Editorial
Knowledge of rape
a benefit for society
The Rape Awareness Symposium starts today and
should be attended by everyone. It provides a supportive
and open outlet for women and men to discuss their fears
and learn more about the crime.
Rape has only recently become an acceptable topic to
discuss in public. Before victims’ rights movements, rape
victims were shunned by society. The crimes were hidden
because the victim and her family felt embarrassed. In most
cases, the victim believed it was her fault, not the attacker’s.
Although no rapes on campus have been reported this
year, that does not mean there haven’t been any. The myths
and feelings of persecution still prevent many women from
reporting attacks.
Symposiums such as this one break down these fears.
They promote awareness of the crimes and relay feelings of
trust to the people. If a victim feels accepted and trusted in
the society, then more of the crimes will be reported.
In the past, men have almost equalled the number of
women attending the symposium. This shows an increasing
acceptance of the fact of rape in our society and a will
ingness to prevent it. Not all men are potential rapists. By
breaking down this myth and promoting communication,
people will be able to prevent attacks.
Programs like this emphasize that rape is something
that could happen to any of us. By attending the sym
posium, we can develop a better understanding of the crime
and how to prevent it.
The symposium is a positive reflection on a society that
once scorned rape victims. It shows a change in attitudes
and an openness to discuss a sensitive issue. Breaking down
the fears and misconceptions of rape is the first step in stop
ping the crime.
Soviet demonstrations
show changing attitudes
The demonstrations and protests in the Soviet Union
surrounding the release of 140 political prisoners followed
by the recent release of Jewish dissident Iosif Begun show a
conflict of interests in Mikhail Gorbachev’s move to a more
open society.
Gorbachev has promoted a more democratic form of ex
pression recently. The release of the prisoners and Begun
shows Gorbachev is attempting to open the iron curtain. Pro
tests on behalf of Begun were allowed. Yet the attack of the
protesters, with two demonstrators injured, shows changes
in the Soviet Union come slowly.
The violence that marred the demonstrations ex
emplifies an oppressed country trying to speak out. Gor
bachev has made many advances toward acceptance of free
expression and cooperation with the United States.
However, the Soviet Union was founded on a much different
principle. It is as easy for the USSR to become democratic as
it is for the U.S. to become communistic.
Gorbachev should be commended on his efforts to allow
demonstrations in the first place. But the attacks on the
demonstrators can not be condoned. The Soviet Union
needs to find a way to allow peaceful protests that won’t
digress into riots.
The United States should support and help the Soviets
in their small, but important changes in the system.
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Letters
Scientific
In reply to Ron Rousseve’s re
cent letters to the ODE, I would
like to make the following
points:
1) Rousseve critisizes my
religious outlook as a “pre
conceived” world view that is
“discontinuous with rational
processes.” I have already
argued that reason and faith are
not necessarily discontinuous,
and nothing Rousseve has said
disconfirms that. I could as easi
ly argue that Rousseve has a
pre-conceived world view. Both
religion and science have an
associated world view, and it is
logically impossible to prove
that one is better than another.
2) Despite what many scien
tists think, many aspects of life
cannot be reduced to a series oi
“scientifically validated”
statements. If you doubt this,
try to explain to yourself, or a
fictional other who has never
tasted salt, what salt TASTES
like. I don't mean explain its
chemical composition or densi
ty. but explain what it tastes
like. The only way to complete
ly understand salt is to taste
salt. The only way to complete
ly understand a religious ex
perience is to have a religious
experience.
3) While I agree that Univer
sities should encourage
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critical thinking, 1 also
that a great deal of what a
University should teach its
students has nothing to do with
issues that can be “scientifical
ly validated." How can ap
preciation for great art, drama,
literature or history be taught
only through statements that
can be scientifically validated?
The essence of great drama or
art is that they transcend scien
tific explanation.
4) If Rousseve is a “post
Christian" agnostic, then I am a
“post-scientific” Christian.
Anton Tolman
Psychology GTF
Platoon
After reading Sean Axmaker’s
review of the movie “Platoon"
(ODE, Feb. 5), I cannot help but
wonder if Sean truly believes
what he writes.
In his review Axmaker main
tains that the film did not
disturb him and that
writer/director Oliver Stone
"lets his characters talk about
their experiences instead of
showing them."
In one scene of the movie a
platoon of American soldiers
enters a Vietnamese village in
search of NVA soldiers. While
in the village one soldier
smashes in an innocent boy’s
face with his rifle butt and then
laughs about it. Another soldier
cold bloodedly murders a
woman because she will not
stop talking. Before torching the
village, a group of soldiers rape
two pre-teen Vietnamese girls
and justify their actions by say
ing that the Vietnamese are
“gooks" and not human beings.
Considering these events are
based on Stone’s actual war
time experience, I find these
acts deeply disturbing. The fact
that Sean did not find these acts
disturbing is very puzzling.
Equally puzzling is Sean’s
critisism that because the
characters talk about their ex
periences instead of showing
them, the movie is reduced to
“empty, preachy rhetoric.’’ If I
remember correctly, the oc
curences mentioned above were
actually shown and not just
talked about as Axmaker
contends.
1 hope Axmaker’s review does
not stop people from seeing
“Platoon.” It is a powerful,
compelling, yet disturbing film.
But it is one that must be seen
by all if travesties like Vietnam
are to be avoided in the future.
Todd Worthley
Political Science
Fishy
Mr. Hytrek’s observations
deserve some comment (ODE,
Feb. 9). “Fisheries management
is not an exact science.” True.
“All sides must cooperate if
we want to preserve the severe
ly depleted salmon runs in our
present society.” A commen
dable conclusion.
Expediently, the press and
media coverage leave out the
commercial ocean fisheries.
Whose side?
In all forms of entity disagree
ment truth is the first
sacrifice.... Or could it be
some corporation predicts a
profitable market for radioactive
fish?
Leroy George
Former student
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