J
Viewpoint
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Thursday
December 7, 1978
Chalk another one up, MacNelly
Jeff MacNelly, whose cartoons ap-
E ear regularly in The Battalion, has
een named winner of the first
Thomas Nast prize for political car
toons.
MacNelly, who won the Pulitizer
prize for the second time earlier this
year, will be presented with the
award in Landau, Germany, Nast’s
birthplace.
The award was created by the Nast
Foundation on the 75th anniversary
of the cartoonists death. Nast, who
won fame as an American political
cartoonist in the 19th Century,
created the donkey and elephant
symbols for the Democratic and Re
publican parties.
MacNelly, 31, is based at the
Richmond News Leader-
He won his first Pulitzer Prize in
1972.
'l&irtWSfL (. fl* pjqkKjo T»eu^
New FiFTY-ceNi piece
Opposition dishevels China, Iran
By DAVID S. BRODER
WASHINGTON — The greatest advan
tage the United States enjoys, in company
with other democracies and in contrast to
the absolute regimes in this world, is the
open acknowledgment of the routine exis
tence of a domestic political opposition. It
is an advantage we tend to ignore rather
blithely, but the events of the recent weeks
remind us what an advantage it is.
First in Iran and now in China, we are
witnessing what happens in a society where
the legitimacy of political opposition is not
built into the constitution and embedded in
the history and character of the p>eople. In
such states, the resistance that comes with
any change in policy cannot be dealt with in
a straightforward manner on its merits.
Rather, it provokes strange underground
movements which prove to be more costly
and damaging to the country than any ac
knowledged political opposition could pos
sibly be.
Iran and China are about as dissimilar as
any two nations you can mention. But both
have embarked on the path of economic
modernization, aimed at developing their
own natural resources and using them to
build advanced industrial societies in what
have been backward, rural states.
Such changes always produce upheavals
in the undelying social and political struc
ture. And when the pace of change is
pushed aggressively, as the shah has done
in the past decade in Iran and as China’s
leaders have begun doing in the past year,
then the social and political consequences
are also likely to be exaggerated.
Neither China nor Iran is equipped to
copo with such changes. Under the shah’s
Letters to the Editor
tight control, p>art of the opposition has
been rooted in the mosques and part on the
campuses. The only real weapons have
been strikes and local insurrections. These
are sufficient to disrupjt production and
bring in a military government, but not to
force a serious discussion of the issues that
underlie the protest.
In China, the political infighting takes an
Politics
even more bizarre form — the exchange of
accusations through the medium of wall
posters. Say what you will about american
political ads; they are a lot more
straightforward and a lot less lethal than the
kind of character assassination that passes
for political dialectic on the walls in Peking.
When I was in China a year ago, it was
obvious that the middle-level bureaucrats
we met on our tour were wasting a lot of
their time trying to guess which way the
political tides were running. They were
eloquent in expressing their hopes for the
future. They were voluble about the sins
(and sinners) of the past. But they were
conspicuously silent about the present
leadership, warily waiting to see who was
going to emerge in control.
At that time, Teng Hsiao-ping had been
rehabilitated from his second fall from
power and was telling groups like ours of
his plans for pushing China on a rapsid
course of technological and scientific ad
vance, with help, he hopjed, from the West.
But at that time, Mao’s embalmed body
was still an object of veneration, and visits
to his newly constructed tomb were
handed out as rewards for the most loyal
and productive brigades.
Chairman Hua Kuo-feng, as Mao’s des
ignated heir, was a vaguely defined figure,
exercising less visibility day-to-day than
Teng, but presumably secure from any di
rect challenge.
A year later, Teng has pressed his new
policies at a far more rapid pace than any
one would have thought possible. Large-
scale purchases of foreign equipment and
technology are being financed by interna
tional loans of a kind which Mao and the
Maoists had declared incompiatible with
China’s self-sufficiency. Chinese leaders
and Chines students are going abroad and
foreigners are being welcomed as never
before, for their money, their equipment
and their knowledge.
From the American perspective, the
change is as desireable as it is dramatic. But
is has provoked an internal resistance pro
portional to its own pace and scale.
It is an extraordinary spectacle, as dra
matic in its own way as was the shutdown of
Iran’s oil fields by those who defied the
shah’s enormous police pewers. The mem
bers of China’s vast civil and military bu
reaucracy must be paralyzed with doubt on
how tp place their bets in the gigantic
pxiwer struggle now under way.
And that is just the pioint. In such closed
societies as Iran and China, pxditical oppos
ition, denied legitimacy and access to less
extreme forms of expression, tends to
create recurring periods of national
paralysis.
(c) 1978, The Washington Post Company
Observation
on upsets
By ARNOLD SAWISLAK
United Press International
WASHINGTON — Ralph Nader's Con
gress Watch added up the campaign spend
ing in 33 contested Senate races this year
and made the totally expectable discovery
that the candidates who spent the most
were elected in 28 of them.
The purpose of the study was to
dramatize the reformist argument that the
rich are dominating pelitics under the
present system of campaign finances with
private funds and to boost the prospects for
public financing of congressional cam
paigns.
Inasmuch as money remains “the
mother's milk of politics,” even Congress
Watch did not profess to be shocked to find
that candidates who had more money got
more votes, although it did find an 85 per
cent success rate to be a bit much.
What Congress Watch did not comment
on, or try to explain, was the fact that four of
the five winning candidates who spent less
than their oppxments also ousted incum
bent senators. In fact, four of the seven
incumbents who were leaten Nov. 7 went
down before challengers who spent less
than they, at least up to the Oct. 23 pre
election repert.
The four who spent less and still beat
incumbents were Republicans Gordon
Humphrey in New Hampshire and Roger
Jepsen in Iowa and Democrats Carl Levin
in Michigan and Rep. Paul Tsongas in Mas
sachusetts.
The Humphrey and Jepsen victories
over Democratic Sens. Thomas McIntyre
and Dick Clark were the leading upsets of
the year while Levin and Tsongas were far
from shoo-in choices over GOP Sens.
Robert Griffin and Edward Brooke in pre
election ratings. The only established fa
vorite who spent less and won was Republi
can Dave Durenberger, who beat Demo
crat Robert Short as expected in Min
nesota.
These examples certainly do not prove
that a good but px>or candidate will beat a
bad but rich one. The prepxmderance of the
evidence pxhnts to the oppxisite conclusion.
They may, however, pxjint to one factor
that could distort election forecasting: an
expectation that the candidate with the
biggest budget always will win. Obviously
the expjerts ({political professionals as well as
political reporters) missed something that
was going on in Iowa and New Hampshire,
and the question occurs as to whether it was
a blindness caused by the glare of money.
Meanwhile, the point that Congress
Watch wanted to malte should not be for
gotten: An immense amount of money was
spxmt in the 1978 Senate elections and in an
overwhelming number of cases, the big
sjpenders were the winners.
As Winston Churchill once said of satura
tion bombing of enemy cities, the only
purpxise that seems to have been served
was “to make the rubble jump.”
Cadet represents A&M among ‘teasips’ crowd
Editor:
As an alumnus of the University ofTexas,
I was in the home stands at last Friday’s
football game between the Longhorns and
the Aggies. Although I am a proud teasip, I
must compliment one Corps member in
particular.
In section 10 of Memorial Stadium, sur
rounded by some very avid Homs’ fans,
stood a lone Corps of Cadets member.
From the opening kickoff until the final
gun, that young man stood in support of the
Aggie cause. Though I know that this is a
common and dictated practice for Corps
members as well as other Aggie fans, it
nevertheless was noticed by many Texas
supporters. I’m almost sure that the gen
tleman had to withstand quite a vigorous
assault from those around him.
The Aggie-Longhorn rivalry will always
be one of great intensity. But in the heated
Aggie apathy
Editor:
Oh to be a young jock
With blond flowing locks
Oh, to be quick and wear number 11
Surely He must be sent from heaven.
For why else would He sit so aloft
And not applaud His fellow jocks
Who fight so hard and try to win
And maybe steal some glory from
Him.
Why should He and all His kind
Who are all superior in Their minds
Hump it and yell with lowly students
of day
After all, we only Their big schol
arships pay.
They are not the only ones who
Failed to totally support their school
A measley 4,000 turned out for the
game
Which featured OUR Aggies on the
road to fame.
So all Aggies hear my plea
Attend the games even though
they’re not free
Turn out and give your vocal support
To the guys in white running down
the court.
Texas A&M — 85
Oral Roberts — 79
Gig ’em Aggies
—Chuck Kirkham, ’80
exchanges that take place during athletic
contests, be assured in knowing that the
traditions of both schools are noticed and
admired by graduates of the other institu
tion. My highest accolades go to that Lone
Cadet.
—Bryan Smith
Bryan, Texas
Bend at the waist. . .
Editor:
Concerning the letters in the Batt against
Mike Mosley: Sure Mosley was being ob
noxious and all that, and everyone who
wrote in had justified views but how come
you all didn’t notice any non-jocks not
standing. Believe me there were plenty.
Mosley did not need to be flipping the
crowd off. But wasn’t it kind of rude for
Aggies to be yelling at other Aggies in pub
lic. That looks real good Ags!
Just think how you would have felt after
being yelled at — I mean the guy was cor
nered — he could have stood up and been
emharassed or sat down and been yelled at.
I was sitting behind Mosley when the
incident happiened and I don’t recall any
one politely asking Mike to support the
basketball team!
Come on Ags, where is the polite con
cern we should be showing to each other?
—Jill Neathery, ’81
Editor:
Mike Mosley:
Why the hell don’t you “hump it” at bas
ketball games like the rest of us?
—Kevin Baker, ’80
Jeff J. Waller, ’80
' Frank Wright, ’80
Mosaic needs help
Editor:
To all Aggies:
I would like to thank Mr. Andy C. Duf-
fie, class of’78 president, for his concerned
responsiveness to the problem of our class’
gift of the University Seal mosaic in the
Academic Building floor.
This is especially commendable in the
light that the matter is no longer in his, or
any class council member’s control. It
seems that the University is in charge of the
mosaic now and any changes or action must
be done on the univesity’s staffs part. All
Mr. Duffie can do is to attempt to motivate
them into action. We all know how difficult
it is to get results through the mirads of
paper work and any lack of interest toward a
problem on a staffer’s part. Especially
when that problem in given a low priority
and has been peg-holed, as has been the
problem of the mosaic being repaired.
Eventually, when they get around to it,
there will be a laminated plastic cover
formed over the tile. It will keep the tile
ftom breaking loose and from losing any of
its brilliance.
Before it can be done though, someone
has to get the ball rolling, and Mr. Duffie
can use all the help he can get, so all you
Aggies out there who give a damn about
the appearance of our school, write to
President Jarvis E. Miller and ask that they
not put off any longer the necessary renova
tion to the university seal mosaic in the
Academic building floor.
Good-by and good luck, Ags, I’ll be mov
ing on and am handing the ball over to you.
—David W. Loper Sr, ’78
Wrong words
Editor:
On Tuesday, Dec. 5, The Battalion ran a
UPI story stating that “a man whom psy
chologists said had 10 separate per
sonalities was found innocent by reason of
insanity of rape, kidnapping and robbery
charges.”
The headline: “Schizophrenic found in
nocent. ” Regardless of its source, this head
line is grossly in error, and serves only to
perpetuate a popular misconception.
Schizophrenia is totally unrelated to the
celebrated “split personality” disorder.
The confusion apparently arised because
of the root “schizo—” which means “split.”
In the case of schizophrenia, however, the
split is between objective reality and one’s
subjective experience, not between inter
nal personalities. Thousands of schizop
hrenics, already having a considerable
handicap in coping with life, are
additionally faced with complete misun
derstanding by those who labor under this
misconception. It is the duty of responsible
journalism to get its facts straight.
—Daniel F. Harrison
Reference Librarian — Documents and
Division
P. S. “Split personality” is given as a sec
ond definition in at least one dictionary. In
doing so they are merely documenting the
popular error. The first definition remains
the only correct one.
Top of the News
CAMPUS
Aggies win speaking awards
Four Texas A&M University students received recognition in the
first campus-wide Informative Speaking Contest here. Renaaker.au
elementary education major from College Station, received first prize
of $10. Certificates were presented to finalists Gypsie Harrell of Lib
erty, Bill Jackson, a junior history major from Orange, and Sinthya
Penn, a junior entomology major from Eagle Pass. The contest was
sponsored by the Texas A&M Division of Speech Communication, the
English Department and the Texas A&M Debate Club.
Farmers protest 'middleman
Fifty angry American farmers delivered 50 truckloads of wheat
directly to the Port of Houston Tuesday to draw attention to farm
problems and to prove they don’t need middlemen to market their
goods. Caravan leader Jack Morris of the American Agriculture
Movement blamed the middleman for many farm problems, includinj;
foreign complaints about American wheat. Another farmer, W.E
Fred Hillman, 51, of Yuma, Colo., complained about "shortsighted
federal policies that he said keep farmers from making a profit. Hillman
said the farmers protest is based on a loss of respect and faith in
congressional leaders. The caravan returned to the National Farm
Summit at College Station after unloading their grain.
NATION
Former military chairman dies
Retired Air Force Gen. George S. Brown, 60, whose comments
about Israel and the Jewish influence in this country got him into
trouble while he was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is dead of
prostate cancer. Brown died Tuesday in a hospital at suburban An
drews Air Force Base, Md. He had retired June 20 after more than37
years in the Air Force. In 1974. Gerald Ford called Brown into the
Oval Office and “rebuked” the general for "ill-advised and poorly
handled’ remarks that appeared in the Washington Post: 'TTie Jewish
influence in this country is so strong, you couldn't believe it,” Brown
said. He added that Jews own the banks and the newspapers. Brown
was back in the news in April 1976, being quoted as saying Israel could
be a defense liability to the United States. Brown was bom in
Montclair, N.J., on Aug. 17, 1918, and graduated from West Pointin
1937. During World War II he took part in the famous low-level
bombing raid against German-held oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania
Brown also served in the Korean War and was commander of the 7th
Air Force in Vietnam between 1968 and 1970. He headed the Air
Force Systems Command and was Air Force chief of staff before he was
promoted to chairman. He is survived by his wife, Alice, two sonsanda
daughter.
R.I. inmates stage hunger strike
Three Rhode Island prison inmates, who were told they couldnthe
executed, have gone on a hunger strike to protest conditions at the
Rhode Island state prison. Sidney A. Clark, 27, and Robert Cline, 26,
are on Death Row at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston
William H. Anthony, 25, faces a possible death sentence. All three had
asked to be executed, saying conditions at the prison were inhumane
and unconstitutional. Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Cvamunisaid,
however, he could not order the death penalty until the state Supreme
Court determines whether Rhode Island's capital punishment law is
constitutional.
WORLD
Quake hits South American city
A strong earthquake rocked San Salvador, El Salvador early Tues
day, rocking high rise buildings and sending people into the streets.
The eight-story Camino Real Hotel in the new section of El Salvador,
ringed by several active volcanoes, shook violently during the quake,
knocking paintings off the walls and moving beds around. Nearby
people left their homes to check on damages and avoid the danger
of possible building collapses. Electricity and light service remained
on. No damages were immediately apparent and there was no im
mediate information on the strength on the quake, which lasted for
several seconds beginning at 6 a.m., (7 a.m. EST), or its epicenter.
Spain votes on new constitution
With the army and police on nationwide alert, Spaniards voted Wed
nesday on a new democratic constitution that would liquidate the last
vestiges of the Francisco Franco dictatorship. Reformist Premier
Adolfo Suarez cast his vote at a Madrid high school, saying, “As a
politician I feel a great satisfaction at having arrived at this day in which
Spaniards are going to vote on a constitution of freedoms. ” The pre
mier’s centrists and other major political parties supported the re
ferendum and the post-Franco document was expected to be approved
by a substantial margin. Basque terrorists trying to disrupt the re
ferendum assassinated three policemen on the eve of the balloting. To
counter any possible terrorism, soldiers guarded public buildings,
power and communications centers and other vital sites. Policemen
cradling submachine guns stood watch outside polling stations.
WEATHER
Sunrise this morning was at 7:09. It will be cloudy and cold
with occasional drizzle. High today will be 40 and a low in the
mid 30’s with a 100% chance of precipitation. Winds are
northerly at 15 m.p.h. Sunset will be at 5:23.
The Battalion
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Address corresjwndence to Letters to the Editor, The
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MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Congress
Editor KilnT) i^
Managing Editor LizNe»t
Assistant Managing Editor .Andy Wife
Sports Editor David'
City Editor Jamil
Campus Editor Steve 1^1
News Editors Debbie Pin®
Beth Calhoun
Staff Writers Karen Rogers, Mu'
Patterson, Scott Pendlel i:
Sean Petty, Michelle Scvfe
Diane Blake, Lee Roy Lescfe
Jr., Dillard Stone
Cartoonist DougGnfe ]
Photographers Ed Cun*
Lynn Blanco
Focus section editor GarvWeld
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
Regents. The Battalion is a non-pr.,
supporting enterprise operated by sludt r:
as a university and community newsp¥
Editorial policy is determined by the ediW