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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 30, 1973)
~-Commentary Billy Graham: the prophet gagged By GARY WILLS “Where are the demonstrations against alcohol?” Well, maybe there should be some. Booze kills and injures almost as terribly as war does. But those opening words were spoken by Billy Graham, in Washington for the inauguration, arrived to bless his good friend Dick in a “non political” religious service held the day after the President renewed his oath. There was plenty of booze flowing over the weekend; but Dr. Graham was not seriously making an assault on this practice. He was not doing anything serious except undercutting the seriousness of the war. He was using the booze issue—just as he uses traffic problems: Who demonstrates against automobiles? (Answer: con servationists, Mayor Lindsay, and Ralph Nader.) Just as he uses the Mideast situation — Syria, he claims, reported more civilian casualties than Hanoi over the Christmas period (but it didn’t); and who demonstrates against Israel? (An swer: pro-Arab hijackers and terrorists.) The force of Graham’s words is to reduce the gravity of war, even as he emphasizes the evil of (say) pornography. His logic, such as it is, would lead rather to bombing 42nd Street than to any halt in our bombing of Hand. His tactic is always the reductive parallel. You want me to attack the war — shall I attack alcohd and automobiles and every evil? (Well, if that’s the cost, why nd?) This tactic was used over and over as Graham, who has refused to talk of the war through most of its course, finally did talk about it — enough to explain why he does nd like to talk about it. liiis was in an inaugural interview with the New York “Times” religion editor. The reductive parallels were worked to death — as when he said he could nd “take sides" on this war, or “I would be forced to take sides in every war in the world.” I know it is hard to overestimate the Rev. Bill’s influence. But I think he has actually accomplished that. Most people have their own stake in their own wars. Ms. Meir is not likely to call Billy in for a blessing on her tanks. Even Russia and China might hesitate, while exchanging toasts with us, at the step of exchanging preachers (Mao’s book for Billy’s bible). Even among Christian nations, Billy might find himself dispensable. Spain and Italy are largely anticlerical, but at least they like to be anticlerical against their own clerics. But grant the Rev. Doctor his revery. Imagine all the capitals of the world clamoring for his oratory as they gird for battle. Since he tells us his prayings are non-political, why not pray as readily for Hanoi’s rulers as for ours? He seeks converts impartially in all nations; why not bless their rulers as impartially? Breakfasting in state houses should not compromise a non-political missionary like our Bill. Does he confine himself to one ruler at a time because he is more deeply involved with America, despite his ecumenical roamings? If so, then that deeper in volvement gives him a deeper obligation to this country — and not as a mere celebrator of our land. Our Towns already have their chambers of commerce. God did not need to send us a new Jeremiah to announce the GNP’s growth. And if Billy has anything to say about the morality of war, I don’t think he has to worry about summonses from other capitals. Quite the opposite. Real prophets are thrown out of countries, not called into them. He would And himself in less demand, not more, if he had anything important to say about religion — which is, perhaps, the reason he avoids saying any such thing. f* Letters At the games Gee whiz, Roger Wyatt seems to be against Cliff Zukin. And Mr. Zukin is obviously opposed to Mr. Bonner. But who is Roger Wyatt; for that matter who are these guys Zukin and Bonner9 Investigation reveals Mr. Zukin and Mr. Bonner to be rivals for the exalted office of president of the ASUO Senate, and Mr. Wyatt, who is no longer affiliated with the Senate, has suddenly found himself on some apparently important committee thanks to some help from what’s-his name. Now everyone is moderately perturbed at everyone else Does this mean Cliffie or Bobbie will take his ball and go home? Unfortunately I rather doubt it. We will continue to be inundated with letters berating and denouncing the opposition. It is apparent to me that this farce is merely an action to keep these peoples names alive and in print so they will be remembered at the next election. They definitely wish to be re-elected (“ASUO Senator” looks pretty good on a job resume) but this mud-slinging is not the way to go about it. All this succeeds at is lowering the credence of me office in the eyes of the students. The logical way to achieve notice would be to assign diligently one’s self to his duties of office. How about it guys? Would you like to cut the games and get to work? Eric V. Ramsing Architecture Deserved chance It has been recently disclosed that the child care operation of the Associated Students of the University of Oregon will soon be drastically cut, if not altogether killed, as a result of our President’s trying to maintain a false economy that allows spending money for war while ignoring pressing domestic needs. Although the child care center will continue to operate, about two-thirds of the children, those whose two parents are both going to school, will be ineligible. Meanwhile, Senate President Jason Boe has promised legislation in Salem to provide for the continued adequate funding of this program, a move which the Register-Guard in Eugene applauds. Senator Boe says we must provide these parents with every opportunity to better themselves financially. While I agree with this position, I see the problem as being a much deeper one. If one ot the two parents has to quit school to take care of the child, it will, in almost every case, De tne mother. While motherhood is, indeed, an honorable and important position in the American culture, it is only temporary. It must be recognizee tnat women must develop other areas of their lives, specifically, through education. If we, as a society, continue to en courage, and indeed to force women into ignoring all aspects of life not directly related to the task of raising children and silently serving the wishes of arrogant husbands, we will most certainly see more generations of women discarded in middle age when the mother role tapers off. We will continue to see uneducated, untrained and unskilled women, too old to perform their role in society and yet too young for the nursing home, who will join the swelling ranks of superfluous American human resources at a time in their lives when they have so much more to offer themselves, their families and society. These are my reasons for supporting Senator Boe’s proposed legislation con cerning the funding of child care centers. Women have a great deal to contribute to our world .... All we have to do is give them an equal chance-a chance that is much deserved and even more overdue. Michael Henry Scholl 895 E. 24th Avenue Eugene, Oregon Half-time jobs Not knowing a particular group who is interested in promoting the idea of half time professional (or other, for that matter) jobs, I’m addressing this letter to anyone who has helpful suggestions. ^ Although I haven’t seen any studies to Election letters policy The Emerald will print one (1) letter from, one (1) letter for and one (1) letter against each candidate running for office during regularly scheduled ASUO primary and general elections. All letters must be typed, double or triple spaced, dated and signed in ink. Signatures must have accompanying address information. Letters exceeding 250 words in length will not be run. All letters intended for publication before the winter term primary election must be submitted no later than 3 p.m. Feb. 9, 1973. Letters intended for publication before the general election must be submitted no later than 3 p.m. Feb. 16. The Emerald will choose letters for and against candidates on the basis of date submitted. Candidates with questions regarding the policy are asked to contact the Emerald, 301 Allen Hall, 686-3712. - back it up, my impression is that many graduates would like part-time jobs (with part-time salaries) instead of giving a full commitment of energy to a desk, in stitution, boss or whatever. Several ad vantages immediately come to mind: happier employees, enough time for the development of interests related and not related to one’s job, more jobs available, simpler lifestyles (part-time people would have less money with which to complicate their lives), more productive work hours (presumably, even Friday afternoons would be worthwhile), and so on. The only objection I’ve heard of is in creased administrative costs, but surely computerized bookkeping has minimized that hassle. I would think that the Placement Office could develop these ideas, and certainly departments culd consider them when hiring. Margaret Crowley Unclassified student 342-2028 Punching it out I applaud David Novick’s dramatic and revealing farewell to the senate in his letter last Friday. David urges students, “to work toward the creation of a campus political system that has no tinge of the urban but adolescent version of a grade B western that prevails today.” If student government exists as such, David perceives himself to be John Wayne punching it out with the villians. Tom Bonner (0! 'ntDBWR.«cr j AW IT m imm&t i
