PAGE 10-PLAINDEALER-WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 1973 EDITORIALS Amnesty Or Clemency :\ " -- . -- -- - -- - • Writing in United States Naval Institute Proceedings (April issue), Roy L. Beavers sheds welcome light on the question of amnesty or clemency for draft dodgers who fled this country to evade military service during the Vietnam War. Beavers points out that draft dodgers abroad are, in ^some-casesrinolivated by a political goal of forcing the President and the country to admit the Vietnam war was wrong and that they, therefore, were right. That explains a press conference a group recently held in Canada, in which they rejected a proposal by Senator Bob Taft of Ohio (and others) that they be allowed to return if they agree to serve the nation in some capacity for three years. Rightly, President Nixon refused to indulge in self-re crimination of the nation, which is what the Communists seek, and refuses to grant an amnesty which totally ab solves draft dodgers and condemns the nation. The truth is that the draft dodgers are wrong regardless of whether the Vietnam war was a mistake or not. They disobeyed the law of the land and fled the country to avoid the legal con sequences--punishment. Those who went to jail in behalf of their moral convictions were willing to pay the price for breaking the law of the land and are far more deserving. There is, however, a case to be made for generous mercy, not out of self-recrimination but out of this country's hu manitarian tradition. This would allow those who disobey- -- ed the law and fled the country to return. They would be tried and when found guilty the President would grant them clemency as a matter of national policy. That would keep the record straight and not insult those millions who obey ed the law and did their duty--nor would it treat lightly and (or) irresponsibly the sacrifice in Vietnam of so many American servicemen and their families. "I don't think we should wait around for the mailman. Just under the time schedule it says BUY WAR BONOS- KEEP 'EM FLYING!" cmi wwss IN U.S. CITIES I Social Security Tax Poor Schools A second state supreme court has ruled that children in tax-poor school districts are being deprived of a constitu tional right to equal opportunity. Following California's top court, the New Jersey Supreme Court recently found that state's school financing unconstitutional. The New Jersey ruling is of wide interest because the Supreme Court only recently refused to intervene in a Texas case on the same question because it held education to be a state responsibility. There is nothing in the high court's ruling, however, to prevent state supreme courts from act ing; now two of them have. The message to the states which seems to be becoming rather clear is that all school districts within a state may soon be required to offer a comparable educational oppor tunity. That will be easier to achieve than equalization of educational opportunity on a national scale, which some had sought, and a growing number of state legislatures and state courts are certain to face this question in the near future. Picasso Reflections The recent death of Pablo Picasso was the occasion for another deluge of print and comment of the life and work of the artist. Undoubtedly he was prolific and talented, in many art forms, but just how talented he was, and whether his influence was good or bad, only cultural evolution will tell. He was financially successful, a genius in obtaining publicity, a brilliant artist in several areas. But the major, novel thrust of his painting--cubism--still produces mixed reactions. The widely-heralded claim is that cubism opened up a whole new field of painting, etc. The question is-- was it for better or worse? The world of art is a nebulous, iffy thing. Do most of us want grim messages, shock and terror in paintings? One doubts it. Rather,one suspects, most people seek serenity, restfulness, peace and beauty in the painting art, and proo- ably rightfully so. Picasso was loved by many because he steadfastly op posed dictator Francisco in Spain, his native country. Like Hemingway, he was among those in the thirties who longed for a democracy in Spain. The King had abdicated in 1932 and a republican form of government instituted. Apologists for Franco now claim the republican government was Communist-dominated but that was not true at the time of Franco's revolt--witness the book on those years by the American Ambassador in Madrid. Picasso understandably never forgave those who over threw democracy in Spain; he, of course, had lived in France since just after the turn of the century, so the cost of this stance to him was not great. If Picasso's shock and terror cubism is to survive, or should, one can't finally say; but it can be said finally that Picasso could also produce beautiful classical paintings, sculpture and other widely admired works of art. It can also be said that his influence on painting was perhaps the greatest of any individual in recent years, certainly enough of a tribute for any man. WHAT HAPPINESS IN SCHOOL DEPENDS UPON Much of your child's hap piness in schopl will depend on his ability «to get along with other children. Sociability requires practice. Take him to the playground and let him make his own friends among the children there. It is in this way that your child learns life's most valuable lesson: how to get along with other people. Sound discipline at home makes it easy for your child to accept the discipline of the school. Remember always that your child, however tem peramental he may appear at times, really wants his world to be orderly. Don't demand too much too soon. Every child has to feel absolutely secure in his parent's love before he can be coached into bold behavior. Here is how authorities on mental health put this point about security and protection first and independence af terward: Security. Every child needs to know that his home is a good safe place he can feel secure about, that his parents will always be on hand, especially in times of crisis when he needs them most, that he belongs to a family or group; that there is a place where he fits in. Protection. Every child needs to feel that his parents will keep him safe from harm, that they will help him when he must face strange, unknown, and frightening situations. Independence. Every child needs to know that his parents want him to grow up and that they encourage him to try new things, that they have con fidence in him and in his ability to do things for himself and by himself. "How can I help my child succeed in school?" parents Sheriff Report (FOR MARCH) ABANDONED VEHICLES ANONYMOUS CALLS ASSAULT BURGLARY DOMESTIC TROUBLE DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED DISORDERLY CONDUCT EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FATALITIES (OTHERTHAN TRAFFIC) FORGERY FOUND ARTICLES LIQUOR VIOLATIONS LOST ARTICLES MENTAL MISSING PERSON MURDER (ATTEMPTED) NARCOTICS OTHERS OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE ROBBERY SEX OFFENSES SUICIDE (ATTEMPTED) SUICIDE SUSPICION THEFT THEFT-AUTO TRAFFIC VANDALISM WEAPONS MISCELLANEOUS INVESTIGATIONS TOTAL OFFENSES REPORTED May, 1973 ask. And what they wouldn't give for a sure-fire answer! There are ways, but none of them is magical. It takes care, conscience, and a steadfastly constructive attitude. A first step is to cultivate your own positive outlook on things, your own freedom from fear. That first day of school takes courage on the part of your child, and courage grows by what it feeds on. You begin long before kin dergarten: Beware of being too stern and strict about such things as eating, sleeping, toilet training, and so on. In a relaxed at mosphere, the child trains himself in these ways. Go light on scoldings, go heavy on praise. Never condition your love for him. Never say " M o t h e r w i l l l o v e y o u i f . . . " A child can't improve unless he is loved "as is." Talk out his fears -- of thunderstorms, dogs, strangers - and, of course, be completely calm yourself. Don't be overambitious for him; he may fear that he will never meet your demands. Avoid family quarrels, which stir up a child's greatest fear; that he may lose the security of his home. Send a happy child to school. 16 8 6 49 47 3 7 9 5 1 19 5 23 3 6 1 6 25 32 1 1 2 2 40 33 4 40 46 2 61 503 Spring's last born darling, clear-eyed, sweet, Pauses a moment, with twinkling feet, And, gold locks in breezy play. Half teasing and half tender to repeat. Her song of "May." -Susan Coolidge. The month of May contains many memorable dates. There's the celebration of May Day, held in many colleges and schools, and the custom of electing May Queens. The cus tom probably began in England, as a survival of the Roman festivals. The Battle of Manila Bay was fought on May 1st, 1898. That battle won ascendancy for the United States' fleet against the Spanish in the Asiatic theater and is remember ed for Dewey's famous order, "You may fire when ready, Gridley." Many Americans will remember the sinking of the liner Lusitania, which occurred May 7th, 1915, which did much to turn sentiment in the United States against the Kaiser's Germany in World War I. World War II in Europe ended May 8th, 1945. The first transcontinental railroad was completed on May 10th, 1869, meeting at Promontory Point, Utah. The annual observance of Mother's Day, of course, falls on the second Sunday, and dates from 1907. Miss Anna M. Jarvis, of Philadelphia, is responsible for gaining national acceptance of the day, although Miss Mary T. Sasseen, a Kentucky Schoolteacher, probably arranged for the first ob servance of the day, in 1906. Question: I'm retired. I read that starting January, 1973, I can earn $2,100 a year and still get my full Social Security payments. Is there any chance that this amount will be in creased in the future? Answer: Yes. Recent changes in the Social Security law provide that, as future earning levels rise, the amount people can earn and still get Social Security benefits will also rise. The first automatic increase in the Social Security retirement test cannot, however, occur until 1975. Question: I'll be 72 next April. I'm still working and I plan to continue. I know that after I'm 72 I'll get my Social Security no matter how much I'm earning, but will the pay I get in 1973 before my birthday affect my payments? Answer: You'll get your full benefits starting with the month you become 72, no matter how much you earn. In addition, under recent changes in the Social Security law, only earnings you have before you become 72 count in figuring what benefits are due you for months in 1973 before you are 72. So you can earn as much as $2,100 next year during the months before you're 72 and still get your full Social Security payments for those months as well as the rest of the year. If your earnings exceed $2,100 during the months before you are 72, $1 will be withheld KiidwiJ" # SlHt AWsatRcr Why does a weather change so often affect the sinuses or the ears? When the weather changes, the pressure also changes as a uslial thing. When a clear spell comes to an end and rainy, low-pressure weather begins, those who experience ear or sinus trou ble often experience dis comfort. This is because there are pockets of air in our head, or sinuses, which-^become blocked off. The pressure from your benefits for those months for every $2 you earn above $2,100. Question: When my brother recently applied for monthly Social Security disability payments, he was told there was a six-month waiting period with the first benefit check payable after the end of the seventh month of disability. But I read that the Congress shortened this waiting period. Is this true? Answer: Yes, the recent changes in the Social Security law shortened the waiting period for disability benefits by one month, so that the first check will be payable after the end of the sixth month of disability. This change goes into effect January, 1973. WHY ARE THEY CALLED GRAPEFRUIT. MR., HUH? THEY ARENT PURPLE...THEY D0NT; LOOK LIKE GRAPES... THEYARENT HOOKED TOGETHER LIKE GRAPES* THEY DON'T TASTE LIKE •KNOCK OFF PHE STUPIP| QUESTIONS, KIR NO* RUN ALONG ™toU,T gm 6fi4PE"R?diT 1 inside becomes greater than outside when the barometer falls (and a low-pressure system arrives overhead) and expands the pockets. A doctor will open them up, or equalize the pressure. The eustachian tube in the ear is a natural safety valve to allow air in and out of the ear. If it 's closed by a swell ing or a bad cold, then you risk puncturing your ear drum if you fly at a high altitude. WHO KNOWS? 1. How old will Queen Eliz abeth of England be this month? 2. When will the first Skylab be orbited? 3. Name the state bird of Texas. 4. What is the electrical power of a lightning flash' ' 5. When did World War II end in Europe? 6. In what novel did Robin Hood appear? 7. What is the Mauna Loa? 8. When did the battle of the Coral Sea take place? 9. Identify "Old Ironsides." 10.How Many Democratic Presidents have there been since 1865? Answers to Who Knows •uosuqof -q pUB Apau -ua)i 'ui3iunjjL 'liaAasooH •0 'uosiim '(siuja? Z ) p u B j a A a j o " u a A a s ' O I •saAiioiuoooi iixnq -UBOiJauiv }SJTJ am jo auo '6 'Z f61 *^W "8 •iibmbh jo pUBJSl am uo pa^ooj'ouboioa y ' L ,/aoq -UBAi„ s4?ioos Jail^M JiS "9 *5*61 '8 Abw -q •sjnoti ibmoih 000*8 jo luajBAinba pa^iuiisa uy •pjiq§UT>|OOLU aqj, •£ t o w ' Z •}si£ judy 'uaAas-AjJoj CANCER DEATHS HIGH WASHINGTON-The Na tional Center of Health Sta tistics reports last year's cancer mortality rate was 166.8 per 100,000 deaths, compared with 161.4 a year earlier. This was a 22-year high. SHOES & DRIVING PHILADELPHIA - The Keystone Auto Club's safety director has urged a recall of women's platform shoes, saying they "could cause more highway accidents than bald tires." THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT CONSERVING ELECTRICITY Some simple arithmetic can help you find the best window air conditioning unit for your needs. When you buy a window air conditioner, you Want a unit that's not too big or too small. You also want to get the most cooling per kilowatt. First, you have to know how large a unit you need. A unit's capacity is based upon the amount of heat it can remove in an hour. This heat is measured in Btu's (British thermal units). In a normal home under regular usage, figure that it generally takes 18 Btu's per hour to cool one square foot. So, an 18,000 Btu unit can cool 1,000 square feet of space. A 12,000 Btu unit can cool about 660 square feet; a 9,000 Btu unit 500 square feet and so on. It's important to avoid oversizing. After determining the size you need, compare the operating efficiency of different units. The higher the operating efficiency, the more economical the unit. All the information you need is printed on a metal plate attached to the unit. Every unit has one somewhere. Tips on buying a window unit are included in our free booklet "101 Ways to Conserve Electricity at Home." For your copy, write Commonwealth Edison, Department AV, P. O. Box 767, Chicago, Illinois 60690. Commonwealth Edison c o n c e r n l o r y o u r t o t a l e n v i r o n m e n t