TY Sa RE rR RG NR -—- iq * @ @ © & & @ i * Dr @ > i : 1 SE GOVERNMENT SPENDING CB "By J.W. JOHNSON _cellence JW.J. Gays in the military is an important issue Fairies on the front lines? Faggots in the foxholes? "Queers in the Quonset huts? ++ The above references are not “used in derogation of millions of gay and lesbian Americans, or to “denigrate those homosexuals " serving in the military; rather, these are rhetorical expressions which reflect the reality of the homophobia which permeates this = society. The issue of homosexuality and the military has risen to the sur- face in the last 12 months with the Clinton administration's ef- forts to change tradition and mili- tary law regarding the military service of homosexuals. Simply put, the administra- tion wanted to make it legal for homosexuals, upon joining the military, to declare their sexual- ity; in essence, seeking sanctifi- cation of the homosexual lifestyle by declaring its fact to be legal within the confines of a miliary ‘organization. And to be perfectly clear right “up front, the issue from this chair “has absolutely nothing to do with * homosexuality. “worked with, and admire the tal- I know, have ents and efforts of many homo- sexuals. And it's clear from a growing body of evidence that homosexuality is a genetically dictated difference among the men and women who discover them- selves to be homosexually oriented...in short, gays by genes, not by choice. The issue is not homosexual- ity; rather, it is military service and the objectives of that service as those objectives are outlined by military command responding to circumstance. It should also be pointed out that I, (unlike many who are dis- cussing this issue) have served in the military, being honorably dis- charged during the Vietnam War. And tothis veteran, the issue is this clear and this simple: for the same reason that you would not have men and women, husbands and wives, serving together in the military, you also do not want open avowed homosexuals serv- ing together in the military. Of course, there are many of you right now clucking your tongues and ranting about how the military now has many homo- sexuals serving without problem. The difference is that the homo- sexuals currently serving are like the child in a playpen; the child's boundaries are literally defined by the playpen itself; military law and tradition define the bounda- ries for homosexuals currently serving in the military. As such, only those homosexuals possess- ing much self discipline are now serving and are likely to join under the current rules. With official sanction of homo- sexuality by the military, how long do you think it would take before the radically oriented homosexu- als would be joining if for no other reason than the military, by vir- tue of its objective, has a multi- tude of young, usually single, men from which to choose a prospec- tive lover or mate?...the thoughts or acting upon all of which has nothing to do with the military objective. And that's the point. Whatever would stand in the way of com- promising the military objective...wives serving with husbands (lovers serving with lovers?) should not, and cannot be acceptable, if we are to have an effective military organization. Would you want to go out and fight the enemy if you knew the guy in the next bunk was your mate? No, .you would want to protect the mate, often with your own life and therefore, perhaps at the expense of the military objec- tive. There are those who've trotted out the objections to blacks serv- ing in the military, saying the objections raised back then are the same objections being raised now about homosexuals serving in the military. In terms of not compromising the military objective, racial big- otry is a far cry from the very real concerns that military command- ers have about personal loyalties to the military versus protection of, and loyalty to, a loved one. Military commanders justifiably are concerned that the first loy- alty will be to protect a loved one, rather than loyalty to military commanders. And that's why gays should not be permitted to openly declare their homosexuality in the mili- tary. Not because they are homo- sexuals. But because to do other- wise runs the risk of creating an environment where not being a soldier first also becomes accept- able. ; The economic viewpoint The region's report card: how we stand By HOWARD J. GROSSMAN What is the state of the region of Northeastern Pennsylvania? The answer may reside in a new report published by the Economic Development Council of North- eastern Pennsylvania (EDCNP). titled 1993 State of the Region. Characterizing 19983 as “a year of - change”, the report notes the new Clinton Administration, changes in the political leadership in the General Assembly of Pennsylva- nia, changes in new economic development opportunities and potential changes in relation to the economy of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The report stressed two new publications recently issued by EDCNPtitled “Regional Economic Development” A Strategic Action Plan for 1992 and Beyond" and “Land Under Siege: A Search for Managed Growth in Northeastern Pennsylvania.” The travel development indus- try is noted as being negatively impacted by the recession but “efforts are underway to reinforce and support the travel develop- ment industry to enable it to enhance its economic benefits to Northeastern Pennsylvania. The document notes that in April of this year, the first Pennsylvania eco-tourism conference was held through the auspices of the tour- ist promotion agencies through- out the region and EDCNP. Another highlight of the report is the notation that the manufac- turing operations of the region are being helped through loan pro- grams of EDCNP, the work of the Northeastern Pennsylvanialndus- trial Resource Center, and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Tech- nology Council “Community Ex- Initiative Program”. Furthermore, Pennsylvania's Ben Franklin Partnership and other programs are helping to support the manufacturing base. The census of 1990 results are almost all available at the present time, and changes are occurring with respect to the designation of metropolitan areas, especially Monroe and Pike Counties. Pike County is now included as part of the New York-New Jersey Metro- politan Consolidated Metropoli- tan Statistical Area, Monroe County has been removed from the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazle- ton Metropolitan Statistical Area. Some of the strategic plan ini- tiatives noted in the document include, among others, the fol- lowing: —pPlan, develop and implement an industrial clusters programs to bring together business and industry establishments in the same sector. —Promote and enhance the five river corridors located within Northeastern Pennsylvania. —Continue to promote the appropriate use of technology as a basis for enhancing economic competitiveness. —Develop additional enterprise zones within the region, —Develop additional incuba- tor buildings within the region. —Support and enhance energy self-sufficiency. —Tap into targets of economic growth such as appropriate use of the Blue Coal Lands through the Earth Conservancy. —Examine the potential to designate the Pocono Mountains as a special and unique part of Pennsylvania. —Expand the regional business retention program. —Expand the regional infor- mation and data center. —Increase revolving loan funds to encourage business expansion. The state of the region report notes the need to advocate the formation of a regional assembly of local governments in North- eastern Pennsylvania to join to- gether in order to improve the ability of local governments to afford the delivery of needed serv- ices. Workforce development is noted as a major activity, including a report published in May 1992 by EDCNP on labor supply/labor demand. Most importantly, business education partnerships are noted as being a critical approach to improving the economy of the region. Defense and economic growth have an important role to play as defense conversion issues emerge as a high priority within the Commonwealth and the re- gion. Noted in the document is the important role which To- byhanna Army Depot plays with close to 4,000 jobs being available and the possibility of additional jobs as more base closures occur through the country. Telecommunications is noted as one of the most powerful in- struments for economic growth. A new regional Task Force on Telecommunications has been organized to help promote tele- communications and integrate economic development policies for the betterment of the region. The new report notes economic indicators including civilian labor force, total employment, total unemployment, unemployment rates, average hours worked, average weekly earnings, durable goods manufacturing employ- ment, non-durable goods manu- facturing employment, wholesale/ retail trades employment, and service trades employment. A copy of the report can be obtained by contacting EDCNP, 1151 Oak Street, Pittston, PA 18640. Howard Grossman is Executive Director of the Economic Develop- ment Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania. He lives in Dallas. were 53 new adults and 36 new juvenile borrowers joining the library in July. New books added 175, books withdrawn 16 and re- registrations totaled 78. Regis- trations for Fall story hours will be announced in the near future. Our on-going monthly delivery of reading material to the Mead- ows and Hi-Meadows Apartments is receiving much appreciated praise. Ourdelivery person, Jane, and her red ‘book-mobile’ loads up with books the first Monday of each month and takes a quantity with current antiaging research to show why—and how—the ef- fects of aging are largely prevent- able. By intervening at the level where belief becomes biology, we can achieve our unbounded po- tential. We are given new tools to create perceptions of aging. “Mischief” by Ed McBain is the latest novel of the 87th precinct. The Deaf Man is back! The nemesis of the 87th precinct re- turns with a vengeance. Zeroing in on his favorite foil, he bom- bards the squadroom with direc- | The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, August 11, 1993 5 A PE lS. a re sD L A tl rr pa a I. Library news INCREASE FH k rs ookmobile for Meadows is a success oS ; A By NANCY KOZEMCHAK of books, both special requests tives that seem todescribe in detail / re 3 and current interesting titles. The exactly what he's up to this time— rn : Nr The Back Mountain Memorial residents of both complexes have but not quite. What he's planning Eis ). : Library circulated 9,717 books expressed their gratitude for this is his most devilish million-dollar AR i ; during the month of July: 4,858 service provided by our library. caper to date. In the squadroom, ob | — A adult titles and 4,859 juvenile. New books at the library: an otherwise slow March night is Za ja elie July is traditionally the library's “Ageless Body, Timeless Mind" by enlivened by the murder of a graf- a a = largest circulation month with DeepakChopra, M.D.isthequan- fitiwriter under a highway bridge. a B= summer story hours, summer tum alternative to growing old. Unrelated developments inter- a 2 reading programs and adult lei- Contrary to our traditional no- twine in the ending, po! g = sure time for reading. Reference tions of aging, we can learn to “The Rest of Life" by Mary i questions totaled 351; Book Club direct the way our bodies metabo- Gordon contains three beautifully ra books circulated 287 and interli- lize time. In this book, the author rendered novellas which illumi- brary loan books totaled 64. There combines mind/body medicine nate the elliptical combination of carnal and spiritual desire in all lives. In “Immaculate Man,” a social worker in her forties whose specialty is battered women be- comes the lover of a priest. “Liv- ing at Home" is the story of an Italian foreign correspondent and she is a psychiatrist who cares for autistic children. He wants noth- ing but the woman's body until he is seized by news of another revo- lution, famine or plague; another destination. “The Rest of Life” the woman of Turin is 15 and her lover is 16. They were rebels. NURSING HOME Medicaid Medicare Certified. nalized Care meeting all your needs. & LPN's on Staff 24 hrs. Activities, Home Cooked Meals. al, Occupational, & Speech Therapies. Barber Shop Service. RDA Dallas, PA Private & Semi Private Rooms 24-hr. Superyisio Assistance w/ Personal Car Daily Activities, Home Cooke Therapy Services Available. Medication Monitoring. 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Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers