Friday, February 2,1990
The Battalion
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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
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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.
ISC
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