Show I It ft Seems T To Me MeBy 4 Hy ny Joseph II n. a 1 i Andrew Young COPYRIGHT 1977 Contemporary Features Syndicate Inc Like most commentators who knew something about his achievements as a preacher civil rights activist and member of oC the Georgia legislature I thought Andrew Young was an excellent choice for Cor Ambassador to the United Nations In fact when his appointment appointment appointment ap ap- ap- ap was announced my estimation of President Carters Carter's Carters Carter's Carters Carter's Car Car- ter's acumen as a leader went up considerably I did not approve of the appointment appointment appointment ap ap- ap- ap because Young was black I approved of it because I thought his record showed him to be a bright courageous articulate defender of human rights-everybody's rights rights I thought he was dedicated enough to principles to stand up before a mixed body of world diplomats and demand they respect his position but wise enough to negotiate when he sensed that those with opposing views were mustering strength against him I thought the fact that he had gained the respect and political support of white and black voters in Georgia proved him to tobe tobe tobe be a master persuader and diplomat I was wrong Apparently he herode herode herode rode into power on the issue of racism and he continues to spur that tired old horse in the world arena His posturing his mouth foot acts his third third- and his evident contempt for the majority of citizens in the co country he is supposed to represent have not won for him the respect or the support of the U U. N N. delegates His antics have gained for him little more than the amused tolerance of delegates who must consider him more of oC a clown than a diplomat more of a crusader than an ambassador It has taken me quite a while to arrive at this conclusion Like President Carter I l tried to tobe tobe tobe be patient and smiling hoping the brash young man would grow up and take on a bit of dignity I 1 IA even let wishful thinking persuade me that maybe there was me method od in his madness and one day like a a flash his true genius would be revealed But now I can no longer hope He has not matured There is no subtlety behind his outrageous conduct He is just what he appears to be a zealot who is using his position in the UN U.N. to gain notoriety for Cor himself and his cause Youngs Young's problem stems from Crom the fact that he is an amateur lie He has had no experience in ill or appreciation of international diplomacy foreign affairs or patriotism He does not know what an ambassador is supposed supposed supposed sup sup- posed to do where his loyalty is supposed to lie or how to go about achieving the objectives that serve the national interest I doubt that he even knows what those objectives should be We might forgive him for his most ignorance newly appointed appointed appointed ap ap- ap- ap pointed ambassadors have to learn on the job-but job we cant can't forgive him for his arrogant refusal to learn Apparently he has decided that he knows all he needs to know and he will not seek seck advice from nor listen to anyone in or out of oC govern govern- ment It has been said that Jimmy Carter owes Young a great deal for his political support in the thelast thelast thelast last election and in addition he heis heis heis is a personal friend No doubt too the President is very reluctant tl to admit that what appeared at the time to be a brilliant choice has turned out outto outto outto to be a gross error Human nature being what it is Presidents tend to fight harder to deny their mistakes than to rectify them If Carter cannot put the national interest ahead of his pride and his loyalty to a friend however he may live to regret his procrastination Youngs Young's comments are so outrageous at times limes they are funny but in his self appointed role as crusader for black supremacy he is far from harmless An the off comment in inthe inthe inthe the wrong place at the wrong time q could cause ause e damage Lets Let's hope Carter silences him before that hap hap- pens |