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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 23, 1994)
Opinion Wednesday, February 23,1994 The GMBkamas Print Pg. 3 'Let Freedom Ring'... What does it really mean? by Russ Jones The Print Staff After reading Richard Chamber’s opinion, “Let Freedom Ring,” in the Feb. 2 issue of The Print, several things crossed my mind. I’d like to share a few of them. Let me begin with a story. About 10 years ago I was hanging out in a little backwoods tavern in a small town in northern Idaho. It was late in the week and the place was host to the usual collection of regulars, all locals. Around 10 p.m. an “outsider” came in. He appeared to be what the rednecks call a “college boy,” and with the University of Idaho only 18 miles away, he probably was. He was young, he was friendly and he had long hair. A couple of wood rats started in on him right away. One thing led to another and he was on the floor getting a crew-cut with a hunting knife. The majority of the people there thought it was great sport and they all agreed that the hippie needed a hair cut “so’s he could look like a man.” Even though he was struggling, and it took two of them to hold him down, he only picked up a couple of cuts on his scalp. His lucky day, I guess. Can you relate, Richard? It was all about community stan dards and the will of the majority. “Let Freedom Ring,” it certainly has a nice sound to it, but what does it mean? Mr. Cham bers states that freedom and mi nority rule are just not compatible. Would it surprise him to learn that freedom and majority rule are equally incompatible? No doubt Mr. Chambers is angry that the Oregon legislature invali dated the majority votes of various city and county initiatives which would have sanctioned continued discrimination, on many levels, against citizens solely on the basis of their sexual orientation. As sessing his presentation, it appears to me that the real argument, in his opinion, is whether or not one group of people has the right to abridge the rights and freedoms of another group simply because there are more votes in one of the groups. In this respect, he is misguided. These discriminating ini tiatives are not only wrong on their face, they violate constitutional proscriptions and are therefore il legal. The majority cannot be al lowed to impose social sanctions which are illegal or to vote upon issues which violate or threaten the rights or freedoms of fellow citizens. It must be remembered that a principle and guiding phi losophy of the founding of the American political experience is the notion that the purpose of govern ment is to protect the rights of the individual and to get rid of the very real threat of tyranny by the major ity. Our founding principles man date that the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are invio late and that, in this regard, we are all created equal. It should be apparent that in any society founded on this premise, when one person’s rights are compromised or abridged, the rights of all members of that soci ety are as well. We cannot hurt or deny others that which we claim for ourselves without injuring our selves in the process. Mr. Chambers also states that “when a society wishes to be free, then it must first learn that it is the will of the majority which must set the rules of the land.” With this view, Mr. Chambers advocates nothing more than the purest and worstform of democracy, mob rule. History is rife with the Yes, the people have the injustices perpetrated in the guise right and responsibility to vote for of community standards. A few their representatives and to peti examples in American history are tion those representatives, indi Cotton Mather’s witch hunts in vidually or in groups, in regard to the 18th Century, vigilante justice their interests. Legislative au in the old west, Klan lynchings and thority, however, was purposely the violent beginnings of the civil reserved for the legislative bodies rights movement, to name a few. in the hope that their decisions To this assertion that the majority would be formed upon an honest must set the rules, I respond that it and open exchange of concerns is the fruits of reasoned debate and ideas. If anyone needs valida which must set the rules of the tion of the inherent dangers of a land, not simply the will of the direct public vote on major policy majority. The majority can be and issues, it is only necessary to look has been wrong on many occa at the chaos 'and devastation boil sions. ing in the wake of various ballot It is no accident that our measures and referendums over government was established, in the last six years. Madison’s words, as a Represen Judge Norblad’s decision to tative Republic. A principal con uphold the restraints imposed by cern at the outset of our political House Bill 3500, forbidding cities journey was the fear of an unin and counties from enacting anti- formed electorate abandoning gay rights ordinances was proper thoughtful participation. The ar and in accordance with the law as chitects of our founding docu proscribed by both the federal and ments were all too aware that most state constitutions. The security people form initial opinions more of our freedoms cannot be main upon emotion then reason and so, tained by simply invoking the con in the interest of stability, conti cept of rights, freedom and major nuity and assuring some view to ity rule. Our actions must be framed ward future goals, established a and guided by reasoned thought, representative form of govern responsible action and a genuine ment. concern and respect for each other. Anti-abortionists are 'sincere in their beliefs' ■ Writer believes majority of those against abortion want to lawfully change a practice they find 'unjust and immoral* by Andrea Smith The Print Staff Persons opposed to abor tion are portrayed in the media as a bunch of unfeeling,uncaring, unprincipled fanatical idiots. And, frankly, there are some who fit that description. The vast major ity, though, want to obey the laws and to change a practice they sin cerely believe to be unjust and immoral. The idea that abortion is some sort of necessary element to a healthy and just society is unsubstantiated. Religious beliefs are a common reason to oppose abor tion, but not the only reason. Sci ence has been unable to determine when life begins. Until conclusive evidence proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that a separate life does not begin at conception, I will con tinue to believe it does. There is no reasonable evidence to the con trary. To say an unborn human has fewer rights than a bom human is a claim with no basis. How are we to decide which life is of greater value if we can’t even determine what constitutes a life? On the claim of women’s rights, I have read the Constitu tion of the United States, and in no section does it say women have a right to terminate unwanted preg nancy. Therefore, it is not a Con stitutional right, but rather a cur International Education Clackamas Community College presents... rent interpretation by the Supreme Court, and is subject to change. If people believe abortion is equivalent to murder, they have to believe stopping murder out weighs supporting mere rights. And this is not ordinary murder, but is the killing of innocent, help less babies. My only question to the pro-abortionists is this: what are people supposed to do if they honestly and unequivocally be lieve abortion is the senseless mur der of children? Would it be cor rect for them to allow this kind of atrocity to continue? If abortion were only a simple matter of rights it would not cause much controversy. The Thursdays 12:30-1:30 p.m. Pauling 101 Carol Evans and Linda Vogt's slide show of the Focus on Women's1993summer trip to Europe, planned for March 3, has been postponed until Spring Term because of the faculty meeting. Thursday, March 10 Bill Symes will guide us through France and the chateaus of Loire. Religious beliefs are a common reason to oppose abortion, but not the only reason... Until conclusive evidence proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that a separate life does not begin at conception, I will continue to believe it does.______________ The difference is one believes the rights of the pregnant woman are paramount while the other counts the life of the unborn child the higher consideration. The point of this article is not to change anyone’s mind. The people who agree with me will con tinue to do so, and those who don’t will think I’m some sort of fool. I did, however, want to voice an aspect of the argument rarely mentioned in the media. The anti-abortionists say what they do because they are sincere in then- beliefs. It is difficult to respect the privacy of other people when you believe they are violating one of the most basic aspects of human rights: the right to life. C L ASS I FI ED S Gifted Psychics want to help you! Summer sale and management program college credit available. 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