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North
Opposed
To the Editor
In 1935 I graduated from the University of Virginia. I had received a fine education. But of even greater value to me. I had been given the gift of the University’s Honor System. Students at the University do not lie, do not steal, do not cheat. Nor do graduates. There are no exceptions, no excuses. Like many others, I assumed that the Virginia Honor System extended to all Virginians, at least as an honored heritage and a goal for/an honorable life.
Although I do not now live in Virginia, I am shocked to learn that many Virginians no longer value that heritage, but are willing to consider electing to the United States Senate a man who has publicly acknowledged that he both lied and stole. Oliver North not only lied to the Congress. He took top secret documents, shredded them, or took them out of secure government buildings (hidden in his secretary’s underwear!) to hide them from the FBI. He converted checks entrusted to him in his work as a Presidential . aide to his own use. He arranged for the illegal sale of government property to an enemy of the i United States. He arranged for the illegal use of the profits from that sale. He was convicted as a felon; only a technicality removed that felony from his' record.
For me, as a graduate of the University, there are no excuses acceptable for this behavior. However, Mr. North claims that he was acting under orders from the President of the United States or from Admiral Poindexter, his boss. Both of these gentlemen have denied giving him these illegal orders. But even if Mr. North's claims were valid, they would not excuse his behavior. As a Marine Crops Officer on activle duty, Lt. Col. North knew that in the American Military any soldier, from the lowliest private to the1 most highranking general, is required to refuse to obey an illegal order. That axiom was reconfirmed in recent years in the trial of Lt. Calley of My Lai infamy. As a retired Army officer, I can assure you that crimes committed by those who obey illegal orders are court martial offenses.
Oliver North not only claims to be an adopted Virginian, he claims to be a Christian. Is it possible that Christians in Virginia can accept the casual breaking of the commandments? Does “Thou shalt not steal” mean nothing anymore in Virginia? “Thou shalt not bear false witness?” Nothing? Do Virginians today only obey these commandments when it is politically convenient?
SANFORD M. ULLMAN
Washington, D.C.
92.8%