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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1981)
opinion m greg wasson tabled indefinitely Nobody loves me but my mother. . and she might be jiving too. B.B. King When Hunter S. Thompson visited campus he called me a pig. In February, a half-dozen representatives condemned me on the House floor. And two weeks ago, the Rev. Jerry Falwell labled me “misdirected.” Actually, the good reverend’s visit offered the kind of encounter that keeps one interested in reporting despite the dirt-bag wages. Before the “I Love America” rally, Falwell held a press confer ence to explain why banning prayer in grade school led to higher gas prices. This country’s problem, explained Falwell, is that we’ve strayed from the path prescribed in the Bible. Even if that’s true, I challenge Falwell’s competency to redirect us. As a young Methodist, I studied tolerance, forgiveness and humility. Falwell preaches arrogance, condemnation and repression. His total disregard for other people is demonstrated best by his plan for a voucher approach to education. Under the proposal, parents could choose to send their children to private schools and recieve a rebate on taxes they paid to support public education. Maybe it’s unfair to paint Falwell as inten tionally evil. Perhaps the classism and racism he advocates are unintended spin-offs of an ill-con ceived plan. But I doubt it. Falwell is all too aware of the problems with his plan and, when forced to defend it, resorts to personal attacks to divert the focus. Admirably, though, few in the press corps were buying it. Consider this exchange between Falwell, myself and KLCC reporter Gerry Mackie: Falwell: . . and then there’s the shooting of Pres. Reagan and the Pope. Our side never killed anyone. Wasson: How can you say that? What about Viet Nam? What about Chile? What about Kent State? Falwell: I’ll match America’s record on human rights against the Soviet Union’s any day. What paper do you work for, anyway? Wasson: The Oregon Daily Emerald at the University. falwell: I thought so. Mackie: Is there something significant about the University, sir? Or are you simply implying that educated people generally oppose your plan? Score one for our team. And, that feeling is reinforced at the rally. Surrounded by a sound system that would make the Grateful Dead envious, Falwell used blaring marches, American flags and supple, young Christians as a backdrop for his warnings. But the crowd didn’t look vital and strong. A large portion of the audience brought aluminum folding chairs so they could listen in comfort and about half gathered to protest and gawk. Only one of 90 legislators, Rep. Drew Davis, D-Portland, joined Falwell on stage. Might as well face it, Jerry, most Oregonians don’t relish the role of moral arbitrator. The separatism you preach has no place in a unified world. We can do quite well without it. yours What about. . .? I don’t understand what you're doing. On May 26, Gabriel Boehhmer in a front page article entitled, “University students blamed for bad grades,” has ample opportunity to expose the Univer sity big green machine. Instead, he chose to waste the space telling us why we re getting bad grades according to University administrators. Gabe fails to mention or even ask anyone about the gross inadequacy of the library, and what effect that might have on our education. And what about old lab equipment, and a lack of engaging prominent speakers, and maybe even sacrificing a few bucks for smaller classroom sizes. Wouldn't investment in this area improve educa tion, or is it that so much University money is in slush funds, dozens of full athletic scholarships, and meter maids, that the University can't afford to offer a decent education? But hey, they sure manage to put on one hell of a show on Saturday afternoons, don't they? Perhaps it’s time students took precedence over the NCAA and are of fered an education comparable to the outrageous tuition cost at this state University. But then, on the other hand, maybe the administration is right, maybe we students aren't as smart as we should be. After all, who’s paying thousands of dollars to get reamed? Michael Gressett 1555 W. 18th All for the best I am very glad the organizers of the Women Symposium saw the point of view, shared by hundreds of people on campus, that I expressed in my letter to the Emerald May 19. The fact of the matter is that the organizers changed their intention after people of all kinds, from different levels of the University community, expressed their concern about the segregationist way the work shops of the Women Symposium were originally announced The workshops were then open to everyone. Unfortuna tely, the racist-sexist flyer was already around campus, so not many people attended them. Trudy Cooper, from the YWCA (which put out the flyer), said in the Emerald May 21, “The stipulation ‘for white women only’ should never have appeared on a symposuim flyer.” I agree. Now, I would like to clarify some in exact expressions published in the same article. I had spoken to someone in charge of the workshops before I wrote my letter to the Emerald May 19. The truth is that I did talk with Rosario Valdez — anounced in the flyer as one of the “facilitors” of the workshop tabled "FOR WOMEN OF COLOR ONLY.” So, after seeing the flyer and speaking to someone from the Symposium, I did understand their intention of using a segregationist way for the workshops, and I decided to express my disa greement. Then I wrote a letter to the Emerald, and the community expressed their concern in many ways. Then the organizers saw our view and opened the workshops to everyone. Chronological order seems to be important to clarify this matter. Finally, I don't see how I could have been “hiding behind the guise of a letter in a newspaper" as JoAnn Een accused me of May 21, since I signed my letter with my full name. I believe that letters to the editor promote democratic participation in the media while it is a valid way to publicly express opinion on public issues. As I said before, I’m pleased every thing worked out the way it should have. Now, I'm looking forward to learning more and participating in the next Women Symposium. Sergio Antillano Graduate, interdisciplinary studies Petty parochialism While the U S. Congress is passing legislation to eliminate abortion funding for poor women who are victims of rape or incest, Reagan is attacking nearly every social program possible, and the 1 Senior Citizens' VftllOP-THE - PRESiPEKT 0AY BRinG Your owm stick % Page 4 state Legislature is threatening massive cuts in higher education budgets, it seems no more trivial subject could be found than petty attacks on OSU and the Barometer (May 22). The parochialism sustained at both universities and by their student newspapers can only damage us all. I am occasionally sur prised by the Emerald, however, so I await your next issue prepared for worse. My mom always told me to say something nice, if I could, so not to be too hard on you Mr. Manny, it only seems appropriate to congratulate you on making such a nice fool of yourself. Greg Remington Institute of Molecular Biology Open your eyes! I’m writing this letter in response to Susan Anthony and all the other feminist separatists mentioned in Katherine Mer rill’s article in the May 21 issue of the Emerald. It is unfortunate that these women hate men. They are prejudiced against men to the point of segregating men and women with male children from their society. This is the type of thinking that is hurting any effort to create a better society and world, where everyone is useful and we can be friendly and loving to others and tolerant of those different than us. The attitude of these separatists about men is like the cliche jokes of bigots: “I wouldn't want to live next to one” or “I wouldn’t want my daughter to marry one.” Please women, open your eyes! Not all men want to fuck and dominate every woman they meet. Some of us want to talk with you, listen to your ideas and help work toward that idealistic society where everyone is equal and free. It shouldn’t be difficult for you to dis tinguish who the real enemies are in this society: they aren’t the men who are protesting the draft and war and nuclear arms and powerplants and world hunger. They’re the ones who propose the draft and start wars and build the arms and plants and starve the world’s people for a profit. There are important things to be done at this time. All people, all races, all women and men, should work to correct the ills of this world. I respect your search for freedom and equality but I apall your withdrawal from reality. It’s time for all aware people to work together. David Friedman 1670 Alder Monday, June 1,1981
