EDITORIAL
Registering to vote
no small matter
In the past few weeks. University students have
been bombarded with voter registration materials. The
ASUO has virtually begged students to register, send
ing out registration cards to every in-state student and
appearing all over campus with voter sign-up tables.
Add the Emerald's name to the list of organizations
urging people to make a difference this year. This rou
tine may be getting old for people who are already reg
istered, but the fact is it's now or never. Oct. 13 is the
last day to register for the Nov. 3 election, and this is
the time to fill out a card.
The ASIJO should Ik; praised for its efforts so far. It
has given registration cards to Residence Assistants at
the dorms, asking them to make sure students are
signed up. Fraternities and sororities have ulso re
ceived cards.
It has had a voter registration rally on campus,
gone door-to-door in the University area on weekends,
und set up b<x)ths at PLC and the library, among other
places.
The results have been positive. Although the rally
wasn't well attended, the ASUO estimates that more
than 1.000 new voters have been registered through
various methods since its campaign began. More art!
expected in the stretch drive before the registration
deadline.
If you haven't signed up yet. there is no good rea
son not to. Oregon allows every resident 18 and older
to register to vote, even if that person has only lived in
the state for one day.
Many people argue that their vote won’t moke a
difference. But millions of individual votes decide
elections every year. One vote means just as much as
the next. And people can't claim they don’t care about
the nation because this year's issues affect everyone.
The economy, health care, education, societal val
ues, the deficit, the timber industry, AIDS — these con
cern every citizen, no matter which side of the debate
an individual falls on.
People who claim they don’t like uny of the
choices offered should at least analyze the issues close
ly. Maybe they will find an option that is minimally of
fensive.
Essentially, the opportunity to vote is a privilege,
not a burden. African-Americans and women spent
years trying to achieve that privilege. Not voting is tan
tamount to mocking the right they spent so many years
to gain.
Besides, if you don’t vote, you have no right to
complain about the direction of the country. If the
President angers you. you shouldn't say a word. If you
don’t participate, your opinion is worthless.
Daily
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I'VE DISCOVERED EUPHEMISMS/
COMMENTARY
Controversy suits OCA iust fine
By Darrell W Fuller
Imagine a miserably humid
day during a hot summer on
the East Coast. A group of 55
men have guthemd in a small
meeting room that lacks elec
tricity, let alone air condition
ing Making matters worse, the
windows are shut and locked.
The doors urn also lockud shut.
Outside the building, guards
are posted
What could possibly be so
controversial? What can those
55 religious, sexist, intolerant.
Euro-contrlc men bo doing?
What nefarious plan are they
hatching, shrouded in secrecy
and controversy?
Thoso men aro writing the
United States Constitution. The
year is 17B7. The location is
i’hiludolphiu. The oldest states
man is Benjamin Franklin at HI
years old. The youngust dele
gate is Jonathan Dayton, who
ultended at the tender age of
26
Some leaders of the newly in
dependent colonies have decid
ed that the Articles of Confed
eration. under which they are
currently governed, need
amending to successfully keep
the colonies united.
Rather thun amend the Arti
cles of Confodoratlon. those 55
men take It upon themselves to
write a now document, a con
troversial document that will
forever change history Had the
colonists learned that these
men worn creating u new,
strong central government such
a short time after ineir revolu
tion from an all-powerful cen
tral govornmont. they would
never have been allowed to
complete the Constitution.
What's the purpose of telling
this age-old story front a Paul
Harvey "Rost-of-the-Story" an
gle? Well, today, in Oregon, an
other group of men (and wom
en) are labeled as controversial.
While most people shrink from
the brand, they do not. They —
the leadership of the Orogon
Citizens Alliance — wear "con
troversy” like a badge of cour
age.
History is not just full of con
troversial people. History is
controversial people. Everyone
you road about In today's histo
ry texts worn controversial dur
ing their lifetimes Christopher
Columbus thought the world
was round despite the over
whelming "scientific" evidence
of the day. The radical (nay,
revolutionary) colonists op
posed taxation without repre
sentation despite the wrath of
"respected” government lead
ers
It is not difficult to (hypo
tholically) picture Thomas Jef
ferson tending to his farm when
u neighbor stops by to warn
him, “Don't have anything to
do with that radical bunch tulk
ing ahout independence
They're extremely controversial
in town," The authors and sign
ers of the aforementioned IJ.S.
Constitution saw the necessity
of a stronger central govern
ment at a time when central
governments, especially monar
chies, worn not in good repute
by American colonists.
Abraham Lincoln opposed
slavery on moral grounds. Just
imagine this hypothetical dis
cussion between President Lin
coln and one of his advisers
who admonishes him not to
take action, saying. "Sure, I'm
opposed to slavery, too. but
what right do we have to im
pose our morality on others by
creating un Emancipation Proc
lamation? You know, Abe, free
ing the slaves will bo very con
troversial in the South."
Martin Luther King Jr. be
lieved passionately in racial
equality, saying he wantod his
children to. "... not be judged
by the color of their skin, but
by the content of thnir charac
ter," This action loavos one to
wonder if Dr. King would con
sider sexually deviant thoughts
and actions, like homosexuali
ty. as a part of one's character
on which judgments can fairly
bo made.
Each of those people were ex
tremely controversial in their
own timo for taking a stand.
Lon Mabon and the OCA lead
ership are in good company. It
is. perhaps, unfortunate that
there are not more controver
sial people in America today.
The most controversial figure
in world history was the Christ
So, love or loathe
Mahon, Lively, Neet
and the many other
leaders and
supporters of the
OCA, Oregonians
should at least
recognize that they
are principled men
and women.
child, Jesus of Nazareth.
Whether or not Oregonians be
lieve him to lie the Son of God
is beside the point. He was, and
still is, the most controversial
person in history — controver
sial before his birth, controvert
sial during his short human life
and controversial since his cru
cifixion. Those who pur?K)rt to
be Christians are instructed to
follow Christ's example. In oth
er words, Christians uro sup
posed to be controversial (or. in
Biblical terms, “salt of the
earth"). Perhaps being contro
versial isn't such a bad thing al
ter all.
So, love or loathe Mabon,
Scott Lively, Loretta Neet anil
the many other leaders and
supporters of the CXiA, Orego
nians should at least recognize
that they are principled men
and women driven not by a de
sire for fame or fortuno, but by
a desire to do what is right, to
stand for something in the face
of overwhelming odds, slander
ous talk and death threats.
Jefferson, Lincoln, King, and
yes, Mabon of the OCA — pa
triots one and all. There is an
old Russian proverb that stutes.
‘‘A man ahead of his time often
has to wait In uncomfortable
quarters.” It has never been
easy to be principled, just ask
Mabon Is it worth the effort7
Just ask anyone who enjoys
"life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness."
Darrell IV. Fuller Is the exec
utive director of the Oregon
Christian Coalition.