Editorial
Violent dims were
poor forum choices
Graphic violence will be presented this weekend and
next, thanks to the Cultural Forum. The forum is presenting
“First Blood," the first John Rambo blood-and-guts thriller,
“The Terminator," and for those who need a double-shot of
Rambomania. “Rambo: First Blood Part II,” The violence
extravaganza starts tonight and continues Saturday and next
Friday.
John Kambo, the star character played by Sylvester
Stallone in both “First Blood" and “Rambo,” stabs, shoots
and slaughters his way through each film. Rambo is
respected for being a remorseless killer and makes killing
and war look glorious. In addition, the film “Rambo"
perpetuates the belief that American prisoners of war still
are trapped in Vietnam.
The Arnold Schwarzenegger feature, "The Ter
minator,” is somewhat milder ideologically, but makes up
for it in graphic tasteiessness. Viewers witness various
bullet-pierced people crumple to the ground.
Merciless killers are not new to the silver screen, but
rather than being sought by the film's hero, Rambo and the
terminator are the heroes. And as heroes, the characters ad
vocate achieving one’s means through violence and force
rather than through negotiation. Some psychologists believe
that these types of portrayals may soften American attitudes
towards violence and military conflict.
“First Blood” is already credited with influencing
Michael Feher, the University student who injured a
wrestler, killed a jogger and then killed himself almost a
year ago, and two Beaverton juveniles who constructed
lethal booby traps in a neighborhood park.
The Cultural Forum presents films on campus at
economical prices and provides an appreciated service. And
although the forum shows its share of mediocre movies, it
usually presents a surprising number of classics, unusual
films, and recent releases.
Sean Axemaker, the forum's film programmer, said that
the three films were chosen primarily to generate revenue.
He said that due to limited funding, the forum needs to make
money on some films in order to subsidize others, par
ticularly during fail term because of decreased attendance
during winter and spring terms.
Axemaker said "The Terminator” was chosen because
it is popular with students, but also because he thinks it is a
good movie. But he admitted that “First Blood” and "Ram
bo” were chosen after the financial success of "Rambo” this
summer.
We understand the forum’s need to generate money, but
think that popular, less objectionable films exist. These
three films were poor choices and denigrate the "Cultural”
Forum.
To the forum’s credit, however, they have arranged to
have ex-Green Beret Denis Chericone speak on campus Oct.
28 about “Rambo" and the film’s social and political
ramifications. The forum agreed to have Chericone speak
after Vietnam veteran Ron Phillips of the Draft and Pre
Enlistment Counseling Project requested that the negative
effects of the film be presented.
Information tables organized by DPECP, Students Op
posing Registration and the Draft, the Vietnam Veteran's
Outreach Center and the the local chapter of Vietnam
Veterans of America will be present at the entrance to “Ram
bo” next Friday. We encourage other students and com
munity members to boycott the films. If violent films fail to
attract an audience and are thus unprofitable, the Cultural
Forum will consider their choices more carefully in the
future.
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Letters
Be Tao, man
I would like to respond to
views expressed by Darrel
Kothauge (ODE, Oct. 16) con
cerning the state of our univer
sity upon his recent return.
At first, the letter was amus
ing: the unusual dress of college
students shocks many people,
and we note his concern for the
state, giving Oregonians the
choice to become "potheads”
(as opposed to tobacco heads).
As far as protesting apartheid
in South Africa. Darrel ad
monishes us to ". ..concentrate
on local issues where (we)
could possibly have an effect on
policies that affect (us).” It’s
true that by averting our eyes to
remain fixed at our feet, we
would not have to witness what
occurs at the horizon. And of
course, the U of O alone will not
change South Africa's racial
policies. The U of O is one par
ticipant in a movement whose
unity and breadth will have ef
fect. For a forest to stand, each
comparatively small tree must
make an effort.
The letter grew derogatory
when he questioned the
presence of a lesbian student
body president. First, quotes
around “flaming, leftist,
liberals” are inappropriate
when it is meant to be taken
seriously. Second, the les
bians did not suddenly appear
on campus and "take over” the
student body during Darell's
absence.
And lastly, why the hell not a
lesbian student body president?
Her being lesbian has as much
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to do with her performance as
student body president as
Darell's being straight has to do
with his study of History.
As we ‘'‘flaming, leftist
liberals” like to say: be Tao,
man.
Rick Rinehart
U of O student
In hibernation?
In regards to the letter by Dar
rel Rothauge (ODE, Oct. 16) en
titled "I'm confused!”
Yes, you are confused and
you certainly do need help!
There are no Emeralds
distributed in or around Gilbert
Ha|i because business students
read the Wall Street Journal.
Strange dress behavior? Your
pants probably have a built-in
athletic supporter!
As for scooters, don’t tell me
you can find a parking space
every day. and God forbid that
you should still be walking to
class. Yes, there is an elevator
in PLC, are you blind? Mr. Con
de is actually very benevolent in
his efforts to save glacoma vic
tims. Concerning the apartheid
issue, boycotting classes does
bring people together to con
centrate on real problems,
where as, the Dow (ones in
dustrial average is mostly
tabloid literature anyway.
We have a lesbian student
body president because men are
not popular these days. Does
AIDS help curb your sexual
behavior? Do you believe
everything the courtyard
evangelist says? Where the hell
have you been, honey? In hiber
nation for 16 months?
Deidra Coppage
Grata Vanderrandm
Eugene
Requests
As a student at the U of O, i
travel to and from campus In a
number of ways — bike, car.
and foot. And I am beginning to
fear that no matter how I travel,
my fellow traffic elements are
out to kill me in ugly ways. So I
would like to make some re
quests of the groups of travelers.
CARS: Please signal your lane
changes and turns at stop signs,
stop lights and when parking.
We can’t read your minds.
Don’t cut bike# off when turn
ing across their lanes, Don’t-,
turn into the far lane when turn
ing onto a one-way street.
BIKES: Please signal your -
turns lust like cars. Watch
carefully at stop signs. Don’t .
rid:) the wrong way on bike ;
lanes or streets. Don't run •
through stoplights. Try not to
make people mad at you when.*
you take advantage of your size
and maneuverability.
P E D S : ; P I e a s e d o n •! t
sit/stand/sleep in the bike lanes
(especially in . front of the
bookstore). When crossing bike *'
lanes, watch oiit for us —‘go
faster than you think we do. lie
reasonable about crossing
against traffic don,’.t
challenge, cars and bikes
unnecessarily.
. MOPEDS/MOTORCYCLES:
Please don't use the bike lanes
to pass traffic. Temporarily, be
careful of whore you park your
cycle nearfillbert Hall. as.there
is a bottleneck there which
could make bicycles get
reckless.
See you on the roads.;
Megan Snyder
Computer Science
Moral concerns
In response to Darrel
Rothauge's concerns about the
ultimate destiny of those atten
ding the University of Oregon
(ODE. Oct. 16), I’d like to offer
the following consolation.
I certainly don’t think that all
of us who are a part of this
university community may be
doomed to eternal hell, as Mr.
Rothauge suggests, as a result of
those of us who call for moral
concern in a time when morali
ty often takes a backseat to
power and profit. '
However, if there is a hell
awaitin’, I suspect that
homophobic, self-righteous,
uninformed. knee-|erk. reac
tionary attitudes like those of
Mr. Rothauge may contribute to
carving out a shortcut for those
who share them.
Jeff Joslin
Graduate Student
Architecture