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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (June 27, 1985)
editorial Attitudes in ‘Rambo’ signal growing trend Rambo is as macho as they come. With the body oi a power lifter and the emotions of a brick, he barely flinches as he stabs, shoots, blows up, and torches his way through scores of people. Even setting fire to a small village of inno cent people fails to evoke any outward signs of regret. When he brings in American POWs that he has rescued from a Vietnamese prison camp, he is cheered by audiences in America and Lebanon alike. John Rambo, the star character played by Sylvester Stallone in the film ‘‘Rambo: First Blood Part 11,” is dangerous. Not because he single-handedly combats an en tire army, but because of the ideas he represents. Rambo makes killing and war look glorious. He shows that there are few people that you can trust, that everyone is just out for money, and that if you can kill a lot of people, you will be respected. He stands for achieving your aims through force and he makes it look, especially to children, that it is pos sible to fight hundreds of people and remain virtually unscathed. In addition, Rambo is being marketed as a hero to an au dience that, for a large part, cannot remember the Vietnam war. This idea will be further encouraged when retailers throughout the world start displaying an assortment of Ram bo paraphernalia aimed at children, including Rambo action figures, toy guns and knives, and even Rambo vitamins. It is also disheartening that many of the cheers in the au dience are coming from Vietnam veterans. Those that saw the horror first hand should be the last ones to support a film that glorifies killing. Their support of the film, in particular, lends it credibility. One veteran summed up his sentiments in a recent letter to the editor published in Time magazine, by saying “there is a vicarious satisfaction for us Vietnam vets in seeing Ram bo win where we were not allowed to.” This statement pro mpted us to ask if the only thing that the writer of this letter, and other veterans that cheer Rambo on, regret about the war is that we "lost," that if we had “won” everything would , have been alright. Fortunately, many veterans do not. sup- . port the film. But aside from the messages being relayed in the film, there is mounting concern that the themes will manifest themselves in tangible behavior. Beaverton police officers found several lethal booby traps in a neighborhood park earlier this month, and linked them to two boys, aged 15 and 16. Rumors, which the Beaverton police were unable to confirm, suggested that designs for the traps were based on traps built by Rambo in the first film in which the character was featured. "First Blood." Some psychologists even believe that "Rambo” reflects a growing trend of nationalism, which includes other films like "Uncommon Valor” and “Red Dawn.” They assert that the themes portrayed in these films may soften American at titudes towards military force and may actually increase the likelihood of a conflict involving military exertion. University community psychologist Norman Sundberg saw the film and said that it reflects the values of violence and reacting with force rather than with negotiation or diplomacy. He doesn’t think that one film is likely to affect behavior in someone who is not already predisposed to it. However, he does think that ".there is clearly a trend towards violence” and simplistic thinking, and that a repeti tion of films of this type lead to attitude changes in society. We think that "Rambo” represents unhealthy attitudes and that its enormous popularity reflects a chilling change in American values. Letters Policy The Emerald will attempt to print all letters con taining fair comment on topics of interest to the University community. Letters to the editor must be limited to 250 words, typed, signed and the identification of the writer must be verified when the letter is turned in. The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length or style. Letters to the editor should be turned into the Emerald office, Suite 300, EMU. Commentarjr Protestors of animal research are urged to consider options For those who denounce research using live animals, 1 ask, please think of the pro blems which might result if' such research were not done. If research were continued with humans; who w ou I d . '‘volunteer”? The poor,, for some stipend; the imprisoned,. for possible sentence reduction for better conditions: or those in state " institutions.. whq often can't choose, without any pre testing. to be subjects?- - Iff volunteer for a research project, I do so with a convic tion that someone in the future will be helpedand that I can hopefully assess the integrity of the doctors or researchers and some of the consequences of my participation in the project. If the rats or monkeys can’t choose, neither in a sense can the poor or interred. No one condones research done in art unclean or violent manner on animals or humans. 1 have met some of the students who are researchers and keepers at the University and was quite impressed with their concern for, and even affection for. the animals. While 1 have a hard r time cozyihg up to a bat or rat, • they were very comfortable with them. - They also were aware pf ho’w their research would affect the rest of us. If their research stops, . where are we? If We risk human ' lives, what are we? Without researr:h. however, academic knowledge is lost of and more clearly. Id treat more . specifically and carefully,-and . io have a person lead a healthier.' and more productive'life, how .do we balance the lives -thirt would- be lost or crippled ’• without such research?' ■ ff I can volunteer for research with a feeling of great hope for The researchers were aware of how their' research would affect the rest of us. If their research stops, where are we? If we risk human lives, what are we? who we are, of what makes us "work” or ‘’not work,'! of how we react to products or pro cedures, and how we-exist-''and interact with all aspect# of our environment. As more complicated chemicals and drugs are pro duced,. more years of testing must be done to insure their safety so that harmful substances can las kept off of the market and out of our environ ment. If years of research into epilepsy or cancer have led to our ability to diagnose earlier future sufferers, does the cat or cow or rat know that such reseerch done on them benefits, their kind . as well? The veterinarians and animal „ science people who diagnose and treat animals learn'from such research To the protestors,, please talk with the researchers and see the ramifications of their research for all of Os human, animal or vegetable, qnd think of what might happen without any animal research at all. By (instance Toomey Oregon aoiiy emerald The Oregon Dally Emerald Is published on Tuesdays and Thursday during the summer session 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 Universt ty with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and Is a member of the Associated Press The Emerald Is private property The unlawful removal or use of papers Is prosecutable by law General Staff Advertising Director Production Manager Classified Advertising Assistant to the Publisher Susan Thelen Russell Steele Vince Adams Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales Tim Clevenger, Michael Gray, Nancy Nielsen, David Wood. Production: Vince Adams, Kelly Cornyn, Stormi Dykes, Kathy Gallagher, Kelly Neff, Michele Ross, Peg Solonlka, Karen Stallwood. Colleen Tremaine, Hank Trotter. Editor Managing Editor, News Editor Editorial Page Editor Entertainment Editor Photo Editor Night Editor Associate Editors Administration Higher Education. Community Student Activities Features Julie Shippen Diana Elliott Michelle Brence Sheila Landry Karen Stallwood Sheila Landry Kirsten Bolin Scott McFetrldge Julie Freeman Marty Schwarzbauer Reporters Sean Axmaker. Robert Collias. Allan Lazo. Linda Hahn, Chris Hazen. Photographers Steven Gibbons, Jim Marks, Ross Martin. Hank Trotter, News and Editorial 686-5611 Display Advertising and Bualness 686 3/12 Classified Advertising 686-4343 Production 686-4361 Circulation 666-5511
