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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 30, 1987)
Editorial Policy's faults shown in Contra killing In an ironic, but hardly funny twist of fate, Benjamin Linder was killed in Nicaragua by a group of rebels that America refers to as “freedom fighters." This may seem like another insignificant death in a country riddled with tur moil. But Under was not only the first American reported killed by the Contras. Ik; was also an Oregonian. All of a sudden the events taking place in that tiny South American country are brought into our backyard. Similar to rapes or robberies, we put up a protective blind, “It will never happen to me.” This has been torn down by one bullet. But what makes the entire situation so ironic is that our government supplied that bullet to the Contras. “I feel part of it." said Howard Clazer, a friend of Linder. “We as a country killed that boy; it was our bullet.” Clazer’s point is valid. We are all responsible for Linder's death. President Reagan and other national representatives have encouraged and approved funding for the Contras in Nicaragua. Reagan calls them “freedom fighters” trying to establish a democracy. And despite the Iran-Contra affair he continues to lobby lor support. It is our responsibility to voice opposition to this injustice and to stop funding these rebels. But if we take Reagan’s democratic analogy further, we could say tin; real freedom fighter in Nicaragua was Linder. Linder was doing volunteer work as an engineer. He developed geothermal and hydroelectric projects in small villages. According to friends, his motivations were not political. He only wanted to help. The Contras, on the other hand, destroyed the hydroelectric project Linder was working on. And on Tues day evening, they singled out Linder and killed him execution-style. Before his death, Linder spoke with friends about the threat of a Contra attack. They hoped Contras wouldn’t kill Americans. But the attack shows the rebels have bitten the hand that feeds them. It was somewhat naive to think they would distinguish nationality before shooting someone. They chose Linder because he worked for tin? Sandinistas. not because he had acted violently or spoken out against them. Reagan’s policy toward Nicaragua is called into ques tion after this shooting. He claims not to support terrorists, but the Iran scandal and this shooting prove him wrong. The Contras’ actions were acts of terrorism. And they will not change their ways with or without our support. Reagan can no longer assert these rebels are “freedom fighters. I hey have no relation whatsoever to our founding fathers. Linder’s death is tragic, and it is unfortunate that it takes such a violent action to open our eyes. But on the positive side, the murder has brought about different feel ings about the Contras to tin; Northwest and America. Hopefully, Linder will have not died in vain, if Americans realize the f utility of funding the Contras and de mand a change in our policies, then some good can come from this tragedy. rrs me. A CENTRAL AMERICAN REBEL, TRYING TO OVER THROW MY COUNTRY !51 GOVERNMENT THR0U6H MURDER,, MAYHEM AND TERRORISM. Letters Making babies A program called “The Baby Business” recently aired on NBC. Disturbing facts were presented on infertility, adop tion and the psychological d e v a s t a t ion c a u sed by childlessness. Such a program will probably bring into ques tion many widely held attitudes in contemporary society. In the past few years, many women have chosen to wait un til past 30 to start having children. Many who wait will never have any babies. A condi tion called "Delayed Birth Syn drome” is becoming increasing ly common especially among “career women." Perhaps a good message to young women 1H-30 should be “If you wait, you’re taking a big risk." Postponing starting a family until lf> or 20 years after puberty increases that chance that barrenness will develop. One in five couples have dif ficulty getting pregnant. Many people who use no birth control at all can be married for 20 years and only conceive one or two children. Imagine the problems en 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 Wayne Michael Lottinville Classified Advertising Alyson Simmons Assistant to the Publisher Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales Peter LaFleur / Sales Manager Teresa Acosta, Janelle Heitmann, Catherine Lilja. Rick Martz, Joseph Menzel, Joan Wildermuth Advertising Apprentices: Ten Boring, Heather Mull, Bar bara Rodgers, Julie Paul 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 Pago 2 Editor Managing Editor News Editor Spectrum Editor Spectrum Assistant Editor Editorial Page Editors Sports Editor Photo Editor Spectrum Photo Editor Graphics Editor Night Editor Associate Editors Community Politics Higher Education / Administration University Affairs Student Government Student Activities General Assignment General Assignment Michelle Brence Lucinda Dillon Michael Rivers Stephen Maher Stanley Nelson Michael Drummond Angie Muniz Dennis Fernandes Maria Corvallis John Giustina Lorraine Rath Michelle Brence Janet Paulson B J Thomsen Chris Norred Laurie Schwartz Carolyn Lamberson Sarah Kitchen Alicia Gano Scott Maben Reporters: Jackie Barry. Mary Courtis, Gary Henley Photographers: Sherlyn Bjorkgren, Shu Shing Chen. Der rel Hewitt, Tim Jones, Bobbie Lo, Dan Wheeler Production: Michele Ross ) Ad Coordinator Supervisors: Sandra Bevans, ShuShing Chen, Eliot Knight, Angela Muniz, Ingrid White Technicians: Kelly Alexandre, Ronwm Nicole Ashton, Virginia Bamaga. Samantha Barbitta, Sara Briscoe, Janet Emery Judith Gatz, Lisa Haggerty, Jung Lee, Donna Leslie, Bobbie Lo, Curtis Lott, Kelli Mason, Mike McGraw Rob Miles, Diana Moy. Julie Paul, Michael Wilhelm! Serena Williams, X Kang Xie countered by couples who use birth control until their mid-30s and then decide they want children. Often nature doesn’t cooperate with individual timetables or goals, and fre quently advanced medical technology can’t help. And with over 100 waiting couples for every one available white infant put up for adop tion. it’s not easy or cheap to adopt. Most people want a family. Hut thanks to many factors in to day’s society there’s going to he a lot of disappointed people — and a lot more lonely older peo ple a few years from now. lulius G. I)e Paepe Alvadore, Oregon Pack of lies hies. lies, lies! 1 can’t believe how many lies Rob Young was able to squeeze into one letter (C)1)K, April 4). His deliberate attempt to mislead students is pathetic. Young points out that the fun ding of OSPIRG is mandatory for University students. True enough, but so is the funding for athletics, minority student unions, student government, the Oregon Student hobby, the Interfraternity Council and every group receiving 1FC funds, whether or not every single student agrees with their goals or methods. A wide range of student pro grams receive incidental fees. Young’s major lie is that OSPIRG “is not at all affiliated with the University... it is an entirely independent activist organization." 1 suppose it means nothing to Young that OSPIRG was organized by students here in 1971. and that before that it did not exist. The fact it is controlled en tirely by students must also be meaningless, as is tin; support it receives in ASIJO elections every other year. Young also finds it quite easy to ignore the section in the ASUO Constitution devoted en tirely to the funding of OSPIRG (6.11). He goes on to allege some evil doings in OSPIRG’s manage ment of its money. He would like to see a break-down of how fees are spent. He’s more than welcome to do that at any time and put his fears to rest. Before alleging something as serious as misspending of student fees, he should get his facts straight. I urge students to think hard about the credibility of these in dividuals who are threatening to destroy the political culture of this campus. Maureen Kirk Chairwoman, OSPIRG Act of war A war has been declared — a wrar against our future, a war against. . .our children. In this war there is no winner, only losers. The weapon in this ultimate form of fratricide is abortion. And the enemy is the most in nocent member of society — the b a b i e s o f A m erica. O u r Supreme Court has allowed an intense battle to be waged with needles, suction instruments, forceps and poison. And the baby doesn’t stand a chance. There’s no place to run and hide in the womb. How long will America allow this war to go on? Do we really hate ourselves so much that we want to sanction our own genocide? It certainly won’t be easy to expect world peace if we can’t even declare an end to this most inexcusable act of war and brutality against our young. Irene De Paepe Alvadore, On;. Lost his head Dan Goulet certainly seems to worry a lot about what other people stick up their asses. Makes one wonder where his head is at... . Hiawatha Graduate, Music
