The Battalion
OPINION
Friday, March 30,1990
Opinion Page Editor
Ellen Hobbs
845-33
Mail Call
A proposal for Corps runs
EDITOR:
Howdy Ags!! Well, here we are with another inane prob
lem in good ol’ Aggieland: Corps runs. I propose they con
sider running where some of the Corps groups (i.e. Ross Vol
unteers) go to practice and run — across the tracks where
there are long roads with little traffic, (only a lot of animals).
Sure, there may be need for light, so use flashlights to see.
There could be potholes. Go around or over them. Of course
you must get across the tracks first, but at least you leave the
main hub of campus. True, no one may hear you early in the
morning, but some non-regs (no offense intended Ags) don’t
care to get up that time of the day. Oh well, it is just a thought
for a solution.
Henry Ramirez ‘86
And obviously Righter knows nothing about Led Zeppe
lin since he stated that John Bonham, the late drummer for
the nationally famous band, died in the late ‘70s when he in
fact passed away on September 25, 1980.
Any true rock ’n’ roller, or critic, would at least know the
correct decade in which one of the greatest drummers in his
tory died.
Mr. Righter continues to commit many more errors that
are too numerous to mention in only one letter. Perhaps the
author’s biggest blunder was when he criticized The Cult for
neglecting songs from a past release, “Sonic Temple.” Well
excuse me if I am wrong, and I’m not, but it was billed as the
“Sonic Temple” tour, wasn’t it Mr. Righter?
I suggest that if you want to hear those songs that you like
from past albums played live, then you should travel back in
time and attend past Cult concerts. And while you’re there,
Mr. Righter, why don’t you learn a little bit more about music
and its history.
Battalion music review inadequate wayneT.Tencer‘93
wouldn’t offend anyone, then he is not living in the 90s.
Many Republicans defend Williams on the grounds that
he is a political amateur. If this is true, then he has no busi
ness seeking the governor’s mansion. Furthermore, his com
ment reeks of an incredible lack of judgement. Such poor
judgement and bad taste also have no place in the office of
governor.
Most importantly, however, is the fact that Williams
would joke about something which is no laughing matter.
This is an overwhelming testimony to his character, or lack
thereof. Williams’ inability to grasp the repulsive nature of his
mistake is further evidence that he is unfit to be governor.
The unfortunate thing throughout all of this (and indeed
the most frightening) is that some Republicans support Wil
liams so blindly that this statement will not affect their views
of him in the least.
What will it take to prove to these people that “of Clayde”
is less than unqualified to be governor and, if elected, will
make the great state of Texas the laughing stock of the na
tion? Unfortunately, nothing!
EDITOR:
Yet another example of the inadequacy of music review in
The Battalion w as perpetuated on Monday , March 5 in John
Righfer’s feeble attempt to review the Cult/Bonham/Tora
Tora concert.
His reference to opening act Tora Tora as a “Van Halen-
styled” band tipped me off immediately that Righter’s rant-
ings would be extremely off base. He then proceeded to try
and belittle the music of Bonham by calling the group “yet an
other w'eak Led Zeppelin ripoff.”
If Righter knew anything about the music of either band,
he would have recognized that the two bands’ sounds are
completely different, with keyboards being more prevalent in
Bonham’s music.
Of Claytie’ not living in 90s
Stephen Medvic ’90
EDITOR:
In response to Ellen Hobbs’ column about Clayton Wil
liams’ stupidity, I would like to say that she was right on the
mark in her critisism of “of Claytie.” Williams’ rape remark
shows his complete insensitivity to the fear and abhorrance
that most women feel toward this sickening crime.
Just hours after making this infamous statement, Williams
again showed his ignorance by claiming, “I wouldn’t have
thought that it offended anyone. I just thought it was funny.”
Such a display shows just how out of touch with the average
person Williams really is. If he thinks such a statement
Have an opinion ? Express it!
Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words in length. The editorial staff reserm
the right to edit letters for style and length, hut will wake every effort to maintain tin
author's intent. There is no guarantee that letters submitted will be printed. End
letter must he signed and must include the classification, address and telephone number
of the writer. All letters may be brought to 216 Heed McDonald, or sent to Campus
Mail Stop 1111.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A headline in Monday’s Mail Call was
incorrect. The letter referred to RCC Help Desk employees.
The Battalion regrets the error.
U.S., Latin America should
unite to better economies
In most of the recent polls, more
Americans think the biggest threat to
America is now Japan and not the Soviet
Union. That’s an accurate assessment.
In recent years, we have been beaten
by the Japanese in every economic
aspect. And as we see Japan growing
and ourselves backsliding, we just bitch
and moan and shy away from the tough
decisions that could have a real impact.
Now another threat has appeared on
the horizon. Western Europe is quickly
moving toward complete unification of
its economic systems. Europe ’92, as it is
called, will create a mighty economic
machine with the population, resources
and technology of all Western Europe
behind it.
But Europe ’92 was planned before
the Berlin Wall came down, and before
democracy became a reality all over
Eastern Europe. A economic
consolidation of Europe, including
Eastern Europe and led by a united
Germany, eventually would surpass the
United States and compete with Japan.
What can the United States do to
keep up?
First and foremost, we have to
balance the budget, which means we
have to stop being so spoiled and start
cutting back on programs across the
board. Even — and especially — sacred
cows like defense, Social Security and
foreign aid to countries that don’t need
it (like Israel and Japan).
But we also can follow Europe’s lead.
We have a whole slew of potential
economic partners over here in our
neck of the woods. Imagine an
American Economic Community to
compete with Japan and the EEC.
Such a cooperative effort could not
only stop our economic backslide but it
also could help stabilize the political
situation in our hemisphere. After all,
most people prefer the economic system
that most regularly puts food in their
belly. If we help Latin Americans help
themselves economically, they will
realize that we aren’t the enemy.
Increasing their per capita income and
per capita gross domestic product will
Scot O.
Walker
Editor
go further toward defeating socialist
and communist insurgencies than any
amount of weapons and military
advisors that we can send. And it’s a lot
cheaper for us, too.
And we could stop our silly war on
drugs as well. The reason the
landowners in South and Central
America produce illegal crops is that
■ irst and foremost, we have to
balance the budget, which means
we have to stop being so spoiled
and start cutting back on
programs across the board. Even
— and especially — sacred cows
like defense, Social Security and
foreign aid to countries that don’t
need it (like Israel and Japan).
they pay. If they try to grow anything
else, they starve, because no
mechanisms exist to enable them to get
any other crop to market. If they could
make money selling a legal crop, they
would.
The obvious drawback to any joint
effort is that at the beginning, the U.S.
and Canada will have to carry some of
the other members of the group, until
they get on strong enough economic
footing to contribute to the group on
their own. But we already contribute
billions and billions of dollars to these
countries, and for the most part it’s
money down a drain. At least with this
plan we would all have a common goal
toward which we would*be moving.
The resources of this proposed
American Economic Community would
be unmatched.
Readers might wonder just what any
American country besides Canada
would have to contribute to this
economic alliance. Here’s a partial list of
areas in which a unified American
Economic Community could be a world-
class competitor, not even including the
contributions of Canada and the United
States: J
• Mineral mining and production,
including lead, zinc, copper, argonite,
uranium, tin, tungsten, manganese,
nickel, gold and silver.
• Wool, cotton, clothing and textiles.
• Natural gas, crude oil and
petroleum.
• Steel and steel products, cement
and construction materials.
• Tobacco.
• Pharmaceuticals.
• Agricultural and industrial
machinery.
• Chemicals.
• Food, foodstuffs and food
processing, including corn, salt,
sugercane and processed sugar, coffee,
rice, wheat, soybeans, bananas, beef,
cocoa, potatoes, citrus fruits and fruit
products, and wheat. Everyone has to
eat, and the AEC would have an
overwhelming share of the grain
market. (The main competitor would be
the Soviet Union, but most of their crop
rots before it ever gets to market.)
Caribbean countries could contribute
as well. The Bahamas, for example, is
an international banking center, sort of
a Switzerland on a smaller scale.
The whole direction of the world is
toward globalization and
internationalization. The United States
has not shown that it can compete with
Japan, and it has not shown that it can
effectively promote democracy in South
and Central America without the tise of
gunboat diplomacy. An American
Economic Community would be a
proper response to all those problems.
Scot Walker is a senior journalism
major.
Mighty power of television
uld D<
could be abused by networks
If the pen is mightier than the
sword, then television is more
powerful than the atomic bomb.
Television allows us to be alone
although we share the company of
millions. We’ve lost the intimacy of
human companionship and replaced
it with television. Through television
millions of people can have the same
experience totally indendent of one
another.
As a medium of mass
communication, television’s power is
frightening. It allows us to see things
we’ve never seen. H ear things we’ve
never heard. Experience things we’ve
never experienced.
Television allows us to truthfully
live a lie. Viewers are able to cross the
fine line which separates reality and
imagination.
Through imagery and illusion,
television invades our thoughts and
etches transmitted images into our
own memory.
We remember things we see on
television as if they were things we
actually witnessed.
Try to remember the last Lakers
basketball game you saw. Your mind
recalls the game almost immediately.
You probably remember the emotion
you felt during the game:
excitement, joy, disappointment or
even boredom. But more than likely
you’ve never seen an actual Lakers
game. What you saw was an image of
a Lakers game given to you by your
television set.
Trivial? Not really. Americans
have been so conditioned to accept
the images that come from television
that networks could literally present
as much faulty information as they
desired and few people would
question its validity.
Not only do we accept television
images (presented in the proper
format) as truth, these images
become a part of our memory.
This is frightening because of the
potential for abuse; information
could be deliberately skewed, altered
Ronda
Shepherd
Columnist
or even omitted and the American
public would be none the wiser.
Television could become “The Great
American Sc aur a^ftl it would take
years for the American public to
figure it out.
In many ways, we are part of a
great scam and don’t even know it.
Television, particulary with
advertising, reinforces the myth of
the American Dream.
We buy things we don’t need, do
things we don’t want to do and use
more than is necessary. We do thisali
because television and advertising
grants us the illusion of abundance.
Our minds are complex enough to
reject this illusion; but our emotion,
greed and lust is placated by the
illusion, so we accept it. We even bask
in the untruth fulness of it, hoping
that our wanting something bad
enough will make it so.
Like all things, television has its
merits. It keeps us abreast of national
and global activity. It serves as an
educator. It is the most effective form
of communication. It even connects
us to those things going on around
us.
But it is very powerful and its
potential for abuse is great.
Americans should keep a watchful
eye on those in control of this
medium: the station managers,
programming directors and editors
all have a tremendous responsibility
to the American public. As viewers,
we should make a conscious ef fort to
be more aware of the possible
negative effects of television. Don’t
believe everything you see.
Ronda Shepherd is a senior
journalism major.
Ma
cot
The Battalion
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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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Adventures In Cartooning
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