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
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Oregon l)ail\
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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