Monologue
U.S. has no sway with S. Africa
By Thad Kreisher
Of The Print
How often does another country’s
government make any major change at the
request of the United States? Not very
often. As a matter fact, I can’t remember
even one such incident. Yet our President,
Ronald Reagan, maintains that by talking to
the South Africari government we can pur-
suade them to abolish apartheid.
Talk is cheap. Cheaper still when one is
dealing with South Africa. Our government
can talk until they drop dead and it still
wouldn’t change a thing. President Botha’s
regime has already shown that world opi
nion means nothing to them. They have
repeatedly scoffed at the American people’s
proposals of boycotts and divestments.
They have arrogantly refused to make any
but the most trivial of changes in their policy
of apartheid. They continue to flaunt their
oppressive tactics in the face of the world
despite international protest.
Despite the many atrocities that the South
African government displays, our govern
ment holds fast to a program of “construc
tive engagement.” Reagan claims that this
approach has already caused signifigant ad
vances to be made towords the end of apar
theid. He is vague, however, as to just what
advances have been made. What proof can
he offer that the blaçks in South Africa are
any better off than when he began his policy
of constructive engagement? Indeed, what
proof does he have to show that constructive
engagement has made any signifigant
change at all?
Prptests across the country show
America’s opposition to both constructive
engagement and apartheid. According to
Newsweek Magazine, within the govern
ment, members of Reagan’s own political
party have signed resolutions to back
economic sanctions against South Africa
unless serious steps are taken to end apar
theid.
South Africa’s policy of oppressing the
black majority to maintain the rule of the
white minority is a facist tactic reminicent of
Hitler’s Germany. Their government makes
a habit of stating that they will not give in to
outside pressure or economic -sanctions.
This may be true, and perhaps our govern
ment can do nothing to force the South
Africans to end apartheid.
However, that js no excuse for the United
States to supporf their discriminatory prac
tices. The blacks in that land are forced to
live in shanties.on so-called “homelands”.
According to Time Magazine, these
homelands constitute about thirteen percent
of all of South Africa, and are the most
desolate regions of the country. In contrast,
the white population inhabits 83 percent of
the land and live in comfortable, modern ac
comodations. The black educationalsystem,
although it pósesses more students, récieves
only one fifth of the financing granted to
white schools.
U.S. News and World Report states that
in this setting, many American companies,
including Mobil, Citicorp, and I.B.M.,
operate. They claim that if they were to pull
out, it would only hurt the black population
more. However, these companies are direct
ly responsible for only a very small percen
tage of black employment.
The United States should not aid ‘ the
economy of a nation that willingly denies
the rights of a vast majority of O citizens.
Nor should we stand idly by and do nothing.
The South African government has said
before that outside pressure and economic
sanctions will not affect it, but would it
maintain that opinion if they were imposed?
By refusing to instate economic sanctions
upon South Africa, our government is in ef
fect supporting the very thing they claim„to
abhor.
‘I knew it all along"
Bhagwan, other ‘Reds’ lose it all
By Fritz Wenzel
Editor in Cheif
I’m not absolutely sure about some things
in life, but one thing I am positive about is-
that everyone hates the type of person that
says he knew something was going to hap
pen after the fact. And one thing is for cer
tain; you would never find me doing that
myself. Usually. In a normal setting. It’s
just that I knew these things were going to
happen so far ahead of the time they did
that if I would have said something when I
first discovered I knew, they would have
shipped me off to Dammasch.
The first thing I knew was going to hap
pen was that the Kansas City Royals were
going to win the World Series. I knew that
when they won the pennant, though I had
not seen them play all year to that point.
First of all, they have George Brett.
Whether you like him or not, just having
him there to bat is a real lift to the team. At
the plate he looks like a modern day Babe
Ruth. He doesn’t just want to get a hit, he
wants to puncture the atmosphere with the
ball. Look out, Space Shuttle!
Second, The Royals have the best
uniforms. Theirs look like the baseball
uniforms of old. In fact, it was because the
Royals were so much more comfortable,
and not because of the questionable calls
that got Andujar so upset in the bottom of
the fifth Sunday night.
There were times between pitches this last
week when I envisioned Boog Powell sneer
ing back at a weary pitcher, or Mickey Man
tle ripping a single to left, things I saw on
Saturday morning years ago, obscured by
the early morning mist of time, but still drip
ping with reality. The Series really brings the
American childhood out in the minds of
men.
The other thing I knew would happen is
the capture of the Bhagwan. But then, I
claim no special privilege on that one.
Almost everyone I talked to about the Ra-
jneeshees has said something like “they will
get theirs someday.” Often people would
add “even if I have to give it to them
myself.”
The Oregonian reported that the
Bhagwan was indicted Thursday, but Ra-
jneesh wasn’t waiting around to greet the
warrant-carrying sheriff at his door. In
stead, he simply had a sudden craving for
warmer waters, sand and salty air, instead
of water in a tin cup, making, sand and
eating saltines. The Bhagwan went for it all
when he went for the South Seas, but he
now finds himself up a creek without a
Rolls. Where is Sheela when you need her.
Clackamas Community College
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