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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 24, 1987)
Page 2/The Battalion/Tuesday, November 24,1987 Opinion Finally, a workable method of AIDS education It is quite dis tressing to be con fronted daily with new facts on AIDS and the inexorably mounting mortal ity among our fin est young people. To see so many productive souls waste away and die is tragic, as is the persecution of ever, handily demolished her stuffy logic with irresistable wit, thus laying her antiquated ideas to rest. They em phasized the continued need for “safe sex” education in the schools while at tacking prejudice against gays. Just be cause most AIDS victims are gay is no reason to blame them for the spread of AIDS. They are innocent victims; no one is to blame. Brian Frederick gays as the perpetrators of the disease. Recently, however, I found a solution to these problems. Much of my inspiration came last Wednesday night when I attended the panel discussion entitled “AIDS and Ethics” sponsored by MSC Political Fo rum. It pitted Phyllis Schlafly against a gay activist and a sympathetic professor. The discussion centered around “safe sex” education in the public schools. Schlafly, being the antedeluvian relic she is, advocated abstinence before mar riage to combat AIDS. According to her, “safe sex” should not be taught in the public schools because its message is not true, healthy, legal, or constitu tional. Though they did a fine job advocat ing the right approach to AIDS, they did not take it nearly far enough. That’s where my brainstorm comes in. Obviously, schoolboys and girls can’t control themselves sexually, and we are foolish to expect this. Though they may have done so in the past, now that they are liberated from morality’s repressive shackles, they simply cannot go back to the frustration of abstinence. But they do need protection from AIDS. They also need to be freed from prejudice to ward gays, which is wholly without rea son. Schlafly’s nimble opponents, how- I propose a new sex education pro gram for the schools that will admirably accomplish these ends. Its goal is cap tured by the slogan “sex before eight or else it’s too late,” which some have advo cated in the past but never imple mented. I confess that perhaps this is Mail Call Fighting for rights EDITOR: Thursday night I attended the R.E.M. concert. Late in the performance the lead singer said a few words to the audience. The preliminary stuff like, “You were a great audience,” etc. Then he threw in, “If you’re in the military, quit.” This was met with approval by the audience. They cheered for more “great” words of wisdom. I left after I heard the reaction from the crowd. I appreciate the ideals he tried to convey. However, I also appreciate the freedom we all enjoy, the freedom won by men and women who went before us who gave their lives for this country. If it was as easy as throwing down our arms and saying, “WE WON’T FIGHT,” I would be the first in line. It’s not. So many people are ready to fight for their “right to party” but many of those same people don’t realize that someone must fight for their right to speak their mind, their right to become whatever they want to be, their right to wear their hair long, their right to be in a band and their right to live in a free country. Ben McGraw ’89 Brian Frederick is stupid EDITOR: Brian Frederick is stupid. Jerry Rosiek ’87 accompanied by 32 signatures End terrorist labels EDITOR: “ . . it’s (terrorism) part of the political system . . . and Arab societies in the Middle East.. . People in the Middle East are used to terrorist methods for hundreds of years ... In Western Europe . .. one country took measure against terrorism . . . that was Israel. . . Israel is a very unique country ... It is a democratic country.” Oh, come on, I’ve had it! It is not unusual to hear such twisted words from an Israeli consul (Battalion, Nov. 19), but what always surprises me is how the American press keeps on falling for such false propaganda. I would like anyone who thinks terrorism is “part of the Arab societies” to go and live with an Arab family for a week and then see how the hospitability and kindness he will find fit into this image of a terrorist society. Many of the American professors here at Texas A&M who lived and worked in the Middle East can testify to this. As for Israel being a “unique country,” indeed it is. It is a country that was started by unlawfully seizing the lands of the Palestinians and kicking them out of their houses. It’s a racist country that thrives on eliminating Palestinians in Lebanon and oppressing them in the West Bank. It’s a country that manages to swindle the biggest portion of American foreign aid through a very dangerous lobby group in Washington that can influence who will be elected to the Congress, Senate and even presidency, and then project an image of being the weak and peaceful lamb! I am not saying we in the Middle East do not have very serious political problems with our dictators (who are hated by the people) just as some Latin American countries have their political problems. But what we hope and expect from America is not to support those dictators (and America supports some of them) and certainly not to support Israel. What we do not expect and hope, though, is for the American press to label the Arab societies as terrorist. Ahmad Jarrah doctoral student Editor’s Note: The Battalion printed an interview with Israeli Consul Shmuel Ben-Shmuel, in which he discussed international terrorism and how it relates to U.S. interests. The Battalion in no way labeled Arab societies as terrorist. 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 classification, address and telephone number of the writer. The Battalion (USPS 045 360) Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference The Battalion Editorial Board Sondra Pickard, Editor John Jarvis, Managing Editor Sue Krenek, Opinion Page Editor Rodney Rather, City Editor Robbyn Lister, News Editor Loyd Brumfield, Sports Editor Tracy Staton, Photo Editor overly idealistic. I am, however, willing to compromise in order to serve the best interests of the people, lest my idealism alienate too many and the children be deprived of my program’s benefits. Initially then, my program will begin by teaching fourth-graders the repro ductive anatomy in both medical and slang terminology. In fifth grade, they will view explicit films of various sexual acts performed with appropriate safety precautions. Because the perspective of fered by film is limited, sixth graders will see live classroom demonstrations by trained specialists so that they miss nothing. For those who fear that my program may promote a certain moral standard, let me allay those fears. My program will teach nothing but the facts. Teachers will be strictly enjoined not to intrude their own opinions on the tender minds entrusted to them. Knowing the pure facts untainted by someone else’s value judgments, the children will be able to make their own informed decisions about sex. The exalted task of preparing chil dren to lead full lives of “safe sex” will be completed in the seventh grade. Sev enth graders will be carefully paired off to practice what they have learned about “safe sex” in both heterosexual and ho mosexual relationships. They will have qualified supervision to help them with any problems. This is an important time in students’ lives, as they will not be per mitted to leave the seventh grade until they have demonstrated proficiency in “safe sex” techniques. Then and only then will they possess all the facts necessary to make an in formed choice of lifestyle while protect ing themselves from disease. Their firs thand experience with different lifestyles will end prejudice and pro mote tolerance of all. My program thus corrects deficien cies in the education of our children that for too long have hindered their growth as complete humans. Sex will fi nally be recognized as the necessity of life it is: the only thing that makes life worth living. Education should prepare children for life, and my program deliv ers the sexual literacy necessary to live life fully and safely. Moreover, my program helps pro duce a truly egalitarian society. No longer will the morally pure be able to look down on their immoral classmates, for all will be enlightened alike. No longer will gays be reviled. We shall all be one happy family, wonderfully toler ant of each other’s human diversity. To ensure that self-righteous bigots are not able to perpetuate themselves private schools, it will be necessary abolish private education and forceev eryone into the public schools. Onl when everyone is free to choose hisowi morality after an unbiased appraisal e< the facts will our civil rights, liberty,anil rtoriots ir IOUSTO ration off jrisons in cedofficei vac; equality be secure. Of course, a few like Schlafly willai gue that abstinence until marriage K . - f someone you love is the moral and most ’ r . y r ir-ii- 7 , irenters t fulfilling way to live and overcomt AIDS. But no one will listen, forever) one knows that sex and love have noth ing to do with each other. The notiono love, which promotes sexual exclusive ness, is simply an ossified barrier totht realization of a truly egalitarian society My program will instill in everyont the attitude of Madame Kollantay, i Russian revolutionary, who considered ne( i a n v i the sexual act to be of no more impor in concei tance than drinking a glass of water Idings an “But who wants to drink from a soiled glass?” Those who reply to Kollantayat Lenin did are simply afflicted withtht vestiges of an obsolete morality. The) will be ref uted by results, for my pro gram assures a “clean glass” through “safe sex” education. i centers li )bout 50 i he Houst< vately fur the seen v Year’s I tes, Ron F Natural ector, said 'We have 3 the facil kesure nc \'o proble for a mston In Brian Frederick is a senior history m Russian major and a columnist for Tht Battalion. The MS( 'Sed putti s called p Ms that xas A&M At the fin Counci; n told r until sho uiitoring ' tr y in g >grams. We’re c jtrol,” H; We’re n at they c ns and v ople’s al Elephant Walk can’t be ‘solemn All I have to say is that the Class of ’89 is a bunch of wimps for not wanting to partici pate in this year’s Elephant Walk. Doug Hall Guest Columnist Come on! This is Texas A&M where men are men and ladies are ladies, not a patsy university like we’re always calling those Austinites. True, the merit of one’s gender is not solely based on whether you like to wrestle, which is what has occurred for the past 10 years or so during Elephant Walk, but since when did Aggies shy away from a little fun? According to the gospel of the class councils, circa ’88 and ’89, juniors are being “strongly discouraged” from wrestling with the dying zips this year “for the preservation of Elephant Walk.” Furthermore, Senior Class President Andrea Beshara says the event should be a somewhat solemn occasion for the seniors to reflect on their years at A&M. Yippie skippie! I hope they don’t fall asleep while solemnly reflecting on their memorable three-and-a-half year stay here in Aggieland. Both class councils say There is no way they will try to enforce the non-wres tling request, which they couldn’t do even if they tried, but it certainly will put a damper on what used to be a fun occasion. Admittedly, there were people who got hurt during the wild and wooly procession the two years I participated, but people are always getting hurt. And without knowing for sure, I dare say that anyone who wasn’t looking for trouble was someone that eventually got hurt. In the Corps, Elephant Walk served as an excellent way to vent three years of frustrations between the junior and se nior classes. Afterward, the air was cleared and the two classes were once again able to work together. As juniors, w<5 never attacked non- Corps members, and as seniors, we only fought with those non-regs who came up and attacked us. There were no hard feelings because more than likely you never saw them again. For the senior class, Elephant ^ was truly an occurrence where an entirt class, Corps and non-regs, black and white, male and female, joined togethei for a little old-fashioned fun. It was, as Aggies like to say, all inthf name of Good Bull. And yes, I’m aware that Good Bulb no excuse for injuring someone. But if you’re afraid of getting hurt, don’t or at least don’t wrestle. But oh well, it isn’t my worry. Tlit Class of ’87 has already had its two ephant Walks. I guess the Class of can go and have their “pull-out” 1 Practice (why don’t you just stay in bed you already know how to yell) while tht Class of ’88 solemnly meanders around the campus (you can do that 365 days year if you really want) and rides on in elephants. As for me, I’ll just sit at home and re fleet on the good times I had at A&M Two of those days, without a doubt, art my Elephant Walks. Doug Hall is a fifth-year senior jourot lism major and an assistant sports edi for for The Battalion. BLOOM COUNTY by BerKe Breathe* Editorial Policy The BactaJion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspaper oper ated as a community service to Texas A&M and Bryan-College Sta tion. 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