The Battalion
OPINION
Friday, February 2,1990
Opinion Page Editor Ellen Hobbs
845-33
Jackson would be good candidate for D.C. mayo
Jesse Jackson once stood a better
chance of becoming president of the
United States than any African-
American in history. However, his stock
has fallen drastically and is going to fall
a lot further unless he makes some bold
moves.
Jackson has many of the qualifications
necessary to enter the realm of “serious
contender” for the presidency. For
years, Jackson has been the leader and
dominant force of the African-
American political movement. During
the last presidential election, he lost in
the primaries but made a strong enough
showing to nearly convince Michael
Dukakis to select him as his running
mate. He has overwhelming support
from the African-American community,
and his populist message has won him
thin but broad-based and growing
support from farmers and rural voters.
He has shown that he can run a
relatively successful campaign on a
shoestring budget. Most importantly, he
Scot O.
Walker
Editor
is perceived by his supporters as a
leader and a visionary.
But Jackson still has one gaping hole
in his presidential resume, and it is one
that his oppenents will always be able to
use effectively against him: He has
absolutely zero experience as an elected
official. He has never been a senator,
governor, representative, mayor,
councilman or anything else. His critics
can say that he can’t handle the job, and
he can insist that he can, but the fact is
that he has never been in a position to
prove anybody wrong.
Jackson has said on several occasions
recently that he would like to see the
District of Columbia granted statehood.
He says he would then like to serve as
United States senator from the 51st
state, New Columbia.
That’s a nice plan, but it has a fatal
flaw: It hinges on D.C being granted
statehood.
Not a chance.
There is no way that D.C. is going to
become a state. A bill has been in front
of Congress since 1988 proposing
statehood, and it hasn’t moved
anywhere in all that time. Jackson and
other statehood supporters say that
statehood is necessary for D.C. so that it
can reap full benefits for its inhabitants.
A commonly heard phrase is that the
District of Columbia is the “f orgotten
stepchild” of the nation. No way, no
how is anybody in America going to buy
that. Sure, the city has problems, but
they are the same problems that you see
in New York, Los Angeles, etc.
The district is the seat of our nation’s
government, has more museums and
art galleries and monuments than
probably any other city, and even has its
own congressional subcommittee to see
to its affairs. The forgotten stepchild
analogy just won’t go over.
A better idea for Jesse Jackson — and
one that he has repeatedly shot down —
is for him to become mayor of
Washington, D.C. The job is his for the
taking, and it offers him a unique
opportunity. The city, like every other
big city, has outrageous crime rates, a
huge drug problem and thousands of
homeless people. These are many of the
same problems that Jackson has said he
can solve, or at least ease, for the nation
as a whole.
The mayoralty of Washington is also
in a glaring spotlight, with what is
probably the highest concentration of
media of any city in the world. If
Jackson does any good at all, his
doubters will see that he can effective]
solve problems and manage a
beauracracy. And if he bombs, evenil
will see that he has no business beimI
our nation’s president.
Jackson has the opportunity to shJ
that he has the ideas, the intelligence
and — most of all — the skill tobeou:
president, or that he doesn’t. Rut he
needs to move now. His roleasthero
prominent African-American of the
Democratic party is endangered byth
emergence of other possible standard
bearers, such as David Dinkens, Andn
Young, Douglas Wilder and Ron
Brown.
Jackson’s supporters need him to
reassert his leadership now. He should
do something bold — like takingthe
Washington mayor’s job — orstepasii
for the new blood.
Scot Walker is a senior journalism
major.
Sane, frenzyless reader
gives pro-life rebuttal
I had decided not to respond to
the Battalion’s inconsistent stance on
life issues but was once more sucked
into the fray by the half-truths and
nonsense emanating from this paper.
So, being a sane, nonviolent,
frenzyless but dangerous person
(according to Ellen Hobbs), here
goes.
The issue of promoting illegal
abortions by restricitng legal
abortions ranks right up there with
supporting illegal child abuse by
opposing legal child abuse. I would
assume that Hobbs is alluding to
statistics that alleged 500 to 5000
women died yearly from abortions in
the years prior to Roe v. Wade.
Those figures were wildly
exaggerated to meet the needs of the
cause.
The issue of the separation of
church and state is also interesting.
As I am sure Hobbs knows, this term
is not found anywhere in the
Constitution. It is not in amendments
one or five, (these refer to the
establishment of state churches or the
restricting of religious liberty),
including upholding the right to
influence the moral and ethical
decisions or foundations on which
this nation rests. The phrase comes
from Thomas Jefferson in a letter to
a group of Baptist ministers
concerned about the adoption of a
state church in Virginia. It is
interesting to see that subsequent to
this he affirmed the need and
desirability for people of religious
background to impact the state in its
development of its moral and ethical
foundations.
This question is raised when
debating when life begins. I must say
that my understanding of when life
begins is based on biology and
genetics, while the value that I ascribe
to that life is based on my Christian
beliefs. This sentiment was echoed in
an editorial in the official journal of
the California Medical Association,
“California Medicine”: “Since the old
ethic (the traditional Christian
viewpoint) has not been fully
displaced, it has been necessary to
separate the idea of abortion from
the idea of killing, which continues to
be socially abhorrent. The result has
been a curious avoidance of the
scientific fact, which everyone knows,
that human life begins at conception
and is continuous whether intra
uterine or extra-uterine until death.
The very considerable semantic
Bucky
Lee
Reader’s Opinion
gymnastics which are required to
rationalize abortion as anything but
taking human life would be ludicrous
if they were not often put forth
under socially impeccable auspices.”
Turning to the misguided and
misinformed sentiments of Don
Atkinson and Gabriel Guerra, I
would like to make the following two
points. One, it would seem that not
everyone can “afforcj” Planned
Parenthood’s services and are
therefore referred elsewhere, to
poisonous snakes in the grass
according to Hobbs. Two, they are
woefully behind on the readings
from the Center for Population
Options proceedings (1988 and
1989). The director of research for
the center, Douglas Kirby, reported
that in a study conducted from 1984
to 1988 there was no “measurble
impact” on pregnancies at schools
with Planned Parenthood school-
based clinics when compared with the
control group (no clinic or
education).
Turning to the pro-choice label,
me just state a few other areas where
I am not pro-choice (anti-choice?).
Child abuse: It’s not OK to abuse
them just because we differ on the
issue. The death penalty: It's not OK
to execute them because you think it’s
OK. Support for dictatorships and
death squads in Central America, the
nuclear arms race, care for the
homeless, social programs,
pornography are examples of other
issues. On issues where the
destruction of human life is at stake,
a pro-choice stance cheapens all of
humanity.
In response to those who will say I
don’t care about the mother or family
involved, I would caution you to look
before you leap.
In closing, I would just note that
we can argue about this day and
night but the outcome remains the
same, my view leads to a baby and
mother where both can be cared for,
yours ends with the disposal of “fetal
tissue” and often unresolved
suffering for years to come.
Buckey Lee is an AScM staff
member and research specialist.
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
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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.
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4111.'
Health columnist gives tips
on fighting dreaded flu virus
Every year the flu makes many
students feel sick. This column will
explain what the flu is, its symptoms and
how you can prevent it.
What is the flu?
“Flu” is short for influenza, a virus
that causes an infection in the lungs and
upper respiratory system.
What are the common symptoms?
The flu usually begins with
headaches, body aches, fever, chills and
cough. Sore throat, sneezing, runny
nose and a tight feeling in the chest may
also appear. Most people recover within
a week, but some may feel exhausted for
three to four weeks.
How does the flu spread?
The virus spreads quickly and it is
usually passed from person to person by
touching, coughing or sneezing.
People can also get the flu by
touching something that has been
infected by someone who has the flu,
and then touching their mouths, noses
or eyes.
After the virus enters the body,
symptoms appear in two to three days.
What are the possible
complications ?
The influenza virus may produce
bacterial pneumonia in people who
have chronic heart or lung disease, are
older than 65 years or who live in
nursing homes.
Reye’s syndrome is a serious brain
and liver disorder that has been linked
to the use of aspirin by children with flu
symptoms. It is not recommended to
use aspirin or medicines containing
aspirin against the flu.
Who should be vaccinated?
• People with chronic heart or lung
disease.
Erika Gonzalez-Lima
Health Columnist
• Residents of nursing homes.
• Adults older than 65 years of age.
• People with immune system
disorders.
• People with asthma.
• Children with chronic respiratory
disorders.
• Family members of vulnerable
people.
• Health-care providers.
• Police and fire department staff.
The vaccine is no guarantee against
the flu, but it reduces the chance of
getting it or of having complications.
Since the vaccine does not take effect
for several months, the time to receive it
is in the fall, before the winter flu
season.
Because the influenza virus may
change every year, vaccination should
take place annually.
The influenza vaccine may cause mild
side effects, such as fever, soreness or
redness at the vaccination site. These
reactions are infrequent and usually last
only two days.
If you are allergic to eggs, tell your
physician because the vaccine is
prepared with eggs.
How is the flu treated?
Flu patients should rest in bed and
drink plenty of fluids (eight ounces of
juice or water every two hours).
A drug called amantadine may
reduce the severity and duration of
some type of influenza symptons if it is
taken within 48 hours after the first
symptoms appear.
For plain flu symptoms, antibiotics do
not help.
For sore throat, general aches and
pains, take a non-aspirin pain killer such
as acetaminophen (Tylenol®). The usual
dosage is two tablets every four hours as
needed.
For additional relief of throat pain,
use warm gargles (Vz teaspoon of salt in
eight ounces of water), hot tea with
honey and lemon or a tablespoon of
Cepacol® in eight ounces of water.
Throat lozenges may also be used.
For nasal congestion, use moist heat
— a humidifier or hot showers will treat
the stuffiness.
Neo-Synephrine® may be sprayed in
each nostril three to four times. Wait 30
seconds to one minute, and then blow
each nostril gently. Use thesprayupto
four times a day, and for no longertk
10 consecutive days. Discard it after
each illness. This medication is sold
without a prescription.
For dry, unproductive cough, usti
non-prescription cough suppressant.
Try to live with the “productivecougli
which brings mucus up and cleans you
lungs.
How can the flu be prevented?
• Wash hands frequently w ith soap
and water.
• Keep your hands away from your
mouth, nose and eyes.
The virus spreads quickly and it
is usually passed from person to
person by touching, coughing or
sneezing.People can also get the
flu by touching something that
has been infected by someone
who has the flu, and then
touching their mouths, noses or
eyes.
• Disinfect contaminated objects
with soap and water.
• Use disposable facial tissue.
® Eat a balanced diet.
• Drink plenty of fluids, especially
water.
• Do not smoke.
• Sleep and rest. Avoid exercising
and partying if you’re not well.
What if you’ve got the flu?
Although most people recover
without needing medical care, it is best
to check with your doctor to make sure
your symptoms and recovery are
normal.
Do not overmedicate. Some
influenza-like symptoms are causedbv
other types of infection which require
different medical therapy.
Visit the A.P. Beutel Student Health
Center if nausea, vomiting, severe
persistent headache, skin rash, excessivf
sleepiness, high fever or marked
changes in the color of body excrement
occur.
Call 845-611 1 or 845-6112 for an
appointment.
Have a question on a health issue? Write totk r
Health Columnist. Dr. Erika Gonzalez-Lima, Studnl j
Health Center, Texas A&M University, CollegeStnl» ]
TX 77S45-]264. Letters will be answeredanonymtdj S
through this column in The Battalion.
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