Page 2/The Battalion/Tuesday, November 8, 1983
Marines’ presence needed in Lebanon
Batu
Three li
by Sana Hamade
Lebanese Student Association
No words can express the sorrow and
the outrage at the cold-blooded murder
of the U.S. Marines and the French para
troopers in Beirut. Only mixed feelings
of pain and anger result from the co
wardly terrorist act which claimed the
lives of at least 230 American servicemen.
Perhaps the only consolation is that those
Marines died serving their country in the
name of peace and freedom. Their deeds
will never be forgotten and their sacrifice
will serve as a milestone for a peaceful
and independent Lebanon.
This massacre has produced strong
desires for pulling the Marines out of
Lebanon. Many Americans are asking
these questions: Why are the Marines in
Lebanon? Why does the U.S. have to
police the rest of the world? We answer
the last question as George Will did sever
al evenings ago on “Nightline": “Russia is
a burglar running down the streets look
ing for an unlocked door to open, and the
U.S. is the policeman who is trying to
track the burglar down to catch him and
free the people from its evil actions.”
As to why the Marines are in Lebanon,
their presence will bolster the Lebanese
government as all foreign forces with
draw. The U.S. is also helping Lebanon
regain its independence and restore its
sovreignty. But what is more important
is, besides protecting Lebanon’s interests.
Letters: The Butt
makes us laugh
Editor:
This letter is in response to Mr. Gavin
Jones’ letter of November 1 concerning
The Battalion and the Buttalion.
To say the least, I disagreed with your
letter. To say the most, it was a joke. You
praised The Battalion for presenting
stories of interest. Let me refresh your
memory with some of the headlines for
the November 1 edition of The Battalion
that the staff felt were “stories of in
terest". “MODERN DAY ARK’ BOUND
FOR KOREA” (front page), “PUSH
CART MAKES FAST FOOD FASTER”,
“10 FROM ECUADORAN FAMILY
ARE AGGIES”, “CITIES FEUD IN
NEW MEXICO.”
Well Mr. Jones, obviously your defini
tion and my definition of “interest” are
180 degrees apart. The Battalion also
failed miserably with their attempt to
print a “humor supplement” (The Aggie
Rag, remember? probably not). The only
reason I read The Battalion is due to the
fact that I’ve already paid for it (student
services fee).
Now, I wish to express my congratula
tions to the staff of the Buttalion. The
Buttalion does have a place at Texas
A&M, Mr. Jones. It makes us laugh. The
Buttalion is one of the finest satirical pub
lications I’ve seen, and I am anxiously
awaiting my next issue. Finally Mr. Jones,
you know what they say: “If you can’t take
a joke....” Well, you know the rest.
Brian Muzney ’84
Gay persons are normal human
beings. Although I am not personally gay
I have had several friends who were. It is
insulting to me when one states that gays
at TAMU will ruin its reputation. Intoler
ance will ruin TAMU’s reputation.
Such an arrogant and unjust applica
tion of religious beliefs is akin to the
Catholic Church’ persecution of Galileo.
To Ms. Brown I would like to say,
“Congratulations! You have learned one
of the Fundamental Truths of Life: It
ain’t always fair.” People will continue to
tell jokes about those who are different
from themselves because they are either
insecure, they want to rpake themselves
look better of simply because they expect
to get a good laugh from their audience.
Humor is a very relative thing. The
same joke told by two different people
can be merely a funny joke in one case
and a mean spirited attack on a specific
group in another case.
I am aware that many of the gay jokes,
black jokes, etc. told here are told in an
offensive manner. These you will just
have to learn to live with as others do.
However, please remember that some
people laugh at gay jokes for the humor
and not out of prejudice. I have laughed
at gay jokes, but I also laugh at Aggie
jokes and California jokes (my home
state).
I respect Ms. Brown for her stand and
hope that she will serve as an encourage
ment to all Aggies to dare to let their
differences show. Unless this happens
TAMU cannot be a “World Class Univer-
sity“.
Let differences show
Yvonne Degraw
Editor:
Gays outnumbered
I was absolutely astounded by the
show of ignorance and intolerance exhi
bited by M. Weaver in regards to gay
persons.
I so not understand how anyone could
be so irrational as to state in one para
graph “I am sympathetic toward gays be
cause it is true they may not have chosen
their particular disposition,” and come
back in the next paragraph with, “you
should seriously try to become a normal
human being again...use your energy to
become what God created you to be.”
Editor:
In response to G. Brown’s letter, Oct.
26, on “Basic Aggie” gay, I would like to
say that if she is not embarrased about
proclaiming her sexual preferences, then
I will be embarrased for her.
Excluding the other 999 gays at Texas
A&M, I can’t think of anyone else who
enjoys hearing about this abnormal act. It
may be okay for you all, but in the long
run, you are outnumbered.
Did you ever stop to think that maybe
The Battalion
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Memlvr ot
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conference
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Managing Editor Beverly Hamilton
City Editor Kelley Smith
Assistant City Editor Karen Schrimsher
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Hoekstra
News Editors Brian Boyer, Kathy Breard,
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Chris Thayer, Kathy Wiesepape
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Staff Writers. Robin Black,
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Cartoonists Paul Dirmeyer,
Scott McCullar
Photographers Michael Davis,
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7'he Baunlion also serves ns a hibonitory neuspu/jei
tor students in repot ting, editing nnd photogrnphv ( his
ses within the Depnrtmenl ot ('omtuunicniions.
Questions or continents concerning itny editnrhil
mutter should he 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
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Columns and guest editorials also arc welcome, and
are not subject to the same length constraints as letters.
Address all inquiries and correspondence to: Editor.
"The Battalion, 210 Reed McDonald. 'Texas A&M L'ni-
versity. College Station, TX 77843, or phone (409) 845-
201 I.
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The Hntutlion is a non-protit, self-supporting news
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Second class postage paid at College Station. TX
77843.
the Marines are there to protect the U.S.
interests in the Middle East.
Why would the security of the U.S. be
threatened in such a small and faraway
country? Lebanon is the key to Middle
Reader’s Forum
ited States. Syria has already become a
home for thousands of Soviet military
personnel and it has been provided a
massive amount of Soviet weaponry.
Once Lebanon falls under the tyranny of
these hostile forces, the U.S. strategic
position will be endangered.
The Marine role in Lebanon is essen
tial to defend the free world against rep
ression and terrorism. And the fate of
East. If it falls into the hands of Syria,
which is supported by Russia, the door
will be wide open for communism to
reach out in the Middle East. That part of
the world will become a slave to commun
ism, and this is a direct threat to the Un-
Lebanon as a democratic country is
heavily influenced by the interference of
the U.S.. The U.S. should play a more
aggressive role in the Middle East. It
should not give up any effort to bring
order and peace to that part of the world.
It should hot hand terrorists any victor
ies. If the U.S. turns its back and walks
away, it will only be admittingdp a y* n g t ^ ie
crediting those who advoci^ rtme . nt 1
f reedom, faiiaiic ism and reproK^A,,
1 he U.S. should not sitbackaM^ nee(
the Societ Union catch one f.j t j zens
another. It is time for the U.S.k* Donald
spread of c oininunism andtheijjrofessor i
those who support it, and pluays Greer
decisive role. l.\er\ true Lebai^t. Joseph
comes the presence of the Md on ? in g 111
cause onl\ them and the mu! ; heir niar
forces have come lot the sakeP^V 56 P
and in the name of democracy 11 a a /
A . , available h
A tew years ago, Lebanon ^
sourc e-of c ivih/ation for theen^everal d
dle East. It was a prosperousnaires to
serving as a gatew a\ betweenthejiems, ph
the West. Our wish is to see this r esklents c
Grimes,
Robertsor
counties.
Of th
turned,Sv
“We hav<
ming int
mth, so tl
avy,” Ha
; four sta
n to Jerry
of us do
■xas A&M
i State an
the students you spoke to were being “re
ceptive” because their professor was in
the room? That may or may not have
something to do with it. I didn’t know
that you had to be gay to speak in front of
a class and come out feeling rewarded.
Also, if you are not bothered about
admitting your preferences, then why
should you be bothered by the responses
which you expect to receive? By opening
yourself up to students and professors
each semester, you are setting yourself
up for ridicule; therefore, you should
learn to accept it. Don’t play martyr!
Being a basic Aggie may involve stand
ing at all football games, attending yell
practice, and eating at the Gow Hop, but I
beg to differ — you’re not a basic Aggie.
T. Harrington
honored and special traditions that
Texas A&M has initiated — that of the
Sivler Taps ceremony. With silent re
spect, many students appeared to take
part in this time honored tradition. As
darkness crept over the group, a three-
gun salute was fired. Then the strains of a
bugle playing Silver Taps could be heard.
The ceremony was witnessed in total si
lence as were the walks to and from this
solemnity. I strongly urge more people to
take part in such a beautiful and i
memorial.
talion last Friday. 1 usethetemi
loosely so as not to further grieve^
ing and Shclicw ; thc\ and mar.^^v I
must surely be spinning like top^ v^/J
moment. Without even trying,dr
butors proved that tlieir minds%he foil,
quarter-inch deep and only hii ported to
wide, w ill never be mistaken fori:partmen
chasms. Consider the followingl BURGL
moving
epic another contribution to
terary Hall of Fame.
Donna Scheider
Ode to Voss
and Tagliabue
Poem was childish
At • Univ
it a lock
e woodei
d of De
Xhing w;
IN DEC
• Two i
i the tra
>>sed bin
)men sai
ice befot
Silver Taps moving
Editor:
Editor:
This is in response to the childish
poem” lambasting Greeks that Messre.
Roses are red,
Violets are blue. ^ jj n j v
Rocks don’t write poetn QTHE]
and neither should you m ^ stU( j
Tk wine
Last night 1 witnessed one of the most Taghbue and Voss submitted to The Bat
Alike McC
Strengthening U.S. dollar
catches flabby competition
by Art Buchwald
I went to the Monetary Health Fitness
Club the other day to see the different
currencies work out.
Most of the currencies were flabby and
breathing hard. The only one that
seemed in great shape was the American
dollar. Its muscles were bulging and it
was shadow boxing in the ring.
Secretary of the Treasury Don Regan,
the dollar’s manager said, “We have a real
slugger now. In the late ’70’s the dollar
was the weakest fighter in the world.
Everyone was killing us. But now we have
the world champion.”
“That’s great. Who is that getting in
the ring with it?”
“The French franc. It hasn’t won a
fight since Mitterrand became presi
dent.”
The bell rang and the two currencies
started at each other. T he dollar jabbed
to the face and when the French franc
took a wild swing, the dollar ducked and
hit the franc in the stomach, then the
head, then a mean right squarely on the
jaw. The franc was groggy and almost fell
to the canvas.
The French minister of Finance ran
over to Regan and said, “Stop the fight.
You’re killing my boy.”
Regan said, “Let them continue for a
little while longer. It’s good practice for
them.”
A few minutes later the franc was
being counted out, and the dollar was
hardly perspiring.
The next one to step in the ring was the
British pound. Its manager, Margaret
Thatcher, was rubbing its gloves and giv
ing it instructions. But the British pound
could hardly stand on its legs and after
playing with it for a round, the dollar
knocked it out of the ring.
Mrs. Thatcher said to Regan, “Your
president is going to hear about this.”
T he next contender was the West Ger
man mark, who had held the currency
championship for years. It was a real
grudge match.
Regan said, “The dollar will kill this
guy. It took a terrible beating from him
during the Seventies and it wants re
venge.”
The West German head of the Central
Bank came over and said, “If you beat us
too badly we’re not going to buy any
goods from America.”
Regan told him, “I have no control
over the dollar. The only reason it’s so
strong is that your own people are betting
on my boy instead of yours.”
The bell rang, the dollar moved in
quickly and hit the mark right in the solar
plexus. Then it started working on the
mark’s face. The mark’s right eye began
to bleed and the Swiss referee stopped
the fight.
The West German banker said, “You
think you won, but now that we’re weak
we’re going to flood the U.S. with Ger
man goods that will underprice anything
you can sell.”
T he last fight was between tl
and the Japanese yen. Atone
yen had even been stronger'
West German mark. But it al:
match to the dollar.
The Japanese Minister of Final 1
“You have made us lose face. Bfi
not worried. Our exports will it
for any money we lost on the fc
Regan went over and shookha'
the dollar. “Good show,” he tolj
when he came back to me helool'
ried.
“You don’t seem as happy as
you would be.”
“I wanted a strong dollar, bt
want it this strong. If it keeps
out the other currencies no onf
able to afford to buy America'
abroad, and that means highlit]
ment in this country and a #
trade deficit. Everyone is blamiai]
putting steroids in our interest
if we lower the interest rates we'l
to high inflation, and the dollar
knocked out again.”
“Why don’t you throw a figl' 1
people abroad will start getting
in their own currencies.”
“Who do you suggest we thro"
t0? ” .
“What about the Italian lira'
money dealers see the dollar W
lira, our currency will becof
laughingstock of the world,
won’t have to worry about anybod'
afraid of the dollar again.”