EDITORIAL
Page 2
Clackamas Community College
Should the minimum wage be raised from the current $3.35?
“No, because if it were raised,
businesses would have to cut
employees hours and wouldn’t
be able to employ as many peo
ple, therefore keeping produc
tion costs at the same level, and
at the same time raising the level
of unemployment.” - Joe Tup
per -
“Yes!! Because inflation is go
ing up, therefore minimum
wage should also. No one can
live off minimum wage, even at
40 hours a week.” - Mark
Fischer -
Persian Gulf stirring up
to be another Vietnam
Last month I wrote an article in a humorous context concerning
our ballyhoo in the Persian gulf. Well, it’s not so funny anymore.
We’re sinking deeper and deeper into an oily quicksand.
My mixed metaphor is intentional and could easily become a
reality for a draft-age male when he awakens one morning, rifle at
his side, elbow-high in sand, perhaps in the shadow of a dazzling
desert sunrise, and prepares for another day of bloodshed in the
name of oil interests.
Oh, how fast history can repeat itself!
The parallels between the Persian Gulf situation and Vietnam are
striking:
- Like Vietnam, we are inching into it one hit and retaliation at a
time.
- Like Vietnam, we cannot fight with full force but must half
step because we’re not certain who we want our enemy to be - after
all, our allies buy oil from Iran and we sell them arms.
- Like Vietnam, we’re charging in with a cavalry of hi-technology
that is not only unsuited to the environment, but leaves us
dangerously vulnerable to adroit hit and rim guerilla tactics.
Just as the North Vietnamese would lure U.S. tank convoys into
soft, marshy areas then grenade them as they sank in the jungle
mire, so Iran’s little wooden, mine-dropping boats - whose basic
design hasn’t changed since Marco Polo’s time - continue plaguing
our lumbering naval vessels.
- Most importantly, like Vietnam, we are psychologically un
prepared to deal with an enemy whose religious mindset is radically
different than ours.
The Vietnamese differed because reincarnation is one of their
principal beliefs. This enabled them to slaughter entire villages in
good conscience .- in order to freak out Americans - because they
believed the souls of the butchered would incarnate into other
bodies in no time.
The Iranians differ because they believe they will go to the
paradise of Allah if they die in battle - even if it’s a kamakaze-style
death.
The 257 marines who were killed in Beiruit by a suicide mission
are only a taste of what a fanatical, desperate people will do when
they have nothing to lose but an abject life, everything to gain in
the hereafter, and no better way to debilitate a superpower which
keeps entrenching itself deeper in their affairs.
Yet what’s most frightening is not the similarities with Vietnam, but
the difference. Our excuse for involvement in Southeast Asia was the
domino theory of communism - one which increasing evidence shows
was nothing but a facade that hid the real motive: continued war pro
fits for the military-industrial-complex.
But whereas we were suckered into Vietnam by lies, this time it’s by
good old, capitalistic honesty - we must keep our oil out of the wrong
hands while bolstering a gradually declining economy with a war.
Nobody’s naive enough to go for the same song and dance played
during Vietnam, but they might go for a more straight forward one.
For those of you who entertain a desert Rambo fantasy, plug in this
tidbit of reality: picture yourself in a 110 degree stifling sun, wearing a
chemical suit and a gas mask you can barely breathe in, no sleep for
five days, no food for three days, no place to defecate except oh
yourself because you can’t expose yourself to the contaminated air,
bullets flying everywhere, buddies dying, home is over 7000 miles
away; then ask yourself why you haven’) written to your congressman
yet. .
“I think that the minimum wage should be raised, because you can’t “Hell yes! Cause with the prices
live-on $3.35 an hour.” - (left) Dawn Mathison, (right) Cyndi Quillin - now adays, it’s hard to get by,
And when you work a lot of
hours you can have a bigger
smile when you get your
paycheck. And it helps you pay
your bills. - Glen Warren
Behymer -
Student Opinions
Letters to
the Editor
Friend missed
I was disappointed to learn of
the death of College Board
member William Gregory. In
the short time that I worked
with Bill he was always open
and easy to work with. He had a
very real and sincere concern
for students and I appreciated
his service on our behalf.
The students of this college
have suffered a great loss with
Bill’s passing. He worked
tirelessly in his service to the
college and the students it serv
ed. I will miss him.
The person who replaces Bill
will have the benefit of a truly
outstanding predecessor.
Submitted
by
Neale
Frothingham, ASG President.
Learn /
Spanish
In 1982 the Spanish Club at
OCC was formed due to student
interest. Since then North
American students and native
speaking Spanish students have
learned through various activities
such as studying the Spanish and
English languages together, mon
thly social meetings (potlucks,
etc.), monthly business meetings
(guest speakers on foreign
cultures and job opportunities,
work shops, etc.), and various
fund raising activities for the dub
and charities.
The first meeting will be held at
2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30 in
CC101. This meeting will serve as
a time to get acquainted with one
another and to define the dub’s
goals for the year. You don’t
have to be a current Spanish stu
dent, you just need a desire to
learn about the Spanish culture
and it’s peoples. For more infor
mation please contact Jamie
(Diego) Ross, the Spanish Club
President, at 281-2101.
Get the facts straight on
AIDS
In Oregon AIDS cases are doubling every eight months, making
it imperative that Oregonians know the facts about this fatal
disease. The state of Oregon has taken action to let the public know
what the facts are, but it’s difficult to say whether the public will
listen or not.
Most likely three things will happen: 1. Oregonians will listen to
the facts and take the necessary precautions. 2. Oregonians will
listen to the facts take what they want from them and take their
chances. 3. Oregonians will ignore the facts and take ridiculous
precautions against the spread of AIDS.
Already many Oregonians are misinformed and taking what they
think are precautions. These so-called precautions range from peo
ple thinking that casual contact or donating blood can give them
the AIDS virus. The only ways that AIDS can be spread is through
sexual contact, sharing infected hypodermic needles, and through
blood spills.
Oregonians need to get the facts straight. There is such a thing as
being too precautions, but if the facts are known there is no reason
that people should become paranoid about getting AIDS.
So get the facts, and use them. It may be a matter of life or
death.
“The Print” welcomes readers
to express their views by writing
letters to the editor. All letters
should be typewritten and sub
mitted to Student Publications
in Trailer B by 5p.m. Friday
before publication.
The Print
The Print aims to be a fair and impartial newspaper covering the college
community. Opinions expressed in The Print do not necessarily reflect
those of the College administration, faculty, Associated Student Govern
ment or other members of The Print staff. Articles and information
published in 77te Print can be reprinted only with permission from the
Student Publications Office. The Print is a weekly publication distributed
each Wednesday except for Finals Week. Clackamas Community Col
lege, 19600 S. Molalla Ave., Oregon City, Oregon 97045. Office : Trailer
B. Telephone: 657-8400, ext. 309.
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