The Berkshire Eagle from Pittsfield, Massachusetts • 19

.1 Berk6hire Ea.gle, Tuesday, April 6, 1971-19 1 11 ittel. tiI' fr 4'. -Li it, xl ,,1,, 4., 441 Berkshires si--- 4f I Assessirig, the damage The trar's moral realities are belatedly hitting home 'k! 1 By Anthony Lewis ly so in 1 ,41 I Looking for spring NEW YORK higher now, after more American FOR MILLIONS of Americans, bombing. Cambodia used to live By Kathatine II. Annin 4 In er r44 share moral responsibility now for a war policy that holds human life, civilian life, so cheap? The curious tiling is that the cost of the war to the actual residents of Indochina hardly ever figures in official speeches.

President Nixon, in his major talks on the war since Nov. 3, 1969, has spoken about American casualties and the defense of an independent South Vietnam and the danger of the United States being seen as a pitiful helpless giant. He has not mentioned the human cost of the war to the people of Indochina the continuing cost of a continuing war. t-cr the Cal ley verdict has raised terrible questions about the responsiLility for things that have happened in Indochina in the last few years. It is right and inevitable that we examine that record of the past.

But it is more urgent that we face one simple Jact about the present: In this year, 1971, more civilians are being killed and wounded in the three countries of Indochina, and more made refugees, than at any time in history. Most of the casualties are caused, and people made refugees, by American and allied military activity. le with political compromises that were awkward but at least did avoid -the real ravages of war. The refugees and civilian 'casualties have come in the last year. In Laos, with a population of only three million, 292,000 are officially on the books as refugees.

And again the experts say that American bombing is the principal cause. People do not usually leave their homes merely because of the presence of Viet Cong or North Vietnamese troops in the area. In the past, American politicians and generals who ordered an th ch 7'. I 1 i' I 'It 4' NW liAl 011 FAli 50AT liAZOti TOOTHIVEryCILI) EVEgYTHIA. upon in a magnificent book recently given to me called, "Streets for People." by Bernard Itudofsky.

(Doubleday, $14.95.) He considers portico (plural, portici) the prcper term for most yovered, walks where pedestrians can travel in all kinds of weather. Mr: Rudolsky's book traces the evolution of streets in cities all over the world from the days when pigs roamed through them, feeding on the, garbage thrown out by the householders on both sides. He is especially complimentary in describing the splendors of Italian architecture when it combines beautiful colonnades for pedestrians with fine city planning, but sees only one way in which American cities make the most of street pibilities, and that is for parades. RICHMOND EVEN THE MUD is welcome. It is at least a sign that the long winter is retreating before the greater heat of the sun and the hours of daylight, and the last few, almost balmy, days have removed almost all but the highest banks of snow, the lowest layers of which have been with us since the first 'Storms Of the winter.

But it is too late to hope for "an early- spring." Apparently there really was one three years ago, for my records say that on approximately this date in 1968, I reported spring peepers peep-. -ing and hepaticas blooming. Not today. Our pond is still iced over, and the woodland floor be- yond the. meadow -is so deep in 'Snow that not even the hardy '-hepaticas can push' through it.

-Still nature pushes ahead with its inevitable sequence of events the pussy willows have come, the larger Willows are enveloped in their ind birds are arriving-Cfrom the South every day. saturanon Domomgs aria tree-nre THAT IS the estimate of the ex- zones and the burning of villages perts on Edward Kennedy's -Len- and defoliation undoubtedly told ate Subcorrunittee on Refugees, themselves that such actions whose figures on the civilian toll served a legitimate purposean of the war are recognized as the earlier end to the war. For that best available. In other words, as reason, among others, it must be Americans are told by their gov- difficult to delThe "war crimes" in ernment that the war is winding Indochina. down, the number of Vietnamese, But that reason is no longer i Cambodias and Laotians being- eisy to argue.

Can it really be saturation bombings and free-fire zones and the burning of villages and defoliation undoubtedly told themselves that such actions served a legitimate purposean earlier end to the war. For that reason, among others, it must be difficult to defme "war crimes" in War monument was erected, seems as suitable as -ever. In fact, I was enchanted the other night by the view- of the park from the bar at the top of the Colonial Hilton. The sUrrounding city was studded with smaller lights while the park's oval was a fairylike jewel, encircled with moving toy autos, and with the beautiful facade of the Old City Hall floodlighted between the two church towers on the northern rim. It is reassuring to read that there is no thought of curtailing use of the park.

With spring in the offing, outdoor living r'enews its and if our warm season is short, that is all the more reason to make provision for enjoying the open' air even within the confines of downtown Pittsfield. Shade trees add immensely to the pleasure of walking on city sidewalks and it is to their credit that the banks along the east side of North Street have undertaken to set out trees in large tubs in front of their buildings. These, with two the eity has placed at the entrance to the Dunham Street Mall, should provide most welcome greenery, and we look forward to the blooming of the flowering fruit trees along the Mall itself. 'Washington Insight Public opinion, the unknown god or ill ed ss Lst IT SEEMS unlikely that the President can go on much longer showing little or n6 sensitivity to that human cost. Three weeks ago, from abroad, I wrote that I thought Mr.

Nixon was wrong if he believed Americans felt no moral concern for death and disintegration among the Indochinese people. After traveling in this country, I am even more convinced that there is such concern. Americans are not only worried about American casualties in Vietnam. More and more of them want to stop the killing all over Indochina. More and more of them feel a national responsibility for terrible things that have happened and are still happening in Indochina, and they want those things to end.

That is why, even before the Caney verdict, there was, evidence of developing concern about war crimes. said that killing and wounding civilians and driving them from their homes on such a scale serves any legitimate political purpose? of By Joseph Kraft mander of the American Legion cabled the President to "exercise executive clemency" in the "interests of the morale and future effectiveness of our armed forces." killed and maimed and made homeless is at a record high. The realities behind that fact can be illustrated in a number of ways. In South Vietnam alone last year, the subcommittee estimates, the number of civilians killed averaged more than 500 a week. That was six times the American war deaths.

In the last three months of 1970, 150,000 people in South Vietnam became refugees. On the very day 11 THE UNITED STATES is sup. posed to be withdrawing from In-. dochina. But as the ground troops leave, bombing and air support activities spread.

The political aim is to maintain the present Saigon government in office. But es if he ty I IN A CHAPTER headed "The Care and Feeding of Pedestrians" he extols the sidewalk that flourish in so many European cities, with their atmosphere of leisurely camaraderie. He notes with pleasure that a few have very recently sprung up in the vicinity of New York and points out their Superiority over drugstore counters and coffee-vending machines. He will no doubt approve a report I saw that the brand new, and superelegant, Park Lane Hotel on Central Park South in New York includes a small courtyard where tea and cocktails will be served at fresco in "spring, summer and autumn," the Times says. -I don't know how the Colonial Hilton would feel' about spring and autumn in the Berkshires, but we'll surely have a few summer days when such an institution would be a welcome addition to its fine layout.

EVIDENTLY the Pittsfield Parks and Recreation Department is responding to the return of spring, for it has asked for funds and plans for refurbishing --Park Square. Stipt. Vincent J. Hebert is right when hp says its appearance is shabby. Resod ding the lawns and resurfacing the be an improve- ment, and if the elm trees are to disease, no doubt they had better be replaced with some other species.

But further than this I hope efforts at "improvement" will not go. Happily the suggestion of cutting the park in two by another street has been abandoned, and the simple design of it, as carried out 100 years ago when the Civil ber. be that Lt. Cal ley was sentenced for can that end justify the use of the massacre at My Lai, South military means that are necessari- Vietnam troops began a sweep of ly indiscriminate, as the cruel fig. the My Lai area that officials be- ures of civilian casualties show? lieved could drive 16,000 villagers That is, a question that every there from their homes.

American official connected with the war, and every high-ranking military officer, will have to begin IN CAMBODIA, a check last asking himself. Whatever the law August showed one million refu- may be, whatever the doctrine of geesin a country of six million Nuernberg or the Yamashita case, people. The figure is-undoubtedly does be as an individual want to ALL THIS must have a serious impact on President Nixon's pontical options as he considers what to tell this country about our course in Indochina. He has to deal now not only with a new awareness of military realities after Laos but a new American awareness of the moral realities in Indochina. 191 1 New York Times News Service SOUTH STREEt, alas, has lost many of the ancient trees that were once so handsome, but like other hiring things, trees do grow old and die.

It is good that young are gfowing now in front of the Berkshire Common. this brings us to the pasiigeway through the Common with its broad flight of steps to the plaza below. I am tempted to refer to this covered. way as an arcade, except that the word is frowned THIS KIND of response should surprise nobody. For the United States is a powerful country precisely because its citizens are knit together by the strongest bonds of community.

Fellow feeling of Americans for one another generates a group spirit, a climate of an atmosphere of ideas. It is something vague and inchoate, easier to feel than to describe. But it sets limits on Opt is possible and what is not. If defines what is permissible. And it is the hard core of public opinion.

Powerful men and groups can work on this -core of opinion. Given the right kind of dramatic event, it is possible to influence the flow of attention witness My Lai. On things that don't count, even decisions can be shaped. Since most brands are exactly the same advertising determines gasoline sales. WASHINGTON THE UPSURGE of popular sympathy for Lt.

William Caney teaches a salutary lesson about public opinion. For the wave of feeling is not some extraneous thing worked up by the media. On the contrary, it was a spontaneous expression of an outlook bred in the bone of the country. And it shows that public opinion, far from being easily subject to manipulation by the media, is a ipystery that passes understanding. THE ROLE of the media in the Calley case is, for once, not altogether in doubt.

The My Lai massacre for which Lt. Caney was tried was made known to the world through a group of independent journalists. Wire services, television and the papers amplified their findings in abundant and grisly detail. Coverage of the court-martial itself was extensive. While much time and space were given to the contentions of the 'defense, Lt.

Calley certainly did not come off as a hero. In some treatments, he seemed a decidedly inferior person. About the best any of us in the media could say for him was that he was being singled out for a wrong done by many others as Public reaction to the verdict and sentencing, however, had nothing to do with what the media were saying. It was something beyond analysis. a kind of tribal reflex to the stimulus of the dramatic event.

I. rn a- ay ge Ar to the Editor Letters Taconiess playing fields ar iv. he on he at THE WAREHOUSE OUTLET OF 10,000 BAR. GAINS OFFERS YOU A PARADE OF SPAR. KLING NEW SPRING FASHIONS FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY AT SPECTACULAR SAVINGS OF MORE THAN PDP OFF ITS WIVAlk ORIGINAL 0 CATALOG LIST THIS WEEK AOK FEATURES A REPEAT OF A SELL OUT JUST IN TIME FOR EASTER he ise ay nt, tre BOYS' 4-Pc1 10-WAY SUITS CONSISTING OF SPORT COAT REVERSIBLE VEST 2 PAIRS OF SLACKS which boy was theirs.

Yet the coaches are expected to produce winning teams even under the Worst conditions. I am not saying -sports should take preference over academic needs, but sports are important to our children. There is much to be learned from competing, yet the city is willing to give so 'little. If these same children were drug addicts or juvenile delinquents the city would spend thousands of dollars to rehabilitate them. What is the city willing to do to keep these boys from giving up in disgust? I was told recently that these kids can't expect to go Cadillac all the time.

It seems to me they're not even going- Volkswagen. Each year a little more is taken away from our sports programs. So the question remains unanswered: When wilt the playing fields at Taconic be finished? Maybe if I'm lucky my grandchildren might get to play on them. (Mrs.) BErry HOVER 137 Jones Ave. Pittsfield THE 10 WAY SUIT SIZES 4-5-6-7 CAT LIST 12.99 ONLY 647 THE 10 WAY SUIT SIZES 8-10-12 CAT LIST 14.90 ONLY 747 A SPECIAL PURCHASE OF To the Editor of THE EAGLE: I have a son interested in playing sports, but I am begin.

fling to wonder if this is a bless, ing or a misfortune. For the last two years I have watched the boys who go out for football, baseball, soccer, hockey, and track under conditions that would stagger the When Taconic High School was built we were told our children would finally have a place of their own to practice and play their games. After two years we are still being told the same thing. No one knows just how long we will have -to Until something is done the boys can use any available mudhole or the school driveway which makes an ideal to throw a javelin and shotput. The football team has to practice on a field that was loaned to them and has no facilities except for a generous amount of mud and rock.

Many nights last year the boys came up from the practice field covered with so much mud the parents who were waiting had trouble telling 4. THOSE LIMITED cases of Influence, however, have been blown all out of proportion by two self-interested partie S. "Personalities" in the media, in a fit of narcissism, have come to believe that they can really change opinion if only they become engaged themselves. Certain political demagogues take them at their word, the better to win popular support by attacking the influence of the media. But both the engaged journalists and the Agnewites are wrong.

The fact is that public opinion is created by the slow unconscious thought of great masses of It derives from sources too numerous and obscure to measure. It moves in ways that defy It is an unknown god, and the best way to deal with it iS to show a measure of caution. Quotes There are only places in this league: First place ana no place. Tom as Nets prepared for opener today. The secret of Jewish cooking is to like food.

Morton Silver, New York kosher chef. GIRLS' DRESSES PLAIDS, SOLIDS, MACHINE NO IRON, SIZES 3-1 4. $247 COMPARE 6.99 rs. 1gs of he Leh ch or Ways to alleviate Fenn Street's jam To the Editor ot THE EAGLE: According to a March 30 Eagle Item, which'should have attracted more attention, the Pittsfield Traffic Commission is studying the idea of one-way -traffic on part of Fenn Street. It would be westbound between East and First streets, but remain two-way tween First and North streets.

They arrived at this decision because of complaints of traffic jams in the area of the new post office. Observing the area, one sees westbound cars trying to make left turns into the P.O. mall to use its eight parking spaces. If 'there is no vacancy, they just wait in the street till there is room; by then, cars are lined up in both directions. Cars going east also wait to get into the parking mall, holding up traffic instead of using the free 15-minute parking spaces on Willis and Fenn streets.

It is doubtful that one-way traffic oui Fenn is the solution to this problem. Eliminating left turns into the P.O. mall and from Willis into Fenn may be worth trying first Llyer the commission's idea, drivers wanting to get from North Street into the P.O. parking mall would suffer an annoyance. They'd have to approach from 'East Street, probably via Second Street, and then turn left reaching the P.O.

only to find no parking slot available. Instead of having one-way traffic, lower Fenn Street could be widened for easier two-way travel, and parking, allowed on one side. I'd appreciate any suggestions. They can be-sent to at Mo-- tors. CHARLES VALUSKI 160 Fenn St.

Pittsfield Classroom rights LIEIIS' PLAID SPORT JACKETS lisil1410 I 1111.1110 Fa vim vortolson v. THE EMPHASIS was not upon guilt or innocence or even on whether Colley had been made a scapegoat. The central fact was that Colley was one of ours. He had killed some of theirs. There was a war on and it was essential to hold our side together.

Thus a woman at Ft. Benning shouted after the sentence was pronounced: "He's been crucified. Colley killed 100 Comm uni sts singlehandedly, should get a medal. He stoat be promoted to major general." Another wired the court at FL Benning: "Battles are lost by cowards and deserters. Colley is guilty only of being a soldier." In not so different vein, the commander-in-chief di the yeferans of Foreign.Wars said: "Those Who might be weighing the pros and cons of military' service now have one more reason for not serving." The BUDGET PRICES MACH.

WASHABLE. SIZES 36 TO 42 CAT. LIST 19.99 Men's DOUBLE BREASTED Permanent PRESS BLAZERS CAT. LIST $29.99 BUDGET PRICES MACH. WASHABLE.

SIZES 36 TO 42 CAT. LIST 19.99 Men's DOUBLE BREASTED Permanent PRESS BLAZERSCAT. LIST $29.99 Dst ye he Die Lys rd $1197 1 LADIES FUN FASHIONED DRESSES SKIRTS PANTS PANTSUITS COORDI NATES IN STYLES, COLORS AND SHADES THAT WON'T QUIT ALL PRICED TO SAVE YOU A DOLLAR FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND. InnTnie BONUS AO erks, an ce. Four-part appeal To the Editor of THE EAGLE: Having read your publication for the past few months I offer an appeal to the world to shape up so that your editorial writers can remove the earth from their shoulders and have a vacation: VALUES.J JUST ARRIVED n't ve it a as Since 1930 Since 11 1 9 3 0 IR' Ura son ed are like Belchertown, but when read about "appropriated funds returned to the state treasury unused" and "insufficient clothing re-suiting in prolonged nakedness" and "cockroaches crawling over immobile patients" and that "raw has backed up and overflown portions of the infirmary," it makes me furious.

This is punishment of children bordering on cruel and abusive treatment. hope Any questions will be answered. There are people who are trying to help retarded children, but there are some who just don't seem to care. Mrs. J.

A. FARINA Sr. 1526 North St: Pittsfield TABLECLOTHS 247 to PERMANENT PRESS, SOIL RELEASE FOR CARE-FREE ELEGANCE. CAT. LISTS FROM SAO TO MOO SALK PRICED FROM nd on ids art le, 1 is the safe sure way to clean your carpets 81 furniture When furnishings are scrubbed it 'steamed" or shampooed nil or when "do-it-yoursersudsed Ipowdered c9R or sprayed krt muth or all of the grime goes deeper, to breed germs and to seep back to reso-il the surface.

01111ERVIARE 12: MELAMINE -AY TERASWARE. PC. SERVICE FOR I. VALUE 41.98 1. The people in the State of Washington now out of work because of the rejection of SST should.

all rush out and enjoy the clean air they have saved. 1 Man cann'ot live by work alone. 2. All the South Vietnamese and Americans WI Southeast Asia be imthediately murdered by the North Vietnamese so that we can elect George McGovern to the presidency. 3.

President Nixon entrust all the funds of the federal governs ment to Hubert Humphrey so that he may distribute them equitably (noea 4. CBS given, the right to le do a docu ntary on the personal habits and prejudices of President Nixon so that we can all see what a clod he really is. DAVID' ft. COOPER 77 Whittier Ave. Pittsfield When Duradeanbd, soil comes OUT TEXASV1ARE LIELAIIIIIE SERVICE FOR EIGHT 61 PC.

SET PLUS 22 PC. SUPPLEMENTARY $ETa ALL 113 PCS. 41.911 VALUE To the Editor of THE EAGLE: IL. seems today that teachers are expected to be everything except human beings. There, is no argument that out of over 50(1 teachers you Will find some bad teachers).

But what do we do with these teachers once they are reirealep There should be a rule by which a teacher has the right to expel from her classroom (not from school). One of the requirements for removal should be a documented record of thechild'a behavior over a given period of time. documentation should be copies of letters sent to the parents, with the approval of the a r-e-n sSimuld encourage C1111111 SIONEVIARE FLATWARE Laboratory tests showed scrub. bing took out only46as much' I 11. soil as Ouraclean.

Do-it-yourself .1, il ways removed less or NONE. Leading carpet and furniture makers recommend Duraclean i Craftsmen to take the soil OUT tr. andtoprolongthelife of thefab: 2 io rics-and carpetings they make. Edi'torial pages' In House Beautiful, i pAREpasy Parings' Magazine, '''r I 1 1,447:, House Garden, i McCall's commend 1 Duraclean. 10M111.1!!!!v!!!,!!lly9,?,!!!,1qp,mirimly.,!!!!!!!!!ipromiTiogli!v 1111 i 1, 9 i 4.

i 1 1: 1, i ii 2 411i .1 "vi :11 IN iiiiiithigifkindiNdilutdihmilb Readersgnd writers To the Editor THE EAGLE: Miss Dohoney's 4th grade c1as8 at Pomeroy wrote letters to authoress Anne Nolen We had read a story which 'she. wrote in our 4th grade reader and grew interested in Miss Clark's work. We read some of her other books as well. We had some questions inch Miss DohOney could not tinswetsowedecided-- to writ-d--- letters to -Miss Clark complimenting her on her stories and asking our questions. Our teacher mailed the letters and last week many of us got replies from 'Miss Clark.

We are now going to Write thank you notes. It was quite a thrill to hear from one of the people who write Our stories! MARY BETH HEBERT 195 Churchill St. Pittsfield Vok OF ORIGINAL LIST ALL SLASHED TO LESS THAN' Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mon.

thro $AS MEMORIAL SPRINGFIELD, JUST EAST OF THE SIG I 5 11005AC ADAMSCORNER LYMAN PITISFIELDI We reserve the right to limit quantities! Chock Atm other For sintiki nd Belthertown queries To the Editor of THE EAGLE: I am writing in regard to your March 26 story on Belchertown. I can't understand why this information wasn't brought out We have people talliing about air pollution and the war; they want things done now to stop them. But the retarded children? Not all schools for the retard No soaking or scrubbing. Dull colors revive pile rises fabrics enliven. 7 ON-LOCATION SERVICES include: soil retarding, mothproofing, replacing carpet tufts, fire resistance, control of carpet static, stain removal.

Worldwide. i MACLEAN FABRIC SPECIALIST theft' Children to stand up for their right, but parents should 'kis() be sure that their children have a clear 'understanding of the rights of others. DOROTHY R. AMOS 82 Demont Ave. Pittsfield JILi PIVERO 442-5251 AOK is a division of SIGNETBETTER HOMES CLUB PLAN Shop where the Cadillac Volkswagen park side by side.

Aft A I i.al mai.