EDITORIAL
U.S. lagging behind
in world resolution
If the Bush administration is so interested in saving
the world, it should reconsider its refusal to participate
in a global effort to deal with atmospheric warming.
The United States was the only industrialized na
tion to reject cuts in the production of greenhouse gas
es during a recent international negotiation meeting.
The session was the third of five leading up to next
June's "Earth Summit” convention, where world lead
ers will meet to sign a treaty designed to limit carbon
dioxide emissions, the main gas believed to cause glo
bal wanning.
Of course. U.S. reasoning wax over-solid: Not yet
convinced global warming is an actual phenomena,
we'd better not act at this early stage.
Why is it that Bush and the gang don't see that
waiting to make sure the Earth is on an irreversible col
lision course before taking necessary actions won't
work?
It is indeed hard to see when one’s head is buried
in the sand.
Administration officials reasoned the costs of
greenhouse gas reduction to U.S. industry would be
too grout to incur without absolute substantiation
Hush always was a careful guy. After all. he made
sure we would probably be attacked or the world pro!)
ably wanted our protection before continuing to spend
millions of deficit dollars on the world's largest mili
tary defense force.
Too bad the sense of urgency dissipates when it
comes to diverting an increasingly evident planetary
emergency — most of which is due to U.S consump
tion and the subsequent waste produced
Average global levels of carbon dioxide in the at
mosphere rose 2(i percent between IKtiO and tfIKli
Should it continue to rise at present rates, atmospheric
temperatures will increase by about *t degrees Fahren
heit over the next 50 years.
The rise is enough to change world precipitation
and temperature patterns, to trigger floods through the
melting of mountain glaciers and polar ice sheets, and
to cause massive droughts, just to mention a few of the
consequences we'd have to look forward to.
But that's all in 50 years. Why worry now?
And besides, the administration explained, be
cause the United States depends the most on individ
ualized transportation and coal-produced electricity, it
would unfairly bear the largest share of the burden.
Well, the administration was right, lust because
we re the biggest offenders, why should we have to
clean up our mess?
This logic makes perfect sense to those wearing an
increasingly fashionable American accessory: blinders
And to make sure they fit tight, a predictable global
warining-isn't-rcally-happcning. and-even-ifit-is-, it's
no-big-deal report was recently released by a National
Academy of Sciences panel.
The panel's findings acknowledge a possible slow
warming of the Earth, but the panel believes it's noth
ing to hinder our economic activity. In fact, the report
stated, through our continued industrialization we may
find the answer to global warming.
Here again is the myopic reasoning that got us here
in the first place: By continuing our bad habits, we'll
find a way to stop our bad habits.
Of course, this makes absolutely no sense. Every
one knows the only way to change things is to change
things, don’t they? Maybe somebody should tell Bush.
But he's undoubtedly banking on Americans' will
ingness to swallow what they are fed — and the scary
part is many will. It's easier to stay in a rut and hope
for the best rather than rally for change.
Harsh reality has a way of slapping us in the face
though, ready or not. The American mind, for so long
centered in industrialization and economic growth,
must now risk expansion. Our blinders will protect us
for only so long.
The time for change has come, and America must
not shirk its international responsibility.
The United States loves to sit itself on a pedestal,
never shy to play the role of savior. Our refusal to par
ticipate in the resolution of a global problem we helped
cause shows how shallow our words can be.
It's time we got off our pedestal and joined the
world in an effort to save itself.
/aakLs you
PEEL KJNDA
s*all, doesn't it?
^O"'1 "fv>i
you Kbjoyj we SWOUlO JAl/e
1 - SAW5 POSrtftiTV ro S£E
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LETTERS
Nice try
In mailing Kussrll McGloth
lin's response [ODE. Sept. 27)
In the Sept. 2f> edition of Oscar
tin’ l-'n'shmun
I can only laugh Hnd say,
•Nil e try."
Every time the greeks come
under lire, the sumo examples
of community service and the
same whines of stereotyping
spew forth
The "complete hypocrisy"
McGIothlin speaks about is ac
tually in the fai t that even after
they participate in "seminars
regarding issues such as rape,
alcohol/drug abuse and dis
crimination," the greeks contin
ue to call independents "GDIs”
and throw "social functions" to
drink and "score."
True, sometimes h had apple
ruins the groek reputation, hut
tiiey are responsible for their
social image when they put
their letters on (the ID) that
they paid for
So greeks, don't justify your
existence with flailing George
Bush-esi]ue spots ll ol self right
I-—
eousness Actions sponk louder
than words, especially when
vou are wearing your letters.
Christopher Fossetl
Student
Lonely
I am a lonely man serving a
10-year prison sentence for bur
glary, and I have no friends. I
desperately need some new
friends to help me incorporate
a new lifestyle.
I have many interests und
there is nothing I would enjoy
more than to hoar from some
one who can relate to what it is
like to he lonely.
Some of you might think this
is just another letter where
some criminal type is trying to
t on somebody. I have no desire
to con anyone. All 1 want is
your friendship and letters, so
please give me a chance to
prove myself by writing.
Hill Santa «1018501A
Iowa Men's Reformatory
P.O. Box B
Anamosa. Iowa 52205-0010
No respect
This is in response to the let
ters of Russell McGlothlin and
Jamie Dakum [ODE, Sept. 27)
First off, if you don't like Oscar
the I'rvshman, then do not read
it Your life will be a lot less
stressful.
Second off, what greek sys
tem do you belong to? While
stereotypes are never 100 per
cent true, I do believe that there
is a direct link between greek
activities and greek stereotypes
1 will admit that 1 was sur
prised to hear of the efforts be
ing made to improve the greek
system. Maybe that was be
cause 1 have neither seen nor
hoard any difference in behav
ior. 1 am sorry, but I do not rec
ognize the system you describe.
While there are greek indi
viduals and even a few fraterni
ties and sororities that 1 respect,
1 still see the system that
spawned it’s own stereotype
Scott Shea
Student
-1
CO/vsiyMCR CONE/Q£NtE
TOOh AnoT^LR DP op
,n SEPTEMBER.
UNLESS CONSUMERS START
SPENDING, THE RECOV£RV
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OKAV, OKAY,
ill <b0 Scv SOMET-tf/AJG'
m am
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Kj™i'
AMEO/OWS' SAV//V&S RATES ARE
abysmally LOW, /M PERILING
D4E nation's Economic R£Altu...