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
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Jesse Gurzynski
Shadra Beesley
Andy Price
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Isaiah Creel
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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