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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (July 21, 1987)
Editorial Call for Contra aid misguided request In his weekly radio address on Saturday. President Reagan called on Congress for an increase in military aid for tile anti-Sandinista rebels, known as Contras. Although no formal budget has yet been proposed, the Keegan administration is seeking about $H<l million for the Contras for an 18-month period that would extend the aid two months into the next administration. Reagan based his request on an increase in public sup port for the Contras, asserting support is growing "dramatically as the American people learn the facts about Nicaragua." Recent polls, however, show that American sentiment toward providing military aid to the (lontras has changed lit tle even after the testimony of Lt. fail Oliver North for ex ample, according to a July 16 New York Fimes-CBS News nationwide telephone poll. 51 percent of 655 adults opposed aid to the rel»els while :tfi percent approved it Contrasted to an earlier Times-CBS poll in January. 60 percent opposed and 28 percent favored aid to the Contras. Americans still are opposed vehemently to contra aid, and Reagan should take into consideration the public s opinion. Americans should not be swayed in support of the Con tras by the rhetoric of Reagan and North because their asser tions about the Contras in most cases are not fact, but fallacy. In Reagan's radio address, for example, lie accused the Sandinista government of attempting to subvert the democracies of Central America. Reagan continually has ac cused the Sandinistas of exporting revolution to its neighbors. The Nicaragua government, however, has ceased supplying the left-wing guerrillas fighting the HI Salvadoran government with military equipment. A fact not disclosed by the Reagan administration is the Contras consistently attack and murder civilian non combatants. In the Contra's latest attack July 16. they murdered time! children and a pregnant woman. President Reagan's appeal for more Contra aid is a misguided foreign policy request that should tie denied by Imth the ('ongress and the public. University, concerts: efficient bedfellows The only thing better than an outdoor Grateful Dead Boh Dylan concert is an outdoor Grateful Dead/Bob Dylan concert that is run well. The Athletic Department deserves a slap on the back for a job well done. With more than 4().iMHi concert-goers, the University had its hands full on Sunday afternoon. The logistical pro blem of herding all the Dead and Dylan faithfuls into Autzen Stadium was a hurdle the University and others involved handled admirably. By providing a campground, the University remedied what would have been a monumental headache. Traffic to and from the concert was predictably slow; however, the traffic jam would have been worse had there not been camp ing space available. Security, while initially thorough, was flexible enough to allow everyone in by the time the show started. And once the concert tiegan. the security staff remained in the background and let Deadheads and neo-Deadheads have a good time. Moreover, the addition of the White Bird Clinic booth, as well as an outdoor sprinkler system, was a saving grace for those who had too much partying, too much heat or a lit tle too much of both. Smooth was the theme of the day. So smooth, in fact, we encourage and await additional comparable events. Bm* •+*> ■ J5*w9r AIEEEE... PIT BULL!!!" Commentary Dead and Dylan revive memories More than 40,00(1 people packet! Autzen Stadium on Sunday for the "be-in” of the summer, and the Grateful Dead and Boh Dylan did not disap point. playing a five-plus hour marathon show that left fans screaming for mure. Commentary By Aaron Knox The audience, fully docked out in the mandatory regalia of the Summer of Love, danced and swayed to the electric jug Uind Unit of the Dead for two extended sets. Dylan then stroll ed out and uncorked a sizzling hour-long set of his own, remin ding everyone present the weary troubador still has some fire in his veins. Intermingled with the strands of jerry Garcia's hypnotic guitar were the sounds and smells of another time The sweet smoke of marijuana, the acrid sweat of thousands of gyrating bodies, the pungency of hard liquor and happy whisps of hippie-talk wafted up into the clear blue sky and lent that "only with the Dead" ambience to the proceedings. The weatherman had threatened rain, hut Mother Nature and the Dead seem to have a secret pact that ensures sun-drenched skies. The sun broke through for good at aUiut Oregon Daily Emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Tuesday and Thursday during the summer by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co at the University ol Oregon Eugene. Oregon. 97403 Daily publication will resume with the tail term The Emerald operates independently ot the University with olfices on the third lloor ol the Erb Memorial Union and is a member ot the Associated Press The Emeiald is private property The unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable by law Oeneral Stall Advertising Director Production Manager Classified Advertising Assistant to the Publisher Susan Theien Michele Ross Alyson Simmons Jean Ownbey Editor Managing Student Govt News Editor Editorial Page Editor Photo Editor Night Editoi Associate Editors Higher Ed Administration General Assignment Entertainment Community Stanley Nelson Carolyn Lamberson Eden Godbey Angela Muniz Shu Shing Chen Carolyn Lamberson Mike Drummond Aaron Knox Stephen Maher Advertising: Janette Heitmann Production: Sandra Duller Ad Coordinator Kelly Alexandre. Eliot Knight. Diana Moy. Angela Muniz Ingrid White Serena Williams News and Editorial 666 5511 Display Advertising 666 3712 Classitied Advertising 666 4343 Letter Perfect Grephics 686 5511 Production 6664361 Circulation and Business 686 5511 2:15 and the [load walked onstage at nearly 2:30. When the show finished some five-and-a-half hours later, the skies were still smiling and so were the faces of the obviously satisfied crowd as it wandered slowly through the legions of full-time Deadheads hawking their wares, which ranged from tye-dye T-shirts to little wads of yarn that barely prevented the transaction of funds from being an out-and-out handout. The music took a little longer to find its rhythm than the fans, many of whom had withstood two hours in line while security personnel took painstaking aims to keep glass containers and cameras—but not necessari ly drugs—out of the stadium. The Dead struggled through problems with the equipment on their first set. which was puncuated by long breaks bet ween tunes and a grating har monic that pierced through the final third of the set like a jet plane preparing for takeoff A short break solved the pro blems and rejuvenated the band, and they performed a seamless second sot that played like one continuos medley. C.ar cia and Co., were at their acid soaked best, pouring through Cream's "Spoonful.” "Playin' in the liand" and "Truckin'" with a precision-like grace that periodically gave way to the spaced-out sounds of a serious intergalactic journey. When Dylan took the stage at around t» p.m., the crowd was sun-drunk hut expectant. The Hob Dylan who played with font Petty last summer in Portland was distant and unintelligible, and looked every bit like a man performing his swan song. This Dylan was different. The Dylan who took the stage Sunday was razor-sharp and energized. Although the lyrics were still murky, they were vastly superior to his mumhl-’ ings of a year ago. And Dylan worked his guitar like an axe. mowing through the steady backlieat provided by the Dead and snarling where Garcia's sang. Sticking with a repetoire of familiar older tunes, Dylan gave them new punch and energy. He even smiled. Twice. Those accustomed to setting the moniker of lost hope across his face had to be heartened by this uncommon display of en thusiasm. OP Hob even got into a battle of dueling guitars with Garcia that had both musicians grimacing with effort. From the beginning of "Mag gie's Farm” to the climax of "All Along the Watchtower" Dylan attacked the chords and the lyrics with a conviction rarely seen, and which remind ed everyone just why Dylan was considered the premier spokesman for an angry genera tion a couple of generations ago. Unfortunately, as Garcia in toned near the end of the second set. “that silver locomotive is gone, and nothing's going to br ing it back.” Skywriters com peted for space hawking the Grateful Dead's new album 'Dead in the Dark." and calling for the impeachment of Presi dent Reagan. Eyes that may have been altered by hallucinogens were masked with Vuarnet sunglasses, and a girl selling acid had exact change for a $10 bill. Even the encore, which brought out the musicians for rollicking renditions of the Dead's new single. "Touch of Gray” and Dylan’s classic "All Along the Watchtower." was pun; business. The band walked back onstage on cue. played a pair'of songs, and walked off, never acknowledging the crowd. Even that perfunctory exit could not. however, dampen the enthusiasm of the* gathered masses. That was assured by the time Dylan smoked through "Rainy Day Women • 12 and 35". singing "everybody must get stoned." Everybody did. at least in spirit, on this magical day in July when the only re quirement for a good time was faith
