Secretary of State Testifies at the Iran-Contra Hearings

It seems the hearings have made a hero of North to many Americans, despite his illegal and immoral maneuverings in support of the contras--while wrapping himself, this Administration and “the cause” with country, flag and God (in that order). These hearings have been turned into a pro-contra telethon; and the other side (including documented atrocities committed by the contras and the death and destruction inflicted on the entire population of that small, independent and suffering people) were barely referenced. One notable exception was the closing statement of Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii). What a tragic commentary on the manipulation and vulnerability of American public opinion!

Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) later commented that he hadn’t felt so good since Jimmy Cagney sang “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy.” It’s frightening to realize that such sentiment probably is descriptive of a large percentage of Americans. How tragic! When will our political and moral vision rise above the simplistic Yankee Doodle level?

MARY BREIDENBACH

Los Angeles