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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (March 13, 1987)
Editorial Book banning limits freedom of thought Hand’s ruling for the removal of the textbooks was predictable. It was more or less a culmination of a conser vative Christian crusade to ban the textbooks, which were in his words “promoting a different kind of religion." The judge’s motives for banning the books must be questioned. In 1983, Judge Brevard Hand upheld a law per mitting silent prayer in public schools. The Supreme Court reversed his school-prayer decision. Hand then took issue with secular humanism in public schools, and many of the defendants for school prayer then were turned plaintiffs for banning certain textbooks. Hand’s ruling for the removal of the textbooks was predictable. It decision was more or less a culmination of a conservative Christian crusade to ban the textbooks, which were in his words “promoting a different kind of religion." His decision also calls into question the definition of secular humanism as a religion. Though the textbooks may be imperfect in this respect, defining secular humanism as a religion is going to ex tremes. The absence of a theist religious perspective does not make secular humanism a “religion.” If this were the case, existential philosophy and atheism could be deemed religions. Defendants undoubtedly will challenge Hand’s deci sion, as they should. It is our hope the ruling will be revers ed. and the banning of textbooks does not become a national phenomenon. There's a disturbing trend in Supreme Court rulings The Supreme Court’s recent tendency to narrowly define search and seizure laws has become a disturbing trend. On Monday it ruled police could use evidence in court that they seize while “acting in objectively reasonable reliance" on a law, even if the law later is declared unconstitutional. Similarly, the court in February reversed a Maryland court’s decision that ruled police evidence was inadmissible in court after authorities there had seized contraband from an apartment without a warrant. The police had entered the wrong apartment, thinking the floor had only one dwelling. The Supreme Court ruled the police had made a legitimate mistake in entering and seizing the contraband, and the evidence was deemed admissible. Both these rulings illustrate the Supreme Court’s in creasing practice of limiting the scope of the exclusionary rule — a rule protecting the rights of individuals against in admissible evidence. The Supreme Court currently views the exclusionary rule as a means to protect an individual from the improper conduct of police officers. But the original intent of the rule was to protect individuals from the improper actions of the government — a big difference. The Fourth Amendment requires that search and seizure warrants particularly describe “the place to be sear ched, and the person or things to be seized." But the court, with these two recent rulings, has come closer to the justice department’s interpretation of the law, and has given authorities freer reign in obtaining evidence, unfortunately at the expense of individual rights. B REASONS STILL FKWCf ■ IN COMM\VJD.THATS ■ THEONLT PERSON I ■ /'iNS'NERTD - »ND HER HUSBAND. wteiidetfi ^ '^ZSi-iS&SLcr Letters Square one A different thing has happen ed in this last generation begin ning in 1953, which the King lames Bible refers to as the latter days —■ TV evangelism! Never before has preaching reached so many people, yet we’re seeing the terrible results: lying and stealing. Children drop out of school and run away from home and many of their lifeless bodies are kept in morgues awaiting identification. The state, churches and the media have zeroed in on equali ty as the solution but, in fact, it “is” equality which has ruined life for all. And with world terrorism, it’s perceived inequality that causes it. The best way to end the terrorism — especially in tellectual — along with the bloodsucking business monopolies and moronic brotherhoods, is to go back to square one and start over. But the government isn’t about to just let slavery end. Even though the IRS will hate it, a person can park their car and use a bicycle exclusively. It’s the second step in being born again, for motor vehicle emissions are deadly: “For we die from their toxic fumes in a great number of ways, from new Oregon Daily Emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald Is published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oreaon 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 Lottinvllle Classified Advertising Alyson Simmons Assistant to the Publisher Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales: Peter LaFleur/ Sales Manager Teresa Acosta, Beryl Israel, Janelle Heitmann, Laura Goldstein, Catherine Lilja, Rick Martz, Joseph Menzel, Peter Miller, Joan Wildermuth News and Editorial 686-5511 Display Advertising and Business 686-3712 Classified Advertising 686-4343 Letter Perfect Graphics 686-5511 Production 686-4381 Circulation 686-5511 Editor Managing Editor News Editor Spectrum Editor Spectrum Assistant Editor Editorial Page Editors Sports Editor Photo Editor Spectrum Photo Editor Graphics Editor Night Editor Michelle Brence Lucinda Dillon Michael Rivers Stephen Maher Stanley Nelson Michael Drummond Angie Muniz Capi Lynn Michael Wilhelm John Giustina Lorraine Rath Michelle Brence Associate Editors Community Jolayne Houtz Politics Nick Reed Higher Education / Administration Chris Norred University Affairs Student Government Student Activities General Assignment General Assignment General Assignment Reporters: Sean Axmaker, Janet Paulson B J Thomsen Carolyn Lamberson Sarah Kitchen Karen Creighton Dennis Fernandes Scott Maben Mary Courtis, Gary Henley, Photographers: Sherlyn Bjorkgren, Shu-Shing Chen, Marla Corvallis. Derrel Hewitt, Bobbie Lo, Dan Wheeler Production: Michele Ross / Ad Coordinator Kelly Alexandre, Ronwin Nicole Ashton, Virginia Baniaga, Samantha Barbitta, Sandra Bevans, Sara Briscoe, Shu Shing Chen, Janet Emery, Judith Gatz, Lisa Haggerty, Donna Leslie, Curtis Lott, Steve Lundgren, Kelli Mason! Mike McGraw. Rob Miles. Angela Muniz, Julie Paul, Ingrid White, Serena Williams, X Kang Xie life in women’s wombs to a violent shortening of days.” The first and most urgent change needed is in attitude. It goes back to Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in his own im age...” But man turned it around and created God in his own image, putting long hair and a gown on Jesus. Then he created the Prince of this world by putting pants on women. Wayne L. Johnson San Diego, CA Teaching After reading “Good lesson” in the Emerald March 6, by Michael Cross. 1 have come to the conclusion that the ODE should have a yearly award for the most illogically written let ter (or letters, as in Mike’s case). “Good lesson” is the latest of Mr. Cross’ attempts to defend an old anti-choice argument that abortion is wrong because our economy is dependent on a population that must grow at exponential rates, otherwise we will be destined to suffer extinction. It appears that Mr. Cross, like most religious extremists, believes if one presents an argu ment by quoting people with exotic names or fancy titles, then the argument is valid. In “Good lesson” he uses terms like “negative population coefficient.” Fancy stuff, but it just isn’t happening enough on this planet. If the argument that he presented by quoting Victar Perevedentsev, (and impressing us by giving significance to Mr. Perevedentsev’ Russian heritage) was anything more than extreme idealism, then , China, India and other highly populated countries would be tremendous economic powers. On a final note of significance, Mr. Cross forgot to inform us in his last letter, that Victar Perevedentsev has two patents for perpetual motion machines and that he plans on entering the America’s Cup yacht race with a sail boat powered by an on-board electric fan. Patrick Clancy Eugene Sleazy tactics I hope that those who faithful ly read the Emerald will readily recognize Ron Munion’s attack on Bob Baldwin and the SPA for what it is — character assassination. Isn’t it fascinating that Ron Munion would accuse the SPA and Bob Baldwin of the sleazy political tactics characteristic of Munion and his SER cohorts? I don’t have time right now to give a statement here backed by substantiating evidence, but one is impending. However, I must affirm my support for the Steve Nelson administration and SPA. We all owe them deep appreciation for their commen dable efforts to serve the myriad interests that make up the whole of this campus community. I hope you’ll take the time to discover what the SPA, Steve Nelson, and Bob Baldwin are really about. By the way I am not an SPA member, yet. James Munyer Magazine Journalism i Emerald owes apology V\ ednesday s editorial cartoon depicting Universi ty President Paul Olum holding a handful of cash and gratuitously patting a tenured professor on the back was in poor taste and was an unfair attack. Olum was not the only administrator to receive a pay raise. Moreover, he has worked hard on behalf of the University s faculty in an effort to secure salary in creases for them as well. We apologize for the content of the cartoon.
