EDITORIAL
Olympic battle
goes past the ice
As tho list grows of those charged in the Kerrigan case,
one name has yet to be added: T onya Harding.
Many indications have been made that Harding has had
some involvement in the case, but she has not been
i barged with a crime The only trial she has had is from
the media. In a poll on the radio asking for a vote on
whether she should be able to compete in the Olympics,
she was losing
Harding is untitled to keep her spot on the t J.S. Olympic
team until she is found to be directly involved in the
conspiracy.
The International Committee of the U.S. !• iguru Skating
Association is expected to vote next week whether Harding
should remain on the team roster, and the U S Olympic
Committee is to decide by Jan. 31. Harding can be removed
by a majority vote from the committee but must have a
hearing and be given a chance to dispute the evidence
against her before being banned from the ITS. Olympic
team.
Unfortunately, for Harding, the burden of proof for the
skating commission is loss than a criminal case, less than
a preponderance of evidence that some misdeed has
occurred. LoRoy Walker, president of the U.S. Olympic
Committee, said the easiest thing would be for Harding
to step down.
Even if in fact she has had no involvement in the
conspiracy, the Olympic Committee still deems stepping
down to he the easiest thing. Sure, the easiest thing for
the committee. However, asking an Olympic athlete to
stop down sounds a little out of context and slightly
ridiculous. Since when does anyone expect an Olympic
athlete to take the easy way out? That would directly
contradict the whole theory behind an athlete’s efforts to
compote at the Olympic level. Voluntarily stopping down
mnv mean voluntarily ending a lifelong career in figure
skating.
Harding has not boon charged, despite a few fingers
being pointed, but she should fight this one until the bitter
end. Backing down to the politics, if they are just politics,
that link her to the Kerrigan case should not stop her
attempt at an Olympic medal. The spirit of competition
should go far past the ice in this Olympic event; it should
extend deep into the decision of Harding's fate on the
Olympic team.
Olympic officials are concerned with tho effect
Harding's appearance will have at the Olympic Games.
That sounds like an official thing to be concerned with.
Maybe it's a good idea to mar appearances if. in fact,
one of the world's best figure skaters has less than the
preponderance of evidence that a misdeed has occurred.
But voluntarily stepping down sounds like an "official"
thing to ask for.
Obviously if she is found to be linked with the
conspiracy, her Olympic dream will quickly become a
nightmare, if it isn't already. The possibility that her
involvement in the conspiracy is nothing more than an
allegation exists. It might be a good idea to weigh both
sidos of the argument before deciding to request her
resignation — not just a resignation to tho Olympic Games
but a resignation to a life-long battle to become the best.
Oregon Daily
Emerald
The Oregon Dm!} fmorjKd t* published d*ty Monday through Fnday durmg the school
yea' and Tuesday and Thursday during the lummat by tha O'agon 0a< y Emerald
PUbfcshmQ Co . tnc at tha Urworsrty ol Oregon. Eugene. Oregon
The FmeraW operate* mdependenfly of the University with office* at Su*e 300 of the
frb Memorial Urson and is a member ol the Associated Preas
The f mar eld.» private property The unlawlul removal or ule ol paper* a prosacufstt*
by law
Editor-In-Chief: Jake Berg
Managing Editor
Editorial Editor
Qraplilca Editor
Fraalanca Editor
Ul*«y AA0e*»0n
0«v<d Thom
J*M Paslay
J«« Wmiors
sports sonar
Editorial Editor
Photo Editor
Supplant ants Editor
Jefl Pcfcfwt*
AmtK>r*y F<yn«y
Ka/y Solo
Night Editor: Habecca Merritt
Associate Editor*: Edward Kloplenslem. Student Government Actrvvhes. Rebecca Merrill,
Community. Juke Sowt*', Hgher Education/Admmtrehon
Now* Staff: Moody Baucum. Wilson Chan. Dov* Chart»meau. Jvn Davis. Mag Dadolph.
Amy Davenport. Cara Echevamo, Mata Fialda. Martm F.ahar. Sarah Henderson. Heathen*
Hrmaa Yin long lacing Manus Mwand. Tnsta Noel f Usabeth Roenstierna. Kata Sabounn
Robtse Reeves l a Satocoa. Scott Simonson, Stephan* Sisson. Susanne Stohana. Jufca
Swensen. Mchete Thompson Ago,ai. Kevin Tnpp. Amy Van Tuyt. Darnel West
General Manager: Judy R*dl
Advertising Director Moo. Waller Production Manager: Mcheie Roaa
Advertising: Sutw Dutta. Nicoi* Hertmak. Teresa Isabelle Je« Manon Jeremy Mnson.
Michael HAttette. Van V O'Bryan II. Rachael Tru". Kelsey Wekeit. Angie Wmdhwm
Classified: Becky Merchant. Manager Victor Menu, Srm Tre Teck
Distribution: Andy Harvey. John Long. Graham Simpson
Business: Kathy Carbone, Supervisor Judy Connolly
Production: Dee McCobb. Production Coon*natoi Shawn* Abel* Greg Desmond. Tara
Gaultney Brad Jos*. Stacy MlcheC Jenniler Rotsnd, Nan Thongviyt. Clayton Vee
Nnwoon--—..
Butincu Omc*
.J4BBS11
..346-4S12
Display Advertising..346-3712
Ctassmad Advertising.346-4343
*< <*» J rW» hjCVi
Tke Sequel
EnO of
KRlfcS. "
COMMENTARY
‘Superiority a frivolous notion’
By Beniamin K Ross and
Kathleen M Van Wikle
cgnrding Dave Thorn's
commentary on the supe
iority of humans over the
creatures of the earth (Off,' (an
12) We. too. believe that the
sentiment "All forms of life are
equal" is ridiculous. Such a friv
olous statement denies (,ati*gori
callv the uniqueness and diver
sity of nature’s life forms
However, the notion ol human
superiority is equally frivolous
and unsound.
before wo delve into the spe
cific flaws in Thom's argu
ment/discussion. let me
reproach his methodology. That
is, if humans are setting the
standards by which superiority
is to bo evaluated, it is a fore
gone conclusion that the human
will be superior according to
those standards To speak, of
superiority is to assume relative
value within nature's dynamic
system In such a system the Iwl
nnce of each part relies on the
balance of its surrounding parts
Thus, relative value has no
meaning in a reul sense All
parts contribute tn a cyclical
interdependency. To talk of
superiority is to place such a
part in isolation from its sur
roundings. If you are indeed
superior, what contributes to
your superiority? Well, it must
be all those "inferior," though
necessary, life forms that your
body relies on for life.
An argument should compel
agreement through its logic, not
its impression. To define superi
ority requires a set of standards
accepted by those doing the
judging. Thorn's standard was
the application of intelligence
Thus the tobacco-spitting blue
coats of the Western frontier
were vastly superior to the
Native Americans hounded to
their graves by just such a stan
dard Such criteria contain deep
implications of racism, classism
and fascism. Whether Thorn
regards himself as superior to
the natives of decades past is
conjecture, but his definition
implies that he does. When the
definitions of an argument can
be turned against themselves to
produce conclusions the author
never intended nor desired, that
argument loses all its power to
persuade a person who can
think abstractly enough to ana
lyze the method of the argument
rather than the content itself
Question: Does a superior
being need to justify its own
superiority?
Question: Does a superior
Ixiing ravage its surroundings for
its own short-term gain and lux
ury?
Regarding Thorn's claim that
zoologists "have yet to deter
mine conclusively whether ani
mals understand ‘cause and
effect' We believe Pavlov
resolved that issue in decades
past.
Regarding his lazy dolphin
hypothesis: The Protestant work
ethic, so evident in his asser
tion, does not apply to dolphins.
If they so choose a life of con
templation and harmless query,
so lx* it As far as the superiority
of our great achievements, obvi
ously Thorn has not visited a
strip mine recently. We suggest
that he study the actual mani
festations of applied intelligence
and weigh the balance for him
self It is easy lor individuals to
place themselves and the appli
cation of their intelligence in
isolation from the consequences
of that application.
Regarding his pig-on-the
moon hypothesis: Why would a
pig desire to go to the moon?
Again, human standards are
being imposed on non-human
motivations.
When one studies fascism,
one discerns a singular central
motivation determining all
facets of a society. The motiva
tor, or dictator, decrees his per
sonal standards as superior,
against which all are compared.
The diversity of motivations that
allows a creation to exist are
thus fought against with the
utmost bitterness and
vengeance. An inferior creature
or system should not impede
progress, as continual growth is
required, so it must be eliminat
ed Do not take the notion of
superiority so lightly, for the
tales of tragedy are too many to
tell.
Excellent indeed is this mod
el of propaganda which Thorn
so eagerly presents for our con
sumption. A simple, palatable
generalization followed by a
string of seemingly sensible yet
frivolous examples.
Regarding his polio-ridden
orca hypothesis: Ortas don't get J
polio. Do wo develop cures for
diseases that afflict animals wo
don't use:’ Were an orca to suffer
some orca-relatod affliction per
haps, philosophically, it would
be prepared to accept it, rather
than cower in fear at the -J
prospect of its own demise.
Regarding his animals-would
destroy-the-world-if-they-could
hypothesis. A natural balance of
prey and predator has evolved
from the dawn of creation.
Humans are the first creatures to
be able to organize and mecha
nize to such an extent as to roll
back that balance in their favor.
Thus, certain species (including
humans) are left without preda
tors and are unchecked in their
consumption and propagation.
The mechanization of human
society has allowed sustainable
overpopulation relative to local
resources. This is not a tenable
position in the long term. The
intellectual forces that allow
humankind lo isolate nseii trom
the unpredictable and indiffer
ent force of nature are merely a
dam over which the reservoir of
imbalance will inevitably flow.
I agree that the human intel
lect is an amazing force both
complementary to, and in oppo
sition with, the natural force
with which it interacts. Howev
er. I am more interested in
exploring my own awareness
than in applying manipulative
intelligence.
Phrases such as "All life
forms are equal" and "Humans
are superior to all other forms of
life" are symptomatic of the
trend in the United States in
which the short attention span
attempts to encompass vastly
complicated issues with a single
generalization. It's fun! It's easy!
A short, simplistic platitude that
rings in the mind, harmonizing
with the chords of a simpler
intellect.
Benjamin K Boss and Kath
leen M. Van Winkle are both
mathematics majors at the Uni
versity.