Editorials
Tuesday, June 17, 1997AS Maureen Dowd remarked in a column on this page yesterday, President Clinton's appeal for racial harmony "simply looks like a dodge to distract everyone from his scandals." This is a president who failed to get his prime legislative initiative, health-care reform, through Congress when it was still controlled by the Democrats and now faces frustration with the Congress under Republican control. He is facing a slew of accusations from campaign fund-raising violations to financial finagling in the Whitewater affair to sexual harassment in the Paula Jones suit. Clinton’s proposal of
dialogue on racismNaturally he wants to change the subject. Racial harmony is a motherhood issue that can make him look good even if he can't do anything about it beyond using the White House as a "bully pulpit."
Yes, racism persists and is an ugly stain on the face of America, although substantial progress has been made. Every person of good will knows that racism must be resisted and overcome. The battle against discrimination in housing, employment and education must continue, and with renewed determination.
A national dialogue on racism might raise consciousness of the problem, although no quick solutions are evident. There is strong disagreement about affirmative action, as demonstrated by last year's initiative in California to abolish it. Although he now criticizes it, Clinton didn't speak out against the initiative until he was safely re-elected. Two years ago he said of affirmative action, "mend it, don't end it." But we haven't seen much mending since.
Certainly, we all have to try harder to get along, and especially to teach our children to do so. We have to talk about racial problems and seek solutions -- not only now but on a continuing basis. Hawaii's experience could be helpful for other states.
But Clinton's initiative suffers from the suspicion that he is trying to distract the nation's attention from the problems of a beleaguered presidency.
HOW Waahila Ridge, which separates Manoa and Palolo valleys, qualifies as one of the nation's most endangered historic places is a puzzle. But people who oppose Hawaiian Electric Co.'s stringing higher voltage electric power lines on taller towers along the ridge welcome the designation by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as ammunition for their cause, no questions asked. Waahila Ridge lines
Winning the historic designation may make it less likely that Heco will choose the ridge route. But until the company decides what it wants to do, the opposition seems premature.
THE Khmer Rouge, the communist guerrilla army that once ruled Cambodia and distinguished itself by killing people on a genocidal scale, appears to be disintegrating. Reports in Phnom Penh say many of the guerrillas have turned against their leader, the mysterious Pol Pot, and could capture or kill him within days. Cambodian confusion
The factions have been vying for the allegiance of the Khmer Rouge defectors, whose votes could be important in elections scheduled for 1998. Second Premier Hun Sen has threatened to arrest the royalists for dealing with the Khmer Rouge.
Out of the confusion may come a more stable Cambodia, which surely needs stability and an end to the rebellion. At this point, however, nothing is certain.
Rupert E. Phillips, CEO
John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro, Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor
