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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 1985)
editorial _ 5. Korea stands at political crossroads When South Korea’s leading opposition figure Kim Dae Jung returns home on Feb. 8 after two years of political exile in the United States, it is likely that thousands of his sup porters will be waiting at the airport to greet him — if there s no government intervention. The key issue for many people, including top-ranking members of the U.S. State Depart ment, is what kind of action the South Korean government will take when Kim returns. There is good reason to wonder what will happen to Kim. He has long been one of South Korea’s most outspoken opposition leaders. In 1971, he nearly defeated Park Chung Hee in a presidential race that gave him 46 percent of the of ficial count. After the election, fearing for his life, Kim fled to Japan. In 1973, he was kidnapped by Korean agents, for cibly brought back to Korea and jailed. Following Park’s assassination in 1979, Kim was free again and preparing to run for the presidency, but the elec tion never took place. A military coup, led by the current South Korean president, Chun Doo Hwan, took control of the government and jailed hundreds of opposition leaders. Kim was sentenced to 20 years for sedition. Following his arrest, the government massacred hundreds of unarmed civilians during protests in the city of Kwangju, an opposi tion stronghold. The massacre shocked the world and led to protests against the United States for supporting the Chun dictatorship following the coup. South Korea is now at a political crossroads. President Ronald Reagan, who requested Kim’s release from prison in 1982 in order for him to receive medical treatment in the United States, has steadfastly declared that South Korea has returned to democracy. But Kim insists that democracy will never return to his homeland until the democratic opposi tion can openly participate in the political process. If the Chun dictatorship jails Kim upon his return and renews its crackdown on opposition forces, then South Korea will be thrust into another period of political violence and government-sponsored repression. How Chun handles Kim’s return will also have a direct impact on U.S. foreign policy. In 1980, the U.S. government was caught in the awkward position of backing a military coup that led to the mass killing of unarmed civilians in Kwangju. If Chun returns to strong-arm military tactics to deal with the op position led by Kim, then Reagan will be forced to make some careful decisions. Learn about the impact before spraying begins In just a few months, Eugene will become the target of a large scale insecticide spraying campaign to rid Lane Coun ty of the current gypsy moth infestation. The moths have already done widespread damage to forests and tree farms in the area. The problem, however, is how to control the morn in festation. Current proposals include a plan to spray 224,000 acres of Lane County with three insecticides. While one of the insecticides (B.T.) is considered relatively harmless, the other two (Dimilin and Orthene) have been linked with possible harm to both environment and humans. There is a lot to be concerned about in the proposed spray program. For example, is there adequate protection for local streams and lakes? What possible effect could the spraying have on humans? These are issues not to be taken lightly. We en courage members of the community to attend the question and answer session on the spray program to be held today at 7:30 p.m. in the Jefferson-Magnet Arts Community School,1650 W. 22nd Ave. Oregon daily . . emerald The Oregon Dally Emerald is published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Dally 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, Rob Kraft, Ross Martin, Karin McKercher, Laurl Neely, Kelly Neff, Kara Oberst, Curt Penrod, Michele Ross, Alyson Simmons, Peg Solonika, Tim Swillinger, Colleen Tre maine, Hank Trotter. Page 2 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 Julie Shlppen Jolayne Houtz Michael Hosmar Paul Ertelt Julie Shippen Diana Elliott Cynthia Whitfield Lori Steinhauer Reporters: Sean Axmaker, Dave Berns, Robert Collias, Thomas Henderson, Allan Lazo, Capi Lynn, Scott McFetridge, Stasia Scarborough. News and Editorial 686-5511 Display Advertising and Business 686-3712 Classified Advertising 688-4343 Production 686-4361 Circulation 686-5511 'Ann UNDflS itoT Most woaaEn would RATHER SEiUB foK A cuddle, than CoMPLBtB IKE ACT —WADDA ^ 3W TO THAT, AN I MAC7?7 letters Reversal Timothy Smith’s commentary on abortion (ODE, Jan. 28) showed his command of Latin. But Ipso facto tutti-frutti (translate: big words are no substitute for truth). For Chris tians to compare a woman’s choice to abort her fetus to the Nazi extermination of six million Jewish human beings is an insult to the victims of that horror. This is also reversal. The intolerance of some Chris tians for those with other views contributed to the Holocaust in Germany. And the Nazi's treat ment of “Aryan” women parallels the views of today’s anti-abortionists: Nazis outlaw ed abortion and forced women to become breeding stock for Hitler’s army. Teresa McNew’s letter (ODE, Jan, 28) contains exactly this argument for sus taining America’s army. Build me a society in which women have the spiritual freedom to create their own sense of morality and the political power to enact their views. One in which a woman’s income is 100 percent (not 59 percent) that of a man, and in which un- or under-employed adults and children are accord ed a dignified right to food and shelter. Show me a world in which safe, convenient and 100 percent effective birth-control is available and is given to adolescents without embarrass ment or ambivalence. And, Timothy, transform the con sciousness of our fellow men so that adolescent boys do not pressure their girlfriends into sex, and so that adult men do not pressure or rape women. Only in such a world could two men presume to discuss the morality of what a woman does with her body, and even then the choice must be hers. lack Straton Physics Sorrowful Abortion is a sorrowful reality that is sometimes the best course of action. Better a child not be bom than bom unwanted by its parents, or to be sold off to people neither parent or child would choose, or into a corrupt deadly world where psychopathic, bloodthirsty killers rule nations, who would bring down the torture and death of war upon their tiny, in nocent heads. Better than condemning them to the nightmare evils of a planet dying from cancer and such, induced by human produced environmental poison. Better a soul travel on, than to come and take the bread from one already here, or fall prey to famine. Abortion is evil. May we find better ways. Sometimes it is the lesser evil. If you don’t want a child, don’t get pregnant. You cannot put too much emphasis on that effort. You will not find abor tion an easy or pleasant alter native. Some anti-abortion peo ple may practice terrorism. Better to work for peace and love for life. Tommy Waien Eugene Misunderstood It seems that my proposal for retroactive abortion was misunderstood. Some have gone so far as to say I was being sarcastic and that I was actually arguing against abortion; they are sadly misguided. Abortion is a beautiful ex perience. A woman is able to show her control over her body; an example of mind over matter. I do have one small problem with the abortion experience, though: abortion is sexist. Women have the right to control their bodies, how come men don’t have such a right? I don’t want to be bald, nor do I want my hair to turn gray, or to die before I’m 300; unfortunately, though, I can’t control such things. These all violate my "right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," but our authoritarian government discriminates against us minorities (men) by not letting us control them ourselves. It is our government's job to insure our pursuit of happiness, and therefore they should grant us all the right to control our own bodies. Equality for all. Brian Moore English Diversify When I moved to Oregon three years ago to attend the University, the state was in the depths of its worst recession. Due to the poor economic con ditions, I planned to return to Colorado after graduating. However, with the further development of Willamette Pass ski area and the employment opportunity it has offered, I am planning to remain in Oregon. Oregon is a beautiful state with year-round recreational opportunities. In few states can one go skiing on Saturday and play golf, bicycle, sail, fish, backpack, or visit the beach on Sunday. With the decline of timber as a basic industry, it is time for Oregon to use its moun tains for more than harvesting trees. Ski areas sell not only skiing, but an outdoor experience. Basic to this experience is the quality of the natural world around the area. People go ski ing to enjoy the outdoors and this enjoyment adds to the value that people hold for nature’s beauty. Thus, area ski operators have incentive to provide a quality outdoor experience. Skiing does not impact the environment as greatly as other economic activities. Most ac tivity occurs, except initial development, during winter months when much of the wildlife is not in the area. In Colorado, some of the best deer hunting was on Vail Mountain. It was also the least accessible. Few area operators want people shooting guns on their moun tain. It’s time for Oregon to diversify, and skiing offers an environmentally safe and ■economically advantageous supplement to the timber industry. Jim Simasko Assistant Race Director Willamette Pass Thursday, January 31, 1985
