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From: robg@mmintl.UUCP (Robert Goldman)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.religion,net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: The Shame of the President: A Retraction
Message-ID: <347@mmintl.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 26-Apr-85 09:58:53 EDT
Article-I.D.: mmintl.347
Posted: Fri Apr 26 09:58:53 1985
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Organization: Multimate International, E. Hartford, CT
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Charley Wingate writes:

I will not retract one portion, however.  Throughout this whole thing there
has been a notable lack of charity, that most difficult of virtues.  I
myself have been guilty of much.  It seems to me that the 20 SS are a bit of
a red herring.  There is no reason why the visit could be arranged so as to
exclude them from honor.  As for the common foot soldier, I see no reason
not to forgive.  At this late date, we are in no position to judge upon 
their actions in the war, of which we know little anyway.

	It seems to me that the error here was more one of statesmanship
than anything else.  If Reagan had an adviser with a drop of sense, he or
she (the adviser) would have pointed out that this was bound to cause
offense.  Being put in the awkward position of having to defend his action
has caused offense to both the modern Germans, and Jews.  A better solution
would have been to visit Dresden, and lay a wreath for those killed in the
bombing -- they were the Germans victimized by Nazism, not the SS troopers.
	If you'll pardon me, it seems that charity is the red herring, here.
What is at issue is that the actions of the President must be held to a
higher standard than the actions of an ordinary citizen, for he represents
us all in the international community. (ugh! shudder!)

			Robert Goldman
			MultiMate Int'l.

The opinions expressed here are mine, and mine only, blah, blah, etc., etc.
. . .