U.S. Support for S. Africa

I read that economic sanctions are being taken against the government of South Africa by not allowing them to ship items to us unless they are strategically important to us--in which case we will import those items.

The buying of gold Krugerrands has become a no-no; however, one of the largest sources of income to the South African government in conjunction with the DeBeers Co. has been the export of diamonds of which our citizens buy many.

Are we to understand that those of us who are vehemently opposed to the South African government are going to stop buying diamonds? That we will (in protest) discard those diamond jewelry items which we now possess? I think not. The most ironic part I believe is seeing black people walk around with diamond earrings, stickpins, pinky rings etc. If they would only think of those brothers who are deep in the diamond mines, sweating for a few measly dollars, they just might change their way of thinking.

STANLEY ESKIN

Woodland Hills