The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Pap> 4 NORTHWEST HERALD S»cttonB Thursday, S«pfmbr 26,1*5 Opinion The decline of crime The recently announced drop in the Illinois crime rate is encourag­ ing news. According to figures released by tte Illinois Department of State Police, reports of serious crime dropped 6 percent in 1964. That is the fourth consecutive year that those figures have decreased. » Even more encouraging are the figures which show that crime rates in our area have also fallen. ; McHenry County reported a 10.5 percent decrease, and Kane Coun­ ty showed a decline in serous crime of 6.2 percent. This is not only a area-wide or state-wide decline. Crime rates throughout the nation are dropping. Officials aren't sure what is causing this trend. Some attribute it to the fact that because the na­ tion's population is growing older, the crime rate is dropping. Ac­ cording to studies, most crimes are committed by 16 to 29-year-old individuals. Thus, the "baby boomers" have grown, up. However, subscribing^to^t^at theory would mean that crime can be expected to increase when their children reach the "crime" age. We believe that to be too pessi­ mistic and passive a view. Other authorities believe that stricter law enforcement, ad­ vanced police^echnology, and pub­ lic awareness and crime-stopping education programs have led to the decline in the crime rate. That belief would be more en­ couraging to those of us who be­ lieve that crime can be combated through these methods. To an Albuquerque reader "How many times do we have to be outfoxed by the Soviets, and how many countries have to be taken, before our liberals come to the realization that Russia plays for keeps?" A reader in Albuquerque asks that in a letter taking exception to some of my recent comments on the agony of South Africa. She goes on to provide several examples of liberal errors that have benefited the Soviets: Zimba­ bwe, a one-party Marxist state in­ stead of the multi-racial democra­ cy that was supposed to follow the end of white rule; Vietnam, where premature withdrawal brought a police state and Soviet-style econo­ my; and Sandinista Nicaragua, which is run by a "little politburo." All of these examples are well taken and invite extended debate. But I'll pass in order to focus on a point that is basic to the reader's and my differences in this matter That is the nature of the Ame^em relationship with the problem countries of the non-communist world, and whether our policies toward these nations are ultimate­ ly in our own best interests. We often go awry because we see the Nicaraguas and South Afri- cas as "either-or"' situations. Ei­ ther the status quo has to be main- tained against an internal challenge -- even at the cost of supporting a blatantly repressive regime -- or the prize must be allowed to fall to the Soviets. We tend to overlook the other options that may often exist. These may include identifying and en­ couraging an existing democratic opposition that is more compatible with our principles and that will seek -- and perhaps eventually achieve -- power non-violently. That, of course, is the ideal situa­ tion -- and it exists now, in the Philippines. Or, lacking any constructive in­ ternal leverage, our best policy in the long run could be simply to stand aside, letting an upheaval run its course while publicly tak­ ing a stand for justice and against repression. We would at least have identified our interests with those of the good guys, should any Don Graff emerge when the revolutionary dust settles. A partial example of the benefits from such an approach is Argenti­ na. When a democratic govern­ ment took over two years ago, it made a public point of expressing gratitude for the often derided -- in this country -- human rights policy of the Carter administra­ tion. Pressure from Washington is credited with saving the lives of many "disappeared" Argentines during the years of military terror. There are many more examples of the consequences of the "either- or" approach, and they are not encouraging. In Guatemala and Iran, to take just two, the cures have proved more damaging to our interests than the diseases we thought we were treating. What we succeed in doing, in so many situations in which justified pressure for change cannot forev­ er be denied, is to identify our­ selves with the bad guys. We be­ come a target of the revolution along with a detested regime. In doing so, we make.4teasy for the Soviets to identify with the eventu­ al winning side and to pick up the post-revolutionary pieces. (Actual­ ly, they haven't done all that well at it, but that's a subject for anoth­ er discussion.) It's happening now in the Philip­ pines and in South Africa. It could soon be happening in Zaire, where 20 years ago we foiled the Soviets, putting our man in power. He now ranks among the world's wealthi­ est men, and rules over one of the world's most impoverished peoples. We, too, should be playing for keeps -- or, better, for the long term. In many restive countries, we should be positioning ourselves so that when change comes, as it inevitably will, we are viewed as part of the promising future, not the discarded past. But our government continues to play "either-or." (Don Graff is a columnist for N e w s p a p e r E n t e r p r i s e Association) NORTHWEST HERALD "The income tax has made more liars out of the American people than golf has." Will Rogers ROBERTA SH^W Edi tor and Publ isher LEONARDM INGRASSIA MICHAEL E . MORSCH along dotted. line. Preparing for summer's end SCRABBLE, Va. -- Here in the Blue Ridge Mountains, we are dawdling around in the in- betweens, and there is not much to be said for them. Summer will not quite let go; autumn has only tech­ nically arrived. We are hungry for the tart apple taste of fall. The vegetable garden, which was producing luxuriantly a few weeks ago, is down to a few tomato plants that won't give up. The squash was the first to go, then the miniature cantaloupes. This year we grew cucumbers iri cylindrical wire cages; the things worked well, but now the dead/vines reach through the cages as rorloraly as the hands of prisoners. The pep­ pers and eggplants called it quits a week ago. 1 All of us know people who have "gone to seed." The metaphor is mercilessly accurate. Everything gets shabby at this time of year. The lawn goes to seed and the meadows go to seed, and along the roadside ditch banks even the wildflowers look a little tattered. We have one spectacular wild- flower, known as the Joe Pye weed, that grows 6 feet tall. It supposedly is named for a Chero­ kee who used the plant in treating fever. At this time of year, the Joe Pye weeds are tired old Indians. ,A few other wildflowers are hanging on. There's still some chicory, as blue as a granddaugh­ ter's eyes; we have the tiny white and gold fall asters; there's gold- enrod, of course, and here and there you'll see the pink and white bouncing Bet, as pretty as a spring wedding. Most of the other flowers of summer have disappeared, and the last of the Queen Anne's lace looks as if it ought to go to the laundry. This is a big September for acorns. Last year there were al­ most none, but this year there are JametJ. Kilpa trick .hundreds* and they are giving Happy a Hard time. Happy is the Shetland collie who snoozes on the deck outside the kitchen. Overhead are the branches of a towering chestnut oak. The acorns come down like bombs, and she wakes up yelling, "Who hit me? Where'd he go?" In theory, a big crop of acorns portends a hard winter. Maybe so. The five squirrels that hang around our place have been busy all month. Except for chipmunks, no other animals have come to call. I haven't seen a rabbit in weeks, or a groundhog, or a fox, and only a couple of deer, but 1 had a thrill one morning just after La­ bor Day. I stepped outside about 7 o'clock, and there on the lawn was a wild turkey. He looked as big as an ostrich. I never saw a bird that big, and he had two hens with him. They took off into the woods like a squadron of B-52s. Otherwise there's nothing much to report. The hunting season for doves opened a couple of weeks ago, which meant that half the doves in Rappahannock County took up residence in our hay fields. Before long the maples and hick­ ories and poplars will trade their summer's green for autumn's red and gold. The nights will be crisp and even a little shivery. It's time to cut kindling and to stack fire­ wood in the garage. Be gone, sum­ mer! GoJ ;tu. .) • '.i> : xoii. One of us is going, anyhow. 1 am headed for Japan, partly to do some interviews, but mainly be* cause I've never been there. I want to have a look at Japan's system of public education. It's much tougher than ours. I want to ride that famous train to Kyoto, and I'm promised a baseball game. I haven't had a day off since Jan. 8, and Old Dad is drooping like the Joe Pye weed. By the time I get back, we'll be into October. See you then. (James Kilpatrick is a columnist for Universal Press Syndicate) Reader Forum Execut ive Ed i tor STEVEN H HUNTER Market ing D i rec tor KAREN A ANDROS Saturday Ed i tor News Ed i tor /Reg iona l DENNIS M McNAMARA Edi tor ia l Page Ed i tor RONALD L STANLEY Ci rcu la t ion D i rec tor Airport referendum To the Editor: The Daily Sentinel reports that a move is afoot to hold a referendum on the county airport issue. I am strongly against such an action. Those of us who live in Woodstock are very familiar with the referen­ dum gimmick. Every yea/ we are subjected to a referendum on higher property taxes to provide more money for the schools. Every year it is voted down. And every year the schools go ahead and spend money as though the referendum had passed. This is known as deficit spending which the taxpayers are stuck pay­ ing for whether they like it or not. Even the dullest among us has finally figured out that a referendum is meaningles unless the results agree with the wishes of those in authority. Under the circumstances it seems that a vote on the airport would be a waste of money. I don't think that anyone seriously believes the citizens of McHenry County would endorse construction of O'Hare Junior out here. However, if the referendum runs true to form, it will be voted down and the county board will simply ignore the results and build the airport anyway. It would seem much more sensible to use the referendum money for legal assistance in finding ways to prevent the county board from forc­ ing this unwanted facility on an un­ willing citizenry. Mrs. Ralph R. Obenchain Woodstock Landfill concern To the Editor: My family and I just moved to this state a little over a year ago. Several things were important issues for us to consider for relocating. One important item was a good school system for our children to continue developing and enhanc­ ing their knowledge. Another point for selecting our home was that all four of us noted and appreciated the beauty of nature around the home. We are situated by hills with trees and horses at one end of our block and a small lake at the other end of our block. With the trees and lake God has blessed us with a wide varie­ ty of beautiful birds. If our children took the time to say how pretty this area is, you might know that it is special. How Laidlaw can be considering a so-called landfill -- truly a garbage dump -- is beyond us. Do you honest­ ly feel that the owner of Laidlaw would like to live three blocks away from a garbage dump. A garbage dump that would cause odors, invite unwelcomed pests such as rats, etc. My own garbage each week is a mini- chemical dump. No container I discard is totally empty such as hair spray, shampoo, bleach, car oil, paint cans, oven cleaner, window cleaners, etc. To even consider tak­ ing the risk and chance of con­ taminating our water supply, which a well is less than 500 feet away, is just overwhelming. The safety of all of these families would be endangered one day. Our family won't live here in fear if the dump is allowed. I hope everyone writes to help pro­ tect our families health and even the simple forms of animal lives, such as the birds and chipmunks who dwell in this area with us. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur F. Lambert Kathleen and Michael Lambert Lake in the Hills Fitness - Not vanity To the Editor: I'm incensed! You do your readers a disservice to publish the opinions of a middle-aged, overweight writer who recounts an unfortunate ex­ perience not worth the paper it's printed on. Not only is this irrespon­ sible reporting by a syndicated col- u m n i s t , b u t i n a c c u r a t e a n d misleading! I am referring to Mr. Donald Haul's article recounting his year- . long battle to become fit. Misery i loves company? He will get no sym­ pathy from me. Even a "dumb jock" would investigate the programs and credentials of a club before en­ trusting his body and money to sup­ posed miracle workers! This is simply another case of a sedentary individual, who feeling guilty at the age of 50, with many years (and pounds) of "good living" under his belt, decides it's time to un­ do in a short time what took years of disregard to accomplish. 1 recommend surgery'to achieve those desired Travolta looks. Of course, this is clearly not the aim of a professional fitness facility, but Mr. Kaul seems more concerned with physical appearance than' good health, which is or should be the goal (and result). Education would seem to be paramount here. Armed with the right information and with the supervision of qualified individuals, pain need not be the mainstay of a successful fitness program. Goals accomplished, will make for a more exciting and fullfilling life. Hopeful­ ly, one in which Mr. Kaul could then recall more positive and meaningful causes to write about. U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e r e a r e unscrupulous persons in the fitness industry (as well as any emerging in­ dustry) who would appeal to and seize upon the vanity rather than sanity of people, like Mr. Kaul, who become their willful prey. Just desserts! That's my motto! Donald J. Apelian Crystal Lake