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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 24, 1985)
editorial Nerve-gas vote is a historic mistake The U.S. Senate’s decision Wednesday to support thG domestic production of nerve gas was a grave mistake. Since the late 1920s, a vast majority of the world’s coun tries have refrained from either the production or the use of chemical weapons. The horrors experienced by soldiers ex posed to poison gases during World War 1 were enough to prevent the use of the poisons in ensuing wars. Even Adolf Hitler avoided their use because he feared the Allies would retaliate with their own chemical weapons. But the Republican-controlled Senate is not concerned with precedent. Instead, the Senate by a 50-46 vote, decided to end a 16-year-long U.S. moratorium on the production of the weapons. The vote came in response to a legislative move to eliminate nerve-gas production from the Pentagon’s record $302 billion budget for 1985-86. Proponents of nerve-gas production argue it will enhance America’s military arsenal, while providing an in creased deterrent against America's enemies. But although they argue for its effectiveness as a military tool, nerve-gas supporters ignore the effects of its past use. Throughout World War I the use of poison chemicals by one side invited their use by the other. Rather than pro viding a deterrent, the use of these chemicals raised military conflicts to a new level of aggression. Poison chemicals indiscriminately strike anyone in their area of contamination. And their effects are virtually impossible to prevent, as well as long lasting and often per manently disabling to humans. European opponents of nerve-gas development fear that the United States will be willing to use the weapons in a European conflict, while discounting their use within America’s boundaries. They know that the next major war could be fought on European territory. Unlike America's leaders, however, European chiefs of state remember the car nage that resulted from the use of toxic gases in the ‘‘first great war.” Fortunately, for Americans and Europeans the House has yet to vote on the issue. We hope that the Democratic controlled House will be able to see through the shallow, militaristic arguments of nerve-gas proponents and instead work to maintain the current moratorium. Senator's conversion will help apartheid opponents The Reagan administration Wednesday lost a powerful supporter of its South African policy. Sen. Richard Lugar. R Ind., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said he was ready to consider immediate economic sanc tions against the minority-controlled nation. Lugar said he was prepared to consider a ban on new U.S. investments and loans in South Africa and a prohibi tion on both the import of South African gold Krugerrands and the export of U.S. computers to Africa’s largest country. Aside from his foreign relations chairmanship, Lugar is chairman of the influential Senate Republican fund-raising committee and was considered by Reagan for the 1980 Republican vice presidential nomination. Opponents of apartheid should be proud of Lugar’s con version. The efforts of thousands of Americans who oppose South Africa's racist regime have undoubtedly had an effect on Lugar and his colleagues. How much longer will it be before a majority of the U.S. Senate supports embargoes against South Africa? It’s only a matter of time. Oregon daily emerald The Oregon Dally 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 Susan Thelen Production Manager Russell Steele Classified Advertising Vince Adams Controller Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales Laura Buckley, Tim Clevenger, Jen nifer Fox, Michael Gray - Intern, Robin Joannides - Intern, Carlos Lamadrld - Intern, Marcia Leonard, Rick Martz, Nancy Nielsen, Brett Pickman, Laura Willoughby - Intern, David Wood Production Kelly Cornyn, Storm! Dykes, Manuel Flores, Kathy Gallagher, Dean Guernsey, Jackson Haring, Susan Hawkins, Kirk Hirota, Grant Keltner, Rob Kraft, Ross Mar tin, Karin McKercher, Lauri Neely, Kelly Neff, Kara Oberst, Curt Penrod, Michele Ross, Alyson Simmons, Peg Solonika, Karen Stallwood, Colleen Tremaine. Hank Trot ter, Mary VanCura. Page 2A Editor Managing Editor News Editor Editorial Page Editor Photo Editor Sports Editor Sidelines Editor Friday Edition Editor Entertainment Editor Night Editor Associate Editors Administration Higher Education Politics ASUO Student Activities Community Features Michele Matassa Mike Sims Michael Kulaga Costas Christ, Oave Barns Brian Erb Brent De La Paz Sheila Landry Kim Carlson Michael Duncan Paul Ertelt Jolayne Houtz Scott McFetrldge Paul Ertelt Mary Lichienwalner Diana Elliott Cynthia Whitfield Lori Stelnhauer Reporters Sean Axmaker, Kirsten Bolin, Michelle Brence, Robert Collias, Julie Froeman, Thomas Henderson, Robin Joannldes, Allan Lazo, Adam Worcester Photographers: Dean Guernsey, Kirk Hirota, Jim Marks, Ross Martin, Karen Stallwood, Hank Trotter News and Editorial Display Advertising and Business Classified Advertising Production Circulation 686-5511 666-3712 666-4343 686 4381 666-S811 letters Ask not... No smoke and no fire: my response to Mr. Jesudas Menon’s comment on racial discrimination in Singapore. (ODE. May 3). May I ask you. Mr. Jesudas. a fellow Singaporean,, what do you mean by racial discrimina tion in Singapore? No doubt. 1 am a majority. 1 have worked with fellow Singaporeans of minority races. We worked in harmony and enjoyed each others’ company. Singapore is a multi-racial country. You. me and fellow Singporeans are descendants of our forefathers who are im migrants from China. India. Sri Lanka. Indonesia. Malaysia, etc. Singapore being able to achieve the second highest stcn dard of living in Asia is credited to the multi-racial citizens working harmoniously together in building a better future for our future generations. If Jesudas has not known, last year Singapore celebrated the 25th year of nation-building. 1 am proud of Singapore’s achievements. The credit does not belong to the Chinese. It belongs to every Singaporean. Aren’t you proud of being a Singaporean, Mr. Jesudas? Many nations envy Singapore for being able to progress in a multi-racial society. tat us not start a racial discord among the various races in Singapore. Mr. Jesudas. why didn’t you voice your dissatisfaction dur ing the general election last year? Stand up, Jesudas and face reality and tell the truth. Every Singaporean is given equal opportunities in term of employment, welfare and hous ing. Ask not what Singapore can do for you but what you can do for Singapore. Albert Lai Economics Big change I noted with interest your re cent story and editorial regar ding ASLJO President |ullc Davis' veto of the "unjustified” athletic department budget. It seems that Julie has suddenly become a fiscal conservative, a strange metamorphosis from just a few short months ago. when she herself used our stu dent funds to take a political vacation junket to sunny Nicaragua. Perhaps Julie will now use the dollars saved from the athletic department to treat us to a slide show of the Soviet countryside. Das Vedanya. Julie... Willy Bils Law Worthless Before I get started here, let's forget about the notion that I'm a “redneck” and have never been involved in any movements in the past. I've grown quite distressed every time I pick up the Emerald and read somebody's beef about the world. If they're not mad at our president, or a country on the African conti nent. they're just looking to bitch about our system. Anti, anti, anti, what a wor thless way to affect change. Maybe we should remember that in our country we can travel freely, speak freely and attend the school of our choice. In the Soviet Union, if you wanted to travel to Salem, you have to apply for a travel pass and state how long you would be gone, where you’re staying, and purpose of visit. It might take weeks to get it approved, whereas if your father was a government official, possibly you could get into a college. Let’s stop working overtime on our own government, which does not annex people and countries under their rule, and hold them against their will. I would sure like to sou thu people who are so quick to bitch about things th«y know very lit tle about, use facts in their opi nions. It seems like all the opi nions on campus are just feelings. if we would all im.se our opinons on facts, or our feelings on facts, then our opinions would not be so far apart, and a change in the dissatisfations could be affected. Beniamin (irote Eugene The winner is The recent award-winning behaviors of the city prosecutor and members of the Eugene Police Department concerning the anti-aparthied action at the Federal Building deserve public mention. Members of the police depart ment deserve the "Above and Beyond the Call" award for ar resting not only those demonstrators inside the building, but also a supporter who was on the outside giving an interview to television reporters. Somehow the televi sion reporters escaped such special attention. Honorable mention for "creative excellence" goes to whoever thought of the humorous charge of "obstruc ting justice" to justify the arrest. The "honky" award goes to the police officer who ticketed a woman for honking her car horn in support of the demonstrators. Imagine how busy that peace of ficer would lie following one of the Ducks' few football wins! And last but not least, the "business as usual" award goes to the city prosecutor who is throwing the book at those who would use the name of Steve Biko in vain while making a public statement about U.S. government and business sup port of apartheid. Lucky for us that the prosecutor, his friends at City Hall, and their friends at the Chamber of Commerce know that allowing too much right of expression is bad for business. So here’s a toast to the award winners, and a vote of thanks for showing us their true colors. Koscoe Caron Elementary Education Friday, May 24, 1985
