Un-American

As a Democratic activist who provided much of the leadership to register 7,000 voters on the Westside of Los Angeles, I must say there exists a meanness on the part of the Republicans that is very un-American. If you hand out literature or ask them to vote, you are greeted by about 5% of the population with epithets like Communists, references to the gay community, etc. You are told you are un-American, that President Jimmy Carter was a weakling, that you should be shot, you should be ashamed of yourself for supporting the Democrats, and that you do not love America and the freedom it stands for.

I have told them I volunteered to fight the Nazis by volunteering with the Royal Air Force and that I was still continuing that battle against right-wing extremism and the danger to freedom in America for people who advocate a more decent and fair society. I have said on many occasions that I knew Carter and that America would be a better place if we all emulated his standards of behavior in this world.

I must say as well that I believe that the media should not determine our next President. Polling is forbidden in France two weeks before elections. I believe we would get more rational and fair elections if polls were only conducted by the candidates. Then there would always be a question of credibility.

I believe that the media should never run an ad without allowing the opposition to answer the ad at the same time. I believe that we have a long way to go in developing real democracy.

STANLEY ERICKSON

Beverly Hills