David Heiller
National politics usually has no place in a weekly editor’s
repertoire, but the past week of testimony from Oliver North before a
Congressional committee in Washington offers a good reason.
Excuse
me while I rant and rave. Oliver North is not a hero to me, despite the telegrams
stacked in front of him and his glittering uniform. Despite his “telegenic”
personality, his erect back and direct stares, despite his sincerity and
tenacity, I don’t think he will stay an American hero for long, if at all.
A friend of mine perhaps said it best Monday at lunch: “If
people think Oliver North is a hero, they’d better take a refresher course in
civics.”
North’s actions, and the actions of the covert operation he
belonged to, challenge our government just two months before the 200th anniversary
of our Constitution. The Constitution, to refresh a few memories, is the
document that set up our framework of government, dividing it into the
executive, congressional, and judicial branch. It also added a Bill of Rights,
10 amendments that needed to be added to keep people believing in that
government. First on the list: freedom of the press, freedom of speech.
The people who
worked out the Constitution knew what life was like without freedom of
expression, and they knew that an active press kept elected officials accountable.
They knew that the system of checks and balances between Congress and the President
would accomplish the same thing.
Oliver North
stated time and again, with seeming pride, that he lied to Congress, to keep
them from knowing the truth. He stated that he did not trust them, that they
would leak information to the press, whom he did not trust either.
He did this to
follow orders, he says, but he did this because it is something he believes in
with such fervor. He didn’t like the Congressional stand on Nicaragua, so he
worked to change it, secretly, and against the laws of our Constitution, our
nation. His way reflects the Reagan administration’s way
of dealing with Nicaragua and
elsewhere. It’s as good of an example of any as to why people in Nicaragua, and
increasingly people around the world, are losing respect for our government.
With double standards such as selling arms to terrorists, taking the money and
secretly passing it on to the supporters of an overthrown dictator, and keeping
the profits for personal use and future secret operations, who wouldn’t support
the Sandinistas? Who wouldn’t lose faith in the current administration?
of dealing with Nicaragua and
elsewhere. It’s as good of an example of any as to why people in Nicaragua, and
increasingly people around the world, are losing respect for our government.
With double standards such as selling arms to terrorists, taking the money and
secretly passing it on to the supporters of an overthrown dictator, and keeping
the profits for personal use and future secret operations, who wouldn’t support
the Sandinistas? Who wouldn’t lose faith in the current administration?
Heroes. We’ve all had them, and still do. Mine was
Micky Mantle when I was a kid. He hit home runs and looked at you squarely from
the Wheaties package. As we grow older, we look for other qualities to respect.
Everybody has a person or two that they admire for their integrity, for their
character, for their honesty. Parents try to raise their children with those qualities.
I hope my two children do not grow up to be like
Oliver North. I want them to have convictions, but I want those convictions to
follow our laws and government. If they do not, I want them to work openly to
change them. I want them to follow orders, but not without asking why.
And I hope they live in a country that can
separate a hero from a hoax.
Editor's note: A few weeks later David received this letter from our Congressman, James L. Oberstar:
Mr. David
Heiller Editor
Askov American
Askov, MN 55704
Dear Mr. Heiller:
I was very impressed and very moved
by your July 16 column questioning the
hero status of Lt. Col. Oliver North. I was
so impressed by the concise, articulate
way in which you exposed the real issue of North's performance and the Irangate hearings, that I shared your column with
my colleagues in the House.
A copy of
the Congressional Record from August 3 is enclosed.
I applaud your insight and your
courage. All too many Americans have been
duped into believing North was right when
he broke the law, lied to Congress, and conducted his own foreign policy. It is good to read an editor who is
not afraid to rant and rave on the behalf of the Constitution.
Sincerely,
/s/ Jim Oberstar
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