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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 28, 1983)
opinion Battalion/Page 2 February 28,1% Slouch By Jim Earle “Midsemestergrades! Already? But I haven't even gotten settled down in class yet. “ Hawkeye, The last new episode of M*A*S*H airs tonight. Television is generally thought of as a vast wasteland, and the 4077th M*A*S*H unit exists in that wasteland the same way it exists on the battle-torn wastelands of Korea. It survives. It com forts and provides relief. It keeps us going, and has for the past eleven years. M*A*S*H ends tonight, and so does the Korean War lor a generation that has never experienced the reality of a war. It seems we should reflect on that. M*A*S*H gave us an eleven-year view of war from the “front lines.” We got a concentrated view of the worst part of war, the suffering that goes on in a hos pital. We were shown how such a war af f ected members of our own family, for if any television characters could be cal led “family”, those of the 4077th certain ly could. M* A*S*H actually stands for Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, although the 4077th wasn't really mobile. Oh, it moved a few times, sure, but it really stayed in the same place. “Rosie’s Bar” was always just across the street from the camp. 1 he M*A*S*H camp was home, and home is you’re going home Jc thought of as a stationary place. The war always revolved around the 4077th. M*A*S*H was supposedly about the Korean War, but the stories and lessons it told were relative to all wars. M*A*S*H never limited itself to the 1950s. There were occasional references to events and music of the period, but M*A*S*H never made it essential for the viewer to believe in a specific place or time, only in wars and the people in them. On screen, M*A*S*I4 looks like it could be set in the M b 3 There 2nd World War, or Vietnam or evem Middle East. T M*A*S*I I may live on in rnoreij than re-runs. Our generation has lot of time and love with thesecharai We have experienced awar withti and grown to despise and hate it the] amed way thev do. We saw characters,ihu i&Mat pie, \\ e loved and c ared about suffer! irship | ibly because of war. Some of them died. In between the jokes and his M*A*S*I 1 brought us the most taut lesson of war — that it costs ns thing to wage it. What we have seen r ^ 4077th has af lected how wcthinU C now and how we’ll perceive it in lure. M*A*S*II will he remembered many things: the characters empathized so deeply with,thefet we were made to use while watching, the fun and jo\ the staff lived lifei lillyjoe We even lon ged with them to lean if Mind war and go home, even though w home. And tonight, we ^et to$eeift rence come home. Watching the re-runs will be a little more enjoyable It that it all comes out all righi. Jont ialysis «■? ch0 fiber co ageant seco 982 Mi: lid hip pag JSC Ho In t bich ac contes ang an |ad gain ageant, londe s; emore< Letters: SCON A thanks from UT Editor: It is with deepest humility and respect that we, the UT delegates to the SCON A 28 conference on the Latin Americas, convey our profound admiration and effusive praise to you and the entire Texas A&M student body for the great Aggie hospitality shown to us and to all the delegates the week of Feb. 16-19. We felt proud to be fellow Texans at this international event and honored to parti cipate in such a prestigious forum so en riched by that special Aggie spirit for which A&M has become famous. fhe rivalry which exists between our two great universities is common know ledge to Texans everywhere and indeed to people the world over. Yet a fact not so well known is that this healthy rivalry actually is rooted in a relationship char acterized by genuine mutual admiration. The manner in which we “teasips” were received by the wonderful people of SCON A 28 only served to enhance this relationship. The entire three and one- halfdays of the conference were held in an ambience of friendliness and com- ; raderie that not only provided the com- ; tol lable medium so crucial to the success of all such meaningful endeavors but also * created everlasting bonds between its ; fortunate participants. 2 The SCON A 28 conference was there- - fore a success not only in terms of fulfill ing its primary objective of generating useful and constructive dialogue be tween peoples of diverse backgrounds on - a subject of major contemporary signifi cance. It also succeeded in forging strong links between old and new friends alike. ^ To the many remarkable members of . SCON A 28 — the planners, organizers 1 and especially those on the “front line” — I we extend our warmest compliments and 1 appreciation for including us in this out standing event. And, thanks largely to our SCON A experience, to the entire ; A&M population we reluctantly confess a heretofore well-guarded secret: it strikes us that to be an Aggie is an honor of which one can be most proud. Kevin D. Mitchell Warren G. McKesson Big Event thanks Editor: I would like to thank all the many students who participated in the Big Event this past weekend. I think it is very gratifying to find students who are in terested in providing this kind of service to their community. Even though the weather did not cooperate, I was very impressed to see many students who con tinued to work despite the very heavy rain. I know the communtiy benefited from your effort and I hope that each of you benefited from your experiences. Hopefully this can become an annual event. » Gary Halter Mayor, College Station Donate canned goods Editor: Although the sarcastic jabs of the group’s display in the MSC may be a tur noff to some, I hope that students, facul ty and staff support SWAMP in their on going collection of food and clothing. It’s a good time to clean out closets and shelves anyway and time to recognize that the lives of our needy neighbors in B-CS cannot be made significantly better by a single afternoon of well-meaning efforts (i.e., the Big Event). Donations of clothing and canned food can be dropped off in 216 MSC and will be delivered to Twin City Mission by SWAMP members. Rita R. Hamm Center for Energy and Mineral Re sources USPS 045 360 Member ot Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference The Battalion Editor Diana Sultenf uss 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 Hutc hings 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 Edelmon, Patrice Koranek, John Lopez, Robert McGlohon, Ann Ramsbottom, Kim Schmidt, Patti Schwierzke, Kelley Smith, Angel Stokes, Tracey Taylor, Joe Tindel Copyeditors .... Shelley Hoekstra, Jan Svvaner, Chris Thayer 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 liatuilion is a non-profit, self-supporting news paper operated as a community service to Texas AAA/ University and Bryan-College Station. Opinions ex pressed in The Battalion arc those of the editor or the author, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Texas AAA/ University administrators or facuft\ mem bers. or of the Board of Regents. The Battalion also serves as a lahor;itor\ newspapet lot students in reporting, editing and photogiaphv clas ses within the Department of Communications. Questions or comments concerning am 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 lor style and length, but will make every effort to maintain the author’s intent. Each letter must also bo 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 L’ni- versity. College Station, TX 77843, or phone (7 13) 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. » DWOiv RVO/AtfbC—• ITHINK WE'VE QOT THEM WHERE WE WANT THEM,.. b > ■ Food st KM hat ■th a di ■at lias c lirps of I The t hing Hall Tstyle si fu'hich or lass qua Vie, in llections On oi bleteria- ihile thi Letters: Notification law questioned Editor: This letter is in response to the letter on the Parental Notification Rule (“Squeal law“). Dear Dannette Heren: You did not state yonr age, but I must assume that it is well jDast being able to remember your thoughts and attitudes of your teen years. I am in my late 20’s and I still remember mine. First, you end your letter with “A mor ality has to be enforced for their (minor’s) sakes.” Morals or principles of right and wrong are things that are learned and develojAed in life, fhe concept of blanket enforcement of morality is ludicrous. Next, you said “but the sexually active minor should be the exception, not the rule.” This must be a perscmal wish or hope, because you are not talking reality. Have you read any recent sexual surveys (Playboy, Hite Reports, etc ...). A sixteen- year-old virgin is becoming very rare, whether or not they should be. My God, “peer j>ressure” on sex, come on. I don’t know if you have had sex, but my first time (as a minor) was not because of “peer jAressure.” Ever since puberty there was a lot of sexual curiosity just waiting to be satisfied, and sexual drive filled in where curiosity left off. Concerning “sexual flings,” you must not remember your teen emotional state. Sex was something very serious (almost religious). As a teen, once you had sex (just once) with someone, meant that you were together and (some how) knew’ the innermost feelings, thoughts and aspira tions of each other. Question, who really would be finan cially affected by this rule? Last, you ask “What about the count less minors who are sexually active only because these birth control devices are so “easily” and “secretly” available.” Easy, how easy do you think it is to go into a strange clinic, talk to a strange nurse or doctor, and ask for help for something as personal as your sexual relations. You need to do some research and see how many virgin minors apply for birth con trol devices and then have sex only be cause the birth control devices are so easy to get. Those countless minors are very countable. In closing let me partly quote you again. “We need to open our eyes and help many teen-agers,” and many past their teens also. Most children are sexual ly developed by 13, however, very few if any are capable of raising a child at that age. With the system as it is now, look at the number of unwanted teen-age pre gnancies. Parental notification will not significantly reduce the number of sex ually active minors. However, parental notification will reduce the number of jirotected sexually active minors. conduct the shouting of your otaj from the safety of your dormrtf not one resident adviser (or for that matter) had thegutstofl shut uj). Well, we’re askingyoq next time you have the urge to sM loyalty, write a note. P.S. We’re also curious—whatd body’s mother have to do, with * you live in Davis-Gary or Moses,s 1 Report thefts Editor: Chris Zimmerman, ’84 Keep it down To whom ii may yoncernrT! who had his or her articlesst( the MSC Bookstore downstairs^ should please report this in campus police. This is thei police can helj) you recovervo 11 ! property. Editor: uM This is a letter to the “men” (or should we call them boys?) of Davis-Gary and Moses halls. Last weekend, we were treated to the most heartwarming display of dorm loyalty that we ever hope to hear. We can’t tell you how impressed (not to men tion how disgusted) we were of the yell ing match that you boys so thoughtfully provided for everyone to hear (at 2 a.m. no less). However, we were also just a bit disappointed — not only did you boys Necklace return® Editor: To: Mary Thank you very much forreiif add-a-bead necklace. Andrew