opinion
Reaction to ‘Human Kindness’ farce anemic
By NICHOLAS VON HOFFMAN
WASHINGTON (KFS) — The bread-and
circuses approach to tranquilizing the more danger
ous segments of the population failed again a few
days ago. The occasion was the unintentionally iron
ically named Human Kindness Day, at which more
than 400 whites were beaten, robbed, mugged, and
raped by youthful black hooligans in the course of a
free rock concert outside Jerry Ford’s White House
back door. As of this writing the President has been
too concerned with the logistics of zapping Cam
bodia to issue a statement.
Apparently intimidated by the overwhelmingly
black crowd of an estimated 125,000, the U.S. Park
Police stood by and did absolutely nothing to earn
their pay. “Even if we had mobilized every policeman
in this city, I’m not sure it would have been enough.
Not without the active support of the citizens,” one
policeman said by way of excusing the suspension of
the minimum protections of a civilized community.
Judging by the appalled reaction of a number of
blacks who attended the concert, it is by no means
certain the crowd would have protected the tiny
minority of criminals. However, it is asking a lot of
untrained, unarmed civilians to interpose themselves
between gangs of murderous toughs and their vic
tims. Some seemed to have tried. At the beginning of
this day of crime and mayhem some blacks did in
deed try to intervene, but as it became clear that the
rule of law was in abeyance, and more and more
junior hoods joined in kicking white fannies, interposi
tion became too dangerous.
The response to this lawlessness gives rise to
the fear that there will be more of the same. Con
gressman Rod Dellums, a black who is ordinarily a
rational and creative legislator, let loose with a zing at .
V.
the media for white, racist exaggeration. It would be
interesting to know what he would say if it had been
his right eye that had been blinded by a ruffian’s ice
pick instead of that of a Department of Agriculture
employe.
Actually, the white media downplayed the whole
mess, it was not until two days after the affair that
newspaper readers and television viewers alike were
told the full story. For the most part editorial comment
has been so mild that you might think the only offense
committed was trampling on the gladiolas. After look
ing favorably on the suggestion that no more day
long rock concerts be permitted — let's all lock our
selves in cages to save ourselves from the crooks.
The Washington Post concluded its editorial on the
subject with this bit of tepid understatement: “If
mammoth, marathon rock concerts continue to be
allowed on the public grounds under the Department
of Interior s jurisdiction, and there are further disor
ders, all of the other fine events that Washingtonians
and visitors have come to enjoy over the years are
bound to suffer.” Yes, indeedee.
If that is to be the white liberal position anent
what the same editorial called “a series of frightening
spectacles that left hundreds injured, robbed and
otherwise terrorized,” we might as well put George
Corley Wallace in the White House now. Or, to put it
another way, why have the liberals so lost their nerve
and self-confidence they can’t say we won’t counte
nance such behavior anywhere, anytime, much less
a few hundred yards from the Casa Blanca itself?
Do they, in a half-conscious way, know they are
in a false position? Human Kindness Day, after all, is
but one manifestation of our annual summer pacifica
tion program. Kid the kids with rock concerts, classes
in bongo drum playing, and throw enough money
around to keep the little muggers off the streets till the
cold weather drives them indoors again.
We wouldn’t put on free rock concerts if these
antisocial characters had jobs and the dough to buy a
ticket to hear their music. To restate the obvious, they
know they have no future and no stake in our society
other than to vamp on it, even if they don’t know that
none of the proposals to reorder our economics to
include them has received serious debate, let alone
action.
Even a meaningful effort to change the minimum
wage laws to provide youth with job opportunities
would require some sacrifice and adjustment on the
part of the liberal status quo But since that’s not
forthcoming, liberals compensate by espousing the
therapy, rehabilitation, social work, penal reform and
half-way houses which conservatives despise as
‘ permissive’' and others recognize as ineffectual
sham.
In truth every day in Washington and many other
places is Human Kindness Day with the difference
that members of both races are victims. The sugges
tions you hear trom some blacks about what to do
with the malefactors make Wallace sound like a char
ter member of the American Civil Liberties Union. Cut
off their right hands, tell the police to commit sum
mary execution on the spot, etc., etc.
But before we re all turned into Wallace voters
out of pure terror, we might remind ourselves of the
chain of evasions and betrayals that so robs people
of faith in their society they no longer have the guts to
enforce its laws. Welcome, America, to Washington
and the Bicentennial, and be sure to bring your
daughters.
Copyright, 1975, The Washington Post-King Fea
tures Syndicate
Letters
Arab history not pure
It is difficult for me to believe that the
Organization of Arab Students in Eugene is
made up of people who are as blatantly
ignorant and hate-filled as those who wrote
the letter entitled “Palestinian Struggle” on
May 16.
Do they really think that any rational per
son will believe that either side is totally
good or bad? No nation in the history of the
world has been created without blood,
propaganda, and displacement. Are they
trying to tell us that they are different, that
they are somehow pure and righteous in the
middle of this violent world?
If they are rooiisn enough to think that we
will fall for that, it gives one an interesting
view of their opinion of our
intelligence...and of their own gullibility.
It is very difficult to get a realistic under
standing of any complicated conflict; it is
often easiest if one goes to relatively unin
volved sources of information. In this case I
suggest reading the many well
documented accounts left by the British.
Though they actively worked against the
creation of Israel, they kept track accurately
of the events which led to its recognition in
1948, reporting the good and bad on each
side.
Leal? Maher
Senior, English
‘The finest professor
I was saddened to learn of Dean Rea's
resignation from the School of Journalism
faculty.
Mr. Rea was the finest professor I had in
my four years at the University, and I know
many other past and present students
would agree.
His courses were difficult and his stan
dards high, but I learned more from him
than I did from any other teacher. Perhaps
this was because he provided a large ele
ment of “off-campus” reality that is too often
lacking in University course offerings.
Certainly, the lessons I learned from Mr.
Rea in reporting, editing and press law con
tributed a great deal to my work on met
ropolitan newspapers in Honolulu, Hawaii
and Auckland, New Zealand.
Still, I have the greatest respect for Mr.
Rea’s decision to leave the teaching pro
fession when he feels he has enough of it. I
wish him the best of luck in his next under
taking, whatever it may be.
John G. Anderson
Queenstown, New Zealand
Class of 1971
Pressures of reporting
After reading “IFC votes no money for
women’s athletics" which appeared in
Monday’s (May 19, 1975) Oregon Daily
Emerald I was dismayed that: (1) it was the
mistaken impression given by Marcie Healy
that all members of the IFC concurred with
Jane Aiken’s recommendation for zero
funding of WIA and (2) that little of the de
bate or issues were adequately presented
in the article.
After serving two years on the IFC, I have
never written a letter to the Emerald com
plaining of my own ‘bad press’ despite all of
the false or derogatory comments afforded
me by the paper. However, in this article,
the students as a whole were not well
served. The article paid strict allegiance to
the incorrect beliefs of the Chairer. Nothing
in the way of opposition was accounted for
or even casually noticed. This, in itself, con
stitutes an insult to WIA
I do not write this letter to take my disting
uished colleagues to task, merely to point
out that other points of view do exist and
were ignored by the Emerald. This seems
especially true for the issues surrounding
the WIA budget as Jane’s recommenda
tions were passed by only four of the seven
members of IFC after very "limited" debate.
Beyond all of this, lies the sad facts of this
particular committee action. The Emerald
failed to perceive that the committee action
was as much the result of personality
alignments and relationships as it was
based on any meaningful discussion or in
vestigation. The Emerald failed to see that
this committee action constitutes an unwar
ranted slap on the wrist for the women’s
athletic program and for the intelligence of
the students as a whole. The Committee
action certainly casts doubts on the future
of athletics at the University of Oregon, and
in the final analysis, will serve no one well.
The only thing this action will foster is dis
-— (S5K£J2S5rJ7'/£
'WONDERFUL—BUT I WISH JERRY VKUMEEP US INFORMED ON JUSTWHAT HETS UPTO/'
content, bitterness, and for some,
heartbreak. This is a pity, in my opinion,
especially if such action was proposed by a
spirit of frustration or vindictiveness and
voted upon, in large part, in ignorance.
Some of these views could have been
explored by the Emerald. I realize that the
pressures of reporting are great, but then,
who asked me? Well, certainly not the
Emerald!
Bill Dick
IFC member
Political Science and Engliah
No ‘faffing' matter
I’ve been humiliated sir, the Football
Team snickers at me everytime each and
every member can. This, I don’t under
stand. They say that I’m Humorous and
everything I do, is something designed to
elicit comedy in a situation and just because
I submitted a 200,001.99 Dollar request to
the IFC for this coming year to help support
the Fencing Team, THEY LAFFEDM!
I submit sir that the Fencing Team of the
U of O wins more than once a season; that
alone should stop THEIR LAFFTER.
I also submit that Fencing develops
Bodies to be supple, helps minds become
agile, quick and wiry (good for debate) and
it is guaranteed non-physically harmful
tho.Jt is addicting. It also develops a high
degree of Competitiveness AND...only
those who Fence know wot those little
squats and forefinger circles, you must
make to control the Foil, Does for S-E-X. It
also makes you quick on your feet....
I say sir, that the Football Team has a
finer line of B.S. to even go on the field each
year in comparison to the high virtues one
can gleen from just one hour of Fencing.
Wots $200,001.99 cents anyway?
Thomas M. Condon
Capt. Fencing Team
Sociology
Alias, The Mot
Feedback follow-up
On April 28, a letter of mine appeared in
the Emerald. It requested that students who
desired to make anonymous input regard
ing the quality of teaching and curriculum in
the College of Education's teacher training
programs contact me. I have received
enough feedback to arrange a meeting. In
terested students who wish to formulate
suggestions for curriculum improvement
which will be submitted to the College of
Education can meet at the lower lounge in
the new EMU area, adjacent to the informa
tion booth, on Thursday, May 22, at 8 p.m.
Jim Dietrich
Graduate, College of Education