Germany's 'hot autumn' of politics
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To be apolitical in Germany is rather dif
ficult. Germany is not just a country of beer,
pretzels and jolly men in Lederhosen. It is also
a place of intense political opinions and action,
and as the so-called "hot autumn" gets under
way, one cannot help feeling as if important
historical events are taking place.
letter home
kellyanne pearce
The "hot autumn" had its official beginnings
last week as 10,000 people exchanged words
and a few blows with the police in front of the
Carl-Schurz-Kaserne, an American military
base were the Military Sea-lift Command is sta
tioned. The sea-lift command supplies Europe
and the Middle East with war materials. The
demonstration was little more than civil
disobedience, but it proved that the German
peace movement will not stand by passively as
the Pershing II missiles are stationed on their
land this December.
All throughout "Action Week" various
demonstrations by different political groups
took place, with many diverse interests uniting
in a single large week of protest. Sunday was
the day for the churches to rise up in protest,
and Monday was the day for women, who un
dressed in front of sex shops, district army
recruiting offices and military bases. Tuesday
was International Solidarity day, Wednesday
the oppostion day for the workers, Thursday
for progressive teachers and high school
students, and Friday was a general day of op
position against parliaments, city councils, ad
ministrations and parties.
Even though these individual events were
important in themselves, in actuality they all
led up to the most important event of all: the
human chain between Ulm and Stuttgart. Par
ticipating in this chain was almost a historical
event in itself, for there was a solid line of peo
ple, and occasionally a double line, that stret
ched 60 miles between the two southern Ger
man cities.
An estimated- 200,000 people united in this
chain to protest the stationing of Pershing II
missiles at the Wiley Barracks near Ulm. For 20
minutes people joined hands, sang "We Shall
Overcome," and forced traffic to come to a
standstill.
Later that day there was a mass rally in Stut
tgart with people of every political affiliation
joining in a few hours of music, speeches by
leaders of the Green Party, and simply fun.
Thousands of people turned out in Bonn,
Hamburg, Stockholm, Paris, Rome and many
other European cities.
This is not a typical week in Germany, but it
is typical that one cannot escape politics com
pletely. Politics are everywhere — posters
plastered on walls, pamphlets littering street
corners, buttons decorating lapels. There is
always a sense of immediacy in the air.
As an American in Germany, and as a
relatively politically active American, it's in
teresting to observe these events as an out
sider. Many people assume that the protest is
only against the American government, but it
reaches much deeper than that. This "Action
Week" was meant as a week of solidarity for all
groups, to coalesce them into one potent
force. They protest against the stationing of
missiles on their land, against the German
politicians who are allowing it to happen,
against the moral vapidity of those Germans
who turn their heads and also allow it to hap
pen. The "hot autumn" is a time of change, of
political mobilization, and the results will be
seen in six weeks.
In evaluating all this one can only hope that
the minority becomes the majority, and that
the peace movement is successful in keeping
Pershing II missiles from Germany and Europe.
But the problem is very complex, and will not
be easily solved by December.
A recent and popular theme among the Ger
man youth is that Germany is the Titanic and
as that December day approaches, so does
disaster. But, as they say, that just the tip of the
iceberg.
Kellyanne Pearce, a University student study
ing journalism, is now in the exchange pro
gram studying in Germany.
letters
Bookish fear
Well-founded concerns were ex
pressed by Daniel Holden,
graduate, journalism (Emerald,
Oct. 26) regarding the library's six
month loan period to graduate
students. Those points, among
others, were discussed widely
during the past year when the
new circulation policy was being
formulated.
One reason graduate students
were given a six-month loan was
because their research needs
often differ from those of
undergraduates. Previous to Sept.
19, some, but not all, graduate
students had the same borrowing
privileges as faculty; that is, two
week, automatically renewed until
February of the following year.
The seemingly arbitrary distinc
tion between the status of
graduate students was questioned
and it was decided to extend like
privileges to all graduate students.
Fears that six-month loans make
library materials unavailable tor
extended periods are not well
founded because of the recall
system. Any library user who
needs an item that is charged to
another borrower who has had it
at least two weeks, will be recalled
immediately and the second bor
rower will be notified upon its
return. If the item is needed with
urgency, that fact may be explain
ed and library staff will do its best
to expedite the process.
All borrowers are encouraged to
return library material as soon as
they finish with it and not hold it
unnecessarily until its due date.
In planning the new circulation
policy the library gave careful con
sideration to the many types of
library users. Weighing the needs
of an individual researcher against
the instructional needs of
undergraduates and the needs of
the greater community resulted in
wide discussion and study among
library staff and the University
Library Committee. We hope that
the resulting policy will prove
workable for all users and we
welcome comments that may lead
to its improvement.
Patricia Silvernail
asst, librarian
Opposite true
I would like to respond to an
editorial (Emerald, Nov. 1) referr
ing to Sen. Mark Hatfield. With
the editorial statement "Hatfield
is obviously pro-peace, anti-war,
and yet has been staunchly anti
abortion" the Emerald is implying
that Hatfield is unconsistent or
"quirky." I would like to propose
the opposite is true.
Pro-peace and anti-abortion
have the same objective, the con
tinuation of life in our world. Pro
peace, anti-war movements sup
port life by trying to prevent our
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own annihilation of the human
rate through nuclear arms. Anti
abortion (pro-life) backers also
wish to support life by combating
the murder of innocent unborn
children by abortion. Because
both nuclear war and abortion
threaten the existence of many
lives (abortions killing children
now) they are the worst evils in
our society today.
I applaud Hatfield for being
both independent and consistent
in his views and not falling into
the trap of following party
guidelines and instead following
his conscience. It is too bad that
more of our politicians do not
follow his example. I wish the
Emerald would recognize this and
support the rights of all people,
not just what is popular or
convenient.
John Stubblefield
Eugene
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