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Page 2/The Battalion/Friday, February 26, 1988 Opinion In praise of God, Country and the Hanoi Hilton C You get weird mail when you’re the editor. Granted, I don’t see most of the press i eleases, let ters and other ran- d o m stuff that c o in s in o u r twit< daily batches of mail. But the othei editors have a perverted sense ■■■■■ Sue of humor, so certain types of mail end up on my desk, usually marked “for your enjoyment.” Last week I got an invitation to be a ( hatter member of the Ronald Reagan Republican Center. One enterprising entrepreneur is keeping me up to date on his Spuds MacKenzie battle. (It seems the corporate giants think his company’s logo looks a bit too much like our canine Bacchus.) The Battalion is a sustaining member of the Republican National Committee since* we subscribe to party publications. When our new membership card came in the mail, it ended up on my desk. (The card is supposed to signify my de sire to elect a Republican president and increase GOP numbers in the House and Senate and at state and local levels of government. Right.) Last week 1 got a letter that made me laugh. Then it made me mad. Capt. Eugene “Red” McDaniel, re tired from the U.S. Navy, wanted to know what 1 thought of the movie “Pla toon.” And the movie “Hanoi Hilton.” Actually, he wanted me to cast a vote for one or the other. You see, he’s conduct ing a survey of sorts. But I’ll let him tell you. “Which will it be, the movie ‘Platoon’ or ‘Hanoi Hilton’? Which one’s wrong, which one’s right? “Two versions of the Vietnam War. “One for the history books, one for the trash can. Which version do you want them teaching our young people?” You get the idea. McDaniel says “Ha noi Hilton” is “the story of American fighting men, who along, unaided, en dured the worst their brutal communist captors could dish out. Yet they never gave in.” “Platoon,” he says, is “Jane Fonda and the radical left’s version. America as villain. Americans as evil.” So much for objectivity. When the truth comes out, it’s that the survey is really no survey at all. Mc Daniel wants money, as much as you’ll give him, so a conservative student orga nization can sponsor showings of “Ha noi Hilton” on college campuses. And the rest of his letter is a tirade designed to win you over and get your money. Some examples: “In a real sense, ‘Hanoi Hilton’ is about God and Country: Two values the Hollywood liberals hate with a passion.” That's my kind of logic: If you didn’t like the movie, obviously you hate God and Country. “The values it (‘Hanoi Hilton’) speaks of — persistence, valor, faith, patience — aren’t popular these days. Yet, they are the same values which come shining through in ‘Hanoi Hilton.’ ” So now if you didn’t like the film, you’re opposed to valor, faith and pa tience. How can anyone fail to send money to such a noble cause? The letter ends by asking you to cast a ballot for “Platoon” or “Hanoi Hilton.” But as if he hasn’t pounded his message home, McDaniel adds a last paragraph: “But if you agree our story of faith, courage and patriotism in ‘Hanoi Hil ton’ must be heard by America’s young people, please include your donation of at least $ 15.” Then comes the clincher: The ballot itself uses boldface type wherever the words “Hanoi Hilton” appear. And the two options are clearly marked: “Pro America: Hanoi Hilton.” “Anti Amer ica: Platoon.” Get the impression this guy’s trying to influence the vote? Anyone who’s studied statistics knows that the wording of questions can influ ence the response they draw. If this was intended as a survey, its results won] laughable. But what’s so disgusting is that til propaganda masquerading as ano live survey. When the results aretal McDaniel no doubt will gloat atthth sided victory of “Hanoi Hilton.' HfrJ meet his real goal — to raise monetj distributing the film. But despite] stint as a POW, he d oesn't havethesi pie courage to let his arguments! alone, uncluttered byname-calling 1 hat made me angry, angryettoiij that 1 filled out my ballot — fori toon.” I saw that movie, and itd| strike me as liberal Hollywood] ganda. Mostly, it made me afraidfl anyone w ho ever has to go intocoira I haven’t seen “Hanoi Hilton.’ 1 guess McDaniel thinks than me anti-America. But I’m not. After all, fmacanki rying member of the Re publican J tional CCommittee. Sort of. Sue Krenek is a senior journalism! jor and editor o/The Battalion. THE MISSILES ARE COMING^ I MEAN, IT'S flOSa&UE SOME MIS5H.E5 ARE COMING/ I t-AEAN, t W?£ SOtAEEOTZ/ TOPBCVE TO N\E SOME. MISSILES MIGHT NOT COME / itAEAN, I'WAaraAuy oMiv asking if nr might NOT BE FOSSIBUE SOME MJSSOES COULD COME SOMETIME I MEHi Robertson’s patriotism turned up MIA in Koreij Pat Robertson is eager to get down South where he can start scooping up those dele gates. He says that’s his territory because Southern ers believe in the old-fashioned, hard-nose, patri otic virtues he likes to preach. More than any country, the South the bugle sounds, Mike Royko Uurvers»\ Vast* Mail Call We’re not all that bad EDI FOR: I must respond to Mr. MacDougall’s column, “Who needs ethics . . . ?” He implies that I (as an MBA) am headed for a career of unbridled greed and moral decay. I don’t deny that many businessmen engage in activities which are illegal/immoral/inconsiderate, but I resent the proposition that all businessmen are avaricious, mercenary creatures. Journalists are fortunate in being safe from moral dilemmas; they merely cry “First Amendment” and are fiee from responsibility. I apologize to any members of the Fourth Estate who are offended. I do not resent the article; I feel the press does a service by providing alternate viewpoints. Jefferson said he would far prefer newspapers without government to government without newspapers. I agree. Alan Grantham Graduate Student Editor’s note: Just to clarify, Battalion columnist John MacDougall is not a journalism student. He is a graduate student in A&M’s MBA program. First point: Businesses (and those who run them) don’t exist in a vacuum. Those who follow shortsighted and neg ligent management policies do not remain in business long. Nor can a firm be profitable doing things the public is not willing to pay for. The consumer has a choice in ac cepting or rejecting the foods and services provided by a businessman as surely as he has a choice in accepting or re jecting an opinion provided in the media. Let’s defend men EDITOR: Second point: Ethics cannot be learned (or unlearned) while working for a college degree. Those who leave a uni versity ignorant of ethical considerations were ignorant when they got there. Ethics can neither be taught from a textbook nor legislated. Courses in “ethics” seldom amount to more than a lesson in how not to get caught. To assume that MBA’s have lower moral integrity than other students does us a grave injustice. From the looks of recent At Ease and Battalion issues, perhaps our journalism stu dents could use a class in, if not ethics, then at least “eye opening” (Naivete 101?). In response to Brian Frederick’s column about femi nist intimidation, he’s right. It only takes common sense to reason why some organizations are best left to be all male. TAMU has seen it’s fair share of “changes” that are debat able as to whether they have hurt or helped those organi zations affected. A goal that would be more challenging than writing about amazons in the college newspaper would be to write a platform strong enough and solid enough to stand up for the defense of men. Rhonda R. Woolf ’88 Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words in length. The editorial staff re serves 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 clas sification, address and telephone number of the writer. other part of this believes that when a true American marches off to fight the enemy. That’s Robertson’s problem. There are a number of ex-marines scattered across this country who say there was a time when Robertson didn’t have that flag-waving zeal to fight. One is Pete McCloskey, a former con gressman from California, who was a highly-decorated combat Marine officei in Korea, where he was badly wounded. McCloskey has more than a little con tempt for Robertson, the tough-talking patriot. That’s because McCloskey knew Rob ertson in 1951, when both were young Marine lieutenants on a troop ship bound for the Korean War. What McCloskey says he remembers is that Robertson used political clout — his father was a U.S. senator — to stay in Japan while others went to Korea, many to die or be maimed. About 18 months ago, McCloskey shared his memories with a current con gressman. The troop ship story got to the press, and Robertson was furious. He said it was a political smear, that his powerful daddy did nothing in his behalf and that he had indeed gone to Korea to face danger. If Robertson had let it go at that, the dispute would have been forgotten. But Robertson made what appears to be a political error. He filed a $>35 million li bel suit against McCloskey. Because of the suit, McCloskey’s alle gations haven’t faded away. And Mc Closkey is no longer alone in having memories. These ex-Marines have given sworn depositions to be used when the case comes to trial. If they’re to be believed, Robertson isn’t exactly a John Wayne character. And to Robertson’s discomfort, the trial is scheduled to begin March 8, Su per Tuesday, when Robertson intends to harvest those patriotic Southern votes. If the trial is held, what will the testi mony be? From McCloskey, we’ll probably hear what he said 18 months ago about the troop shop voyage: “Pat was affable, garrulous had candid. Hespokefra of his desire to avoid combat have his father. Sen. Willis RobertsaJ Virginia, intervene on his behalf There will also be an old letterwna by the late senator to a friend,whoi had a son, named Edwin, on then ship. In the letter the senator said: “On yesterday, I received a “ from Cieneral Shepherd, statingthaidj and Ed win were going to an intere®;| and historical part of Japan, wherti " would be given some valuable traiiiii before proceeding to Korea.” The general he referred to wasli muel Shepherd, who was a family frit and commander of the Pacific fleet Later, the senator wrote anotherlc ter, saying he hoped that . befe that (training) is completed the issued Korea will either have been settled® the united line so stabilized thati will be no excessive casualties.” As it turned out, there were“estei sive casualties.” Not for Pat, whotf J Japan, but foi many of the Marinesi' l couldn’t get off the ship with him. One who went on to Korea is r New York businessman. Inhisde tion, he says that it was “commonk ledge” on the* ship that RobertsonM asked his father to use his political did There’s also a letter, written to | wife by a now-dead Marine officer, is believed to have transmitted iff grams from Robertson to his senatorj ther. In the lettet to his wife, the Manl said a colonel bad boarded the ship I Japan and picked several youngoffol to remain in Japan. “It’s interesting,” he wrote tol “that two of them had saidthfl wouldn’t have to go to Korea. One*| Robertson . . . I’m sure that his fatl* being the senator from Virginia! nothing to do with it . .. It is interesMil though, isn’t it. See, thafs what you ff| when you choose the wrong parents There’s also a deposition from aft mer Marine captain who remembered! conversation with Robertson's pal, other young lieutenant, beforethesl reached Japan. “(He) sat down beside me in idf wardroom and said that he and! ertson were not going to go to Korea^f were going to get off the shipinj There were other officers at the tail and we all laughed and thought it just a fantasy.” It turned out to be no fantasy.I ertson stayed in Japan four moi while the others went into fierce( bat. When Robertson finally wenttoi'| rea, he had a job for behind the lines Super Tuesday could be thestartofl super trial. The Battalion (USPS 045 360) Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference The Battalion Editorial Board Sue Krenek, Editor Daniel A. LaBry, Managing Editor Mark Nair, Opinion Page Editor Amy Couvillon, City Editor Robbyn L. Lister and Becky Weisenfels, News Editors Loyd Brumfield, Sports Editor Sam B. Myers, Photo Editor Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspa per operated as a community service to Texas A&M and Bryan-College Station. Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editorial board or the author, and do not necessarily rep resent the opinions of Texas A&M administrators, fac ulty or the Board of Regents. 'J'hc Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper for students in reporting, editing and photography classes within the Department 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 request. Our address: The Battalion, 230 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-1 111. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battal ion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, Col lege Station TX 77843-4111.. BLOOM COUNTY 1>y Berke Breathe 1 twice? -me eooKStORe FOR SFIF HELF 300K6 to help me cope wrm MV MIP-LIFE 5NIT.. AREN'T THEY WONPERFUL T A VERITABLE TOWER OF P5YCHO0APPLE MY 000PME55, rr'O OREAT TV LIVE FV AN ACE WHERE THE EMOTIONALLY PtfCOMBOPC/LATEl? CAN 50 EXFERTLY TREAT THEM5EL VE5[ what, oh mm MUdT OUR W ANCeSTORS m HAVE PONT N Ml