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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 1985)
editorial Castro’s idea could save 1988 Olympics When the International Olympic Committee announced that the 1988 Olympic Games would be held in South Korea, many Olympic atheletes and international sports fans feared that the stage had been set for another Olympic boycott. Why the International Olympic Committee chose a divided country as the site for die 1988 games is not clear, but by putting them in South Korea, the chances are that North Korea will call upon Communist-bloc nations to boycott. If this happens, especially in light of the recent boycotts led by the United States and the Soviet Union, then the spirit of international cooperation at the games could be seriously damaged. To prevent another major boycott, Cuban President Fidel Castro has come up with an idea that deserves impor tant consideration. Castro’s suggestion to Juan Samaranch, president of the International Olympic Committee, is to share the 1988 games equally between North and South Korea. Considering the ongoing tensions between the two countries and the likelihood of a North Korean-led boycott of the games, Castro’s suggestion should be given careful con sideration. It might prove to be the only way to prevent a ma jor boycott. During the last two decades the Olympic Games have been increasingly turned into a battle ground for political ideologies. This must stop if the spirit of the games is going to survive. What is that spirit? It is the ability of all countries to momentarily rise above their political differences, to join together in pursuit of athletic excellence and in the process to share experiences across cultural bounderies. Perhaps the best example of this can be found in the history of Greece, where the games started over 2000 years ago. During the bloody 25 year war between Athens and Sparta, a war based upon strong ideological differences, both nations managed to put those differences aside when it came to the Olympic Games. It was one of the only times Athenians and Spartans met and shared common ex periences outside of the battlefield. Although the games didn’t stop the Greeks from fighting one another, given the nuclear realities of today, we have to make every effort to put battlefields behind us and international cooperation ahead. The answer to abortion lies between the extremes In many ways it is a battle of extremists. On the one side are those who call the pro-choice people “murderers.” On the other side are those who argue that abortion is justified under any conditions. In the middle of the debate on abortion are people who see the issue as a multi-faceted problem with a multi-faceted answer. These are people who realize that abortion is killing but also realize that back-alley abortions, as was the case prior to 1973, mean death too — the death of women. Abortion occurs because of unwanted pregnancies. Therefore, to decrease the number of abortions in society we must try to decrease the number of unwanted pregnancies. This is common ground upon which both pro-choice groups and anti-abortionists can and should stand together. Educa tion about sexual reproduction, wider availability of con traceptives for both sexes, better care for unwanted children, financial assistance for low-income families and more adop tion programs are among the different ways to help lower the abortion rate. No doubt people will still continue to shout slogans of “murder” or claim that abortion is always justified. But if the problem of unwanted pregnancies is to be lessened, then people must identify its causes. A legal abortion law is not the cause of unwanted pregnancies. Oregon daily emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co., at the University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 97403. The Emerald operates independently of the Universi ty with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and is a member of the Associated Press. General Staff Advertising Director Production Manager Classified Advertising Controller Susan Thelen Russell Steele Vince Adams Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales: Laura Buckley, Tim Clevenger, Jen nifer Fox. Marcia Leonard, Rick Martz, Nancy Nielsen, Laurie Nobel, Roberta Oliver, Brett Pickman - Intern, David Wood. Production: Kelly Cornyn, Stormi Dykes, Julie Freeman, Kathy Gallagher, Dean Guernsey, Susan Hawkins, Ross Martin, Karin McKercher, Lauri Neely, Kelly Neff, Curt Penrod, Michele Ross, Alyson Simmons, Peg Solonlka, Tim Swilllnger, Colleen Tremaine, Hank Trotter. Editor Managing Editor News Editor Editorial Page Editor Photo Editor Sports Editor Sidelines Editor Entertainment Editor Assistant Entertainment Editor Night Editor Associate Editors Administration Higher Education Politics ASUO Student Activities Community Features Michele Matassa Mike Sims Michael Kulaga Costas Christ Michael Clapp Brent De La Paz Sheila Landry Kim Carlson Mike Duncan Sheila Landry Jolayne Houtz Michael Hosmar Paul Ertelt Julie Shippen Stasia Scarborough Cynthia Whitfield Lori Stefnhauer Reporters: Sean Axmaker, Dave Berns, Robert Colllas, Diana Elliott, Thomas Henderson, Allan Lazo, Capi Lynn, Scott McFetridge. News and Editorial 686-5511 Display Advertising and Business 686-3712 Classified Advertising 686-4343 Production 686-4381 Circulation 6865511 md*d ***»/* PO I IMA&NE IT, OR IS^E MEMBERSHIP QUIETER T?4AN USUAL 1&DAY?' letters Not threatened To whom it may concern: We at the Women’s Referral and Resource Service have a few words for those self righteous people who subsist on pouring out hatred and violence against women and other women’s groups. These people know who they are: they are the ones who believe women should be barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen; they practice hatred towards lesbians — do we feel a bit threatened? And they actual ly believe in the Freudian con cept of penis envy. Please don’t make us laugh! The Women’s Referral And Resource Service has been the brunt of many malicious acts recently. Our purpose is to offer a place for women to get together and share ideas. The referrals and resources we offer are for women wanting informa tion pertaining to jobs, social welfare, legal services, academia, and other areas perti nent to women’s lives. Is it so harmful for women to want ac cess to those institutions geared to help them specifically? No, we don’t practice female superiority — we practice and work for women’s equality in our oppressive society. How can you feel threatened by equality? Contrary to the belief that we are a band of renegade, bra burning, castrating bitches, our purpose has been clarified for those who fail to understand the term “Referral and Resource.’’ So, think about your actions. You have failed (again) to silence us. However, your at tacks have augmennted our pur pose to further educate neander thal types like yourselves. Laura Romano Leah Juniper Chris Gonzales and others at WRRS God and gays I am responding to Douglas Pyle’s letter (ODE, Jan. 15) in which he denounces the use of violence against homosexuals in the name of Christianity. I share that view with Mr. Pyle to a degree, only because violence toward homosexuals is not an accurate reflection of the Chris tian theology. However, I disagree that homosexual prac tices are an element of “the nicely diverse body of humani ty” that he talks about. The Bible tells us that homosexuality is a sin, but it never advocates hatred toward a homosexual any more than it does toward violators of God’s other commandments. Regardless of what our human views on the subject may be, the Bible’s message is clear: hate the sin, not the “sinner.” Rather, compassion and understanding are the watch words of any true follower of Christ, based on a thorough study and conviction of what God says about this and other subjects. It might do both Doug Pyle and Brad Hall well to read 1 Cor inthians 6:1-11 in the Bible in order to better understand God’s position on homosexuali ty, before either one of them at tributes this violent action to the Christian viewpoint. Lyn Gaston Eugene Nothing to lose Mr. Brian Moore’s letter (ODE, Jan. 21) is a shining ex ample of ambivalent liberal thought. The parallel you drew, Mr. Moore, between the blockade of the Marine Officer Recruitment Presentation and the crimes committed by the Marines is infinitely more ludicrous than James Phillips’ assertion that this demonstra tion was an act of non-violent civil disobedience, which you condemn as fallacious. Yes, the Marines’ right to abuse free speech was denied; but equating the standing in front of a movie screen with genocidal rampages in Southeast Asia is an idiotic exaggeration. Your point is that a violation of free speech is wrong no mat ter whose rights are being tran sgressed. This point is, to be sure, valid and truthful, but it is also irrelevant to and and a diversion from the real issues. The blockade was, moreover, a condemnation of the Military Machine, whose existence is ut terly contrary to basic human needs and morality. In a world of violence and flux, there is no room for two-faced liberal politics. Come now, Mr. Moore, as middle-class students of English we can afford to be radical. Other than our middle class socialization, we’ve got nothing to lose, Brian Maffly English Moth issue Readers: As the Gypsy Moth spray controversy builds into yet another ‘‘battle of the opi nions,” let me relay my own en counter with the subject. Problem: A growing Gypsy Moth infestation threatening to destroy plant life in my home town. The local paper was abundant with articles slashing at the proposed Gypsy Moth spraying, predicting unforseen horrors if this “appalling” ac tion should take place. And in deed the spraying did take place. For a few days in the ear ly morning hours before dawn, helicopters flew over the entire community, careful not to miss any potential Gypsy Moth “hot spots.” Yeah, those helicopters did wake me up when they flew by my home; maybe I should have grabbed the phone and given them a piece of my mind. Naw. Anyway, our menace is gone; not one Gypsy Moth has been found in years — our plants saved, our community happy. As for the predictions: no dead birds and fish, no aborted offspring, no caffeine. It’s your turn for rebuttle now — get your pencil and paper. I’m ready. John Dickson General Science
