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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 1985)
editorial New Zealand’s stand must be respected Most Americans are under the impression that any country that stands for democracy and freedom in the world will stand behind U.S. military policy. But not all democratic nations want to follow in America’s military footsteps. Rather than resort to a knee-jerk, self-righteous belief that our way is the right way, we must learn to accept the decisions of these nations. For 34 years, the United States, New Zealand and Australia have participated in a mutual defense treaty. Dur ing every war the United States has fought in this century, New Zealand troops have fought alongside American soldiers. But this friendship is now threatened by the fact that New Zealanders voted overwhelmingly last year to keep their country free from becoming a part of America’s nuclear weapons strategy. As a result, U.S. ships carrying nuclear weapons have been banned from New Zealand’s territorial waters. Washington’s response to this has been straightforward. Joint naval exercises with Australia and New Zealand were cancelled on Monday. The State Department followed with a warning that anti-nuclear gestures against the United States by its allies will not be “cost-free.” Speculations of trade sanctions were raised. Angered by the American response, New Zealand Prime Minister David Lange stated that, “In New Zealand the people have spoken, and it is not for the United States or any other major power to say that they don’t accept that democratic decision.” Lange is absolutely right. Tension over a similar issue has also built up in Australia. Prime Minister Bob Hawke, who met with Presi dent Ronald Reagan on Wednesday, cancelled an agreement last week that would have enabled the United States to use Australian bases to monitor MX missile test flights. Hawke claimed that there was strong opposition to the agreement. Reagan then cancelled America’s request for use of the bases to avoid a clash between the two allies. The United States must learn to respect the democratic rights of other nations like Australia and New Zealand when they do not want to become part of (or targets in) the nuclear arms race between the superpowers. The Reagan method of threatening allies with trade sanctions if they do not accept U.S. military objectives must stop. Ongoing protests in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the South Pacific against U.S. nuclear weapons policies are not, as Reagan likes to say, all part of some communist conspiracy. They are expressions of legitimate concerns by the peoples in those countries. Getting your feet soaked on the way to the EMU What’s 10 feet long, 4 feet wide, and one and a half in ches deep? It’s the EMU puddle! That’s right. It’s that giant mass of water that sits along the EMU walkway everytime we get a heavy downpour. There are a number of ways that the University can deal with this ever-growing miniature lake. We can put it up for sale as waterfront property in the heart of Eugene. We can stock it with trout and issue fishing permits. Or we can re quest that the Physical Plant send someone over periodically to unclog the debris-filled drainage holes that lie beneath the water. There is, of course, one last, although more dramatic step the University can take. We could call in a competent architect, who could then design a concrete walkway that will drain water off of rather than onto itself. Whatever step the University takes, we hope that something will be done soon to stop the flood from growing. Suw SERvict HKy<Esrf«ORrrf NOSOAREA, EtSCTKPNC ofewo SgjS^. «fi M HOUSE PWft ! SEC«Cr SERVICE LIME Do NOT C»0*iS, HOUMAUTUQRl'ztpl SScurr SB*vtci secure AREA NOwmx \Mnwxrr Vvcueakanke TUIS AREA AfeSomtsuc off uwvrrs NO BtEFTlQN^ letters New focus The emotional tempest put on by the “pro-life” movement during Right-to-Life Week gives dramatic evidence that “pro choice" advocates are steadily losing the propaganda war to the crusade against abortion. So long as this complex issue is spoon-fed to the mass media in terms of baby killing versus per sonal choice, what conscien tious human being would affirm a woman’s right to kill babies? It is time for the pro-choice movement to undertake a fun damental reorientation of its political focus. The assertion that abortion is murder can no longer be challenged by “Me” generation platitudes concern ing the quality of life and in dividual happiness. The heart of the issue, which the pro choice movement seems to have lost sight of, is at what moment the life of a human being begins. Medical evidence on this point in inconclusive. Suf fice it to say, anti-abortion ad vocates maintain that a person’s life begins at conception. Ac cording to their reasoning, the joining of two cells literally constitutes a human being, no different than the readers of this newspaper. The only basis for such reasoning is religion, not science. Cast in this light, the crusade against abortion can be seen for what it is, the cause celebre of the same anti-democrats who wish to persecute homosexuals, force prayer on public school children, censor our press, and otherwise trash the Bill of Rights in any manner they deem Oregon doily _ - 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 Comyn, Stormi Dykes, Julie Freeman, Kathy Gallagher, Dean Guernsey, Susan Hawkins, Rob Kraft, Ross Martin, Karin McKercher, Lauri Neely, Kelly Neff, Kara Oberst, Curt Penrod, Michele Ross, Alyson Simmons, Peg Solonika, Tim Swillinger, Colleen Tre maine, 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 Oe La Paz Sheila Landry Kim Carlson Mike Duncan Sheila Landry Jolayne Houtz Michael Hosmar Paul Ertelt Julie Shippen Diana Elliott Cynthia Whitfield Lori Steinhauer Reporters: Sean Axmaker, Dave Berns, Robert Coltias, Thomas Henderson, Allan Lazo, Capi Lynn, Scott McFetridge, Stasia Scarborough. News and Editorial Display Advertising and Business Classified Advertising Production Circulation 686-5511 686-3712 686-4343 686-4381 666-5511 appropriate. The fight to save abortion rights must take up a new banner — freedom of religion. Gabriel Frayne Political Science Beat the Beavs The Beavers have defeated the Ducks 13 straight times. The streak will come to a crashing halt Saturday at Mac Court! This will be a great victory for true Duck fans, as any win over the dreaded Beavs would be. Picture Oz continually sticking 18 foot jumpers, opening up the inside for Blair and his patented baseline jumper. Or Harpo stripping Flowers cleanly at midcourt, and feeding Trapp for the breakaway jam. If you think Ralph has been crabby and cranky for the last decade or so, wait until he jumps all over Woodside and Derrah for failing to get back on the break, as a streaking Anthony Taylor goes flying by like Lew Barnes past a Beaver defensive back. Mac Court will be in a frenzy. Benny Beaver will drag his tail between his legs in shame. There will be banner headlines in the Sunday Register Guard, possibly the OSU school newspaper, and the Oregonian. I realize there are many Beav fans who will disagree with me, and think these ideas are ludicrous. There is the possibility, however, that these are the same fans who thought Avezzano could turn things around, if given another six or seven years. Don’t despair if the Ducks should fall behind at some point. We may win by only one or two points, or by as many as 17, but we will win! Beat those aggies! Bill Mitteistadt Eugene Rubbish Every day in this column, wispies simper and whine about abortion. So-called Chris tians spew “scientific” and “biblical” rubbish. Spudhead liberals rehash the same trite old poop. But no one ever gets down to it. No one ever talks about the real issue... Killing babies. I’m in favor of it. In fact, America hasn’t gone far enough on the abortion front. We should take lessons from our good friends and trading partners, China and India. I'm calling for mandatory abortions. Eveyone’s gonna get one now. Let's kill all the babies. If it’s already been delivered, it’s still a woman’s choice. She has to raise it, she should be able to chuck it in the dumpster. In the far east, people don’t think a baby has a soul un til it’s two weeks old. I’m advocating a national in itiative on forced medical pro cedures. We’ll give abortions to people who don’t even need them. And that includes men. Cease your senseless blather ing, you pinheads... Let the bloodbath commence! Todd Souvignier Journalism Save the seals You can help stop the wasteful American seal hunt on the Pribilof Islands in Alaska. In 1984 alone more than 22,000 North Pacific fur seals died needlessly. On October 15, 1984, the North Pacific Fur Seal Conven tion, allowing the annual seal slaughter on U.S. and Soviet territories, officially expired, according to the terms of the treaty. However, before this happened the U.S. Departments of State and Commerce had already negotiated with Japan, Canada, and the Soviet Union for a virtually identical treaty. But it’s still not too late to save the seals! The new treaty is not official unless the U.S. Senate (now is session) votes by a two-thirds majority to con tinue the treaty. It is, therefore, essential that you write and/or call your U.S. senators now and urge them to: 1) Vote against the North Pacific fur seal treaty when it is submitted to them for consideration. 2) Advise the administration to start over and negotiate an entirely new treaty which pro vides for a permanent ban against commercial sealing on both land and sea. We at the Humane Society of the United States extend to you our sincere appreciation for joining with us in seeking an end to the Pribilof seal hunt in the United States. Judi Kukulka Program Coordinator The Humane Society
