public static Cons translateLoomAssertions(Cons tree, boolean retractP) {
    if (tree.rest == Stella.NIL) {
      tree = ((Cons)(tree.value));
    }
    else {
      tree = Cons.cons(Logic.SYM_STELLA_AND, tree);
    }
    { Symbol verb = (retractP ? Logic.SYM_STELLA_RETRACT : Logic.SYM_STELLA_ASSERT);
      Stella_Object proposition = Logic.translateLoomSentenceToKif(tree);

      if (tree != null) {
        return (Cons.cons(verb, Cons.cons(proposition, Stella.NIL)));
      }
      else {
        return (null);
      }
    }
  }