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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (March 3, 1986)
Editorial Freedom of speech: Soviets disqualified Freedom of speech protects your right to say anything you want — as long as you’re not a Soviet. This appears to be the reasoning of the Reagan administration. The administra tion wrongly assailed ABC for allowing a Soviet journalist to contest a speech by President Reagan. And ABC wrongly apologized. Soviet journalist Vladimir Posner disputed a Reagan speech on ABC News Wednesday. The White House responded Thursday in a letter to the network stating it was “astonished” that a “trained propagandist” was allowed to discuss the speech at length without presentation of the op posing view. Thursday. ABC Senior Vice President Richard Wald apologized. It is appropriate to allow a Soviet spokesman to discuss a presidential speech describing IJ.S.-Soviet rela tions. he said, but Posner was allowed too much time without an “opposing voice to point out errors and the in consistencies in what he said,” The administration’s contention that Posner is a “train ed propagandist” is accurate. But the spokesperson of any organized group, whether a country or a company, is specifically trained to present the group in the best possible light. The audience is fully aware of this and considers the comments of a spokesperson in this context. For example, if a General Motors Corp. spokesperson is invited to appear on a news program to respond to charges against the company, the audience knows the spokesperson was hired by the company’s public relations department to defend the company’s interests. The same is true for a spokesperson representing another country. The administra tion does not need to protect citizens from themselves. When ABC postponed production of the miniseries, “Amerika,” in January, members of the Reagan adminstra tion complained bitterly that the network was allowing the Soviet Union to influence programming decisions. Now the administration has attempted to assume that role itself. ABC added insult to injury when it apologized for its judgment. The network acted responsibly when it invited a Soviet to respond to Reagan's contentions that the only way to ward off Soviet aggression is to maintain a steady military growth rate. Opponents argue that Posner's remarks were pure pro paganda and thus were not protected by freedom of speech. This would be fine if the United States could devise an ac curate and consistent method of distinguishing propaganda from other messages — and providing the Soviets are the on ly ones guilty of disseminating propaganda. Also, why does the network think an opposing voice was necessary? Posner was the opposing voice — he expressed opposition to Reagan’s speech. In addition, why would it be necessary to point out er rors and inconsistencies in Posner's remarks? Spokespeo ple. including Reagan, frequently make inconsistent and in accurate statements during interviews. Does the network think an analysis should follow the comments of every spokesperson? Or do Soviets present “special” circumstances? Nothing comes without a price. The price of freedom of speech is that disagreeable opinions must be protected as fiercely as agreeable opinions. Letters Consider fe w A recent letter from one of our most- vocal defenders of legaliz ed abort ion claimed‘‘Ml percent of abortions occur in the first trimester, lad's ignore how' developed these first trimester babies generally are though, and concentrate on that other to percent. II there are over «t.5 million children aborted in America an*, dually, then 10 percent of that would .equal at. least 150.000 abortions! Some are done when complications occur, but most aren't. . ' It's no siiprise that marty Caesarean and saline abortions go wrong,.with the baby being born alive, But, hey, abortion is. legal. I guess that makes it moral, right? Michael Cross , Senior. History Political ’Science Take the class I would urge anyone who is going to take the Graduate Record Kxam in the future tq take the excellent GRE prepara tion class offered by the learn ing Resource Center here at the U of O. Taking the class was one of the brightest things I ever did. and the best $40 invest ment I ever made. Jesse hedger wood Post-Master's Counseling 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, Laura Goldstein, Robin Joanmdes, Carlos Lamadrid. Marcia Leonard. Shawn Leuthold. Joan Vandermuth. 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 McGonigal, Rob Miles. Angie Muniz, Kara Oberst, Charla Parker, Ken Parrott, Jennifer Peterson, Jim Pfaff. Geoff Rainville Michele Ross, Alyson Simmons, Peg Solonika, 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 Higher Education Student Activities Student Government University Affairs General Assignment Julie Snippen Michelle Brence Jolayne Houtz Michelle Brence Scott Harding Robert Collias Karen Stallwood Sheila Landry Allan Lazo Julie Shippen Scott McFetndge Andrew LaMar Mary Lichtenwalner Linda Hahn Kirsten Bolin Mike Rivers Reporters Tony Ahern. Sean Axmaker, Dan Coran Kim Kaady. Cap! Lynn, Chris Norred, Chuck Thompson, B J Thomsen Photographers Shu-Shing Chen. Maria Corvallis. Steve Gibbons, Rob Hare, Derrel Hewitt, Jim Marks. Ross Martin News and Editorial 686 5S11 Display Advertising and Business 686-3712 Classified Advertising 686-4343 Production 686 4381 Circulation 686 SS11 Set example . Bravo. (Jary Paquift. Finally.' someone stands up and exposes the fraternity, systerit fur what'it rtrally Is." Unfortunately, those, who chow* to rospphd to his let-. ■ ter missed the'punt. ■? Mr. I’aquin is not saying date rape, occurs only in the fraiorni . ty system He is not even blam ing the entire system for, the. several incidents of .‘‘fraternity rape" that occurred, lie is blam ing the fraternity systent for.the "attitudes perpetuated in the fraternities." . These attitudes wore never more apparent than when a fraternity posted flyers around campus advertising an "open, party", for the VV( )MKN of the l! of O. One cannot help wonder ing what the expected outcome of a party open to women only would be I’m afraid it.is sicken ingly obvious. Despite what-Ms. ■ Hastings and Mr. White may think, a fraternity did repri mand its pledges for not "get ting laid." and they did have a roster showing who was getting laid and who wasn't Mr Pa quin tohl the shocking and revolting truth. If it Js true the fraternities are in the "social eye", more than any other organization, as Mr Oienivic'h claims, then shouldn't that organization want to set the’ example, for others to emulate? How is it that a woman can get raped at a fraternity "function" when so many people are present? The only way such a repulsive crime can take place in that environ-; merit is if such acts are normal or even expected, consented to or not. But that's life in the Greek system Scott larwis Psychology /Confused Concerning .flu* letter^'Point ' is- missed' ''((JHK.. Keh . Ifi): • M«\ IJawsbn-. ■ you * are ap parent! y a'j.'ory Confused; man Your allegations that K() 1 ( ami fht (il A- have the right "to do or say anythfftg-that that person or group inighl ivisti’.’ is simplv outrageously, falsi* Hoih groups’ only purpose is,to serve the people.and the government of the United .States They are professional's who not only live by ■ the-’ socially acceptable criteria.Of our society., but also a ■ stricter ethical cride'df their own professions Further, being public.'servants, they do hot make or initiate policy, they simply comply with it. as do we all. / *. • . .■.*> .« Your next point .^equally ab surd. stgtes that the most bask prerequisite for democracy is “the • guarantee that physical harm or death will never la* us ' ed to attain a goal ‘ * If that wen true. no democracy would exist today. Surely, the most basic prere quisite for any democratic government might be'.more a* c u r.at el y articulated to ’’establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for thecommon defense. pro mote the.general .welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.'' The survival of your country may necessitate the use of violent force lastly, I would address your statement that the CIA anil KOTt;’ought riot be a)lowed the p r i v l leges '' of I he democracy. When that occurs, wo will no longer lie living in a democracy, but something far , worse.. , ' Richard Thomas History 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 lx* verified when the letter is turned in. The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length or style, letters to the editor should be turned into the Emerald office, Suite ,'iOO, EMU.