Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 14, 1983)
Iftaiiitiif a... opinion Battalion/Page 2 February 14,11 Slouch By Jim Earle HAPPY VALENT! ME White House vs. the ‘real’ world by Helen Thomas United Press International iZ WASHINGTON — The Reagan White House wants reporters to focus on ; what is right with the country, not what is ^wrong. . • - -s • r* The most vocal oh the subject has been White House spokesn.^yi Larry Speakes, Jvho says that reporters should be more “upbeat” and spotlight the “good news” in the economy. “My question is, have we now arrived at the journalistic standard where good ■hews is no news?” he asked in a pep talk to <he National Association of Government Communicators. An administration naturally wants to ' emphasize any gains and trends it sees in The economy, but resents a reminder of its failures. ; ’ When the gross national product showed a slight increase, reporters were treated to a briefing by Martin Feldstein, ^chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. And when the unemployment ►figures dropped a few tenths of 1 per- -Cent, President Reagan made an un- - heralded appearance in the press room • to proclaim a triumph and an America Ton the mend.” ; And when the figures are bad, repor ters are given one or two sentences by Speakes that an improvement is expected in the coming months or year. * Speakes has a printed slogan on his desk: “You don’t tell us how to stage the news and we don’t tell you how to cover it.” That is only half true. There is no ; question that this administration controls and manages the news to the best of its ; ability. The problem is it also wants to cover it by denying reporters the respon sibility of putting things in perspective. •? “It seems that 10.8 percent unem ployed is big news, while 89.2 percent of the Americans who have jobs and enjoy the highest standard of living in the world is not news,” Speakes said. This administration is no exception in wanting to play down some of its defeats. It was ever thus. It appears that in all things economic, the administration still is prepared to blame President Jimmy Carter and some of his predecessors. Not only are reporters expected to re port only the upbeat news, from Speakes point of view they are also expected to ignore presidential remarks or to assume that he didn’t mean what he was saying. Such was the case when Reagan said he knew he was going to “kick myself’ for saying that the corporate income tax should be abolished and went ahead and said it anyway. -: ■ The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member ot Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Editor.. DianaSultenfuss Managing Editor Gary Barker Associate Editor Denise Richter City Editor Hope E. Paasch Assistant City Editor Beverly Hamilton Sports Editor John Wagner Entertainment Editor Colette Hutchings Assistant Entertainment Editor. . . . Diane Yount News Editors Daran Bishop, Jennifer Carr, Elaine Engstrom, Johna Jo Maurer, Jan Werner, Rebeca Zimmermann Staff Writers Maureen Carmody, Frank Christlieb, Patrice Koranek, John Lopez, Robert McClohon, Ann Ramsbottom, Kim Schmidt, Patti Schwierzke, Kelley Smith, Angel Stokes, Tracey Taylor, Joe Tinclel Copyeditors Jan Swaner, Chris Thayer Cartoonist Scott McCullar (irapltic Artists Pam Starasinic Sergio Galvez Photographers David Fisher, Jorge Casari, Ronald W. Emerson, Octavio Garcia, Rob Johnston, Irene Mees William Schulz 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 ^l exas 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 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 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- 2611. 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. 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. Getting nothing for something The next day, instead of trying to cut the losses, Speakes accused the press of “jumping up and down, clapping your hands and licking your chops over this statement.” Reagan himself finally gracefully put the matter in perspective by admitting he goofed, telling reporters that he said he would kick himself “and I did.” “During the first year we were in the White House, Reagan victories were news,” Speakes conceded. “During the second year, winning was no longer the stuff that makes headlines,” he added. Reagan’s second year was not particu larly marked by great victories, but rather by retreats. Nor did any of his rosy predictions about progress in the eco nomy come to pass. Speakes remarks are the equivalent of Reagan’s statement that the television networks going looking for that one un employed man in South Succotash. Only recently there were a spate of stories that Reagan is “out of touch” with what is going on in the country. One won ders if Speakes reports to him only the good news. . Nothing is free. Haven’t I heard that somewhere? Apparently, I misunder stood. Silly me. Nowadays, everything is free. Free of what, you ask. Well, listen up boys and girls, I’m going to tell you a leetle story of American engine-oo-ity. Back in the old days, people paid more to get more. Today we pay more to get less. It’s not a big-business plot to maxi mize profits, you understand. We actual ly want less. And are we ever getting it. Look at all the “free” products on the market. Pepsi- free. Pepper-free. Diet-Goke. Sweet and Low. Gaffeine-free coffee. Light-beer. Light-wine. Fat-free milk. Salt-free salt. Free. Free. Free. Take non-dairy creamers. What’s worse than putting cream-free, water- free cream in your caffeine-free coffee? How about hop-free beer? Sounds appe tizing, doesn’t it? But, there’s a catch to all this free stuff. You don’t pay less to get less. You’d think that since they were taking stuff out, it wouldn’t cost as much. El wrongo. In reality, you pay more for less. ] Lest you think all is lost, havecour% Some stuff does get added. Artificial^ oring, artificial flavoring, presen F r >( and emulsifiers (whatever they a: IPS’ name a few. How about leaving a! T'!, out and keeping in the good stuff:[*■• hear a vote for artificial-free food: This incredible off My political science professor likes to differentiate between myth and reality. Well, the myth in this case is that you pay for what you get. The reality is that you pay for what you don’t get. Personally, the only reason 1 drink col as and coffee is to get my caffeine. 1 don’t want it all taken out for my own good. 1 also prefer cream in my cream and sugar in my sugar. Guess I’m just a little strange that way. free” phenoraem j e g e probably causing foreign socialscienjgi considerable food for thought. Hit doll they are thinking, how stupid cantplo Americans be. They are payingmontjb 11 not get anything for their money. P 11 The future looks grim, boys andJFj Soon, all food will be “free.” YouwllT able to go to the store and paylocK^ money to buy food-free food. su ., A can of sugar-f ree, caffeine-fre WO u bonation-free, water-free cola fter, your only beverage. When yougeiiT- 1 : ty, you can grab a can from thefridsfhai back in your armchair, popthetopll listen as the word “Cola” hissesouu evel i Quenched, you can throw theemraL (after you’ve crushed it with youri Hman hands) in the recycling bag Now that’s true satisfaction, two AteirMn^s^dof t( political inbri£ue,when a simple westerner living intite East>, is p changed into a power ful and ruthlesswarM >nui even Letters: Gregory called a comediaf Editor: ‘Songs’ criticized I can see that Mr. Dick Gregory is a comedian because some of his comments, reported in The Battalion (2/10/83), must have been jokes. Although, I will admit they’re not very funny. “There are no good schools in Amer ica.” That’s the best joke I’ve heard in a long time. I would like to know where Mr. Gregory thinks all the good schools are, or better yet, I’d like to know why he even bothered to attend Southern Illinois University if he thinks it’s no good. I won der if he is willing to argue with me that Americans are by far the most highly educated people in the world. He must not have been tuned in on that fateful day when Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon. Where did the people responsible for that feat acquire their knowledge? Editor: It was also reported that Mr. Gregory said that schools manipulate students and teach people how to make a living — not how to live. Perhaps he would like to have colleges offer courses on how to live. Now that’s what I call manipulation. I don’t know about anyone else, but I came to Texas A&M to learn a profession, which will ultimately help me to make a living. I don’t need a school to teach me how to live, although, my experiences at school as well as in everyday life have taught me a lot about how to live. The biggest joke of all was when he compared blacks celebrating George Washington’s birthday to Jews celebrat ing Hitler’s birthday. First of all, he is comparing Washington and other founders of our country, such as Thomas Jefferson, to a maniacal murderer. Secondly, Washington was not responsi ble for founding the insane institution of slavery, whereas Hitler was responsible for the murder of millions of Jews. I’m also disappointed that Mr. Greg ory considers Martin Luther King Jr. as only a black hero. As far as I’m con cerned, he should be emulated by all races. On a lighter note and in true Aggie form, I’d like to remind Mr. Gregory that “the Gulf of Mexico flows both ways.” I am shocked at the Gorps runs due to the “songs” they sing along with the runs. As I was walking past the Corps dorms this morning, I heard them sing, “issue me an M-16, turn me into a killing machine.” I think this is disgusting. Those guys ought to think about what they are saying. (When I say think, I mean by themselves, not by what their superiors tell them to think.) Is this what Texas A&M is developing within the young men in the Gorps? I realize that these guys are training to be come soldiers and are learning to be able to use that training to become soldiers and are learning to be able to use that training to defend our country. Howev er, it sounded to me like they were ready to pull that trigger and blow someone’s head off at any given moment. It is sad to think that these young men desire to be given the chance to murder someone. It is sad to think that they be lieve a conflict can be resolved through senselessly massacring other human beings. To me, that kind of thinking is warped and ruthless. I am ashamed that an academically superior university like Texas A&M is permitting this sickening cultivation of the Corps’ minds. and we consider it better than mosi races we have run in in Houston Aienc stin. 'g th Second, we would like to Bryan-College Station Eagle, 'it 35 . 1 whose financial support the race m S m not have been as competitive the out of town competitors wlioG CCi brought in. |u a li Third, we would like to thanktlild is i of Bryan and College StationaT Arj police of both cities who allowedtt|tatec to be run down Texas and insure * nt > one’s safety. Btv We know this race took many"||,j ie planning and effort and vvewouI% 1 say that it was a class race andwf jg et | 1( can become an annual race, bam Bill Pewen Editor’s note: This letter was Wf nied by live other signatures. 1: Books stolen Editor: Elizabeth Smith ’84 What happened to the ho» 1 ’ ipQ Texas A&M? When I came Witally A&M, everyone convinced nw i then honest Aggies are. It’s one oftMemp reasons I like the school so mud Bwa my opinion of honest Ags wass 1! B at ti changed this morning, whetherI'F on Racing thanks Editor: Jeff Nuzzaco ’82 We are writing this letter to express our appreciation for all those who orga nized and were responsible for the Straight Shot 10K which took place Feb. 6 on Texas Avenue. First we would like thank Rusty Hisham and Kent Buehen, the race dire ctors who gave many weeks of their time to organize the race. They both did an excellent job; the race ran very smoothly it to be changed or not. I had a couple of books stolenlf e ” back pack while I was down in^ e L tt j snack bar. At first I thoughtson^ 1 In Vt accidentally picked up the wroi'ljtol a but when my pack was foundindroere restroom (where / certainlydidn 1 | As r with only the books missing,!# vf lr }g to think otherwise. All I can say to the dishonest" 1 stole my books is that I hope he ffThe he deserves when he gets caug rest of the honest Ags, keep "" an tvv your things when you’re in" Poli c snack bar — you may be next, hestig Patrice f