Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 3, 1987)
Page 2/The Battalion/Thursday, December 3, 1987 Opinion columnist’s Wish List of Christmas hopes!? The Christmas Wish List: • I wish people would stop calling Brian Frederick a communist. I think he does a good job of breaks ing the mold of in effective govern ment ideas. Granted, his ideas are unortho- DA Jensen dox, but at least they offer some alterna tives to the programs currently in use. It is painfully obvious that many current government programs are woefully in adequate. The welfare system pays peo ple to be unproductive. The education system caters only to the most promising students. The prison system doesn’t in carcerate criminals. A good look at a few of these programs leads me to believe that it is time to break out of the govern ment program rut. • I wish the government would stop trying to save the world. I realize we have a certain obligation . to police the world as the guardians of democracy, and all that is right and good but I think we should start at home. While we send money and food all over the world there are people starving in our backyard. There is a lack of food, housing and health care in the United States. If we cannot solve our own problems, how can we expect to solve everyone else’s? I think if we try to improve the condition of this country, we will be better able to help other coun tries. • I wish people would really get into the Christmas spirit of giving. During the Christmas season many people need the support of the commu nity. A worthwhile gift is one of self. Mail Call Screaming bias ‘The EDITOR: I was disturbed to see that McFadden Hall intends to show the Film Silent Scream” as part of a program titled “Abortion: Yes or No? You decide.” The title of the program implies that both sides of the issue will be represented. However, anyone familiar with “The Silent Scream” knows that this Film was once used by anti-abortion groups to intimidate women seeking abortions. McFadden Hall has misled the public by using such an innocous title and should title future programs more appropriately. Elaine Wendt ’88 Excellence in parking EDITOR: I would like to commend a certain Aggie who has a real talent for parking. Of course, that person should be an expert by now — my taupe Chevy Celebrity was in the slot next to the one used for practice a few weeks ago. I know not who the person was who decided to test my paint job — which had just been redone last fall because someone backed into the car — for that considerate individual forgot to leave a note on my windshield to let me know that he was so much as sorry that he practiced parking too close to my car. The damage is minimal, just a 10-inch long, deep scratch and dent on the back panel on the driver’s side and some missing trim - but the rust that will now be able to attack my car will be expensive for me to fix. I already have a hard time making ends meet. Thanks again to the considerate culprit! I hope you are proud of your artwork. I only hope I don’t accidently park too close to your car someday. Carol Martin ’90 Just say no to Ol' Sarge II EDITOR: I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank the 1139-plus students and former students who took the time to read and sign my petition opposing the Ol’ Sarge idea. For those of you who did not have the opportunity to see the petition, it read as follows: To whom it may concern: The people whose names appear on the following pages find it in the better interest of Texas A&M University and its traditions not to create a seven-foot “Of Sarge” mascot costume to parade up and down the alumni side of Kyle Field. We feel that this would overshadow our first and only mascot, Reveille, and in turn receive more television coverage in any sports event which he would attend. Texas A&M is unique in the fact that we are not like any other university by having a meretricious, oversized caricature on our sidelines. We do, however, understand the need and desire of the alumni to be led with the student body in the yells and hope the problem will be solved in another fashion. Perry A. Liston, II ’90 Illogical bike policy EDITOR: I decided to take this time to write about the latest policy of our beloved University Police. About two weeks ago, I saw little yellow slips affixed to various bicycles around the Architecture Center. They desribed how University regulations state that bicycles shall not be chained to shrubs, architectual structures, or appear abandoned or they will be towed! Owner to bear lock removal expense, of course. There are two flaws to this policy. One: Bicycle rack shortage! There arre numerous places on campus that could do with more racks, such as Langford Building, Reed McDonald, Sbisa, and various others. Two: How to reclaim your bike after it has been impounded. To get your bike, you must register it. Describing your bike’s appearance is not proof enough. So, therefore, one your bike is impounded, chances are, you’re out one bike. Once again, University policies trip themselves up in their illogical structure. Jeff Frank ’91 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 The gift of time doesn’t cost much, but the reward of self-satisfaction is bounti ful. It only takes an hour to give blood. It only takes an afternoon to volunteer at a local food bank. • I wish there was a solution to dis crimination. I hate it. I despise silly men who insist on “a back hand” to prove their superiority. I detest apartheid. • I wish people would accept the right of journalists to gather and report information. I get tired of hearing cries of invasion from legitimate news sources. Just think of a world without journalism. There would be no network for the transfer of information. We would go back to the dark ages of censorship. • I wish I could pay someone to do my Christmas shopping for me. I usually save my shopping until the last minute when the crowds are rude and unbearable. I don’t enjoy being pushed and shoved. I would gladly pay to have this experience taken off my hands. As an alternative I would like to see people be kind to their fellow shop pers. • I wish there was a book of unlim ited column ideas. Writing a column ev ery week is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It may look easy, but I assure you it is tough to be intelligent or witty every week. • I wish the presidential candidates would stop throwing stones at each other. I haven’t decided if this is their tactic to divert attention from real issues so they don’t have to commit to a partic ular viewpoint or if they just lack the self-confidence to stand on their own merits next to other good candidates. • I wish there was a way to convince terrorists that their activities only make them look stupid and inhumane. Blow ing people up or holding them as a hos tage does cause. not do a lot to promote a • As my final wish I would like to see the return of the family unit. It suprises me to see many families falling apart be cause they aren’t willing to weather the hard times together. Many family mem bers stop helping each other because they aren’t getting enough in return The Christmas season is the perfect AUS' ji-Am mem ay sue disc rsities The dense time to put aside family differences and think about giving instead of receiving. I want a lot of things for Christmas, doubt I’ll get any of the above things, but there is always that air of hopedur ing this season. I’ll be happy that 1 cat still hope. There are many people in this country who don’t have that capacity, D. A. Jensen is a senior journalism m for and a columnist for The Battalion, f tim sity n anei mnce essde ion c here [The awsu Stai tha the unce If file HE SO WHOWW OF VftVst HV& SOftOWXNKtES WERE POtMG- IK HIS MMAE.THEY SHAPtY HAN RpUSH^a^RTHECONStnUtVON ANDIAWS! H0WCOOU) N presttm - be fiwr wtiy awake r Some air travelers need ‘incompetent flier’ program I’m always goof ing up when I fly. Sometimes I for get to bring my seat back to its original locked and upright posi tion for takeoff and landings. Probably the worst thing I do when I fly, how ever, is in the un- we can’t Figure out how to get the 3:13 flight to Kansas City in the air before 5:30. compuii After sitting in my unmoving seat for nearly an hour, I had to go to the bath room. Lewis Grizzard Bad timing has been my entire life story. I was inside the restroom maybe 11 seconds, when there was a loud banging on the door. She even showed me printout of the dictum. Certainly the flight attendant wasju doing her job, but I had to wonder: b really all that important that a flight held up a few more seconds because paying customer has to go to the room in light of the horrendous on titt I performance of the airlines and thefi that airplanes are coming closer a» 1 closer to running into each other 30,000 feet? likely event there is a loss of cabin pres sure, I don’t breathe normally when I place the oxygen mask over my head and face. I breathe Secretariat down the stretch. “Sir! Sir!” cried a female voice, ob viously that of one of the flight atten dants, “we can’t pull back from the gate while you’re in there.” The other day, I goofed up somthing new. I boarded my flight a few minutes before it was scheduled to take off. Wait a second. We’d been sitting here all this time, and as soon as I get inside the restroom they can’t wait a few more seconds so nature can take its couse? When it came time to push back from the gate, however, the plane just sat there. The last time an airplane pushed back from the gate on time was when Wilbur and Orville lugged their flying contraption out of their workshed in Kitty Hawk. I’m not sure why my flight didn’t push back on time. Perhaps the pilot wasn’t in the mood or one of the flight attendants had broken a nail. We can send a man to the moon, but I hurried as fast as I could and then returned to my seat as all the other pas sengers stared at me. I could hear their thoughts: “Nice going, weak-bladder.” After we finally had taken off, one of the flight attendants came to my seat and apologized. “It’s a new directive we just got from the FAA,” she explained. “We can’t push back until everyone is seated.” Where could all this lead? Do we ha 1 ! to start raising our hands to go to bathroom while the plane is on ground? “OK, 14B,” the flight attendantmif | say, “you can be excused but raafe * snappy.” Some things can’t be accomplish snappily, especially if there is press' 1 ! that one might hold up an entire 1011. Of course, something like this d 1 1 give the airlines another excuse for J ing late. “Sorry, folks,” the pilot could “We could have been on time if 14f remembered to go to the bathroom' fore he left home.” Copyright 1987, Cowles Syndicate BLOOM COUNTY by Berke Breath* (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 Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspaper oper- \&MandBr - " iryan-College Sta- ated as a community service to Texas A&M ; tion. Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editorial board or the author, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M administrators, faculty or the Board of Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper for students in reporting, editing and photography classes within the Depart ment of Journalism. The Battalion is published Monday through Friday during Texas A&M regular semesters, except for holiday and examination periods. Mail subscriptions are $17.44 per semester, $34.62 per school year and $36.44 per full year. Advertising rates furnished on re quest. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4 111. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, College Station TX 77843-4111. PONT KIP MB, BUPPY. vou pont veep MV HOT. THIS THING'S yoU'Re FOUR-MH&Zl PfWB. RtOHT. \ l f M ft t*-i LOOK, You'Re veev cure, BUT UNLBOO rueRe's 50Me onieK WINTER CRISIS I CftN HELP TftftW, I'LL PE ^ON MY LUftY. ^ MNO U (\H FL0Zft.