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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 1983)
Page 2/The Battalion/Friday, September 16, 1983 Letters: Falwell solidifies basic belief Editor: Concerning the Jerry Falwell forum sponsored by the MSC Political Forum; we are in a sad state if we alienate ourselves from the issues at hand. During the Sept. 13 forum, many students were too blood thirsty to taste the real flavor of what Rev. Falwell was speaking about. He visited our campus to solidify the basic beliefs of the “American Way. He tried to instill in us a feeling of unity, pride, respect, dignity and honor for this blessed country of America. However, Rev. Fal well was attacked by over-bearing and mali cious statements^that slandered the Repub lic of America. killing of innocent people, whether by one group or another, whether past or present. I simply wanted to know why he accepted the killing of innocent people (would any one call “infants and sucklings’ guilty?) under his own beliefs, while thinking it in credible that communists would do the same for theirs. I still do not know. Fal- well’s speech, and especially his handling of my question, did little for my faith in his “Judeo-Christian ethic” or in his position. Michael Strickland ’86 Falwell’s bad egg A strong national defense, a friendly and helpful foriegn policy, as well as a strong belief in God and in life (the right to do it) are essential to the United States. Editor: Falwell stated that America is on the rise to conservatism. This is a wonderful thing to hear. The sad fact remains that Texas A&M has gone just the opposite way. Texas A&M has grown more liberal while Amer ica is getting more conservative. Let’s hope we stop our down-hill slide and get back on the “Right (wing) Track.” Tom Tagliabue ’86 Question defended Editor: I was one of the questioners of Jerry Falwell at his speech here Tuesday. I asked him why he would denounce the “godless communists” for the murder of thousands in Cambodia (certainly a barbaric action, though not claiming a majority of the popu lation), while finding no fault with the Israelites of the Old Testament to destroy “both woman, infant and sucking, ox and sheep, camel and ass.” (quoted from I Samuel: 15.) That’s 100 percent plus of the population. Falwell was completely avoiding my question, so I restated it to the effect that if we reserve to ourselves the right to kill for our beliefs, why should we not expect the Soviets to so the same. He responded to this by insinuating that I supported the shooting down of the Korean airliner! Please allow me to set the record straight. I am very much appalled at the I had the misfortune of attending the Reverend Jerry Falwell’s lecture Tuesday night. In my innocence I did not recognize the smell of a bad egg, for that it was. It is embarrassing to think we had paid money to hear a speaker merely ramble before an audience. He made no progress politically, spiritually or intellectually. I must give Mr. Falwell credit where credit is due, however. He has a brilliant grasp for psychological play. Like the gen tle stroke of reassurance from Mother, he tells us that we Americans are entering a “third stage of spiritual enlightenment.” The future for “young Americans looks bright he said. Born again, we will survive the sinful sixties to make a peaceful civilized world. (Of course according to the Re verend this can only be done by building our defenses, by increasing our forces in Nicaragua and by sending troops to Leba non if necessary). Relaxed and safe in the mother Re verend’s arms, most all those present nod ded approvingly to his banal (yet cunning) monologue. After the lecture I came away feeling sick — as if I had just eaten imitation cake frosting from a can. referring to the picture of “Brother Who” mocking the coming of Jerry Falwell to the Texas A&M campus. Why is it that everytime some person who makes some sort of display of unright eousness or mocks unrighteousness gets a huge picture on the front of The Battalion, while Mr. Falwell, who came to speak ab out morality, gets a small picture at the bottom of the page? What does this indicate about the values of those who put together our university newspaper? Surely the editors of The Battalion real ize by giving “Brother Who” front page coverage they only serve to encourage him and others to put on displays of immorality and unrighteousness. Mr. Falwell com mented to a reporter from the newspaper Today’s Student that it was a relief to come to Texas A&M because of the quality of the people here compared to other college campuses. Isn’t it time that The Battalion kept up with many of the students here who are taking a stand against unrighteousness? Perhaps The Battalion could adopt the poli cy of many other news agencies, such as ABC sports, who refuse to grant coverage to those individuals who are displaying gross acts merely to get news coverage. Mr. Fal- well’s appearance here attracted more than 1,400 people where as “Brother Who” only a handfull. I ask you, don’t you think that Mr. Falwell’s appearance was a little more newsworthy? deaf ears. We do acknowledge that we are the smallest dorm on campus (with 114 resi dents), but we are an active and integral part of campus life at Texas A&M. We don’t expect much, just the credit and recogni tion that is due. Daniel Vitale ’86 of this organization to beoutstandiM people with their priorities in thej order and with a tremendous respi Aggie traditions and the well being of ^ fellow students. It is for this reason I feel the attack on these students’ rea tions and character printed in yourS edition ("Party Mars Silver Taps "(wait warranted and incorrect. (Editor ’s note: This letter was accompanied by 113 other signatures, the entire resident population of Hotard Hall.) New I.D. expensive It is true that the Marketing Soci# annual “get acquainted partywasl same evening as Silver Taps. However,« suggestion that this was done tounderai a sacred tradition or that society mei are any less “good Aggies’ as a res totallv without basis in fact. Editor: I would like to bring to your attention yet another bureaucratic rip-off scheme insti tuted by this University. As most students realize, not very much can be done around campus without a student I.D. card. You also may remember that your original I.D. cost $5. However, did you know that de spite theft, fire, rain damage or accidental loss, a replacement I.D. costs $8? I would like to know what excuse can be given for asking $3 more for the same paper, plastic, picture and time that goes into an I.D. re placement or original. What is fact is that several ai ments encouraging those present to alts the ceremony were made at the social) that a large number of members i ers, accompanied by their facultyadvj| did attend Silver Taps. Members of the Texas A&M Maiiei Society have always been, and wi to be, proud and honorable representi of this great university. Dr. Larry G. Gresla Faculty Adiij Texas A&M Marketing Sot Mike Foarde ’85 Hilton’ neglected Editor: Tara Lee ’84 Unrighteous photo Editor: On behalf of A&M Christian Fellowship, and many other Christians on this campus we would like to protest the layout of the front page of The Battalion on Sept. 14. I am In the Sept. 12 edition of The Battalion there was an article on the reassignment of tripled students. In this article there was a list of dorms which helped to accommodate these overassignments. Only one dorm which had students living as triples was neglected, Hotard Hall. In an earlier edition ofThe Battalion, the cartoon R.I. spent time mentioning every men’s dorm on the north side of campus. Every one except Hotard Hall. In the Intramurals booklet for 1983-84 there is no mention of what dorm won the All-University AA Championship Title. The dorm that won was, you guessed it, Hotard Hall. Sadly enough, such events are quite common, and our repeated reminders that “The Hilton” does exist fall on seemingly I would think that paying a mere $1,500 a semester would entitle a student to, at the very least, fair treatment by the administra tion. I feel the University has forgotten that students are why this University is. If being a world class university means we have to pay more for the “privileges’ due us as hard working students, tuition payers and tax pax ers, then I do not think there will be any one left to enjoy Texas A&M’s world status. Graffiti garbage Editor: It would be appreciated if someone (any one) could explain why a replacement I.D. costs $3 more than an original (despite the use of the exact same materials). Arlene G. Nutt Society answers letter Editor: For the past two years it has been my privilege to serve as faculty adviser to the Texas A&M Marketing Society. During this time I have found the officers and members I just got through reading the bath graffiti, which is all garbage. lainaseti now, and in three years here, noneofl graffiti has gotten any more originalari ligent. What does it matter if you ared lian or Corps, frat or non-frat, etc.,elt What do our visitors think of tliis! recently was unfortunate enough to havj visit that dirt-ball school in Austin. His saw a beautiful (probably expensive)stu patio and fountain. Its beauty was man by numerous mindless sayings that a — been scratched into the stone. Wet* need this at Texas A&M. If you peopled# want to express your views verbally in pi lie (you don’t have the guts), them write it on the bathroom wall likesoi mindless 3-year-old. Roger C. Darirs Ibis unit oblivious t This seen Heaton Hall Not every senior gives up on school Foreign policy troops running thin Police by Art Buchwald The last phrase I want to hear during my final year at this University is “You’re a senior and you don’t care. All you’re interested in is getting a job. ” I had a neighbor — a professor, in fact — say this to me one Saturday afternoon and he really made me angry. I guess what made me so mad was that he didn’t know me and he didn’t have any basis for the statement. He was judging my atti tude by my classification as a student. I had been sitting next to the swim ming pool at my apartment complex and was approached by this unfamiliar neighbor. He started talking with me — asking me my major, classification and hometown — and I asked him if he was a professor at the University. (The mana ger had said one professor lived in the complex; I thought this guy must be the one.) beverly hamilton for what he said, especially since he had just met me. The level of enthusiasm I express for a subject does not necessarily gauge whether I care or not. He said he was and told me what types of courses he taught. Out of curiosity, I began asking him about recent develop ments within his department. (Some thing a reporter can’t resist.) And just because I am completing my last year of college doesn’t mean I am dead to the world. While he was talking I was thinking of potential story ideas for The Battalion (something a city editor is always doing). Evidently my expression or depth of in terest was not as intense as he expected, because he blurted out that blasted phrase about how much I didn’t care and that because I was graduating, changes at the University aren’t important to me. As.a senior, I have many responsibili ties and I am dedicated to doing the best job I can. In other words, I care. I don’t know if it is the fault of seniors or the people they communicate with that can result in this type of apathetic image. There will be some seniors who do feel that nothing matters. In that case, I can understand professors and administrators becoming upset. I didn’t say anything to him about the remark because I’m not too friendly when I am angered. I didn’t want to be rude to someone I had just met, although he had been rude to me. But for those of us who do care, give us a break. Don’t generalize and judge me like the rest of the pack. It’s not fair to me and you aren’t presenting a very good image for yourself, either. If I didn’t care I would not have asked him about the goings-on of his depart ment. Secondly, he had no justification It’s true that I’m considered a “dead elephant this year. But try to remem ber that this is just a term. The Pentagon is getting nervous. With a White House foreign policy based on a military response to every situation, there is a growing gap between the number of worldwide commitments we’ve decided to make, and the armed services’ ability to meet them. Just last week the Pentagon’s Joint Chief of the Day received a call from National Security Adviser Clark’s office at the White House. “The president wants you to send two carriers, three missile cruisers, and six B- 52’s as a warning to Mozambique.” “We re plumb out of aircraft carriers, cruisers and B-52’s. “How can you be out of them? We’ve given you the biggest military budget in history.” “We have the money, but most of the stuff isn’t built yet. You people have asked us to send aircraft carriers to Lebanon, Central America, Libya and Southeast Asia. We don’t even have one in dry dock I wish the White House would check with us before you do any more saber rattling. ” “We re not saber rattling. Our national security is at stake in every part of the globe, and if we don’t show the flag, our credibility will be zilch. ” “Well, we can’t send any carriers to Mozambique. ” “What about nuclear submarines?” “They’re all spoken for. We have to keep them on station as our main deterrent to the Soviets until we can put the MX missiles in place.” “What can you send to Mozambique?” “How about a World War II destroyer? We got a bunch of them in mothballs. ” “What kind of message is that to the Rus sians?” “With all due respect, one of the prob lems is that you keep sending messages to the Soviets with U.S. naval ships. Why can’t you people use the diplomatic pouch like every other country does?” “The only thing the Soviets understand is strength. If we don’t produce a task force for Mozambique they’ll interpret it as a sign that we are unable to police the world.” “There is just so much we can do. The Pentagon is always happy to further Amer ican Foreign policy, but if you would con sult with us first, we could let you know whether we can support it militarily.” “Well, if we can’t send the fleet, what about flying in the Rapid Deployment Bri gade to Kenya?” “You already requested them for Hon duras. “Okay, then ferry over some A WAGS.” “All our AWACS are spoken for.” “Then dispatch the 82nd Airborne.” “We don’t have the planes to transport the 82nd Airborne. Do you want us to pull a division out of Germany?” “No, that would be the wrong signal to the Kremlin, particularly at the moment were putting Pershing missiles into Europe.” “Do yo ; people really have to send a * message to Mozambique at this time! Couldn’t we at least wait until the diistid) ties over Chad?” “The president and Mr. Clark are veitj concerned that if we don’t show werest- rious about Mozambique, they’ll laughing at us in Angola. ” “So let them laugh.” “Watch yourself, General. I’m spea for your commander in chief. What 1 you got in our military arsenal to wan Mozambique?” “If you want the truth — two jeeps,) WAC, and the U.S. Marine Corps Once we ship them overseas you people® on your own. ff'e following incji to the Unive apartment throudi V THEFTS: *■) maroon Schwin "['tele from the MeF; ™«' rack. ,T ; v ' 1 light fixture ,Wln(1 dock of Kvle F •H vapor lights fro ,llk ,)f Kyle Field. , * A Paper sack that "K oquipment 'Mia from 449 F I'l’fPorty was left i U™ 11 the second sunn.. The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member ot Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference 4, nf r was toporti ■ I 'thoowner retun MI1 Dniester thrown 1979 Che\ Editor HopeE. Paasch Managing Editor Elaine Engstrom City Editor Beverly Hamilton Assistant City Editor Kelley Smith Sports Editor J°hn Lopez Assistant Sports Editor JoeTindel Entertainment Editor .... Rebeca Zimmermann Assistant Entertainment Editor Shelley Hoekstra News Editors Brian Boyer, Kathy BrPard, Tracey Taylor, Kelly Miller Photo Editor Eric Evan Lee Staff Writers Brigid Brockman, Ronnie Crocker, Scott Griffin, Christine Mallon, Michelle Powe, Ann Ramsbottom, Stephanie Ross, Karen Schrimsher, Carol Smith, Angel Stokes, John Wagner, Kathy Wiesepape, Wanda Winkler Cartoonist Paul Dirmeyer, Scott McCullar Photographers Brenda Davidson, Michael Davis, Guy Hood, John Makely, Dean Saito The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspipti for students in reporting, editing and photograph)'cli'- ses within the Department of Communications. Questions or comments concerning any edited matter should be directed to the editor. Letters Policy Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 words!# length, and are subject to being cut if they are longer The editorial staff reserves the right to edit letlers for style and length, but will make every effort to maintti# the author’s intent. 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