.1
The Battalion
OPINION
2S
The I
Tues
im||jm|i|iii i liiniinili J IMl mi
Fliglit 752 havlngf
[eSnani
mechanical trouble...
Request permission
for return to
place of origin...
HOC^iaJ FD$r
Censorshit) and murder
are two different things
It takes only two events occurring si-
' multaneously to get me on my soapbox.
One is bright people who use poor logic.
The other is the application of poor
logic to espouse a worthy cause. Todd
Honeycutt, columnist for The Battalion,
has managed to do both.
In the March 2 issue of The Battal
ion, he stated that he has “no quarrel”
with Ayatollah Khomeini calling for the
assassination of Salman Rushdie. Rush
die is the author of “The Satanic Ver
ses,” which is said to be a condemnation
of the Islamic faith.
If it was Mr. Honeycutt’s intention to
elevate the adrenalin of some of his
l eaders to a near lethal level, he has suc
ceeded in his endeavor.
He has succeeded not only because
his position is objectionable, but because
much of the “evidence” he used to sup
port that position was irrelevant. He at
tempted to use the Rushdie crisis as a re
ceptacle for all the causes of the world
and the ills of society.
If the outcome of the Rushdie situa
tion was not vital to all that I hold dear, I
would not be seeking redress now. But
the outcome is of pivotal importance to
myself and millions of others who take
for granted that we will not be con
demned to death for our ideas or be
liefs.
Todd seemed to be playing “devil’s
advocate” by implying that he approves
of the Ayatollah’s actions against Rush
die. The “devil’s advocate” technique is
an effective technique for communicat
ing a point of view — when it’s used
properly. The author was incapably, of
remaining in character throughout the
piece, which resulted in a muddled mes
sage.
He said history offers many examples
of “using strong measures to combat a
perceived enemy.”
Todd did not acknowledge that there
is a vast difference between punishment
by “strong measures” and punishment
by death.
Using historical examples as evi
dence, he implied that, because Chris
tians have committed similar abhorrent
crimes in the past, it’s OK for the Aya
tollah to commit the same crime today.
One historical example he used was
the Roman Catholic Church giving Gal
ileo an option of choosing between
death or his belief that the Earth orbits
the sun. Other examples included the
Spanish Inquisition and puritan witch
burning.
Stephanie
Stribling
Columnist
Todd is absolutely correct. History
books assure us these atrocities were ac
tually committed, some by the hands of
our own ancestors.
That makes it right? Of course not.
History is not an arbitrarily chosen
subject you’re forced to pass to get a de
gree. History is a record of our tri
umphs and a signpost for our mistakes.
We must learn from these mistakes, not
justify repeating them because we’ve
made the same mistakes before.
Some inappropriate examples were
used to draw parallels with the Rushdie
incident. One was Shreveport’s banning
of “Huckleberry Finn” for the use of the
word “nigger.”
So they banned the book. If Mark
Twain were alive today, what are the
chances President Bush would have him
assassinated?
Tm not extolling the virtues of
censorship, but if I have a choice be
tween censorship or death, give me
censorship. It’s the best publicity a book
can get.
Todd floundered again by attempt
ing to draw a Rushdie parallel right
here at Texas A&M. He said that A&M
students “feel the same kind of threat.”
The same kind of threat as what? The
same kind of threat Rushdie feels?
That’s a pretty serious allegation. If
Todd is aware of a student who’s had a
bounty placed on his or her head, I sure
wish he’d share that information with
He said a “furor” is created at A&M
when bonfire is criticized. He may be
right. There are probably some students
who would create a “furor” over the
criticism of any A&M tradition. But has
that “furor” ever stirred the administra-
tioti to calk for the assassination of a stu
dent?
He said students instantly “take of
fense” when someone says “the Corps
consists of a bunch of empty-headed pe
ons who should be thrown off campus.”
Gee, I guess they’re just too sensitive
I’m not even in the Corps and I’m of
fended by that statement. But then
there’s never been anything very flatter
ing about name-calling, particularly for
the one doing the calling.
He also said that racism at A&M is
“. . . brought into focus and is violently
denied.” That may well be the case. But
the administration has never con
demned to death those who bring rac
ism “into focus,” or those who “violent
ly” deny it.
The last insightful A&M-Rushdie
parallel was a real pearl of wisdom.
Todd said that individuals at A&M who
are perceived as a threat are often told
“Highway 6 runs both ways.”
Right on. But it’s only a suggestion —
one that simply says that if you don’t like
it here you are free to take a hike.
However, if someone pointed a gun
at your head and offered the same sug
gestion, that might be a different matter
all together. Don’t you think?
What do all these things have to do
with Rushdie anyway? Let’s see a recent
example of an individual who has had a
bounty placed on his head by the Amer
ican government because they found his
ideas or beliefs to be threatening.
But there is truly an American coun
terpart to Rushdie. She is the self-pro
claimed atheist Madeline Murray
O’hare.
O’hare has attempted to rock the
foundation of our nation’s majority
faith — Christianity. We banned her
and we burned her books. Most of all we
feared her effects on the Christian faith.
But the U.S. government never put a
bounty on her head.
They may not have liked what she
said, but at least she was allowed to say
it. She continues to speak today, and her
publications are available for purchase.
It never cost O’hare her life.
The most important message is not to
stand in support of the Ayatollah unless
you really mean it.
If you think we’re hypocritical to con
demn the Ayatollah’s actions without
condemning ourselves First, then simply
say so. I’ll still disagree with you, but at
least I won’t have to waste my time wad
ing through meaningless rhetoric.
I think it’s admirable to aspire to in :
crease social awareness among your
peers ... as long as you restrict yourself
to logical and insightful arguments.
Stephanie Stribling is a senior jour
nalism major and a columnist for The
Battalion.
The Battalion
(USPS 045 360)
Member of
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conference
The Battalion Editorial Board
Becky Weisenfels, Editor
Leslie Guy, Managing Editor
Dean Sueltenfuss, Opinion Page Editor
Anthony Wilson, City Editor
Scot Walker, Wire Editor
Drew Leder, News Editor
Doug Walker, Sports Editor
Jay Janner, Art Director
Mary-Lynne Rice, Entertainment Edi-
# tor
Editorial Policy
The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspa
per operated as a community service to Texas A&M and
Brvan-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.
The 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 vear. 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.
BLOOM COUNTY
Mail Call
My blood is boiling
EDITOR:
This letter is in reference to Todd Honeycutt’s column on the Ayatollah
Khomeini’s death warrant for Salman Rushdie. I am appalled at being
compared to the Ayatollah and/or the book burners in our neighboring
Louisiana.
I do not believe that certain individuals have the right to choose what
others can and cannot read. I believe this is wrong, and I will feel this way as
long as I live. Being compared to a few limited-minded book burners really
boils my blood.
This same patriotic blood boils whenever I am compared to a hostage
holding, religious psychopath.
Any future references in this manner will not be r ead by this individual.
Mr. Honeycutt has the right to voice his opinion, but I have the right to deny
his radical viewpoints. I will choose to skip over his columns in future issues.
Gregg Waller ’92
No comparison
EDITOR:
It was with extreme disbelief that I read Todd Honeycutt’s column on
Khomeini in which he compared many Aggies to Iran’s Islamic leader.
Mr. Honeycutt began by giving several Western examples of
abominations like the Spanish Inquisition, and went on to list “monstrosities’
that have occurred here at Texas A&M.
Honeycutt cited racism that is not only rampant on this campus, but exist
all over the United States. I agree that this is horrible, and I try to do all inraj
power to resist bigotry.
Another example Honeycutt cited was the ridiculous notion that many
Aggies violently opposed free thought.
Mr. Honeycutt has demonstrated in this logic a profound, and profane,
lack of humanity.
Once again, I state my opposition to bigotry. As for the abolition of the
Corps of Cadets, that was driven well into the ground when Mike Sullivan
and Karl Pallmeyer were here.
First, I’d hate to believe that this letter (and even Honeycutt’s columns)
could be printed in such steadfast opposition to free thought.
Second, how in Beelzebub’s name can you compare Aggies to Khomeini?
He may be just as insane as Hitler was, but that doesn’t make him better than
any killer.
Next time you’re walking down campus, Mr. Honeycutt, I want you to
look into the eyes of a smiling Ag after he says “Howdy” to you. Look at those
eyes and wonder if he’s ever killed or mandated the death of someone.
Chris Anderson ’89
Vet school doing poorly
EDITOR:
What the hell is going on here?
First, we’re going to have limited summer school this year due to a lack of
funds. Now, the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine is in danger of
losing its accreditation. And the last I heard, A&M wasn’t even on the list of
the top 100 academic colleges and universities.
But we do have the ever-pleasing sight of new buildings, parking garages
and satellite utility plants popping up everywhere.
I don’t think this should all be done at the expense of the student body.
The main goal of any institution of higher learning, despite the research it
does, should be to crank out young people prepared to face new challenges.
I’m not attending this University because of the research it does, or
because it has the most modern and prettiest buildings. I am here because I
want a quality education.
I want to go out into the work world prepared to handle everything and
anything. I expect my University to help me with this. Thank Cod I’m not
still intending on going to vet school. I’d probably be one of the lucky ones to
spend two years working my butt off only to find that I could never practice
because my education was not satisfactory.
It seems there are some sadly misguided individuals running this school.
I think I’m beginning to believe there actually is no Board of Regents.
Right now we are far above the national average in the number of
National Merit Scholars who choose to attend this University.
When these intelligent people begin to see they are only getting pretty
buildings, I get this sad feeling they won’t want to become Aggies.
There needs to be a reassessment of the priorities here.
If not, things are going to change — for the worse. A&M used to have one
of the most acclaimed vet schools in the nation, even without the pretty
buildings. 1 hink about it.
Daniel Martillotti ’90
Grumbling over grackles
EDITOR:
I would like to point out an annoying and disgusting problem developing
on campus. It’s the birds — the grackles and (presumably) pigeons — that
have populated central campus.
The fact that poor drainage around campus has us walking through a
half-inch of bird excrement is intolerable. Give me toxic waste that’s odorless
and tasteless any day.
Now, anyone who knows me will tell you that I am always giving people
advice on how to be better drivers or citizens. I am now extending that advice
to the Board erf Regents: Stop the birds!
Joe Bush ’89
Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words in length. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit lettm
for style and length, but will make every effort to maintain the author’s intent. Each letter must be
must include the classification, address and telephone number of the writer.
by Berke Breathed
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Bactal-
ion. 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, Col
lege Station TX 77843-1111.
m lebnox..
orm INFIP6L-'
naMl l
S<
AUS
duced 1
allow 'I
cealed \
Thi:
right to
Ken A i
lhat the
loprote
Unde
cost $ 1 ‘
cants.
To be
Texas rt
B
C
AL
get w
move
"book
wante
ents si
“W
votes
ents a
dersta
D-We
Rej
ton, :
with i
trying
nues,
is not i
Tht
D-Gal
state c
serves
cial fu
next I
funds
Thi
raise tl
enue -
budge
“I t
will ve
active!
dealin|
Robert
ler, sai
Ano
plan w
ments
In
Are
Do)
Con
V
T
V