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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1986)
Editorial Peace now possible in Central America Latin American nations appear prepared to reject a U.S. policy that allegedly promotes stability in Central America. U.S. policy in this respect has failed. Last week, leaders of five Central American nations issued a statement in support of reviving the stalled Con tadora peace process. Contadora began three years ago under the leadership of Mexico. Venezuela, Columbia and Panama. Its intent was to achieve a negotiated settlement to Central American fighting, and in general, to work toward a demilitarization of the region. The original Contadora group repeated its support ot the Contadora process last week. The newly elected President of Honduras announced his nation’s willingness to sign the treaty Saturday. Guatemala’s recently sworn in president. Marco Vinicio Cerezo Arevalo, has agressively used his of fice to promote the Contadora effort. To his credit, he has an nounced that his government will not denounce Nicaragua, but instead will work with every Central American country to produce a working peace for the entire area. Much ot the impetus for the revival of Contadora seems to have come from the Nicaraguan government. Despite its reservations with certain provisions. Nicaragua participated in last week’s negotiations and signed the statement suppor ting resumption of the Contadora talks. While the Reagan administration has voiced reserved support for a revival of Contadora, it remains adamant about the continued funding of the anti-government rebels — known as Contras — fighting to overthrow the Nicaraguan ° government. High ranking U.S. officials claim that by aiding the rebels. Nicaragua will be pressured into signing the peace treaty. But this form of doublespeak is merely a cover for the Reagan administration’s real goal — the overthrow of the Sandinista government. It was Nicaragua that announced its willingness to sign the Contadora treaty in September 1984. After demanding that the Sandinistas prove their commit ment to peace and political pluralism by signing the treaty, the Reagan regime quickly backed off. Suddenly the treaty was flawed, and the administration called Nicaragua's sup port of Contadora a devious act. Thus U.S. allies in the region were pressured to withdraw their support of the treaty. Since, efforts to promote the accord have made little headway. Meanwhile, the fighting in Nicaragua and El Salvador has continued to take a heavy toll on those im poverished nations. And in both cases, the Reagan ad ministration, with the support of Congress, is promoting violence as a method of achieving peace. Obviously this can not be. The administration should seek a new, less militarized route to its stated aims. It is doubtful whether the United States will accept any treaty that tolerates the existence of the current Nicaraguan government. The ideological hangups of the Reaganites de mand that a nation such as Nicaragua, which refuses to align itself with Washington, be immediately labeled subversive and pro-Soviet. In this case, it also means that attempts to overthrow the Sandinistas are in keeping with Reagan’s con tempt for international law. If the United States is serious about achieving peace and stability in Central America, it will have an additional op portunity in the form of Contadora. But most indications suggest the Reagan administration has its own agenda, one that will emphasize force over accommodation. Owing to the enormous power of Washington, the losers in this senseless game will continue to be the people of Central America. Oregon Daily Emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald Is published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co., at the University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 97403 The Emerald operates independently of the University 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 Susan Thelen Production Manager Russell Steele Classified Advertising Vince Adams Assistant to the Publisher Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales: David Wood Sales Manager, John Boiler, Michael Gray, Robin Joannides, Carlos Lam ad rid, Marcia Leonard, Shawn Leuthofd, Julie Lewis, Catherine Lilia, Anne-Marie Vranizan, Laura Willoughby Production Vince Adams, Kelly Alexandre, Shu-Shing Chen, Ellen Cross, Monica Dwyer, Stormi Dykes, Manuel Flores, Steve Gibbons, Rob Hare, Mary Lewis, Jim Marks. Ross Martin, Mary May, Mary McGonigal, Rob Miles, Angie Muniz, Kara Oberst. Chari a Parker, Ken Parrott, Jennifer Peterson, Jim Pfaff, Geoff Ralnville, Michele Ross, Alyson Simmons, Peg Solonlka, Gregory Tipps Editor Managing Editor News Editor Editorial Page Editor Assistant Editorial Page Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Friday Edition Editor Sidelines Editor Night Editor Associate Editors Community Features General Assignment Higher Education Student Activities Student Government University Affairs Julie Shipped Diana Elliott Joiayne Houtz ' Michelle Brence Scott Harding Robert Collies Karen Staltwcod Sheila Landry Allan Lazo Julie Shippen Scott McFetrtdge Gary Jimenez Julie Freeman Andrew LaMar Mary Lichtenwalner Linda Hahn Kirsten Bolin Reporters Seen Axmafcer. Dan Coran. Ron Gullberg, Deborah Janes, Kim Kaady, Capi Lynn, Chuck Thompson Photographers Kamila Al-Naijar, Shu-Shing Chen. Steve Gibbons, Rob Hare, Derrel Hewitt, Jim Marks. Ross Martin. News and Editorial AM 5511 Display Advertising and Business 8*8-3712 Classified Advertising 6M-4343 Production 888-4381 Circulation 6M-SS11 naturally. some RESTRICTIONS APPLY. DIDNOU WBH TO STAY IN HOfl, HAWAII FOR MORE THAN 5AYEIGHT MINUTES? CAres mu AwWHERE wER.Nl 0NLW9 Commentary. _ Abortion should remain legal Jan 22. 1973 is a day to be remembered by all people. For some it was a sad story, and for others it was a triumphant vic tory. This was the day the. Supreme Court handed down its decision regarding the Koe vs. Wade case that stated “all women have a right to control. their own bodies as well as a means of safe and legal abortion.’' This decision is alive and well today despite the constant pressure to have it repealed by - Right-To-Life groups. Right-To Life is active in seeking that federal funding for abortion be eliminated and, ultimately, that abortion be eliminated as well. As a matter of fact, Right-To Life has taken it upon itself to go to any means of assuring that women do not have access to facilities that provide abortions. The terrorist tactics of the pro life movement, those who bomb family-planning clinics, harass women and present the distorted film "Silent Scream", as an accurate portrayal of abor tion, have served, if anything positive, to ignite, activate and strengthen the pro-choice movement, The time has come again when women must fight to keep control over their own bodies, because if the pro-life, move ment is successful, women who ' believe they have the right.to determine whether to'.bear a. proclaim that ketchup is a Vegetable. Abortion has always been commonplace' regardless of .' legality'.- and it .will continue. ■We cannot allow ourselves to regress to the times when per After all, a woman’s right to control her own body is a woman's right to control her own life. . • ” child will commit a felony — that is., they Will seek illegal abortions. '. c # C • . , * O • ■ * ’ tv. ‘ Abortion is one of the most d personal decisions to be made and.should never" have become a. political issue in the ■ first place. A,ft«r alj, a woman’s right to control her own body is a woman's right to control her. own life. But what seems to be the most confusing aspect of. the 'pro-life movement is its vehemence in granting a fetus, which' is" not viable outside .its mot her.'s womb,, full citizenship^ . .. How can a group called pro life say It is so concerned about life, when by imposing its religious/moral beliefs on everyone else, it will decide who can have an abortion under which circumstances (if there are any)? Furthermore, who is going to care for all these children? Certainly not the Reagan administration. We’ve watched him cut social pro grams practically in half and fora ted uteri were - common scene* in hospitals; when ‘■women were butchered at the hand's of* an unsanitary "doctor..” . V In reality. many women will die as a result of unsanitary and/or illegal abortions. Accor - ding to pro-life theory, in reali ty. it Is, betters woman die than •'abort a fetus. Pro-choice does not ■ necessarily advocate abortion. We. advocate, choice — the choice of Whether to continue or terminate a pregnancy — to have control over our own bodies. Women must maintain the control we won in 1973. It’s only natural that as long as women (war and are responsible for caring for children, that they be the ones to control that part of their lives. . By Laura Romano Laura Romano is the director of the Women's Resource and Referral Service. Letters Policy The Emerald will attempt to print all letters containing 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, tatters to the editor should be turned into the Emerald office. Suite 300, EMU.
