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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 1984)
Opinion Page 2/The Battalion/Wednesday, February 15, 1984 Heroes' memories now stored away Did you realize that Monday was the World War I Memorial’s last day to stand at the West entrance to the Texas A&M campus? The Battalion Editorial Board cer tainly didn’t. Neither did many other people on campus. But regardless of the lack of advance warning, the Memorial, donated by the Classes of ’23, 24, ’25 and ’26 in mem ory of the Aggies who died in the “War to end all Wars,” has been moved. And it won’t return to campus until after the bell tower is completed. On first glance, the Memorial ap peared to be just a slab of granite marking the west entrance to campus. But upon closer inspection, you could see the carefully sculpted stars and stripes, contrasting with the natu ral contours of the rock. Carved into the front of the stone are the names of the Aggies killed in World War I. Even though people passing by didn’t always realize what the Memo rial symbolized, it still stood as a re minder of those who gave their lives in defense of democracy. What will be its fate? Charles R. Cargill, vice president for operations, says a committee has been formed to determine a new location for the Memorial. But the committee is disorganized and no location for the monument has been determined. For now, the memorial to the for mer Texas A&M students who gave their lives fighting in World War I sits in an area maintenance building. Heroes’ memories shouldn’t be stored away in University storage bins — not even for six months. — The Battalion Editorial Board THE MISSING SATELLITE... r / Apt*- / 'Ww s p a By T1 Braz ers ( absei Men unsa dire( ’Hardware' influences Letters U.S. foreign policy Peace between races By Art Buchwald Columnist for The Los Angeles Times Syndicate The rumor in Washington is that Secre tary of Defense Casper Weinberger and Secretary of State George Schultz can’t get together on foreign policy. There is a further rumor that Wein berger is influencing foreign policy. There is a further rumor that Wein berger is influencing foreign policy more than Schultz. “This shouldn’t surprise anyone,” Mi guel, my friend at one of the embassies in Washington, told me. “Everyone in this town knows the Pentagon is in, and Foggy Bottom is out.” “Why is that?” I wanted to know. “Bec’&Use when & Cotmtry'has a for eign policy based'^oft'* hiihtary strength, the secretary of defense is going to have 'a lot more to say than the secretary of state.” “That’s how much you know. The secretary of defense only carries out the policies set by the state department,” I said. “It used to be that way, but it isn’t anymore. Look at it from our point of view. When Weinberger goes globe trotting he carries photos of new tanks, classy fighter planes, sleek ground-to- air missiles, and sexy helicopters. When George Schultz travels around the world he has nothing to show world leaders except pictures of his grandchil dren. .. , “When Schultz talks to my colonel- president, all he tells him is that if he wants continued U.S. support, he has to get his financial house in order, hold free elections and stop beating up on the people. That’s not the kind of stuff my leader wants to hear. “Weinberger doesn’t give lectures. As long as my colonel-president certifies we’re anti-communist, we can have all the ground-to-air missiles we want. If you were running my country would you rather have a visit from Schultz or Weinberger?” “Weinberger, of course.” “Our foreign minister is going to make a visit to Washington this spring and I have been setting up his itinerary. He just cabled me and wanted to know why he had to visit the State Depart ment. “I told him it was tradition, so *he agreed to a 10-minute stop there, on the condition he could spend the rest of the day at the Pentagon.” “That’s not very diplomaic.” “The Defense Department has of fered the foreign minister a ride on a nuclear aircraft carrier, a flight in a B- 52 bomber and a military parade in his honor at West Point. All the State De partment could come up with was a visit to Disney World.” “Don’t your people realize the Secre tary of State is the second most impor tant postilion in our government?” “Not under Reagan it isn’t. Rumor has it that when George Schultz starts briefing the President on some intricate diplomatic problem, Reagan dozes off in his chair. But when Weinberger comes in with his bagful of military con tingency plans, the president really perks up. Mr. Reagan loves simplistic solutions to world affairs.” “No wonder your people are tilting toward Weinberger.” “It’s no contest when you have to choose between a Cabinet officer who has a $2.5 billion budget and one who has a $305 billion to toss around.” “Do you have any word on the morale of the State Department?” “The rumor is that they’re not too happy over there. The president still lets them write nasty diplomatic notes to Nicaragua, Cuba and Canada. And ev ery once in awhile they can call in a for eign ambassador and read the riot act to him for shipping computers to Bul garia. But it’s hard to sell the foreign country leaders on a peaceful solution to a crisis situation when Weinberger will offer to solve the same problem with 100 helicopter gunships.” “I guess what you’re saying has val idity, because every time you see George Schultz on television he looks very ner vous, and every time Casper Wein berger comes on the screen he doesn’t seem to have a worry in the world.” “It shouldn’t surprise you. Schultz deals in soft talk and Weinberger deals in hardware.” Editor: In light of the fact that this is Black His tory Month, this passage on racial unity, written in 1938 by a prominent member of the Baha’i Faith, Shogi Effendi, seems particularly relevant. “Let the whites make a supreme ef fort in their resolve to contribute their share to the solution of this problem, to abandon once and for all their usually inherent and at times subconscious sense of superiority, to correct their ten dency towards revealing a patronizing attitude towards the members of the other race, to persuade them through their intimate, spontaneous and infor mal association with them of the genu ineness of their friendship, and the sin cerity of thpir intentions, and to master their impatience of any lack of respon siveness on^Jie part of a people who have received, for so long a period, such grievous and slow-healing wounds. “Let the Blacks, through a corre sponding effort on their part, show by every means in their power, the warmth of their response, their readiness to for get the past, and their ability to wipe out every trace of suspicion that may still linger in their hearts and minds. “Let neither think that the solution of so vast a problem is a matter that exclu sively concerns the other. Let neither think that such a problem can either easily or immediately be resolved. “Let neither think that anything short of genuine love, extreme patience, true humility, consummate tact, sound initia tive, mature wisdom, and deliberate, persistent, and prayerful effort, can suc ceed in blotting out the stain which this patent evil has left on the fair name of their common country.” Clearly, achieving racial unity should be the concern and responsibility of the predominately white student body at Texas A&M. It is encouraging to see Aggies slowly awakening to the needs of an ever-changing world. Now is a good time to reflect upon our character and, through friendly as sociation with all peoples, strive to erad icate the racism, nationalism and reli gious bigotries that are disrupting the foundations of peace throughout our common planet. The world is ready for a change. John Wendt Soil and Crop Sciences Graduate Stu dent Heterosexual reaction Editor: Mr. DePalma and friends, We would like to voice our heterosex ual reaction to your continued com ments on behalf of the gay community at Texas A&M. Heterosexuality is a term used to de fine the biological function that the hu man species must undergo to repro duce, thereby propogating the species. In today’s society, sex is portrayed as a voluntary emotion, not as its actual bi ological function. Consequently, homo sexuals have taken it upon themselves to take advantage of these views and pro claim that homosexuality is “normal.” It is not. Homosexuality is misguided repro duction that has been catalyzed by socie ty’s changing views. Homosexuality serves no useful purpose except to give personal and physical gratification. We humans are living animals who must physically join with opposite sex to re produce and survive. We would like to make it clear that sex (heterosexual) does provide gratification besides its bi ological function, and also that we mean “normal” as a typical biological occur rence, not as generally accepted views of society. In his articles, Mr. DePalma men tioned that The Battalion, as a represen tative of the university, put down homo sexuals. If he would have read the disclaimer that said, “opinions...do not necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M University administrators or faculty members, or the Board of Re gents...” he would have realized he was wrong. You have chosen to live the life you want. You have to take the flack from those groups very opposed to gays, as any group takes flack from their opposi tion. It is your chosen lifestyle, you have not been forced to live this way. You are persecuted by those who cannot justify your lifestyle, have alternate beliefs, or are simply opposed to your way of life. You cry for equal rights as ifbtf persecuted as a race. Homosexualiu obviously not a race, since reproduce is not possible. The reason people write “X is afe and tear down your pamphlets is S cause you make such a grand issuet of something that many people havti concern for. We think the phrase “li and let live” applies and is used ms than you think, Mr. DePalma. Remember, “Laugh and the woi laughs with you. Gry and they calh names — so quit crying! Pete Walton Robert Hicks Kenneth Bates! Statements correcte ernn Groi B< tion Bill first brea tee Billii abse plan pus. on c cent that’ be,” T tion in ( said. com City the A&F B Hall tory Editor: David Swanson’s letter in Wednesdai Battalion began as a reasonable ant but quickly became unsound with the troduction of “scientific evidence.” If Swanson had taken the time to search the “evidence,” he would hi found that while there is a definite^ crease in the strength of the eart magnetic field, it means, in all probal ity, that the field is headed for a ret( sal. Further, a study by Subir Baneiji and Donald Serowl shows that thisd crease and reversal have occurred up 12 times in the last nine million yen the last one occurring about 71C years ago, making the earth sli| older that 20,000 years. In June of 1979, John Eddy Aram Boornazian brought forth £> dence that the sun was shrinkingbyl* arc seconds per century. Soon aflt measurements were taken by Irwin piro of MIT, Sabatino Sofia, and W Morrison. All came up with a shrinkai of less than 0.3 arc seconds percentm A five-foot per hour shrinkage rate, suggested by Swanson, would puttl sun about 51 million miles away ft® 1 the sun at the time of creation. Perhaps if Swanson would actual confirm his information instead ofrd 1 ing on glittering generalities anduns»| ported assertions, he could product stronger argument. Better luck next time, Dave! Steve Kli* 1 Class o( ! to It he s lar \ com in i vote A gave on t ten- quir sent prio Cler Tue B with shoi Feb was the mitt shot The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Editor Rebeca Zimmermann Managing Editor . John Wagner City Editor Patrice Koranek Assistant City Editors Kathleen Hart, Stephanie Ross News Editor Tracey Taylor Assistant News Editors Susan Talbot, Brigid Brockman, Kelley Smith Editorial Page Editor Kathy Wiesepape Sports Editor Donn Friedman At Ease Editor Shelley Hoekstra Assistant At Ease Editor Angel Stokes Photo Editor .John Makely Staff writers Ed Alanis, Robin Black, Bob Caster, Bonnie Langford, Christine Mallon, Kay Mallet, Sarah Oates, Michelle Powe, Lauri Reese, Dave Scott, Karen Wallace Photographers Michael Davis, Bill Hughes, Katherine Hurt, Eric Lee, Dean Saito Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspaper operated as a community service to Texas A&M and Bryan-College Station. Opin ions expressed in The Battalion are those of the Editorial Board or the author, and do not nec essarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M administrators, f aculty or the Board of Regents. 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