THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 16, 1994 TAG: 9406160012
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Medium
DATELINE: 940616 LENGTH:
Yes, I care about the brutal killings in Rwanda, and this time, because of your journalistic efforts, I have taken five steps to do something about this world tragedy. This is step five.
{REST} I didn't do a thing to stop the death camps of World War II - I wasn't born until 1946. I have no excuse for not getting involved and taking action over the brutal acts committed against the Cambodian people in the 1970s. It wasn't until 1992 when I visited a four-story monument near Phnom Penh, Cambodia, that is filled with human skulls did I begin to understand the scale of this 1970s crime against mankind.
What bothered me about the Cambodian ``killing fields'' was not only the number of children skulls I saw, but my ignorance of such a tragic part of history that had occurred during my adult lifetime. Your courage in publishing pictures from Rwanda has made me remember Cambodia and remember my pledge to take steps to stop terror.
My five steps to do something about Rwanda are:
1. Send letters to my senators asking them to support efforts to stop the killings in Rwanda.
2. Send e-mail to Bill Clinton and ask him to take action.
3. Discuss Rwanda with at least two other adults today and ask them to:
(a) Contact our government leaders and say we care about Rwanda.
(b) Discuss Rwanda with two other adults today.
4. Discuss Dachau, Phnom Penh and Rwanda with my teenage daughter.
5. Write a letter to you supporting your coverage of Rwanda.
Thank you for your coverage of Rwanda. Please continue to encourage the American public to care and to do something about Rwanda.
M. A. CAPANSKY
Virginia Beach, June 5, 1994
by CNB