Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (June 21, 1994)
EDITORIAL North Korean threat not to be ignored Although he specifically said lhal ho did not wish to engago in "saber rattling," President Clinton’s actions in the past few weeks must have seemed to bo exactly that, from the perspective of North Korea's aging dictator, Kim II Sung. Clinton's suggestion that the United Nations should consider economic sanctions against North Korea was clearly an attempt to frighten Kim into abandoning his clandestine nuclear weapons program.— a program which the CIA believes may have already produc ed one or two nuclear bombs. Hut considering Clinton's foreign policy record and Kim's tradition of bucking world opin ion, it seems doubtful that the throat of sanctions will force Kim to back down. When Clinton’s proposal for sanctions was first re leased. Kim made it clear once again that he would con sider such actions an "act of war," and respond ac cordingly. So now the United States is faced with an awkward dilemma: eilhor continue pursuing a hard line, and risk North Korea's military (and perhaps nudoar) wrath, or back down and suffer the consequences. And those consequences, to borrow an appropriate cliche, are deadly serious. If North Korea is allowed to keep building nuclear weapons, it will further threaten valuable Western allies, such as Japan and South Ko rea. But the dangers posed by a North Korean nuclear pro gram extend far beyond the immediate area, however. North Korea already engages in a lucrative arms trade with such renegade regimes as those in Libya and Iraq — no friends of the United States. There are no guarantees that North Korea would not also soil nuclear arms to those countries, if allowed to build them in the first place. Ami lotting Kim continue his program, now that Clin ton has said ho "cannot allow" it. will deal yot another blow to the prestige of both to the president and the United States. After tracking down on demands that Chi na improve its human rights record, and after somewhat indecisive policies toward Bosnia. Somalia and Haiti. Clinton’s taking a beating in the international arena. His ability to act as world leader is becoming more and mom impaired as a result. But the apparent alternative — stopping Kim's nuclear activities through economic sanctions or military force — carries dangers every bit ns grave as those that will come if Kim is allowed to go ahead. The military situa tion in Korea does not favor the United States. Some 35,000 American troops are stationed in South Korea, and but even when combined with the half-million man South Korean army, they would not be enough to halt a determined North Korean attack, which could muster a million regulars and five million reservists. And while Japan is not in immediate danger of invasion, it is cer tainly within range of North Korean missiles and aircraft The answer is diplomatic negotiation. Clinton has complicated things by insisting that the North Koreans make nuclear concessions before the United States will consider agreeing to North Korean demands, including full diplomatic recognition from the U.S, and an end to existing trade limitations between the two countries. In any case, serious high-level talks are desperately needed — not more blustering on the world stage. The potential for disaster is too great. Oregon Daily Emerald i -’•nii’-i yy j: i-l; t-vaini_ Tfxt (>egen OiVy f me* aid t* pubb&nod .la , Mevnday Itvou^ E'dary during in# school yoft' ij'-'d Tuesday and thur$day du» ng the by the O#gon Da * t d Pubfes^mj Co irtc . atf the University of Oregon. Eugene. Oregon TNj EmerafcS operates *ndepe<xJerttty d in# lM*vw» 't w*th o«<ee m Su4e 300 of the E»t> Menv.vtaJ U#\*on ftfxi it a of t*e A%v. • ..vied Prints Tn« fm«<dcf >» private property th# uniawM removal or uM of papers <s prose*;-wtaWe try i.w Editor Kftiy Jvi-to Associate Editor* t dean) u» Sa*. .» David T‘ .-•• Photo Editor M*.ha#i Sv V Night Editor Oavd Trv • Qcne/«i Manager kdy fled Advertising Dir#ctor M*v* W,v'o> Production Manager M • .■Mi-ns Advertising fV n Da v*s S.-t** Dutt* l-.viy f » ;«♦* M r M r v M ,-«# Classified Decay Merchant mu Bu*m#s* Kdlhy Carbone. S ,*• i Production Dee McCotoO r1- . .,• ■ TaraGiu * »*> J#r ‘rr M M.rxl Newsroom 346-55M Display Advert*smg 346-3712 Business Office 346-SS12 Classified Advertising 346-4343 I 1UI WCCX WTTN JUPTTfR WHAT AK WT GONG TO DO A0OUT OUR CRA^U ? COMMENTARY Feminists must respect women David Thorn I'in not what you would <.all a typical conservative Sure, •coifing at society's more "liberal" i auses is a major pas time of mine. Sure, I have been known to read the (Commentator on occasion. One time. I even bought a copy of a Kush l.im bough book (although I waited for the paperhai k) In light of all this, it may sur prise some people to learn that I consider myself to be a femi nist For as long as I can remember. I've luul the good fortune to know and work with a number of highly intelligent and compe tent women. In fact, as I was growing up. it took a long time for me to realize that men and women weren't already being treated as equals (iirls did every bit as well us boys in all the schools 1 attended: truth lie told, they did better much of the time Equality of the sexes seemed so obvious a goal that I couldn't believe that it hadn't already been achieved. So when I was confronted with statistics revealing the oh stat les still faced by women in sih iety — such as women earn ing 71 cents lor every dollar earned by a man it made me think that perhaps I should lend my VOW e to those of more active, prominent feminists Until t heard what they were saying Then I discovered that my definition of feminism wasn't quite the same as theirs Now I'm not talking about the extremists, who seem to think that women are actually better than men. 1 don't think most feminists feel that way. so 1 won't waste time talking about why 1 disagree What ! am talking about are those feminist thinkers who, on one hand, trv to give women more choices while, on the oth ar hand, trying to tell women what to do. Feminism today is much more than "equal pay for equal work.” Feminism has been extended to cover virtually every issue that involves women, from abortion to advertising, prostitution to pornography With each of these issues, feminism has taken a stand "on behalf of women." But what many feminists fail to realize is that the logii. behind each of these stands is inconsistent; the reasoning that justifies one po sition nullifies another Take abortion. What reason ing do feminists apply to sup port a woman's right to an abor tion? Usually, they say that women have the right to decide what to do with their own bod ies. and that they are fully ca pable of making such a decision. With these two points. I com pletely agree But when it comes to other "feminist" issues, this idea of a woman having the right and the ability to make her own deci sions gets thrown out the win dow, Prostitution and pornography are two such issues I'm not here to argue about the exploitative nature of the so-called "sex industries " My point here is that many laws (or proposed laws) to limit or prohibit these activities send a message to women that No, we didn't real ly mean it, you don't have a right to decide what to do with your own !>ody Just kidding." If a woman cam choose to have an abortion, which is usually a major life de< isiun, then she ought to also lx- allowed to make other major life decisions, including what to do lor a liv mg. I bis widespread pra< lice of telling women w hat to do — by no means limited just to femi nists — extends beyond such seedy" activities, however. I'm talkingi about those feminists who try to give women more choices while trying to tell them what to do. Many individuals, and in this ujs« feminists especially, soem to have a negative attitude to ward other traditionally female professions, notably that of the homemaker, or "housewife." There is nothing wrong with a person — male or female — ded icating his or her life to the day to-day business of raising chil dren and maintaining a household Although I person al!) can’t see the appeal ol washing dishes and changing diapers, I have nothing but re spect for those individuals who do. Which is more than 11 an say for some feminists. In its early days, feminism was largely synonymous with "women's liberation." That al ternate title hardly seems ap propriate today, however Lib eration means more than simply being free to pursue activities that were previously forbidden. It also means being free to do the same things you've always done. If feminists continue to look down their noses at certain oc cupations. they'll be negating much of the progress that has been made in recent decades. If. on the other hand, they tru ly believe that women can bo trusted to make their own deci sions — something they ve been saying all along — then they ought to respect those de< isions. whatever they mav lie. David Thorn is an associate editor at the Lmorald LETTERS POLICY The Oregon Daily Emerald will attempt to print all letters i ontaining c omments on topics of interest to the University community. The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length or style.
