Page 2/The Battalion/Monday, September 16, 1985
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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
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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
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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
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