The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • Page 4

Eri'cfrrtmtPage 4 The Lincoln Star Thursday, January 3, 1974 EVENTS IN PERSPECTIVE WILMAM 0 DOBLER The new year started nght out with bad news, in the form of Israeli election returns showing Premier Golda Meir losing ground to right-wing and hard-line interests with whom her party will now have to build a coalition menu It could have been worse but it is bad enough the way it is At this point in time, we simply fail to understand Israeli hard-liners, those who want to make no accommodation with the Arab nations. In almost every way you look at it, the time is right for Israel to begin returning to Arab nations the lands the Jews took in the 1967 war and the war of last October. There is a risk involved here but indications from Arab leaders have been that the risk is less now than it has been at any time since the end of World War II No longer does Arab policy seem to rest on an unequivocal destruction of the entire state of Israel. Finally, there seems to be hope that if new borders can be agreed to in the Middle Fast, there is a good chance of their becoming permanent and both Arabs and Jews living in relative security The risks in the alternative course of action appear ominous to us for Israel. There is every indication that this nation, through Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, has committed itself to a policy of returning conquered lands to the Arabs.

Arab leaders are quite correct in pointing out that U.S. policy has always favored the return of land taken by military force. Now, it appears to be time for Israel to return the land she took by force, regardless of the initial justification of that seizure. That fact that this is now the official U.S. position makes the development all the more incumbent upon the Israeli nation.

The U.S., it would seem, is no longer going to support Israel in its protection of the Arab lands it holds. Without that support, there is no way that Israel could continue to hold that land If Israel should lose the land by Arab action, it may lose far more than it might have to surrender at the bargaining table in Geneva. This nation will stand bv its commitment, we believe, for the preservation of Israel but not an Israel that lives by military conquest. The U.S. commitment is good only to the point of Israel existence along lines roughtly the same as those prior to the 1967 war Israel seeks to retain all of Jerusalem and at least a buffer zone in the Golan Heights and in the Sinai It may be able to salvage most of what it feels it must have if it is willing to return the vast areas that are not essential to it under terms of guaranteed mutual sovereignty in the Middle East.

If such a settlement would finally fail, then the ultimate threat to the survival of Israel would be a matter of obvious concern to the U.S. But it is wrong to constantly assume the worst, regardless of circumstances. Without a substantial return of conquered land, Israel faces the sure threat of continued warfare with her Arab neighbors. Surely, this cannot be the kind of choice that the people of Israel want to make. In the long-run, that choice represent the greatest threat to the Jewish people.

The Middle East is ripe for a new beginning, we believe, and it would be tragic if past animosities were permitted to destroy this hope The Israeli elections are a threat to that hope but may yet not prove to be a fatal blow The trust that now seems possible in the Middle East needs to be tested with bold and new initiatives for peace. RICHARD L. WORSNOP The New-Time Religions Gaining Many Converts Arabian Nights LA VERNA HASSLER Patchwork Prairie Country Planning For Long-Term Shortages With the necessary fuel supplies restored by the new fuel allocation program, the City Council this week told the Lincoln Transportation System to restore much of the service it cut back in November when the fuel pinch was felt here. While we might quarrel with a decision to not fully restore service, the step taken this week was indeed welcome. The council also authorized LTS to apply for federal funds to buy 15 new regular buses and four minibuses.

Ten of the 15 coaches would replace old equipment while five of the additional buses would be used to handle ndership which has increased because of the energy crisis. Accompanying the order to restore service and to make application for the money for new equipment was a suggestion that LTS, if it has not already done so, develop a long-range plan for providing service if the energy picture remains the same. As alternative methods of transportation such as public bus systems and railroads are depended on more and more and there is less of a reliance on the private car, such long-range planning is necessary. There will have to be adequate planning for future, for example. The various segments of Amtrak will have to keep up with equipment demands and keep their rolling stock in good working order as more and more people take to the rails.

While mechanical failures in old equipment is to be expected and while inclement weather is a factor in keeping to schedule, there is little excuse for a failure to plan for replacing equipment or for not keeping to schedule during good weather, which is the case with many of the Amtrak routes. Perhaps Congress will have to step in with a heavier public investment or take a stronger hand in running the railroad system. The stalled trains in Galesburg and Denver over the holidays tend to indicate that Amtrak is a long way from where it needs to be if it is to become a first-rate, dependable travel alternative. We were surprised to see a wild duck struggling over a snow bank in our yard one day when we drove into the yard after the last heavy snow we had in our area. It was soon evident the bird had a broken wing at least an injury of some sort since it was attempting to get airborne with little success.

The day was frigid cold and heavy snow covered the usual weed and grain seeds such fowl live on through the winter. I had The Farmer catch the poor creature so I could care for it until it recovered enough to be set free again. I would have attempted to run the duck down but the overshoes I wear would be of no value in the deep snow. I could visualize myself bogged down in a deep drift crying for help while the duck escaped As I suspected, the wing had been shot and torn by some hunter, tearing some of the long feathers from the flesh that are most useful in flying. It was a hen, quite docile when caught, not making one ducky quack.

We put it into a large box, covered it with a screen and began feeding it. It had quite a choice bird seed, shelled corn, finely chopped apple and potato peelings, crushed egg shells and plenty of water. The corn and egg shells disappeared each time I added them to its feed pan but the bird seed was not so well liked Within two days the duck began to quack a sign I took to mean that it decided it liked the new way of life. Each day I checked its wing and could see new mending taking place. Not only that but it began to tlap the injured wing as if to say, almost ready to return to the pond and my After a week of care.

The Farmer put it in the tractor and drove to the patch of milo that has never been harvested. There it would have an ample supply of food and some protection until it decided to join the flock under its own power. It was not an earth-shaking episode but few things are when you live peacefully on the farm and have a close kinship with the wild life about you. Perhaps it is an elusive form of happiness that we derive from our anchors to the soil and with the birds and beasts about us all the time both tame and wild that adds another dimension to our lives and leaves a warm glow at the end of day. ir Now that the pendulum has swung back again for the beginning of another new year, I hope for a better year to come.

I am not thinking in terms of more gas and oil, more luxurious products, more ease of labor that makes one forget the value of a work or more leisure for pursuing more evil, but the strength to accept adjustments that may come with the new year. For we of the older generation who know what it is to have one familv car to be shared by one and all and then shared sparingly know what it is like and can adapt readily. We know how to content ourselves within the confines of a home and make our own entertainment and develop our own talents. Solitude and quiet pleasures have been our lot. But those who have never known what it is like to live without leaving the house every night to drive endlessly just for the sake of driving and doing something to keep from being bored, or playing games with danger of death just for the sake of excitement will find the adjustment very difficult.

There will have to be a for it is almost too late to realize what our folly has been on this earth and there can never be an endless supply that make for what many people think is the good life. Things can never be as they have been. I would wish for the dignity of law to be upheld by all of us and the ability to adjust to a new way of life with perhaps more satisfaction though less "candy in each of our days. If we try it, we may bke it. Letters To The Editor Brevity letters is requested But length in itseit will have no Oeanng on publication Writers are that need less details and repetitious matter will be edited out of letters Too frequent contributions from one person on the seme sub iect may be reiected All letters must be accompanied by the writer's true name but may be submitted tor publication under a pen name or initials However, letters will be printed under a pen name or initials at the editor's discretion Cutting Down On Murder Detroit, which has the sad distinction of leading the cities in murder per capita, had over 750 homicides List year.

During the first hours of 1974. there were four murders in Detroit and double that number in New York City, where the per capita homicide rate is only slightly lower. As is the case elsewhere, over half the people murdered in Detroit last year were shot to death. The typical murder grew out of an argument between people who knew one another In many of these cases, experts agree, had there been no gun at hand, there would have been no death. Outlawing handguns will not wipe murder out of the hearts of people and certainly it will not keep weapons out of the hands of people who respect the law.

But it would probably save a lot of lives. Students of behavior are in general agreement with policemen that many avoidable murders would never have happened had the gun not been there to inflate egos and excite passions. The statistics from cities such as Detroit speak persuasively in favor of a ban on handguns except for law enforcement personnel, collectors or other authorized people. Lasting Friendship Lincoln, Neb. Back in the late two young lads entered Lincoln High School.

They may have been friends before, but soon they were best friends or "bosom A year or so later, a girl came into the picture. She thought one of the lads, Bob, by name, was The friend, Terry remained. They graduated together Bob went into the Navy Terry because of a heart condition was left behind. Bob and the girl were married and the three remained close fnends. Terry met and then after their marriage, there were four friends.

Bob and Terry worked together, attended the WASHINGTON The toughest question in trivial quiz is, What do Mia Farrow, the Beatles, and Henme Davis have in common0 Answer The actress, the former rock group and the ex-anti-war activist all were or are disciples of Indian mystics. And they had, and have plenty of company Farrow and the Beatles were followers, for a time, of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, leader of the Transcendental Meditation Society. Davis is the best- knowTi convert to the teachings of Guru Maharaji Ji, the 15- vear-old "perfect master of the Divine Light Mission Here is a nugget from the From Guru Maharaji Ji," issued by the Divine Light Mission "See, peace is not a bird, peace is not an apple that grows on a tree, neither is peace two fingers. Peace is within inside of us Now let us turn our attention to Dr. Sun Myung Moon, the Korean-born leader of the Unification Church.

followers were barnstorming U.S. cities at about the same time that the legions were shipping up support for Millennium Moon, however, preaches a basically Christian message. What it boils down to, according to Newsweek, is that faithful will enter the Kingdom of God in family units, which makes his religion hell on ft it It would appear that "A surge toward religion is under way in the United States Great numbers of persons seem to be looking for a spiritual anchor to give meaning and purpose to their lives The quotation is from Editorial Research Reports in 1955 Two decades ago, the national news media devoted considerable space to the ben believed to be under way President Eisenhower had instituted the annual White House Prayer Breakfast, and church membership was mounting steadily. Then came the social tumult of the 1960s. and the religious revival faded into the background Even nuns, priests, and ministers took to the streets.

Organized religion seemed passe But need for spiritual solace could not be denied indefinitely. In the 1950s, many Americans sought peace of mind in the sermons and writings of the Rev. Norman Vincent Peale. A decade later, the search led to such Eastern religions as Hinduism, Zen Buddhism and the Baha'i faith. The current religious revival has by no means bypassed Christianity Thousands of young and not so young people have been caught up in the "Jesus Prominent among them is former White House aide Charles W.

Colson "I think I realize now," Colson told a Washington Post reporter, "that your abilities as an individual are much more limited than I believed them to be before and. if you have a relationship with God, that enables you to call upon Him for the strength that you otherwise try to summon out of one miserable body newfound faith lends support to social philosopher Erich assertion that, "There is still a moral residue in America composed of our religious and humane tradition in which the proper goal of society is to serve its members. It is a good society, a democratic society, which offers a religious or ethical vision of itself and sees itself also as a power for good in the Amen. Out. by Rejwrch Reports TOM WICKER Agenda For The New Year NEW YORK As a new year begins, members of Congress are finding that the home folks are not necessarily more interested in impeaching Richard Nixon than they are in the shortages of gasoline and fuel oil.

That is mixed news for Nixon; it may mean less impeachment pressure for the moment, but the more unpopular he is on any ground, the easier it will be for Congress to impeach him on Watergate grounds As the numerous trials of his ex- subordinates begin, moreover, a daily flow of Watergate headlines, and perhaps revelations may well keep the impeachment issue vigorously alive. Nevertheless, whether or not Nixon is impeached, whether or not he is removed from office, many of the basic pioblems disclosed by the Watergate matter and all its unsavory links will remain. As Charles Mathias of Maryland put it in a notable Senate speech on Dec. 20: discoverv of the Watergate burglary aid bare a much larger threat t- jur basic rights The intensif of the problems that have Ljset us have caused serious men to consider seriously whether democracy can survive or whether national security as narrowly defined will supersede the One step to prevent that from happening has been taken already congressional passage over veto of the War Powers Act its limitations, the measure is still due notice to him and to his successors that neither Congress nor the public want any more presidential wars, decided upon in secrecy and carried out.rin duplicity. And if presidents cannot so easily make war as a matter of presidential policy, they cannot so easily create among Americans a wartime mentality the spirit of "anything goes" in the name of victory.

Much more remains to be done; Congress is the arena; the new year is the time, while the shocking disclosures of 1973 are fresh in memory and before a change of parties or presidents or both however such a change might come about creates the illusion that the problem has been solved. It is as important to correct the situations of which the Nixon men took advantage as it is to bring the guilty to trial perhaps more so. First, there must be thoroughgoing review and, where necessary, shakeup of the vast national security apparatus that has grown up outside the armed forces during the cold war period. The Nelson-Jackson bill to establish tight congressional supervision over any and all government agencies engaging in any kind of domestic political surveillance is an excellent example of what needs to be done. Congress needs also to follow up on the pledges of torney General-Designate William B.

Saxbe and the new I. director, Clarence Kelly, to cooperate in developing clear statutory guidelines for the I. in any political surveillance it undertakes; these guidelines ought specifically to prevent the from using its counter-espionage mission as an entering wedge into the surveillance of domestic political dissent. The I A. ought not to escape the same tough scrutiny; in the age of detente and the opening to China, does it any longer really need a "department of dirty particularly when we have seen how easily that techniques and attitudes can be perverted into domestic political tactics? Senator Mathias also is proposing legislation that would prevent any exceptions to the First, Fourth, Fifth and Ninth Amendments unless carried out inder federal court orders issued only upon a showing of probable cause of a crime to be committed.

That would bar any form of wiretapping, for example, except under court order. At least two substantial institutional reforms are needed and are within the political power of Congress to accomplish quickly. The power of Senate confirmation ought to be extended to nominees to powerful offices created by presidents by executive order; it makes no sense and tends to close a posedly open government for a Domestic Council director, an O.M.B, director, a national security assistant all in jobs created by Nixon and not confirmed by the Senate to have more authority than the constitutional officers of the cabinet, who must be confirmed. The other reform is for Congress to put its own house more nearly in order by establishing budgetary machinery that will enable it to be an active partner with the presidency in developing coherent budgetary policy. Without such ability, Congress will never regain anything like equal status with the executive branch a balance the country needs if it is to sustain a system of divided and therefore limited government.

Reforms in campaign finance are of at least equal importance, but are not as easily defined or arrived at; probably no more complex issue will face Congress in the new year. That is no excuse for the legislators not to grapple with it, at long last. Since the new year is also an election year, the people themselves can if they will exert some pressures on these and other questions. It is easy enough to turn back on politics in the bitter conviction that all politicians are bad; the harder truth is that no government will ever be much better than the people it represents. (c) lUjv York Service university.

They finally settled with one firm and remained 17 years. They owned a boat and the families enjoyed water sports. They became pilots. The four attended football games, going long distances to cheer Big Red. Like Irving song, they were friends not for just an hour, not for just a day, not for just a year but always.

Last April after persistent headaches, Bob had a physical checkup and a tumor was found on his lung. On Easter Sunday he was taken to Houston. Texas, for an operation. His brother-in-law was with them for a week, then Terry came to relieve him and to look after Bob and his wife, to see that they made the trip home safely. Cobalt treatments were given and he seemed to be getting on fine until August.

A blackout and his arm and leg were paralyzed. More cobalt and faith in God gave him the use of his limbs, but he gradually grew worse. Through all this, Terry was with him constantly. Christmas night Bob was rushed to the hospital, where we were obliged to say goodbye. Bob Robert Finley has been my adored son-in-law for 21 years.

Terry the devoted friend is Terry Jones. Our world would be so much better if there were more such friendships. MRS. WILBUR THOMAS January 1 have your cook-outs, take your rides of pleasure and do much as millions of others will do. With the comihg of winter again, you will take care to preserve your plants and will clear the walks and driveway of snow.

"All the while, the many gaps you mention will go unattended. So again will come December and the spirit of Christmas. But then, too, will come another January 1. "Is the right or wrong of anything so great or so precious as family? You have your telephone number. Call her.

Call now and by so doing, it could possibly be that you will never have need for a January 1 again. Love, Brother R. JAY New Name Lincoln, Neb. I think an appropriate name for New Day would be "Drunkards' It really bothers me to know that on the last day of the year, you have to go out and get smashed, knowing that you will regret it the next day, and the only thing you will have accomplished is making a total ass of yourself. I wish people would pull their heads out and realize how much fun life can be without having to rely on something to get you going and possibly stop you permanently.

I'm really sorry that way. GERARD A SCHMIDT Lincoln, Neb. The following letter was written in response to a note on a Christmas card. The note said, in part. "The holidays make me aware of family sentiment.

I am always glad when they are over. Too many The answer: "Dear Sister: It is sometimes necessary to be unkind in order to be loving but better that than not loving at all. Enveloped, perhaps even overwhelmed by the spirit of Christmas, you wish for an end to it. Take heart. Your affliction is only temporary.

for after the many cheery greetings, the many hugs and kisses, the exclamations and finally the grand finale of New Eve, you will awake January 1 much the same as you were. During the year to come, you will probably replace a broken window, root out dandelions and weeds, maybe paint your house and buy a piece of furniture or two to replace the worn. You will mow your lawn, Required Reading Crete, Neb. Everyone has a nght to his own opinions, but I was very disturbed to see that Gary Bell Dec. 29 Star) would condone the use of four-letter words, profanity and other obscenities that were used so frequently in a book that was read in school.

With this kind of thinking, it is not surprising that the morals of so many are rapidly decaying. If these young people wish ta read a book such as this, they have every right to do so, but for a teacher to expect them to read it is in very poor taste and certainly not a credit to their intelligence. sure there must be books that are much more suitable for a classroom than "The Learning and anyone who would commend a teacher for using such objec- tional material must have a confused outlook. CONCERNED TAXPAYER THE LINCOLN STAR Published by the JOURNAL-STAR PRINTING CO. 926 Lincoln, 68501 Subscription Prices on Page 2.