6A
nion Monday, October 22,1990 * * *
Pentagon Spends Heavily on Recruitment Commercials
Washington Television advertising is a big ex- knight kneels, the king taps him on Turn Back Time." There's no way of streets have been interviewed in a
The Marine Corps is trying to get pense for the Pentagon — $203 mil- the helmet and, voila, the knight is telling how many new recruits were police state where no one is free to
new mileage out of a 4-year-old re- lion this year for all the services. transformed into a 1990sMarine. lured to the Navy by the vision of say anything they wouldn't want
cruitment ad, one of the most expen- Until the knight in shining armor The Pentagon says television is Cher gyrating in what passes for Saddam Hussein to hear According
sive ever produced by the Pentagon came along, ads produced for the its most effective recruitment tool. clothing and straddling a huge gun to our White House sources. Bush
for. television. The ad — a medieval Marines over the years averaged But, instead of telling potential re- on the deck of the USS Missouri thinks the American media has been
fantasy worthy of George Lucas or about $20,000. The most expensive cruits that they will spend months while 150 sailors cheered her on like had.
Steven Spielberg — is now airing for the Marines over the last five sweating in the desert and staring at so many party animals. The Missou-
during Sunday afternoon football years had cost $77,000 to produce. nothing but sand, the ads emphasize ri is now docked in Long Beach, Cal-
The Army tops the Marine dollar the non-military perks of soldiering if. — without Cher — and the Navy is * **
games. MINI-EDITORIAL; A new Gal-
The ad shows a knight in shining figure spent on a single ad, but that — job training, education and world still embarrassed by the fallout from
armor being dubbed by a king. With ad at least has some relation to real- travel. The TV networks classify re- the video. It was so racy that even lup poll says the poorer an American
the help of lightning bolts, the knight ity. It is the $555,046 ad showing a cruitment ads as a public service MTV would not air it until after the family is, the more likely it is to give
bers. He said the ad was designed to generously to charity. Among house-
turns into, what else, one of the few, attract people who have the qualities woman soldier holding down a high- and often give them free air time. junior set had gone to bed.
the proud — a Marine. tech mobile communications post The brass is anxious to get free holds that contribute to charity,
the Marines want. those making less than $10,000 a
during a training exercise. air time any way it can, including
When the ad was produced in For the kind of money the Ma- The Marines' "Knight" ad is the movie-length recruitment tools such * ** year give an average of 5.5 percent
198fr, it cost the taxpayers $355,000. rines spent on the ad, they should best evidence yet that the Pentagon as "Top Gun" and music videos PROPAGANDA OR REALITY: of that to charitable causes. While
Thai year the Marine Corps took in have stuck to reality. The Marines has a Hollywood fixation. The ad filmed on battleships. One Army George Bush is peeved at the Ameri- those making more than $100,000
35,000 recruits, up about 1,200 from sweltering in the Persian Gulf wait- opens with blue lightning bolts com- source told us with pride that actor can media for what he thinks is too give only 2.9 percent. The pollsters
the year before. Recruitment num- ing out Saddam Hussein would have ing out of a sword. Huge wooden Bruce Willis sang the Army's "Be much Iraqi propaganda on network concluded that most wealthy Ameri-
bers dropped in 1987, rose slightly in a hard time identifying with King doors open, and a knight rides his all that you can be" ditty in an epi- TV. The networks have shown foot- cans are downright stingy. It looks
1988 and fell again last year to about Arthur. And the news photos from steed down the long hall of a medie- sode of "Moonlighting." age of well-stocked grocery shelves, like the real philanthropists are
33,000. A Marine spokesman told our the Gulf will speak louder than the val castle. An old monarch waits for We reported last January that rigorous war preparations and anti- scratching to make ends meet. They
associate Scott Sleek that the ser- halftime hype of swords and sorcer- him at the end of the hall, holding Cher finagled the use of a battleship American demonstrations in Iraq. are the ones who understand what it
vice doesn't worry about big num- ers. the sword spewing lightning The and its crew for her video "If I Could Iraqi officials and people on the means to be needy.
WREhffi
Established 1850
DONALD E. HARWOOD WALLACE M. DAVIS, JR.
General Manager Executive Editor
LARRY POWELL REXANNA K. LESTER
Associate Editor Managing Editor
Bringing Up Babies
Georgia allows its private day-care operators But center operators raise a legitimate con-
to keep up to seven infants for each staff worker. cern, even though it is a tad self-serving. A lot of
That's too many. Babie's are labor-intensive. working parents are strapped enough as it is in
That's why child-care experts recommend that a paying for day care. If centers have to hire more
single worker not be responsible for caring for people and pass the extra cost along, then some
more than four or five infants at one time. parents might be forced to use unlicensed homes
The $tate Department of Human Resources, where the care may not be as good.
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had trfafinecT- iflE3Siia3r^'.i0 ':rSiiice,fte
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move is irithe'beslntereWb erf WiTItinal^iy ffsqueeze ttl Taniil^BtMpf "a
But the proposal prompted^an fttftcry lighter -to->pay for -higher -chiicHjare^ ex-
v The^icontend the _ penses^ wto^^^ s __
will* cause them 16 raiW^ilces. ^Irie^ltjit^ Is Considering a compromise. It's
many parents will be forced to place their chil1 willing to delay implementation of the new staff-
dren in unlicensed home care.
There are two issues here. One is an infant's
ing requirements until next September, then
phase them in during the following 12 months. The Challenge of Meeting a Crisis
well-being. The other is economic reality. The DHR board is expected to consider the
Maintaining the l-to-7 ratio should be unac- proposal at its meeting in November. While 21 Editor: find participation exhilarating. It's Armed conflict affords the su-
ptable to anyone who really cares about chil- months is too long a phase-in period — one year The media last month carried nu- an exhilaration that comes from be- preme test of individual courage.
•en. The Children's Defense Fund, which keeps should be more than adequate — giving parents merous articles reminding us that ing in the game "for all the mar- But the same notion is present in
Jose tabs on child-care matters in this country, and center operators some time to adjust to the September marked the 50th anniver- bles." some of man's other endeavors. Ath-
rules is reasonable. Especially while Congress, sary of the Battle of Britain. Once Alan Sheppard revealed part of letes who have played in champion-
gave Georgia poor marks earlier this year on this more we marveled at the exploits of the answer. While being recruited as ship contests know the feeling. So do
count. It reported that 30 states were making pro- which had been considering a measure to help RAF Fighter Command. From Eng- one of the first astronauts, he said, American lawyers who have con-
gress in improving day-care quality, while Geor- working parents handle child-care expenses, has land's ultimate crisis came once "If it isn't dangerous, I'm not inter- ducted trials of important cases.
gia was standing still. other things on its mind. again Winston Churchill's moving ested.'1 Businessmen negotiating transac-
words, "Never in the history of hu- Months before it began, the Bat- tions upon which whole enterprises
man conflict was so much owed by tle of Britain had become a danger- turn experience these timeless re-
A Deserving Honoree so many to so few."
In looking back at the drama,
however, many failed to note that
ous certainty. The fall of France in
May of 1940 and defeat of the British
Expeditionary Force evacuated
flections. The list is longer, the men-
tality the same.
more than 600 foreign pilots volun- A great college coach came close
Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev has and others to foster democracy in nations for- from Dunkirk meant that an un- to expressing it. When Bud Wilkin-
helped bring dramatic changes to his country, merly under Moscow's control. It's also possible teered for RAF squadrons. Volun- checked Adolph Hitler would soon son was asked why he wanted to
to hope that the added prestige will help the Sovi- teers mind you, who elected to fly in turn against England. Fighter pilots
Eastern Europe and the world during the past skies that, as one put, ". . . were everywhere in the West could see
come out of retirement late in life to
five years. He is a deserving recipient of the 1990 et president make fundamental changes in his filled with screaming engines, explo- the wind was up. At the inevitable
coach the St. Louis Cardinals profes-
Nobel Peace Prize. country's political and economic systems. sions, white-hot tracers, burning air- sional football team, he stated, "I
hour, they answered the call. wanted to experience again the in-
Ironically, many rank-and-file Soviets aren't Mr. Gorbachev is the second Soviet to win the planes, parachutes, and death/' Momentous occasions, big
impressed. They are more concerned about seri- Peace Prize. The first was dissident nuclear sci- They came from all over: Aus- events, and crises reach in innate tensity of the moment."
It was Charles DeGaulle, howev-
ous shortages of consumer goods. His govern- entist and human rights activist Andrei Sakha- tralia, Canada, New Zealand, South sentiment in the hearts of coura- er, who, speaking from a record of
ment also is in trouble, coping with political un- rov, who died last December. The two awards Africa, Poland, Belgium, France, geous men: be there when it counts.
and America. It is one thing to serve The antithesis is found in a bronze courageous deeds, struck the vital
rest and ethic strife. show how times have changed in the Soviet vein? Said he: "There is no chal-
Still, the Peace Prize isn't awarded because Union. While Mr. Gorbachev says he will travel one's country in time of war. It is plaque on the wall of the Hotel de
something else to volunteer for ul- Crillon in Paris. Its inscription ema- lenge of more grandeur than the
someone is popular at home. It's given to honor to Oslo to receive the award, Dr. Sakharov could tra-hazardous duty in aid of another. meeting of a great crisis."
someone who has made the world a safer place. not accept it for 14 years — until Mr. Gorbachev, nates from 1589, when King Henry
Why did these flyers migrate IV of France won a bloody victory at Those volunteer pilots of 1940 met
.And Mr. Gorbachev is a logical winner because of 18 months into his administration, finally freed from around the globe to draw their Arques, while his erstwhile friend one of modern history's dramatic
his role in reducing tensions between the super- him from internal exile and allowed him to trav- winged swords and throw the scab- and supporter, Crillon, stayed away. crises. It cost many their lives. But
powers in pushing for arms reductions and for el. bards away? Their motives, no After the battle,. Henry sent word to as a whole they prevailed and pre-
iertmg East Bloc nations exercise some self-de- It also shouldn't be forgotten that it took two doubt, were numerous. Courage has his friend: "Hang yourself, brave sented posterity an unprecedented
ifermination. people to thaw out the Cold War. Mr. Gorbachev multiple motivations. But there are Crillon. We have fought at Arques, "grandeur."
Of course, it's possible to hope that the recog- didn't do it alone. He had plenty of help from those who can sense the gravity of and you were not there." JIM THOMAS
r.;n-jr. will help ongoing efforts by Mr. Gorbachev Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush. an occasion and, despite its dangers.
Mating Olympics, Science
Editor: to the economic base of this commu-
One More Warning About Foreign Words Atlanta and Savannah stand to
gam untold benefits now that these
two cities have been chosen to host
nity. But our technological world
will continue to require ever more
scientists, skilled technicians, engi-
Ye; you have heard me deliver The city fathers of Newcastle, his mind was of "the Mues Argon, the 1996 Summer Olympics. Warm neers, and mathematicians And the
this lecture before, but vvou have not England, had a great idea in June. his last battle." Reporters need to congratulations to all those who Savannah Science Museum will con-
heard it in nearly six months. Mean- As a symbol of a city emerging from develop an abiding sense of unease worked so hard for this outstanding tinue to try to make science interest-
while you have forgotten an admoni- its dark days of coal mining, they about the spelling of foreign places. achievement For two weeks, these ing and challenging to all those it
tion you should have taken to heart.
Today's reminder, one more time,
The proposed to use Andy Capp of comic
strip fame. As followers of the fun-
It's Meuse Argonne, as any standard
reference work on the war would
two cities will be showcases to the
world out of which will come rev-
reaches. Continued community sup-
port makes imaginative science edu-
is; Don't use foreign words or
phrases unless you are certain you
Writer's nies know, Andy Capp is a beer-
drinking, wench-ogling, cigarette-
have informed the writer.
About this same time a year ago,
enues for businesses and govern-
ments involving amounts that I
cation, provocative science exhibits.
and memorable experiences in sci-
have them right smoking, altogether scruffy chap. the National Football League was could not even begin to estimate. ence possible Exciting science mu-
Obedience to this commonsense The idea was to get rid of Andy's just getting into mid-season. The But then I am neither an accountant seums help make good communities.
rule would have saved a Denver James J. Kilpatrick crumpled plaid cap, to comb his Denver Broncos were doing great. nor a city planner. The Summer Olympics will in-
copy editor some embarrassment hair, and to make him a kind of so- Indeed, The New York Times put the I am. however, directly involved deed bring Savannah the "gold" in
last May The Associated Press had ly. it is a relationship of husband, ber, rehabilitated, common man's team on top of the NFL. A writer in with science education. So is all of 19%. Your Savannah Science Muse-
provided a story on the startling de- wife and husband's mistress, or swell the Denver Post explained: "The the staff at the Savannah Science um indeed brings home the "gold
feats suffered by tennis stars Stefan alternatively, husband, wife and Well, the idea went nowhere Times fed various numbers into its Museum. We are directly involved in of science each day of the month.
Edberg and Boris Becker in the wife's lover Newcastle residents howled in dis- trusty computer, and viola, the trying to make science interesting each month of the year, and each
French Open The> were eliminated The last time I saw "menage" so may at the very idea of turning Broncos wound up as the league's and imaginative, challenging and year of each decade as it opens in
by relatively unknown players in the mangled was when a baseball writer Andy into a sissy. Newspapers took top-ranked team " stimulating We are trying in our young minds the exciting world of
very first round Headline in the was discussing a three-way trade up the cry Sponsors hastily killed way to help stem the aversion chil- science to explore
Denver Post Edberg. Becker bid that involved players from Balti- the proposal. Someone thought of Viola 0 The spelling was closer to dren have today to pursuing a ca- CHRISTOPHER J SCHUBERTH
bonjour in Pans more. Boston and New York t o r asking Reg Smythe. the 72-year-old the mark than the spelling in The Se reer in science, mathematics, or en-
Bonjour n Aaargh 1 Edberg and some such American League combi- creator of the comic strip, how he
felt about it Smythe delivered what
guin i Texas i Gazette Enterprise in
July There a writer turned in a light
gineering, a situation assessed as a Out of Control
Becker didn't bid Pans hello good nation i He described it as a menage crisis Editor:
morning or good day They were a trois Mercy' The Portland writer The Miami Herald called the "coup piece ( w h a t the AP used to call a The Savannah Science Museum President Bush and our Congress
saying goodbye, for heaven s sake wanted melange de gras." He said the idea was pre- brite 1 on her doleful experience in has diligently served the children, are w a v out of control w i t h w h a t
If the copy editor were determined Are sportswnters addicted to posterous trying to build a deck by her family families, and other constituencies of t h e y are doing They should be cut
to Frenchify his headline, he needed fractured French 0 A few months The Miami writer was on the swimming pool She and her mother Savannah and Chatham County for t i n g foreign aid and congress' salar>
'adieu" or au revoir nr a ago Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus right track. He was looking for did their best, but the nails were too 36 years Just as the 1996 Summer instead ot gouging the lower-paid
bientot were fighting it out for prize money "coup de grace" i t h e "a" takes a long and their skills were too little Olympics will need your support to people. Social Security and the Med
Wh> do we show off our bad in the I" S Open They had known circumflex i . which is the merciful Then came a rescue 'After we had be a successful event, so t...». does u are program
French n Beats me but ;t happens such battles before Said a writer in stroke that puts a f a t a l l y wounded called it q u i t s and mv brother took the Savannah Science Museum need The\ are h u r t i n g people b\ rais
all the t i m e A frwxi w r i t e r in the the Bridgeport Conn • Post It foe to death What he found was a over, w a l l a h ' Shorter nails suddenlv your continued supp^-t to be suc- mu gas prices VV hen someone men
1 slroke of fat, which was not what he appeared
r^ffland ftrrgnnifir} undertook m rtr- was like de)a vous " Yueorh He cessful in carrying out its mission l i o n s gas prices the price t!oes up i
scribe a rassata an wanted deja v u . ' a sense of some- wanted at all OK. so ' v o i l a ' sounds l i k e w a l After the two weeks of intense, ex- to fixe cents per gallon This is out
a m a z i n g menage nf arnaretto sweet t h i n g previously experienced • The Back in June a w r i t e r for the I a n . but maybe a simple • • h a l l e l u - c i t i n g and dramatic a c t i v i t y the rageous ]ust l i k e C l a p p i n g the
mascarpone cheese and dark «, hrx'o deja takes a couple of d i a c r i t i c a l Everett ' Wash > Herald interviewed jah" w-ould have sufficed Or per- 19% Summer Olympics w i l l be over p u b l i c m the tare and sa\ vou pav
!a'e irmg M e n a g e ' Nonsense A marks that are not m t h i s compu- a 94-year-old veteran of World War haps 'behold" Or even. 'Whaddya The visitor w i l l return to his and her L K K B KM(,HT
menage is a household [ d i o m a t u 1 ai ter ^ font I One memor> s t i l l smoldering in know' 1 " Or a n y t h i n g else in English home country and w i l l no longer add Port \ S e n t v \ o r t h