EDITORIAL
Measure’s passage
lends deadly weapon
Having won its first major showdown in Spring
field, the OCA is aimin' to cleanup Springfield like it’s
never been cleaned up before. Don’t took now, but the
sun is settin’ on the school and public libraries.
Given the go-ahead to officially parade its message
of prejudice via the rucent passage of its anti-gay-and
lesbian rights measure, the Oregon Citizens Alliance
will now scour the town's libraries for any sign of ho
mosexuality.
The initiative forbids Springfield to "encourage,
promote or facilitate homosexuality," classifying it as
"abnormal, wrong, unnatural and perverse.”
It’s scary enough that the majority of the town
agrees with this assumption, as shown by its passing
vote. Worse, the OCA now has the option to go to
sources of information and dictate what will be offered
to the public.
No organization deserves that right. Sources offer
ing information, such as libraries, should not be limit
ed by guidelines set by special interest groups. Infor
mation relevunt to the general public should be avail
able in these institutions —- not a pared-down pool of
knowledge defined by a certain few.
But wait — didn’t the public at large have its say at
the voting booth? Didn't they just say no to homosexu
ality? Yes — but. the mere fact that information exists
about homosexuality is reason enough to preserve its
availability. By appearing in the realm of information
sources, it proves it’s relevant to a segment of the pub
lic. even if it’s the minority of the town’s population.
And so it deserves availability.
Fortunately, the Oregon Library Association acted
to preserve its right to offer u variety of information last
April by passing a resolution against the OCA’s meas
ure. The association voiced a fear of censorship — a
valid concern, since that’s exactly what would happen
should the OCA actually begin to push for the removal
of books it finds offensive.
In response to a question asked at the Lane County
Press Club's January meeting, regarding the OCA's
stance on removing "wrong" literature. OCA Director
Lon Mabon said, "I'm not advocating the removal of
any books from any libraries."
On further questioning. Mabon admitted removal
could happen as u result of the measure’s passage, and
said he would be dismayed should this happen.
Sure, the man has the prerogative to change his
mind, or forget what he said, or whatever else may
have happened between then and now. The alarming
fact is he. along with the organization he heads up.
have been handed a dangerous weapon with the meas
ure’s approval. Guns don't belong in children’s bands.
CORRECTION
In u May 27 article on psychology research, L)r Robert
Weiss’ numo was misspelled. The Lmomld regrets thti error.
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LETTERS
Responsibility
The ApriI 30lh rully at lhu
University following the releuse
of Kodney King's abusers was
purposeful and Justified, the
violence following It was not
Frustrations erupted when the
obvious wrongdoing the LA
police officers committed, cap
tured on tape, was simply
brushed aside, once again prov
ing that discrimination and
crime are still sanctioned by
our national legal system.
The release of King's abusers
sparked one of the most power
ful and angry rallies to come
across this campus in recent
years I agreed with the major
ity of what was said ut the rally,
yet my support of the rally end
ed when it turned violent and
unlawful The destruction of
federal property was senseless
and served no purpose but to
physically vent the frustrations
that had already vocally made
their point.
Brian Hoop, a student sena
tor, was recorded on tape de
stroying federal property dur
ing this rally Hoop was filmed
brooking the law, just as Rod
ney King's abusers were. I con
sider Hoop a brave person for
relieliing against a legal system
in error, yet I do not respect
him for breaking the law.
I believe I have developed a
good sense lor what is just and
right I believe the Kodney King
protests wore legitimate. I be
lieve tfie violence was not. I be
lieve violence serves no pur
pose but to create more vio
lence. Kodney King's abusers
must be made responsible for
their recorded abuse. Brian
Hoop must be responsible for
nis
Seth Walker
Student Senator
Mask Up
Those protesters are so smart.
What better way to protest Bri
an Hoop's unjust imprisonment
by the forces of evil and hypo
crisy than by wearing a mask,
lust in case7 Now you can all
feel safe from reprisals if world
events force you to resort to
violence. You are no longer just
dissatisfied college students;
now you get to In; part id punts
in a long and distinguished ter
rorist tradition. When you want
to smash the system, you coin
feel like real revolutionaries in
your brand-new anonymity.
Unfortunately, not everyone
has their own mask I propose
you contact the local branch of
the KKK and see if you can't
borrow some of those noul
white hoods they use. If the
hoods are good enough for their
hate crimes, they're good
enough for yours. Although
your goals art; slightly different
from theirs, I'm sure you can
still learn a lot from those guys.
After all, they're the American
authorities on random anony
mous violent®.
When you've learned every
thing you can from them, you
can go international. You can
study the practices of the hi
Salvador death squads until
you've really got your own
brand of self-righteous violence
down Then, when you've
crushed or intimidated every
one who disagrees with you.
the world will be free of hate
and sab? for diversity.
Lane* LeFever
Anthropology/English
Worldwide
When you believe in a cause,
you must decide how strongly
you fool for it. The sign of true
dedication is when you con
sciously decide to not druw the
line The consequences of your
actions are often a stronger
statement than the actions
themselves. The furthest you
can go for a cause, short of be
ing liillod, is being arrested.
This is civil disobedience.
If Brian Hoop feels strongly
enough about the issue of civil
liberties and the fair treatment
of minorities, then he should
hope that he is given the
strongest sentence possible.
Does the punishment fit the
crime? Absolutely not, but it
does fit the statement that
needs to be made. Nelson Man
dela brought more attention to
South Africa when he was in
jail than any other lime in his
life.
Hoop is no Mandela — he is
not even a political prisoner.
He was involved In the destruc
tion of federal property.
If you feel strongly about the
issues, I would suggest some
thing a little less destructive
than what Hoop chose, but I
would urge you to try getting
arrested. Thoroau was asked
onco, "Why aren't you in iail?”
To which he responded,
"Why aren't you in jail?"
You do not need to dostroy
property to bu put in jail.
Blocking the entrance of the
federal building will get you
there. If protesters swamp the
system, if the media cun start
quoting numbers of political
prisoners in the United States,
then the cause will be heard
around the world.
John Thomas Field
Student
Change
Breaking glass is not going to
get anything accomplished. All
1 saw were u bunch of self
righteous children looking for a
reason to throw a temper tan
trum.
Now 1 am forced to watch my
tax dollars and student fees
used to clean up their mess. If
you really want to make a
change in this world, start with
your selves. Stop being violent.
It is u short-torm, shortcut solu
tion to a very long-term prob
lem. People on this campus
protest wur and violence,
claiming there are bettor ways
to solve our problems. Yet,
when it suits lhojr nueds. those
same people justify their use of
violence as the only means of
achieving change.
They want the violence
against homosexuals, minor
ities and women to stop, and to
accomplish this they them
selves advocate and perpoluate
violunco as some kind of an
swer. They are hypocrites.
Change youiself before you try
to change the world.
Wendy Chamberlain
Anthropology