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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 1982)
opinion Slouch By Jim Earle “These are the best grades that I’ve had for this time of the semester. Too bad about that football strike coming to an end.” Reagan checks out Andropov’s policies by Helen Thomas United Press International WASHINGTON — President Reagan is moving cautiously to test the waters of a possi ble new relationship with the Soviet Union. But he is keeping his guard up, and the over tures to the new Kremlin leadership are re strained. Both Secretary of State George Shultz and national security affairs adviser William Clark were said to be in favor of Reagan attending the funeral of Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev. Some observers believe it would have been a dramatic gesture toward conciliation with little to lose in a relationship that has nearly hit rock bottom. Kremlinologists are studying the profile of Soviet leader Yuri Andropov for clues to the future direction of the Soviets. If both Reagan and Andropov continue in the hard line tradi tion, the result will be a standoff or a further deterioration of relations. There have been two ways to go for the superpowers, cooperation or confrontation, detente or the cold war. And in some 40 years since World War II there has been more con frontation that cooperation. Vice President George Bush and Secretary of State George Shultz outlined U.S. policy toward the Soviets. It calls for a “realistic appraisal” of the world, military strength and will power to defend the West, and a willing ness to negotiate if there is a reciprocal readi ness on the other side. In a welcoming ceremony Monday for West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Reagan warned against the massive Soviet ^‘war machine.” But at the same time in Mos cow, Bush was saying the American officials had come “in a spirit of seriousness and hope ... to declare to the Soviet leaders, to the Soviet people and to the world, that the United States is devoted to the pursuit of peace and a reduction of global tensions.” Meantime, gestures have been made on The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member ot Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Editor.. DianaSultenfuss Managing Editor Phyllis Henderson Associate Editor Denise Richter City Editor Gary Barker Assistant City Editor HopeE. Paasch Sports Editor Frank L. Christlieb Entertainment Editor , . . Nancy Floeck Assistant Entertainment Editor Colette Hutchings News Editors Cathy Capps, Johna Jo Maurer, Daniel Puckett, Jan Werner, Todd Woodard Staff Writers . Jennifer Carr, Susan Dittman, Beverly Hamilton, David Johnson, John Lopez, • Robert McGlohon, Carol Smith, ' Dana Smelser, Joe Tindel, John Wagner, Rebeca Zimmermann Copyeditors Elaine Engstrom, Jan Swaner, Chris Thayer Cartoonist Scott McCullar Graphic Artist Pam Starasinic Photographers David Fisher, Jorge Casari, Ronald W. Emerson, Octavio Garcia, Irene Mees, John Ryan, Robert Snider 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 faculty mem bers, or of the Board of Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper for students in reporting, editing and photography clas ses within the Department of Communications. Questions or comments concerning any editorial mat ter 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 and 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 Uni versity, College Station, TX 77843, or phone (713) 845- 261 1. The Battalion is published daily during Texas A&M’s fall and spring semesters, except for holiday and exami nation periods. Mail subscriptions are $ 16.75 per semes ter, $33.25 per school year and $35 per full year. Adver tising rates furnished on request. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting news- 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. Outlook to Lebanon’s future by Toni Prince and Amine Tarhini “I had a dream; I had a dream that my children grew up in a society that judged them by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.” We shall never forget these words from the Rev. Martin Luther King. Everytime we remember them, we can not help but draw an analogy to our feel ings: “I had a dream; I had a dream that my children grew up in a society that judged them by the content of their character and not their religion or social background.” This is part of the “dream” Lebanon’s new generation has. What kind of Lebanon does my gener ation want? Above all we want the world to “let our people live” to quote our Ambassador to the United Nations. Lebanon has been a battleground for too long. Never again, should outside influ ences be permitted to destroy our nation al unity. For this to be attained one thing is cer tain: Confessionalism must be abolished. “The right man” must be in “the right place” irrespective of his religion. A secular state must be created. A true democracy must be established and strive towards the following: — Good public education at all levels. — Social reforms programs. — A self-sufficient and industrialized and act as the “great integratu Lebanese society. Lebanon’s technocrats must be work. “Give us peace and we again, astound the world,”saidPrt Gemayl in his speech at the tions. Or Wi society. — Capitalization on Lebanon’s role in Middle Eastern trade. Lebanon today must be rebuilt. And while building, the bases of the future must be placed. “To dream and not make dreams your master,” says Rudyard Ki pling in his famous poem “If.” As a j^eo- ple, our aspirations cannot be attained unless we unite. As long as we are di vided, foreign forces will take advantage of this division. To build. This is the motto of Leba non’s new generation — to rebuild the cities, to rebuild the economy but, above all, to rebuild people’s trust in one another. Is there any better way to re build confidence than to have people work together? This is why a strong na tional army must be built. An army that will not only fight but most of all build For peace to come, all foreigniij — Israelis, Syrians and Palestiniji must leave Lebanon. Lebanon 11 only for the Lebanese. We urge the United Statestocom its pressure on Israel foritswithi and on the Arabs for the Syrian and evacuation. I lopefully, peace will come non will never again be a battleg for foreign forces. It will, onceag an asset to democracy and to UK world. Editor's note: This column wasivrin accompany the three-part series Lebanon that has run in The Bill Members of the Lebanese Sfudenij ciation wrote the series to comma Lebanese Independence Dir Monda v. <&4&2-C&/7Z»oC)4<cyA)eU&—_ by Si Bi! Willie Nt :a’s most jop ballad ninds of it iis concert loliseum t Nelsor long, grayi nown fb Jongs abou Ion in love Irawn to t His mil! a distinct i |tyles, in nusic, rod |f-the-roa( Althoni |idely-accl who has i nusic awai lard for h Until tf §ie becan Jountry st; Jcross Tex ;y tonks [nusic in I s But rec [ashville nsiim-povou KNOW WHERE YOUR ARMY IS?., ih :or both sides, neither of which have been inter preted by officials, at least, that they are de signed to lay the groundwork for some rap prochement. The Polish government has re leased Solidarity Union leader Lech Walesa from confinement, a gesture that apparently took place with Soviet acquiescence. And Reagan has lifted the sanctions against the Siberian pipeline. The lifting of the sanctions was meant to heal the growing breach between the allies. But the timing of the announcement last Saturday, without all the allies on board, appeared to be a signal to the Soviets that the United States is ready to do business any time they are. Major obstacles remain. The Soviet inva sion of Afghanistan, which caused President Jimmy Carter to adopt retaliatory measures, is viewed as a major obstacle to coexistence. The crackdown on Poland widened the breach. Each time, the United States and the Soviet Union has sought a common ground of understanding, the world has breathed easier. But those times have been few and far between. There was the long hiatus from the Bolshe vik revolution until Franklin Roosevelt recog nized the Soviet Union in the early ‘30s. In World War II, the two nations cooperated mutually against a common enemy. In 1946, at Fulton College in Missouri, Winston Ghurchill observed that an iron cur tain had fallen across Europe. The Cold War lasted through most of the ’0s until Dwight Eisenhower and Nikita Khrushchev decided to break the icea in the spirit of coexistence. Doors were opened and a new spirit of understanding developed for a brief period. Then when John Kennedy met with Khrushchev in Vienna in 1961, they discussed world problems, and Kennedy, shocked at the Soviet leader’s tough stance, prophetically announced, “it’s going to be a long, cold winter.” Letters: Don’t be immune to needy arley and Editor: Recently, I grabbed a magazine to re lieve my brain from the perils of organic chemistry. As usual, this one was laced with photographs of the eyes of hungry children trying to convince me that it was my personal responsibility to buy them a blanket or food. You know — the same sort of pictures seen on cardboard stan- dups at convenience stores always want ing change, and the same look found in the eyes of the Humane Society plastic dog asking for nickles and dimes after I pay for a chocolate shake. I then realized that most of us simply have an immunity to these pictures, not to mention that we’re tired of seeing the arthritic hands on television, and well, Jerry’s kids just do nothing for us any more. This is not saying we’re cold and cruel. Quarters are simply more useful in the washer on Sundays than in the slot of the leukemia card. And of course there are many charities we couldn’t possible subsidize everything from The Church Parking Lot Fund to the Fight Against Canker Sores. Besides, we give to the Cancer Society every year and even don ate a pint of blood every now and then. But we have grown cold, and most of us simply block it from our minds and continue on. (Or are content to pat ourselves on the back for giving $2 to United Way) I am no exception. When the UNICEF people knock on my door I’m flat broke, but should my roommate eat my last Oreo, I find myself speeding at Warp 7 to Skaggs Alpha Beta. And the thought of running out of something like hair spray (it could be humid tomorrow) sends cold chills down my spine. But when I see large eyes and a bloated stomach, 1 get by with tugs at the heart strings. So perhaps the next time your elbow bumps the plastic dog as you reach for the change from your ice-cream, or when the Salvation Army shakes the tin jxit in your face, think twice before you pass by. Be thankful that running out of Oreos is a problem we worry about. Laura Beil ’85 North Texas State University One O’clock Lab Band concert Thursday night. It’s a shame The Battalion can’t find someone with more experience to critique musical performances. Rebeca was right that “My Favorite Things” was in 5/4, however, it changed to 6/8 during improvisation, then went back to 5/4. It was stated that Chip McNeill per formed a tenor solo which started slowly but imporved with time. Does this mean slow solos need improvement? She also mentioned that Chip McNeill suffered from a typical problem inherited by sax players who play flute — airiness of tone. This is totally false. For one, that is a jazz style of playing the flute which fits well into many compositions, expecially those titled like “Prelude to Genesis.” If you must complain about tone, don’t blame the musician, blame the sound sys tem in Rudder Auditorium. I think it could use an overhaul. The so-called “garbage can lid” cym bals are properly called “Chinese type” or “Pang” cymbals. They are very popular in all forms of music and create a beauti ful effect. Personally, I enjoyed the concert and would like to thank MSC Arts for pre senting the show. it as such and I respeci ieme to gt Wning ther By to meet l ini; from Br pesperatt jmes a no- iool chu: Seatrical as ft and thz IS. (It’s a case ten idem Jackie S* leconvini Graduate Stui o maniac -i-, , • arria s e P 1 Thanks again ism). I recognize offended by it. A library is not a place to come offended. It is a place to learn and gi hope that those in charge of the dis|J will show better taste in the future. HI that < Editor: I wish to state my wholeheartedagfl ment with Mr. Kirk Patterson. 1 the Christian Update Forum speal were both intellectually stimulating,it threatening, and pertaining to thed subject material. Their jrresence was an asset education. L Dave Wi Hart Hi Chris Simon ’82 Sm Objection Editor: Critic of critic Editor: I am writing this letter in response to Rebeca Zimmermann’s review of the Fellow Aggies: I object. I object to being offended each time I enter the main library. A library is a place for information, a place for reference sources, a place for study. Offensive material does not belong in a library. An exhibition of nudity would be unthink able. Why, then, is a display which I find equally objectionable allowed to remain? I refer to the display in the main entr ance hall by the organization of Arab stu dents. The entire display, with its blatant attempt to draw parallels between the Christian militia’s slaughter of Lebanese and the World War II holocaust, is dis tasteful. However, it is the Star of David coated in blood which is particularly offensive. It is an obvious attempt to get those viewing the exhibit to associate blood (i.e. murder) with the Star of David (i.e. Juda-