The Battalion
OPINION
Wednesday, April 12,1989
2
The Battal
ST
>6,
Wednesd;
Soviet election results offer
hope for Communist Party
Two weeks ago the Soviet Union held
its first multicandidate elections in 70
years. The results seemed astonishing to
many people in the Soviet Union, but to
most of the world they secerned an ob
vious result of decades of Soviet oppres
sion.
One of the results of the first real So
viet election was that many hard-line
Communists were replaced by candi
dates who pledged a commitment to
change. This has been taken by Gorba
chev and others as an endorsement of
Gorbachev’s economic and political re
forms.
Many candidates for vital positions
were defeated, including 34 regional
party secretaries, the president and
prime minister of Lithuania, several
military commanders, the head of the
Estonian division of the KGB, and the
mayors of Moscow, Leningrad, Tomsk
and Kiev.
Those defeats are remarkable
enough in themselves, but what makes
them more amazing is that those candi
dates were running unopposed for their
positions and they still lost. How? The
voters took advantage of a quirk in the
election law which allowed voters to re
ject a candidate by striking his name out
on the ballot.
Was the election a significant step to
wards greater reform in the Soviet
Union? Yes and no.
The significance of the election was
the election itself and the general pat
terns of voting rather than whether can
didate X was elected. It was not so much
the people who won that mattered, but
the message that the Soviet people sent
to their government. They are ready for
Timm
Doolen
Columnist
change, reform, and progress. This is
evident in the fact that Moscow voters
gave Boris Yeltsin, a strong reformist,
90 percent of their vote.
Though the message of the election
results is strong, the actual people
elected will have little power to change
the Soviet system. Progressive congres
sional deputies, who serve five-year
terms, make up only a small percentage
of the 2,250-member Congress of Dep
uties. The only real function of that
body is to elect the president and prime
minister, which will undoubtedly be
Gorbachev, and to elect the 422-mem
ber Supreme Soviet, the legislative
branch of their government.
Days after the election, another East
bloc country, Poland, made progress to
wards ensuring some political freedoms.
The Polish government signed an
agreement that made Solidarity, the la
bor union outlawed in 1981, legal again.
The government also followed the
Soviet Union’s example and will allow
real elections for the first time in 40
years. Solidarity and other political or
ganizations will probably win a majority
in the newly created Senate, which has
little power, and a significant minority
of seats (about one-third) in the existing
Sejm, or Parliament.
This is even more of a reform than
the Soviet model. In the Soviet Union,
the elections consisted mostly of two dif
ferent types of Communists running
against each other. But in Poland, harsh
critics of the government will be run
ning against long-time government sup
porters.
Mix this with the fact that the Soviets
have withdrawn from Afghanistan, are
instituting democratic economic re
forms, and are allowing dissidents to
emigrate like never before. When we
put all this and more together, we real
ize we are dealing with a kinder, gentler
Soviet Union.
It seems the horrible, oppresive, red-
menace aggressor of the past forty years
has tamed down and has become almost
as democratic as the United States. Af
ter all, they had a much bigger turnover
rate than our own Congress.
So should the United States wake up
and accept the Soviet Union as our
friend, not our admitted enemy? Defi
nitely not.
Yes, the Soviet Union has made in
credible leaps and bounds in the past
five years towards achieving greater so
cial justice for its people. But they’re still
Communists. The Soviet Union contin
ues to support Cuba, Ethiopia, Angola,
the East Bloc countries, and other coun
tries that have not instituted the same
political reforms as the Soviet Union.
The Soviets have come a long way in
the past five years, but they’ve got a long
way to go. With help from the many
newly elected progressives in the Con
gress of Deputies, they just might get
there.
Timm Doolen is a sophomore com
puter science major and a columnist
/or The Battalion.
Move over USA Today
the Journal is on its way
My first home-delivered copy of The
Wall Street Journal arrived the other
morning. The occurrence marked an
important moment in my life.
Had I chosen a different profession,
it is likely I would have been taking The
Wall Street Journal at home for some
time.
Had I decided to be, say, a stock
broker, I certainly would have needed
to take the Journal. And what if I had
become a television minister?
I would have needed the Journal
near me at all times in case I had a su-
den urge to invest one or two of my mil
lions.
I put off taking The Wall Street Jour
nal at home until now for a couple of
reasons.
One, I felt my neighbors would see it
on my lawn each morning and would
say things like, “He’s just trying to put
on airs.” Taking the Journal at home
does indicate one has the need to keep a
finger on the world’s financial pulse and
what would I, a humble columnist, need
to do that for? -
Two, The Wall Street Journal has al
ways intimidated me. You have to work
at reading it.
You don’t just casually skim over the
headlines until you get to the comics,
where you can spend a little time.
The Wall Street Journal’s articles are
Lewis
Grizzard
Columnist
long and there are no comics nor puz
zles. There’s not even any sports news in
the Journal unless it has to do with some
millionaire basketball player deciding to
buy Guatemala.
But all that changed recently when I
received a pleasant surprise — a royalty
check from a rerun of my critically ac
claimed performance on television’s
“Designing Women.”
I am not at liberty to divulge the
amount of the check — Dixie Carter
finds out and she’ll be asking for a new
contract — but I can say it was five fig
ures. It’s up to you to guess the location
of the decimal point.
This windfall starting me thinking. A
man who receives royalty checks from
television shows can’t afford to fool
around with his financial future.
I’m certain Johnny Carson must read
The Wall Street Journal as does Alan
Hale Jr., who must be worth millions by
now since there is a rerun of “Gilligan’s
Island” on at least one channel every
minute of the day.
So, when I saw a Wall Street Journal
commercial on television I immediately
called the 800 number and subscribed.
My life has changed drastically. I
used to go outside to get the local paper
in my bare feet. But you don’t walk out
side to pick up your Wall Street Journal
without wearing shoes, so I bought a
new pair of wingtips simply for that
purpose.
I used to carry a copy of USA Today’s
Life section to read during my lunch.
Who’s Cher dating now?
But no more. I carry The Wall Street
Journal to lunch with me now and keep
abreast of the latest merger rumors
while I’m waiting in line to get my chili
dogs.
I feel much more at ease at cocktail
parties now, too. If someone asks, “Did
you read the informative piece in The
Wall Street Journal concerning the ram
ifications of the Exxon Alaskan oil
spill?” I don’t have to fade toward the
hors d’oeuvres tray any more.
I can stick in there and say, “Of
course, I read it. And did you read the
Journal’s incisive piece on the possibility
of the Beecham Group merging with
Smith Kline Beckman?”
And when I’ve been taking The Wall
Street Journal at home for a few more
months, I may even start putting on a
shirt when I go out each morning to
pick up my copy off the lawn.
I expect property values in my neigh
borhood to show a substantial increase.
Copyright 1989, Cowles Syndicate
Mail Call
Pesticides are dangerous
EDITOR:
Lately, The Battalion has run several articles and columns defending and
excusing the use of chemicals in growing food. These articles used “facts” to
counter the “hysteria” of the people concerned about safe food.
So here are a few things to think about next time you find yourself
inhaling smoke, solvents in perfume, ozone from air conditioners, carbon
monoxide from cars and other various pollutants in the air.
If mixing drugs produces unpredictable results, wouldn’t mixing toxins
also produce unpredictable effects?
Since pesticides tend to decimate predator populations, wouldn’t pest
problems become potentially worse? Were apples sold before fungicides,
insecticides and growth regulators were invented? What other hormones are
used in cattle? Shouldn’t we be concerned about the environment as a whole
rather than just what we put in our mouths?
Our health does not depend on the number of pounds of apples we
consume, but the total effect of all chemicals we eat, inhale and absorb,
natural and man-made. In general organophosphates and benzene rings are
not very healthy.
In the United States, the use of DDT has been banned, but American
companies can produce and export it.
Isn’t it ironic that there have been shipments of beef from Central
America which have been rejected due to excess amounts of DDT in the
meat?
Martin Ebel
Graduate Student
A&M — love it or leave it
EDITOR:
This letter is in response to J.Frank Hernandez’ March 10 column con
cerning the Corps of Cadets.
First let me tell you that I am a non-reg aerospace engineering major.
Taking that into account, please read the following carefully and try to learn
something.
Mr. Hernandez, the traditions at A&M will not change or end because
one confused and distraught sophomore wants them too. Traditions will last.
That’s why they are traditions.
On to your dining complaint. I understand that the Commons dining
center is closed. This gives the dining patrons of that area two choices:
1. To eat at Duncan during the posted times (which it seems you failed to
read).
2. To dine at Sbisa where the Corps will not affect you.
Duncan is the Corps dining center. This fact is understood by everyone
except you. It also seems that the people at Duncan were more than polite
about the whole situation. If you wish to eat at 6:45 p.m. then feel free to eat
dinner with me at Sbisa sometime with no Corps interference.
“The fact of the matter is that the Corps of Cadets is getting too much re
spect here at A&M.” These were your words, Mr. Hernandez. Cadets were
here for many years before non-regs entered this University and they earned
every bit of respect they get. If you doubt this fact, try to be a fish in the
Corps for a week.
Since you brought up the subject of hazing, I will correct your lack of
knowledge on this subject. The Corps is a voluntary organization. You volun
teer to join and volunteer to leave. One of the many physical activities in
cludes Corps runs (not every morning though.) The incoming fish are told
that physical requirements will need to be met.
I compare and contrast things as much as the average person. If you
think for a second that the Corps holds any resemblance to a fraternity ora
sorority I would ask you to get your eyes checked.
The last of the items I would like for you to consider is the future of the
Corps of Cadets. Approximately 50 percent of the Corps will be entering the
service to protect you and your country. In this country, you have the right to
free speech. The people you criticize could possibly put their life on the line
for you. Be careful on how quick you are tojudge them.
Texas A&M — love it or leave it.!
David Hockenberry
Power Team promotes Christianity
EDITOR:
This letter is in reference to Dean Sueltenfuss’ March 10 column “Biting
the heads off live parakeets and other religious feats.”
Dean, I think you’re missing the mark.
At first, I, too, was skeptical about the Power Team. But realizing
everyone deserves a chance, I stuck with the program.
Dean, in my opinion, these men display their physical strength only to
prove to this young audience that real strength comes from God.
I’ve seen the kids scream, cry and even accept Jesus Christ at the end of
the program. The program has an appeal.
It’s apparently had an impact on you and I. Otherwise, why would we stay
oh a Saturday night to watch the program?
Before I close, let me leave you with one final example. The heavy metal
band “Stryper” advocates Christianity on their album covers, in their songs
and at their concerts.
Those who mock them, and there are many, have never seen the band
members share Christ with the hundreds of teen-agers in the hallways and
corridors of the hall following the concert.
Paul Cox ’89
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
Sout hwest 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
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Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the
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resent the opinions of Texas A&M administrators, fac
ulty or the Board of Regents.
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for students in reporting, editing and photography
classes within the Department of Journalism.
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