Editorial
Daily Emerald
Persian Gulf not
a U.S. playground
Just as Iran and Iraq are repairing the damage and
burying the dead from their eight-year war. a new dis
pute has recently threatened to turn the Persian Ciulf
into a sea of burning oil tankers and drilling platforms
Earlier this week. Iraq claimed the oil-rich nation
of Kuwait was conspiring with the United Arab Emir
ates, another small, oil-producing Persian Gulf nation,
to overproduce and keep the price of oil low on the
world market, thereby ruining Iraq s economy. Iraq put
30,000 troops and 200 Soviet-made tanks on the Ku
waiti border in an attempt to “persuade" Kuwait into
rethinking its petroleum policy. Kuwait responded by
putting its military on alert.
The situation was already delicate enough, and the
United States responded in a predictable nature It sent
six U S. Navy ships on joint Persian Gulf “maneuvers''
with the United Arab Emirates, like Kuwait a U S. ally.
At the same time, White House spokesman Marlon
Kit/.water said, “It is a delicate situation. We urge all
parties to avoid violence."
If the situation is so delicate, why the added [nays
sure of U.S. worships? It the United States is con
cerned about avoiding violence, why is a show of force
necessary? Didn't the deaths of the sailors on the
U.S.S. Shirk in 1987 teach us anything?
The U.S. government has, throughout its history,
behaved like a drunk and disorderly tavern regular,
pitching in its two cents — or violent behavior into
every argument it can find. This particular argument is
between Iraq and Kuwait, and if there has to be an ar
gument. let it stay that way.
Already, the leaders of other Middle Eastern coun
tries, among them Egypt's Hosni Mubarek. wasted no
time in trying to settle the dispute. Negotiations seem
to be working, and indications were that Kuwait and
Iraq would reach a settlement without armed conflict.
It is a shame the United States chose instead to re
spond with ships rather than diplomacy.
What can the United States gain from armed con
frontation. or even a simple, self-gratifying show of
force in the Middle East? The answer is plain: dead
Americans, and continued hostilities between the na
tions of the Persian Gulf. If our government feels a
burning desire to meddle in the affairs of Kuwait and
Iraq, let it do so as a mediator.
Rather than spending American tax dollars, and
possible lives, protecting the country’s oil supplies,
maybe it is time to use those resources to research
long-term alternative sources of energy so that we are
not dependent on this unstable region for the fuel that
keeps the United States moving.
Observance of rules applies to bikes also
Stop Dismount Walk vour hike
Kasy enough words to mad lor anv c ol
lege student So win do so many have trou
ble comprehending them? Unfortunately,
the sc ant amount of rude, discourteous. and
dangerous bicyclists overshadow the large
majority of sale, respectful riders
Kugene and the University campus have
wonderful bike lanes Signs that are easily
readable are posted at intermittent points
along the paths Hut all too often some riders
choose to use the sidewalks as if the\ own
them
Sidewalks are for pedestrians. People
should be able to walk on them in comfort
without any fear of being run over by over
zealous bit vc lists It bicyclists were held at -
t turntable for their observance of vehicle
laws, the streets would be safer for every
one
Hit \t lists are supposed to adhere' to the*
same rules and regulations of the road as
motorists They are supposed to stop at stop
signs Yield to pedestrians Walk their bike
when the situation calls for it Hut many
seem to think that they are merely walkers
w ith-wheels
Most of us that have spent an ample
amount of time strolling the campus have
had close (alls with hike riders Avoiding
the few belligerent cyclists who think they
own the road is a common, everydav occur
rence However, we have no recourse for re
porting these abusers of road satetv since li
i eases are not required for bicycles. We set
tle for ( ursing under our breath and promis
ing ourselves to clothesline the next rider
who ( omes within 50 feet of us
Hicvi les should be registered just like
automobiles Riders should pay a fee tor a li
cense plate on the bar k to help fund bike
paths and signs Licenses would also make
it possible to trace unruly riders.
Anyone, for a nominal amount of mon
ey. can look up license plates of c ars at the
i)MY The same should hold true for bicy
(lists If they know they can be traced
through their license number, they just
might ride a hit more ( autiously.
lust bec ause bicycles are noil-motorized
does not mean riders have carte hlam he of
the streets And while the walkway under
the LMl' is a walk-vour bike zone, some rid
ers zip through as if it is their own private
dri veu ay
It's a classic case of a few giving a bad
name to many
Liberalism
The t.ii I ill bcmn subjfi IimI to
Vet anolhet fictitious, political
11i.itriI>«• from the l inrr.ihl oiii
tonal pan** is lamentable
Oregon Ihiil)
»'«> H--\ (UKrni Oi.K..n WW*
The (>♦•.;.'(! D.i > • s pubi sht»d T uesday and Thu'vtay I hi?
riser by the Cw-g■ Daily i mh*mM Publishing Co .it the University of Oregi '■ Eu
gc*n»‘ Ore ; ■ Daily pubh abnn b»*g'n'> *-th the fail
The Emer.iM is operated indef»endently of the University with offices n the
th • ; 'I - ' f If*.- I rb M- > ■ -li If "• I f! «*. a >tn»r . >' thf A-,-. -ated P»es*»
The Emerald is private property The unlawful removal of use of papers -s pros
>• utable by !.ia
Associate Editors
Entertainment Boat ft
Student Gov! Activities •• h.ia ,
Community - i' M.i i '
Staff Photographer v •• kJ i *
Advertising Sales Katn* - •*
Production •* ; h f > hfr • M.o! ' - . »V
General Stall
General Manager i; Assistant to the Publisher a bey
Advertising Director t ‘ < - Classified Sales V •*
Production Manager M , f . • M Advertising Coordinator : ■
Account* Receivable Circulation Newsroom 346 5511
Classified Advertising 346 4343
Display Advertising 346 3712
Production, Graphic Services 346 4381
Editor a i• yv •
News Managing fditoi ’ • ft a
Graphics Editor i f
Editorial Editor n : <v\.r :
Night Editor A • ■ •
letters
in reference in president
(ieorge Hush 's candidate for
nomination In the Supremo
( unit tin* editor favored to cm
hi.ui' i|uinlessential liberal
drivel " The senate should
take its time and make sure it
does not appoint a Hush ideo
logue " I douht the editorial
i oni upisi eni e would have a
perspii acinus d the editor was
writing about the Roosevelt
court ot the late Ills and -ills.
Let s wake up and allow the
i hie! executive ofticer to ever
i ise his constitutional privilege
to selei t a replacement nomi
nee rather than continuing an
unnecessarilv ostentatious edi
torial etii ionadu
Mark t.ustavson
Political Si ience
Just say yes
In the 1‘l‘lOs let s sa\ YUS
T( > Ill'll N on have a choice be
tween two things to one you
sa\ \(): to the other YUS
When vou sav no to drill’s
vou arc saving no u> <t uiesivie
whii h iik hides drugs, alcohol,
school dropouts. runaways,
jobless, prison, poverty, sulci
dal. hate violence, crime loss
ut family, prostitution, teenage
pregnane \. AIDS and other
birth defects, c.rac k and t o
t aine-addlcted babies. tin
w.inted babies dumped in trash
tans, child abuse a i it I parental
neglect We are saving VO to
the conditions we don’t want
II vou are into the above life
style, take control ol sour life
bv making a new det ision, re
habilitate Rehabilitation pre
pares us to be noble men and
women No effort is too great
Your life is a gill late is for liv -
ing and giving Make the right
choice. A positive lifestyle al
lows us the freedom to be the
loving. healthy successful,
happy people that we are cre
ated to be.
We all have the ability to lift
our v ision to see new values, to
establish new goals Sav YUS
/(> Ut r ami tu wn.il we ream
want As parents, wt* choose to
l)iiih 1 the new i ivilization, a
healthy. happ\ and drug-free,
peat eful. community and conn
tr\ We say YES to health, hap
piness. abundance, freedom,
love, trust, respect, faith, cour
age. honesty, goodwill laugh
ter and humor Sav YES to de
veloping your talents. YES to
education and job training.
YES to sharing, YES to good re
lationships with all people Do
something good lor soinebodv
Volunteer your time ami tal
ents, work is fun; friends .ire
fun; parents and grandparents
are fun
When you say YES TO LITE
you are a POINT ()E LIGHT and
you are playing a vital part in
creating a new civilization.
You are helping to eliminate
the cause of human suffering.
LITE IS PEACE!! UEE IS
HEAUTIEULU I.ET IT II EC IN
\\ 11II ML!! Mrs. |.ee Burns
Bushnell. Fla.