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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 12, 1982)
opinion What I learned in school today As we huddled around the 16mm pro jector, I grew more paranoid. I could sense legions of MAP (Mothers Against Pornography) members moving toward us in the darkness, waiting to cast a net of aspersions on our moral character. We had gathered together, bretheren, for a bit of educational movie viewing in the privacy of a frfend’s apartment — movies with stars who hadn’t gone all the way to the big time. Were we aware of a recent showing of Deep Throat to about 500 University of Houston students, who had cleared the flick with the district attorney? Yes, ma’am. We decided, rather than let everyone and their spiritual counselor know about our surreptitious show, to limit our audi ence to a few hand-picked associates who hungered for 20 frame-a-second educa tion. We weren't prepared to deal with the off-screen antics that a more publicized showing would draw. On the UH set, for instance, at least three big-name, poly-denominational, see-no-evil groups complained about the showing to Harris County District Attor ney John Holmes (no relation to the film star), according to The Associated Press. He replied that he would not prosecute under Texas obscenity statutes, as the groups requested, even though he doubted the educational value of the Harry Reems-Linda Lovelace pas de deux. One complainant, responding to the degenerative effects of watching a poor ly-edited piece on moving white curtains, is reported to have said, “I don’t send my children to college so they can see obscene movies.” Well, fellow children, sub-adults and usurpers of the Powers that Be, I felt moved to respond. I have labored under the impression that college was designed to strip fetters off of the mind. At least that’s what my counselor in high school said, ma’am. Can you imagine my shock at her state ment, to know that I had been duped for most of my semi-adult lifetime into be lieving that discipline away from home was self-imposed? Heavens. When this realization came to me be tween reels of the quadruple feature we had arranged, I rushed headlong for the telephone, to spill my trembling fear upon the unerring ear of Mum and Dad. Ring, ring, click. “Hello.” “Dad, this is Todd. I have bad news.” “What, you’re not doing so well in school?” “No dad, worse.” “What, you’re not feeling well, son? Maybe your mum can fix some hot chick en soup for you, if you come home.” “No dad, I found out something ter rible.” “What, you’ve found another coach there? I thought you had the best.” “No dad, well, yes, dad, we do have the best, but that’s not it.” “Well, get to the point, son. You know you shouldn’t spend your hard-earned money on expensive phone calls. You could invest instead.” “Dad, I found out from a woman in Houston that I shouldn’t watch those in expensive X-rated shows everyone re commended when I was in high school. Something about me going blind, or lame, or your not paying for something,” I said. “Is that true?” “Well, son, I really hadn’t thought ab out it. I thought watching artsy films was part of stripping off your fetishes — I mean fetters — loosening your percep tions, expanding your vision.” “Yeah, me too, dad. But apparently we’ve been deceived by the forces of darkness, overcome by lasciviousness and generally not been too bright. How could that have happened?” “I give up, son. You’ve gone to school, how could it have happened.” “I think it could have happened like this, dad. We’ve been blinded from the truth, led astray, pushed down the wrong fork.” “Well, I tried to tell you to start using your silverware on the outside, and work your way in.” “No dad, the wrong fork in the road.” “Right. Well, yes ... here we are. What do you plan to do about it?” “I have decided to stop watching those nasty things on the silver screen. I will instead travel to Houston to see the artsy performances in the flesh, so that my eyes stay true.” “Bravo, bully, bloody good show, son. Don’t let the fetters get you down. Your mother will be proud of her problem solving child.” “Yes, dad, I’m sure she will. Goodbye.” “Goodbye, son. Have a good time and write us about what happens.” “I will, dad.” CDLUd0U5 •«> R0Z DO yOU THINK m.L EVER COME? Reader’s Freedom Editor: Well Murray Moore, (Feb. 10 Batta lion) you not only managed to completely ignore the social and political implica tions of the Hatch Amendment, but you also grossly misinterpreted Miss Philo’s sentiments (Feb. 8). Regarding the first point, the Hatch Amendment may zero in on abortion as its focal point, but I feel that the pertinent issue at hand is whether or not the government has the right to make such a personal and ethical decision as the right of abortion. I am by no means an advocate for abortion; however, I do not believe that the U.S. government can make a blanket decision regarding this issue. I see a vast differ ence between abortion of an “accidental” teen pregnancy and an abortion for a rape victim for whom childbirth would b^ i t ' solved i eason- ing and standards to her personal situa tion. You ridicule the “ . . . woman and her all-knowing, all-good doctor. . .” but ac cording to your letter you regard the United States government as the omnis cient and moral conscious entity best qualified to make such a decision. In my eyes, the government has as much busi ness deciding this issue as it does decid- Forum of decision ing whether Americans be allowed to choose for themselves whether to drink or not. You will, I’m sure, remember how much that idea appealed to the American people I see the Hatch Amendment as a threat to us “conservative pro-choicers” as much as it is a boon to you “pro-lifers,” Mr. Moore. Furthermore, I feel that I should be allowed to die a natural death if that is my wish whereas you seem to feel that I have no such right and that a doc tor must, by law, keep me alive as long as he can, regardless of my state. What rights will you allow me, Mr. Moore if I do not even have the right to die a natural death? Once again I emphasize not what is the right or wrong decision, but merely that I should be allowed the freedom of decision. A to your opinions of Miss Philo’s sentiments concerning other humanistic issues or her similarity to Ted Kennedy, I have to laugh. She is not the “bleeding heart liberal” you say she is. However, just to be fair, I’ll call her and make sure she hasn’t become a “genocidal maniac” since I saw her last; I certainly have not noticed that tendency in the three and one half years I’ve known her. D. Scott Collier ‘85 is real issue Letters policy Letters to the Editor should not ex ceed 300 words in length, and are sub ject 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 in tent. 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. Correction In a cutline Wednesday, The Batta lion incorrectly reported that 1,400 of the 1,500 available applications for the osition of Fish Camp counselor had een turned in. However, only 400 appli cations have been turned in. The Batta lion regrets the error. Battalion/Page 2 February 12,198; Slouch By Jim Ea by Chri; Battalion The Americ: three-bedroom, in the suburbs n the past, says t Department Architecture. That is ont shall’s predictio t, “Land: ture into the 21: report analyzes economic force: Architecture in dustry. Today’s lif single-parent fa Auseholds dc and a change lall said. Marshall’s rt lillion new ho formed this dec lese new lifest; :eds of these see ICHEDULE NTS ‘This is a new first. He told me he could not make class , a - m ; , to ' i Third addre: because he had to talk to his counselor about how he ■sis: Its Origi Impact” farcin Sar, could improve his grades. ” the Rock Mondale studying for ‘intellectual’ campaign idder Theate 10:30 a.m. to Round Table Round Table By David S. Broder WASHINGTON - A year ago, when he had just been removed from the White House office he enjoyed as vice president of the United States and se vered from the public payroll for the first time in 20 years, Walter F. Mondale painted an idyllic picture of the life that was about to open up to him as a private citizen and highly paid Washington lawyer. It would be, he said, a life of the mind, of reading and reflection. His book list would be prepared by historian Barbara Tuchman, with supplemental reading suggested by leading economists, busi nessmen and national security analysts. In pursuit of wisdom, he would travel to Europe, and become a familiar figure at the universities and research centers of his own land. That was 1981. This is 1982. Mondale has looked up from his reading and he has noted something remarkable: The 1984 election campaign is only two years away. If you covet a glimpse of Mondale these days, do not look in the library; try the airport, instead. Last Wednesday, he flew off to Tampa to do some anthropo logical field work at the state fair. On Thursday, it was on to Tallahassee for some intellectual exchanges with mem bers of the legislature and a scholarly lunch with Gov. Bob Graham (D). On Friday, he went to the source of much wisdom, a Dallas newspaper editorial board luncheon, and then made a speech to the teachers of tomorrow’s leaders at a National Education Association conven calendar, still incomplete, lists IIou in ten states, all of them, except hisiH Minnesota, blessed not just vvithiiH -m tellectual resources but presidentiikT \ maries as well. When I caught up with him the* day after a cable television tapifl Washington (another part of his kfe by Chari urge for scholarly discourse), hesacl Battalion by June or so, he would tehrhimsf A request foi gretfully away from his first love® ^S na / law, literature and learning, and^ almost full-time” for the Democtaw, . v y wo It is his goal, he said, to camM personally this year for “15 to20|tfpTexas A&N of the Democratic candidates House and Senate and governor® 6 ™ 1 ^ ,. la ^ number that translates to close ” worthies. gW the re By coincidence, the Democratic$1) 300 w ill co committee has just agreed to save® 15 percent of the seats at the 1981m. -■ vent ion for elected and party ol® O£ including most governors, sienatocRlUvX V. representatives. I f Mondale isaseffiL as he is forehanded, almost every* whom he campaigns will be inaifiLm was nan to repay the favor wdth a vote. HacArthur Ca When I asked Mondale why 1 ^ol. James R. making this exceptionally heavy commandant, ment of time in 1982, he said itThichenson, going to be “a year of great ™ a J or f the “radical and destructive” proMr*;"j e V 1 the Reagan administration, “and rev j ew to make the case. People are sal i ent Council from these policies, and we canii 1 Affairs, for 1984 to turn them around." | Dickenson 1 tion. This week, the course of scholarship took him to eight fund-raisers for seven Democratic congressmen in Ohio, Michi gan, Wisconsin and Iowa. Then there is a break for 10 days of skiing in Vail. (One must excercise the body, as well as the mind, goodness knows.) The March And having made it clear thatk tive was scholarly — not crassly — he glanced at his watch and away. Watching him go, the #fij| occurred that if Edward Kenned)',|| Glenn, Reubin Askew, Gary Hartf the rest want to catch up witni| Mondale, they really better start 1» the books — especially the booktltf always studying, the Official 0 Guide. The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Editor Angelique Copeland Managing Editor JaneG. Brust City Editor Denise Richter Assistant City Editor Diana Sultenfuss Sports Editor. Frank L. Christlieb Focus Editor ; Cathy Saathoff Assistant Focus Editor Nancy Floeck News Editors Gary Barker, Phyllis Henderson, Mary Jo Rummel, Nancy Weatherley Staff Writers Jennifer Carr, John Bramblett, Gaye Denley, Sandra Gary, Colette Hutchings, Johna Jo Maurer, Daniel Puckett, Bill Robinson, Denise Sechelski, Laura Williams, Rebeca Zimmermann Cartoonist Scott McCullar Graphic Artist Richard DeLeonJr. Photographers Sumanesh Agrawal, David Fisher, Eileen Manton, Eric Mitchell, Peter Rocha, John Ryan, Colin Valentine Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting news paper operated as a community service to Texas A&M University and Bryan-College Station. Opinions ex pressed in The Battalion are those of the editor or the author, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M University administrators or hers, or of the Board of Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laboratorytt I for students in reporting, editing and photogttfkl ses within the Department of Communications Questions or comments concerning an)' f matter should be directed to the editor. Letters Policy Letters to the Editor should not exceed 3 length, and are subject to being cut if theyarel* 1 !] The editorial staff reserves the right to editW®! style and length, but will make every effort to nq the author’s intent. Each letter must also be signer) the address and phone number of the writer Columns and guest editorials are also welcoH |t 1 are not subject to the same length constraints as Address all inquiries and correspondence toi f j The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas AW'J versity, College Station, TX 77843, or phone(7^) 2611. 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