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The smell of plutonium, roar of the firestorm
If politics is a circus — then it follows that in the
political arena there are the ringmasters, the aerialists
and — of course — the clowns. Often it seems that the
clowns outnumber the ringmasters and aerialists.
And lately the clowns have been elephants rather
than donkeys
Unfortunately, some of these clowns aren't
talented enough to work as mimes. But fortunately,
when these clowns speak their minds, what issues is
usually too damn strange to be anything but funny,
funny in an apocalyptic way.
Such a circus act was staged last week in
Richland, Washington, as the nuclear elite gathered
for dedication ceremonies for the Fast Flux Test
Facility on the Hanford nuclear reservation. The
principal comic was Energy Secretary James
Edwards — a substantial muckie muck in Pres
Ronald Reagan’s traveling circus.
Edwards, waxing eloquent, said that without
nuclear weapons, Americans would "all be freezing
in Siberia.” This line was only the "set-up” for the
punch-line;
“Thank God for nuclear weapons,” Edwards
said
That must have received a few here heres and a
warm round of applause from the nuclear proponents
at the Fast Flux Test Facility.
Edwards condemned the efforts of anti-nuclear
demonstrators, vowing the dissidents wouldn’t set
the nation’s nuclear arms policy. He all but called
them “nattering nabobs of negativism.” Remember
that clownish remark from another tent show long
out-of-town?
letters
Missing comix
Boy, am I pissed off. How do you people at the
Emerald expect me to keep up with current events when
you only print Doonesbury and Bloom County every other
day? I was able to handle one day without, but you've got to
understand that these two comic strips are as essential to
me and my politically-minded friends as a morning cup of
coffee. Maybe even food.
I’ve been able to supplement your frequent Doones
bury-less-ness by finding it in my morning Oregonian
Unfortunately, this more reliable paper does not carry
Bloom County and, because of you people, it seems I must
go through satire-withdrawal almost weekly
I didn’t object when you cut Benb out and I withheld
my complaints when Peanuts got the axe, but I’ll be
damned if I'll keep quiet about these latest atrocities.
Please print the “daily" comics daily
T. Kyle Dodge
Senior, international studies
Your best friend
Look at me. I’m a fag. When I’m not raping little boys,
I’m cruising for scrumptious men to take back to my dorm
room. I’m a fag because I can’t get women Bull.
Look at me again. If you can’t stand to look at me, then
look at your best friend. I’ve seen him sneaking behind
your judgemental puristic eyes I’ve seen him searching for
the love you deny exists Once found, I’ve seen you save
him from fulfillment by evangelistically destroying his
happiness. With your macho image and societal eyes,
you’ve managed to keep an edifying relationship just
beyond his grasp. Because you deny that the love he
searches for is not as pure, right, and as lasting as the love
which you need, because you do everything possible to
stifle and smother the love you don’t understand, your
friend plays a game.
One day, your friend will see how you have forced him
"I wonder,” Edwards went on, unhampered by
any flashes of intelligence, “who is marching in Red
Square asking for a nuclear freeze.”
What kind of comments are these coming from a
high-ranking member of the Reagan administration?
Remarks of this type serve no useful purpose
assuaging the American people concerned with
nuclear weapons proliferation. They may instead
cause the American position in nuclear arms limita
tion talks with the Soviet Union to take a rather
dangerous prat-fall.
Edward’s slapstick routine for the pro-nuclear
crowd on the Hanford nuclear reservation continued
on the ranking of this country in regards to arms.
The cost of being number one in the arms race is
“not very high,” Edwards said glowingly. "It's just
money But the cost of being number two is a
tragedy. I don't think the mob in the streets should be
setting the standards. ”
Oddly enough, the “mob in the street"
possesses greater foresight than this government
clown. The "mob in the street” sees the arms race
between the Soviet Union and the United States as
resulting in the final confrontation.
Funny, but Edward’s remarks were intended as
serious statements. The cavalier disregard for the will
of the ever-growing “mob in the street" and the
recklessness of Edward's statements warrant cen
sure by the Reagan administration. This man is the
Secretary of Energy and as such is in a powerful
governmental position — perhaps dismissal is more
appropriate for this dangerous fool If nothing else,
drop him into the Fast Flux Facility whatever that
is.
into a hideous world of lies and deception He will realize he
no longer has to accept the loneliness and depression you
offer him One day, the friend you thought you knew so well
will tell you he's a faggot, a dirty queer, a sub-human. All of
the filthy stereotypes you possess will be reflected upon his
face.
Oh, but wait What was he before he told you? Wasn't
he your best friend; the person with whom you could share
your most personal, painful and exciting feelings with, the
one who helped you when you were down, the one you
could share your darkest secrets with?
Now that he's shared his with you, why is he any
different?
Dave Gutierrez
Scouts honor
On behalf of the 5,000 adults and Girl Scouts served
by the Western Rivers Council, I would like to extend our
thanks and appreciation for your support during our 1982
cookie sale. We could not have done it without you.
Anne K. Quirk
Public relations director
Frisbee golf
This is a letter in response to a letter titled "No
Respect” you published April 30
I suspect my view will be the general student body
view, especially after the rude letter from Don Walden
It is spring time again and everbody is getting active
People are playing softball, tennis, basketball (all in the
proper place), and a game that deserves no respect This
game is frisbee golf
Frisbee golf is a game played all over the campus
grounds The same areas where people like to sunbathe,
study, and just plain walk without getting their heads
whizzed off by a F.A.G (Frisbee Association of Golfers)
player
The solution is simple F.A.G. players, stay off our
grassy areas and go to a ' real" fairway
Brian D. Lewis
Sophomore
Campaign promise
Your article on the childcare budget proposal review
in the April 30 Emerald pertains to one of C.J Balfe's
primary considerations as advocated in his platform during
the campaign Surprisingly, there was no mention or
reference to him in the article toward any action or intent of
his to the issue which concerns the proposal to cut the
budget (in opposition to his supposed plans to aid and
continually develop it)
Although not actually having assumed office, it has
been tradition in the past for new presidents to assume
involvement in school affairs from the onset of being
elected If this typifies Balfe’s behavior, I imagine he'll be
disappearing into obscurity again until the next election
As usual, newly elected representatives soon forget
their campaign promises
Jonathan E. Case
Junior, marketing
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