And I was published! It's in today's Stars and Stripes newspaper, but it's not on the website yet. Go to http://www.stripes.com/opinion.asp and check when the letters appear from 23 July 2009, European Edition. I am not sure yet if my letter was also published in the Pacific and Middle East Editions yet, and I won't know until it comes online.

It's the one titled "Where Are The Parents?" <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

All submissions are fully edited for space, punctuation, grammar and clarity, but they only added one comma to my entire letter. Everything in it is in my own words.

Let me know what you think when it posts! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I read it. All I can say is <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Richard <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

OK, I am published in today's European and Middle East Editions, and in tomorrow's Pacific Edition. I pulled the Hat Trick.

Whats the deal with the "grossly oversized SUV" comment? Maybe I should trade my montero for something less gross...SWB geo tracker perhaps?

I think he means soccer moms driving suburbans.

Maybe not too many Suburbans in Germany? Maybe the children thug-gang has claimed the playground or otherwise there's something psychological/cultural about the kids in the parking lots rather than the playground?

Europeans can't afford 'grossly oversized SUVs'; I believe fuel on the economy is something like $8/L; Dirt Devil, you can verify.

All you have to do is drive thru base housing to see what he's referring to; same view up here on Eielson AFB as well as Ft Wainwright.

As far as 'where are the parents?' They're watching their soaps or busy gossiping. Base housing = life in a fishbowl.

That's been my experience anyway. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" />

Because they want to.

What games are they playing? Does that grassy area have provisions for Skateboards, basketball, street hockey, hopscotch, hide and seek just to name a few games.

When I was a kid (in the 40's) we played on the road. I lived on a farm with a dirt road in front of it. Why did we play in the street? It was a lot better than the corn fields.

Maybe the kids think that grassy area is like my corn field. Why not see what they think is missing.


Let kids be kids, you be responsible and watch for them when your driving, I know that's not asking to much?

As a kid I loved playing hide and seek in the corn field. My brother was allergic to the corn pollen...

Congrats, DRTDEVL on getting you opinion published.

I share your views as I spent a few years in Navy housing unit in Japan.

Funny thing, then, grass areas were a "park" not a play ground - dogs and kids prohibited.

The "authorized" playgrounds were centralized areas far from the housing units.

I do not have fond memories of that time....

In our housing area, we have an actual Skate Park with ramps, half-pipes and all just 1 block away. There are basketball courts with lighting next to the Skate Park, an actual street hockey rink set up next to the commissary, and there is hopscotch, etc on the playgrounds. There is also a softball field across the street and soccer fields to use. The kids are usually hanging out in the parking lot, running around the cars, throwing stuff around, digging in the dumpsters, etc. No need for that at all.

As for the "grossly oversized SUV" comment, everything is smaller here, from the streets to the parking lots themselves, fueled by the $8-9/gallon fuel prices. if you own an Excrusion 4x4 PSD, it's gonna hang over the sidewalk and into the street, and also sit on both lines in your parking place. My 87 4Runner is about as large as you'd want to go over here, and there are still places I cannot go with it due to size limitations. Our parking lot is lined with Expeditions, Excursions, Suburbans, Tahoes, Caravans, Windstars, Trailblazerss, F250/350s, Ram 2500/3500s, etc. Add to it the narrow road between the parking rows along the side, and kids popping out become extremely dangerous.

And, BTW: German law states that a driver is automatically liable in any incident involving a child 10 or under, period. If you are in a 20 mph zone, going 10 mph, and a kid runs into the side of your car on his bike after popping out from behind that Excursion in the parking lot, you are at fault.

The thugs have claimed the basements around here, another no-no. That's where they do their dirty work, from smoking weed and cigs to breaking and entering, stealing all your valuables out of your storage rooms. It's gotten absolutely horrible in this housing area over the last couple years, and the MPs hands are tied.