Show SStltQEf a IIMHaOH (HtafMiCflUIMIdlitf Qiitl VY<itfUMlQOfu ilMliMIhiMlMMIMh ' ' 'A'i " sW i 1 rk winik ' IT V-'-- ' - 1“ diicators do it Politicians do it The media does it Retired US Sen Paul Simon 74 says' we now live in £ a culture that panders to whatever is sexy profitable easy and quick and it's destroying our nation These are As P if the problems in our own and analysis of weren't enough there are new concerns that milNATO the alliance is about to give itary away vital secrets Why? Seven strong words but the maverick Illinois Democrat marshals examples from across the spectrum to back up his claims in a new book: Our Culture of Pandering (Southern Illinois University Press) “Polls didn’t aiways play that dominant of a role in politics” he says "Not only do we have polls in elections now but members of the House and Senate will also do a poll before voting bn a bill'' In Simon's view this excessive desire to former Communist countries are joining the alliance giving them adeem to high- Death By Pandering ly classified military a ‘You cannot drift into becoming better nation" he tells us “It takes effort and sacrifice" Forthe media that means reporting on serious'’ news such as a global water crisis '“not a sports star’s criminal trial” What can you do? Stay informed and make your voice heard with1 - a letter or an Simon says' y Former U£ Son' Paul Simon TV in was executive concerned recalls a He Chicago yyho media (inset) says the fruit stop ' because he received three letters about violence bn the pandering to what's "sexy : stoKobi &tube “A few people can have a big impact'’adds Simon “We nieed more people who stand ub and show courage’’' focus instead on serious news - j '' - - In and intelligence information Some of them still have ties to Moscow and to other former Soviet ' satislites or aBei sv chiding ban part of aL 019 tmKISfn SXB of ewLAsarMultU& and Wsst European intsigisnei services have jj demanded that the new NATO members remake their inteKgence agendas byhaving dviBan—not military —control and establishing ¥ safeguards to protect aitaRgence sources Of the seven new members Latvia Uthuariia and Estonia reportedly have met most of the demands Bulgaria Romania Slovakia and Slovenia have riot (Among NATO's 1999 additions the Czech Republic has mostly compted whle Poland and Hungary have not) The US is expect I od to renort on the nroarMi of the seven new members in January I -' please ultimately helps no one ' ' KEEPING ON TOP OF YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOLWORK Action f i£°PPin9 ’ ' housework many with no one to ' help the I help them ButtheRobert Wood'££ H Johnson Foundation the nation's foundation is trying a so-f- : A r largest health-car-e lution: It has spent 20 years of testing land S 35 million in grants (with more to come) to help local communities start “Faith in Action" programs Or Burton Reifler its diractor says’ many older peopfo are more willing to accept ' help from volunteers affiliated with religious organizations and "there are millions of ' y ihmm-m- M m Gftafc'sqhpgi information available Site online includes homevyork i bspwsHdif ¥ assignments people who want to volunteer to help their neighbors but haven't had a vehicle for do1 or ing it" To learn more call visit wnwwfaithinactionbrg on the Web £ Cbind oquoiMono F OgS5H3ggigjB4ifgEI tiftst tzflURgBniPJltsinnit test schedules Crystal inls 'f classroom Web hosting more than 80000 of these can go to 4 j wwwscholasticcom ) sites-Teacher- s to learn more or to create free classroom homepage & Silver- - Old & New Call taJajr (mr FREE lati iq yvv pattc'ra(a) DvpC PA GiwJaN NC S7 PO Baa 36029 m "““R‘ihe children's book puMteherls ' 10000000 cP 00 Mm i permission- slips teacher notes t and IHtS $$$£ student work: scholastic ’ M the more than 30 mijjion working parents staying informed about what vf ft in on can be a real challenge" ! the classroom goes Now many are turning to the internet for help Teachers are creating web sites that let parents teeP up with tWridds'day in SSh: for school:age kids Faith in jf very day 16 miliionolderAmerAction lets with struggle basicactiy- Eicans ' & & |