Page 2/The Battalion/Tuesday, December 3, 1985
The greater threat
Today is the third day since Texas began fining motor
ists for not wearing seat belts. Any driver found unres
trained is subject to a $25 to $50 fine. The law has its merits,
but it is ahead of its time.
Bef ore Texas attempts to deal with drivers who are de
termined to risk their lives by driving without a seat belt, it
should attempt to deal with drivers who are determined to
risk the lives of others by driving with an alcoholic beverage
in their hand.
Not having an open container law presents a greater
threat to the safety of Texas motorists than not having a
mandatory seat belt law.
The seat belt law primarily protects the life of the wearer,
but an open container law would protect not only the drink
ing driver, but his victims as well.
The seat belt law, in theory, is a positive step toward
safety on Texas highways, but without an open container
law to accompany it, the positive step becomes little more
than a stumble.
If beer-guzzling drivers are forced to be strapped in
before they go for an inebriated spin, it still doesn’t protect
the potential victims — even if those victims have their seat
belts fastened.
The Battalion Editorial Board
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By JOHN HALLETT
NASA has run into a snag in the space
station program. It seems that the Inter
national Brotherhood of Teamsters,
Chauffeurs, Astronauts, Spaceworkers,
Warehousemen and Helpers of America
wants to unionize NASA employees.
“It’s a very real problem,” says George
Jetson, cartoon spokesman for the Na
tional Aeronautics and Space Adminis
tration. ” Can you imagine what it will be
like if we are forced to go to eight hour
workdays with an hour and a half for
lunch? And don't forget that the contract
that has been presented to us also calls
for 15 minute coffee breaks on the hour.
That means we’ll only get six hours of
work out of each astronaut a day. Right
now, the average astronaut puts in 12-16
hours a day.”
“Are there any immediate problems?”
I asked.
“As a matter of fact there are,” Jetson
replied. The Atlantis crew voted Sunday
morning to start their own local. We re
sponded by not honoring the demands
they put forth. In turn, Atlantis
threatened to abort the mission and
bring the shuttle down two days early.
After two hours of tense negotiations
that didn’t get anywhere, President
Reagan named former president
Richard Nixon as an arbitrator in the
contract dispute.”
“How come the press was kept in the
dark,” I asked.
“Well, this is off the record, mind you,
NASA was afraid that a grass roots
movement comprised of blue collar
workers in support of the Atlantis astro
nauts would build momemtum and force
us to compromise our position. Anyway,
you can print this, Nixon caught the first
plane out of Newark early Sunday morn
ing and got here three hours after
Reagan called him.
“Let me tell you that choosing Tricky
Dick was a big mistake. He came in here
saying that NASA ought to be willing to
give a little considering that the average
number of mission tasks performed by
each astronaut had risen in the past year
compared to last year. The rise compen
sates for a reduced flight schedule — the
result of maintaince problems not co
vered by the manufacturer’s limited war
ranty on parts and labor.”
“I’m curious, what kind of warranty
comes with a shuttle?”
“One year or 12,000 miles, which ever
comes first.”
“You’re kidding, the big three auto
makers can do better than that.”
“The company told us it was a typo in
the contract, it should have been 24,000
miles. Before we signed, the General
Accounting Office checked the fine
print in the purchase agreement but I
guess it got past them. We didn’t notice it
until the ink was dry on the contract.
Anyway we purchased an extended war
ranty on the drive chain and the electric
al system.”
“Hey, I’m no expert but even I know
that the shuttle doesn’t have a drive
chain, George.”
“That’s right, but the company who
manufactured the aircraft is in Senator
Waste’s state and he was up for re-
election when we purchased the warran
ty. He pushed the appropriations mea
sure through the Senate claiming that it
would bolster the local economy which
has been sagging for years.”
“What was the problem?”
The company we had the contract with
bought out most of the local industry,
automated three-quarters ol the jobs
and layed off thousands of workers. Not
only does the company monopolize most
of the industry and businesses in the
area, it owns the only mortgage company
in the county. The unemployed have lit
tle hope of finding jobs and the company
is foreclosing on mortgages left and
right. Will you excuse me for a moment,
please?
“Atlantis, this is Houston, your coffee
break was over five minutes ago, what’s
up there sloughing off so thatfc.
get in some overtime.
. ”Ok John, what werewetalU
about?”
“You just finished tellingmeatat
extended wairanty. HoWtome
to keep an eye on Atlantis.?"
“It’s part of the emergencyaustl
program that went into effect as*
arbitration was finished withtheAill
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the problem guys.”
“Houston, this is Atlantis. Sorry
George, we got wrapped up in ‘All My
Children.’ We’re getting back to work
right now.”
“See that you do Atlantis,” Jetson re
plied. “We don’t want any goldbrickers
crew. I'm doubling as a mediarebi 1 ' e,1 ? e Cnm
specialist and mission controller." <fe c ‘ slon j n ’
“What did t In 11 ru gain fromarti abordoirs * a/
don..' 1 ffihoke of ab
“Double overtime — triple on It vidual rathei
days, new lockers, a dental plan - Tonight at
American Express Gold Card (war
crew member and separate I
men and women aboard the shuttle s
don’t forget the eight-hour
“What’s the American Expresitj
for?”
“Commercials.”
major, a columnist and
The Battalion
R c
Ae
Mail Call -
Scripture for victory
EDITOR:
A preacher in Hearne who is a graduate student in
psychology at Texas A&M cited the following scrip
tures to me after the Ags beat the cotton out of that
other school. I thought it very appropriate for the
occasion:
- “I-say-ahh 42:10 And the enemy shall come from
the north as a raging bum steer, making vain boasts
against die f armer and his house. And it shall come to
pass that the enemy shall be humiliated and be sent to
graze in the bluebonnets and the farmer shall harvest
his cotton and he glad.”
Roger Carver ’86
Don’t downplay tradition
EDITOR:
From the articles in The Battalion last week I think
we could be safe in proclaiming it “Anti-Tradition
Week.”
1 am a first generation Aggie, neither my parents
nor any relatives have attended this great institution. I
entered fexas A&M blindly, I knew absolutely no
thing about the traditions and little more about the
academics.
After being here a little over a year I feel I could
change schools (even to t.u.) without my academics
suffering at all, but you couldn’t pay me to transfer
anywhere. I have grown to love this school and all that
it stands for. Sure, education is important, even more
so than traditions, but it is not enough. People might
come to A&M for its academics, but they stay because
of its traditions!
One great tradition, which unfortunately is no
more, was the University’s non-recognition of fraterni
ties. They were not recognized in the past because they
served no purpose. Now some are recognized and
many more will be, but they still serve no purpose and
are even detrimental to the unity of A&M.
A&M is not like other schools. Here it is not neces
sary to spend hundreds of dollars to join a.social orga
nization. At A&M the dorms and Off-Campus Aggies
serve as very strong social organizations and they cost
next to nothing to be a member. I guess that is not such
a big deal. If people want to waste their money, that’s
their business.
The one thing that disturbs me is their lack of re
spect for the traditions at A&M. Sure they might go to
yell practice and one or two make it out to bonfire, but
where were they during the first Silver Taps? At rush
parties. Silver Taps is probably the second most mean
ingful tradition at A&M, and the fraternities blatantly
disregarded it as if it were nothing at all.
So come on, Ags, don’t let people downplay tradi
tions. They are the backbone of A&M; they are what
makes this school different, and better than any other
in the w'orld!
Ken Ankele ’88
Biblical perspective
EDITOR:
The controversy about AIDS has finally stirred my
writing blood. 1 am a Christian and my stance on the
issue is from a biblical perspective.
The Bible is Cod’s word. The central theme of
which is Cod’s plan to save mankind through His Son,
Jesus Christ (See John 3:16). The truths contained in
the Bible are logical and self-evident, but there are
numerous scholarly books that verify the Bible’s au
thenticity including: More Than A Carpenter by J.
McDowell and Mere Christianityby C.S. Lewis, among
others. Even a brief summary of these is beyond the
scope of this letter.
Cod’s commands against sin are for a person’s own
good. For example, the Bible commands not to get
drunk (Ephesians 5:18), not to be sexuallly immoral,
including homosexuality (Corinthians 6:9), but the
greatest command was as follows: “Love the Lord your
Cod with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your mind and with all your strength. The second is
this: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12: 30-
31).
Some of the people I love most have been alcoholics.
Some overcame it and some literally destroyed their
lives. In the process they brought much pain to them
selves and to those they deeply loved. Sin is destructive
to self and to others. According to the Bible, homosex
uality is a sin, and thus is destructive to self and others.
Cod doesn’t want people to die with AIDS (homose
xuals or innocent babies), nor does He want alcoholics
and their victims (including innocent babies) to die in
automobile wrecks. Cod wants us to have joyful, won
derful lives; that is why He sent Jesus (John 10:10) and
gave us His commands to follow (John 14:21). He
wants us to renew our spirits (to be “born again”) and
become members of His eternal kingdom (See John,
Chapter 3), but it is our choice. He has done all He can.
t am commanded by Cod to love all mankind, in
cluding homosexuals, but never to accept homosexual
ity as an “alternate” lifestyle. I believe if Christ was
again on Earth in the flesh, performing miracles. He
might well be healing homosexuals from AIDS.
However, He would no doubt tell them “Co now and
leave your life of sin” (John 8:11).
L.M. Smith
Learn, then criticize
EDITOR:
This letter is in response to Michael Davis’ letter.
Davis, w here do you get off prejudging or criticizing
groups if you don’t know what you’re talking about?
I’m writing in reference to your criticism of the Na
tional Society of Black Engineers. For your informa
tion, NSBE is open to people of all races and sexes in
engineering, science and applied science disciplines.
There is also membership for any discipline not men
tioned above.
It is obvious that you are basing unfounded conclu
sions merely on the name of the organization. If every
one rationalized in that manner, I guess everyone here
would be agricultural or mechanical; SMU would ex
clude anyone who wasn’t of the Southern Methodist
faith; the YMCA wouldn’t take in anyone who wasn’t a
young Christian man, etc.
Really, Davis, I’m disappointed that someone who is
evidently ready to finish his education still has a lot to
learn. You need to learn to find out what things are
really like before you try to find something wrong with
them and blindly jump to conclusions thereby showing
off your ignorance and stupidity.
Since it is quite evident that you don’t know what
you’re talking about, in the future, before you start
criticizing anything, learn about it first.
Stanly Goodridge
Merry Christmas, Hotard
EDITOR:
I would like to wish all the students of Hotard a
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I offer my
thanks and appreciation for their cooperation which
helps me to do a better job.
I especially thank you for your kindness and friend
ship and for the wonderful Thanksgiving goodies you
have given to me and my family to enjoy. Also for the
Christmas gifts each year.
May Cod bless each and every one of you.
Linda Martinez
Custodial, Hotard Hilton
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Jtrtji*
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Jji
Assistant Sports Editor....ChareanWM
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Cinds Gay, DoipJ
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Cops Editors Rebecca:! 1
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BradV
Make-up Editor EdCas*
Columnists Camille Brown,]
Ka:
Art Director Wayne
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|qn Carp, AnlhonyOf
Frank Hada.Johnfr
MicnaelSa* 1 '
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