opinion
I j£k 9re9 vvasson
I jEl q quorum of one
Dad,
Hope the pizza business is going well, and
conversation in Reedsport has moved beyond
discussion of last week’s rain. I don't think you and
mom understand how uneventful life in small-town
Oregon can be.
But, enough of that. Saturday was the state’s
birthday, so this is an appropriate time to send you
the latest installment in my continuing appraisal of
the state legislature. Now into my fourth session
as a reporter, certain aspects of the process are
becoming clear.
But even after that exposure, I’m still suprised
by the lack of enlightenment in the marble halls. I
used to think that government should assume a
leadership role, but now I’m not sure I’m interest
ed in going where a lot of these bimbos want to
take us.
Consider this session’s bills dealing with
marijuana. There are three bills scheduled for
public hearings before the House Judiciary Com
mittee this Wednesday, and the restrictions and
repression of two of the bills rankles my ass. Like
you, I resent people imposing on me their defini
tion of what’s right and wrong. I find it especially
distasteful when their values are based on misin
formation and what I feel are misdirected goals.
The proposals all contain attempts to control
the drug’s use by restricting sale of devices used
for consumption. The first makes it a crime to sell
paraphernalia to minors, the second makes it a
crime to allow minors on the premises where the
implements are being hawked and the third simply
makes possession by anyone illegal.
Give me a fucking break! I’ve got enough real
things to worry about in my life without Rep. Max
Rijken and the other reactionaries at the Legisla
ture causing me unjustifiable grief.
The bottom line is that I'm going to smoke
marijuana regardless of the decisions at Salem.
It’s cheaper to grow it than buy it, and I plan to do
that also. I’ve no doubt that drugs have ruined
people’s lives. But, look at the effects of alcohol.
There are many who are unable to accomodate
that substance without detrimental effects, yet I
see no legislation aimed at making bottles illegal.
I’m reminded of the fact that you smoked
cigarettes for 20 years. You knew you were hurt
ing yourself and finafly quit, but it was your deci
sion. How is it any different for me and pot? Why
should those from your generation be allowed to
decide for themselves what they want to do to their
bodies, but people from mine need help from
others?
I would contend that there is no legitimate
reason, but that the attempts represent a lack of
discipline on those people who control power in
the state.
Well, guess I better go. Keep 'em honest, and
bake one for me.
Greg
yours
Media, hostages
The media representation of the “hos
tage crisis” is an overt manipulation of
the American people. Anyone who can
detach themselves from the emotional
content of the information and look,
rather, at its patterning will see other,
more hidden messages.
What other recent issue has had con
tinuous national coverage, day in and
day out, with the days being counted and
the tension being built, hopes raised and
then dashed, the carrot dangling in front
of the horse - "maybe tomorrow,"
“maybe next month," “we don’t know?"
Is it not a bit ironic that the leaders of the
most powerful nation in the world with
the highest standard of living should
present to its public an image of its
helplessness? Or was this perhaps their
intention?
The phrase “hostage crisis" was im
printed on all of our consciousnesses.
But how did this same media present to
the consciences of the American people
the “Cambodian crisis?" Did they count
the days while SAVAK killed and per
secuted the Iranian people? Why haven’t
they been broadcasting the coverage
from El Salvador of the killing of 10,000
civilians in 1980? Would we sit in our
comfortable houses, eating dinner,
r
watching this?
This imprinting by the media on the
minds and hearts of the American people
has indeed created a resurgence of na
tionalism and a hatred of "foreign” na
tions not acting “in our best interest.”
This allows us to appear lily-white while
we project the shadow-element of our
nation on convenient "others" (Russia,
Iran, etc ). At what price?
Linda Kanzinger
Senior, general literature
Ticket home
We are aghast at the controversial
statements made by Iranian students that
appeared in a front-page Emerald story
on Jan. 30.
If Amin, the outspoken Iranian student,
supports the hostage-taking, maybe he
should go back to Iran and support that
so-called government, which is barely
civilized.
If the American media has blown this
whole situation out of proportion, then
how do you explain the ex-hostages’
statements concerning their harsh
treatment? How could the media distort
these statements?
To sum up our feelings, we can only
conclude that Mr. Amin is a hypocrite
when he says that all freedom-loving
human beings should have supported
the complete denial of freedom to 52
innocent people.
This man deserves a one-way ticket
back to Iran. Maybe he can sell more
communist newspapers over there.
Caroline Petrich
Sophomore, journalism
Resist blackmail
The attempt by Aaron Jones to black
mail the University by threatening to
withhold substantial gifts if the
Environmental Law Clinic is not disman
tled or curtailed should be resisted at all
costs.
It is good and entirely appropriate for
people to take an interest in the opera
tion of the University and to offer sug
gestions and criticisms wherever they
feel these may be useful.
It is an especially fine thing for anyone
to give to the University to support any of
its activities in which they are interested -
but to condition such gifts on change or
curtailment of some other unrelated ac
tivity in the University is simply bribery
and attempted intimidation.
The University should, as a matter of
course, reject all proposed gifts from
individuals or firms that attempt to do this
— even if it entails substantial cost or
f(M&
AND&SH
'You g^ntpotmis — I'M k UBB^l1 i WnT aGRPE with jusnc WM' I THINK WE 9«ULP
KE3P THESTREETS SAFERRCRIMINALS1 I DONTAMND iFTCUCUimaeuPIUE JUSItCg^TEM! WAIT.,,'
sacrifice on our part.
Any unit of the University which comes
under scurrilous attacks of this sort
should be fully and courageously sup
ported and backed up through the period
of attack and crisis. If change in its
activities are desirable, these should be
made during calmer periods, not re
sponse to outside attacks — particularly
not in response to such unethical attacks
marked by lying, attempted bribery and
intimidation.
Bayard McConnaughey
Professor, biology
Not a ‘feminist’
I would like to comment on Leslie
Farris’ article, “Feminists appeal for
unity; plead for sexual equality" (Feb. 2
Emerald). Despite the accuracy of the
content and most appreciated coverage,
the use of the term “feminist" is disturb
ing. I am an Asian American woman who
studies feminist theory and who has a
commitment to a number of struggles,
one of which is the women's movement.
Must we assume that those who par
ticipated in the Feminist Theory and
Action Conference are all “feminsts?"
Perhaps the opening statements of my
presentation will clarify this point:
“For minority women, feminist theory
and action presents a question of ac
cessiblity. The term ‘feminist’ itself is
problematic for some of us. The diction
ary tells us a ‘feminist’ is a militant ad
vocate of equal right and status of
women. Why then do so few of us call
ourselves feminsts’ or even minority
feminsts?’ Why is it that we, who are so
accustomed to struggle (against racism),
qualify or altogether negate being
labeled as feminsts?’ ”
I write this letter not to belabor what
may appear to be a trivial point. I write to
encourage the coverage of any event
that focuses on equality to remain free of
assumptions. Historically, assumptions
have served to perpetuate inequality.
Most importantly, I write in an attempt to
rectify any misunderstanding among my
sisters of color.
Colleen Fong
Graduate student, sociology
tetters policy
The Emerald will accept and try to print all
letters containing fair comment on ideas and
topics of interest to the University 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