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Page 2 Viewpoint The Battalion Friday Texas A&M University November 4, 1977 Letters to the editor Canal becoming "patriotic symbol’ Editor: Is it an American canal in Panama or is it the Panama Canal? Before I continue, please correct me if I am wrong but I do not feel that international law respects “squatters rights.” Why write a letter about such an over talked issue? Because it is no longer an issue, it is being exploited by being called a new patriotic “symbol. The last patriotic symbol which I remember being exploited concerned keeping communists out of Vietnam. However, Panama is exploita tion with a new twist, colonialism. The United States paid for it and now rents a piece of land severing the country of Panama. Because it is colonialism it is in the best interest of the United States to transfer it back to the Panamanians. By this, I do not mean all colonialism is bad. I would welcome any country wishing to colonize Uganda and Idi Amin. What I feel is that it is in the best interest of the U.S. to not abandon dutiful relations with Latin America. For the self-made prophets of doom who speak of the evils of the treaty, I re spect your views. For now, I will place my bet with the experts who have forwarded our best national interests in the treaty's formation. —Stan Stanfield, ’78 Marketing God Editor: I would like to voice my opinion con cerning the distribution of Bibles on cam pus by The Gideons International Associa tion. Giving away free Bibles may be a thoughtful gift for some, but when one cannot walk fifty yards without being im plored to “accept our free gift” by a man sticking a small green book in your face, it’s getting a little ridiculous. I hope I am not being misinterpreted, because I do like to think of myself as a Christian. However, people advertising and pushing Jesus Christ like a newly de veloped product makes me a4ittle sick. I think this approach to conVei^Ioir tui'ns”-’' people off more often than it turns them on. The opportunity to accept God is availa ble to everyone but people can’t shove Him down your throat. Why should we be goaded into accepting something we don’t necessarily want? Why does the adminis tration condone these actions? Although most students at Texas A&M may be Christians, religion is not a re quirement, and I, as a student, do not ap preciate wholesale marketing of it on cam pus. —Ronnie Skala, ’81 Give ’em a break Editor: Give the Ags a break! They deserve a lot more respect than they are getting from the Batt. Paul Arnett said Monday that “many feel that Arkansas will prove that A&M is living on borrowed time.” It seems to me that a 6-1 record is pretty good for a team playing on “borrowed time.” Although A&M is not winning by scores of 77-0, they are still winning. A come from-behind 17-point victory is often more valuable to a team’s morale than an easy 30 or 40 point win over a weak team. A&M’s statistical performance this season is not as good as in the past two seasons, with one exception: 6-1, 4-0 in SWC play. If it was not for some very poor officia ting recently, A&M would have beaten Baylor, SMU and Rice by wider margins. Against Baylor, Tony Franklin’s fourth quarter field goal was easily good, but the official was very out of position when he called it no good. Franklin as well as everyone in that end zone knew it was good. There were many other questionable calls in the Baylor game, as well as numer ous pass interference calls in the Rice and SMU games, that all went against the Ags. The point is the Aggies won all three games despite having two “opponents” (the officials and the opposing team) in all three games. Mr. Arnett also said Monday that he feels Arkansas is capable of beating any team in the nation. Well so is Texas A&M, or any other team for that matter (ask Minnesota). A&M plays Arkansas in Kyle Field for the first time in three years, with a week off to get ready. A&M has only lost once in the past 19 games in Kyle Field. With the Ags coming off a 31-0 second half, and the wishbone working well, it seems that Arkansas is “living on borrowed time. ” One more thing, in reference to the Cotton Bowl’s desire to get a t.u.-Notre Dame rematch. I hope they are not too disappointed when t.u. goes to the Bluebonnet bowl, cause the Ags are going to the Cotton Bowl this time! Beat the hell outta Arkansas! —Frank Bruce ’79 Editor’s note: As Aggies, the sports writers would like to see A&M in cotton like anybody else. As journalists, the sports writers don’t patronize. As Howard Cosell so aptly puts it, “We just tell it like it is.” —Paul Arnett Good concert wanted Editor: Being a junior and avid listener of rock-n-roll, I can rest no longer. I realize now that by the time I have completed my third year at A&M I will be able to say there has not been a “good concert here. Before me lies the ruins of the Hues Corp., Capt. and Tennille, B. J. Thomas, Johnny Rodriguez and Mandril. Who? Last Spring, Town Hall took a music survey. It seemed they were on the right track (excuse the pun). The idea was good, but too bad nothing came of it. The list of concerts this year looks just as bad, maybe worse. In defense of Town Hall, an article ap peared in the Batt recently. The chairman spoke of the trouble in scheduling fall con certs. I hear daily of groups such as Emer son, Lake and Palmer, J. Giels Band, Jet hro Tull and Bob Marley (Who?) touring the land. Evidently Lynyrd Skynyrd had not heard of this ride or they would not have been traveling. You know the rest. Also in reference to the same article: Why do you need to know who will play months in advance and why does a concert have to be on a home football weekend? There are plenty of other activites before yell prac tice, believe me? The final straw was this past weekend with Michael Murphy. I can enjoy an even ing of quieter, gentler music, but must the Batt devote two articles to his show? Of course, he is nearly an honorary Ag since he has been here three times. Three times? Murphy has come to G. Rollie so often that he is calling Texas A&M “home. ” Finally, the statement, “Michael Murphy and Good Concerts-Nowhere else but A&M. You really believe that? In closing, all that I can say is that I am —— man teaching my son in school, or a les bian, for that matter. You may also argue that all the groups I have mentioned have mental or emotional problems. But so does a homosexual. For all you atheists, here is another Aggie who says that Jesus Christ is the driving force in his life, and my Bible says plainly that homosexuality is a sin. A sickness and an abnormality, no different from incest, hav ing sex with animals, or any number of sexual perversions. Man was created to have sexual relationships with woman, and only woman. And anyone who believes dif ferently has psychological and emotional problems and needs help desperately. I am awfully proud to be one of many “narrow-minded, childish Aggies who be lieve that gays are sick. And I thank my God that these perverts are a minority and always will be. —Tom Copeland ’81 Wage law foolish Editor: President Carter s recent move to raise the minimum wage from $2.30 to $2.65 represents a continuing high in gov ernmental hypocrisy. Amidst all the claims of concern over unemployment and infla tion, Pres. Carter is doing his best to fuel the fires of each. Despite the “hopes of some good bene fits being derived from this increase the true results are clear, even to the most simple-minded. First of all, the increase will definitely mean a decrease in the number of actual jobs and potential job opportunities. When the price of labor is artificially pushed upward the number of jobs are going to go down, not up. And those people who lose their jobs are go ing to be the youth and especially the black and minority youth. But what about the newly-derived bene fits for those who are lucky enough to be T We’re surrendering to you, A virtual flood of letters to the editor this week has provided the Battalion With far more letters than could ever be run in the normal space allotted for them on this page. So, today we re turning it over to our readers. . . for today But starting next week we’re going to strictly enforce our policy for letters to the editor as follows: • Letters should be typed whenever possible. Typed letters should al ways be typed with 60 characters to the line. • Letters should not exceed 300 word or 30 lines of 60-character length. Longer letters will be edited or refused for publication, at the editor’s discretion. • Longer letters or commentaries may be submitted as “Readers Forum” articles, if they are identified as such when submitted. Reader’s Forum articles should be typed and not exceed 100 lines of 60-character length. willing to pay for a good concert, anytime, and please, all that I ask for is just one concert. Just one of the five or six a year. Will you easy listeners concede just one? —Harry T. Lode (real name withheld on request) Another kind of grass Editor: Hail to the MSC council for being more progressive than the U.S. Senate by de- criminilizing’ grass. —I.C. Gays are put down Editor: I would like to respond to the letter in Oct. 30th’s edition from David Kotara. It seems that Mr. Kotara is upset because gays are discriminated against at Texas A&M. Well, he’s right. Gays are put down and sometimes ignored because they are different. But I believe there are many other groups that are also discriminated against here. I am apalled that we don t recognize some of our other minorities. Our psycopathic criminals, for instance. Or maybe the mentally deranged in general. Why is there not a booth upstairs in the MSC for the “Society to Commit Incest?” What about the “Fathers, Have Sex With Your Daughters Club? There are no such organizations, of course. But if there were, would you, Mr. Kotara, condone their ac tivities? You may argue that gays do not hurt anyone. Well, they usually don’t hurt any one, physically, although it makes me very nauseated to see two men holding hands. Their greatest hurt is psychological. If I had a son, I would not want him subjected to any gay influences when he was young and growing up. I would not want a gay employed, you ask? There are none. The increased price of the labor is going to be passed on to the consumer in the form of inflated prices and there is no way around it. Instead of coming out ahead or even the wage earner incurs a net loss in his pur chasing ability. The simplistic trick of artificially increas ing wages sounds good to those who do not consider the consequences, hence its con tinuance. Carter himself is reluctantly forced to admit that there will be increases in inflation and that people “might not gain a job that they would have other wise, but he fails to present us with any actual or perceptible benefits. I, for one, still believe that it is better to be employed at $ 2.30 than unemployed at $2.65. If Carter is truly concerned about poverty, inflation and unemployment among the youth and minorities he will end his utopianistic pseduo-logic concern ing minimum wage benefits which he can not point out, and attend to ending those negative aspects which result from gov ernment interference into the free market. —Mark Elam Ags not childish Editor: We would like to respond to the letter written by David Kotara last Monday (Oct.31). Neither one of us consider our selves ignorant on the subject of homosex uality. One of us having had a class per taining to the subject, the other of us hav ing known several. Although we don’t condemn homosexuality we feel that these people not only have severe emotional problems, but religious problems as well. First of all homosexuality has been going on and known about for centuries and has never been fully accepted by soci ety. We therefore feel that students of A&M who oppose the issue are no more childish than the majority of people both past and present. Secondly, we feel that David Kotara is excluding himself from Aggie tradition by making such an issue out of the fact that he is “gay.” Further more, if there is nothing wrong with David, we cannot understand his big hang-up on sexual preference. The fact that he is more proud of being “gay ” than being an “Aggie” only emphasizes this point. We heterosexuals certainly haven’t tried to form an H.S.S.O.(Heterosexual Student Service Organization). We personally feel that if you are more proud of being “gay” than being an “Ag gie that you should seriously consider transferring. P.S. You might try t.u.. —Cindi Reynolds, ’81 Scott Shafer, ’80 Bus driver ‘great’ Editor: In recent times there have been many complaints about the shuttle bus service, in particular the drivers. As this is our third year at A&M we’ve seen drivers come and go. However, there is at the present a particular driver on the Doux Chene route who adds a spark of joy to our otherwise dreary existance. We now wait in breathless anticipation as the bus rounds the corner in the hope that we will spy his baby blues beneath the devil may care tilt of his greek beanie. Who else would think to decorate the bus and himself (we presume he was masked) on Halloween and give us treats (bubble gum). No one else can entertain us with such natural wit. There have been few drivers to equal this great person. We salute you and say job well done. —SIR, CJD, BSZ More ‘experts’ Editor: I, like many of my friends, am sick and tired of reading the rude comments about the A&M football team made by such “ex perts as Paul Arnett and company. I read the trash every week telling how lucky A&M was to win their game. Let’s face it, not every team plays great or even good every game. Look at the Dal las Cowboys for example: They are 7-0 up to this point. They are a great team. Yet, I have seen them display pitiful efforts in some of their games. There is no team that plays perfect ball for a full sixty minutes. I would like everyone to thinks back about 5 to 6 years ago when A&M was lucky to win a game at all. The football program has improved many times over since Coach Emory Bellard came to A&M. He has the best win-loss record of any SWC coach over the past four years. Yet, there are many people such as Arnett who are not satisfied with this fact. There are many who gripe because A&M does not win every game because A&M doesn't win by 50 points or more over teams such as Rice. Yes, it could be that the conference has improved over the past few years also! The competition is get ting stronger. If you don’t believe, take a look at the UPI and AP polls. Also, take a look at the conferences record over inter sectional games. Aggies are supposed to be proud of their school. So, why not stop all the stupid re marks and be glad we win games, no mat ter by how much. Try to support the team, not cut them down. Aggies are supposed to be optimistic. It is just like the old say ing goes, “Put your heart in A&M, or get your ass out!” —Bruce King ’79 Not something to miss Editor: Tuesday night I attended Silver Taps and had a fantastic learning experience. The style in which they are conducted simply amazed me. And what is more is the fact that it really comes off good. There is supposed to be complete si lence during this ceremony. I am a talker, and this was very hard for me. The disci pline I used by keeping my trap shut was amazing even to myself. More than my own will power was the air, filled with other quiet Aggies. I could practically feel the “Spirit of AGGIELAND, telling everyone to represent an Aggie faithfully. As the Ross Volunteers marched on the cement only their footsteps could be heard. The precision which they exibited showed many hours of practice. Their steps were about seven seconds apart for each foot. Between steps each of the Vol unteers stood completely still. After the shooting of the rifles, the buglers began to play. The music they played could be heard for quite a distance. The buglers are anonymous. They seek no gratitude from their listeners. But, to be able to look off of the bal- coney of the dome of the Academic Build ing and see so many people looking up at you is sure to give them a good feeling. I walked away in silence when the buglers stopped. As the tradition reads, not a word should be spoken. When I got back to my apartment I exploded. I looked at my roommate who was formally asleep and said, “That is something you really can’t afford to miss.” —Jeannette Allbritton, ’81 Top of the Newwr Campus Bowl queen applications Applications for the 1978 Cotton Bowl representative from Texas A&M University are now available in the Student Activities Office room 221, in the Memorial Student Center. Any interested female student who has completed one semester at Texas A&M andhasat least a 2.25 GPR is invited to apply. The deadline for applications iso p.m., Nov. 11, in the Student Activities Office. The selected appli cant will represent Texas A&M at the Cotton Bowl parade and post season football game in Dallas to lx? held on New Year’s Day. For more information, call 845-1134. Freshman officers chosen A 50 cent attending ll recreation a Prizes val spate, jun: Award, vvhii value p overall. Contestai available at Wyatt's, W Freshmen voters chose two class officers in runoff elections Thurs day. Jess Mason was elected vice president and Kay Whitcombewas elected social secretary. Vh< State Deregulation of oil prices urged The Texas Energy Advisory Council, comprised of 10 top of ficeholders, Thursday, in Austin, approved a resolution urging de regulation of crude oil prices to allow the marketplace to control production and consumption of domestic oil. The group urged (fie congressional negotiators to reject President Carter’s plan to give a rebate preference to home heating oil users. “This preference is nothing more than an attempt to make Texans subsidize the fuel hills of New Englanders,” the resolution said. It went on to say any national energy plan should strive to ease the burden of high energy costs on home owners and business. United] HASHING ies rose 0.‘ the biggest i reflecting ces for far del cars, th orted Thur: he increas a 9.6 pen sistent witl raising a n iroaching tl he next fev ’ami prices tober, revt nth decline ne among momists e: Steak dinners offered as prizes Jerome Chapman, state human resources department commis sioner, said Thursday in Austin he would reprimand a regional offidal who offered employees steak dinners as prizes for adding the most persons on welfare rolls. House Speaker Bill Clayton said rcgrnsl welfare officials offered the steak dinners because they apparently were fearful of staff cuts. Chapman said the regional official has not paid for any steak dinners and did not plan to buy the meal with state funds. He said he does not condone conducting contests among em ployees and the person who began the policy will receive an official reprimand. Minister plans boycott of ‘Soap A state district judge in San Antonio Thursday dismissed a lawsuit asking that the local ABC television affiliate be prohibited from broadcasting the series “Soap" in prime time. District Judge James McKay ruled his court had no jurisdiction to hear the suit filed by local Baptist minister, the Rev. Ed Human. Human, who has pro tested the show at several ABC affiliated stations across the country, said after the ruling he planned to launch a nationwide boycott of corporations sponsoring “Soap,” which he contends is obscene and vulgar. He said it is “a patently offensive program that tends to undermine the parent-child relationship.” Guard says job too dangerous Narcisco Mendoza, 24, a guard who earlier this week foiled an escape attempt at the Bexar County Jail in San Antonio quit his job Thursday complaining of “unsafe conditions.” Mendoza said a pris oner planned to strike him over the head with a 16-inch toilet brush and grab his keys so other “hard core” prisoners on the seventhfloor could use a 60-fbot ladder made from mattress covers to escape. 1 could have been slugged over the head and beaten to death,” Men doza said. He complained there were not enough guards on duty at the jail and he was alone on the seventh floor until 11 p.m. Lombardo in critical condition Band leader Guy Lombardo Thursday was in “critical but stable condition Thursday in a Houston hospital with lung, heart and kidney problems that have complicated his recovery from major arterial surgery five weeks ago. Lombardo, 75, had a weakened and bal looned section of a major blood vessel removed Sept. 23. The opera tion was declared a success and he was released from Methodist Hospital in “excellent” condition Oct. 18, but he was readmitted Oct 27. Nation Abortion funds passed by Senate hil The Ron] A&M Univ Featured wi The ever Tabor Road basu lay By L Bat Simplify, vid Thorea I Walden F State of I designed a form wh minutes It’s real e; ie by coir Student nt for extt There are ms that ar have to c n the mail The exter ns to beg de voter i ek in coc ier Texas dclubs, ht organizat ogram. T voters mester. Election : Cc Aerobic- Iranian ! 504 Ruclde Chess C- nament, 7: Julian B Auditoriun Aggie C val , 8 p.n Professi a.m., 201 C'liess C 140 MSC Brazos Adoption Park pavil Muslim 410 Rudd MSC A Pity", 2 p The Senate Thursday approved federally funded abortions in the case of rape or incest or if the woman might die or suffer severe health damage. The vote was 59-29. The controversial legislation was sent immediately to the House where there was no assurance the newest Senate language would be acceptable. A quick House vote was ex pected. “If the House doesn’t accept this language, then God save them, said Sen. Edward Brooke, R-Mass., who opposed any restric tions on federally funded abortions but voted in favor of the com promise to end the raging dispute. Weather Fair and mild today and tomorrow. High today mid-70s. Low tonight mid-50s. The Battalion Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editor or of the writer of the article and are not necessarily those of the University administration or the Board of Re gents. The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting enterprise operated by students as a university and com munity newspaper. Editorial policy is determined by the editor. LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are subject to being cut to that length or less if longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit such letters and does not guarantee to publish any letter. Each letter must be signed, show the address of the writer and list a telephone number for verification. Address correspondence to Letters to the Editor, Tlw Battalion, Room 216, Reed McDonald Building, College Station, Texas 77843. Represented nationally by National Educational Adver tising Services, Inc., New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. nished on request. Address: The Battalion. Rtf® Reed McDonald Building, College Station; Texas United Press International is entitled exdusiwK use for reproduction of all news dispatches mdi^ 1 Rights of reproduction of all other matter hereinn Second-Class postage paid at College Station, ft MEMBER Texas Press Association G u D G IV Editor jamir' Managing Editor Mary Alice Wool Editorial Director Lee Roy Lesty 1 Sports Editor Paul I News Editors Marie Homeyer. Cawi City Editor RustyG Campus Editor Kind 1 Copy Editor Beth^ Reporters ClennaM David M MarkP# Photographer Ken Hr Cartoonist Dm#Cl Jhe Battalion is published Monday through Friday from September through May except during exam and holiday periods and the summer, when it is published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. ; M‘dl subscriptions are $16.75 per semester; $33.25 per f school year; $35.00 per full year. Advertising rates fur- Student Publications Board: Boh C». Hofiin. C Joe Anvdondo; Dr. Clary Halter, Dr. John \\\ ^ Robert Harvey; Dr. Charles M(Candles*; Dr. Cli* Phillips; Rclxj Rice. Director of Student PiM Donald C. Johnson. Production Coordinator! Sherman