Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 8, 1989)
The Bai The Battalion OPINION Wedn Wednesday, March 8,1989 Mail Call Stay in the closet EDITOR: Guns are OK EDITOR: In Stephen Masters’ March 1 article on homophobia, the president of Gay Student Services, Eduardo Casas, stated that homosexuality “is something that they (many people) know they kind of are, and then they end up hating this (gay) person . . . when in actuality it’s what they really are.” This is in response to Ross Lambert’s “researched’ letter concerning gun control. “Guns don’t kill people; people kill people ” It’s an old cliche, sure, but a true one. Is Mr. Casas insinuating that everyone who dislikes homosexuals has repressed feelings toward his or her own sexual gender? I believe Eduardo is attempting to appease his own conscience by projecting his own guilt upon everyone else. I’ve owned guns for years and I’ve yet to see a single one of them leap off the shelf, run off and commit murder. Guns are inanimate objects, only as dangerous as their users. If the user truly is dangerous, then we need to control that person, not guns. Eduardo, on what basis do you make your claim? You also stated that AIDS “gives people another reason to fear and dislike a group they do not understand.” Personally, I don’t need another reason. Criminals who have the capacity to kill will do so with whatever means they can, if not with a gun, then with any sharp or blunt object. You’re gay. That’s enough reason for me. I also do not fear you because I know you aren’t touching me —even if you do so to “release” your inner desires. As for not understanding your group of real sweet guys — I understand you loud and clear. I’ve observed your nauseating antics, and I whole-heartedly disapprove. Instead of gun control, why not put the “bite” back into the law and make the crime of murder more serious? Many criminals aren’t intimidated by the law due to our judicial system’s track record of leniency. Eduardo, it’s not very difficult to understand the correct formation of a relationship. There are only two genders of humans, male and female. It’s obvious that male and female is the only proper combination. How could you possibly get it wrong? What if alcohol was outlawed because of the number of drinking and driving fatalites? Or automobiles? (Since you “researched” the subject, Mr. Lambert, you probably already know there are more deaths annually from auto accidents than from shootings.) Any measures would only take firearms from law- abiding citizens, making them more vulnerable to the criminal, who’ll obtain a gun anyway. Although I don’t believe violence toward your kind will rectify the dilemma, I also don’t believe that you have the “right” to express your distasteful passions at the expense of everyone else’s displeasure. As far as I’m concerned, you can stay in the closet. Drew Popelka ’91 Mr. Lambert’s comparison between guns and illegal drugs was weak: Certain drugs are illegal because of their abnormally addictive, mind-altering effects, whereas guns are totally safe when used responsibly. Go watch the cows EDITOR: Mr. Lambert then argues that guns at home are a threat to your children’s safety. If someone is careless (and stupid) enough to leave firearms and ammunition within reach of their children, they’re just asking for trouble. Would you let your child play with matches, pharmaceuticals or household chemicals? In response to Charles Goodman’s March 1 letter defending Greeks’ actions at the Feb. 21 Aggie Ladies’ basketball game, I would like to say that we are not expecting any “apology.” However, the smart-aleck attitude in which his letter was written cannot help but to alienate even those who are partial to the Greeks. Mr. Lambert, if you don’t like guns, that’s your perogative, however, is it fair to take away my hobbies (hunting and target shooting) if I pose no threat to so ciety? Ted Winkle ’89 Accompanied by 32 signatures The idea in itself is a noble one. But do not, sir, try to justify the halftime exodus as study-motivated; it says little of our intelligence and less of yours. Another ha If-ho uL. would not have made any difference in study (or party) time. Cartoon not humorous EDITOR: 1 found the “Warped” comic of March 2 personally offensive. But on your word, however, we will accept as fact that all of the fine young fraternity men took their dates directly home and then returned to their desks to study. Finally, we would ask that if you have any similar such stunts planned for the future, that you please take them to a secluded place, such as a cow pasture. We can assure you the performance of the cows will not be adversely affected by your actions; on the contrary, they wouldn’t mind in the least if you decided to leave early and rid them of your odious presence. In a prejudice-free society, it would not be implied that one would have to be white to enjoy a film such as “E.T.,” nor would the play on words with “colorized” have occurred. Lady Ags, you played like champions that day, in spite of the deserters. The real Aggies, to include those Greeks who stayed for the entire game, will always be behind you. Ray Kornhoff ’88 Kevin Jimmerson ’89 That something resorting to racial humor of this nature would escape editorial review and actually appear in the school newspaper speaks rather clearly of the true discriminatory situation on campus. I feel that The Battalion and Scott McCullar owe both the University at large and the paper’s advertisers an apology for this lapse in attention. Keith Marrocco Wilkinson ’90 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 Confessions of Nintendo addict ex At the beginning of this semester, some friends that live down the hall from me, Greg Good and Mike Rollins, purchased a Nintendo video game. 1 have been good friends with them for several semesters, so I occasionally visit them. At first I never thought much of their new addition, not knowing the small, gray, plastic box would soon take hold of my life. Timm Doolen Columnist As I visited them over the next few weeks, I saw John and Danny (Greg and Mike’s suite-mates) playing Super Mario Brothers, and I admired the incredible graphics of the game. John’s brother had a Nintendo at home, so from the beginning he was better at Mario Broth ers than anybody else. The rest of the guys looked to him for guidance when trying to learn the intricacies of the Mario Brothers world. room. I played their Nintendo betwea classes, at night, even before tests,win I should have been studying. 1 tot vinced myself that Mario was a repriti from studying, but it was sometiit hard to rationalize a three hour stu: break. I remember Greg telling me salesman s^aid Nintendo improvt hand-eye coordination. This servedt rationalization for several days. People break as rays, pari Texas A& ,pend spr who are 1 selves. The Be Wesley F Crusade f different gious and people. Susan S the Bapt I don’t remember exactly when it was, but the guys encouraged me to play the game. After just a few times of playing Mario Brothers, I was hooked. That’s somewhat odd considering my attitude toward video games. I’m not exactly a fan of video games, but occasionally one will catch my eye. I avidly played them when I was younger, but since I’ve been at college, video games seem more a waste of valuable time than anything else. As a result of Nintendo, Greg’s at Mike’s grades started to suffer, though Nintendo was giving us all let porary pleasures, like most addicitios it had very negative effects. Ninteni was drawing our lives into a whirlpool despair, so something had to change But somehow Super Mario Brothers transcends that feeling. When I begin watching the vivid colors, I become hyp notized by their beauty. Once I start playing, it’s almost impossible for me to stop. Usually Greg or Mike has to ung lue my hand from the controller, and throw me out of the room. Last week I learned the sad news Mario’s future. Mario is going home! spring break and never coming I'm trying to quit Mario, but the w! drawal symptoms are almost too nw to handle. I’ll h ave it) go cold turl when he’s finally gone, but for now playing as much Mario as 1 can. Jy Mia B REPORTE For several weeks I played Super Mario Brothers every day, for up to an hour at a time; Greg bought other games, but none had the appeal of Mario Brothers. Double Dribble, a bas ketball game, was Danny’s specialty, while solving Zelda became the quest of Greg and Mike. Neither game appealed to me — I was a tried-and-true Mario I really can’t blame Greg and Mi for wanting the Mario Brothers oui their life. Not only does it take upaa siderable amount of their time beo they play Nintendo so often, but a many persons (including myself) it their room at all hours of the day to the game. Hopefully the grades of everyone volved with the Nintendo will go up ter its departure. 1 won’t say that Mai is the only reason I frequent Mike a: Greg’s place, but if I don’t visit quite often after spring break, they’ll b why. Our conquest of the games was all- consuming. Greg finally broke down and made several long-distance calls to the Nintendo hotline, to try to discover the secrets of Mario and Zelda. Maybe I’ll find somebody else in ' Innis Hall who has a Nintendo. Mail I’ll break down and actually buyaNi tend© system, adding another f Nintendo sales, which will reach anes mated $2.5 billion this year. Day after day, I bugged Greg and Mike to see if they would let me play Mario Brothers; I was obviously ad dicted. I shudder to think what would happen if I had a Nintendo in my own I’ll fondly remember my days spt with Mario, and I can honestly sayh miss him. Timm Doolen is a sophomore a puter science major and a colum /orThe Battalion. Miss Texas A&M Pageant is far from scholarly “There she is — Miss Texas A&M University,” the emcee bellows. The newly crowned scholarship re cipient accepts the bouquet of roses and proudly begins her stroll down the run way — her bosoms proiadly pushed up and pressed together using Lord only knows what kind of devices, salty tears forming little river bottoms in her makeup and a rhinestone crown resem bling Elvis’ favorite ashtray at Graceland perched atop her hairdo/cycling safety headgear. Anthony Wilson City Editor talent and swimsuit divisions just like more prestigious pageants such as the Miss Iowa Cream Corn Pageant or the Miss Raise Your Hands If You’re Sure and You Shave Pageant. their skivvies for $1,000, they’re asking to be judged on their looks, something most women abhor, with good reason. The interview sessions were conducted prior to the competition, which is a shame. The audience was cheated out of these women’s views on Proposition 42, Gov. Clements’ regent nominees, Sal man Rushdie, the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan and other current is sues. not only for the $1,000 prize, but for all the other fees necessary to produce Goofy Babe Night, er, this extrava ganza. University sponsored bikini, tan, wei shirts nd hot buns scholarship ca tests? “How can that be?” you inquire. “There is no beauty, er, scholarship pageant fee on my fee slip.” It’s called the Miss TAMU “Scholar ship” Pageant, which is laughable. Those involved stress that it’s not, re peat not, a beauty pageant. After seeing photos of some of the participants, I’m hesitant to disagree. But the pageant does have interview, No, Miss TAMU is a “scholarship” pageant. But I have just one question. What other scholarship’s requirements include a nice set of garbanzas? All the Miss TAMUs, past, present and future, could be blithering morons, and we, their constituents, would never know. Let’s quickly deal with the obvious sexist attitudes this event promotes and move on to the crux of this column. Any time women parade around in But my focus is the subject nearest and dearest to all you business majors — money. You see, you, and I, and the other 36,764 people on this campus pay Au contraire, mon frere. You do pay a substantial student service fee and a portion of that is allotted by the MSC to the pageant. And what do we get in re turn? We get a handwaving University representative to ride around Dallas in a giant cotton puff every Jan. 1 for the low, low price of a couple of G’s. What a bargain! Having a female student represt Texas A&M as Miss TAMU at vario functions is not a bad thing. But bet ways of choosing that person exist ways which wouldn’t require swimi competitions or the use of student set ice fees. Many intelligent, talenit women here at A&M would be pru and able to represent the Universit) this capacity. But they shouldn’t hast demean themselves to do it. And ' shouldn’t have to pay to have it done You’ve come a long way, babyJ 1 we’ve got a long way to go. Since this “scholarship” pageant has been such a huge, smashing success, why not expand the idea? How about Anthony Wilson is a senior jours lism major and city editor of The talion. 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 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. 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 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. BLOOM COUNTY by Berke Breathe POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battal ion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, Col lege Station TX 77843-1 111. Tr wil By And REPOR' Becau more sit rather tl “Skiin cause th owner ol “The package: they did; Of cc beaches. Travel, s “Flori course, s For c popular, spots thi during 1;