The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • 15

Letters to the Editor THE SUN, Saturday, September 22, 1979 A 15 African Hypocrisy Nurtured by West J- if "'tlM I II I II I U.S. Navy ships, Panama Canal, 1940. Panama Canal 'Giveaway' Sir Daniel Drooz, in a recent article entitled "Africa Riddled with which was published in" the Perspective section of The Sunday Sun (August 26 noted that "the nations of Africa, black and white, have raised hypocrisy, as a political policy to new heights." This writer would beg to differ for the simple reason that, if political hypocrisy is at its highest in Africa, the infectious virus emanating from it was definitely nurtured and pampered in the advanced countries. As a late-comer to the industrial tnd technological age that is already plagued by serious constraints of the meager world resources, Africans have simply realized that hypocrisy is inseparable from development. This hypocrisy was, indeed, one of the legacies bequeathed to the African countries after many decades of political and economic domination, control, and in some instances, strangulation.

The following examples will attest to the political fact that hypocrisy is not unique to Africa: The United States of America, the greatest defender of political and economic freedom, is beset with hypocritical policies that will either rival or surpass the hypocrisy of the African nations. Despite the public denunciations of the South African government for its practice of apartheid and the flagrant violations of human rights, massive investments continue to be made in that country The argument usually offered by the United States is that cutting off investments in South Africa would be more detrimental economically to the blacks than to the whites. The United States continues to make loud public protestations that it will never negotiate with the P.L.O. despite clandestine meetings with its representatives by numerous U.S. officials including Special Envoy Robert Strauss and the U.S.

representative to Austria. Perhaps what is even more significant is the fact that the United States has neither forcefully said nor done anything to stop the barbarism and blatant executions of hundreds of Iranians by the Islamic regime of Ayatol-lah Khomeini. For years, American blacks fought to establish democracy in the Asian continent during the 1950's and 1960's. However, the full benefits of democracy have proved to be very elusive for these men and their families. The amount of money involved in corrupt practices and the circumvention of established political policies for personal gain in African countries since independence will not rival the impact of the documented Watergate, Koreagate, "Cook Countygate" (Chicago-Illinois), "Tanakagate" (Japan), "Marylandgate," and "Apewgate" in the advanced countries Great Britain, one of the dominant metropolitan powers for centuries in Africa, has not escaped the political hypocrisy alluded to in the United States; A great critic of the South African apartheid system, Britain is also guilty of discriminating against non-white Commonwealth members.

Japan, one of the greatest beneficiaries of foreign aid after World War continues to ignore the tragic plight of the boat people. The Japanese hypocritically maintain that they "are a small, poor, homogeneous country, and accepting the refugees would cause unemployment." Are African political policies any more hypocritical than the countries cited above? The answer is definitely in the negative. The truth is that African political policies are neither pro-West, nor pro-East. They are simply pro-African. So we see that a good case can be made that political hypocrisy is a non-African monopoly.

Septimus M. KaiKai, Catonsville. Our correspondent is an associate professor of economics at Catonsville Community College and a citizen of Sierra Leone, West Africa. Palestinian Rights vs. Israeli Rights Win, jJEi The Sir find it difficult to understand all the rumpus being raised over a general Soviet military build-up in Cuba.

What especially amazes me is the outcry coming from so many of our prominent pro-Panama Canal senators, especially Mr. Baker and Mr. Church, two of the leading advocates of the big giveaway of our Panama Canal and surrounding territory known as the Canal Zone which is our one and only stronghold for national defense in the Southern Hemisphere! It is hard to believe these senators have been so naive as to think the Russians would pass up such a great opportunity to control and conquer Panama (as they have Cuba) and all our ready-made military facilities there! It is well known that Panama is a Marxist revolutionary government with its backing and support from Cuba. Gaining the Panama Canal has been the Soviet Union's territorial ambition since the time of Lenin and the 1917 Communist movement! The Russians are in Cuba for a purpose, a very specific purpose, rest assured of it, and it's ridiculous to think we can oust them by not ratifying the Salt II treaty. The Russians have bigger fish to fry than a Salt II treaty.

There is too much at stake in the Caribbean now to be that concerned over the Salt II treaty. Since the Russians have been able to slip into Cuba unnoticed over the past four years, and Mr. Carter has re Sir: "Why the upsurge in crime?" the final words in your August 28 editorial entitled, "Atlanta Needs Rizzo" prompted this letter. I have no quarrel with the basic content of a very fine editorial comment, although I find it a bit disconcerting that a House subcommittee has discovered at this late date that a relationship exists between unemployment and crime (equivalent to calling a meeting to discuss shutting the barn door when the horse disappeared over the horizon way back at the turn of the century). "Why the upsurge in crime?" Why the question? Our present peril of crime out of control; wanton violence being a daily fact of life and a criminal justice system that barely begins to deal with the problem was clearly predictable as long as 48 years ago beginning with the Wickersham Commission's "Report on The Causes of Crime" (1931).

Commission after commission, with no axe to grind, no special interest to serve, except the ultimate survival of America, has examined in detail the anatomy of crime, outlined the causes of crime and suggested reasonable, worthwhile remedies for its cure. Tragically, these volumes now rest largely unheeded on shelves of our libraries; a wealth of answers to our constant queries. We are more inclined to follow the various pied pipers who appear on the scene ever-so ofter to voice a narrow viewpoint, filled with catch words and too often geared to an election or appointment or some other purely political or personal interest Simplistic answers attract attention and, although they never solve problems, add mass confusion to a problem that needs solutions rather than catchwords. It is absurd to insist that any single remedy could bring about a solution in a system comprised of several disciplines so interdependent but operating by tradition so independently Tougher laws-more liberal laws, larger prisons-more community correction centers, tougher sentences-sentencing guidelines, are a few of the competing nostrums suggested from time to time by callous misleadcrs or unknowing persons. None will move the crime problem one iota.

A massive, well planned, unified effort on a national cently dismissed our U-2 surveillance planes flying over Cuba, isn't that enough reason in itself to convince the Soviet Union we don't know what we are doing? If the Russians have been able to mobilize and maintain troops right under our nose, then how do we propose to monitor Salt II movements thousands of miles away? Let's forget SALT II for the moment and find out why the Russians are in Cuba with troops and what is their motive for being there? Is it Guantanamo Bay, the Panama Canal or Nicaragua or maybe Jamaica thrown in for good measure? How many Americans are aware of the fact that on October 1, 1979 all that we have and own in the Canal Zone we give to Panama gratuitously! The greatest is our modern port facilities available at the terminals on both the Atlantic and Pacific side of the Canal. Both are commodious harbors with large protected archorages and modern facilities for ship repairs, provisioning and servicing vessels and handling of cargo. The principal piers are of masonry construction with railway and trucking facilities. The extensive covered pier areas are all equipped for the expeditious handling of cargo of any variety. The facilities on the Atlantic side include shipfit-ting, boiler, sheet-metal, woodworking, rigger, electrical forge, pipe, inside and outside machine shops, small foundry, dry dock and a marine railway, not to mention the Marine Bunk Crime: a Monster Created by Society level requiring the utmost in planning, management and execution will start us in the right direction.

The signs of collapse of our criminal justice system are all about us. Nationally the rising crime statistics, the situations in Atlanta, New Orleans and New York signify the beginning of complete collapse. Locally the under-financing of all units of our criminal justice system brings Maryland right into line with the national trends. State, county, city and township area law enforcement systems do not work and cannot work with the intensity necessary to deal with our crime problem, due to politicizing and fragmentation. We find it much easier to maintain an ineffective status quo.

shifting the blame when convenient rather than facing the fact that too many of our law enforcement agencies are understaffed, underequipped, poorly trained and doing little except marking time. Baltimore is an exception in one particular, having an excellent police force -for the present. Pray that bureaucratic myopia does not gradually reduce it to its ignominious state of a dozen years ago. The rebellious, destructive, cruel street criminal is a product of both the failure of our sociological and economic systems and the inability of our criminal justice systems to protect society from its own Frankenstein monster. What we have created, by our societal and economic systems, in addition to an underclass which practices criminality as its own way of survival, is an outlaw class that operates in open defiance of law fully understanding (much more so than non-criminals) the inability of the sys Sir.

With regard to your editorial of September 7, "The Canal's Ticking Clock," opponents of the giveaway of the Panama Canal are in no hurry about "going right to the wire" on this explosive question. You are wrong in concluding that regardless of what transpires on Capitol Hill the Panamanian treaties, ratified 18 months ago, will go into effect. The fundamental principle of Article IV, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution is still there, and requires joint action by both Houses of Congress to transfer U.S. territory and property to another nation.

That article cannot be wished away. We were misrepresented by President Carter when he said U.S. taxpayers would "not have to pay a single dime" for giving away our most sacred rights of sovereignty. Senator Helms, on July 26, rose on the Senate floor and said: "We owe it to the American people to reject this legislation, to reconsider the mistakes that have already been made, and to ponder the misrepresentations by the administration last year, when the American people were told, over and over again, that the giveaway of the Panama Canal will not cost the American taxpayers one thin dime." Congress HAS the right to modify or repeal or fail to implement the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977. Paul Chiera.

Silver Spring. Tie Seems to Really Care' Sir: Amid the complaints of illiteracy among schoolchildren and as the new school year begins, I am led to ask "What has become of English grammar?" To judge by the writings and speech of presumably well educated persons it might be thought that English grammar is no longer taught. Almost every day one hears such grammatically incorrect expressions as: "Between you and "It's me." or "It's her." "I feel badly "He looks badly." "He seems to really care." "1 appreciate him doing this." "Who do you wish to speak to?" "I asked her husband and she to joints." (Surely the speaker would not say "I asked she to join us Editors and columnists in general use good English but combing recent news columns. I have found the following instances of bad grammar "He pitched good." "I am surprised to hear talk of the litxration of Jerusalem from he who sold Jerusalem for a parcel of sand in the Sinai "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone "We feel a little like we have been cut adnft "We could not find whoever was supposed to lead the way." I rould go on and on with examples of split infinitives, prepositions ending sentences, wrong cases, etc I know that there are those who would contend that constant converts bad grammar into good grammar and that in everyday conversation we do not need to be particular I do not agree, but. primarily I deplore the fact that whether through carelessness or because the schools do not insist on the sue of good grammar or for whatever other reason, the beautiful English language suffers greatly It is a treat to listen to or to read the writings of tlic master of good English John KedwcHHl, Jr Hiiltimoie ing Division at Mount Hope which is used to refuel ships at dock side by pipeline.

All a ship does is hook into the pipeline and it is refueled and on its way into either Ocean! Oh yes, I can well understand why the Russians are sitting ready in Cuba. Panama can never master all the sophisticated and technical knowlege required to operate efficiently all the various divisions including our very large Coco Solo Submarine BaseNaval Air Station located on the Atlantic side of the Canal, just a stone's throw from Cuba! During World War II there was a lot a activity taking place between our Coco Solo Submarine Base and Guantanamo Bay, dodging the German U-Boats that had converged in the Caribbean. The Caribbean was a busy, busy body of water! Yes, the Soviet Union knows very well what it wants. And according to the Panama Canal Treaty and Mr. DeConcini's watered down amendment to the treaty from which I quote: "The United States must not interfere with Panama's internal affairs.

So, before the year is out, the Russians will be in Panama (through invitation or otherwise) and there will be nothing we can do about it for we have been forbidden by treaty to interfere in Panama internal affairs! We have lost through default. Audrey F. Clark Baltimore. tem to deal with it. The street criminal knows he can roam his criminal domain with impunity with chances of being caught and punished ranging from remote to non-existent.

Long before the Eisenhower Report concluded that committing index crimes resulted in imprisonment only 1.5 per cent of the time, the street criminal knew and lived by the remoteness of punishment. The multiplicity of societal ills that created the street criminal have been discussed for years by our economists and sociologists but only the most tentative steps have been taken to correct weaknesses in a society that insists on breeding its own destruction. Massive input from the federal level is necessary to begin a serious long-range effort in this direction. Not at all separate from basic changes in dealing with societal ills is a different approach to the criminal justice system. Significant input from the federal level directed toward substantial upgrading of integrated law enforcement systems on a statewide basis is required.

The good old American custom of dozens of police agencies in a state, lack of professionalism in prosecution, and lack of an intelligent program to deal with those who have broken the law can only be corrected by a national policy designed to upgrade the system nationwide over a period of 20 to years. Truly, America has everything. But unless a means is found to deal with the street criminal and to deal effectively with all crime, we will soon be unable to enjoy it. How much will it cost? Billions How much will it save'' Billions Milton B. Baltimore.

Mr. Allen is a judge of the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City. The repwts he alluded to include those of: the President's Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice (1967); the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence (1969); the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders 68), the Economic Development Commission of New York City (1972), the National Advisory Commission on C'rimi nal Justice Siandards and Goals (1973) kilometers compared to little Israel with only 26,000 square kilometers. Actually, Arab territory is 700 times the size of Israel. Let us examine the Arab's concept of Palestine: 1.

Palestine is an integral part of all the Arab countries in this region. 2. Palestine is one area that cannot be divided. 3. The Palestinian people have a legal right to all of Palestine, even if it requires force to regain the area.

4. The effort to acquire all of Palestine is aimed at the total destruction of Zionism. 5. The division of the land in 1947-1948 and the establishment of the State of Israel is positively illegal. 6.

The Arabs refuse any solution except the taking of all of Palestine from the Jewish people. Farfck Kadumi, head of the political bureau of the PL.O., stated clearly their strategy in March, 1977, when he said: "We have to be elastic in our aim to acquire peace in Middle East. This does not mean that we negate our full measure of total rights. There will be two other steps in our aspirations. First, to regain all the territory lost in 1967 during the Six Day War.

Afterward, to the acquisition of all the territory which is now Israel, when the Jewish State was established in 1948. Finally a fully democratic Arab country in all of Palestine." People who clamor and insist on the "legitimate rights of the Arab Palestinians" ignore the more important aspect of the situation which is the legitimate rights of the survival of the Jewish People. The Arab people have many countries that should provide them a place to live, whereas the Jewish people have only one tiny Israel. William Braiterman. Hadera, Israel.

Sir: Presently I am in Haifa, Israel, to share in the excitement of the naval visit by the president of Egypt, Anwar Sadat. I saw the Egyptian flag flying and the multitudes welcoming the visitors on their mission of peace. Memories of the past 62 years and World War I come to mind. At that time I was a member of the Palestine Jewish Legion serving in General Al-lenby's Army when they drove the Turks from the Holy Land in 1918. I also recall the period of the Six Day War of 1967 and the Yom Kippur War of 1973 when I again was in Israel during my annual visits here.

There is a misconception that when the Second Temple was destroyed in the year 70, and after the uprising of Bar Kochba in the year 132, all the Jews left the Holy Land. This is not true. There were always Jewish in the Holy Land to continue their ties and heritage, until the Eighteenth Century when the "Return to Zion movement" began. The Arab ties with the Holy Land began with the Islamic religion and when their nomads conquered Palestine, spreading their reign from the Atlantic Ocean to the borders of China In the Koran, Palestine is only mentioned once and refers to the area as being holy to the Jews and Christians. Their interest in the land of Palestine was limited to the establishment of only one city in the area under the name Ramie, compared to the, Zionist era of building and establishing many settlements in the Holy Land.

Mark Twain, in 1867, when he visited Palestine, described the land occupied by the Arabs as dry and wasted with few trees or vegetation. The Middle East with many countries, has 135 million Arabs In an area of eight and one-half million square Needed: Fewer Elections in Baltimore City Sir Many articles in Baltimore papers complained of low voter turnout in the city primary. Perhaps more people would vote if the terms were changed and coincided with those of the governor and members of the legislature as is the case in Baltimore county. The city voters are expected to vote six times every four years rather than four. It must be more expensive to have the additional two elections-judges and registrars must be paid, schools closed, etc.

With more candidates running for more offices, the campaip should be more exciting and thus produce more interest. Anne Lee. Timonium. i.