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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 8, 1987)
Editorial South Africa needs stronger sanctions When Congress considers the possibility of stronger sanctions against South Africa in the forthcoming weeks, it should not only reaffirm the largely symbolic sanctions already in place, but also implement new. tougher sanctions to facilitate democratic reforms and an end to apartheid. South Africa's system of racial oppression. Hut President Reagan is likely to veto any legislation calling for tougher sanctions that reaches his desk, arguing that sanctions will hurt blacks and exclude diplomacy from the negotiating process. The Reagan administration's argument, howevei. has tw'o fallacious assumptions: that sanctions and diplomacy are incompatible and that sanctions will hurt blacks more than help them. Rather than undercut diplomacy, comprehensive sanc tions will force South African President P.W. Botha and his administration to the negotiating table by weakening the economy in the long run. The Botha Administration will continue to shun negotiating an end to aparthied until sanc tions and other factors — such as boycotts, labor strikes and internal violence — weaken the authoritarian regime. In assuming sanctions will hurt black South Africans, the administration is correct — but only with regard to the short run. In the long run. however, sanctions will benefit con siderably black South Africans in terms of political freedom, and such benefits will outweigh the short run costs to the black population. Stronger sanctions also will hurt affluent whites more than the relatively poor blacks. Because foreign trade and investment is largely concen trated in capital-intensive industries, sanctions or divest ment or both are likely to affect negatively the white, profes sional work force proportionately more than unskilled blacks. Moreover, affluent whites have more to lose in terms of living standards than their segregated and exploited black counterparts. Nevertheless. South African blacks not only have pledg ed to accept short-run economic hardships for the political purpose of al>olishiug apartheid, but also have called for Western nations to impose sanctions. The black trade union movement, for example, has endorsed Western sanctions even though such measures would adversely affect unemployment. Furthermore, front-line states that are significantly dependent on South Africa, such as Zimbabwe, have called for comprehensive Western sanctions even though it will damage their own economic interests. Zimbabwe, a nation that exports about tin percent of its international trade through South Africa, has demanded that Western nations impose sanctions against its powerful neighbor despite pro bable economic retaliation from the Botha administration. In order to end apartheid. Congress should implement substantive sanctions against South Africa's most strategic and economically important imports, such as advanced technology and oil. crucial ingredients for Botha's military machine. As South Africa is heavily dependent on foreign trade and capital inputs from abroad, comprehensive U.S.-led Western sanctions are the most viable measure — and perhaps the only alternative to direct military involvement — to halt racial oppression in South Africa. I DESPISED JIMBAKKEffS LOVE OF MONEY I WAS SICKENED WHEN HE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ME SEXUALLY. SO I DID VlfHAT ANY SELF RESPECTING WOMAN WOULD DO. I I POSED NAMED FORA MILLION BUCKS. Letters Hearsay I Van Holland made several excellent points in his recent comments regarding Judge Burk's confirmation, especially concerning the disinformation of America. Though never a big fan of Judge Burk. I was nonetheless shocked when I returned to law school this fall and noticed the unquestioning anti-Bork opi nions adopted by so many. A lawyer is supposed to master the facts of his or her case; yet. from students and faculty alike I have heard and read so many bald assertions, gut reactions, insinuations, and conclusory statements about Judge Bork that I now wonder whether many people here have taken the time to independently learn details about Bork. or whether, instead, most aren't simply parroting each others' hearsay. The law school is but a microcosm. People in general don't or won’t take the time to learn about Judge Bork. They start form a state of being uninformed. Then Judge Bork's critics come along with fear-provoking assertions that portray Bork as a Oregon Daily Emerald The Oregon Daily E mar aid la published Monday through Friday encept during e»am week and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co. at the University of Oregon. Eugene. Oregon, 97403 The Emerald operates independently ol 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 Advertising Salas: Tan Boring. Gary DeLoasa. Tom Leech. Catherine Lilia. Rick Marti. Laura McKinney. Heather Mull. Joann Nelson. Julie Paul. Barbara Rogers. Scott Thorklldson, Joan Wildermuth Production Manager Classified Manager Assistant to the Publisher Michele Ross Kelli Mason Jean Ownbey News and Editorial SM-ftSt 1 US-3712 Display Advertising and Business Classified Advertising Letter Perfect Graphics sse-sstt Btnr4iiellAA rf OOUC UOft Circulation Mil Editor Managing Editor New* Editor Editorial Pag* Editor* Sports Editor Photo Editor Graphic Design Editor Spacial Issues Editor Entertainment/Sports Segment Editor Night Editor Stanley Nelson Scott Maben Eden God bey Angela Mum*/Steven Hoemsch Aaron Knox Shu-Shing Chen Lorraine Rath Kelly Kortekaas H.C Hutto Stephen Maher Aiioclrtt Editon Community Stephen Maher Higher Education/Administration Michael Drummond Student Government / Activities Carolyn Lamberson General Assignment /Entertainment Mill Hoiben Reporters: Craig Harris. Gary Henley. Andrew LaMar. Jell Morgan. Ingrid Petersen Caml Swanson. Kelvin Mee Photographer* Shertyn Bjorkgren. Maria Corvallis. Andy Cripe. Dusty Etxei. Derrel Hewitt, John Giustlna. Bobbie Lo. Ross Martin. Andre Raniert, Dan Wheeler. Michael JMilhelm Production: Sandra Daller f Ad Coordinator Kelly Alexandra. Ronwln Nicole Ashton. Virginia Baniaga. Stephanie Dry nan. Dolores Ferreo. Shannon Gaither. Lisa Haggerty. Stephanie Holland. Dierdre Kelly. Eliot Kntgm. Jung Lee. Bobbie Lo. James Mason. Angie Munir. Ted Shepier. Lisa Svanevtk. Ingrid White. Kelli Williams. Serena Williams. X. Kang Xie threat to whatever their in terests may be. Negative news is powerful stuff, and people latch onto the assertions as though they were facts. Suddenly as that, the uninformed become the disinformed, and they pass the word on, Case in point: Senator Ken nedy makes condemning asser tions that lodge Bork is against individual rights. Disturbing and powerful, this drivel is mainlined through the media to our psyches. lialf-digested. such assertions are regurgitated in recent facul ty and student letters. "Judge Bork's philosophy is one of complete hostility to individual rights." rumor has it. Yet in Oilman v. Kvans. Judge Bork writes. "The important thing, the ultimate considera tion. is the constitutional freedom that is given into our keeping ." It is a judge's duty, Bork adds, to see new threats to our freedoms and thus to ensure that our freedoms "are made effective in today's circumstance." Robert John 2nd year law Preservation The proposed Riverfront Research Park places the University and the State Board of Higher Educaon in the posi Letters Policy The Emerald will at tempt to print all letters containing fair comment on topics of interest to the University community. Letters to the editor must tie limited to 250 words, typed, signed and the identification of the writer must be verified when the letter is turned in. The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length or style. Letters to the editor should be turned into the Emerald office. Suite 200. EMU. tion of promoting a 72-acre private development scheme that benefits a few development interests at the expense of public resources. The traditional attitude of us ing University property for stu dent needs has been swept away, despite concerns express ed by student groups and in dividuals about the location of this development, and despite the overwhelming student man date in a campus ballot measure last spring. The proposed master plan ig nores the student position that the soccer field should be preserved in its present location. While the location provides an aesthetic and functional rela tionship with the adjacent foot bridge. bike path and swimm ing area, the new plan cuts off the field from direct access to the bridge and swimming site, and squeezes the field between two research office buildings It is unlikely that the present uses of the field for sports events can be compatable with a quiet of fice environment. Furthermore, the new master plan is inconsistent with the Unversity's prior plans for this area, plans that called for the expansion of recreational fields along the river. Nor is the master plan consistent with the state goal of preserving the Willamette greenway. Despite these obvious pro blems of incompatability. the project proposers have ignored the many appropriate alter native sites including the downtown area, and expanding the West Eugene area. Unfortunately, the City Coun cil. University and private developers seem determined to squeeze the maximum gross na tional product out of the river front area. Students such as myself are concerned that a few develop ment interests are taking the public for a ride at the expense of a beautiful and irreplaceable natural resource, the Willamette greenway. Dan Stotter Law
