LETTERS: SOUNDS LIKE A KING WITH NO CLOTHES

To the editor:

I would like to take a moment to make a comment about the situation in politics right now, brought to a head by the problems Mr. Clinton is facing. This reminds me of the childhood story of the king and his clothes and the two tailors who had to come up with the finest clothes possible. They complimented each other on how good the clothes looked. A child looked at the king and said, "The king isn't wearing any clothes." Everyone else was saying, "Oh, aren't they lovely." The situation with Bill Clinton reminds me of that story. They are people who are postured and who have something to gain by saying one thing or another, and there is no one standing up and saying the king has no clothes.

I think someone with clear insight, perhaps the clear sight of a child and the unbiased opinion of youth, can look at this situation and say Mr. Clinton has no clothes. He had no credibility. He has lied long and frequently. He has a problem, and we need to consider how this really affects his decision-making process in the presidency.

The problem is that most people understand decision making and lying are not limited to one part of a person's life. I think that's abundantly apparent in this president's case. I think if evaluated he could probably fall into the category of pathological liar, which is a psychological term. I am not sure the president knows when he is lying or understand that he is lying. I think he can convince himself that it's in the best interest of the country or someone else he do it this way. That is, the ends justify the means. Thus, lying is not really lying. I am afraid this attitude is pervasive in our legalistic society, wherein it's not truth and justice. It's legal and illegal. And whether or not you can convince someone something is something that isn't true.

DR. GORDON W. ELLER

Cape Girardeau