on Jan. 1, 1945. As in the Huertgen Forest, the element of surprise was a major factor in initial enemy success. But the untried men of the 70th stopped the attack at Wingen-sur-Moder, a battle long studied at the United States War College as an example of small-unit coordination. The 42nd Division also operated heroically as a task force.
The attention and admiration of the free world was so riveted upon Bastogne that two weeks later Nordwind was then, and is now, ignored. The 70th Division (the Trailblazers) had among the highest casualties of any American infantry division. It is unbecoming to our nation to ignore the gallant victory in the Vosges, a glory shared by the 42nd, 45th, 70th, 79th and 100th divisions and the Seventh Army supporting units. Let's not let a historic error be inscribed in stone by sheer neglect of contemporary records.
EDMUND C. ARNOLD
ROANOKE
Heroes were cast in Clinton's shadow
I'M ASHAMED for all the major TV networks, and the print media as well, for their coverage of the activities supposedly honoring D-Day. The evening news coverage by ABC, NBC and CBS was nauseating.
Was there no ceremony in all of Europe that President Clinton didn't attend? Were there no other speakers except him? Were leaders of European countries not present? Did none of the heroes of that D-Day invasion make a speech? All I saw on the network news was Clinton, Clinton, Clinton. I cannot begin to say just how sick I am of seeing the draft-dodging slimeball on television.
What should have been a worldwide ceremony honoring the brave patriots who took part in that historic campaign turned into the most blatant public-relations campaign by Clinton (at taxpayers' expense) that I've ever witnessed.
The cameras over there must have been manned by robots with orders to always keep the focus on Clinton, instead of the real heroes and news events. They are no more news reporters than are the sleazy tabloids. Maybe it's time the American people woke up, and took back government and the news media.
TOM K. BRIDGES
BLUE RIDGE
by CNB