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
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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