Editorial
‘Civil defense9 plan
new Reagan sham
In the event of nuclear war. fear not. Government of
ficials and documents pertaining to private property owner
ship will be well protected. At least that is the scenario envi
sioned by the latest civil defense plan of the Reagan
administration.
Under the $1.5 billion proposal by the Federal Emergen
cy Management Agency (FEMA), 600 bomb shelters would
be built between 1988 and 1992. A total of 3.400 shelters
would ultimately be constructed to house local government
officials during the “trans-attack period" the ther
monuclear exchange.
The rationale behind the plan, according to the
associate director of FEMA, is to ensure “a viable
democratic society after a nuclear attack." To help “retain
and demonstrate ownership” of surviving property, land
records would be housed in the shelters as well.
And what of the general public? In the Reagan tradition
of diminished government responsibility, citizens would lx*
called on to "assume greater responsibility for their survival
protection."
If this sounds suspiciously familiar, it is. In 1982. the
administration tried to resurrect long discounted civil
defense plans. Using shovels, citizens would dig holes in
the ground, cover them with a couple of doors and place
three feet of dirt on top.
For the millions expected to flee cities to the coun
tryside, this would supposedly provide adequate fallout
shelter.
Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Thomas k. (ones
enunciated this fantasy best: "If there are enough shovels to
go around, everybody's going to make it. It's the dirt that
does it.”
Such policies have one purpose: to provide a false sense
of security and persuade the public to accept the notion of
fighting and winning nuclear war.
Indeed, the thesis of waging a limited nuclear war has
been refined during the Reagan administration, which
believes such a conflict can be won.
In August 1982 the Dis Angeles Times reported that for
the first time, according to National Security Decision Docu
ment 13. it was official IJ.S. policy to prevail in a protracted
nuclear war. This policy, adopted by the National Security
Council in 1981. was incorporated into a five-year "Defense
Guidance” plan, approved by Defense Secretary Caspar
Weinberger.
Included in the document was the proposition that in
the event of nuclear hostilities "United States nuclear
capabilities must prevail even under the condition of a pro
longed war." Also, the United States "must prevail and be
able to force the Soviet Union to seek earliest termination of
hostilities on terms favorable to the United States."
While this administration's nuclear war fighting
policies may differ slightly from the past, its rhetoric
highlights the dangers of U.S. strategic doctrine.
Despite overwhelming public opposition to the idea of
nuclear war. the administration plans for such a scenario. In
the face of scientific evidence that nuclear war will destroy
most, if not all, life on the planet, elaborate nuclear war
games are devised.
Despite near unanimous rejection of civil-defense plans
for nuclear attack, a revised plan to ensure the survival of
"democratic society" is now in the making.
The latest plan for civil defense will insure only that in
the aftermath of nuclear war. government officials will
govern each other. Despite the delusions of the administra
tion. they will be the only survivors.
Letters
Hatred and fear
Regarding Michael Cross' let
ter of May (>
Michael savs he "couldn'l
care less if some might accuse
me of ladng mean or insen
sitive," based on his narrow
minded Nazi-like stand against
homosexuality and AIDS. Well
Michael. I’m not going to call
you mean because my terms for
people like you an1 such that no
paper would ever print them.
It is people like you (and
Hitler, Mussolini. Stalin. Pol
Pot, Marcos, Duvalier. ad
nauseam) who create the
animosity and paranoia that is
so instrumental in sending
others to war and certain death
to defend your bigoted and
hateful ladiefs. What ever hap
pened to charity, understanding
and love?
Obviously, you don't possess
these qualities that are
beneficial to all American peo
ple. So please do the world a
favor (both homo and heterosex
ual) and run. don't walk, to the
nearest cliff and fling yourself
off. Then and only then will you
fulfill your obligation to the
American Constitution by pro
moting the health and welfare
of all! (We do not want any of
those Nazi-like genes returning
to the American people.)
Unfortunately people like you
lack the true courage to do
anything but hide tiehind a pen
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or desk, and dictate hatred and
fear. I hope the divine finds it
within its heart to forgive peo
ple like you. but I'd rather
believe that Dante was right in
assigning a special place in hell
for you and those like you.
Robert Hotta
Graduate, History
Unconscionable
I would like lo (ill) attention
lo thi! haphazard way in whic h
University Security and I hi*
Traffic. Appeals Department
operate.
I was c :ited last term for park
ing my bicycle on the landscap
ing outside Allen Hall I peti
tioned the citation on the
grounds that: a| there was in
adequatn parking around Allen
Hall, and: h) what parking was
available was overgrown with
shruhlien to the extent that on
l\ three or four slots were
usable. My petition was denied.
I appealed that finding, and my
appeal was also denied.
However, it seems much
more than c oinc idental that the
same day I received my second
petition denial, an additional
hike: rack was placed outside
Allen Hall. Two weeks before,
the overgrown shrubbery had
been removed
It's obvious the* Traffic: Ap
peals Department did find my
objections valid and moved to
take c are of the problem. Subse
quently. I find it uncons
i tunable that they refuse to ap
prove* im petition
Marti (ierdes
GTF, lournalism
Act your age
I’ve been on campus for three
years and often read the letters
printed in the Kmerald. Some
are amusing, some are in
teresting, others are educa
tional. Yet a new breed like any
other has evolved lately, one of
complete and utter absurdity.
I'm speaking specifically of
those letters written by, what
was his name? Hutch. Skippy,
no, it was Ulake.
Now. it is totally against my
normal rational judgement to
give attention to a child throw
ing a tantrum. However, when
that child's tantrum turns into
sheer destructive intentions that
are printed in a publication for
thousands to see. it must be
brought into further light.
Blake, didn’t your mother
ever teach you that this world is
full of people that subscribe to
different points of view?
Whether you are a frat-rat
greekie, an SPA herbal, a
spineless democrat or a Nazi
Keaganite, most of us co-exist
without harmful intentions.
Blake. Why the hell can't you?
Can you be so insecure as to
constantly put others down to
boost yourself? Well, if so.
you've failed miserably. In a re
cent letter you claimed it would
be your final one, but I doubt
you would pass up an oppor
tunity to thrust yourself into the
spotlight again, now that you
have succeeded in gaining more
attention. Let me try to put
things in a way that you may be
able to understand.
Blake, act your age and not
your shoe size.
Scott Bateman
Journalism
Letters Policy
The Emerald will attempt to print all letters con
taining 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. Letters to the editor should be turned
into the Emerald office, Suite 300, EMU.