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Page 2/The Battalion/Thursday, June 2, 1983 opinion Symbols become reality by Arnold Sawislak United Press International WASHINGTON — When the Roman Catholic bishops passed their nuclear freeze resolution, a hard-boiled type at our post-work seminar in a place down the street summed it up: “It ain’t nothin’. It’s just a lot of symbolism.” “It don’t do anything. It ain’t like cut ting off appropriations for the Defense Department,” he growled. There were, as it happened, a couple of soft-boiled types in the booth who took exception to this analysis and proceeded to give the first chap a dose of unshirted what-for. In brief, they argued, symbolism can be exceptionally important in govern ment and politics and a purely symbolic act or event often is the catalyst for more concrete action. They argued that while demonstrations against the Vietnam War in the 1970s may not have ended the fighting, they certainly had an impact on the actual events that led to that end. The discussion didn’t go much farth er, but it could easily have gone into the many examples of symbols that have achieved their own reality. The example that leaps to mind is the Emancipation Proclamation, which many Americans might identify as the document with which Abraham Lincoln ended slavery in this country. Not quite. The proclamation in 1863 ordered freedom for slaves only in the Confederate States, which at the time were in a shooting war with Lincoln’s A more recent example of how symbolism affects action is the fai lure of every president since Gerald Ford to invite Nobel Laureate Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn to the White House. government. Thus, the proclamation was more of a symbol than a deed. Not until the 13th Amendment was ratified in 1865 was slavery outlawed in the entire United States. But it was the Emancipation Proclama tion that is most often cited as the instru ment of freedom for black Americans. In that case, symbolism became reality. A more recent example of how sym bolism affects action is the failure of ev ery president since Gerald Ford to invite Nobel Laureate Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn to the White House. The Russian writer certainly is more distinguished and accomplished than many of the record-breaking balloonists, champion horse radish farmers and prime ministers of postage stamp princi palities who do get Oval Office audi ences. Solzhenitsyn, for his own reasons, is an implacable foe of the Soviet regime and has made very clear that he does not think the West has taken a tough enough stance against it. For their own reasons, many Amer icans who believe the only way to deal with the Kremlin is to nuke it have embraced Solzhenitsyn. He has become, as the saying goes, the “darling” of the hard-liners, and whether he wishes it so or not, a symbol of their viewpoint. The policy of the United States gov ernment is to oppose the expansion of the Soviet Union’s influence and power without going to war. The style with which this policy is carried out may vary from president to president, but basically Ronald Reagan is trying to accomplish the same thing as Jimmy Carter. It might seem silly to suggest that invit ing an aging author to lunch at the White House would be taken as the signal of a change in basic foreign policy, but that is almost surely why Solzhenitsyn hasn’t broken bread at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. ONE OF THESE IS AN ILLEGiM.,CONGRESSIONAL BRIBE TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATION-THE OTHER ISA PRIVATE „ CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONCAN YOU TELL THE PIFFERENCE? Light at the end of the missile debate by Dick West United Press International WASHINGTON — I was split right down the middle by the congressional missile debate. So persuasive were speakers for both sides, I could see the wisdom of building new missiles, and also the wisdom of not building new missiles. Then I heard it explained that build ing new missiles is a necessary prelude to meaningful arms control negotiations, and suddenly it all came together. Not only did the “missiles for peace” picture become clear for the first time, several other murky issues were illumin ated as well. Gun control, for example. We’ll never have a meaningful reduc tion in the number of shootings in this country until everyone owns a gun. Once there is a pistol in every closet, assuring equality between law-abiders and lawbreakers, America will be ready for gun control legislation. Not a minute before. Another controversy the missile de bate can help us find the handle on is the report by the National Commission of Excellence in Education. The commission, I gather, is 100 per cent in favor of educational excellence. But philosophies differ as to how to go about achieving that goal. Some educational philosophers argue for higher standards for public school curricula. Others say the surest way of raising grades is to make the tests easier. Now, judging from the arguments that seemed to prevail in the congression al missile debate, it may be a philosophy whose time has come. So what if today’s students lack basic skills in reading, writing and mathema tics? As long as tests don’t expose their ignorance, who is the wiser? A similar point can be made with re spect to the seemingly contradictory aspects of a new diet plan that stresses the importance of overeating. “We’re never going to have meaning ful weight reductions in this country until everybody gets fat,” a promoter of the plan told me. I said, “A flab freeze wouldn’t do it, huh?” “Not for a minute,” the unfitness ex pert replied. “Freezing flab at present levels would only solidify the pounds that already are in place, usually around the hips and stomach. It provides no incen tive at all for skinny people to lose weight.” “I think I’ve got it now,” I said. “Once obesity becomes a universal condition, there will be an irresistable demand for weight control programs with teeth. Verification at the scales is essential.” “You’ve got it,” she confirmed. “Once everyone is overweigh, we can institute a ‘builddown’ system. Folks will continue to eat too much, but for every pound they put on, they take off two.” “You mean ...” I gasped. “Exactly,” she said. That seemed to sum up the missile debate right there. As soon as some country develops a case of missile anorexia, we’ll know the disarmament talks are making progress. The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member ol Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Editor Hope E. Paasch City Editor Kelley Smith Sports Editor John Wagner News Editors Daran Bishop, Brian Boyer, Beverly Hamilton, Tammy Jones Staff Writers Scott Griffin, Robert McGlohon, Angel Stokes, Joe Tindel Copyeditors .... Kathleen Hart, Tracey Taylor Cartoonist Scott McCullar Photographers Brenda Davidson, Eric Lee, Barry Papke, Peter Rocha 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 telephone number of the writer. Columns and guest editorials also are 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 (409) 845- 2611. The Battalion is published Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during both Texas A&M regular summer sessions, except for holiday and examination periods. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester, $33.25 per school year and $35 per full year. Advertising 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. Slouch By Jim Eafl p4 HAPPY BIRTHDAV ELIZABETH ! JUNE?, 1965 2,19 to by | There’? campus f counselin just some The C ition, ft “After doing this thing for 30 years, I guess he can personal just once. ” S* misters hile the consist patholic ; ons, cht lys, “Th [ligions. The m Faith: House members 5r courage praised by Don Phillips United Press International WASHINGTON — Forty-one mem bers of the House would be eligible for a medal today if such things were given for political courage. They are the 41 who bucked the bank ing industry and a frenzied letter-writing campaign from millions of upset voters. They voted against legislation repealing the scheduled July 1 tax withholding on interest and dividends. The pressure to go the other way was enormous. The banking lobby had staged a campaign that even many of its allies in Congress acknowledged was de ceptive and filled with half truths and untruths. The campaign was effective. It hit a chord in the American people, and mil lions of angry letters flooded congres sional offices. Some of those letters clear ly were from millions who were duped by the bankers and didn’t understand the legislation. Some were from informed but angry folks who said they didn’t want to pay for the sins of others. But others, a surprising number, were from scoff-laws who even bragged that they had never paid taxes on their in terest and dividends and didn’t intend to, and would vote against anyone who tried to make them obey the law. Under such pressure, 382 House members voted to repeal the withholding law. Of those 382, some voted from honest conviction. It would be a mistake to think that all of them voted from fear. For ex ample, Rep. Norman D’Amours, D- N.H., led the fight against withholding from the beginning, and Rep. Andrew Jacobs, D-Ind., who sponsored the final repeal bill, long ago proved his ability to think independently. But it is clear that a majority of the 382 voted that way purely because of the pressure. It also is clear that the 41 who voted “no” did so purely from conviction. There was nothing for them to gain from such a vote, and there is little doubt that all of them will lose something politically through lost votes or financially through lost campaign contributions. The list of the “no” voters reads like a rundown of the moral leadership of the iSUt B Becaus omy, tb ecome n ryan Pc as an e House, the people who havepn they have guts on other issi Almost all of the 41 are expen legislators, and many are comrai subcommittee chairmen They include the chairman aK ing GOP member of the tax' jpposed i House Ways and Means Cora j°y s yes Reps. Dan Rostenkowski, D-Ill.,ai hief Ch her Conable, R-N.Y. Many oftk members of that committee, position to see the cheating and to know all the face withholding One of the Ways and Means® is a former banker, Rep. Fortnei D-Calif, no stranger to fights' fellow bankers even before hei Congress. Thirty-two are Democrats ai are Republicans. The highestmec Until get offi ■ , j-Phelps sa problems »> men r has the Democratic leadership is whi j t h e Applic; mas Foley of Washington, No. hierarchy. The only Republicanlt Police A( Rep. Jack Edwards of Alabai® y chairman of the Republican Corf ; j\^ f and ranking: GOP member ofl 1 ^ ranking fluential Defense Appropriation committee. There are three freshmen, Ref; ward Berman, D-Calif, SanderL< Mich., and Sherwood Boehlert, One is a woman, Rep. Lynn R-Ill. Most are no strangers to caused stimes lost causes, including Ref lields of Edwards, D-Calif, champion Equal Rights Amendment; EdwaF rcupants key, D-Mass., leader of the nucleaj movement; and David Obey who has led the fight for reforff House for more than a decade, Some are among the mostacti' 1 men in the House — Reps. Hem 1 man, D-Calif., chairman of thel subcommittee; Sidney Yates, of the keepers of the nation’s na® sources as chairman of the A| tions interior subcommittee; Edvi land, D-Mass., the most influenrf in the House on intelligence chairman of the Permanent Selef 1 mittee on Intelligence; John Serf NEW C D-Ohio, chairman of the Intend lands subcommittee; andJ.JP" Texas, chairman of the Social subcommittee. e office The id “Thrt nine peoj A maj ge was t lave in r reening dark Ric “We : iard dep; id. “Bui fre Unite ALBUC dung cl ed rod used mi Ibuquer Officei le child own the f the fre ved at tl Ra fo: Unite* the small society by Bri TH^TfZl^K V? 'TO && UtVTlL YoD'fZ.fr /M - AFT&fZ 'THAT, reorfe- WILL Mi^ 'T<3 yZ>i) - merous ised by c y Mafia Dentor 1982 fede fiction. As a re: