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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 1983)
^opinion Corps Why join the Corps? Editor: In response to Mr. Bannon’s letter to the editor: Why am I in the Corps of Cadets? For openers, I will concede that I initially joined the Corps because I am a pure bred Aggie (third generation — both sides). But why did I stay in? Let me begin by asking if you realize that a healthy percentage of the Corps is not in pursuit of a military contract. They must join, and remain in the Corps, for some other reason. What? Discipline, leadership, camaraderie, accomplish ment — some things not available in other aspects of college life. The Corps provides young men with the chance to grow through learning to deal with, as well as how to distribute, discipline in hopes of learning leadership traits. The Corps of Cadets is often called a “leadership laboratory” allowing its members to develop their leadership potential. It also (perhaps most impor tantly) allows them to make their mis takes here where they can be Fixed, in stead of on the job where they can have lasting effects. Major corporations recog nize this, and you should too. Admitted ly, we fail sometimes, and some of our members never do grow up. And that’s a shame because they reflect poorly upon the rest of us. Freedom as Your next question: Why am I going into the military? You’re not going to like this: you and other pacifists do not live in reality. War is a dirty side of life, but for the sake of defending our country some of us are willing to give up our lives for its preservation. I’m not going to get off on some patriotic kick because I’m sure you’ve heard it all before and really don’t care. Isn’t it odd how people in the military, despite all of society’s disrespect, not to mention the merely adequate salary, still continue to serve their country and even feel good about it? What is interesting, and really hacks me off is that these sol diers go out into a war environment, in defense of vourcountry, and get killed or wounded just to have persons such as yourself ridicule them and spit upon their graves. Or even worse, to just ignore or forget about them. Last, I offer a poem in response to yours: God and the soldier, all men adore In times of trouble, but never before But when the trouble is over. And the wrongs have been righted, God is forgotten, And the soldier is slighted. John Teague Dorm 2 cause Editor: I have what I believe Mr. Bannon was looking for in his Feb. 15 article. Mr. Bannon, I am an American citizen. Millions of people in this world long to speak those words ... Why? Be cause this is a place where men and women live under the aegis of liberty and justice as practiced by a form-of govern ment which was designed to pi^ote^tlndi- yidual rights. Though the institution may be imper fect at best, it is nevertheless the most hopeful aspirant to perfection yet de vised in the history of man. We hold the liberty and justice reserved to each indi vidual as our standard of perfection, not a comfortable level of income, and not an historical hack’s idea of a perfect collec tive society. It is for the appreciation of the great value of this government and way of life, then, that I joined the Corps of Cadets over four years ago. Mr. Bannon, vio lence and force are a fact of existence in today’s world. Our country must survive in this world if individuals are to have even the option of a healthy criticism of or constructive input into their govern ment. I certainly do not claim that this government has never involved itself in conflicts which were unjust. But I emphatically point out that this govern ment is correctable by and answerable to its citizens when that happens. J * Finally, and*most important is how the individual Soldier liveS with the'possibil ity of dying or killing for his country or cause. Mr. Bannon, as a free man this ossibility by its very nature repulses me, ut it is not as repulsive as is the possibil ity that by failing to do so, I will yield to an aggressing power which holds no value in human life or reason. Using the words of Voltaire: “I may disagree with what you say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it.” This is why I joined the Corps. Frank Knickerbocker 306 Redmund Corps produces officers Editor: f k This letter is in response to Mr. Ban non’s letter to the editor in The Battalibn Feb. 15. I feel almost personally guilty that you are so immensely ignorant. Your questions asking if the members of the Corps are willing to die in service, kill on the word of their superiors and live with themselves afterwards are silly. Questions such as that should be dire cted to people in the military. The Corps of Cadets has many diversified facets, all having nothing to do with killing people. These facets include discipline, responsi bility, time management and most im portantly in my opinion comradeship. I challenge you to ask a cadet who plans to take a contract with the military and ask him ifihe WANTS to go to war and kill people. I challenge you furth ermore to go to the’Trigon and talk to any of the officers and ask them why they are in the military. The Corps of Cadets is here to pro duce officers to give our country a degree of military preparedness to cope with any aggression against the United States or our allies. These officers enter the milit ary service to defend our country and to keep peace. I’m sure they would tell you that killing is the last thing that they want. War is not pretty but, FREEDOM sure is. Tim Smyer ’85 John Zylks ’85 The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member ot Texas Press Association . . Southwest Journalism Conference Editor . Diana Sultenfnss 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, Brian Boyer, Jennifer Carr, Elaine Engstrom, Johna Jo Maurer, Jan Werner, Rebeca Zimmermann Staff Writers Melissa Adair, Maureen Carmody, Frank Christlieb, Connie Edehnon, Patrice Koranek, John Lopez, Robert McGlohon, Ann Ranlsbottom, Kim Schmidt, Patti Schwierzke, Kelley Smith, Angel Stokes, Tracey Taylor, Joe Tindel Copyeditors .... Shelley Hoekstra,JanSwaner, Chris Thayer I Cartoonist Scott McCullar Graphic Artists Pam Starasinic Sergio Galvez Photographers David Fisher, Jorge Casari, Ronald W. Emerson, 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 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 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 welco’me, 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 ajl news dispatches credited to it. Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. 0 Battalion/Page February 17, IS THE EPA. 0 %MTo po AWjT Titbit) RAjM PfcfcLETJ - v/jeu aw. Tje LAKE? APE CEAh. Letters: Preparing for defensi Editor: This is in reply to Elizabeth Smith’s letter that appeared in The Battalion on Feb. 14. I am a junior in the Corps of Cadets and have been singing these songs, properly called jodies, for three years. These jodies were made to toughen an individual to the horrors of war so that if we ever get into a combat situation we can have some semblance of control. With the help of God we will never have to live out these things we sing ab out. No one I have ever met in the Corps loves death and destruction and no one desires to kill another human being, but if the time ever comes when we have to defend this country we’ll be ready. You say*“we desire to be given the chance to murder someone,” but this is an outright lie. We are taught that murder is to kill with no justification, but to kill someone in combat is protection — protection of our lives, our men’s lives, and the ideals of freedom. I don’t believe America will ever provoke a war, but if we are drawn into a war to fight against Communist aggression I will have no second thoughts about killing. I love this country and the freedoms I enjoy and no enemy to this country is ever going to change that. Another thing I would like to clear up is the notion that since we are pro military, we are also pro-war. If it wasn’t for our military strength as a deterrent to war, the people of this nation would all be eating borsch and drinking cheap vodka. If people would stop and think about what they’re saying they would realize that a lot of the assumptions they make about the corp are wrong. I’m not a war monger or a “killing machine” and my mind is not warped. I am an American and damn proud of it! Darrel Thormer ’84 Editor’s Note: This letter was accompa nied by 24 other signatures. Lost ring Editor: Help! I lost a pearl ring either at the Polo fields or on the walk outside of Krueger Sunday evening. The ring was very dear to me and I’d appreciate it if anyone finds it to call me at 260-0697. P.S. There will be a reward. Laurie Mabry Watch found Editor: I found a woman’s watch in the park ing lot by the band dorm. If it’s yours, call me at 260-2876, identify it and it’s yours. Lee Henderson Thanks Editor: On behalf of the Legislative Study Group (LSG) and myself, I would like to express our thanks for the articles run in last week’s Battalion. It was reassuring to have such a good job done on reporting a subject as complex as the Permanent University Fund (PUF). The LSG has worked hard researching and collecting information to inform and represent the students of Texas A&M. We are appre ciative of the work done by Kelley Smith (reporter) and the Battalion staff for working so hard to report this informa tion accurately. I hope that you will print this letter of affirmation, you deserve it. Fred P. Billings III Administrative Director ’84, LSG Let’s get it together Editor: the world united as a common bon When are we “folks” going tod act together? As a human being 1 came, devoid of my whiteness, joining with others of com mon form and mind. 1 came not to hear the “black” man Dick Gregory speak, but to listen to the person Dick Gregory re late his experience, his impressions, and his life. When I sought through the method, through the “comedy” that clouded at times the unaware, a message of what each individual must do to begin a positive change in our world clearly pierced through. We must cleanse our minds, our bodies, and our spirits of the impurities within whether they be fear or hatred. We must tune-in to the god-force within ourselves; and we must set* ourselves as individuals of worth and identity, separating our minds f rom the limiting transformations society de mands. Mark; Dum ■ Facts distorted Editor: J The front page Battalion article of Feb. 10 concerning Mr. Gregory, demon strated the ease with which the system can quell the essence of a man’s c harac ter. The article played with Gregory’s words as society can play with a person’s mind, distorting the image so that only the expected is seen. Throughout his talk, Gregory continuously returned to the challenge “How Long? ... How Long? ...” How long will it be until we listen? Through his words, Dick Gregory was trying to challenge our thought, trying to make us search inside for the answer is there alone. Through this search we can all begin to be the person Gregory com mented on as the real champion — “... the man who has risen to the crest of life’s highest purpose — singular and com plete devotion to serving one’s fellow man.” Two thousand years ago those words were also said by one whose life and teachings challenge us daily. Yet still today the message has yet to be lived by The headline in Wednesday's!! lion, “A&M second in rapes, buryl for fall 1982” was an enhance!! actually a distortion, of the factstlu lowed. A more objective, thouglu tedly more boring, title would have ‘-‘Crime figures for seven announced.” Consider the facis tained in the article. First, only seven schools in leu 1 included in the statistics, with no® of school size or any other factor-1 might permit legitimate comparis:I the schools. Second, of the four(3 f ies of crime reported, A&M was second in only one category (roli U 1 had 89, A&M had 56, Techh etc. In the rape category, UTrepon while A&M and Rice each reportI Does this make A&M a leader in Common sense is sufficient (ie. nod tics course is required) to see thattk | is not representative of the facts, other two categories, A&M was ad! third. In perspective, the distortedhfl| may not seem inappropriate, sincf all the Battalion is a laboratory fori | ing journalists, and we all expeti media to jazz things up a little togt a tten tion. O t herwise why would wet [ ate the “news“-breaks interr evening movie to remind usofthei ders, strikes, and scandals comingi| 10 p.m. Mark Coughr Slouch By Jim Earle ‘I guess I deserve this. I asked her to drop me a line” ■ Sh