Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 12, 1981)
opinion I© greg wesson tabled indefinitely The king is dead. Long live the king. And it usually made little difference to the ruled that the monarch had changed. When one person extracts tithes, it feels pretty much the same as anyone else extracting tithes — it tends to be a drag America, being the fair and equitable democracy that it is, has developed new methods of transition, but there are those who would argue that it still makes little difference which candidate wins, that Jimmy Carter isn't much different than Ronald Reagan. As voters become more and more disenchanted with the two major parties, there’s a growing search for a meaningful alternative. One unfortunate byproduct of this disillu sionment is the increasing strength of the Liber tarian Party. In their quest for something better, many voters are blindly accepting a party whose approaches might have worked well in the Garden of Eden, but have no place in 20th Century dis cussions. Libertarian philosophies can best be de scribed as vacuum politics, based on the idea that what I do with what’s mine is of no concern to those around me. The government shouldn’t in terfere. If I want to rape the resources I own, that’s my own business and no one else’s. It’s reasoning that’s easily refuted. Consider Ya-Po-Ah Terrace, the retirement apartments at the base of Skinner’s Butte. Used to be, that one got a clear view of Eugene and the surrounding area from the top of this highly accessable hill. Then, the owners of the land decided to construct a multi-story building near the park, providing residents with a good view and nearby open land, but taking away from the rest of us a large chunk of our unobstructed view. I would contend that the building’s pro prieters made money at my expense. To argue that I should have no say in how and where such building’s are constructed is folly. And what about the building of an additional multi-unit dwelling nearby? Does it make any sense that the property owners be guided only by their own consciences and needs? Or does it make sense that city agencies be consulted before the desecration is allowed? But probably the silliest contention is that companies like Weyerhauser and Georgia-Pacific won’t overcut the forest because it doesn’t make economic sense. It makes a great deal of sense to the corporate mentality to generate as many bucks as you can then move to another part of the country or the world. Whether America would benifit from the emergence of new parties is a question for an other column. Whatever the answer, the country won't gain from the continued rise of the Liber tarians. yours Open eyes For years this institution of higher learning has blindly encouraged men who appear to have gained a fairly large following, teaching certain myths as facts Among these men is a Dr Sanders, who holds to certain “explanations" of the Hebrew Scriptures: that Hebrew “prophecies” were written after the his toric occurences they claim to have predicted; that there is no God who judges sin or man. If these explanations are true, then it would appear that some predictions could be made from them. The Hebrew Scriptures that now exist could never adequately predict an im menent, present-day war (Unless, of course, they had been re-written after such a war). The God who does not judge sin or man might not consider Himself personally committed to fulfilling any such “prophecy." While still holding to the old myth that the ancient Hebrews could not face the reality of their day, these men diligently become the fulfillment of their own ac cusations, spouting theories that are blind to the reality of our own day. Meanwhile the world prepares for its most viscious war yet — exactly as out lined in the Hebrew Scriptures before the time of Christ This institution of higher learning need no longer encourage these men. Instead, /V .Ttfit '*f\' r-j; A-r> 7 >* t, ;u it can encourage learners to open their eyes, acquire the present-day facts, and thus be part of the twentieth century Eric Engelman Graduate student, physics Feminists will win These pages have lately been host to the whining of a few little fellows all hot and nasty about threats' to their right' to pant, gape, and paw themselves on campus It seems that second only to their ‘right’ to drink beer till they barf and bellow at all hours comes this (no doubt) God-given ‘right' to sell, buy, and view pornography on campus without cri ticism. One grows accustomed to such drivel. Many, however, in their ridiculous ob fuscation, begin to confuse Feminists with Fundamentalists. A trip to the library might lift their fog Knowing the density of the fog, however, I will try to help you demented darlings along by defining one of these: a Feminist. She (or more rarely, he) rightly views the normal' male/female roles as anyth ing from mildly boring to dangerous and disgusting. Fluffiness in women and crustiness in men is dull, dull, dull. Pas sive victimization in women and domin ant egomania in men is dangerous: these roles breed rape, beatings and murder. The feminist finds you repulsive when you stump around, slamming each other on the back, mouthing off about your 'right' to your woman’ and/or any woman. Feminists want to see the whole world set right so that women are treated with real dignity, respect, and honest caring for their needs and rights. This is to be contrasted with the things you “value” in women: big tits, a tight ass, bubble-headed giggles, and shaken or smash self-respect Women (hats off to Marcia Kraus) and men who are feminists don’t think your 'right' to beat off in 150 Geology watch ing 'films’ precludes their right to demand dignity and respect for all women in a very loud voice. Feminists aren’t going to rest — or let you rest — until women have the power and respect their humanity deserves. Cringe, whine or carp if you will, little fellows: Feminists will win. Jean Lorraine SEARCH Instructor What’s in store? What’s in store for us over the course of the next four years? That seems to be the question most people have been asking since the Nov. 4 election. . There has been a lot of speculation and gossip but not a lot of hard fact. However, I’ve found out some things which haven’t been put out by the local media, which is the reason for this letter. First, John Tower, the new chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee has announced a major restructuring of subcommittees to make them “mission 4 .4 ft BACK OF THE BUS oriented.” New subcommittees to be created are Tactical Warfare, Strategic and Theatre Nuclear Forces, Prepared ness, and Sea Power and Force Projec tion. The Arms Control Subcommittee will be abolished. Secondly, Strom Thurmond, new chairman of the Senate Judiciary Com mittee, has announced the formation of a new subcommittee on Terrorism and Drugs which is to be chaired by freshman senator Jeremiah Danton of Alabama. This is an attempt to bring back the old Senate Internal Security Subcommittee In order to create this new subcommittee Thurmond is eliminating the one on monopolies. David Isenberg Junior, international Studies Dollar check-off It is appalling to see election cam paigns more and more fall into the hands of big money special interests. The recent 2nd District Congressional race where more than $1.5 million was spent is a case in point. That campaign had megabucks flowing in from out-of-state banking, oil and aluminum interests, to name just a few. Fortunately, in Oregon we have a democratically-controlled form of public financing in the form of the dollar check-off for political parties. Individual taxpayers may check off a dollar on their Oregon return for their favorite political party. Allocations of these funds are made democratically in a system based upon locally-elected precinct commit teepersons. In 1981 strike a blow for the public interest and check-off a dollar for you favorite political party. Our only defense to the onslaught of big money special interest political action committees is a strong and viable party system. David McTeague Democratic National Committeeman Salem etters policy The Emerald will accept and try to print all letters containing fair comment on ideas and topics or interest to the University commun ity. Letters must be typewritten, using 65-character margins and should be triple spaced. Letters must be signed, the author s field of study (or faculty status) noted and should include address and phone number where possible.
