Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 22, 2002)
2_________ ThE CI ac I camas P rint WEdNEsdAy, M ay 22, 2002 The politics of fear The word “terrorism” has claimed a great deal of power over the American psyche since the tragic attack upon the World Trade Towers. Since Vietnam, politicians have insulated the American public from foreign policy tragedy; the product of an age of information junkees extremely critical of a leadership that calls for any sacrifice of American life. The events of September 11th have completely changed the ball game. For the first time since Pearl Harbor, Americans feel violated. No longer do the Pacific and Atlantic oceans seem like an indomitable shield against the violence we (x2578) Pageants offer more than just a pretty face Staff Writer»: N/cfc Barron Jesse Gurzynski Shadra Beesley Andy Price Jennifer Kane J.J. Pearson Megan Cobb Isaiah Creel Secretary: Joanne Gale Adviser Patty Mamula Goals: The Clackamas Print aims to report the news in an honest, unbiased, professional rrftnner The opinions expressed in The Clackamas Print do not necessarily reflect those of the student body, college adminis tration, its faculty, or The Clackamas Print. Products and services advertised in The Clackamas Print are not necessarily endorsed by anyone associated with The Clackamas Print. The Clackamas Print is a weekly publication and is distributed every Wednesday except during Finals Week. z The Clackamas Print Copyright 2002. Advertising: The advertising rate is $4-75 per col umn inch 19600 S. M o I a II a A ve . O reqon Cny, O reqon 97045 (505) 657-6958 X25O9 CCCpRÌNT@clACl<AMAS. CC. OR. US hnp://depTS.clAckAMAS.CC.OR.Us/pRiNT long thought confined to foreign countries accessible only through CNN. The inevitable consequence of this shift in the American psyche is a political cli mate ripe for the politics of fear. The Bush administration is undoubtedly guilty of politically exploiting the tragedy of September 11th to push his party line republican political agenda. President Bush is making speeches as though his re-elec tion campaign receives one hun dred dollars every time he says the word terrorist. His enormous approval rating is reminiscent of Reagan at the height of his evil empire propaganda. Many would argue that this is simply the ben efit of being a wartime President. The notion that we are at war is a falsehood perpetuated by an administration intent upon riding the tragic deaths of Americans into re-election. The war on terrorism is an exer cise in enemy creation by the Bush administration. Had the Bush administration confined their war rhetoric to the Taliban, Al Qaeda, or Bin Laden, then their inflammatory rhetoric could be justified as consistent with a proportional response designed to maintain American deterrence against further attacks. The Bush administra tion, however, has chosen to make terrorists everywhere the target of America’s righteous They are more than just pret ty faces smiling behind tiaras, banners and trophies. Women in pageants learn to become independent, self-reliant, bet ter speakers and feel better about themselves and it strikes a chord in me that some women’s groups at Portland State University are making such a display about the cur rent Miss America, Katie Harmon, speaking during the school’s commencement. For years I was a quiet, reserved child and then one day my mother informed me she had entered me into a pag eant. I told her I couldn’t-be in it, I wasn’t pretty enough. All I had ever heard associat ed with pageants was “beau ty”. It wasn’t until years later that I realized they were so much more than that. There were no swimsuit competitions, contrary to what many still believe. Judging was based mainly on poise and appearance and how we presented ourselves; meaning how confident about ourselves were we. Needless to say I wasn’t, but after being a part of these momen tous occasions I found myself feeling better and better about myself. Now, I won’t say that there aren’t some pageants that may still parade young girls in front people in swim suits and little else. Jon Benet Ramsey’s (the six-year- old who was murdered in her parent’s Colorado home) pag eant pictures are a perfect example. I ended my pageant life after four separate entrances into the glitz and glamour, but walked away with so much more than trophies and tiaras. I came away with a new understanding of who I was and who I wanted to become. I was more self- reliant and independent and I knew I could achieve great things if I reached for the stars. Harmon, like myself, isn’t just another pretty face. She got her title by effectively rep resenting Oregon against women across the nation. She should be someone that women of the future look up to not look down at because she was blessed with beauty. I think it would be a travesty if she is not allowed to speak at the com mencement. Though she is not a graduate, some of the greatest lessons aren’t learned in a classroom. Some of life’s les sons are taught by the choices we make to get us to our per sonal destinies. To reach Salena De La Cruz e- mail salenadelacruz@netscape.net or drop by B-104. wrath. This political maneuvering creates an enemy that can never be defined, defeated, or destroyed. Never has an enemy been more suited for the politics of fear; even more so than communists at the height of the red scare. With John Ashcroft operating as a modem day McCarthy, the black and white rhetoric of the Bush administration has acted as a lens focusing the fear of Americans into a political weapon. Terrorism is something that can never be stopped. Globalization has created an economic system which makes it impossible to pre vent deadly materials or people from crossing America’s border. Programs to curb terrorism only administer a placebo, casting the illusion that a war on terrorism can be won. As long as the U.S. continues to provide billions in foreign aid and advanced military hardware to the state of Israel, the threat posed-by Arab mili tants will always remain. President Bush’s terrorism rhet oric has very real consequences for U.S. foreign policy. Singling out Iran and North Korea within the axis of evil is a dangerous for eign policy decision. Iran’s elect ed president has been engaged in a liberalization effort challenging the power of the ruling theocracy, and pushing for improved rela tions with the United States. Bush’s terrorism rhetoric fuels the position of the repressive clerical regime, and helps quash any movement toward reform. In addition, North Korea’s com munist economic system is on the verge of collapse. Many analysts view eventual reunifi cation with South Korea as inevitable. Isolating the North Korean regime with terrorism rhetoric makes the odds of a bloody transition of power much greater. In both cases engagement rather than isolation offers a more sta bilizing policy platform. The act of terrorism committed on September 11th was inexcus able by any standard of morality or justice. Equally inexcusable would be to allow the pain and anguish that act of terror caused to trap our country into an inescapable cycle of violence. In order to commit such an atrocity, the minds of the terrorists must have been clouded by an enor mous amount of anger, pain, and resentment. The U.S. does not have the luxury to respond in the same manner. The spirit of America is ground ed in the principles of tolerance, equality, and social justice. If we allow ourselves, blinded by anger and fear, to commit equally abhor rent atrocities, our nation will have become what we fear. To reach Erinn Lerten e-mail goawayrocks@hotmail.com or drop by B-104 Letter to the Editor To Whom It May Concern: RE: ASG Elections 2002- 2003 occur did not encourage a debate amongst the candi dates. Therefore, a debate needs to occur prior to the Elections for ASG presi election deadline. Voting procedures violate dent and vice-president are tainted with “good old boy” ASG bylaws and discour tactics and a biased attitude age voting by requiring a favoring the re-election of social security number. existing officers. Web content for online During this campaign I voting was not posted until May 15. have experienced: Biased behavior from the The time frame for elec does not allow current ASG vice-president tions favoring my opponent. To enough time for students to wit, Yvonne passing person become aware of the candi al notes of encouragement to dates, resulting in low my opponent during the voter turnout. Students Public Candidate attending CCC satellite Discussion. ASG vice-pres locations are by and large ident made slanderous com unaware of the elections. ments to Frank Jordan and The voting process does the Print, resulting in a not encourage student input biased and slanderous arti or dialogue with the candi cle challenging my integrity dates. and distorting my campaign. Brian’s (Everest) cam Prior to meeting with the paign posters were posted Elections Challenge within 100 feet of the Committee, ASG vice-presi polls. dent proclaimed on May 14 ASG failed to “distrib in front of several witnesses ute” absentee ballots “three that I was to be disqualified days prior to elections.” from the elections. For the last 15 years, ASG posting policy is ASG has proven to be a inconsistent and does ’not homogenized, biased distinguish between cam organization in favor of paign posters and campus supporting the corporate club postings. After author mindset. Fortified with izing and stamping posters,- titles and ego, and fearful ASG changed and modified of creative input or real the requirements. time objectives, this ASG candidates admitted process is in desperate to taking down my posters need of transformation. and failing to return them to Thank you for your con me; instead, the posters sideration. were thrown away. The CCC ASG has compro mised the following Election Rules and Bylaws: Sincerely, Jason Gibson ASG advertised a public ASG candidate for candidate debate, which never occurred. The candi president date “discussions” that did
