ooinion
Immorald majority
Congratulations, ODE staff! Your Im
morald issue was outrageously funny!
I'm quite sure that the majority of the
Immorald readers correctly considered
this issue as an April Fool’s joke and ,
therefore, placed it in a proper perspec
tive. As for the small (but nonetheless
vocal) minority of angry Immorald
readers, I ask, “Where is your sense of
humor?”
I consider the article on Pat Horton to
be well written and very funny. Bill
Manny's comments were made in jest
and in the spirit of sarcasm. Bill didn't
mean that Pat Horton would actually
shoot someone — he merely wanted to
show us that Mr. Horton’s ideas are
slightly to the right of the norm. Yet, in
Thursday’s Emerald, Mr. Horton was
quite serious when he presented his plan
for rendering rapists impotent Now,
don’t misunderstand me; I have no sym
pathy for rapists But it seems that Mr.
Horton has inadvertently lent some
credibility to Bill Manny’s satirical com
ments.
The Immorald should be read for what
it is — a joke. There was no harmful intent
or any hint of seriousness in the Immor
ald articles. The writers were simply
having a good time, and hoped that
Immorald readers would do the same.
I think it’s time to stop all the whimpering
about foul language, poor taste and
infantile journalistic quality. Let's give
the Immomrald writers a fucking break!
Frank Thompson
Sophomore, Pre-business
Legislative laugh?
Portions of your supplement in the
April 1 issue of the Daily Emerald were
irresponsible and thoughtless attempts
to entertain your readers. Immature is the
only word that clearly describes the
repeated use of profanity in your efforts
to ridicule the integrity of State Repre
sentative Max Rijken.
I support your use of the First Amend
ment, but it would be more beneficial to
all parties concerned if it were used in a
constructive manner.
Even though the Emerald is a private
organization, it’s unfortunate that the
publication is so closely associated with
the University of Oregon The majority of
your articles are interesting and humor
ous, but the childish motives of a few
writers can easily ruin the reputation of
the Emerald, as well as create an un
favorable image of the University itself
The supplement was intended to
create a few laughs, but the cleverness
of one or two members of your staff
leaves much to be desired I only hope
that the last laugh is not on the University
of Oregon when the Higher Education
budget is reviewed by the joint legislative
Ways and Means Committee
Rod M.Jones
Junior, political science
More Immoralds!
Give us a fucking break; Don’t limit the
Immorald to just April 1st!!!
3rd floor Adams
Your fault
If you have ever said that all politicians
are corrupt, or if you have ever said that it
wouldn’t do any good to get involved, or
if you ever put on a bumper sticker say
ing “Vote Against All Incumbents," then
you are to blame for the latest nitwit
taking a shot at the President.
Maybe you like to say all politicians are
schuysters because that is what every
one else says. It sure is easier to parrot
this sophistsry than it is to get involved in
the time-consuming and hair-tearing
process of self-government. But next
time you trot out this lame excuse for
your own apathy just remember that
tilted people, like pitchers, have big ears.
CRISIS M01/£
CLAP AL HAI6IMIRM
mmm.
/
Keep in mind that you have helped to
create “folk wisdom" that isolates our
political leaders, that paints them as
people not to be taken seriously, as
people we can blame, and people we can
take it out on.
If your sole political activity is running
down politicians and government then
you shot at Ronald Reagan. You got
John, and you got Robert, too. You
helped pull the trigger on George Wal
lace And your self-indulgent apathy is
pulling the trigger on American self
government. It is no coincidence that
President Reagan was shot the day
before only 7 percent of Lane County’s
voters thought it would do any good to
excercise their franchise.
Smart aleck remarks, made by lazy
people running off at the mouth, have
encouraged the insane to take our phony
cynicism to its logical conclusion.
Peace.
Timothy M. Travis
37046 Conley Road
Springfield
Great job, Immorald
Since my days as a graduate student at
the University of Oregon, I have ap
preciated the April 1st edition of the
Emerald.
In a world where laughter and satire
are in such short supply, it is extremely
refreshing to see the Emerald take time
out from the stressful news of the day to
publish a completely satirical issue.
Norman Cousins said laughter was a
great cure for many of our ills. One
reason this world is so sick is that it does
not laugh enough.
Mr. Horton might try laughing. It might
improve his disposition.
You all did a great job. If it helps, I will
take legal action to force you to continue
your annual satire.
With fond affection for all fools and the
fool within each of us. Thanks for making
me laugh.
Vernon Ho
Learning Consultant
R-G out to lunch
By now the brouhaha over the “Im
morald" has blown out to sea, but I have
to say I agree with the Register-Guard
editorial last Friday.
It is bad taste to say Pat Horton
promised to "shoot" Rich Brooks, even if
it was true. What difference is it whether
the word “shoot” is used for a joke or in a
news item? It's still an unsavory reminder
of the near-fatal shooting of President
Reagan. All the media should voluntarily
stop using that word until the President
recovers. If they have to use something
in a news story they can say “pumped full
of lead,” instead.
The use of “shoot” brings up my next
point. Everyone knows that printing
four-letter words gives people the modus
operandi to act out hidden desires. In
fact, studies show that more Americans
saying “shit” is the leading cause of the
ungodly sewage problems in our cities.
Look at El Salvador - you never hear
about sewage problems there.
Another thing. I read yesterday where
ABC has changed the name of a T V.
series character from "Hinckley” to “Mr.
H.” This is commendable. I am terribly
upset over the poor taste of the Tele
phone companies who have still done
nothing about hundreds of Hinckleys
printed in phone books all across the
U S. These offensive books should be
recalled so the Hinckleys can be blacked
out. Plus, everyone named John Hinck
ley should be rounded up and put in
detention centers — for their own safety.
I’m a little surprised Pat Horton hasn't
done this already.
And what about future parents who
name their baby “John?” That's really
bad taste.
Getting back to the “Immorald.” Sure,
some people say it’s paranoid to worry
about what legislators in Salem are going
to do to the U of O when it’s paper has
such bad taste. But if we don’t have the
same good taste as the legislators,
what’s going to happen to us?
A lot of people say that's Charlie-the
Tuna journalism - doing everything to
show Starkist he has good taste. Like the
Register-Guard. I say they’re out to
lunch.
I don’t care if the ‘‘Immorald’’was
funny. I want a school paper that puts out
pleasant predictable pabulum every day
— one I can read without waking before
my first class. Especially on April Fools
Day.
John Mills
Graduate, journalism
Dylan, Christ
For years I've been singing about the
questions and people loved it, but now
I’m singing about the answer and they
refuse to listen: Bob Dylan (Rolling Stone
magazine).
Bob Dylan used to seek the answer
“blowing in the wind,” but now he has
found it hanging on the cross.
Please don’t think I am another
Christian who is exploiting a celebrity
turned Christian, and attempting to get
you to jump on the “Jesus bandwagon"
simply because Dylan turned to Christ.
At this University I have been told that I
am nothing more than a 42-jointed,
electro-chemical organism passing from
oblivion to oblivion. I don't believe that.
There is more. There must be more. Like
Bob Dylan, I believe I have “found it” in a
personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
What have you tried to fulfill your life —
lots of friends, fame, money, sex, drugs
.? At the end of it all, can you say with
Dylan, "I don’t know which one is worse,
doing your own thing or just being cool.’’
How would you answer Bob Dylan, the
ultimate individual, when he asks in one
of his songs, “Are you thinkin’ for your
self, or just followin’ the pack?"
Jesus says, “I am knowing at the door
of your life waiting for you to let me in, if
you do I will come in and have a rela
tionship with you.” (Rev. 3:20 para.)
He is waiting for you.
Martin Heiser
Sophomore, undeclared
Olum’s nonsense
I, for one, thought the Immorald was
rather funny with only a couple of minor
failures in taste. What has really been
funny though — not to say downright
unbelievable — is the righteous indigna
tion displayed by our Lane County Dis
trict Attorney. The true aim of the Im
morald’s lampoons is confirmed by his
imperious outburst. “We can all ap
preciate college humor but...” Give me a
fucking break.
As for President Olum’s remarks, I can
sympathize with his position and dismiss
them. But any fool can cry “Profanity!”
and cluck. His several characterizations
of the Immorald are complete nonsense.
John Wahlund
Junior, geology
Ignore hot air
We want to thank the staff of the Im
morald for their work in producing the
April 1 issue. We think it insulted every
one fairly, and want to assure the staff
that despite the hot air coming from a few
would-be emperors who feel uncomfor
table being told they have no clothes, the
majority of readers enjoyed the paper.
Thanks for giving us a-break from
school and the news.
Doug Verner
and seven co-signers