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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 11, 1978)
Viewpoint The Battalion Tuesday Texas A&M University April 11, 1978 Another reason to move the tracks Last Friday’s train derailment just east of Somerville — where up to 200 persons were evacuated from their homes and roads closed to traffic because of leaking toxic gas — is just one more reason why the Texas A&M Adminis tration should get serious about the railway that now splits the campus. An official with the Texas Transportation Institute has labeled the state’s railroads “a time bomb.” Texas rates right at the top in rail accidents, includ ing those involving derailments and leakage of dangerous chemicals. And those figures are expected to climb with the increasing use of the railroads to transport more and more chemicals, especially from the Houston pet rochemical industry. It’s easy to sit back and say, “It will never happen here,” but that kind of self-assurance is foolish, and moveover dangerous, when you consider how dense a population is subjected to the potential dangers of the Welbom tracks. Many have shrugged off warnings to move the tracks because of the huge costs involved. But the fact is that safety costs. Just imagine what could happen if a trainload of toxic materials derailed across from Kyle Field. And what if those materials exploded? The probable deaths and damage would be tragic. The forecast for rail safety does not look bright. If we cannot make the tracks safe, we can at least isolate the danger away from the hub of the community. J.A. By ROBERT OLER The other day Mr. Carter proclaimed to the world that the United States would al ways have a military second to none. Many columnists around the country noted how Mr. Carter was stating not a promise but a fact of life. It was said that the American people would never let Soviet forces rise above those of our own. Many said that this was a part of Mr. Carter’s “get tough” attitude. The Soviets however quite sim ply referred to it as “sabre rattling". From this nation’s point of view, unfortunately, the Russians are correct, least in this life, other than on the stage or motion picture screen. But the results of Readers Forum velopment of the neutron bomb. This is only the latest in a long line of actions by Mr. Carter that puzzle and bewilder not only this nation but our European allies. However, the Russians are not puzzled or bewildered in the least. They are quite certain what the hesitant and at time half thought-out actiorts of our leader mean. They realize that the leader of this nation is at best weak, vacillating, and indecisive while at worst floundering. The underlying reason for Mr. Carter’s actions is indeed laudable. Simply, he longs for a Utopia. A world where weapons are non-existant, trust is abounding and rivalries do not exist. To his possible sur prise many others, including myself, share in this desire. To be sure the dream did not start with James Earl Carter. Unfortu nately in this world, a Camelot with an Excaliber and a Merlin does not exist, at Mr. Carter reaffirmed this when word began to leak out that he was stopping de- Letters to the editor Carter only rattling sabers Mr. Carter gutting the defenses of this country and his inability to act in times of crisis are readily apparent. The Russian-Cuban action in Africa is a case in point. Mr. Carter has simply done nothing other than make toasts at state dinners condemning the foreign interven tion. In the meantime the Russians furnish piles of arms, advisors, and Cuban combat troops to fuel the flames of war in several different parts of Africa. The only action Mr. Carter has taken is to gut the best chance for a peaceful settlement in Rhodesia by not endorsing and thereby aiding the internal settlement. Instead he has buckled to guerrillas who are no more interested in peace or democracy than is the man in the moon. Mr. Carter does not have an inaction problem at home in the field of defense. He just acts badly and against the advice of most military men who are not under his thumb. The cancellation of the B-l, the slow-down and virtual stoppage of the Tri dent and MX programs, the range limita tions discussed on the cruise missile, and tactically the cancellation of the neutron bomb are robbing this nation of its weapons and thus its defense of the future. Apparently, Mr. Carter is hoping for a similar reaction by the Russians in SALT II or in the Soviet force balance in Europe. A reaction there is alright, in the form of a massive Soviet tactical and strategic force buildup. It is hard to imagine how Mr. Carter plans to use either the cancelled weapons or the technology they represent as bargaining chips when they are in the junk heap or ineffective due to range limi tations. Perhaps that is why the Soviets are not very interested in a new strategic arms agreement. Do not get me wrong. I, like any sane man, deplore war and its contemplation. The old saying that only old men and young boys are eager to fight is very, very true. War is quite simply the closest thing on earth to hell. Many say that all the weapons Mr. Carter has cancelled are in human, violent and deadly. This could not be closer to the truth. Any weapon, from a BB rifle to a hydrogen bomb has the po tential of being quite deadly. Further more, death by any weapon is very inhu man, ghastly and violent. That is why we as a nation must always have a adequate force level to deter any aggressor from even contemplating action against us. And whether or not our force levels are adequate, can only be judged by watching our opponents’ actions, as de terrence is a state of mind of how damag ing to him a potential aggressor views your forces. For should we ever have to fight a nuclear war, no matter the outcome of who has how many missies left, we have lost. We have failed to defend ourselves. Mr. Carter says just that in his speeches, but not in his actions. But then again, smiles, talk, and symbolism are cheap and Mr. Carter is quite good at these. Robert Oler is a junior political science major. Opinions expressed in this column are the author’s only, and not necessarily those of this paper. There’s more to Christianity than suffering Editor: According to an article in the April 7 Battalion, Dr. Stanley Hauerwas feels that “physical pain and the suffering it brings makes the Christian doctrine attractive...” Dr. Hauerwas has the right to his opin ions, but I would hate for anyone to think the most attractive thing about Chris tianity is suffering. Just in case there is doubt in someone’s mind, I would like to relate a few of the aspects of Christianity that have made it attractive to me. First, Christianity is intellectually gratifying. The death and bodily resurrec tion of Jesus, which are fundamental to Christianity, are well supported by histor ical evidence. Also, Jesus fulfilled over 300 specific prophecies found in the Old Tes tament. These prophecies designated the Slouch one Person in history whom God would use to correct the faulty relationship be tween Himself and man. Manuscripts and archeological evidence support the claim that the Bible is a historically accurate col lection of documents that are essentially unchanged from the originals. This type of evidence has been powerful enough to re sult in the conversion of men who have set out to disprove Christianity, such as Frank Morison, Josh McDowell, and Lew Wal lace. Second, Christians, as a group, are the most attractive and interesting people I know. By “Christians” I do not mean just anyone who happens to label him- or her self with that name but those who are de pending on Christ for the direction of their lives. As a whole these people are more by Jim Earle loving, honest, and faithful towards one another. Third, Christianity provides me with a personal relationship with God. Chris tianity is not a big list of “do’s and don’t’s” but a vital relationship with the resur rected Christ. This relationship has fulfil led me in a way that academic honors, good friendships, special accom plishments, and intimate dating relation ships failed to do. For me, there are many more attractive aspects to Christianity than that of suffer ing. If anyone has questions or would like to discuss any of the points I’ve men tioned, please call me at 846-6294. — Paul Krenzke, ’79 Second-rate decision Editor: The College of Education has dropped business as a teaching field for students majoring in secondary education. I cannot understand this decision. Business education is one of the fields of interest to women, and with the growing number of women students enrolled at A&M, it seems as if the college would want to enlarge this field rather than eliminate it. Right now, the college requires typing and shorthand in order to obtain a degree. Students must take these two courses at another college because A&M does not offer them. Why not? I have been told that the reason for the A&M administration dropping the busi ness department is that it does not want to be second rate to any other college. This decision seems backward to me. A&M has always worked at being best, so rather than eliminating the business department, the administration should take the time and trouble to make it better. — Becky Bell, ’80 Mideast justice Editor: I am writing in protest to the wording of the announcement in the MSC stating that the 1978 Arabian Banquet “has been can celled due to recent events in Lebanon that have led to the occupation of over 20 percent of its land and the killing of hun dreds of men, women and children and the creation of over 200,000 new ref ugees.” I regret that I do not have an event to cancel due to the hundreds of Is raeli men, women and children killed over the past 30 years by el-Fatah and PLO ter rorists. Not only does the writer of the MSC announcement neglect to mention these innocent victims, he also seems to have forgotten why Israel attacked Palestinian bases in southern Lebanon. I will attempt to jog his memory. On March 11 several memebers of the PLO destroyed a bus of tourists on the Tel Aviv-Haifa road, killing 33 men, women and children. Even if this act can be called permissible as an act of national liberation (and I do not think that it can) how does one explain the cold blooded murder of an American, Gail Ru ben, by these same terrorists thirty min utes before they attacked the bus? I must state with sadness that there has been no justice in the Middle East since God created man. Wherever we go we create our own justice. If the PLO claims credit for such acts as the bombing of the bus in the name of justice, then they should be prepared to accept the Israeli form of justice. It is, no doubt, true that two wrongs don’t make a right. But, as Israeli Defense Minister Ezer Weizman said, “I’m afraid that the people who rec ommend turning the other cheek were never slapped.” — Don Sims Please return Editor: It happened last Thursday (April 6). I had just gotten back from aerobics and de cided a shower would be nice. I took my Statistics 302 book and notes out of my locker and set them on top of a basket rack while I showered. When I got back every thing was gone; my book and all my notes. This wasn’t the coolest thing anyone could do for me. If someone wanted the book to sell for money, why didn’t they just take my book and leave my notes? If the person who stole my book and notes would turn in my notes to the lost and found at the MSC or the P.E. department I would be greatly appreciative. The notes are very valuable to my passing the courses and I could very well mess up without them. No questions will be asked; I just want my notes. — Jay Hoffman, ’80 Top of the News Campus TAMU wins writing awards For the second consecutive year, Texas A&M University has won the lion’s share of awards in publications and writing competition sponsored by the Southwest District of the Council for the Advance ment and Support of Education (CASE). Texas A&M this year re ceived 21 of the citations presented at the annual CASE district conference in Albuquerque, N.M., which attracted representatives from some 50 colleges and universities in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Top awards were presented to the Uni versity for several brochures and related projects and for a case study describing activities pertaining to the appointment and inauguration of President Jarvis E. Miller. State Police ready to charge ‘Bandidos Police expect to file charges today against members of a motorcycle gang who were involved in an incident in which seven persons were stabbed during a brawl at the Third Annual Prairie Dog Chili Cookoff in Grand Prairie. Police Sgt. C.L. Miller said 10 males and two females remained in custody as police interviewed numerous wit- nesss. Miller said the suspects, members of the Texas-Louisiana gang The Bandidos,’ probably would be charged with assault or carrying weapons. He said most of the suspects were from Louisiana and a few were from Corpus Christi and Fort Worth. Five of the seven stabbing victims were treated and released from local hospitals, but two re mained hospitalized in serious condition. Miller said. texa Davi men! Texa Christie may ask investigation U.S. Senate candidate Joe Christie said Monday in San Antonio | that he is considering asking federal officials to investigate the possi ble misuse of federal funds by Rep. Bob Krueger, D-Texas. Krueger and Christie are opponents in the race for the Democratic nomination to the Senate seat held by Sen. John Tower, R-Texas. Christie has j contended Krueger staff members received government pay for cam paign work. He said his staff is attempting to determine if a request I for an investigation should be filed with the Federal Election Com mission, the House Ethics Committee or the House Administration! Committee. Nation Tax credit hill considered The House Ways and means Committee in Washington Monday beat back attempts to kill a tuition tax credit bill and added language that would extend the credits to public school students attending classes outside their local districts. The committee voted 24-13 against a motion from Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., to kill the tax credit bill sponsored by Rep. Charles Vanik. Vanik’s bill would allow a tax credit of 50 percent of tuition charges up to a maximum credit of upto $250 for college tuition. For elementary and secondary tuition, the credit would amount to 50 percent of tuition charges up to a maximum credit of $100. Hart’s arraignment to be today The chief defense attorney for Gene Leroy Hart said Monday in Tulsa, Okla., that he expects a preliminary hearing for the man ac cused of killing three Girl Scouts to be held next month. Larry Oliver said the arraignment for Hart, who was captured Thursday following a 10-month search will be held as scheduled today at the Mayes County Courthouse at Pryor, Okla. Hart refused to enter a plea to the three first-degree murder charges Friday because he had not re tained a lawyer. He entered innocent pleas to seven other charges, including escape, burglary and possession of a sawed-off shotgun. Hart is charged in the June 13 strangulation slaying of Doris Denise Milner, 10, of Tulsa and the beating deaths of Lori Lee Farmer, 8, of Tulsa, and Michele Guse, 9, of Broken Arrow. World Quebec affected by power failure A power failure blacked out most of Quebec early Monday leaving more than 1.5 million homes without electricity for almost two hours. Hydro-quebec spokesman Maurice Hebert said in Montreal that power was gradually being restored across the province and 40 per cent of the major Montreal area was back up within a half hour. More than a million of Hyrdo-Quebec’s two million customers were af fected by the failure. Police reported initially there were no major problems related to the power shortage. A Hydro-quebec spokesman said they believed the black-out was caused when the failure of one major 750,000-volt line transferred voltage to two other lines, over loading the system and forcing an automatic shutdown. Police intercept secret letter Italian police have intercepted a secret letter from former Premier Aldo Moro to his family, sparking speculation of an imminent break in the 26-day-old abduction. The Red Brigades kidnappers delivered the letter to a Moro family courier in the picturesque Trastevere district Saturday night. Police arrived at the scene seconds later and confis cated the letter. Police sources said the letter promised that a videotape showing Moro alive in his “peoples jail,” would soon be sent to the family. Several of Moro’s colleagues have reportedly of fered to help raise a private, multimillion-dollar ransom for the family to offer the kidnappers. Weather Mostly cloudy and cooler with a si ight chance of show ers today. Partly cloudy and cooler tonight becoming slightly warmer on Wednesday. High today low 70s, low tonight mid 40s. High tomorrow upper 70s. Winds from the north at 15-20 mph. 30% chance of rain today. Con tinued partly cloudy and mild through Saturday with no expected rain. The Battalion Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the edittyr or of the writer of the article and are not necessarily those of the University administration or the Board of Regents. The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting enterprise oper ated by students as a university and community 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 a nd list a telephone number for verification. Address correspondence to Letters to the Editor, The Battalion, Room 216, Reed McDonald Building, College Station, Texas 77843. 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