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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 29, 1985)
Letters Free Namibia This letter is to urge the United States to bring pressure on the government of South Africa to respect the 1968 United Nations mandate requir ing it to relinquish control of Southwest Africa, or Namibia, to the 11-nation council created for its administration. This critical step toward the in dependence of Namibia is critical for the development of that region of the world. As the United States was founded on the principle of independence, its support for the government of South Africa and its failure to bring pressure to bear on that government to withdraw from Namibia represents oppor tunistic hypocrisy of the worst sort. The continuing support of U.S. governmental and business interests for ilia government of South Africa and its policy of discrimination and oppression constitutes an inter national scandal. The brutal ex ploitation of South Africa's ma jority , denies not only their rights, but also serves to denigrate the value of people In general. The anti-humanistic climate created by such ex ploitation promotes the development of a society devoted soley to materialistic values without regard to the ethical values necessary to pro mote the ultimate survival of that society. Such a myopic view can only serve to weaken the peace and stability of the in ternational community. Richard Bruce Wright II Eugene Allow choices It seems as though the cam pus "enlightened ones" have found yet another cause: saving the University community from the evils of a free film industry. I'm speaking bf the recent anti* Rambo campaign. 1 agree that Ram bo is a bad movie — the cliches are almost painful. The point, however, is that good or bad, it's being shown and peo ple have the right to make up their own minds as to whether or not they want to see it. Shasta Hatter said that "After 'Rambo* has been thoroughly trashed, attend the second showing of other films supporting the many worthy causes on campus." Who the hell does she think she is?! What gives her the right to disrupt any public presenta tion on this campus and decide what people should and shouldn't see. Sorry SORD, but that's not the way things work here. The last time a public presentation was disrupted (last year’s Marine presentation). President Olum assured that the people responsible would be ex pelled from school. We’ll see. Rambo is entertainment. If you like that sort of thing then go, if you don't then stay home. We're all big enough to make up our own minds about what we want to see. Ms. Hatter. See you at the movies-. Michael O. Marquette Eugene Responsible protesting starts with full knowledge of issue A classified advertisement that ran.-in the Emerald.this summer has caught more.attention than those who placed it originally intended. The ad, run in the hopes of attracting customers to a new Chinese restaurant in Eugene, has .snowball-.' ed over the months into a full-scale protest. "CHINESE FOOD. CHINESE MUSIC. CHINESE.GIRLS,"'the ad stated. “(Not eat girls, eat food. Girls too pretty.-) CHINA DELIGHT.;. “ The ad was placed on behalf of the restaurant's Chinese owner by an English speaking “agent" of sorts who” apparently thought his wording would.be catchy. Instead, those lines sparked angry cries of “racism, sex-. ' ism and discrimination" on the part of the Emerald by two students and a representative of the Council for Minority Education. From the Editor’s desk Confusion about why the ad ran, the Emerald's adherence to its advertising policies, and eventually the entire staff's values concern ing racism all were questioned in meetings, rallies, fliers and a television news broadcast. The group of three evolved into 30 and we understand the number of protesters, both silent and outspoken, may have multiplied tenfold again. University officials also joined in the mayhem, “adding their voices" to others who found the ad. and thus the Emerald, offensive. Committee after committee jumped into the arena, concluding the paper was. in fact, the racist and sexist vehicle of outrageousness they professed it to be. Change its board of directors, they resolved, and pull its funds if that doesn't happen. Threaten its editorial sovereignty when it refuses editorial apology. Furthermore, boycott the paper by not reading it or advertising in it, these protesters decided. “You haven’t heard the last of it," those behind the pointed fingers said. Enough history. Enough debate. And enough threats and accusations. The Emerald no longer will tolerate the' sweeping stabs of racism and sexism. These claims, born out of misunderstanding and nur tured in ignorance.1 have taken on slanderous and libelous forms in the past weeks. What may seem only to be a strongly worded poster or an emotional appeal by a campus crusader actually are false end defamatory statements — statements backed by illegitimate investigations. 1 ask those on the "ad hawk” committee, those in University and student government of fices and others having past grievances with the Emerald to go about your protesting in a mature, productive and ethical manner. It isn’t the pro tests or threats of protests that are disturbing but rather the manner in which those behind the rumblings go about their "business..” These are people in offices representing University affirmative action, minority educa tion, legal education and student government — posts to be reserved for individuals thorough in investigation and fair in judgment. Rather than research the situation, however, these misplaced officials came to public conclu sions without a solid understanding of the issue. Aside from the unsuccessful meetings in August on the ad, there have been amazingly few at tempts by officials and neo-protesters to contact the Emerald. Those who have, however, sadly ad mit to having jumped on the bandwagon before contemplating the matter, and more importantly, educating themselves on it. My points are simple. Don’t find yourselves ignorant of the cause of which you so adamantly protest, and don’t expect those you underhanded ly oppose to recognize your claims with respect. Do, however, fully educate yourselves on the issue before asking others to dr so, and use a sen sitive approach when sensitivity in others is what you seek. To those who have remained open-minded, rational and resistant to the pressures of your peers. I congratulate and sympathize with you, for you are the real minority on campus. By Julie Shippen Learn how to play DRUMS OR GUITAR Special rales for U of O students and their families mi M-F 10-7 (Closed noon hour) Sal. until 4 LTD “Fox Hollow" Bus Park at our from door 380 E. 40th. Eugene 345-8289 Jj □ Oration Dailv Emerald MAKE MONEY Second Hand Cbthmg we BUY. TRADE « CONSIGN quality clothing (new to 2 yrs. old) Kcmcmher us when cleaning out your closets. Or just come browse through our unique shop Call Mornings for Appt. 344-7039 SAVE MONEY 10 6 Hon.-Sal. 360 e, I nil. between mil ar High uo BOOKSTORE —emu Food Service Breakfast is the Most Important Meal of the Day 7-10:30 Mon-Fri ’ □fountain court cafe Cereals, Fresh Fruits. Melons, Bagels. Coffee. Tea, Cocoa. Ham n' Eggs. Pastries. Juices, Beverages & Pancakes TRY OUR SPECIAL CROISSANT BREAKFAST AND OUR HUEVOS RANCHEROS OLE! Fright Night! KZEL Remote " Costume Contest Prizes Awarded Track Town This Halloween! Paop 'i A
