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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 7, 1981)
The Battalion Viewpoint September 7,1$ Slouch By Jim Earle FCK>-re>f\LL RTounJD SALL Did he say this is Physical Education? This isn’t Physics 201?” Organized labor is in a slump on Labor Day By DAVID S. BRODER WASHINGTON — The condition of organized labor on this Labor Day weekend can be simply described. It is in, out and down. Trade union leaders have gained more influence inside the structure of the Demo cratic Party than they have enjoyed for a decade. But they have lost access to the administration and leverage with Congress. As for the workers themselves, they con tinue to be hammered by inflation and other economic ills. Long before the air traffic controllers’ union made the mistake of challenging Ronald Reagan, organized labor had made the decision to join the political opposition to his administration. The breach that has opened between the government and the unions is far too wide for Reagan to bridge with a speech or two. Part of it goes back to Lane Kirkland’s succeeding George Meany as president of the AFL-CIO in November of 1979. Meany was reared in the Samuel Gompers tradi tion of shunning permanent political alliances. But Kirkland is a partisan Demo crat. He is strongly reinforced in that incli nation, not only by the international union presidents who stayed involved in the party during the troubles of the 1970’s, but by the recent decision of Democratic activist Douglas Fraser and his United Auto Work ers to rejoin the federation. Now there is a move to make union leaders — along with governors and mem bers of Congress — automatic delegates to the 1984 convention. That would help re store to labor the veto power over Demo cratic presidential nominees it enjoyed up through 1968. But labor has paid a price for its in creased partisanship, in the form of a grow ing alienation from the people in power. Kirkland has complained that he has less access to the White House than his prede cessor enjoyed, not just with Carter and other Democratic presidents, but with Re publicans Eisenhower, Nixon and Ford. The recent choice of Malcolm R. Lovell Jr. as undersecretary of labor was supposed to be a gesture to the union leaders, who griped that neither Secretary of Labor But scheduled tax cuts will increase take- home pay. And if Reagan can keep the rate of inflation moving downward, he may be able to fatten the real wage packet. That would lead to happier Labor Days, not just for labor but for the Republican Party as well. The Battalion USPS 045 360 MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor Angelique Copeland Managing Editor Marcy Boyce City Editor JaneG. Brust Asst. City Editor Kathy O’Connell Photo Editor Greg Gammon Sports Editor Ritchie Priddy Focus Editor Cathy SaathofF Asst. Focus Editor Debbie Nelson News Editors Jennifer Afflerbach, Bernie Fette, Belinda McCoy StaffWriters Frank L. Christlieb, Gaye Denley, Terry Duran, Nancy Floeck, Phyllis Henderson, Colette Hutch ings, Denise Richter, Rick StoWe Cartoonist. . . . ScotMcCullar Graphic Artist Richard DeLeon Jr. Photographers Brian Tate Becky Swanson, Dave Einsel EDITORIAL POLICY The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspaper operated as a community service to Texas A&M University and Bryan-College Station. Opinions expressed in The Bat talion are those of the editor or the author, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M Universi ty administrators or faculty members, or of the Board of Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper for students in reporting, editing and photography classes within the Department of Communications. Questions or comments concerning any editorial matter should be directed to the editor. LETTERS POLICY Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 words in length, and are subject to being cut if they are longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for style and length, but will make every effort to maintain the author’s intent. Each letter must also be signed, show the address and phone number of the writer. Columns and guest editorials are also welcome, and are not subject to the same length constraints as letters. Address all inquiries and correspondence to: Editor, The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. The Battalion is published daily during Texas A&M’s fall and spring semesters, except for holiday and examination periods. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester, $33.25 per school year and $35 per full year. Advertising rates furnished on request. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald Build ing, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. United Press International is entitled exclusively to the use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it. Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. It’s your turn Religious "hard sell’ draws criticisn Editor: Raymond J. Donovan nor any member of the senior White House staff consulted with them. Lovell is well-respected by unionists from his days in the auto industry, but the typical attitude was expressed by a UAW official who asked, “Who the hell believes an undersecretary swings any weight?” More vexing to the labor leaders is their loss of clout in Congress. The AFL-CIO boldly announced it was forming a coalition to fight Reagan’s budget cuts and press for a wage-tilted, not business-oriented, tax cut. But members of Congress, who gave Reagan what he wanted, said there was lit tle evidence in their mail that grass-roots workers were backing their union leaders’ stands. Stung by the charge that labor is a poli tical paper tiger, Kirkland has ordered a mass protest march in Washington on Sept. 19 against the Reagan economic policies. Ultimately, however, the real test of labor’s ability to mobilize against Reagan will come, not in the size of the one-day protest but in the pocketbook judgments of work ing families. Reagan made big inroads in blue-collar precincts last November, in large part be cause those workers had suffered econo mically from Jimmy Carter’s policies. Mea sured in constant, uninflated dollars, the real weekly earnings after taxes of the typic al factory worker with three dependents declined 9.7 percent from January 1977 to January 1981 — from $164.33 to $148.38 (in 1977 dollars). In the first six months of the Reagan administration, they declined another 1.1 percent to $146.74. That means that wages have not kept pace with inflation so far in the Reagan era either; if the same decline continues, workers would end up losing ab out as badly in Reagan’s term as they did in Carter’s — and it would be no trick for Kirkland to rally them against the Republi- Recently, a man came to my door; I could tell he was a salesman right away. Dressed in his checkered suit, striped tie and pink pants, he said “sonny you need a ‘zeno-matic®’, the all-in-one household tool that can’t do anything. Can’t slice, can’t dice, can’t even make julian fries, whatever they are!” Instinctively, I slammed the door. But still I could hear his muffled voice from the other side of the door rattling on about the virtue of his product. I was tempted to dump some water on him. A hard sell is a turn-off! Recently, a man was outside the MSC speaking of God and how I should live my life so I could be saved. I shut the door on him. Hard sell. There was another reason than just his hard sell though. I believe in God, I go to church and I pray, but I do not believe in the religious “recruiting” of people even to my beliefs. If I want a sermon. I’ll go to church; if I want advice on what to do with my life. I’ll get help, and if God is the answer, great! What happened outside the MSC is like a story I once heard. It happened about fifty years ago. There was this man and he knew just what everyone should do with their life and the people of this man’s country be lieved him and followed him. The man: Adolf Hitler, the country: Germany circa 1933. But was he right? He thought so, so did a majority of his countrymen. But was he right? No, of course not. By deciding on how other people should live (if at all), he had infringed upon their rights. Now obviously what went on at the MSC is totally diffe rent! Or is it? It was noise pollution in the sense that it was violating the right to silence of many of the people at the MSC. They can’t just “tune him out” nor can they close their door to muffle him out. Religion is good. But it has its place. And, just like everything else in life, it has to stay there. Maybe it shouldn’t be con fined to a small windowless cell buried somewhere in the recesses of a dungeon but neither should it be allowed to run ram pant. Michael Lane Dunn Hall How can you be so numb not to care if they come? You close your eyes and pretend the job’s done. Bless me Lord! Bless me Lord! You know it’s all I ever hear, no one aches, no one hurts, no one even sheds one tear, but He cries. He weaps. He bleeds and He cares for your needs, and you just lay back and keep soaking it in! Oh can’t you see its such sin! Cause He brings people to your door and you turn them away as you smile and say “God bless you, be at peace”; and all heaven just weeps, cause Jesus came to your door, you’ve left him out on the street. Open up! Open up, and give yourself away. You see the needs, you hear the cries, so how can you delay? God’s calling and your the one, but like Jonah you run! He’s told you to speak, but you keep hold ing it in. Oh, can’t you see it’s such sin! The world is sleeping in the dark, that the Church just can’t fight, because it’s asleep in the light. How can you be so dead, when you’ve been so well fed! Jesus rose from the grave, and you, you can’t even get out of bed! Oh, Jesus rose from the dead, com’on get out of your bed! How can be so numb not to care if they come, you close your eyes and pretend the job’s done. Don’t close your eyes, don’t pretend the job’s done. Come away! Come Away! Come away with me my love! Come away from this mess, come away with me my love ... John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This is the revolutionary message of Jesus Christ. He wanted this message to be taken to all people. We ourselves fail often, nevertheless, we are striving to see God’s desire fulfilled. mie Blacksmith, ” for example)— the of films Bryan-College Station reside: not used to seeing locally. Unfortunately, one thingseemsto remained the same this year: I ences. Last night, I attended the opt film in the Internaitonal Film Series, sawa’s "Kagemusha. ” The movie breathtaking; indeed, it was enough to compete with the group dents (seated in the top left section theater) who apparently found tl quite humorous. Some maytryto their behavior by pointing out thati dents perhaps did not fully understa: film, but the several Oriental clil (small children) who attended also understand it, I feel sure, yet models of good behavior. Somudiia justification. May I offer a suggestion tothose«l not care for international films? W1 check the film schedule toseewhats ing? Foreign films are shown Wednesday night; perhaps you snip something else more entertaining: people attend these films because would like to watch them. Pamela R, Mi 2300 Broad J Lot change applad Editor: This is an open letter of thanksti pos clear-thinking individual (whoeverk 1205 she may be) who is responsible forrei :Sp ing the “blocks” from Lot Seven. 'pe Anyone who parks in Lot Sevenisa ™ of the blocks that were placed there# aki cut it into two separate lots. Themajoii oca people were then forced to leave Loti P 11 via Spence Street which, undernomi j^ e cumstances, is backed up at 5:00. Tk n also aware of the additional ten time and sweat it took just to leave car ! each evening. K;” 1 B Mark A. Gonzalez ’83 706 Cherry Speakers defended Editor: Editor’s note: This letter was accompanied by two other signatures. As fellow students who have spoken pub licly at Rudder Fountain we would like to respond to the letter by V.M. Nicoli (The Battalion, September 3). We feel this song by Keith Green appropriately reflects our convictions: Do you see, do you see, all the people sinking down? Don’t you care, don’t you care, are you going to let them down? Audience annoying Editor: This year the MSC Film Committee has really come through. The choices include such noteworthy films as Polanski’s “Mac beth” and Antonioni’s “Blow-Up,” and a fine selection from the Australian cinema (“Breaker Morant” and “The Chant of Jim- I know many people, including complained and were told that not could be done about this problem-| blocks were in to stay. I more orb igned myself to the fact that it would lot longer to get home every night, my shock (not to mention joy) when I vered that the deed had been “uni Not only have the blocks been remo but a pedestrian crosswalk has beef stalled. I am pleased to find that the Admi* tion is so flexible and willing to com] ise. By putting in a crosswalk, people safe way of crossing the parking lot, those who park in the lot haveeasyai and out. Taking the blocks outoflot is the best thing that has happened the “real” sidewalk was put in frontofl McDonald! Elizabeth L, Ta> Secretary, College of Liberal' When you need three’s company By DICK WEST United Press International WASHINGTON — As is well-known in convivial circles, your basic solitary drinker is well on the road to becoming a problem drinker, if not already there. Now, at last, a group in East Chicago, Ind., is trying to do something about this deplorable social ill. Calling itself Anti-Alcoholics Anony mous (AAA), the organization undertakes to provide drinking companions for members who feel tempted to take a solo snort or two. Although I applaud such good work, and am grateful to an AAA spokesman, Joseph Costanza, for bringing it to my attention, I hope the group will not restrict itself to this one field. I refer to what is apparently a widespread lack of verbal communication between lovers. In a survey I recently heard being discus sed on a television talk show, taciturnity during intimate moments was ranked right up near the top of the heap of grievances borne by parties of the first part against parties of the second part. The inarticulation problem also was touched upon by Dr. Wardell Pomery, co author of the Kinsey Reports, in a recent article in Forum magazine. Uncertain as to what they are exp say at a given moment, and not wish: say the wrong thing, they simply clam| Which is the safest way out. Here is# the East Chicago organization comest Perhaps Constanza’s group could, if requested, supply parties of the thirdf to strike up conversations with inconfej couples that have trouble verbalizing ! challenge, I suppose, would be evena rigorous than supplying drinking coiB|d There is a parallel, if not a related, prob lem that has been getting a great deal of attention lately and that virtually cries out for remedial action of the type outlined by Constanza. Judging from the “dead silence” accom panying bedroom activities, Pomeroy wrote, many people “get more obvious en joyment out of Mork and Mindy. ” That comparison strikes me as rather un fair. A drinking companion is, after i drinking companion even ifheissti' morosely into a stirrup cup and uttering a word, only shaking his headoccasior fiol Most situation comedies have “laugh tracks” that indicate to the home audiences the appropriate response. But lovers have no such guidance. On the other hand, keeping a I conversation going between two cons ing adults would take real talent. Nevertheless, given enough sp loosen the tongue, I’m sure Constant company could handle it. Warped By Scott McCulk I |6R/XAACK> "sood CORNING, THIS ISTHE.7A.iV NEWS..." C+ NEWS STORY [(news, news, news')connER - I bank tunnERCiAL EI/tL ' SAnt SPONSOR, SAME 1 (SPORTS, SPORTS, SPORTS), TIME, SAME BACK6ROUPD MUSICKCAR COnriERCIAL ~ CAR leaps) commercial! ( FOR YEARS ON END... (NEWS, NEWS, NEWS...) DEALER'S NAME REPEATED 12 TIMES (WEATHER, % CHANCE. RAIN f AN D NOW BACK TO THE Ttf| TEN TUNES, THAT ARt PLAYED OVER AND CNlR AND OVER AND 0... O ;f k)i