New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung from New Braunfels, Texas • Page 7

Sunday, March 28,1999 COMMENTARY LETTERS TO THE EDITOR i We all are part of human race Dear Editor: In reference to the letters regarding the Holocaust. First, as to its teality. I was among the troops that marched German villagers through a concentration camp so they couldn't deny what happened there. 1 saw the dazed survivors spilling on to the countryside still wearing their striped uniforms. They looked like undernourished praying mantises, so thin were they.

Anyone who says it didn't happen is not to be taken seriously. Every nationality and ethnicity has skeletons a plenty in its closets. Hitler capitalized on the Germans love and talent for ORDER and accomplishment, adroitly exploiting the dark side of their natures. (Like our "leaders" are capitalizing on our blind love of prosperity, stability, bread and circus.) Let us remember that we all share most of the genes that made Hitlerism possible. Let us ALL accept our kinship with Hitler and Stalin and "Musso," as responsible aware members of the HUMAN race.

Let the Caucasians and the blacks, Latins, Amerinds, Orientals, etc. share the lynch mobs, torture chambers, genocide, discrimination, My Lai, Chinese torture and the "holy" inquisition. None of us had the right to say, "1 am holier than thou," nor to cast the first stone. I am willing to accept my share of Adoph Hitler as long as I can say I belong to the same (HUMAN) race as Johann Sebastian Bach and Goethe. It would be better to focus on common urgent priority problems and interests humans, and Americans firsthand to mellow the ferocity of our tribal allegiances down to the folk festival level (Wurstfest and mariachis, sour kraut and tacos, etc.) Edgar N.

Valderrama New Braunfels Ex-POW: Death camps did exist Dear Editor: Were you there, Marianne? 1 would like to know if Marianne Ellwanger was with our troops or other forces the last days of the War as these concentration camps were liberated. 1 saw Dachau two days after it was liberated by American troops. What we saw was unbelievable. Many people who were not there may not advance many theories. 1 will readily agree that many other ethnic groups have been persecuted, but the "death camps" did exist and were used.

Louis Rape, Ex ROW New Braunfels Hotel taxes must be spent on tourism Dear Editor: On March 24, 1999, the Herald-Zeitung published a letter from Debbie Flume who argued that no money from the New Braunfels' hotel occupancy tax should be used for advertising for tourism. Ms. Flume suggests that this money could be spent for other facilities. She further opines that the municipal hotel occupancy tax collected by the city should be spent for youth programs. While Ms.

Flume's intent is laudable, her proposal flies in the face of state law. The Texas Legislature has for decades resolved that municipal hotel occupancy taxes must be spent to promote the tourism, convention and hotel industry. The City of New Braunfels has benefited greatly by the city's past visionary approach to tourism development. Outside dollars currently enjoyed by New Braunfels would certainly dry up should the city take the position that tourism funding dictated by state law be used for purposes outside statutory intent. Donald Hansen, CHA Where do we draw the line? Dear Editor: To news editor Tom Erickson: This week, Marilyn Manson played at the Alamodome, and I am reminded of your Feb.

14, "If you're offended, don't read this column." In your article, you stand firmly on the right to freedom of speech. I also believe strongly in that right and cannot escape the technical right that Manson and those of his ilk have in expressing their raunchy, satanic, anti-Christian themes. Indeed, as much as I would like to argue against their freedom to peddle self-destructive ideas, the subjective issue of where to draw the line becomes the stumbling block. I would always fear the regime that might come into power and decide that my opinions are too offensive to be heard. Sadly though, that is exactly what is happening today in the United States of America.

While you of the media rush to defend the Mansons of this world, you give little press to the suppression of the traditional Judeo-Christian values that produced Manson's freedom to be a public billboard for. Hell. To wit: Stone vs. Graham prohibited public schools from posting the Ten Commandments. Those same commandments are on the walls of the Supreme Court Building.

More recently, an Alabama judge was almost forced to remove the Ten Commandments from the wall of his own courtroom. Roe vs. Wade, which legalized the killing of unborn, living, human babies and has now resulted in the deaths of more than 30 million defenseless, voiceless infants. These Americans never got a chance to express their opinion. Romer vs.

Evans struck down an initiative that was passed by the people of Colorado that prohibited passbig laws and ordinances granting special rights (as opposed to basic civil rights) to homosexuals. The people spoke at the polls, exercising their constitutional freedoms, only to be overruled by a liberal judiciary who sees the constitution as some kind of elastic document whose -meaning'may change with their whims. Edwards vs. Aguillard was a ruling where the Court rejected a Louisiana law requiring public schools that teach evolution to also teach creation science. Where is the freedom of speech here? Where are all the editorials to defend the student's right to be taught the other major theory of our origins? Evolution, after all, is only a theory.

In Lee vs. ruled that public school cannot include prayer as part of a graduation ceremony. Also, they cannot specifically select a reli- gious participant to say a prayer during a graduation ceremony. There is even a case in which a student valedictorian was required to allow the school administration to review her graduation address. The speech was rejected because of its Christian content and the student was not allowed to deliver it at the commencement! Reno vs.

American Civil Liberties Union, in which the Court ruled that the Communications Decency Act is unconstitutional. This legislation was intended to help parents protect then- children from the obscenity and violent pornography that saturates the Internet. This last example brings to mind the title of your editorial, Mr. Erickson, "If you're offended, don't read this column." In the editorial you explained, "Then again, there's always the best solution turn the other way." There's a problem with that solution by tiie time you know you need to turn away from an offensive album, TV showy photograph, or song, it's already too late! I agree that the parents are responsible for their children's rearing (I wish the courts agreed, too), but this smut so permeates our culture that it is laughable to suggest that parents can filter all of it out. How could that possibly be the "best" solution? The old saying that "sticks and stones may break my bones but words may never hurt me" is a lie! Words (and images), when used only to degrade and destroy and remove all hope and dignity from one's life, do more damage to people's lives than any physical weapon ever could.

When a cult rock star's lyrics incite young, minds to commit murder, rape, bestiality and Suicide I have to start asking myself, "Is it time to draw the line? Has it come down to this? Is it time to compromise one of the most basic and essential of all American liberties because we are killing ourselves with it?" Frankly, I'm torn up over this one, Mr. Erickson. The examples above show that our liberal, un-elected judiciary has already drawn the line and denied Americans their rights, including freedom of speech. Also, your editorial is just one more of a cacophony of media voices who cry for freedom of speech in a tragically selective and calculated manner. You see, Mr.

Erickson, my fears have already been realized. There is a regime in power who has decided that my ideas are too offensive to fe 7 appear to be paft of it, i you, then don't read this letter. NewBrauntols CAROL ERWIN, 1A 830-643-0031 INCOME TAX BOOKKEEPING ELECTRONIC FILING Appointments at your convenience Spring is and it's time to order Sod. AtEngel Enterprises, all sod is on special: Raleigh Betmuda Zqysia Buffalo We can deliver and install it for you! Topsoil is also available. Office hrs: 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., M-F 8a.m.-12p.m., Sat (830) 608-1919 We Accept Credit Cards 1998 Chevy Astro Van 1998 Chevy S-10 Pick-Up Ext Cab Jeep Cherokee Country MM MM MM 1997 Chevy 2900 Ext.

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