The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, December 07, 1978, Image 2
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 LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are subject to beinfi, 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 igned, show the address of the writer and list a telephone number for verification. Address corresjwndence to Letters to the Editor, The Battalion, Room 216, Reed McDonald Building, College Station, Texas 77843. 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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