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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 1990)
The Battalion OPINION Monday, January 29,1990 Opinion Page Editor Ellen Hobbs Forests threatened by clearcutters Mail Call For those people who ponder the various reasons why the reprehensible clearcutting of our national forests continues, even as you read this, please consider the behavior of the Texas State Forester, Bruce Miles. Miles is an adamant proponent of clearcutting and its equally destructive variants. He is President-elect of the Forest Farmers Association, which describes itself as a “hard-hitting organization of timberland owners,” and for which he has personally lobbied Congress. His disrespect for our forest heritage (as well as federal law which protects threatened species) was vividly- brought to light when he was photographed wearing a T-shirt which said, “SAVE A LOGGER, EAT AN OWL,” (referring to the northern spotted owl). Clearcutting as a forestry management tool has been thoroughly discredited as being extremely unsightly, environmentally destructive, and when it is done on our public lands, a significant economic loss to the U.S. taxpayer. Superb information on clearcutting can be found in a new book entitled “CLEARCUTTING: A Crime Against Nature” written by Edward C. Fritz. Forest Service employees have become so fed up with high ranking Forest Service bureaucrats and their interminable defenses of clearcutting and the concomitant loss of biological diversity that they have begun to speak out. Last year two brave souls risked their careers and formed the Association of Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics, whose mission is to “protect the resource, not protect the bureaucracy.” In addition to advocating clearcutting of forested areas, Miles discourages new wilderness areas. In a letter in the Michael C. Worsham Guest Columnist Bryan-College Station Eagle this fall, Miles inferred that 98 percent of the U.S. citizens are satisfied with the acerage devoted to wilderness in this country. Recent and past public opinion polls directly contradict the figure quoted by Miles. * The strong public support for wilderness was echoed by the U.S. Congress which recently passed the Nevada Wilderness Protection Act, creating 14 national forest wilderness areas totaling 733,400 acres, and which George Bush signed into law on Decembers, 1989. The prospects of realizing the long overdue expansion of the Big Thicket National Preserve depend largely on the support of Senator Phil Gramm, who has still not made up his mind about the area. The Texas State Forester could present Senator Gramm with convincing arguments as to biological uniqueness of this area, the rather small amount of commercial timberland which would be effected by the expansion, and the very positive effect on tourism the expansion would have for the local community and the state of Texas. It can be very safely assumed that our Texas State Forester, Bruce Miles, has not done this. Although Big Thicket expansion is still possible, additional delay means more opportunity for the degradation of unprotected areas. The attacks of Miles have not been limited to our public lands, but extend to those who tirelessly work to protect and conserve forests and wilderness areas. He lumps together all environmental organizations, even though their philosophies, goals, memberships and tactics can be as different from each other as apples are from oranges. He has publicly likened environmentalists to Nazis. Unfortunately, it gets worse. Miles has recently sent this reformer numerous articles defending clearcutting and his “EAT AN OWL” attitude. These materials were, to say the least, unsolicited and were at least partially printed and mailed at the expense of Texas’ taxpayers. These materials have included a letter written . to a New Jersey Congressman who is a co-sponsor of a clearcutting rest raint bill, and indicate that Miles is involved with efforts across the country to prevent this bill (H.R. 2406) from passing in the U.S. Congress. How much of this effort is spent on Miles’ time and how much on the taxpayers time is anybody’s guess. The citizens of this country have made it well known that the belligerent philosophy towards our forests and public lands epitomized by James Watt during the Reagan years will not be tolerated anymore. An official who publicly displays an “EAT AN OWL” attitude towards forest management will not inspire in the public a feeling of confidence and pride. As the Texas Forest Service is a part of the Texas A&M University System, Miles’ behavior does not further Texas A&M’s hard-earned reputation as an institution dedicated to the pursuit of scholarly and objective peer-reviewed scientific research. As Miles has refused to make a timely and gracious exit, Texas A&M should promptly and politely show Miles the door out. Michael C. Worsham is a graduate student in environmental engineering. Hispanic image on TV not a problem EDITOR: Regarding Mr. Montelongo’s letter in Wednesday’s Battalion, there isr* a “major” problem in portraying Hispanics on television. There area prime-time shows that immediately come to mind when I think about Hispn ics on TV: “L.A. Law” and “Fame.” Too, just because one sit-com “plays on the role of the Chicano lowridj image” does not mean the network is saying that all Hispanics drive around lowriders and pull switchblades. Remember Cheech and Chong’s wonder!; escapades? And Cheech Marin is a Hispanic. So are you saying thatit's ; right if Hispanic individuals write, produce and direct shows that portrayr cial stereotypes, but not if the networks do? The networks do not need to dispel their stereotypical beliefs, sir, youdi To quote the infamous James B7 Sexton, “For racism to be eliminated, bo; sides must take a share in th guilt and realize we’re all human.” Rebecca L. Hall ’93 Reverse discrimination: real racism EDITOR: I am writing in response to the letters printed by The Battalion on Jaj uary 24. T hey were written by two gentlemen in response to the letter writtei by James Sexton concerning racism. The point was made that the media tended to provoke racism and that: only victimizes minorities. Television sitcoms are not real life. Reversed! crimination and unfair treatment of the majority are real life problems, lli norities are entitled to the same rights as the majority, but in order to appeas the minorities, they are given more rights and privileges than the major® However, only “minority” discrimination is viewed as a problem. Rewards ant privileges should be granted on the basis of a person’s credentials, withoa race being a factor, as with affirmative action and other programs which pro mote reverse discrimination. My last point is directed toward Mr. Villerreal’s letter. Sir, who is prohibit ing you from flying your Mexican flag? I have a large Confederate flag ondi> play in my dorm window, despite the fact that housing authorities have “re quested” that it be taken down. In fact, a smaller flag was stolen off ofrnydoo; where it was displayed last semester. I’m sure you are proud of your heritagt so go ahead and fly your flag to show that pride — it’s your right. At thesanit time, don’t condemn others for taking that same liberty. Thank you, Mr. Sexton, for writing your letter. I agree wholeheartedly. Collyn A. Clemons ’93 Over $7,000 per tree? i I ‘Liberal’ guy says pro-life’s alright I am a senior English major with a minor in psychology hoping to graduate in May. Although I am a white male supposedly meant for the business world, I have longer-than-normal hair and play my non-pop music loudly. I wear dirty jeans and have a t-shirt with a large peace sign on it. All this, combined with a distrust of government and big business and a desire for volunteer work, makes me quite the liberal here What sets me apart from our supposedly liberal Battalion editorial staff are my views on abortion. In addition to all of the above, I am for all life. Even if I were not Roman Catholic, I would maintain this stand. Imagine that, a liberal against abortion. Imagine this, a liberal for life. The editorialists at The Battalion cannot imagine the existence of such a person. A liberal is supposed to advocate the woman’s right to choose, to control what happens to her body. Guess what, I am for this too. A woman has every right to choose with whom and how often she has sex. “Pro-choice.” “A woman’s right to control her body.” These catch-phrases sound great, like they should be up there with “Equal pay for equal jobs.” If women were forced to have sex with any man who wanted it, I would agree with the push for “a woman’s right to control her body.” The fact is, that is not what is meant. Women already have that right. Pro-choice people want women to be able to terminate unwanted pregnancy at any time. This is not a choice, it is a cop-out, an escape from responsibility. A choice is what is made when deciding whether to share physical intimacy with someone. Everyone, man or woman, must be responsible for any and all voluntary sexual activity. Abortion is a quick way to avoid responsiblity. It is also murder. Although I am Catholic, I do not agree with everything that Pro-life Phillip W. Hunter Guest Columnist groups, or even the Pope and the church do or have to say. 1 do believe, though, in the absolute sanctity of life. If we do not recognize the right to life as the ultimate right, then on what are we able to base our other claimed rights? Nothing. There would be no basis for these other rights. Killing is wrong, be it by abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty or war. We, as humans, do not have the right to take life, only the responsibility of creating and protecting it. We nurture life or we are murderers. That is why I am against abortion for any reason. I know that in cases of rape, incest or endangerment of the mother’s life, my view may seem very harsh. It is, however, the only totally consistent viewpoint. * Even a stand for limited aboriton is not consistent. Why should the right to choose stop at unwanted pregnancy? Why shouldn’t a woman be able to choose what kind of baby she has? When does the choice of abortion become immoral? All abortion goes against morality, against nature and God. There is no middle ground. My belief is that no matter how terrible the circumstances of the pregnancy God will ultimately draw good, a beautiful child, from it. As a Christian, that is my faith in God’s will. I know many of you will disagree or even scoff at this because of your belief or lack of belief. Let us look at this another way. The physiological and psychological effects of abortion are many and can be devastating. Non- spontaneous abortion is an unnatural thing. Something living and good is being forcibly removed from a woman’s body. Sex is,a procrpative act and the possible consequences of it should be fully realized before the choice is made to engage in intercourse. I also know some readers will say that I would change my views if it were my wife. I have thought about this a great deal and know that I would not. Life is sacred and we must accept sacrifices, both great and small, in order to preserve it. So that Ellen Hobbs will not criticize the scope of my view as narrow, let me state that I do not support the reinstatement of illegal abortion and the marriage of church and state. Illegal abortion should be wiped out thorougly through education and aid. I also realize that willing couples will not abstain from sex. Most people do not have the willpower to stop, nor the desire. Hobbs, herself, raised the question of safe, reliable birth control. The absence of this from intercourse does not make abortion an acceptable form of birth control. The Catholic Church, however, advises and teaches Natural Family Planning, a safe, natural method of control which is 99.9% effective. Like all forms of birth control, it must be learned and used correctly or its reliability is lessened. To close, I would like to state my fear that if the United States allows abortions to become an acceptable, easy way out of unwanted pregnancies, then we will not be far from fetus screening for gender and minor birth defects. Life would certainly be worth little then. I simply ask those of you who read this column, especially Don Atkinson Jr., Gabriel L. Guerra and Ellen Hobbs to open your minds and give more respect to life and the views of others. Phillip W. Hunter is a senior English major. EDITOR: On the front page of the January 25 issue of The Battalion, there mi photograph of a MSC tree being transplanted. I applaud the special effon that is being put forth to transplant these 15 living trees rather than simpl chopping them down. ' What I don’t applaud is that this transplantation project is costing us $110,000. That’s $7,333.33 per tree! I don’t see how g^chool that has cut down and burned hundreds of trees during past bonfires can spend $110,000 of our money to save 15 trees. I have two requests. First, when these trees are transported, give eachtrte a monument since not every university has a $7,000 tree. Second, don'th them die! John Payne ’90 No need to fear pro-life danger EDITOR: I am writing in response to Ellen Hobbs’ article about the “danger” oftk pro-life movement. You state that the pro-life delegation bothers you a lot. And, yes, I top dis like anonymous letters sent to homes of selected women. 1 pref er a more pet sonal discussion, not unnamed letters. However, I wonder why you wantedto seperate your “own Christianity” from the Bible-quoters who sent the letter Does your Christianity support murder? I don’t think Jesus said that was okay. But then again, what do I know? I just read the Bible. You also seem relieved that no one chanted or spoke in tongues or prayed Maybe that all seems facetious to you, but I guess your Christianity doesn’tin volve praying for the sanctity of human life. You were also disturbed that the Brazos Valley Crisis Pregnancy Center advocates pro-life. So what’s wrong with counseling a woman to keep her child? It’s not like they’re the Third Reich and will prevent any woman who chooses an aboriton to get one. They’re just concerned that the baby will be killed because it’s “inconvenient” for the mother to have it. And then there’s the ever-present “alley abortions” that will “naturally follow the outlaw of abortions. Pro-choicers argue that they must retain the choice of murder, I mean, abortion. I guess the pro-choicers ignore the fact that they have a choice whether or not to have sex, or at least, “safe sex.” Too obvious a method of birth cont rol. Sex now, abortion later. How convenient! You conclude that the rally had “no prayers, no violence, no frenzy--just danger.” I didn’t know that caring for life and the unborn made someone “dangerous.” Is that what your Christianity says? I’m probably biased to be pro-life because I’m a Christian and adopted. If abortion was legal in 1969, I could have ended up in a garbage can in a matter of seconds. And that scares the hell out of me. Think about it. Ho« many of you might have been killed out of “convenience?” Or don’t you carer Jeff Frank ’91 Adventures In Cartooning by Don Atkinson Jr. The Battalion (USPS 045 360) Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference The Battalion Editorial Board Scot Walker, Editor Monique Threadgill, Managing Editor Ellen Hobbs, Opinion Page Editor Melissa Naumann, City Editor Cindy McMillian, Lisa Robertson, News Editors Richard Tijerina, Sports Editor Fredrick D. Joe, Art Director Mary-Lynne Rice, Lifestyles Editor Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspaper 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 represent the opinions of Texas A&M administrators, faculty or the Board of Regents. 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 Mc Donald, Texas A&M University, College Sta tion, TX 77843-1111. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, College Station TX 77843- 4111.