The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, January 29, 1990, Image 2

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    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
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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
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