Monologue
Political activism seizes country
By Shelley Ball
Editor In Chief
After living through the
’70s, a decade characterized by
apathetic attitudes on the part
of the American public, it
comes as a surprise that with
the onset of the ’80s there ap
pears to be a revival of
political activism sweeping
across the country.
Indications of this revived
concern toward political issues
was demonstrated during the
presidential election. Here in
Oregon and elsewhere, both
President Reagan and
challenger Walter Mondale
0^
were bothered by political ac
tivist groups on the campaign
trail, their numbers ranging
from a few hecklers to
organized coalition of pro
testers.
When was the last time
anything of this sort occured?
Those of us too young at the
time to fully comprehend the
events of the tumultuous ’60s
do at least remember learning
about the massive political
demonstrations
that
highlighted the period.
Students protesting the war
in Vietnam, the hippies and
flower children crusading for
peace- all of this has been
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carefully preserved in history,
with events-turned-memorials
like Woodstock and Kent
State to remind us what hap
pened during that time.
While today’s political pro
tests are not as extensive as the
ones that took place during the
’60s, they do remind us of that
time period.
Another recent example of
political activism took place
on the campus of Brown
University in Providence, R.I.
The Oregonian reported hun
dreds of students participated
in an anti-nuclear protest in
regards to a recent referendum
that called for the university to
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stockpile suicide tablets in case
of a nuclear war.
This protest was reported to
be one of 18 campus rallies
that sprang up around the
country as a result of the
referendum. The rallies took
place today, but their activities
echo of an earlier time.
So why the renewed interest
in political activism? We can
probably thank President
Reagan, in part, for his spen
ding habits (buy now, pay
later) concerning defense.
With a president spending
enormous amounts of money
to support the continual build
up of nuclear weapons, as well
as funding weapons like the
MX Missile and, no doubt, his
beloved Star Wars system in
the near future, a new wave of
concern over war has surfac
ed. Only this time the concern
is aimed at a special kind of
war: Nuclear war.
Whatever the cause for the
resurgence in political ac
tivism, it should be applauded.
It’s good to see people of this
day and age, students as well
as others, speaking out on
issues that really matter to
them. Of course, the conclu
sion of the race for the
presidency might also result in
a decline in activism, but let’s
hope not. It would be a shame
to see people start slipping
back into their old passive
ways.
G uru .
boo
The Print staff
would like to
wish
everyone a safe,
festive and relaxing
Thanksgiving
Holiday
Letters to the editor
The Print gladly accepts any letters to the editor. All letters are subject to
editing, and should not be libelous, obscene or false.
Letters must be typed and double spaced. It must be signed by author,
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Office: Trailer B; telephone: 657-8400, ext. 309, 310
Editor In Chief: Shelley Ball
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