12A — Morning News Thursday, December 25, 1997
OPINION
£utmnnab itlarnina
Established 1850
FRANK T.ANDERSON
Publisher
REXANN A KELLER LESTER
Executive Editor
T H O M A S S. BARTON M. DANIEL SUWYN
Editorial Page Editor Managing Editor
Shock in Denver
T
HE DEATHS of 168 innocent people Juron cannot be faulted, however,fora ruth
who were killed in the Oklahoma City to judgment like t h e verdict i n t h e OJ.
bombing in 1986 were not accidental. Simpson case. They did their jobs, deliberat-
They were murdered as part of a cold, calcu- ing 41 hours over six days. U.S. District Judge
lated act by nutcases who used crime to make Richard Matsch allowed them to consider less-
a political statement For a federal jury to con- er charges against Nichols, who was facing
clude that defendant Terry Nichols was guilty first-degree charges, if they did not believe the
of involuntary manslaughter — and only in deaths were premeditated That's apparently
connection with the deaths of eight federal what happened.
officers—is shocking and incomprehensible. In a compromise, jurors found Nichols
Yet that was the verdict on Tuesday in guilty of conspiracy to u s e a weapon of mass
Denver. A jury reached a split decision, appar- destruction and eight counts of involuntary
ently finding that Nichols bore some responsi- manslaughter. They said h e was not a mass
bly with convicted killer Timothy McVeigh for murderer who killed people with a truck
the deaths, but also deciding that he was not as bomb.
culpable because he was not at the scene of Unlike McVeigh, w h o gave a-terse speech
the crime. after he was convicted* Nichols was somber
It is the kind of verdict that gives hope to and frowned when h e heard the verdict That's
mobsters who use hit men to do their dirty
work. ^
probably because h e knows what is coming
next — and not the sentencing phase, which
Christmas cards: The bittersweet joys of holiday news
McVeigh has already been sentenced to begins on Monday. • The Navy buddy with whom I served emphasizes my own mortality. My obita-;;
death. Nichols also faces the death penalty, Instead, h e knows what Oklahoma County countless night watches at sea, while off ary in the Hartford Courant is not likely"
but that punishment seems unlikely, at least in District Attorney Bob Macy has in store for This holiday season I will hear, as all the fantail our battleship churned the to be seen beyond Connecticut
of us do, from Christmas card friends: waters of the Pacific into phosphores- Sdme holiday season hi the indefinite
federal court him. Mr. Macy plans to seek 100 state murder . people we were once close to who now cence. future, a far-off friend will send his usual'
However, this is just Round One. Round Two charges against Nichols, which means a state live in distant places, and for whom we • The neighbor I tried to bluff in wild greeting, and my wife will reply, "I regret
is coming up. court jury likely will hold the defendant's fate still retain a warm spot in our hearts. Friday night poker games. to...." He will say to himself, "Good old
The state of Oklahoma is expected t o file in their hands one day. For me they have included a college • The old girlfriend — ah, the lovely Bob. I never would have known."
murder charges against Nichols, and prosecu- Meanwhile, President Clinton and Attorney roommate, a Navy buddy, a former neigh- girl of my youthful dreams. While at sea during World War II, I
tors have indicated that they will seek t h e General Janet Reno made brief political bor, an old girlfriend — friends I Occasionally, I would vaguely recollect read an essay by the English author EJ1
maximum punishment In other words, it i s n t speeches about the verdict Mr. Clinton sug- acquired at various times in my life, no I had not heard from a friend that season, Forster mat touched me deeply, and to
over. gested that "the successful prosecution of longer see, never even expect to see, or my own card would be returned with which I have often returned. Collected in
The jury's decision angered many of the rel- Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols should might phone if chance took me to their the post office-stamped inscription, a book entitled "I Believe," the essay gen-
offer a measure of comfort that all Americans town, but mainly keep in contact by the "Moved — left no address." That was *tly expresses Forster*s abiding faith in
atives of the victims killed in the April 19,1986, annual exchange of holiday cards. always a cause for concern. friendship — in friendship, above all,
bomb blast that tore apart the Alfred P. stand with the families." Ms. Reno said the ver- Through those cards, my friends and I Now that 1 am in my mid-708, that con- with people he admired most*
Hurrah Federal Building. Their outrage i s dict was "an important step forward in the have shared the passage of time through cern more and more frequently proves "The sensitive, the considerate, the
perfectly understandable. - process of healing." our lives and the events time produces: justified. The wife of my Navy friend plucky... They are sensitive for others as
The evidence showed that Nichols and Many family members who pay less atten- marrying, having children, changing jobs, sends back a letter "It is with great sad- well as for themselves, they are consider-
YteVeigh plotted together in the deadliest act tion to the nuances between murder and taking trips abroad, suffering and recov- ness that I inform you that I lost my ate without being fussy, their pluck is not
f terrorism on U.S. soil. Maybe Nichols' finger manslaughter, and more attention to t h e fact ering from illnesses — in short, the joys beloved Edward this summer." swankiness but the power to endure, and;
*as not on the trigger. But he has blood on his that they buried their dead because' someone and sorrows, triumphs and traumas of liv- The son of a former neighbor writes: they can take a joke."
hands. Without his involvement, the people' built and exploded a bomb, would vehemently ing the same span of years. "My dad, your friend Axel, died last To convey the feeling of kinship among
who were murdered might still be alive. • disagree. When the cards take the form of January." such people, Forster employed the
Christmas letters, I learn more about An unfamiliar lawyer, on hisfirm'ssta- metaphor of single lights scattered on a
family details than I care to know. When tionary, writes: "As executor of the estate dark beach, "reassuring one another, sig-
of Ann M., I have the duty to relate, that naling into the night, 'Well, at all events,
The Christmas promise they enclose photos, t see my friends
growing older.
But in my mind* eye, they remain as I
Mrs. M. died on June 27."
After the spasm of sorrow subsides, I
Pm still here. How are you?'"
Christmas eards are like those lights','
knew them years ago: realize that I would never have learned blinking out that same message across
C HRISTMAS IS a time of promise. It has things are possible with God.
always been that way since a child was * The birth that drew wise men, shepherds
born in a crude stable in Bethlehem on
this day almost two millenniums ago, a day of a promise. The Bible says that Joseph had a
when the angels proclaimed glory to God and dream —that his wife Mary would have a son.
• The college roommate«who slept with
his eyes open so when a dorm resident
saw him lying on his bed, he started talk-
ing to him without realizing he was
this news but for the Christmas card tra- the years. And when one flickers out, the
dition. My pleasure in sending my cards darkness deepens.
this season is mixed with concern: What
messages will I get back? Robert Satter is a retired Connecticut
asleep. The death of my peers, of course, Superior Court judge.
peace on earth, good will toward men. "You shall call his name Jesus, for H e shall
Sadly, that promise of peace and good will, save His people from sins," he was told
which Christians celebrate today on the birth- The loneliness of Mary and Joseph at
day of the son of God, Jesus Christ, has never Bethlehem, along with their need for shelter
been realized. and support, are as real as our own needs and
LETTERS, FAXES,-E-MAIL
Just look at the newspaper. American sol- limitations. Yet God, through Christ's birth,
ing as classroom volunteers in the
diers are far away from home in Bosnia this embraced Mary's and Joseph's suffering. By
Christmas, stationed indefinitely, all because embracing them, he embraces all of mankind
Stranded in Savannah: How to write to us Learning for l i f e program sponsored by
the Boy Scouts of America. Eight Kemira
two groups of people cannot get along and may and its hardships. H e reaches out to share A Christmas wish, We welcome your tetters. They employees are implementing this pro-
start killing each other when the troops go love. gram for the fourth grade students at
home. In Mexico this week, politically motivat- Christmas i s a time for joy, good cheer and so well remembered must include the writer's name (no
initials) along with an address and Whitney.
ed murderers'gunned down 45 people in an the sharing of this love. The giving of gifts at Editor: daytime telephone number for verify In an age in which skepticism and
Indian village. Among the dead were mothers this time of year is a tradition that developed In September or October of 1969,1 had cation purposes. All letters are sub- materialism are the rule, it is good to
with babies. from this religious foundation. the misfortune (or so I thought) to b e ject to editing for brevity and clari- know that Kemira Pigments is setting
King Herod, who dispatched his own sol- For Christians, the angels who appeared stranded in Savannah. I was a single girl ty. Preference will be given to let-
such a fine example for our young peo:
diers to kill Christ, the newborn king, would .before the shepherds put matters into proper of 17, who was eight months pregnant pie. <( ^
ters less than 200 words. DAVID SMlffl
be proud. perspective. This i s h o w that event is The baby* father gave me $5, loaded my
One reason that man has yet to fulfill his described in the Gospel according to S t Luke: suitcases in a bus-station locker and said Leader
goodbye. Lstttit may to Building Leadership Team
promise is that he is human. While he has free "Fear not For behold, I bring you tidings of Eli Whitney Elementary School
will, he also has weaknesses and frailties that great joy, which shall b etoall people. For unto I didnt know where to go or whom to
turnto,I had an abusive foster mother in BYBUCat
have been responsible for most of the world's you is born this day in the city o f David a Pennsylvania and my biological mother. (912) 2346522
worst suffering throughout history. Savior who is Christ the Lord." Later, a multi-
It doesnt have to be that way. Each year o n tude of angels announced, "Glory to God in the
Neither had any need of me after they
met each other only a year earlier.
Vox Populi: Beware
•YULS.MUI.at
Dec. 26, man is reminded about the potential highest and on earth peace, good will toward
for goodness that exists. men." ;
After walking for hours, I stopped at
the White House Restaurant I sat there
Letters to the Editor the hate-mongers
Savannah Morning News
With the birth of Christ, God sent his son to ' The world isnt there y e t But Christians and for hours, trying to figure out what I was P.O. Box 1088
live among men. Through his life on earth, non-Christians can appreciate that message to do next Then the waitress came over One of t h e best features in this
and asked me if I needed help. Savannah, QA 31402 Savannah Morning News is the Vox
Christ taught and inspired mankind to love and try to embrace i t When mankind finally
their Maker and one another. That's a constant learns to live by those words, it will be the best I explained my situation to her and she Populi column. Anytime I ask someone if
offered me her home until I could get BYMIMLat he has read something in the column, he
challenge. However, as the saying goes, all gift ever.
help. The next day, without my knowl- usually responds in the affirmative. In all
edge, she ran an ad in the Savannah probability, it i s the bestread column id
Morning News about me. blonde little girl, and I named her the entire paper. ,..,
To this day, I have never read the ad "Savannah." However, I am concerned at the recent
and do not know what it said, but I do turn some of the remarks have taken. We,
know that your wonderful city o f Richmond, Va. as Americans and as Savannahians,
Savannah opened its arms and heart to should take great pride in that fact and
me. I received phone calls, letters, stop making nasty remarks about those
money, baby clothes, maternity clothes,
baby furniture.
Employees of Kemira damn Yankees and those ungrateiUl
Southerners.
I had offers from families welcoming
me to share their homes, and many upon
help mark the season I plead with the generous contributors
to Vox Populi on those subjects to knock
many marriage proposals (sight unseen). Editor. it off. It is the season to be jolly, happ$
Twenty-eight years have passed, and I The employees of Kemira Pigments and have love for your fellow man. We are
still cry when I remember how voted to forego their annual Christmas citiiens of the greatest nation on earth,
Savannahians opened their warm hearts party, opting instead to organize a holiday and for that we should be most thankfcd.
to a scared young girt who felt like her party for the entire student body at Eli We are one nation, never to be divk
world had ended Words will never be Whitney Elementary School. How lucky we are to be Americans 1
able to exprats the deepest love and grat- Ketaira employees also conducted a Savannahians. Suppose you were;
itude I feel for you Savannah. schoolwide art contest in which Whitney Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Korea,
I have always considered myself to be a students were to design the company! or Palestine, where the hate-mongers I
part of the South d now live in Richmond, 1987 holiday card to be used in extending constantly harassing each other,
Va.) because Savannah showed me more season's greetings. often with horrible violence. • *
love and concern that I had ever known. In addition, Kemira purchased Give a thought to that the next time you
My Christmas wish is that God will Whitney* Christinas tree, which was dec- pick up the phone to say something nasty
bless each and «fwy Savannahian as He orated by the students and exhibited in about a fellow dtisen concerning scfci+-
did me and my child when He picked the Festival of Trees at the Civic Center. thing that happened over 100 yean ago. •
Savannah as the cityforme to be lost in. Special thanks to Astrid Shell, the Vox Populi is a great daily feature i f
Kemira Business Partner liaison with the Morning News. Left keep it c o n s M »
SHARON LYNCH Whitney,forher time and energy in orga* Uve, informative and, as it so oftenw,
niting the holiday activities. humorous. ~^
"*
P.S. I had a beautiful green-eyed, curly Kemira employees are also participate WILLIAM O.FRICK