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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 1986)
Editorial Contra aid supports war and bloodshed The Reagan administration is resorting to half-truths and distortions in its latest campaign to provide military assistance to rebels seeking to overthrow the Nicaraguan government. Unless Congress rejects the request, the United States will come closer to direct military involvement in the conflict. The president is expected to send Congress within two weeks a proposal for $100 million in assistance to the rebels—$70 million in military aid and $30 million in non lethal aid. such as uniforms, medicine and food. Congress presently bars the administration from providing lethal assistance to the guerrillas, commonly known as Contras. But supporters of the rebels, including the president, prefer to call them "freedom fighters." They also label the Managua government "Marxist,” and stress the "massive influx" of Soviet and Cuban weapons said to be shipped to Nicaragua. These factors, and the supposed undemocratic nature of the Sandinistas. make up the administration's case for supporting the Contras. - Whatever kernel of truth may lie in these latest accusa tions. it cannot justify IJ.S. support for the forcible over throw of an elected government. The portrayal of the Con tras in glowing terms — Reagan once called them the moral equivalent of our founding fathers — also serves to mask their true nature. In fact, the rebels’ conduct has been mark ed by increasing human rights abuses and a noticeable lack of political initiative. Wednesday, the Washington Office on I.atin America released a study detailing the "systematic" abuse of civilians by the Contras over the past year. Two other respected, private human rights organizations. Amnesty In ternational and Americas Watch, have previously charged the rebels With such violations. Amnesty last week reported that the Contras commit torture and murder. Significantly, all three groups have noted that the Nicaraguan government has also violated the rules of war. For instance, of the 139 cases of human rights abuses cited in the new report. 21 were attributed to the Sandinista army. While not as common as Contra atrocities, these acts repre sent the growing polarization and militarization of Nicaraguan society. More than one-half of Nicaragua’s gross national pro duct is now spent for military use. The national economy is in a shambles, with many basic consumer goods rationed or in short supply. Responsibility for this phenomenon must lie with the Reagan administration and supporters of the overthrow of Nicaragua. The United States is financing a division among Nicaraguans. In addition to aiding the Contras, the ad ministration has blocked loans from international lending agencies to Nicaragua and has effectively ended trade through an embargo. For Nicaraguans, the only tangible result of U.S. policy has been bloodshed, and economic and social disruption. And until the United States recognizes the legitimacy of the Nicaraguan government and stops funding the Contras. Nicaragua will become further impoverished and torn by war. And in the likely event the Sandinista’s prevail, they will be forced to further restrict press and political freedoms, while spending more to defend their country. U.S. concerns have been addressed by Nicaragua in the past. The Nicaraguan government has repeatedly pledged to prohibit any foreign military bases, reduce the size of the armed forces and remove all Cuban and Soviet military ad visers. Hut these desirable goals cannot occur without the good faith of the United States. An end to support of the Contras would be an admirable first step. Oregon Daily Emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Oaily 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 properly 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 Lamadnd, Marcia Leonard. Shawn Leuthold. Julie Lewis. Catherine Lil|a. Anne Marie Vranizan, Laura Willoughby Production Vince Adams, Kelly Alexandre Lynne Casey. Shu-Shing Chen, Ellen Cross, Monica Dwyer. Stormi Dykes. Manuel Flores, Steve Gibbons Rob Hare, Mary Lewis, Jim Marks, Ross Martin. Mary May. Mary McGomaal. Rob Miles, Angie Muniz, Kara Oberst, Charfa Parker Ken Parrott. Jennifer Peterson. Jim Pfaff, Geoff Rainville, Michele Ross. Alyson Simmons, Peg Solomka Gregory Tipps PlM 7A Sexist opinion This is in response to Michelle law's letter attacking our collective "stupidity" regarding the motive behind Sports lllustrated's "Bathing Suit Issue." I hope that many women, as well as men. see the essentially sexist opinion on her part that all (particularly men) who read Sports Illustrated are I can take or leave the "men's" magazines she ad dresses. However. Playgirl sells its share of beefcake. Also, the U of O bookstore is currently advertising (under “SEX") a Man-of-t he-Month poster calender. I wonder which gender this will appeal to? Note a bit of hypocrisy? No one forces anyone to pose for or purchase any magazine. . .such is free will. Nor are the models —•' either sex — “exploited." They are payed for their "services." and I doubt that much guilt accompanies the check to the bank. I will be glad when people of both sexes get off their moralistic soap boxes and ad dress those issues which truly concern equality, survival of the human race and the like. Better still, it would be a refreshing start to eradicate anti-male or 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 Higher Education Student Activities Student Government University Affairs Julie Shippen Michelle Brence Jolayrie Houtz Michelle Brence Scott Harding Robert Collias Karen Stallwood Sheila Landry Allan Lazo Scott McFetridge Scott McFetridge Andrew LaMar Mary Lichtenwalner Linda Hahn Kirsten Bolin Reporters Tony Ahern. Sean Axmaker, Dan Coran. Kim Kaady. Capi Lynn. Chris Norred Chuck Thompson. B J Thomsen Photographers Shu Shing Chen Maria Corvallis. Steve Gibbons. Rob Hare. Derrel Hewitt. Jim Marks Ross Marlin News and Editorial 666-6511 Display Advertising and Business 666-3712 Classified Advertising 6M-4343 Production 686 4341 Circulation 666-S511 Letters female attitudes. Sexism, as Ms I-ohw clearly exposes, is. unfortunately, a . two-way street |ohn Workman Senior Editor’s note:?'hr Mnn-of-thv Month fHistnr-culimtirr is lx*ing •nlvrrtisiHl nod sohi In a >jrrm/> Ihnl hits no i on ids ! ion to thr I 'niirrsitv liookslnrr No sympathy Rob Young. I find your reply (ODE. Feb. 13) to Audrey Weiss on women's choice fascinating. Do you really believe that women deviously claim to be using contraception, when in fact they hope to become preg nant and strike it rich with a paternity suit? You can free yourself of this paranoia in a very simple way — take respon sibility for contraception yourself. I agree that men sometimes got cheated in paternity and custody cases, but this has nothing to do with women's right to abortion, which is what Ms. Weiss was writing about. When children are concerned, society's attitude is that men should boar exclusive financial responsibility. You ought to ad dress this attitude, which op presses both men and women (though not equally). Mr. Young, you and ! car. never fully appreciate how it feels to be pregnant with a child one cannot afford to bear, or how it feels to be a single mother caught between caring for her child or working to sup port it. I have no pity for you 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, let ters to the editor should be turn ed into the Emerald office, Suite 300. EMU. and other men who believe that women’ll ‘ efforts'-to overcome mule domination am causing all men to become gay ' or misogvhislic. Mark Derby Sophomore Weak excuse Of course the CIA will mc.ru il students even if the CIA can't use (jiriNir Planning and Place ment. Of course college students can make decisions for themselves. Those are not the issues. The issues raised are: Should an agency that admits to numerous violations of national and international law be allow ed to use University facilities? Should an agency that has violated, and some say con tinues to violate. Its own charter be regarded as legitimate? Universities are some of the institutions that define what we as a people will accept. By treating the CIA as if it were just another government agency, the University is defining the CIA as legitimate. The CIA did nut come to cam pus to express its opinions, pre sent the facts as it sees them or to win support for its cause. The CIA came here to buy labor. It's doubtful they cared about much more than the personal qualifications of the applicants They did their business at an undisclosed location to avoid confrontation. How is that engaging in the "free exchange of ideas"? It is not a violation of free speech to ask the University to decide if the illegal activities of an agency disqualify that agen cy from University facilities The CIA has admitted to these crimes Actually disqualifying an agency known to have repeatedly violated laws is not a violation of free speech. Universities need to decide what they will and won’t en dorse. Free speech should not be an excuse for refusing to decide right from wrong. Shasta Hatter War Resistance and Draft Information Center
