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.
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