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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 1985)
Page 2/The Battalion/Monday, February 4, 1985 OPINION Black History Month should interest all February is Black History Month, a time to commemorate the contributions of black Americans to this country. Texas A&M’s Black Awareness Committee is celebrating Black History Month with the theme “Unfolding the Past, Pav ing the Future.” BAG has events scheduled throughout the month. Black History Month is not just for blacks. It is for all Ameri cans, all people interested in history, culture and people. Although only a small percentage of students and faculty at tin’s events si A&M are black, this month’s events should not be restricted to such a small audience. The Battalion Editorial Board encour ages everyone to participate in Black History Month. A university is a place for broadening horizons. Learning goes beyond classrooms and books. And an education from one viewpoint alone is no education at all. The Battalion Editorial Board I1H: OSEOJ-VUS- I MEiV, • 'll. Lem ■m r « mm BAD COU> mm® ** * *• * BUNNtf w *4 ■l If K1KHA. KITOSHOEV SNIFFLES LECTO TO mmsm SORK THROW' .... .. ...^1+ ——. :»rA; : KONSIMITN CHERNENKO UNDER 1MB WEAHIER-? Is the right to bomb LETTEPS* constitutional right? Conce iandleli^ Sunday Inoveme Cent About terdenot Advocat' Clary’s ( |tree we Kxpresse responsi "We a brothetd •rend J Francis 1 I The ‘ ■igil is i Elder, 4 Iponsor* ter tor ( ■lito, Te: Cc By ART BUCHWALD Columnist for The Los Angeles Times Syndicate I dropped in on a “Right to Bomb” anti-abortion meeting the other night. The speaker was holding several sticks of dynamite as he addressed his small but fervent audience. He said, “Now the purpose in blow ing up abortion clinics is to show the country we’re serious about saving un born lives.” There was loud applause. “Everyone talks about anti-abortion, but nobody does anything about it. The ‘Right to Bomb’ movement believes that marching and silent vigils are a waste of time, and the only way people will listen is if we make a loud explosion.” The audience laughed. “Bombing abortion clinics is just an other way of saying that we revere hu man life. We want to make our blasts so loud that every congressman and Su preme Court justice will hear them and know the ‘Right to Bomb’ people means business.” Loud applause. “Blowing up bricks and mortar is nothing compared to killing millions of babies,” the speaker said. “But if we don’t prove the end justifies the means, we have no right to call ourselves pro lifers.” The speaker continued, “The most important thing in blowing up an abor tion clinic is making sure that your bomb works. Every time you set off a dud, you give aid and comfort to the criminals. Now are there any questions so far?” A teenager got up. “I never made a bomb before. How do you do it?” “After the formal meeting we will break up in study groups and our in structors will show you. It’s quite simple once you get the hang of it.” A man raised his hand. “Suppose an innocent person gets killed when the bomb goes off?” The audience booed the question. The speaker smiled. “Naturally we hope no one gets hurt, but we have to expect some casualties when we’re doing the Lord’s work.” “Amen,” we all said. The next question from the floor was, “When we build our bombs where do we place them?” “Before you leave tonight we will give you a list of the abortion clinics in the neighborhood, and you can choose the one most convenient to your home.” “Suppose two of us want to blow up the same clinic?” “All the better. Two bombs are better than one.” More laughter. “If we get caught will the ‘Right to Bomb’ movement provide legal serv ices?” “We certainly will. Our lawyers are on 24-hour standby and ready to plead each and every one of you ‘not guilty,’ no matter what the charge might be. But our goal is to get a law passed legal izing all abortion clinic bombings. If we can’t get it through Congress we’ll work for a constitutional amendment. The audience got on its feet and broke into song. “All we are saying is give bombs a chance.” The speaker raised his hand to quiet the crowd and said, “Let us pray for li fe.” We all bowed our heads. After the prayer the groups went to their assigned bomb instructors to learn about explosives, fuses and timing de vices. As I left to get my coat a man said to me, “What did you think of the mee ting.” All I could reply was, “Dynamite.” More constructive ideas needed for peace nuclear weapons detection or delivery iae EDITOR: Thank you for your courageous and constructive editorial on arms control and Star Wars development (The Bat talion, January 18). It was well thought out and offered one realistic American approach to the present stalemate. So much of the arms debate today turns on some outdated assumptions and expectations. For example, the de livery systems and Star Wars issues are expensive red herrings that divert us from the actual problem. In truth, the Star Wars defense, the MX missile system, and the B-l bomber are already obsolete for all practical purposes because of the advances in nu clear bomb technology itself. It is folly to believe now that missiles and bombers are the only viable delivery systems. Why? Because modern nuclear bombs are incredibly compact. Port cities like Houston, New York and Los Angeles could be leveled by a weapon or weap ons brought into port in a small part of the hold of a freighter flying, say, some third world flag. So how about inland cities and towns? No problem, at least not for a deter mined first-strike foreign power or technologically-minded terrorists. A modern nuclear bomb, armed and re ady for demolition, would fit neatly in the back of a station wagon. For some reason, both our own Pen tagon and the Soviet military establish ment seem shockingly oblivious to these facts. (If you question my description of the size of modern nuclear weapons, check out the publicly available mockup diagrams of MX MIRV warheads.) The Star Wars anti-missile system, darling of Defense Secretary Weinberger, would be completely ineffective in detecting such simple “delivery systems” as I have described. system accident. There are just too many nuclear weapons (60,000 of them at last count, theirs and ours) — and as time goes along, just too many opportu nities for error. We must face the dismal possibility that the President and Weinberger aren’t terribly interested in arms con trol. There seems to be a perverse thread in humanity that actually feels comfortable with the wild, expensive buildup of armaments and weapons sys tems far beyond any sensible level of need. However, I can’t say we’re doomed nerability — and still people of goodwill, courage and imagination who can de velop workable ideas such as the one in your editorial. It’s possible we can have a secure nation and a world liberated from the threat of ths Sword of Damo cles that hangs over everyone’s head. Part of that hope lies with courageous journalists willing to tell the truth even when it’s not popular, to offer sugges tions based on carefully gathered infor mation, and to encourage political lead ers and technologists to think and act realistically about these things. Keep it up! Richard Polese Bryan, Texas Battalion Ed Board provokes discussion EDITOR: Because of the disasterous conse- I uences of anyone’s all-out First strike, I on’t think such an attack is as likely as a In response to Leon Luxembourg: 1) He is confusing the editorial page, clearly labeled as “opinion” with tne overall coverage The Battalion tries to give. 2) I don’t see how affirmative action imposes on my rights, and I speak as a white, Anglo saxon, heterosexual male. The way affirmative action is supposed to work is, that institutions, especially those with past records of discrimina- TVfc O’KJ.W'f! RELAX... DOLE, PkCKWOOD, (W O’NEILL THINK WLL PASS TO6HT THROUGH... >y quite yet. There are still people devoted to finding out and telling the truth about nuclear reality, security and vul- tion are supposed to make extra effe to recruit minorites and promote thet At Texas A&M, presumably this it eludes encouraging blacks to attendan; encouraging women to join the banc Luxembourg and I are still allowed •PPty. 3) One reason people turn to crini! because of ecomomic pressures. Mo: likely causes of the dropping rate: crime are the relatively smaller numir of teenagers and young adults, who at count for most crime, and the improv ing economy. Tougher attitudes in fed: eral and state courts might also involved. 4) I have never heard of a connectic between “pro-choice” and “pro-torture; animals” groups. Indeed, today’sliben seems more likely to be involved in pre tests against cruelty to animals. 5) I cannot agree that protestir; apartheid is just a ^liberal stupid cause May 1 suggest that anyone who does® feel self-righteous when discussing tfc policy might envy South Africa fo; keeping a majority of their people “it their place?” I don’t often agree with the editor board, but I credit them with wht they’re trying to accomplish — provoktl discussion on campus, and challengetlif reader’s opinions. to By ( | “Rem died? E aren adn’ on his curle< and p This he Dus nior En len ent< Contest dta, tl Thre lished I booklet is prep his sen nues fo Dern positioi creased Steven Marzuola The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference The Battalion Editorial Board Brigid Brockman, Editor Shelley Hoekstra, Managing Editor Ed Cassavoy, City Editor Kellie Dworaczyk, News Editor Michelle Powe, Editorial Page Editor Travis Tingle, Sports Editor The Battalion Staff Assistant City Editors L Kari Fluegel, Rhonda Snider Assistant News Editors Tammy Bell, Cami Brown, John Hallell Assistant Sports Editor Charean Williams Entertainment Editors Shawn Behlen, Leigh-Ellen Clark Staff Writers Cathie Anderson, Brandon Berry, Dainah Bullard, Ann Cervenka, Tony Cornett, Michael Crawford, Kirsten Dietz, Patti Flint, Patrice Koranek, Trent Leopold, Sarah Oates, Jerry Oslin, Tricia Parker, Lynn Rae Povec Copy Editor Kay Malletl Make-up Editors Karen Bloch, Karla Martin Columnists Kevin Inda, Loren Steffy Editorial Cartoonist Mike Lane Sports Cartoonist Dale Smith Copy Writer Cathy Bennett Photo Editor Katherine Hurt Photographers Anthony Casper, Wayne Grabein, Frank Irwin, John Makely, Peter Rocha, DeanSaito Editorial Policy The Buitalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspaper operated as a community service to Texas A&M ani Bryan-College Station. Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the' ard t anh rep resent the opinions of Texas A&M administrators, faciihf or the Board of Regents. I he Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper for students in reporting, editing and photography dassci within the Department of Communications. Letters Policy Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 word! in length. 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 be signed and tmist include the address and telephone number of the writer. The Battalion is published Monday through Fridaf during Texas A&M regular semesters, except tor holiday and examination periods. Mail subscriptions are J16./J per semester, S33.25 per school year and $33 per full year. Advertising rates furnished on reguest. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. 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