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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 2, 1990)
Friday, February 2,1990 The Battalion Page 3 i *■ ef fectn t )s - even, ss bei [ y toshJ '•'genet! tobeoi But he is then: v of the 'eel by J ‘tandarjl is, AndJ ion him to •eshoti ingthe s, epasiil rnalisir 5 US m blov 'ayupto ngerthai after sold Busybodies butt out! EDITOR: In my three years here, I’ve read just about every close- minded opinion offered on a variety of topics. While I’m not surprised anymore at the god-babble I read, I still wince and groan at, it seems, every other letter. So, I’ve come up with the ultimate plan to solve all the controversial problems I read about — why doesn’t everyone just butt out of problems that have ab-so-lute-ly nothing to do with them, unless their opinion is asked for. I know this sounds radical to busybodies everywhere, but if you don’t like abortions, X-rated foreign films and equal treatment for women, blacks, gays, etc. ... then don’t have one, don’t see one, and go live in the desert or someplace! I am always amazed at how much people can speak with authority on all kinds of stuff they know nothing about. Don’t suppose you can share the emotions of a pregnant 14-year- old whose boyfriend said “I love you” and then took off, be cause you can’t. No one knows the pain of a rape or incest vic tim. Philip, are you going to tell your wife that she must be a human incubator because of 3 strange men and a gun? You sound as if it’s just an added inconvenience! Being late for tea is an inconvenience, Phil. Being raped is the closest thing to dying. Grow up. And hey Jennifer and Fred, why don’t you see the movie before you bad-mouth it. Siskel and Ebert you aren’t. We are all adults here, so I think that a warning under the ad is enough. What do you want, Fred, a neon sign saying “WARNING: X-rated movie?” That’ll sure keep people away. If you don’t like it, don’t see it, Sen. Helms. Oops! I mean, Fred. Thanks for caring about me, but I can make up my own mind without any help; I can even tie my own shoes! Everyone claims to be “Christian,” but I know atheists who act more decently toward others. I don’t recall anything in the New Testament that says, “Love your neighbor, but only if he or she thinks like you do.” Let’s open our minds a little, OK Ags? Like Emerson said, “Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” God knows there are enough of those out there already. P.S. I’m not a commie-loving, bleeding-heart liberal fag, so don’t even think it. Ron Garza ’91 Colombia, drugs not synonymous usea .‘ssant. ‘cough ansyoui and it ;on to ngor jet the hat one 5S0J :cts dally ising EDITOR: After reading the Friday, Jan. 26 article on the Colombian jetliner which crashed in New York, many Colombian stu dents, including myself were extremely offended by what seemed a rather unnecessary and irrelevant remark about our country. The exact words of the phrase were: “According to Radio Colombiana, Flight 52 left Bogota with a stopover in Medellin, the city known for its notorious cocaine cartel, en route to New York.” The paragraph had no relation whatsoever to the inci dent; the words cocaine and cartel made the accident seem as if drugs and the Mafia were involved in it. Why is it that whenever Colombia is mentioned (even when the topic is not related to drugs), the words “drugs, mafia or cocaine” have to be mentioned also? This seems to have become a bad habit which we, as Colombians, would love to see stopped. Though we realize that most of the news comes from the Associated Press (AP), we also understand that it is the edi tor’s job to follow a procedure known as “gate keeping,” where remarks such as these can be left out. Even so, I would like to state that none of the other periodicals (the Houston Chronicle, the Houston Post and the Wall Street Journal) I read that day even mentioned Medellin. So after all is said and done, why did The Battalion have to say it? We understand that your task as journalists is difficult but we ask that you try to be more unbiased; remember, Colom bia is not all drugs, it is a beautiful country where most of its people are honest and hard-working, and it has a great poten tial for future development. Alexandra Frappier ’93 —Mail Call— Abortion should remain a choice EDITOR: I am writing in response to Phillip W. Hunter’s editorial on abortion that appeared in the Monday, Jan. 29 issue of The Battalion. Phillip stated that abortion “is not a choice, it is a cop-out, an escape from responsibility.” I would like to state that if we lived in a drug-free, crime- free society where there was no such thing as homelessness and hunger, then I would see no need for abortion. However, most, if not all of the above stipulations apply to America. I feel children should be here by choice. To me there is nothing worse than babies having babies or people bringing a child into this world who are not emotionally or financially ca pable of doing so. Not everybody is meant to be a parent. I also feel that bringing a child into this world who is not wanted is a crime itself that could lead to dire consequences like a life of poverty, welfare or even crime. I am appalled to think that Hunter objects to abortion for any reason, especially in the case of rape, incest or endanger- ment of the mother’s life. I do believe that these are extenuat ing circumstances. Believe it or not, I am a Christian. I feel that no one should let their personal feelings, thoughts or morals infringe on the rights of others. As a young adult and college student, I think I am capable of making choices that fit with my own morals and I do not need the morals of others imposed on me. Just because you may not agree with abortion does not mean it is wrong. Abor tion should be a personal, private and moral choice by the people involved. Mr. Hunter, there needs to be a choice. If abortion becomes illegal then women will not have the right to control their own bodies. Matari S. Jones ’93 Graduate students need parking EDITOR: When I came here in 1987, then-President Vandiver made a public commitment to improve graduate education at A&M. Since I have seen little evidence of this commitment, I thought a suggestion of where to start improving the plight of graduate students would be in order. One of the first things that comes to mind is parking, everyone’s favorite subject. Two years ago, the Northside Parking Garage was sup posed to remedy this problem (at least, for this end of the campus). Little did we know that this was only supposed to be for the benefit of students who live on campus. (Remember, only undergraduates or married graduate students can live on-campus; there is no graduate residence hall.) Supposedly undergraduates have a “right” to park close to where they live. Evidently there is no similar “right” (at least not for grad uate students) to park close to where they work. The latest insult has been the proliferation of the dreaded “24-HOUR RESERVED/TOW AWAY” spaces across from the bus stop next to the university utilities. On return from Christmas holiday, three more spaces have been reserved as “holy ground.” Yet since this designation (now going on three weeks) I have not seen anyone parked in those spaces, day or night. Just what is the deal? Have these spaces now been claimed in an attempt to create a more “open and airy” campus? Or are these spaces provided just to lure students into providing more revenues to our “friends” in the parking office and Bubba’s towing? I realize that no one is willing or able to designate grad uate students as “staff” or allow them any priority for parking during the day, but it seems that something could be done to alleviate the problem of nighttime parking. So my specific suggestion is that the designation of “24-hour reserved” should be changed to “12-hour reserved,” 7 A.M. to 7 P.M. Graduate students do not come to work in the evenings as an option; many of us must get to our labs after hours to do ex periments which cannot be taken home nor put off until morning. It is especially annoying that many of these spaces sit empty after hours. I can understand the owners of these spaces wanting a guaranteed parking spot when they come to work in the morning, but it is totally unreasonable to forbid anyone else access to parking in the evening hours. (During mid-term and final exams it is nearly impossible to park any where near the center of campus before 10 p.m.) If there is a commitment to graduate education, at least give some consideration to a little priority for after-hours parking. Let’s see some action on the big words of our admin istrators. D.K. Mills C. J. Bischoll Graduate students Respect religious convictions EDITOR: Truth today is often a forgotten virtue. Indeed, manipu lation of facts to fit one’s own perspective has unfortunately become the only standard used in teaching us about our heri tage. Although there exists a clear anti-religious bias by many institutions on campus, I feel compelled to say these few words. I have recently uncovered documented facts concern ing the Christian perspective of the majority of our founding fathers. Indeed, at the Constitutional Convention a vast majority were practicing Christians. These men gave to us the blessed guarantee of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In stead of slamming Christians at every turn, one would think that a quiet reflection of this fact would lead us to respect reli gious conviction. As George Washington personally stated, “Of all the dis positions and habits which lead to political prosperity, reli gion and morality are indispensable supports.” It would do us well to remember these words as well as those of Thomas Jef ferson which are carved on his monument in Washington: “God who gave us life, gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberites are the gift of God?” Warren K. Smith ’90 A&M needs Shelby on campus EDITOR: If the Corps and the 12th Man are still like the Corps and the 12th Man of the Class of ’65, then they must in some spe cial way show their love, support and appreciation to a man who has faithfully and honorably served Texas A&M for over 26 years — Coach Shelby Metcalf. The outstanding record that he has compiled and the rec ognition he has received over the years in the SWC and NCAA as a worthy basketball coach are known throughout the country. Therefore, I will not elaborate on those well chronicled achievements. However, I do wish to speak about. Coach Metcalfs higher achievements in the areas of being a truly outstanding father, husband, neighbor and citizen to those of you in College Sta tion who have had the privilege of knowing him all these years. Also, personally, as a head yell leader during his first years at Aggieland, as the father of a son who has attended his basketball camps, as a friend who feels fortunate tp know him, I want to publicly say thank you so much Shelby, for be ing you, for being an Aggie, for being a mentor to me and my son, John Blair, class of’95. And Shelby, I truly hope this incident will not taint your love for Texas A&M and Aggies. Your dismissal, though for different reasons, puts you in the distinguished company of others who have suffered through (and overcome) similar fates — Gene Stallings, Tom Landry and General Douglas MacArthur. So press on, stand tall, hold your head up, stay at Aggieland — you have every right and reason to do so. We want you and need you on campus. Frank Cox, III ’65 Have an opinion? Express it! 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. All letters may be brought to 216 Reed McDonald, or sent to Campus Mail Stop 1111. 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Free Confidential Consultation 24 Hours Every Day Counselor on Campus, Thursday-Saturday, 9:00 p.m.- Midnight 4201 Texas Avenue South, College Station, Texas 77845 Stroll through the vineyard and taste the award winning wines of Messina Hof Wine Cellars Tours Saturday, February 3rd Sunday, February 4th By Reservation Retail Hours: Mon-Fri 8-4:30 Saturday 10-5 ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ £ Directions to Winery * 1) Exit hiwy 6 at Hwy 21 * 2) Travel east 2nni. to Wallis Rd. 3) Follow Signs to Winery Sunday 12-4 778-9463 Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo 75