January 29, 2002
The Clackamas Print
★ THE CLACKAMAS PRINT*
Editor -in- Chief
Daisy Bain
Copy Editor
Shadra Beesley
Design Editor
Erinn Lerten
Managing News Editor
Frank Jordan
News Editor
Pete Ford
Opinion Editor
Robb Egan
Feature Editor
Elisabeth Meyer
A&E Editor
Jen Kane
Sports Editor
Elena Boryska
Photo Editor
Luke Mahan
Webmaster
Joel Gaynof -
Advertising Manager
Mark Falling
ext. 2578
Staff Writers:
Megan Cobb ■
Heather Dahmen
Nic Delzell
Cyndee Mady ■;
Sadie McCarthy
Andy Price
Cory Price
Tina Tate
Heather Dolson
Katie Funk
Melinda Crouchly
Should the U.S. go to war?
War is a last resort, but the time Portlanders and foreign nations
agree: war is not the answer
for drastic measures is now
The Gulf War, Part Two is the story
of a powerful country, not satisfied that
a weak underling is complying with
demands made on it, bound and deter
mined to see that justice is done and the
world becomes a better place. I think
that it could be accurately described as
an action/adventure story, without
much romance and very little comedy.
The United States of America is
gearing up to take on the all-powerful
Iraqi war machine in what could be a rerun of a Grade-B movie. The lessons
learned from the first foray sqjggx^ygars, ago into the Middle East desert
oasis known as Iraq have been lost on the latest George Bush to occupy the
Oval Office.
Should the United States take this action? Yes, indeedy. Iraqi Dictator
Saddam Hussein has continued to defy United Nations resolutions that have
been spelledout to him over the last 12 years, 14 resolutions in all. Bush, Jr.
should take a course of action to spare the world and the people of that region
of the world more pain and heartache.
Many people around the world, including American citizens, do not want
war to take place. Understandable, but their main concerns do not make
sense. Those people would want you to believe that Iraq has done everything
in its power to comply with the United Nations and that President Bush is
just itching to finish what his father did not. If Hussein had cooperated fully
from the beginning, none of this would be taking place in the present day.
Peace activists will tell you that the Iraqi people are content with Saddam
and that America is to blame for the awful plight of the people of Iraq. The
truth is, if Saddam had cooperated with the United Nations from the begin
ning, then economic sanctions would have ended a long time ago, but
Saddam has been defiant. The time is now for the United States to take
action.
No one in his or her right mind wants military conflict. War is and always
should be the last resort in any disagreement. The last resort is upon us.
American lives will be lost. That is a fact. Iraqi civilians will die. That is a
fact. But if these events do not occur, a person who has used chemical
weapons in war against his neighbors (Iran) and his own people (the Kurds),
may turn and use them again and again, unless something is done. That time
is now.
A few thoughts on the impending war with Iraq
"We definitely need
to remove Saddam
from power.
America needs to be
proactive about pro
tecting freedom
everywhere."
Jason Green
Secretary:
JoAnne Gale
Adviser:
Linda Vogt
Goals:
The Clackamas Print aims to
report the news in an honest,
unbiased, professional manner.
The opinions expressed in The
Clackamas Print do not.neces
sarily reflect those of the student
body, college administration, 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 dis
tributed every Wednesday
except during Finals Week.
The Clackamas Print Copyright
2003.
19600 S. Molalla Ave.-
Oregon City, Oregon
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Ever since the terrorist attacks on
9/11, America’s population, along with
the world, has grown more and more
uptight and fearful of an all-out world
war.
The president of the United States,
however, has a different idea, and is
seemingly ready to march thousands of
Megan Cobb
innocent troops out into the unknown to
get thrust into a bloody world of war.
Staff Writer
As we grow closer to going to war
with Iraq, Afghanistan, or whoever the current target happens to be, more peo
ple are realizing the rashness of Bush’s plan. Not only are Americans joining
together to rally against war, other countries such as France. Germany and
China have recently developed views that oppose the Bush administration.
Several different administrations are noticing the unnecessary haste with
which Bush is ready to annihilate a portion of the Middle East. All the coun
tries that oppose the White House’s plans for war believe, in accordance with
the given information, that Iraq has completely complied with all weapons
inspectors’ requests.
Despite the recent findings of numerous, empty chemical warheads in Iraq,
the U.N. still believes that a number of months are needed in order to solidify
all information they’ve obtained about Iraq and let it take its due course. Our
American government, or course, insists that Iraq is a threat and military action
should be taken upon them immediately. In other words, although there is
hardly any evidence at all, our government believes they have more than
enough reason to crush anyone who opposes it.
“Although the [9/11] attacks were devastating, I believe we deserved it,”
stated an opinionated, anonymous student at Clackamas. “If I were in their sit
uation,” the student continued, “I’m sure I’d be just as mad at us.”
Indeed, upon close examination, even people who want this war to happen
may see that it was the U.S. bombing of certain Middle Eastern countries for
years that motivated them to hate us in the first place. Therefore, if we con
tinue to act so hastily violent it simply gives people on the outside a stronger
disgust for our “immoral” and irrational actions.
Apparently, members of the Bush administration are the only people in the
world, nearly, who actually want to go to war: Portlanders march for peace,
the U.N. calls for more time, France says there’s no need for war; I say, the
world just isn’t ready for that kind of unnecessary, thoughtless violence.
"I think we should
just nuke the whole
place. That's just my
opinion, though."
Justin Conner
Hillary Ferguson
"I think it's kind of
silly that we have
severe budget cuts
at schools, yet we
have all these funds
to go to war."
Trevor Coffee
"I definitely think
something needs to
be done about Iraq,
but war just isn't the
way to go."
photos by PETE FORD Clackamas Print
Letters to
the Editor
The Dark Side of Measure 28
Dear Editor,
I am writing you from the other
side of Measure 28. I appreciate
the passion your Opinion Editor put
into his piece on Jan. 22, but I must
say Mr. Egan is incredibly misin
formed and is, like most young
people, sucked into the emotional
blackmail put forward by public
employee unions.
Yes, $114 doesn't .seem like
much, but $114 is not the only tax 1
pay. As the owner of a small busi
ness I work 365 days a year. The
first 185 days I work goes to pay
taxes. I pay property taxes, Federal
income taxes, State* income taxes,
Tri Met taxes, SICA taxes, A.P.F.
taxes. Payroll taxes, Estimated
taxes, City taxes, BMI taxes and
ASCAP taxes..
I would imagine most college
students have no idea what most of
those taxes are.
For example, payroll taxes: did
you know a business owner, by law,
has to match the withholding tax
you pay on your paychecks? I pay
taxes on the money you get paid.
Don’t get me wrong, 1 support
public education and services. I
have good friends who are public
employees, like Mike Caudle (go
Beavers). You have to understand
how hard it is for private citizens
and business owners right now.
» Answer this: give me one exam
ple, in the history of mankind,
when a country or society has taxed
itself into prosperity.
Measure 28 is not a solution. It
is an excuse for the citizens and
state government of Oregon to once
again put away in the closet real tax
reform.
Taxes are necessary, but every
one must pay them. The only fair,
true tax is a sales tax. A citizen can
control the tax they pay by the
money they spend.
The most
important aspect of the sales tax is
everyone pays it, not just small
businesses
and
middle-class
Oregon. Everyone is hurting, but
when will we get the leadership in
Salem to finally say enough is
enough?
Sincerely,'.
Doug Willliams
Oregon City Business Owner