Viewpoint
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Monday
November 13, 1978
Can Kahn do it?
There was justice in the airlines’ week-long wait outside the Civil
Aeronautics Board for anyone who’s ever been an airline passenger — even if
they’ve never flown standby.
The cause of the queue was the airline deregulation bill signed by Presi
dent Carter. It opened up hundreds of air routes to markets not being
served, and let the commercial carriers claim them on a first-come, first-
served basis. The government expects, and so do we, that the new rules will
improve air service for cities, including Memphis; ease entry into the airline
business and bolster regional airlines, and lower air fares by strengthening
competition.
Overseeing the CAB operation was Alfred Kahn, the same man the Presi
dent has put in charge of his new anti-inflation program. As chairman of the
Council on Wage and Price Stability, Kahn will be responsible for monitor
ing all the major businesses and industries and unions in the country and for
seeing to it that they adhere to the voluntary wage-price guideposts the
President set out.
That’s a major task, and it deserves support, especially when the other
choices are government controls or an inflation-induced recession.
But we hope Kahn has learned his logistics before he takes over his new
job. If corporate and labor giants have to line up to prove they’ve conformed
with the standards, they may not be so willing to stand behind Carter’s plan
to beat down inflation.
The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Term.)
Carter’s new goals need new help
By DAVID S. BRODER
WASHINGTON — With the election
, past and the new Congress two months
: away from assembling. President Carter
, and his administration colleagues have —
' for the first time in two years — a kind of
' breathing space in which they can assess
| vhere they are and where they are going.
It is an important time for the President
.ind for the country. The pace of
lecision-making will be less frenetic than
' t was two years ago, in the transition
jeriod from his own election to his inaugu
ration. But the decisions will be at least as
1 ignificant in shaping the future of his gov-
-minent and his 1980 political prospects.
1 The budget Carter submits this January
vill be in effect until a month before elec-
ion day. The legislative program he
i hapes in the next 60 days will define the
lomestic agenda for the 1979 and 1980
longressional sessions.
If he is able to negotiate to the final
erms of a strategic arms agreement with
he Soviet Union between now and the
nd of the year, the SALT treaty will be
the focus of the next great foreign policy
debate. If he cannot, the consequences
will be felt in defense budgets for the re
mainder of his administration.
Similarly, with the Middle East talks.
An Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty seems
almost assured — something no one would
have supposed possible when Carter took
office. But it is still uncertain whether that
agreement will be the first step toward a
comprehensive Middle Eastern settle
ment, or a barrier to its accomplishment.
Most of all, the period ahead is impor
tant in the struggle to save the dollar, stem
inflation and set the domestic economy on
a course which, if possible, sustains
growth and, at least, avoids a severe and
prolonged recession.
That is no small order. But it is not so
intimidating a task as Jimmy Carter faced
two years ago, when he set out to con
struct a government and give it leadership
after a shaky election victory.
His skills have developed in the period
of apprenticeship, and the priorities for
him are perhaps clearer now than they
were two years ago. They can be sum
marized in three words which he used re
peatedly in his own campaign: stability,
compassion and competence.
The first two years of the Carter admin
istration have seen significant step toward
the stabilization of the international order.
The United States has avoided several
temptations for unwise intervention. It has
helped significantly in the Middle East
negotiations. And it has played a generally
constructive role in Africa, the Far East
and Latin America. The Soviet-U.S. equa
tion is unsettled, but not unpromising.
The same cannot be said about the man
agement of the economy. It has been a
period of severe disruption at home and
abroad, and Carter’s economic policies
have not contributed to confidence
building in either arena. The frequent,
sudden swerves in policy indicate the
President’s own dissatisfaction with the
record.
Stabilizing the economy must be his
first priority. But that process is inevitably
going to be painful. And given the power
balance in this country and abroad, the
probability is that the people who will be
squeezed hardest will be those who are
least able to protect themselves — the
citizens of the poor nations of the world
and the families on the margins of the
American economy.
The new Congress will be at least re
sponsive to the pressures of the middle-
class and affluent as the old one was. So
Carter will have more challenges to prove
his compassion by protecting the power
less than he did in the last two years.
All this will provide a real test of his
administration’s political competence. The
President does not like criticism of his ap
pointees, whether it comes from inside or
outside the White House. But the fact is
that some of them have plainly been found
wanting — mediocre or worse.
He will never have a better opportunity
than the next two months afford to look
around the White House, the Executive
Office Building and the departments and
ask his own question: Why not the best?
(c) 1978, The Washington Post
The playboy of the Third World
By DICK WEST
WASHINGTON — It is reported that a
isitor from Pakistan recently topped off a
in evening at a Dallas disco by leaving a
lillion dollar check as a tip — only to stop
ayment on it later.
I have no idea what caused his change of
eart. Details on how he felt the next
lorning or whether he had a wife to reck-
n with were unavailable.
Humor
Potentially, however, the incident has
he makings of a sequel to Dorothy
’arker’s classic short story “You Were Per-
‘ctly Fine.’ Let us see if we can imagine
.he scene the morning after:
| A plush hotel suite. Our hero awakens
j nd starts trying to get his bearings. His
i louth tastes like a dromedary’s saddle
iJanket. All of his teeth are sheathed in
ttle furry golf club covers.
Eventually, after enough blood has
rained from his eyes to restore limited
ision, he perceives his wife seated at the
scritoire. She is writing to her attorney.
“Hoo, boy,” he croaks. “What a party!
| )r did I work out with the Dallas Cowboys
etters to the Editor
and get trampled c#i the head by Too Tall ;
Jones?”
“It was a party all right,” comes the
tight-lipped reply.
“I was afr aid of that, ” he moans. “I re
member going shopping at Neiman-
Marcus and buying a rack of furs, and I
seem to recall insisting on dropping by a
disco. But after that it gets a little fuzzy. I
hope I didn’t do anything I might regret.”
Icily: “No, dear, you were perfectly
fine. I’m sure the other customers didn’t
mind a bit.”
“The other customers? Mind? Did I get
belligerent with the people at the next
table or something?”
Frostily: “To the contrary. You were
perfectly cordial. You insisted on buying
everyone in the house $75-a-bottle cham
pagne. ”
He rocks back and forth with his head in
his hands. “Jeepers. That must have cost a
bundle. Was that as I was leaving?”
Frigidly: “No. That was before the
dance contest.”
“I’m almost afraid to ask, but did I have
anything to do with the contest?”
Chillingly: “Nothing to speak of beyond
demanding that the club change its policy
against dance contests. When the manager
intervened, nobody could blame you for
Z3£!3I7I
getting up and starting to stalk out.”
T have a strange feeling that I unfortu
nately didn’t make it past the door. Did I
bump into something?
Coldly: “You walked perfectly fine. You
could have made it easily if that waitress
had not run after you and promised to ar
range a contest if you came back. ”
“I see. After going to that much trouble,
I sure hope I enjoyed it.”
Glacially: “You must have. You gave the
two winners checks for $500,000 each.”
He weakly drops his head back on the
pillow. “Did I remember to tip the wait
ress?”
Soviet’s remarks anti-Semitic
ditor:
The Great Issues committee of the MSC
to be congratulated for bringing to the
mpus Thursday night (Nov. 9) a debate
i the timely topic of human rights in the
nited States and in the Soviet Union,
le evening was very informative and,
ith the exception I will address, con-
icted at a high level of civility and intel-
pt.
Mr. Melor Sturua, our Soviet guest,
ayed into some troubling territory. In
swer to a question about the right of
-viet Jews to emigrate, he noted that
ry few Soviet Jews who emigrated to Is-
pl stayed there. Instead, they moved on
the United States and western Euro-
an countries in search of “affluence.” In
arguing, Mr. Sturua in a very subtle
;y bought into a stereotype of Jews
lose fringes are anti-Semitic.
His intention seemed to be to bait the
iience. This intention became clearer
en, in the next breath, he went on to
that American Jews are really not in-
ested in Israel. They stay here, make
ney, and send money “not blood” to
lel. To this remark there was short, but
husiastic applause.
>0 again the old stereotypes rear their
ids and behind them rears the uglier
id of anti-Semitism. It is distressing
•ugh that Mr. Sturua would stoop to
h tactics; more disturbing still is the
m response his shady remarks elicited.
:i-Semitism is among the ugliest and
St dangerous of all forms of hatred. Its
itence in an institution of higher'learn-
is a blight.
— Laurence B. McCullough, Ph.D.
apartment of Humanities in Medicine
Department of Philosophy
Gay facts distorted
Editor:
Although “Today’s Student” is consid
ered a journalistic joke by a great many
enlightened Aggies, the libellous state
ments appearing in it occasionally reach
such damaging proportions that a recital of
facts becomes necessary.
As students concerned with the
humanistic as well as the journalistic as
pects of literature distributed on our cam
pus, we wish to offer in rebuttal one of the
best documented and most recent studies
on homosexuality.
The following information is drawn from
“Homosexuality: A Study of Human Di
versity” by Allan P. Bell and Martin S.
Weinberg (Simon and Schuster, 1978)
which reports on a detailed investigation
by the Institute of Sex Research founded
by Alfred C. Kinsey.
— Homosexuals appear, on the whole,
to be as psychologically well-adjusted as
heterosexuals.
— Homosexual men and women tend to
have more good, close friends than do
heterosexuals, and among those close
friends; heterosexuals are included.
— Homosexuals do not indulge in sex
ual violence, rape, or seduction as fre
quently as heterosexuals do.
— Homosexual males are not as likely to
make objectional sexual advances as are
heterosexual males.
— Homosexuals are neither more nor
less sexually active than are heterosexuals.
— It is not true that a majority of
homosexuals spend a good part of their
lives cruising in search of sexual contacts.
— “We do not do justice to people’s
sexual orientation when we refer to it by a
singular noun.” There are
“homosexualities” as there are
“heterosexualities,” each involving differ
ent, interrelated dimensions.
We have quoted extensively from a re
view Ashley Montague, (Psychology To
day, August 1978). It is hoped that con
cerned individuals will seek out the Kin
sey studies and inform themselves on this
very crucial social issue.
— D. Valois, 78
R. Wheeler, ’81
L. Heemer, ’80
Editor s note: This letter was accom
panied by 23 other signatures.
Time for awards
Editor:
This is the third semester that I’ve read
letters to the editor. I think it’s time that I
contributed. I would like to congratulate
Mohamad Abilmona in his reply letter of
Nov. 9 to Diane Blake’s article
(“Lebanese, Arab students disagree on
war“).
Surely, Miss Blake, you must realize
what great friends of ours the Arabs are.
After all, who else would sell us oil at such
reasonable prices, demonstrate against
their government in our country and sup
port such happy-go-lucky fraternities as
the PLO! Friends like them ...
In reply to W.T. Decker’s letter of Nov.
9, I would like to say this: Obviously the
author of the note you quoted did not see
the literally dozens of parking places in the
girl’s lot behind Keathley Hall.
I see them every time I walk back after
parking my car across the tracks. Inci-
dently, I’ve never been attacked by all of
those mad Aggie rapists I hear so much
about. Perhaps you’d be happier if the
women took all the on-campus parking
and we men could find some nice place in
Navasota.
And finally, and in complete sincerity, I
would like to praise Kyle Scarborough,
’78, for his wonderful letter concerning
repulsive things. Mr. S. you deserve the
Letter of the Semester Award (if one
existed). I salute you sir. Also George R.
Gagnon’s letter on Texas highways de
serves Honorable Mention.
Yes, Virginia, Aggies do have a sense of
humor.
— Ron Bucchi, ’81
Correction
In Friday’s Battalion (Nov. 10) it
was incorrectly reported that the
Houston Cougars were put on
NCAA probation for recruiting
violations involving player Danny
Davis.
The Cougars were placed on pro
bation for violations involving Dar
rell Shepard, not Davis. They have
since been taken off probation but
are still restricted from appearing on
television until after the 1978 sea-
Top of the News
CAMPUS
Zukerman concert canceled
The Pinchas Zukerman concert scheduled for Tuesday has been
canceled. Zukerman canceled his concert due to an illness in his
family. Refunds for individual ticket holders will be made in in Rud
der Box Office. Season ticket holders will be offered another show in
place of the Zukerman concert. Rudder Box Office hours are 9 a.m. to
4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Architecture work on display
Fourteen faculty architects are showing some of their recent work
in an exhibit this month at the Langford Architecture Gallery at Texas
A&M University. The exhibit includes photographs of commercial
architecture, residences, restorations and interiors. The exhibit is
free and open to the public through the end of November. Langford
Architecture Center Gallery is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
through Friday.
Small fire in Krueger Hall
A clothes dryer located in the first floor of Krueger Hall caught fire
Sunday afternoon. The fire was contained until the College Station
Fire Department arrived. No damage other than to the clothes in the
dryer was reported. Fire officials said they are not sure how the fire
started.
STATE
Ridgley called to testify
Defense lawyers plan to question FBI photographer George
Ridgley, the only witness during the trial of T. Cullen Davis to testify
he saw meetings between the defendant and an informant whose
murder-for-hire allegations resulted in Davis’ arrest. Ridgley testified
Friday he photographed Davis in Fort Worth Aug. 18 and 20 on a
restaurant parking lot where prosecutors claim Davis slipped FBI
informant David McCrory $25,000 to pay for the slaying of a divorce
court judge. Judge Joe H. Eidson, 60, was not harmed and helped
authorities plan a staged photograph to persuade Davis that the judge
had been slain.
NATION
Willie Nelson in trouble with IRS
Country and western singer Willie Nelson is at odds with the
Internal Revenue Service and has had a $71,991.75 tax lien filed
against his 83-acre mountain estate west of Denver. IRS officials said
the lien was placed on the property last week as a result of Nelson’s
alleged failure to pay withholding taxes during the fourth quarter of
1977 and the second quarter of this year. The lien said Nelson failed
to pay $22,282.80 on July 24 and $49,708.95 on Sept. 11 in employ
ment taxes, which are withheld for employees’ income tax and Social
Security payments.
Hotel collapses, burying 3 men
A hotel being prepared for demolition in Tulsa, Okla., collapsed
prematurely Saturday, burying three workers beneath tons of rubble.
Emergency crews attempted to contact the workers while rescuers
worked to remove the steel beams and shattered concrete covering
them. The workers were in the basement of the 19-story building
when it fell. The condition of the men was unknown.
Ford may face major car recalls
The Federal Trade Commission is being asked by the govern
ment’s Consumer Protection Agency to order Ford Motor Co. to
disclose alleged defects involving 1.8 million cars made from 1974 to
1978. The Bureau of Consumer Protection alleged there are defects
in the engine camshafts and rocker arms of the Pinto, Mustang, Bob
cat and Capri models that could cause engine failure as early as the
first 200 miles of use.
Protest letter sent to Carter
A number of prominent Soviet artists, including prima ballerina
Maya Plisetskaya, sent a telegram to President Carter last week on
behalf of a singer arrested for trespassing during a civil protest in
Minnesota. Dean Reed, an American-born singer popular in the
Soviet Union and East Germany, went on trial Thursday in Buffalo,
Minn., on charges of trespassing during a protest at a power line
construction site. Reed lives in East Germany.
WORLD
Setback in shah’s negotiations
The shah’s efforts to negotiate an end to the worst civil strife in Iran
in 15 years have received a setback with a key leader of the opposition
vowing to fight against the regime. Karim Sanjabi, leader of the
broad-based opposition alliance of five political parties, said, “We will
continue our struggle,” adding the National Front was “not prepared
to form a provisional government or participate in a coalition.” San
jabi wants the shah’s abdication and seeks to return Iran to strict
Islamic rule.
WEATHER
Cloudy with a 20% chance of rain. High today 80 and low
tonight mid 60’s. Winds will be South Easterly at 10-15 mph.
Outlook for the week will be 30% chance of rain Tuesday
and turning cooler towards the weekend.
The Battalion
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