Furor Over Flag Burning

Three cheers for Conrad’s cartoon “The ’90 and ’92 elections are under way,” July 2. Depicting Bush’s image in swastika configuration is on the mark. Indeed, the issue is being well used. For the last many days it’s about all one hears. Not to say it isn’t an issue, but what about the others, the matters which truly beset us. One can start right down the alphabet--amorality, bankruptcies, crime, deficit, etiolation, fraud, greed, HUD, etc.

But the subject is flag-burning, discussed with passion, grief, fear, anger. As in Nazi Germany it appears that we are easily moved into whichever area of hysteria suits our managers, thus dousing the real scandals which could hurt. So they “spin” it, and we trot along, whether it be Boston Harbor, Willie Horton, Gary Hart’s lubricity, burning the flag, etc.

Mind control, media control--how well we play their tune! We were able to distinguish propaganda ploys in Hitler’s Germany. Why don’t we recognize them here?

MARJORIE L. FASMAN

Beverly Hills