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editorial

The Nth Degree

Now is the time for peopl/* of conscience to statepublicly their conviction that the use of nuclear weaporjs is contrary to the will of God. While there may have been just wars in the past, the inability to place traditional constraints on nuclear war now makes any moral justificafion impossible It is 'tirpe for people of conscience to join in condemning nuclear war in any form, and in calling for an immediate, wrirld-wide freeze on the production of nuclear weapons a staged reduction of present nuclear arsenals, and the eventual abolition of all nuclear arms. In the name of God. let us speak out now. lest our silence make us accomplices to holocaust, this time threatening the very existence of humankind. (Boxed on o utotement by the faculty, staff and student body of Harvard Divinity School. Cambridge. Mass.) , It- is time to stop reasoning, to set aside our diplomatic logic and international rationale. If history has been our roadmap and politics our guide, it is high time to set a new tack. If we do not come together as a peoples and convince our governments to abandon their foolish miliUry strategies, it is likely we shall not long continue on this planet as a human race. These are measured words and somber phrases for a time of grave concern, whenl educated residents round the world surely must give pause to wonder about the future of our Earth: Is our lifetime the last that shall be? Has our globe which played host to plagues and holocausts over the centuries seen the end of human wasting? WE HAVE COME TO THE POINT of accepting as inevitable the specter of doing atomic battle, as if nuclear war is but the 20th century chalice being passed down from a previous age whose weaponry was refined. In a sense, it's true. We have achieved the Nth degree in the ability to inflict death and destruction. We have honed our potential hostility to the ultimate, for we can scarcely unleash the top of our arsenal line without mortally wounding humanity, if not by the recoil of the weapon then via the retaliation sure to follow. There is an Ecumenical Peace Service this Sunday evening isee front page story). If you cannot attend, at least take time out then to reflect inwardly and to those around you on the urgent heed to pause. We must rise up as a single worldwide voice to put a stop to this nuclear madness. If our planet is to remain green beyond our lifetime, this is a grass roots movement which must begin now.

British Seagull 387 Bird Notes On .People

NOTICE TO * Letter Writers Opinions for our Reader's Forum should: • Be signed by the writer and include the writer's address and phone number. Letters can be printed anonymously, but the newspaper must have writer verification • Deal with one topic or issue in an accurate, nonlibelous manner • Be typewritten or legibly handwritten, doublespaced on one side of the paper • Be received by the newspaper prior to Friday.

COIX)Rfen SEA SWIRLS, a trmpra painting by Jemmy Kerman Vladter Cape May Regional, look Ural prlre in the Young People's Art Exhibit, which opened Sunday and continue* thru May I at the County Art League'* Carriage Houxe Gallery. Phyiick Estate. Cape May. reader's forum A Well-Done For Mr. Thornton Harry J. Ernst Jr. I am not one who makes a habit of writing letters to the newspapers, nor do I often involve myself in public speeches just to be heard. It’s time I make a statement, through the editors, to what I think is a complete lack of interest in what "is" and "has" happened in the County MU A Republican voters don’t seem to realize what is happening. There is a complete lack of statements and letters of encouragement and congratulations to our Freeholders, who stood their ground and accomplished what had to be done for the good of all in Cape May County. They are still looking at other aspects of the MUA that will no doubt need airing. A special "well-done” should go to Freeholder Gerald Thornton for his tireless hard work, boldness, frankness and cooperation with his freeholder associates, Mr. Sturm and Mr. Bittner. MR. THORNTON BROUGHT HIS FINDINGS to the public and went against those he has usually supported He was elected on your Republican ticket, isn’t he worth your thanks? "Good work Jerry!" Keep on digging and working in harmony with your associates. Rumor has it the problems are far from over. I noticed only the Democrats seem to write en- , couragement letters via the news media. Come on, Republicans, recognize a good job. Get behind Freeholder Thornton and his associates. Let them know you appreciate their efforts to protect ydur interest. Write your editors so they know you care Better still, call "Jerry" direct or call his associates. After all, you elected them to do a job and that’s what they are doing. Be glad they are on the job. “Good work, Jerry, keep it up.” People appreciate it but are always slow to acknowledge it. Having been a congressional aide for many years ihyself, I know what a little recognition and encouragement means when you try to do a good job. Harry J. Ernst Jr. is a resident of Erma. Is This Phone Bill Necessary?

CAPE MAY i d X. tUralu (’■hlitliMi r.xtrj W«H»«4av By P « B«» • TVSMwikr (arporiUofi Aval—.NJSMM John H./Ratals H Editor Bonnie Rein* General Manager * Advertising Coordinator Darrell Kopp Publlrher ■ latnrri Ttt tWl All rifiiit r»*«*v»<J AM property right* foe otII'* (ontontt of th.l pubiKOhon tholl bo the property of the leowove Corp Mo port hereof wxoy be reprodvr eel enthovt prior written rontent V DEADLINES News )A Photos . .’Thursday Advertising Friday - 3 p.tn. Classified Advertising Friday - 3 p.tn. 1 tt7-33l2>’or News Dr Advertising information | NeMker MrtklpeUnp edverfheni Iter I be pvbHthen tt Ike HBRALD AND LANTERN will be reepontlble or liable for mltlelormatlon. mlfprlnlt (\po«r»phlrel error*, etc . In any Mine The editor re*er»e« Ihe rllflil Idedll any Infer or arlkle« tobmllted for ppblka---LANTERN"

PabIHhed Every WrSaeeday By THe seanave Cpr^prallen

PO Bos 41 Cold Sprint. N J OKI

by R.W. Davenport In the last six years, at least M) different bills designed to reform national telecommunications policy have been introduced in Congress and debated. All the while, regulated telephone companies, such as New Jersey Bell, have continued to provide customers with quality phone service at reasonable rates despite the lack of a clear future course for the business. Now that the proposed settlement between AT&T and the Department of Justice appears to set a clear future course for the telecommunications industry, yet another bill is introduced. It’s a bill that once again clouds the future just when it started to become clear. I believe readers who are users of New Jersey Bell’s service should be aware thdt this new attempt would further dismember and further handicap the Bell System which has served the nation well for more than

100 years.

The legislation, which goes as far as requiring customers of regulated telephone companies to pay higher rates for several years to subsidize others that compete with AT&T, is just not in the public interest. A federal judge in Washington is deciding whether the proposed settlement is in the public interest. It’s also in the interest of readers to let the judge decide before Congress gets into the act. There doesn’t seem to be any need to rush into a bill which could be counterproductive

to the judge's decision.

R.W Davenport is community relations manager of

New Jersey Bell.

by Ima Byrd Our friend Scout just returned from a two-day spin around the county. Scout said he found that people are pretty great. He noticed a hundred good things gping on in the mortal world. He saw a lot of positive involvement and human kindness; like that group that’s trying to renovate the <?ld Goshen School. When they found an owl in the tower, they didn’t disturb it because it was nesting. That's pretty nice and we birds really appreciate that. And then he noted that Bud and Doris Berryman were still at their years of service in helping senior citizens fill out income tax forms. The Berrymans give a lot of their, time to helping others. It's somethng they’ve done since they were very young. They seem to possess a special built-in commitment to others. At Middle Township High School, Joe Steady is still hauling kids to the science fairs, encouraging them to do better and creating a college environment for those who want to do something with their lives. One parent told Scout that her 10 children excelled ih colleges across the country because of his influence. BILL SHERMAN IS ANOTHER GUY who’s done a lot for kids. Sherman is a familiar scene around Middle Township schools, always offering help and encouragement to youngsters. And those firemen throughout the county never stop doing service. Scout said they are on the job everywhere. There seems to be no end to their spirit of dedication, and we birds can’t say enough for them. Every time there’s a brush fire, we give a silent prayer of thanks for their energies and expertize. If it wasn’t for the volunteer firemen, we would have been wiped out of our homes long ago. Rescue squads and other volunteers also inspired our travelling bird. . Then there’s that lady Marily Cicarrone, who writes such nice letters and through a simple act of caring created the South Jersey Nuclear Coalition movement. And Leslie Chrismer, Louis and Shirley Lock and others, who in quiet w^y have contributed more to the cause of peace than most mortals. And the teachers. We birds know there are a lot of complaints about teachers, bul -from what we’ve observed throughout the entire county, the teachers do a great job of educating the children. X THE POLICE ARE ANOTHER GROUP of people who don’t get the recognition they deserve. Police are always singled out when there are problems, but people seldom realize the tremendous job they do, day in and day out. From what we've observed, there should be more communication on a social level between the police forces throughout the area and the people. One of our birds suggested that police departments hold Community Day and invite people to meet with them and discuss problems within the community on a social basis. It might help to give police the respect they deserve. There are so many service organizations doing good that we could never list them all. Scout said early in July he intends to go down to the Wildwood beach before dawn, sharpen his tail and write all the people s names in the sand just to show the county how much good exists in their world. . It seems to be a failing of mortals and birds to always look for the bad things. Scout thinks it’s about time we centered in on the good "It’s all around us," he said, “hut for the most part, we ignore it." I SAT ON A NEARBY TELEPHONE POLE watching the off-season snow move in on the daffodils. A man moved quickly along the street cursing the weather and lamenting the fact that things had been destroyed by the cold. I watched him as he hurried toward his home. Then I saw a small child, bundled up against the cold, reaching for the snowflakes. The youngster was accompanied by his mother who laughted with him as the snow melted on her face. They both stopped and looked at the daffodils, heads bent by the wind and weather. "Aren’t they beautiful in tne snow,” said the child happily The couple disappeared from view and the snow came down faster. It was hard to think that summer was almost here but it was easy to see how attitudes affected people. Scout was right — mortals needed to be remindcd.of the

good.