EDITORIAL
No obvious reason
for Gulf conflict
The newest reason President Bush has given for
the Unites States’ presence in the Persian Gulf is by far
his most creative.
The latest rhetoric used to justify military action
against Iraq is the threat of the Arab country's develop
ment of a nuclear arsenal. While giving our boys in the
Gulf a pep talk and sharing some turkey with them.
Bush told them they were not only there to push Sad
dam Hussein and his forces out of Kuwait, but also to
end his quest for nuclear weapons.
Another flip-flop on Bush's part about the real rea
sons behind our presence in the Gulf shows how wor
ried the President is about a lack of support to back his
threatening words toward Hussein.
Since the lesson of Vietnam, the public isn't will
ing to buy the simple good-guy. bad-guy reasons that
have justified most “wars” until now. Red-baiting or
its equivalents no longer work with a public that is still
recovering from the wounds of an unpopular war.
It was easy for Roosevelt to get support for World
War 11. not only because he actually went to Congress
and got permission, but also because the enemy was
clear and present. Germany and japan had been mak
ing displays of "naked aggression” for several years
before the United States finally took action. It wasn't
until one of these enemies attacked and American lives
were lost that the United States felt it was necessary to
intervene. Then was clearly an enemy, and the goals
of the military effort ware perfectly clear as wall.
The mason Bush Is having trouble getting the full
fledged support ha needs and wants Is because the
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Thatcher gone, but not her influence
Even though her popularity has been
slipping during the past year. Margaret
Thatcher nonetheless stunned the world last
Friday by resigning as prime minister of
Great Britain.
Thatcher has been credited with revital
izing England's position in the world during
her 11-year reign.
But in the past month, two of her Cabi
net members resigned because of differences
of opinion with Thatcher. Former cabinet
member, Michael Heseltine, has been
Thatcher’s chief opponent in the Conserva
tive Party leadership.
Although Thatcher expressed reserva
tions about the single European market be
ginning in 1992. it was the inception of a
poll tax that eventually turned up the heat
against her.
The tax, which is officially called the
“community charge,” is uniform for every
one over the age of 18. The rate, set by the
municipal government, replaced the more
progressive property tax.
Heseltine said he would reform the poll
lax by basing it on income, therefore garner
ing support from the Labor Party, the main
opposition to the Conservative Party -
But Heseltine is really more like Thatch
er than he will admit. And the biggest
change will be more external than internal.
Thatcher was a forceful prime minister, and
was sometimes rather brash in her approach
to England's problems.
Thatcher will be remembered for win
ning the war in the Falkland Islands against
Argentina in 1983, and for siding with for
mer President Ronald Reagan on just about
every issue confronting the two countries.
She made England a world power again.
Great Britain is better off for having
Thatcher as Prime Minister, but in these
tense times England needs someone with a
little more finesse and a lot less heavy-hand
ed strategies.
Thatcher seemed invincible for most of
her term. But nothing lasts forever. Not even
Margaret Thatcher.
LETTERS
Up service
Now lei me see if I've not this
straight:
The University guarantees
"free speech” to the CIA to re
cruit future employees who
will commit assassinations and
other acts of terrorism in for
eign countries. The University
does not wish to guarantee free
speech to the Stanford Univer
sity Marching Hand Imi ause the
band's presentation hurt the
feelings of some of the specta
tors.
Furthermore, the University
has refused to rent Autzen Sta
diuni to the Grateful Dead, sc
as not to give the appearance ol
condoning even a small
amount of drug use by a mostly
peaceful crowd. Hut the Uni
versitv is not witling to take
any serious steps to stop vio
lence and vandalism by Duck
football fans, because the fan's
drug of choice alcohol i>
legal Or is it just that wealthy
alumni and their sons can gei
away with anything?
Could it l>e that despite all
the talk of a "University for e\
ervbodvOregon is still a uni
versitv for hardly anybody'
Could all the lip service to di
versity merely lie a cover lor an
institution that exists only to
meet the needs of rich, white,
conservative, heterosexual
men?
Since I am not a University
student or employee, and since
I don’t even like the Grateful
Dead, maybe tins slate of affairs
is not my concern. Hut as an
Oregon taxpayer. I have to say
I'm distressed that my money is
helping to pay for it
Betsy Brown
Eugene
Be nice
In response to the letter
"Flag Flop.” (Ol)E. Nov 15):
Never mind the old adage "if
you can't say something
nic e "I think this is more ap
propriate. If you can't say
something intelligent, don't
say anything at all!
I didn't realize the the Uni
versity had six h an abundance
of mart lung, colorguard. drill
writing and coordination ex
perts I do feel fortunate how
ever. that these experts can
make their opinions known so
that the entire community tan
Itencfit from their years of expe
rience and invaluable exper
tise
Not only is the colorguard
talented and well-rehearsed,
but they support the school in a
positive way. The colorguard
deserves the same support from
the school. Oh. by the way. I
can't wait to see all the experts
at spring tryouts to show every
one how it's done
l.uke Spencer
Eugene
All connected
In response to Frank Lim
baugh's letter [ODE. Nov. 14):
The University provides an
open forum for all ideas not
just the ones you endorse. Cen
sorship does not resolve con
flict it intensifies it
You stated, "an animal is not
an 'individual,' an animal is an
animal."
How profound! For your in
formation. an individual is a
single thing or being — not a
humosapien, .is you implied
The question is not. “Can a
slug drive a car or can a cat
build a 50-story building?" The
question is, "can they suffer?”
And quite i learlv the answer is
yes.
Animal rights does not re
quire that non-humans lx*
awarded the right to vote, or
freedom of religion No it is
much mom simple than that.
All we ask is that all the inhabi
tants of the earth be treated
with dignity and respect.
"Whatever befalls the beasts
of the Earth, befalls the chil
dren of the Earth. All things are
connected." — Chief Seattle
Todd Hausman
SETA
Bad apples
It is ironic how hypocritical
the letters to the editor can be.
I'll explain my case. It seems in
vogue lately to either rip on the
greeks for reserving seats, or to
backlash at the University for
tunning the Dead from Autzen
Stadium.
I do not condone "seat sav
ing" even though I am one who
could benefit from such prac
tices My friends and I prefer
going to the game as a group. I
am amazed by the fact that peo
pie will so readily judge every
one in the greek system based
on a select few. That is discrim
ination at its best. Along this
line. 1 would like to say that in
contrast to Jonathan
Schildbach's letter {ODE, Nov.
14). I realize that 1 am out of
high school, and that regard
less of what Marc Smith {ODE.
Nov. 14) might think, I have an
identity of my own.
In the same manner, many
students are upset that the Uni
versity banned the Dead be
cause of the isolated incidents
involving a few "bad apples."
The argument is that the entire
group should not be judged by
the actions of the few. I agree
with this.
These same people then
judge the greek system based
on a few “bad apples.” Wake
up and see the hypocrisy.
Jeffrey Chase
Management/Marketing
LETTERS POLICY
The Oregon Daily Emerald will attempt to print all
letters containing comments on topics of interest to the
University community. Comments must be factually
accurate and refrain from personal attacks on the char
acter of others.