editorial
AG decision
problem’s magnitude
Attorney General Edwin Meese's decision earlier this
month to withhold a $625,000 grant to the National Coali
tion Against Domestic Violence, a group that provides
shelters for battered women, is more than an issue of money.
It’s more than an issue of whether the group promotes "les
bianism” as Mecse and his cohorts suggested following the
decision. The decision reflects an attitude that has plagued
domestic violence throughout history: denial.
In addition to the obvious purpose of stripping
credibility from shelters, the decision appears to be an at
tempt to trivialize the issue of wife beating in general, by
shuffling the crime, which permeates all levels of society,
under the carpet.
One need not delve too far into history to discover this
country’s lack of seriousness regarding wife beating. Until
June of this year, a civil lawsuit of a battered wife had never
been heard in a federal court. It wasn’t until the late 1970s
that police would arrest a man for beating his wife without
the involvement of serious injury, or without actually
witnessing the event. And even after a 1983 Police Federa
tion study found that new acts of violence were less likely to
occur following an arrest, police officers are still reluctant to
get involved in a domestic dispute.
In addition, a shelter for battered women wasn’t put in
to operation in this country until 1964. Today, about 900
shelters are forced to turn women and their children away
because they are unable to meet the growing demand for
protection.
Traditionally, it has been regarded as a man’s right to
beat his wife. Society, for a large part, still places the brunt
of responsibility on the wife, believing that if only she were
a better wife, her husband wouldn't be provoked into
beating her. Or that if it were really that bad. she would
simply leave. Meese’s decision lends credibility to these
notions.
But far from hiding the problem, a lack of funds can on
ly make abuse more prominent. The wheels of violence con
tinue to grind, only at a more vicious pace. The results of a
University of New Hampshire study revealed that men
whose parents were violent towards each other were 10
times as likely to beat their wives as men raised by non
violent parents.
A study by the Battered Women Research Center in Col
orado found that 81 percent of men who beat their wives
were physically abused as children, and that women
reported using physical discipline with their children eight
times more often when living with an abuser than when liv
ing in a non-violent situation. It has also been estimated that
in 13 percent of the cases of wife abuse, the children are
beaten as well.
So when women are not able to escape the home and
take their children with them, the home becomes a breeding
ground for a new generation of beaters, and the problem
intensifies.
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence pro
vides refuge for battered women and their children who
have no where else to go. Meese’s decision is a damaging
blow to an already alarming situation, not only because the
resources are desperately needed, but because the decision
provides people reluctant to face this problem one more
reason to turn their backs.
Every year an estimated 6 million wives are brutalized,
a few thousand to death, by their husbands. The problem is
not going to go away.
AIDS research increase
marks redefinition of virus
The Reagan administration’s proposal to increase
money allocated to AIDS research by 44 percent next year,
marks the transition from thinking of AIDS as a homosexual
problem to thinking of AIDS as a human problem.
Although most of the people who have been struck
down by the disease that destroys the immune system have
been homosexual, the number of heterosexual people join
ing the ranks of the afflicted is increasing. And perhaps this
is why the administration has called for such a large
increase.
It is laudable that the administration decided that the
problem merits increased funds, but it is sad that it took
thousands of lives before the administration took significant
action to stop the virus’ reign. Because a person can fail to
show symptoms of the disease for years after contracting the
virus, it already may be too late for thousands of people yet
to display outward signs of infection.
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commentaryr_■ • - • :
Reagan, unlike most, can take
medical treatment for granted
■M
Because of his recent surgery.
President Ronald Reagan is
presently enjoying an immunity
from criticism of his budget
policies. Congressional leaders
have refrained from questioning
a number of the president's pro
posals. and most Americans
have showered Reagan and his
wife, Nancy, with much love.
Nevertheless, the wheels of
government continue to turn,
and Ronald Reagan is respon
sible for the direction of our
national government.
The following letter to the
president asks Reagan to recon
sider many of his policy
decisions:
Mr. President:
During the past 10 days,
millions of Americans have
prayed for your rapid recovery
from cancer surgery. You have
received an. outpouring of love
and affection that very few
receive in a lifetime. Your pain
and anguish has been shared by
many.
But it is ironic that one of our
most mean-spirited presidents
has received such a national
display of love.
While you rested comfortably
in a Maryland naval hospital,
not having to fear the monetary
cost of your surgery, millions
feared that you would work for
a further deduction of their
health-care benefits.
While you receive top-qualify
medical treatment, millions of
Americans, who caniiot afford
health insurance, must settle for
cut-rate care because they can
not afford the costs incurred in a
hospital. Yet, you oppose the
creation of a national health in
surance program
While you remained in a
hospital bed, you continued to
receive your presidential salary,
your pension as a former.
California, governor, and your
.Social Security benefits. Hut
millions of Americans are out.of
work and lacking an income
because of your economic
policies.
Your lifestyle provides: you.
with income security that very
few Americans enjoy. Hut rather
than trying to understand the
plight of less-fortunate
Americans, you continue . to
peck away at programs
established to eliminate many
of the inequities in our system.
You are fortunate', Mr. Presi
dent. You’re life has .been a
model of the true American suc
cess story. Yet, for most, life has
not been as good.
Most Americans cannot de
pend upon the federal govern
ment to assume their medical
costs, as you can. And a grow-*
ing number are unable to meet'; >»
their medical bills, •
Many say it is in bad taste to- . *
criticize you while you recover ' V
from your surgery, but you are '■*.
still the president... *
it would bio irresponsible7or .
yoiir critics to withhold
criticism of any-of .your pro-/' . ••
posals simply because you afa / .
convalescing. • • « ■ • t
Overall, you lead a’happy life. '•
sheltered from the-cold reality
.of day-to-day existence irj-this . • t
nation. While you recover.from*
your operation. please rAcitn- • ‘
aider .the ^effects of. your '■
policies. . '
You speak a good.speoch,.arid . >
you ajyyays -flash thaf -whining. / ;
Reagan- smile, but. in-.reality'.
millions of Americans . have .■••
“seen little love or ..affection ...
emanating from your heart. . . . .
Enough is enough! We are
tired of yoifr act- it’s time. for.
you to tbinktjbout what you.'re
doing.to America an/I the rest.of
the world. • , •
No one wishes-the president,
poor health, hut it' is time he .. •' ;
assumes responsibility fof the'
real effects of his policies. '
By Dave Bems
Oregon daily
emerald
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