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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 1985)
Page 2/The Battalion/Monday, September 16, 1985 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ Opinion Titanic lessons After years of searching and romanticizing, the Titanic has been found. The mystery surrounding the “unsinkable” ship is fading. There is talk of raising the vessel, or at least recovering the treasure she is supposedly holds. But the Titanic has a greater message than sunken treasure or lost romanticism. It can teach us about our dependence on technology. Every time we drive across a bridge, we put our lives in the bridge builder’s hands. Every time we step on a plane, we put faith in the designer’s abilities. But things can go wrong. The Titanic was supposed to be unsinkable. Yet on its maiden voyage it hit an iceberg and plunged to the bottom — taking 1,503 lives. Only 700 people could fit in the 14 lifeboats and four life rafts available. Despite our many technological accomplishments, our de vices can fail. When peoples’ lives depend on the safety of those devices, the designers must be certain that safety systems are ad equate. We often stake our lives on others peoples’ abilities. But no matter how well a ship or bridge or plane is built, no ship is “un sinkable”, no bridge “uncollapsable,” and no plane “uncrashab- le.” Without proper safety precautions, dependence on the safest machines can lead to tragedy. Whether theTitanic is raised is unimportant. Whether the discovery takes away its romanticism doesn’t matter. But the moral of this “unsinkable” vessel should never be forgotten. The Battalion Editorial Board Vailed Feature Syndicate By 1 I Texas . Irazos V; late to ha Liar iacii lervice or Ir. James ■artment < I “To my lily rad a litha dua litis says. Iiulin# v, ivelengtl lultaneoi V The lar l&M Bull Istem wh |e beams. I “The la lentimetei lesmalle ■meter w; liher sinal » LOOK, vg61N06«66«-. WB’ IN tUE WORLD* V4UV Bhich helj led.” ■ The 10- Ittits the la lich as ha lequemy les, Scogg Guardian angels save u« 0$ from evils of rock ’n’ roll hie By < Mail Call Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 words 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 must include the address and telephone number of the writer. No use for rudeness EDITOR: I couldn’t help but write regarding Anne Stancavage’s response to Sally Taylor’s article concerning Kenny Bob Parson’s article. I am upset that any guest would be so rude to a host. My parents brought me up to be polite to people, especially when I was visiting them. Where does Ms. Stancavage and her eight friends get off bad-mouthing a state that has been nice enough to let them come in and get a quality educa tion? If I had my druthers I would send her back to where she comes from, and quickly. I have little use for rude for eigners and their bad attitudes for a state that I call home. If you dislike Texas and our attitudes so much I will be more than happy to tell you how to get on any interstate away from here. And you may take your friends with you. I think we should treble the out-of- state tuition again for rude people. Robert Baldwin totalitarian system in which the citizens of the country have no opportunity to inject their opinions into the govern ment. Those who dare to criticize the Soviet government are harassed by the KGB and forced into internal exile in Si beria. The Soviet citizen on the street in Moscow is not free to express their opin ion as is Brendan Wyly. The U.S.S.R. is a regime with no re spect for human life. Even the most lib eral members of Congress readily ac knowledge the Soviet use of chemical weapons against villages in Afghanistan. Yuri Andropov, the deceased Soviet leader, while serving as the head of the KGB, approved the Bulgarian plan to assassinate the Pope. Wanting and desiring peace in the world is a goal all rational people share. However, we must live in reality and in reality the world is full of people who do not share Americans’ respect of individ ual liberty and freedom. Remember the communist regime of Pol Pot in Cambo dia who systematically exterminated one-fourth of that country’s popula tion? Hatred of communism is a logical emotion. I will sleep eas ier at night know ing that my tender ears will be safe from the dastardly lyrics of nefarious rock ’n’ roll musi cians. The Na tional PTA and the Parents Re source Music Cen ter have decided Loren Steffy Naturally high on life EDITOR: Douglas Jones they know what is acceptable and objec tionable in the world of music, and they have vowed to shield us from the hor rors of free expression. The two parents’ groups want a rat ings system imposed on the recording industry to warn parents about lyrical content. Tipper Core, one of the found ers of the PRMC, claims an “R” rating should be put on albums which contain “explicit sexual language, profanity, vio lence, the occult and the glorification of drugs and alcohol.” Saying we should be warned about these kind of lyrics is much easier than actually putting a rating on them. How will the PRMC or the PTA determine “violence.” Anti-war songs such as “Run Through the Jungle,” ^“Hey Joe” and the “I-Think-Tm-Coing-to-Die Rag” discuss violence, even though their mes sage is one of peace. Warren Zevon’s “Excitable Boy” de scribes how an aspiring maniac rapes and kills his date for the senior prom, but the message is not to glorify the act. The song shows the irony of pushing vi olent crimes off on emotional problems. The Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky with Di amonds” was dubbed a celebration of LSD by advocates and adversaries, but the author, John Lennon, swore he got the idea from his son Julian. Apparently Julian came home from school one day with a drawing which he called Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. When are lyrics really “glorification of drugs and alcohol” and when are they a child’s scribblings? The first time my fiance heard Rush’s “2112” she got furious. She felt the group was trying to force immoral va lues on their listeners. 1 interpreted “2112” to be a fictional tale set to music, and the song my fiance was objecting to merely the musicians playing out a role which was essential to their story. I think Prince is the biggest no-talent bum to ever set foot on a stage. He can’t play the guitar, he can’t sing and he can’t write music. I find his appear ance repulsive and his lyrics tacky and pointless. But my philosophy professor says Prince’s music must be interpreted metaphorically, not liter ally. impose restrictions on themsekl , , , • , -t'i • A Ever w< that s their business. I he motionpB lat ture and comic books industries kill : calcula already done that. Television and» ne I 01 cx ttl it these requirements Be found Kentet Lot I The Los T MSC g dio must meet the the federal government. But allowing a group with oneitjcl eck-cashi row perspective to slap a ratineiB 001 '"i , * 11 . . K j Ban 2,90( artistic expression ol each and evflB, c ]q )at k s musician is the next best thing lb 1 'ught to censorship. | na(or ’he M: So when I go to sleep at night hope these self-appointed guardi angels will be out there, protectii me from the the free expression others. Loren Steffy is a junior journalist major and the Opinion Page Edits for The Battalion. Music, in any form, is art. Art expression. Placing restrictions on music is just like restricting magazines, books, comics, theatre, painting or sculp ture. If the music industry wants to I attended my first Silver Taps last night — to see Aggie tradition in action (after three semesters as a grad stu dent). I was impressed by the size of, and silent respect shown by, the crowd that took time to attend. At thirty-five, you're over the hill It reminded me of the lesson I learned from a nearly fatal cycle acci dent — life is a gift. It is not to be taken for granted, as so many of we young people seem to do. I’ve recently begun to see the duties that come with caring for this gift. Du ties to myself, my society and the Higher Power that has let me keep it. They may be as simple as wearing seat belt (or a helmet). Or as difficult as not using drugs, and drinking responsibly or not at all. That may require professional help. Alcohol and driving killed 23,500 last year (Sunday Post, p. 19A). Meantime, y’all enjoy the gift. The natural high of life is wonderful. Art Ochoa, Jr. (Whilst Art Buch- wald is on vacation we reprint some columns from the past.) I was at a mag azine office the other day and one of the publishers said to me, “I have to reduce my aver- age-age read ership by five years.” “What is the average People over 35 are drags on society as far as buying power goes. Advertisers don’t like that.” Not accepted by all EDITOR: I have never written in defense of a fraternity, but in all fairness I must do so today. Brendan Wyly, on Sept. 12, complained about an ATO party with the theme of “catch a commie” and went on to say that communism is a political and economic philosophy accepted by millions. The U.S.S.R. is a sovereign nation but communism is not “accepted” by their population. Let’s be objective and call a spade a spade. The U.S.S.R. is a brutal is tne average age of your readers now?” I asked*. “Thirty-five. As far as my advertisers are concerned 35 is much too old an age to appeal to. It’s the under 30s who are spending most of the money in this country. When you hit 35 you start pinching pennies.” “That’s because the people who are over 35 have children who are spending money, and we senior citizens don’t have as much to spend ourselves.” “Don’t think the advertisers aren’t aware of that. The money power in this country belongs to the kids. They spend more on records in one year than their parents do on grass seed. They also go to the movies and the fast-food restau rants, and buy make-up and pantyhose that come in eggs, and jeans and leather jackets. They make the American way of life what it is today. That’s why the ad vertisers want to please them so much. “It isn’t our fault,” I said defensively. “At one time we used to spend money like water too. I think advertisers owe us some loyalty. We supported them for a long time.” “You can’t let sentiment get involved when you’re selling. You have to aim your copy at the person who has the money burning a hole in his or her pocket. “If you publish a magazine or put on a television program that appeals to people who are mature, you could drive this country into a recession. You must target your ads for that vast ignorant segment of the population which will buy anything, anywhere, any time. The advertiser does not want to waste his money on someone who is worried about tomorrow.” “So just because we’re discriminating, people over 35 are bad advertising risks?” I asked. “I would say those over 30. When you cross the 35 age barrier the advertiser wants you off our subscription list, 10 feet from the newsstand, and doesn’t care if you’re sitting in the room when he’s selling beer on television. “As far as he’s concerned you’re just taking up needless room on the planet. When you get into your 40s and 50s, the advertiser insists that our computer spit you out.” “Wait a minute,” I said. “Let’s back track a bit. It’s true that those of us over 35 are not the big spenders we once were. But where do you think the money comes from that your advertisers are fighting for? If we didn’t supply the dough to our kid.“ they wouldn’t have a dime for all that junk that makes them such important consumers to the adver tising world. It’s our money that is mak ing them the hot prospects of the busi ness community and forcing magazines, movies and television shows to cater to their idiotic tastes.” “That’s quite true,” my publishing friend agreed, “but let’s be sensible about this. On a cold snowy evening, would you prefer to stay home or go to a Pizza Hut?” “Stay home.” “And your son and daughters?” “Co to a Pizza Hut.” “So there you are. You might read an ad for a Pizza Hut in my magazine or see one on television. But it’s your kids who will go out on a snowy night and buy one. So why the hell should we talk to you?” “Why are you talking to me?” “Because you’re a friend and I wanted to tell you personally that be cause of your age I can no longer carry you on our subscription list.” Art Buchwald is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times Syndicate The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference The Battalion Editorial Board Rhonda Snider, Editor Michelle Powe, Managing Editor Loren Stef fy, Opinion Page Editor Karen Bloch, City Editor John Hallett, Kay Mallett, News Editors Travis Tingle, Sports Editor The Battalion Staff Assistant City Editors Kirsten Dietz, Jerry Oslin Assistant News Editors Cathie Anderson,Jan Pern Assistant Sports Editor Charean Williams Entertainment Editors Cathy Riely, WalterSmiih Art Director Wayne Grabein Copy Editors Rebecca Adair, Mike Davis, Sarah Oates Make-up Editor Ed Cassavov Staff Writers Tamara Bell, Meg Cadigan, Ed Cassavov, Cindy Gay, Doug Hall, Paul Herndon, Tammy Kirk, Jens Koepke, Trent Leopold, Mary McWhorter, June Pang, Tricia Parker, Brian Pearson Lynn Rae Povec, Marybeth Rohsner, Gigi Shamsy, Kenneth Sun Cartoonists Mike Lane, Scott McCuIlar, Kevin Thomas Columnists Camille Brown, John Hallett, Karl Pallmeyer Photographers Greg Bailey, Anthony Casper, Frank Hada, Jaime Lopez, Michael Sanchez 77)f Battalion operated as a community se B ryan-College Slat ion. Editorial Policy i non-profit, self-supporting newspaper t to Texas A&M and Opinions expressed in fhe Battalion are those of.the Editorial Board or the author, and do not ncccssnril) rep resent the opinions of Texas A&M administrators, faculty or the Board of Regents. 'The Battalion also serves as a laborator students in reporting, editing and photograph within the Department of Communications. '.'wspaper for apny classes The Battalion is published Monday through Frida) dur ing Texas A&M regular semesters, except for holida) and examination periods. Mail subscriptions arc $16.75 per se mester, $33.25 per school year and $35 per full year. Ad vertising rates furnished on request. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Editorial staff phone number: (409) 845-3316. Ad vertising: (409) 845-2611. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. 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