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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1981)
opinion Applaud demise of death penalty The Oregon Supreme Court should be ap plauded for striking down the state’s death penalty law. With groups such as the Moral Majority calling for repressive ultra-conservative laws in the name of God and the Founding Fathers, it is refreshing to see the constitution being interpret ed in a humanitarian way. Written by Justice Jacob Tanzer, the court’s 6-0 opinion said Oregon’s 1978 voter-approved death penalty law is unconstitutional. The law violates the Oregon constitution by allowing judges rather than juries to decide whether a death penalty will be imposed. With the court’s ruling, due process and trial by jury return to Oregon. Unfortunately, the decision does not rule out the death penalty altogether, but may only stall its implementation. Right-wing legislators no doubt ours will draft another version of the same law, simply giving the responsibility for ‘‘finding the fact of the greater mental state” (determining whether or not the crime was deliberate) to juries instead of judges. If voters approve that version of the law, the death penalty will be back in place and killing by the state will again be constitutional. Changes in the law don’t take place over night, however. Those of us concerned about the rights of accused criminals should use this interim period to lobby against the death penalty on humanitarian grounds. The finality of the death penalty makes it unjustifiable, no matter how heinous the crime. Oregon can not be in the business of killing its citizens, even if they are murderers. Correction Editor's note: The Emerald inadvertently printed a letter Tuesday that belittled the plight of handicapped students on campus and referred to those students in demeaning terms. The letter was signed “Daniel Paul Moore," but the real Moore had nothing to do with the piece. We apologize to Moore and Chester Falter, director of the handicapped student union, for allowing the bogus letter to run. Beginning today, all letters must include a phone number so the author can be verified by the Emerald. The following is Moore's reply. So, Mr. Moore, author of Tuesday's letter "What’s the beef?" thinks the University shouldn't waste his money making access available to the handicapped. He proposes that they swallow their pride as his mother has. Well, Mr. Moore, just who are you? Perhaps you did have a point to air and looked to the Emerald's letter section as an opportunity to do so. Perhaps you merely wanted to stir up some controversy and saw the Opinion section as the place for entertainment. You cer tainly achieved that much Daniel Moore was the subject of such labels as "asshole of the Universe” and sarcastic notes from friends. In your own words, however, I ask: "Please don't make your problems my problem. I have enough to worry about." If you must voice an opinion, for God’s sake back it up with your own name and not mine or anyone else’s. Personally, I disagree with the prejudiced attitude of your letter and the narrow mind behind it. I certainly find your libelous use of my name and address on the level of third grade humor. But since you have used it, I must apologize to Mr. Faller for your selfish statements. I can only hope that the Emerald will now take some step toward the professionalism it clearly lacks, at least by screening letters more carefully before printing them. Daniel Paul Moore Sophomore, General Science .yours Two of three Peanuts is back in the Emerald, the hostages are out of Iran and Ronald Reagan is in the White House. Two out of three isn’t bad. Pete Kent Community education, journalism Sanders class I took a class from Prof. Sanders. It taught me one thing — no matter what their credentials, professors have their prejudices too. Check out the facts for yourself, be skeptical, search for the truth, and don’t believe everything you hear. Of course Sanders doesn’t come right out and say he doesn’t believe the scriptures are the inspired word of God. He implies it plainly enough via his teachings. (That the pro phecies were written after-the-fact is the most common excuse used to avoid the truth. Prove it.) Daniel characterizes the world empires of history. If he wrote as late as 167 B.C as Sanders teaches (he didn’t — he wrote circa 500 B.C.), he did an uncanny job of prophesying the ancient Roman Empire. ‘‘The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth (the first three being Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece) which shall tread it down, and break it in pieces (Daniel 7:23).” The Roman Empire was unlike any power before it or since. But what happened to Rome? It was invaded and broken up by ten barbarian tribes. “And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former ones, and he shall subdue three kings (Daniel 7:24).” What power followed the barbar ian tribes? The Bible gives more clues. “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws.” It’s obviously the Roman Catholic Church that is "diverse from" the other kingdoms, a different kind of power. It subdued three barbarian tribes, or kings, the Heruli (AD 493), the Vandals (AD 534), and the Ostrogoths (AD 552), crushing the last opposition to the Holy Roman Empire. The Pope is called “the bridge between heaven and earth’’ with power even over the angels, and with the title “Lord God the Pope.” The Papacy tortured and killed 68 million Christians (called, heretics) who dared to read the Bible (then outlawed) among other things during the Inquisition — 68 million people compared to the 6 million Jews who died in the Holocaust. The Church changed both God’s times and His laws (or tried to). It threw out the Second Command ment (against idol worship) and cut the tenth in half to preserve the number. It changed the Fourth Commandment — sabbath day ob servance (the seventh day, Saturday, which the Jews today will attest to) — into Sunday, the pagan day of the sun. Now how is it this prophecy in Daniel 7:11 (told four times in in creasing detail) was written after the fact? Incidentally, the Pope’s other title, which he wears on his miter (crown) reads "Vicarius Filii Dei,” Vicar of the Son of God. With Roman number values assigned to the letters this name adds up to 666. "Here is wis dom. Let him that hath understand ing count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man; and his number is 666 (Rev. 13:18).” The Greek word “Lateinos" (Latin man or church) and the Hebrew word “Romiith” (Roman kingdom) also add up to 666 But that prophecy is in Revelation, written AD 95, before the leader of the church in Rome was even called the Pope. I wonder what "interpre tation” Sanders assigns to this. Lemme guess — John just had a bad dream after eating a Track Town pepperoni pizza, right? Tracy Duncan Senior, journalism On abortion Let's put this whole issue into perspective: "What would you decide? The father has syphillis and the mother has tuberculosis. They have had four children, the first one was blind, the second one died, the third one was deaf and dumb and the fourth had tuberculosis. "The mother is now pregnant with her fifth child but is willing to have an abortion if you determine that she should. What would you decide for her? “If you chose abortion congra tulations. . you've just murdered Beethoven!” How many Beethovens have we killed? Yearly 1.2 million abortions are performed. It is the second most common surgical procedure after circumcision. I am not unaware of most people’s views of the Bible nor their view of those who both “thump” and con tinually quote it. But listen to what God says in His word: “Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul (Michah 6:7)." Sin, whether it is abortion or just selfishness, is the real issue. “There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, yet is not washed from his filthiness (Proverbs 30:12)." In God's eyes we are all very significant beings and yet truly sin ners who are in need of a savior. But God loves us so much he sent His Son to sweat blood and die for us. Abortion is sin, but we have forgive ness in Christ. Jesus dies for the sins of (fill in your name). (If you have any questions or comments, do not hesitate to call me, Marty 686-6591. I hold a Biblical view of life and believe that Jesus Christ is the way to God, who creat ed us.) Martin Heiser Sophomore, undeclared Kelly Hogan Freshman, Computer Science tetters policy The Emerald will accept and try to print all letter containing fair comment on ideas and topics of interest to the University com munity. Letters must be typewrit ten and no longer than 250 words. Letters must be signed, the author’s field of study or faculty status noted and must include address and phone number for verification.
