Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 23, 1985)
Page 2/The Battalion/Tuesday, April 23,1985 'v - OPINION ■ Holocaust should not be forgotten Chancellor Helmut Kohl, at a ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the liberation of the Bergen-Belsen concentra tion camp, said Monday that Germans must accept their “histor ical responsibility for tne crimes of Nazi tyranny.” He said Ger many must never let the dark days of Hitler and his fanatical following be falsified or made light of. He is right — we must never forget what happened in Nazi Germany over forty years ago. However, we snould not hold Germany personally responsible for that madness; we should not hold any one nation responsible. Instead, all mankind must take responsibility. We must remember it as a lesson for all man kind — a lesson which will prevent us from ever letting such a tragedy occur again. Kohl’s speech came at a time of increased publicity about na- zism. President Reagan outraged Jewish leaders last week by an nouncing his plans to lay a wreath at a German cemetery where SS soldiers are buried. And federal authorities stepped up their efforts to arrest white supremacists in Arkansas and Missouri wanted for various charges, including murder. Obviously, some threat of that madness persists today. Many people think the past should be left in the past, even tually to be forgotten. A few radical right-wingers actually deny the Holocaust ever happened. But as President Reagan said in a message sent to the Ber gen-Belsen ceremony, the Holocaust is “a part of the conscious ness of responsible human beings everywhere, no matter what age.” We must remember our mistakes of the past, so we can avoid ever making them again. The Battalion Editorial Board LETTERS: Misquoted speaker not really a pervert on the graves of the two Nazi SS men, Hitler’s butcher boys, and in doing so make a statement in support of Nazism. EDITOR: Well, Now that you’ve made me a famous local pervert, I just thought I’d like to thank all of you for a) quoting me out of context, b) quoting me incorrectly, and c) using headline techniques that are right up there with the National En quirer. Point A: My talk of Monday night was about the use in fiction of language that some people may consider obscene. By using the general term obscenity you implied my approval of the use of obscene sexual acts and obscene beha- vour in fiction — essentially pornogra phy. In fact, I didn’t discuss these topics. Point B: You quote me as saying that ‘ editors approve of the use of obscene 5 language if used for shock and em phasis. I didn’t say that. What you did was combine a later statement about how the overuse of obscenity makes it lose its shock and emphasis with what I actually said about editors — that is, edi tors allow the use of graphic or obscene language as long as it is appropriate to the story. Point C: OBSCENITY OK IN STO RIES SAYS LOCAL SCI-FI WRITER. Pretty graphic. Grabs your attention. It isn’t GIRL RAVISHED BY UFO COM MUNISTS, but it’s pretty good. Oh well, notoriety is almost as good as fame, even if it gets one picketed by the Citi zens for “Decency.” While I feel strong enough about the points above to request you print this letter, I actually think the article you did on me was fairly complimentary and ac curate within the limits described above. Still, to become a professional journalist, I suppose one must start misquoting people somewhere. In fiction we call this the creative process. Steven Gould Some disappointed by atheist speaker EDITOR: c A&Ms campus needs cleaning up To visit the Dachau concentration camp is inappropriate in that all the me dia attention on a concentration camp would reflect badly on a people and a nation of which half had not even been born at the time of Hitler’s Final Solu tion. Reagan’s intention is to heal wounds, no open them.. I have seen Dachau. I have seen Aushwitz-Birkenau where over four million people were murdered. I have seen bombed out remains in Berlin. There are scars upon the land and in the memories of millions. They will never be forgotten. However, responsi bility does not lie with the German na tion of today but with a barbaric few of yesteryear. Germany today is a nation sorely troubled by a past that no one will ever forget. Reagan’s gesture of honor to the soldiers (all but two) at Bitburg is in tended to show that the world does not hold the German nation accountable for what happened 40 years ago. It is an en deavor to improve relations between the U.S. and one of its closest allies, Ger many of today. James Korenek Class of’85 Reagan wants to heal wounds EDITOR: In reply to Cassavoy’s attack on Rea gan: One would think that by the time Cas- savoy became a senior, he would have outgrown his use of “fiction” to sway his readers; however, his blatant exaggera tions and disregard for facts denies this. It was and still is Reagan’s intention to honor German soldiers at Bitburg of which all but two died believing that they were fighting for the safety and freedom of themselves and their loved ones. A belief for which countless Americans have died fighting for. Reagan is not going to place a wreath I woke up Mon day morning and stumbled into the kitchen to start the coffee brewing. As I looked out the window, I was greeted by the re newed presence of debris in the creek which runs behind my apartment. Pa- I am writing in reference to the MSG Great Issues Lecture Series that spon sored Madalyn Murray-O’Hair’s visit to Texas A&M on 16 April 1985. Loren Steffy per plates, moldy chicken wrapped in aluminum foil, a scum-coated Cheetos bag and, of course, beer cans dotted the banks. Viewing this scene first thing in the morning has about as much appeal as watching “Dawn of the Dead” while eating lasagna. At Texas A&M, we pride ourselves on our beautifully landscaped campus. But while walking across Aggieland I noticed many items similar to those in my creek. Paper and food wrappers were heedlessly strewn about the cam pus, and the students passed by without even noticing. Outside the Blocker Building, someone had neatly lined up his discarded beer bottles on the curb, about five feet from the dumpster. Aggies may not lie, cheat, steal or tol erate those who do, but littering is an entirely different matter. Eugene Ray, director of Grounds Maintenance for the University, said A&M spends approximately $50,000 annually to clean up litter on campus. $50,000 is a lot of money to waste picking up after irresponsible people, especially with the budget crunches pla guing this already-financially-troubled University. If everyone picked up his own trash, perhaps we could even get some pencil sharpeners for the first floor of the Plant Sciences Building or maybe keep the Floral Test Garden. How nice to be able to pay someone to plant flowers in stead of picking up trash. Littering is not always intentional, but those who frequently pitch an empty ■ STA1 Loci eyesore fun< too cigarette wrapper over their shoulden often fail to realize that someone ek must come along and pick it up. An( the average salary of grounds mainti nance workers is around five dollars® hour. Texas A&M doesn’t have an Indi® By TAA Sn Working to tending two ar | raising money [ Ethiopia. to cry when people throw trash on I shoes or a short guy in an owl suitit dance around “hoot-hooting,” all w have is a campus which Aggies shout care about enough to keep clean andi budget which could use a $50,00(l-i year shot in the arm. If we’re going to control the Hi problem at A&M, the faculty and si dents are going to have to take the ii tiative and pick up the paper cups a candy wrappers in their path. Itmaynu be an enjoyable task, but with everyom screaming about salary reductions tuition increases, it sure seems li good time to start. Loren Steffy is a sophomore joum lism major and a weekly columnisth The Battalion. How far will trade war go? By ART BUCHWALD Columnist for The Los Angeles Times Syndicate The last Japanese soldier from World War II was holed up in a cave on Oki nawa. A team of Americans and Japa nese with loudspeakers were trying to persuade him to come out. “Corporal Nakajinko, it’s all right to surrender. The war is over.” “How do I know if you are lying to me?” said a plaintive voice from the cave. “I can assure you, Nakajinko,” a Japa nese official yelled over the speaker. “All hostilities have ceased.” There was about three minutes of si lence and then the voice said, “Who won?” The official yelled back, “The Ameri cans. The Japanese laid down their arms 40 years ago.” “This could be a trick. Prove to me that the United States won.” “The Americans now have a trade deficit with Japan of $37 billion,” the of ficer shouted. “How can the Americans have a $37 billion trade deficit if Japan lost?” “Because the Japanese rethought their strategy in 1945 and it made more sense to invade the United States with automobiles than with soldiers. The Americans are buying everything Japan produces, but the Japanese are not buy ing much of what the U.S. makes. It’s all here in Fortune magazine if you want to read about it.” “Leave it at the mouth of the cave,” the voice said. A half hour later the rescue team was getting impatient. “Nakajinko, are you now persuaded that Japan lost the war?” “I am puzzled,” the voice from the cave said. “If we lost, how can we export 25 percent more cars to the U.S. than we did last year?” “Because we had a voluntary quota, and once it was lifted we decided this was the best time to flood the U.S. mar ket.” The voice from the cave said, “Didn’t Premier Nakasone realize this would an ger the Americans?” “He’s trying to make up for it now, by asking all the Japanese to buy American goods.” Nakajinko yelled, “I’m not coming out if I have to buy American goods. I still remember Pearl Harbor.” “As a Japanese veteran you will be exempt from buying American goods. We want you to come out of the cave so we can declare World War II officially over. “American goods aren’t made as well as Japanese products, ” he yelled. “B ery time I stole something from theUi Army Quartermaster depot, 1 h take it back.” “Nakajinko. This is no time to disc® the merits of U.S. and Japanese mart ufactured goods. We have a trade sion in Washington trying to iron oil things right now.” “Does that mean there is goingtok another war?” “Of course there isn’t going to) other war. Countries don’t go to w over trade differences.” “That’s what the Japanese c said on December 6th, 1941,” Nab jinko cried. The American liaison officer should through his bullhorn, “Look, if joi don’t come out in the next 30 minute we’re going to have to shoot you." “Why? Because my country won’t or der any telecommunications equipmit from you?” “It has nothing to do with telecom munications equipment,” the Ameria yelled. “It has to do with your pi refusal to buy Alka Seltzer.” “I think I’ll stay here until the Amen cans and Japanese resolve their diffei ences.” “Why, Nakajinko? Why?” “Because if they don’t, I’ll just haven find myself another cave.” more letters: A ‘believer’ thinks atheists without love EDITOR: was a great success, and a second annual Run for the Children is already being planned. Crocker Hall Dorm Council The front page story aobut world-re nowned atheist Madalyn Murray- O’Hair on April 17 made me realize just how irrational of a “thinking” person O’Hair really is. The article stated that “She stressed the importance of living life to the fullest because death is final.” Then she tells us how she would handle the treatment of retarded or hand icapped children, “They are not any thing that should be preserved. If I were in charge of them, I would absolu tely see that every single one of them was snuffed out. There is absolutely no solution to that monster child who is born.” Where were Aggies during Muster?' EDITOR: People: Aggie Muster was Sunday. Remem ber? April 21, San Jacinto Day? Most of you didn’t. Tomas Rokicki Another biker leaves markon pedestrian I am not writing to debate this issue of an atheist’s view versus mine on the subject of “religion.” However, I was sadly disappointed by the manner in which O’Hair expressed her case. Live life to the fullest, O’Hair? What about helping these children live their lives to the fullest? What solution do you propose for the mentally ill or the el derly, or society’s other “misfits”? Snuff them out too? Her misuse of the English language was demonstrated by the needless use of obscenities directed at all types of peo ple belonging to the human race and lack of sensitivity damaged my percep tion of the MSC Great Issues forum. You say “An atheist loves himself and his fellow man instead of God.” Where is your love and compassion for those less fortunate than you? I say that an atheist hates himself and his fellow man and God! Atheists know no love and you are living proof! Edmond R. LaBelle 5K run for charity a great success There is no doubt her topic is stirring EDITOR: to both sides of viewpoints on “religion.” Regardless, her performance, I believe, was not in keeping with the quality lec turers that the Great Issues Lecture Se ries is capable of persenting. I, for one, was not edified. Russell V. Pritchard, Jr- Crocker Hall would like to thank all the participants for their support in the Run for the Children. This 5K run, sponsored by Crocker Hall and Bud Light, was held this past Saturday with all proceeds going to the Christian Chil dren’s Fund Village of Hope. The run EDITOR: You are a female with long, light brown hair. I am a male wearing fa tigues and in the band. When our lives touched for the first time on April 18, 1985 at the south end of the Academic Building. It was, oh, so brief. Luckily. Unfortunately, I was in a crowd, and you were on a bike. You uttered one brief, unprintable expletive and our fates were sealed, for true to the laws of nature, two objects cannot occupy the same place at the same time. This ex plains the swelling on my calf, as well as the bleeding gouge you left me to re member you by. This slight injury, however, is not my reason for writing this letter. I am in credibly perplexed as to why you were careening through a crowd of pedestri ans and, of most importance, why you didn’t stop. It would seem to me that the basic tenets of Aggie Spirit, not to men tion common courtesy would suggest that you stop and see if you’d hurt any one. Please understand that I hold no hard feelings toward you, and all may be forgotten with a simple apology. Silas R. DeRoma, ’85 The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference The Battalion Editorial Board Brieid Brodkman, Editor Shelley Hoekstra, Managing Editor Kellie Dworaczyk, News Editor Michelle Powe, Eaitorial Page Editor Rhonda Snider, City Editor Travis Tingle, Sports Editor The Battalion Staff Assistant City Editors Dainah Bullard, Kari Fluegel, Assistant News Editors Cami Brown, John Hallett, Kay Mallet Assistant Sports Editor Charean Williams Entertainment Editors Shawn Behlen, Leigh-EllenClart Staff Writers Rebecca Adair, Cathie Anderson, MarcyBasile, Tamara Bell, Brandon Berr), Jeff Brady, Ann Cervenka, Michael Crawford, MaryCot, Mike Davis, KirstenDietr Cindy Gay, Pete Herndot Trent Leopold, Sarah Oates, Jerry Oslin, June Pang, T ri'cia Parker, Cathy Rie| Marybeth Rohsner, WalterSmiik Copy Editors .Jan Perry, KelleySmiil Make-up Editors Karen Block, Karla Martin Columnists Ed Cassavoy, Kevin Inria Loren Steff) Editorial Cartoonist Mike Lane Sports Cartoonist Dale Smirk Copy Writer Cathy Bemteli Photo Editor Katherine Hurt Photographers Greg Bailey Anthony Casper, Wayne Grabeim Bill Hughes, Frank Irvin Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newsuff operated as a community service to Texas /t&M d Bryan-College Station. Opinions expressed in The Battalion are Aim of ^ Editorial Board or the author, and do not necemnljttf resent the opinions of Texas A&M administrators, fa* or the Board of Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspapttlD students in reporting, editing and photograph/ dattt within the Department of Communications. Letters Policy Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 mh: ii length. The editorial staff reserves the right totdiilflW for style and length but will make even effort to mails' the author’s intent. Each letter must be signed and * include the address and telephone number of the vrittr. The Battalion is published Monday through Ftithf during Texas A&M regular semesters, except hi (ioMi; and examination periods. Mail subscriptions are lli'-' per semester, $33.25 per school year and f35 perM year. Advertising rates furnished on request. Our address: The Battalion, 2W Reed itdkd Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, 77843. Editorial staff phone number: (409) 845-W.M vertising: (409) 845-2611. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX M POSTMAST ER: Send address changes to The Bid ion, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 7!SII “Hunger Bust! conjunction w People, an Ac tion, says Dr. i lege Station pra “We went t facts about the E ia,” Ross says, elp Ethiopia, hangups than ; pie need help a A sense of a other reason t Henderson anc Schools sponsc washes to real Ross says. “The kids ai ves,” Ross says lected about $ with their own provide ‘Hung the publicity.” Although th siastic about fund, some pai linda Box, whe at Henderson. “Parents an they don’t kne money goes,” I MSI By SUSA! The Memo awards banqu< very-reflective live of the pasl said Denis Dav Council presid Pat Wood Council pres Thomas H. R