opinion
va irs
Angering comments
I certainly hope the comments by
Nancy Whitely, John Kaiser and Tooraj
Fooladi in the Jan. 20 Emerald article
concerning the return of the U S. hos
tages in no way reflect the position of this
paper. Both Ms. Whitely and Mr. Kaiser
were disappointed the hostages were
being released. They would have liked to
see them tried as criminals. I absolutely
cannot understand how they could feel
this way. I am extremely angered by their
comments.
You seem to forget, Mr. Kaiser, that the
CIA is a U S. government agency and
whether the hostages were or were not
working for the CIA is immaterial. The
fact remains that the hostages were
taken illegally by people that obviously
have no respect for international law. I
also find it hard to believe, Mr. Kaiser,
that either you or Mr. Fooladi possess
enough factual information to determine
whether or not the hostages were CIA
spies. It is extremely irresponsible of you
to think you do.
The Emerald also somewhat distorted
student reaction to the hostage release
in that article by implying that many
University students would like to have
seen the hostages tried Of the five peo
ple interviewed, three said they would
have liked to see the hostages tried. I am
sure this proportion is not indicative of
student opinion. I could be wrong, but I
doubt it. In view of Ms. Whitely, Mr.
Kaiser and Mr. Fooladi's comments, Bart
Jones’ quote in the same article was
heartwarming. He said "I'm mad
because I wanted to see Reagan blow
the hell out of Iran.”
If it were up to me, maybe I still would!
Brad Fowler
Junior, Journalism
Another side
I must disagree with Martin Heiser and
Kelly Hogan's definition of "perspec
tive." Putting an issue “into perspective"
is not looking at only one side of it.
So to present another side
What would you decide? The father was
an illegitimate child whose first marriage
was sterile, his second was a shotgun
affair and his present one an incestuous
union to his cousin. The first two children
of the marriage both died in infancy The
mother is now pregnant with her third
child but is willing to have an abortion if
you determine that she should. What
would you decide for her? If you chose
abortion congratulations, you've just
r
murdered Hitler! So much for perspec
tive
The most pressing problem in the
world today is overpopulation. The dou
bling rate for global population is now
approximately 37 years. If anyone ac
tually believes that we will double global
output and perfect a fair and humanitar
ian means of distributing food in that
time, then they are dangerously ignorant.
The present number of malnourished
people in the world is estimated to be 500
million. The number of people, mostly
children, who literally starve to death
each year is in the tens of millions
(source - Worldwatch Inst ).
The Bible has been used to perpetuate
terrible atrocities in the past: witch burn
ing, torture, slavery and in the present:
persecution of homosexuals and sub
jugation of women. But the most dan
gerous threat to our civilization in the
next century will be certain fundamen
talists’ (and devotees of other dogmatic
religions) continued rejection of the
necessity of making abortion and all
forms of contraception universally
available and socially acceptable.
Clark Porter
Sophomore, environmental studies
Enough’s enough
Okay folks. Enough is enough. I know
that we, as college students, love to
crusade for various causes and take
shots at others. But recently there has
been many negative comments directed
towards the quality and control of the
Daily Emerald
Sure, the paper has on occasion mis
quoted some people and overlooked
some facets of a story. But let those
among us who are perfect in every way
throw the first typewriter, or reporter out
of the window If you think that you can
do better, then join the Emerald staff and
do something about it!
Now, I do not know anyone on the
Emerald staff, nor am I affiliated with the
paper in any way, shape or form. But
having been an editorial page editor of a
paper before, I know the challenge of
pleasing everyone and doing a good job
at the same time This paper is a very
important voice of the student body and
the alternative of having no paper at all is
hardly appealing. Many of the people on
the Emerald staff are students also, and
they are trying very hard to make the
paper as good as it can possibly be.
One parting comment. Sure Sparrow is
not as good as Peanuts. But aren't most
of us in school so that we can take new
T
ideas and innovations into our chosen
fields? How are we going to do that if we
are so closed minded that we cannot
even give a new comic strip a chance?
How do you think Peanuts or Doones
bury got started in the first place? At least
Peanuts is back and we don't have to
hear those petty arguments anymore.
Instead of unloading on the Emerald, in
lieu of offering constructive help or cri
ticism, get in there and see if you can do
better. I am sure that the Emerald staff
would welcome every perfect writer out
there who can do everything flawlessly.
Mark Wolfe,
Junior, recreation and
park management
Coming home
I am replying to David Wellsfry’s letter
of Jan. 23 (“Flag or mat?’’) concerning
Ron Phillip’s statement on Inauguration
Day.
Perhaps you have never carried the
dead body of your best friend off the
battlefield while the Marine sergeant
yells at you to hurry.
Perhaps you have never experienced
death or war.
Many of those who have are too psy
chologically numbed to do much or feel
much. Many vets attempt to fit back into
society in a “normal" way. They carry on
the facade that “nothing has happened"
and only their friends and intimates
know, directly or indirectly, of their suf
fering.
Ron Phillips is unusual in that he faces
his own pain and calls the rest of us to
see what part we have played in it.
The Vietnam veterans are unique in
that they came home neither victors nor
heroes. Yet we still ask them to carry for
all society the burden of the effects of
war while we “live our lives."
It is they who daily confront, cons
ciously or not, the effects of war. In
response, it is we who ask to merely
evade the responsibility for the society as
a whole concerning killing and dying.
Before we condemn these people for
"crazy” behavior, we should realize what
we ask them to do: both in going to war
and also in coming back home.
Linda Kanzinger,
German literature
Hidden charge
It's no secret that the University has a
knack for dreaming up ways to squeeze
' now ah we mm ans m is m cm i'
$$$ out of students, however, the latest
revenue scheme has gone beyond rea
son or fairness. I’m referring to the new
parking meters in front of Mac Court, as
well as the insane charge of $4 for meter
violations.
For a nickle an hour, the old meters
gave students a maximum of five hours.
The new meters run twenty cents an hour
for a maximum of only two hours, a 300
percent increase. This means a cost of
about $45 to $75 PER TERM for a full
time student, and this doesn’t include
meter violations, which will also cost 300
percent more then last year.
The problem is compounded if you’re
a P.E major, because they are required
to take Professional Activity courses that
last two hours. This almost guarantees a
parking ticket, unless of course, they can
dress down, attend class, shower, get
dressed and get back to their car before
the time expires on the new two-hour
meters. No big deal, just an additional $4
fee, for the student or another $4 in
revenue for the University, depending on
how you want to look at it.
Of course, one could spend $18 (Fall
1979 price) and get a parking sticker.
However, the University would be the last
to admit that they don’t have near en
ough pre-paid parking spaces and that
having a sticker does not guarantee
getting a space to park.
The 300 percent increase in meter
costs and violations is damn right
criminal, but the two hour limit in an area
used heavily by P.E. majors and athletics
is the worst offense of all. Makes you
wonder what they will come up with next.
Parking meters for bicycles? Better yet,
how about a sidewalk fee based on the
distance you have to walk between
classes?
Jim Trenary
Senior, physical education
Fees, church
I am surprised and somewhat taken
aback by the actions of Susan Harris of
the IFC and her husband, Dan Harris. I
was under the impression, perhaps
wrongly, that Mrs. Harris ran for the IFC
position under the platform that students
should have a voice in how their money is
spent — all students. Her actions are
blatantly inconsistent with her "cam
paign promises,” so to speak. I have no
doubt that each member of the IFC
represents some interest group, but the
Harris’ have crossed the line of repre
sentation into misuse of office.
Let me clarify the fact that these are
not anti-Mormon sentiments. I have been
a member of the LDS church all my life,
and the heritage and culture is ingrained
in me as much, if not more so, than most
members But I have too much respect
for my friends of different faiths (and no
faith) to condone partiality toward any
sect, including my own. I hope the Harris’
realize that they are indeed introducing
people to Mormon religion, and leaving
them with contempt and restraint.
Carolyn Myrick
Senior, psychology
fetters policy
The Emerald will accept and
try to print all letters containing
fair comment on ideas and
topics of interest to the Univer
sity community. Letters must be
typewritten 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.