The Battalion
OPINION
Wednesday, November 1,1989
Head to Head:
Where should
Bury him in the Philippines
Richard
Shafer
Guest Columnist
Ferdinand Marcos deserves to re
turn to the Philippines to be laid to rest.
In the history ot American-supported
dictators, Marcos was one of the least
oppressive, certainly not as bad as say
Pinochet of Chile, Batista of Cuba or
Samosa of Nicaragua.
Marcos, in the 1960s and through
out most of the 1970s, managed to en
gineer one of the great economic mira
cles of Asia. At the same time, he
allowed press freedom and relatively
free and fair political elections. After
his first election victory, he held onto
the presidency by clear mandate of the
Philippine people.
But following a sharp decline in the
Phillipine economy, a budding Marxist
domestic insurgency, the United States’
defeat in Vietnam and the establish
ment of communist governments in
Burma, Laos and Cambodia, Marcos
felt compelled to declare martial law in
1972. He had wagered on American
ambitions in Southeast Asia and it
wasn’t paying off. The Philippines was
suffering economic and political chaos.
Marcos had fought on our side most
of his life. If he wasn’t truly the most
decorated Philippine war hero in the
fight against the Japanese, he at least
did his part for three difficult years be
fore General McArthur managed to re
turn.
Marcos had a genious for governing.
The portion of the national resources
he didn’t appropriate for himself and
friends was spent quite wisely. He
maintained a good national highway
system, the airline ran on time, stu
dents from all over the world flocked
to study at Philippine universities, and
on the island of Leyete he built a new
geothermal electric plant capable of
supplying about a quarter of the coun
try with power generated from an eter
nal source of natural hot water. Not a
bad record compared to most countries
of the Third World.
So why doesn’t President Aquino
show some mercy and let the Marcos
family bury the old man in his home
province on the northern tip of Luzon?
It’s very far from Manila and farther
from most of the rest of the island na
tion. I don’t believe the political conse
quences would be so dire, fhe Phil
ippine people are civilized, democratic
and generally moderate.
It appears to me that Cory Aquino’s
intransigence on the issue is part of a
personal and family vendetta she is
continuing.
When I saw her speak at a 1985 cam
paign rally in the city of Ormoc, Mrs.
Aquino presented herself as a mar
tyred wife, more than as a serious pres-
idential candidate. She told how
guards under Marcos’ orders forbid
her to touch her husband when she vis
ited him in prison before his exile to
the United States. Her personal suffer
ing was one of the main themes of her
early speeches.
President Aquino also appeared to
carry a residue of jealousy against
Imelda Marcos. For at least a year, be
fore Cory met her husband, Ninoy
Aquino and Imelda were a hot item
around Manila, and very much the fo
cus of the popular press. Imelda was
Vote yes to Proposition 21:
an opportunity to increase
college education funding
The cost of a college education is increasing faster than the av
erage family income. According to figures released by the Texas
Faculty Association, in the past nine years college tuition cost has
increased between 70 and 90 percent, whereas the average family
income has risen only 33 percent in the same time period.
On Nov. 7, voters will have an opportunity to alleviate this
problem by voting in favor of Proposition 21 — The College Op
portunity Act.
Because tuition costs are expected to rise considerably in the
years to come, it is necessary for parents and students to start sav
ing early for college.
Voting Proposition 21 into effect will provide for the issuance
of general savings bonds to be used as college savings bonds. The
bonds, which are tax free, will serve a dual purpose by promoting
long-term savings and also generating proceeds to keep solvent
the Hinson Hazelwood College Access Loan Program, which, since
1977, has enabled 170,000 students to go to college.
The passage of the amendment will immediately issue an addi
tional $75 million to the dwindling fund. Proceeds from the sale of
the bonds also will be directly deposited into the fund.
The issuance of college savings bonds will benefit the economy
and ensure future prosperity for the state by making education
more affordable to Texas residents.
By enabling more people to go to college, Texas will get a sig
nificant return on its investment. Voting for Proposition 21 is an
opportunity that shouldn’t be missed.
The Battalion Editorial Board
The Battalion
(USPS 045 360)
Member of
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conference
The Battalion Editorial Board
Scot O.Walker, Editor
Wade See, Managing Editor
Juliette Rizzo, Opinion Page Editor
Fiona Soltes, City Editor
Ellen Hobbs, Chuck Squatriglia,
News Editors
Tom Kehoe, Sports Editor
Jay Janner, Art Director
Dean Sueltenfuss, Lifestyles Editor
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Opinion Page Editor Juliette Rizzo 8451:
Marcos be laid to rest? f
u
A bust of Marcos north of Manila
the beauty queen and Ninoy the hand
some rising political star. They broke
off the romance; Imelda met Ferdi
nand and Ninoy met Cory.
This is all old news. The Philippine
people are well versed in the rivalries
carried out for generations by its
landed aristocracy. It’s time to cast
away such remnants of the feudal or
der.
The economic development and
democratization of the Philippines are
not well served by allowing such per
sonal rivalries to fragment the nation
and interfere with government. I be
lieve if Cory Aquino makes the compas
sionate gesture of forgiving her old
enemy and allowing him to be buried
at home, it will serve as a symbolic heal
ing act for both her and for the Phil
ippine people.
Richard Shafer is an assistant pro
fessor ofjournalism.
Don’t bury him
Turmoil continues in the Philippines
as former President Ferdinand Marcos’
supporters demand his body be re
turned to his homeland for burial.
Such a move would not contribute to
healing in this strife-stricken nation.
Marcos, a falsely decorated war vet
eran, imposed martial law in 1972 —
thus killing the freest press in Asia —
and began his one-man rule. It lasted
until 1986, of course, when democratic
elections promoted Cory Aquino to the
presidency.
Although the nightmare of Marcos’
reign is over, the country will need de
cades to get over the plundering of its
treasury by Marcos. Courts are still try
ing to find out where he stored his mil
lions — much of which was U.S. for
eign aid which aided no one but the
dictator and his wife Imelda. Some
projects for which Marcos used funds
benefited only himself.
His ego is personified — actually it’s
chiseled — on a huge bust on a moun
tain just off the Marcos Highway (what
else?) north of Manila. A stone’s throw
away is a now-deserted country 7 club
built for his golf outings. South of Ma
nila, Marcos had a huge mansion con
structed for a papal visit. Aware of the
poverty in the region, the pope said he
would refuse to stay in such quarters. It
sits unfinished, another shrine to self.
Extravagance most often seen by
Americans is the Presidential Palace,
which Aquino turned back over to the
Filipino people as a museum. Although
jokes about Imelda’s shoes are popular,
in his homeland
Randy
Hines
Guest Columnist
Clen
Tue:
the excess at public expense is imi: Agri
ral. I saw a toy, motorized sports niis:
for a grandchild to ride which tt
i i P (,;u
more than im compact. I expencntt p U |,|
his legacy of graft and corrupt! that
Showing college administrators a si/ towe
in the Manila newspaper that Ib nua
sent as a news release, I was aslml re 1
“How much did it cost you?”
:rut
T1
copv
W 7
Dcpr
Despite all this, fanatical followersi
Marcos are ready for more coups
man wearing a \ello\\ jacket (AquiE
color) unfortunateh walked by a yj,,,.
cos rally in Manila. His bullet-riddi
body was found the next day.
crop
T1
the
said.
Mi
After 20 years of pillaging the Pt
ippines, Marcos does not deservetolBjjg},
buried there. The country needs to: Penn
bound from his reign of terror.fti tneni
more Marcos monument —even: (
tomb — would retard such recoven J 135 . *
basis
Boost
Randy Hines is Student Pubk soda
tions Coordinator and also a me® “C
of the journalism faculty. ^ u ‘ s
• . Bed
Editor s note: The previous ci s j 1()U
umns were based on the viewsofu said,
journalism professors who spenttii Lr
in the Philippines. Randy Hinesspe are e
the 1986-87 school year in thecouii' f ust
as a publications consultant. Ur.Kic t(i ,
ard Shafer, who spent Sept. 1985-f! Servi
1986 in the Philippines, wasafre
lance journalist and wrote a disstf
tion on the Press and Third Worldft
velopment. (
Expanding spring elections coulc
eliminate long election day lines
I C(
ain’s
will s
mote
bio iv
accor
One school election season ended on
Oct. 10 when freshman election run
offs took place. Although a long way
off, the next school election season will
approach during the spring semester.
Now seems to be an appropriate time
to make some suggestions regarding a
problem hampering elections in the
past: long lines at the polls.
The clearest and simplest solution to
this problem also seems to be the best
one: making polling facilities large and
numerous enough to handle election-
day crowds.
First, let’s consider the issue of long
lines. Many of you may remember
waiting in a line or seeing them on elec
tion day last spring. I remember seeing
a line that stretched fully half the
length of the Academic Building. Page
514 of the new Aggieland also shows
an election-day line. That may seem
like thin evidence of a problem, but
any long lines at the polls on election
day can turn away potential voters.
ernment alots millions of dollars an
nually, decides various student issues
and speaks as the students’ voice to
school administrators. Yell leaders lead
Twelfth Man yells and project an
image for the whole school. RHA,
OCA and class council officers plan
and direct activities and represent their
constituents.
Also, as students we are forming vot
ing habits that can remain with us for
years to come. By discouraging voting
now, long lines may have the effect of
discouraging our voting in later elec
tions.
If last spring’s election-day lines did
turn away many potential voters, elec
tion outcomes may have been in
fluenced. In the election, several races
were decided by narrow vote margins.
When races are close, a few turned-
away voters could make the difference
as to who is elected to a position.
And the positions themselves cer
tainly mean something. Student Gov-
Second, how can the problem of
long lines be resolved? Last spring, a
proposal to establish additional polling
places passed the Student Senate only
to die by a presidential veto. The Stu
dent Body President at the time, Jay
Hays, said the plan establishing addi
tional polling places failed to give bal
anced access to both on and off-cam
pus voters and risked having too few
poll workers show up. The elect
went ahead with four polling placed
stead of the proposed six.
Election expansion planning woe
have to address the weaknesses li
drew the veto. Additional pollii
places would have to be located
students living on and off-campus hi
roughly equal access. For examl
polls located near bus stops mighu
set polls located in residence hall art
Also, any expansion plan would hi
to be accompanied by the assura:
that enough workers would showupj
the polls.
Third, how could such a change
enacted? Well, last spring the Stride
Senate passed the resolution estab!
ing more polling places, and thr
dent body president vetoed it. Thet
rent Student Senate also consist'
elected representatives who, one
sumes, will respond readily to
voices of their own constituents.!
stituents could encourage the Stud;
Senate to approve an expansion p
which can dodge a presidential 1 '
this time around.
Spring elections play an import
role: they provide the mechanism
which we choose many student lead:
for the whole school year. And the 1
to shorten lines during springeledt
seems clear: expand the elections.
Jim Hayes is a senior econc'
major and a columnist for The B:
ion.
genei
Of
Fergi
urda’
rand
man
night
IT
mom
Mem
Chrh
by S
lives.
Former presidents receive big bucks
Next time members of Congress insist that they are ear
nestly trying to save money, taxpayers should ask them why
they continue to vote for outrageously generous stipends to
ex-presidents.
There is a certain amount of irony in the fact that the
same week that automatic spending cuts went into effect to
conform to the Gramm-Rudman deficit-reduction act, the
House voted 383-30 to give $1.8 million to four ex-presi
dents and one ex-president’s widow.
The money is to cover pensions, office costs and other
expenses. When the $1.8 million is added to the $12.5 mil
lion that the Secret Service will spend to provide security for
former presidents and their families, the price tag is sizable.
that, “This Congress should examine whether we art
great in our largesse in providing services and costs to
mer presidents who engage in personal income endeavof
He was specifically referring to Ronald Reagan, who
receive $559,500 in pension and expense money to ad :
the $2 million he was paid by his Japanese sponsors tof ;
two speeches in Japan last week.
Kanjorski calls that an “unmitigated atrocity. Thatmt
be a trifle melodramatic, but that kind of expenditure^
absurd expense for a government that is billions of dollar
debt. Former presidents deserve a reasonable pension
common sense should dictate that what they are recei
now exceeds reasonable by a healthy amount.
Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Pa., was on target in complaining — Fort Worth Star-Telegram