The print., November 18, 1987, Page 3, Image 3

OPINION
Think about it!
by Jim Evans
Columnist
Protest the war - before the fact
Isn’t it amazing that the
Secretary of Education is pro­
bably the most powerful man in
America today? After all, who
was it that told Ginsberg to
withdraw his name from con­
sideration for the supreme court?
It was Secretary Bennett.
I spent my holiday last week at
Washington Park for the dedica­
tion of the living memorial to the
Oregon veterans of the war in
Vietnam. It is a beautiful monu­
ment and I had the opportunity
to hear the reactions of many
people. For example, there was
the teacher who had spent seven
months in prison and then an ad­
ditional two years working in a
mental hospital as his punishment
for being a conscientious objec­
tor. He was carrying a sign which
said “wrong then, wrong now”
and he expressed regret to me for
his poor choice of wording. He
was against the political implica­
tions of Vietnams. He did not in­
tend to belittle or devalue the
sacrifice of blood laid down by
those whom we came to
remember.
The garden is located on eleven
acres right behind the World
Forestry Center and is built in the
shape of an amphitheater which
spirals upward. As you walk
from the bottom you will pass
five granite monuments. Each of
these covers a different period of
the longest war this country has
ever been involved in, the history
of what was happening in ’Nam,
and the names of those Orego­
nians who were killed in the war
during that time period. This is a
living memorial. A place of
solace and contemplation, of
comfort and peace, of beauty and
grace, a place to remember the
past and look to the future.
It seemed to me that a majority
of Vietnam Vets who attended
the ceremony had a common opi­ war in any one of several places
nion. That is to say, they felt as if around the world. I know that I
they were finally returned from won’t be drafted, I have been
battle, it has taken a long time to honorably discharged from the
arrive at this point of healing of military and by the time they
the spirit and mind. Some of ever get around to calling me up
those men will never heal in body to serve, a lot of you will
because of the wounds they suf­ already be dead or married. I
fered. The man with the artificial am only suggesting that you
arm expressed the feeling best begin to protect yourself right
when he said, “I feel better... now by protesting the war
before the fact, while the draft
now.”
Well, what does this event have has not yet been reactivated.
The vets I spoke with last
to do with Secretary Bennett?
Nothing directly, however I do Wednesday mostly expressed
find it ironic that he happens to pride in themselves for their ser­
be the Secretary of Education. vice. On the other hand, not a
by Tammy Swartzendruber
Recently I saw a protest poster single one of them said he
Columnist
which asked the question “Won’t would wish those kinds of ex­
it be nice when education has all periences on anyone, including
the money it needs and the Air you. I hope that you will really
Force has to hold a bake sale to think about it, and I hope your
buy a bomber?” Since most of us thinking will move you to ac­
Now that the weather is turn­ conduct themselves in a library.
here are involved with education, tion. Write to Secretary Bennett ing cooler, we, as parents, are Frankly, I feel sorry for the child
either as a student or teacher or in at the Department of Educa­ faced with the age old problem of who has never experienced his ci­
a support service, I would urge tion: William J. Bennett, what to do with the kids. When ty library.
you to invest a very small portion Secretary: 400 SW Maryland the kids are in the house all the
Another alternative to the T. V.
of yourself in a particular effort. Ave. Washington, D.C. 20230. time they become bored and we and boredom is to get your child
Write Secretary Bennett a brief And if you have a few extra become irritable. The more ir­ a little table or an old school desk
letter asking him to move the stamps, send a copy of your let­ ritable we become the naughtier and set it up in a comer
cabinet away from the existing ter to your Senators and our kids become. It’s a vicious somewhere. Be sure you have
military economy towards a saner Representatives listed below.
cycle, but one that can be easily chosen a spot within or by the
place to spend money. You might
remedied by careful planning and family’s main living area.
suggest that in order for the
organizing of our children’s time. Children do not like to feel like
government to successfully deal Sen. Mark Hatfield
You may find that your child is they’re not a part of what’s going
711 Hart,
with the problem of the budget,
turning more and more to the on. After you’ve purchased the
Senate Office Bldg.
they are going to have to end up
T.V. for a companion and a desk, buy your child some paste,
Washington, D.C. 20510
with a budget free from the over­
source of entertainment. This is scissors, scotch tape, colored pen­
Sen.
Bob
Packwood
use of dollars for the Pentagon
one thing that should be guarded cils, a tablet, and some water col­
259 Russell
We don’t seem to have any kind
against. The T.V. should be ors. Let him cut from your old
Senate Office Bldg.
of definitive foreign policy
regulated and programs should magazines. Give him noodles,
Washington, D.C. 20510
anyway, so why should our
be chosen with care. We must be material scraps,/etc. to paste in
government display so much Representative Ron Wyden, aware of what our children are patterns on a piece of paper. Let
i third Dist.
madness and hate in the way it
him have old lace and rick rack to
doing at all times.
Rm. 1406
spends OUR money? It will on­
An alternative to the T.V. is make borders with. You’d be sur­
Longworth House Office your city library. Get your child a prised how long this will entertain
ly cost you a piece of paper, an
Bldg.
envelope, a postage stamp, and
library card and introduce him to a child.
Washington, D.C. 20515
a few minutes of your time.
Our children are only as
the wonderful world of reading.
You may ask yourself, Representative Denny Smith, If he’s too young to read he can creative as we allow them to be.
¡fifth Dist.
“What’s in this for me?” A
check out storybooks with tapes Steer clear of the mischief caused
1213
Longworth,
good question. It appears to me
or children’s records. Teach your by idle hands and give something
Washington,
D.C.
20513
that this country is headed into
children how to use the library. worthwhile to your child to do.
Let them be responsible for their |Free your child to learn and to
card and making sure their books create and be his own person.
are returned. Teach them how to
Domestic
Winter alternatives to TV