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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 30, 1987)
Editorial Condom commercials deserve TV air time The AIDS disease has developed a new controversy in the question of condom advertising — should it be allowed on television? Nearly everyone agrees that condoms are an increasing ly popular and effective form of preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, most importantly the spread of the AIDS virus. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop has said that using condoms is “the best protection against (AIDS) infection right now. barring abstinence.” However, many squeamish television executives and hypersensitive religious groups nonetheless oppose condom advertising, preferring to stress abstinence or even avoiding the issue altogether. Really, there are two different issues at stake. One is the disease control and the potentially life-saving service con doms provide. The other is the activity for which condoms are intended. Opponents of condom advertising feel that the public service and information aspects of condom advertisement is minor compared to the danger posed by exposing virginal American audiences to the fact that sexual activity really does occur outside of prime-time television. What’s worse, some executives argue that audience reaction to such commercials may prove to be negative. In this argument, viewer reaction drowns out the cry for using any means possible to curtail the spread of AIDS. Eugene station KMTR, the NBC affiliate, has adopted a condom advertising policy, and station KEZI, the ABC af filiate. has said it would strongly consider airing such commercials. KMTR’s stance is strongly public-minded and stems from a conviction that the commercials will make a dif ference and leave the public better equipped to control sex ually transmitted diseases. On the other hand, executives of KVAL, the CBS af filiate, currently are not willing to accept condom commer cials, asking where one should draw the line between infor ming and promoting. The networks easily drew the line between entertaining and promoting sex in shows like “Dallas” or “Dynasty” in favor of airing the shows. Such shows not only display sex as an important and frequent part of people’s lives, but demonstrate methods of courtship or seduction that lead to sex. At the same time, stations have no trouble airing sexual ly provocative commercials promoting almost every product made, with scenes ranging from seductive women draped across hoods of cars to the affection lavished on “Spuds McKenzie,” the Budweiser mascot. Beer and cars, apparently, are sufficiently indirect in in volving sex. Cigarette advertisements were finally banned from television after mounting medical evidence of the hazards of cigarette use. However, condom advertisments are struggl ing to make it onto television, despite the mounting medical evidence of condoms importance both in disease control and birth control. Perhaps a free-market approach would be best: let television stations air both condom commercials and com mercials promoting abstinence, and we’ll see which saves more lives. Q.These vmm: tm >m 5nd A. WORKING ON STRATeGIC ARMS TReATY FfiOTOSAlS B. UPSWING m ■raeoRroF ReLPCnVTTY C. TRYING TO FILL ounueNew W-4 FORM Letters Proselytize The juxtaposition of Mon day’s (Jan. 26) letters submis sions with that of Michael Cross’ Statistics, and that of Matt Burlingame's Comfort, flanking the fantastic contribu tion of Wayne Johnson's 10 Heads merits careful consideration. They illustrate the murky paths of religion gone awry. Not without cause did Sigmund Freud suggest that religious r.ealots tread a fine line between neuroses and psychoses. They sound not unlike the taped apocalyptic and pro phetic discourses made into a program by PBS of Rev. Jim Jones of the People’s Temple. “In My Father's House: The Story of the I.ayton Family and the Rev. Jim Jones’’ by Min S. Yet? and Thomas N. Liyton. with Deborah Layton, 1-a u re nee L. Layton and Annalisa l*ayton Valentine, describes the tragedy of a well-educated family led astray by faith, l^aurence L. l-ayton murdered Congressman l*eo J. Ryan at Jonestown. The story about former Mor mon missionary, Mark W. Hof mann. guilty of murdering several people in a scheme to bilk the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints of large sums for claimed historical documents that could be embar rassing to that church. Oregon Daily Emerald Th« 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 Wayne Michael Lottlnville Classified Advertising Alyson Simmons Assistant to the Publisher Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales: Peter LaFleur / Sales Manager Teresa Acosta, Brent Collins, Beryl Israel. Janelle Heit mann. Laura Goldstein, Catherine Lil|a. Rick Marti, Joseph Menzel. Peter Miller, Joan Wildermuth News and Editorial 686-5511 Display Advertising and Business 686-3712 Classified Advertising 686-4343 Production 686-4381 Circulation 686 5511 Editor Managing Editor News Editor Spectrum Editor Spectrum Assistant Editor Editorial Page Editors Sports Editor Photo Editor Assistant Photo Editor Graphic Editor Night Editor Associate Editors Community Politics Higher Education / Administration University Affairs Student Government Student Activities General Assignment Michelle Brence Lucinda Dillon Michael Rivers Curtis Condon Stephen Maher James Young Michael Drummond Cap! Lynn Michael Wilhelm John Glustlna Lorraine Rath Jolayne Houtz Jolayne Houtz Shawn Wlrtz Chris Norred Stan Nelson Sarah Kitchen Tonnie Dakin Dennis Fernandes Reporters: Sean Axmaker, Mary Courtis, Karen Creighton Gary Henley, Carolyn Lamberson, Scott Maben, Janet Paulson, B J. Thomsen Photographers: Sherlyn Bjorkgren. Shu-Shing Chen, Maria Corvallis. Derrel Hewitt, Bobbie Lo. Dan Wheeler Production: Michele Ross / Ad Coordinator Kelly Alexandre, Elizabeth Asher, Ronwin Nicole Ashton, Virginia Baniaga, Sandra Bevans, Sara Briscoe, Shu Shing Chen, Janet Emery, Lisa Haggerty. Donna Leslie Curtis Lott, Kelli Mason, Mike McGraw, Rob Miles, Angelina Muniz, Julie Paul, Ingrid White, X Kang Xie It is difficult to find a religion whose history is not filled with torture, murder, sexual ex ploitation by religious leaders, political, social and financial crimes. All theist religions, even the most benign, bear the burden of intellectual crime in proselytizing concepts that are confuted by reason. Bert P. Tryba Eugene Flesh n' blood How many are there? On every corner of suburban America, you'll find some kind of church. However, where do you go for an atheist support group? Yes, I said the forbidden word: atheist. Despite religious teachings, all atheists aren't Satanic wor shippers or violently opposed to religion. On the contrary, this atheist feels very happy to enjoy each day without the threat of eternal damnation. All I want to know is where do I fit in? Each church insists on placing my soul within their domain, but according to my beliefs, I have no soul. Does that make me evil? I sure don’t feel evil, or am I just misdirected without religious guidance? I’m tired of being considered as untouchable. I’m flesh and blood just like a Christian, Bud dhist, Taoist, Mormon, etc. 1 have a purpose in life and I don’t need a higher order to give me personal strength. So who else here is an atheist? Step up and be applauded if not by a Christian, then at least by so meone who understands. Joel A. Beath Political science Discretion Though 1 am not a member of lambda Chi Alpha or any other fraternity. I wish to make a statement in regard to Mr. Sliter's letter (ODE. Jan. 28). One year and several months ago I was an associate member of lambda Chi Alpha. During this time I gained a strong ad miration for the members’ use of discretion of social activities. In the great many public lambda Chi meetings and func tions that I attended. I found the majority of the members to be interested in long-term friend ships with women and very op posed to the slanderous type of behavior Sliter suggests. If these women have such lit tle respect for themselves that they wish to protitute themselves for a dip in a pool, and if these are the types of girls you enjoy, which apparently is the case since you put so much emphasis on the SWIMMING POOL, then I suggest that you purchase a 1*001, and offer free beer to any girls that wish to lay out in their tiny bathing suits. The Greek system offers many young men and women the op portunity to get involved in group activities. These ac tivities are no different than the activities that take place in the dorms, yet because these are Greek activities, people like yourself take every chance to down-grade them. Eric Scott Tibbetts Political science, pyschology Take a swim Mr. Sliter, a Ralph Nader you’re not (ODE, Jan. 28). Lambda Chi is fortunate that it is not filled with members who think as you do. At Lambda Chi, there is no written contract that states that “beer sluts” are any more welcome than any other women. And as for the swimming pool — during spring term, there are just as many men with ’’few clothes” on as women. There is one reason for this: it is warm out; one of those phenomenal changes that Oregon undergoes once a year. If the idea of summer attire and swimming pools bothers you, why not pick on the YMCA or the Elks Lodge? Better yet, avoid summer altogether, pick up your perversions and move to Siberia. Petunia Weed Lambda Chi Court member
