EDITORIAL r Time for negative flag symbol to go The "Stars and Bars" flag of the Confederacy has stood for different things in the 150 years since the Civ il War ended. But it has always had one underlying meaning — the repression of African Americans. The flag, used frequently as a KKK Symbol, is still present on four state flags today — Georgia, Mississip pi, Alabama and South Carolina. In Georgia's case, that Civil War symbol was incorporated on the state flag in 1950 by the legislature as a sign of resistance against the integration of blacks into traditionally white schools. Georgia's governor, Zell Miller, announced Thurs day he plans to introduce a bill in January that would remove that symbol from his state’s flag and restore it to its pre-1956 appearance. It is an effort, he says, to lay the days of segregation to rest once and for all und admit that it symbolizes a past the state has no right to (kit timil/l Ilf Some may st»e this more as a public relations move than anything. Mill er admitted that with the 1992 Summer Olympics anti the 1994 Super Bowl both set to take place in Atlanta, it is important to convey the right image to the rest of the country and the world. Some may dismiss it as simply un unimportant move that really means nothing. In a year that has seen racial tensions peak to the point that a city We all have to leant that messages — subtle and otherwise — are Important. They play a part In allowing us to accept racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination. uurneo, wnai amerunce ow u nag reaiiy muni: Ask the people who lore down u banner here at the University recently. That banner, an ud for summer session, showed historic figures — mostly inale and all white. Big deal? What does it really matter? Isn't it just a meaningless symbol, like the flag? Symbols, yes. Meaningless, no. Everything has to start somewhere. We all have to learn that messages — subtle and otherwise — are important. They play a part in allowing us to accept racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination. Whatever the motives of Georgia's governor, he must be applauded for taking a step forward; for taking a step to change his state's image; for taking a step to send the message that symbols from the horrific days of slavery, segregation and denied human rights are not something to bo accepted today in any form. LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor must bo limited to no more than 250 words, legible, signed and the identification of the writer must bo verified when the letter is submitted. Oregon l)ail\ PO BOX lUGINL ORfcGONdUOJ Th* 0*«gon f m«r«d •% pubtaihod da>ty Monody through ftnitty during lha seftoot yuAt and Tuesday and Thursday du'>ng IN* lummat &y tft* Oregon P*dy £ marafej PutXM*n«ng Co Inc M thft UrwvtrMy of OoycW' l ugana Oragon Th© E manud op** atm nx)»pontk*n?^ of in* UnharMy wan o«o» a* Sod* 300 of tna £rt> Utr.tx* Union and t» a of IN* AiMX'-*?ad Praas. U\t» l mere*d * prrvwt* proparty Th© unlawful ramoval or uft* of paper* « pro»ecutat>t* Oy i*w Editor In Chief: Crvttiopnar Bla* Emerald I dttortol t duot Cotta* Dan*** Graphic* Editor Jolt PruUay t nttriatnmont L ditof l lAkaHh LcktorUl EflNIot Sports Editor In Touch Editor Don ;«otors Jakm B«g m^rn tunui ' Aaaoctata Editor* Student Government Activaia* 0*ralyn Trapp* CommuniiD Inn N«! Higher Education Admimatralion: Cam* D»»w Eaeturae: Uu R*port#r* Tammy Beley MarrOy Beucim. Da.*3 CnarponneAu Jayeon JacoOy Kver* Jrtnttan. Garre Ko*ppmg. KirH*n Local I top* NoaiiOn. CiMr Pohig Copy EdAore Dan Eaior Emo Pool Malvorkon. Sh*Ua Mrtha. Kathy Sherlock Photographer*: Sot Nsepman Mcnaai Sh<ndi*i Darkroom Technician* Sutton* Bona, kr*tm* Granger. Man Mono. Enc Urthgnor. Todo VWkamt Advartalng Shown Barvan Joan Bradley. Scon Dana, loaiia E*i. OavU Gatrtlon. Janrv. Iar Mucky*. Tam L**crv Cathonno Roy*. DuM>n Stadat. Vicki ToOev Sharon Var Claoediad foggy McGinn Manager Aran Cun* Shaaa lorenro Buamaaa Kathy Caroon*. Suparviaor Jjcty Connolly Production Ingro tame* Prodcemon Coortknakjr Conn* Tn*. Sukan Hoao. Do* McCoPO. Stacy Mtcn*n. Janmtw Hoar*). J*nn.tor Smith. Ann* S4*pn*n*on. J*nmt*r vau Ganaral Manager -kxJy Hwo HOVtntting ^ Nmwtoom .. M-SS11 BotirtMt Offtc* .—. J44>55l2 D«*pUy Adv«rti»mg..346 3712 Atfv«ni»tng. 346-4343 Wffi***4 ?wars rosmoN X fool and his mon^y... UUiii^; Earth bash In regards to Pat Malach's Kino Print column about the people who ripped down the banner (GDI.. April 30). Me also decided to hash Earth Week while disregarding the facts. He said we forgot the real issues of glottal destruction and just had a celebration in the courtyard ail week Well If he would only open his eves, or even get the facts straight (something the Emerald evidently has not boon able to do, and probably continue to fail at under his guidance), he would have noticed tiiat we had more than 100 speakers, workshops and displays trying to educate people attout envi ronmental destruction The music was only a small part of the whole week, but it wus obviously the only thing that caught Malach’s closed eyes Earth Week is meant to educate people for one week out of the year in the hopes they will take that knowledge and put it into use throughout the rest of the year. In response to his disaffec tion with the folk singers, wo an; truly sorry wo did not con sult Maluch before contracting them However they enjoyed his criticism und they also did not know he was such a renounod music critic. The folk singers and 1 were also certain ly scared hv the threat of Malach running on stage and smashing their instruments. Tom Ragland Eugene Radicaldude In "Student* speak oul on ur rests" [OUL, Muy 15). Emerald reporter Daralyn Trappe writes. "A few of tho students who at tended, one of whom addressed the crowd at the microphone, said the window-breakers are getting what they deserve and should take responsibility for their actions. 'You radicals are afraid of democracy,' one of them said " This garbled ac count associates a comment thut I made with sentiments that are not mine What actually happened? During the rally, a student ap proached tho microphone to condemn the window-breakers and support legal recrimina tion When it appeared that the organizers and crowd wont not going to lot him speak, 1 called out, "Real radicals aren't afraid of democracy!" As a radical, 1 support free speech rights for all, including lhost! with whom I disagree. In the end, rally organizers gave tie1 dissenter time at the micro phone. allaying my concern. My stance did not in any way entail support for the speaker's position In fact, I disagreed with it I do not consider win dow-breaking to he violence, and l believe that the severe penalties pursued by federal authorities are part of a repres sive political agenda that should he resisted The assumption that I was a reactionary would have been dispelled had your reporter tak en the trouble to talk to mo. I am not a rod-bolter who associ ates radicalism with fear of de mocracy, as your erroneous re port implies. Rather, 1 associate radicalism with the deepest de mocracy. That is why 1 spoke out in its defense Christopher Phelps GTF Wrong side This is ii loiter in response to the highly inaccurate account written by Terrain McComb about her experience at Pedul Power Bicycle Shop {ODE. May 19) I happened to tie shopping at the mentioned store at the same time this exchange took place. I don't know what sidu of the bed McComb got up on that day, but it was not the one that fosters rational behavior or communication. The sulos per son tried to lx: patient with this customer and used several sug gestions and avenues of com promise in attempts to create agreement I would praise the skill level of the salesperson in this case. He showed restraint and balance in the face of an extremely rude and verbally abusive person. I have had my bicycle ser viced at Pedal Power for the past three years. Their entire staff has always shown me nothing but professirnul quali ty and technical support. I have had wheels trued, flats fixed and new gears installed within a few hours. The crow at this store is friendly und knowl edgeable about the products they sell and the super service they offer. It takes years to build a name and reputation in the world of small business. In my book, it is not appro priate to publicly slam a neigh borhood business before you gather all the facts. David Gibson Eugent Boycott 1 am shocked and outraged at the passage of tho anti-gav ini tiative in Springfield To see how really reprehensible this is, imagine if such a law were directed against Jewish poople, rather thun homosexuals. In Springfield, books about Jews and the Jewish faith would be (tanned from tho li braries. Jews would bo barred from employment as with the city, and they would lack po lice protection from hate crimes. If such a thing were to occur, 1 would opt that the rust of us, the non-Jews, would re spond strongly in every way possiblo to repeal the law, edu cate people about the reality of what Jewish poople are like and soo that such taws — that such an institutionalization of bigot ry could never be made again. Well, it has happened In Springfield, only in this cose it is gay people who are targeted It is up to all of us. oven straight Eugene residents like myself, to do all wo can against this law I propose an immedi ate boycott of Springfield busi nesses by everyone until this law is repealed. Businesses that oppose the OCA, or wish to avoid the boycott should pub licly denounce the newly passed initiative, and declare themselves gay safe zonos by placing large, highly visible signs in their places of busi ness. Ben Iglauer Eugene