The Battalion
The Bat
OPINION
Thursday, June 14,1990
Opinion Page Editor Damon Arhos
Bigoted pamphlet shows stupidity of some ‘humans^ 1
One day during the break between
spring and summer classes I came to
work, grabbed a Diet Coke and sat down
to sort through a week’s worth of mail.
After reading numerous press releases
and throwing away all of the junk mail I
opened an ordinary-looking manila
envelope stamped by the post office in
Victoria with no return address.
In it was possibly the most disgusting,
horrifying, repulsive, racist publication
I have ever seen or read. Upon my first
glance at the pamphlet, I thought it was
sent as a joke. But, as I read I realized it
wasn’t a prank. This was a 32-page
magazine/pamphlet that literally made
me sick to my stomach and want to
vomit. This could not be classified as
writing, nor could it be classified as
anythingjournalistic in any sense.
It was titled “Negro Watch.”
I won’t go into too much detail about
what it had in it — I will merely give you
a few examples. On one page there was
a box with skull and crossbones symbols
in it. It read in big letters, “HEALTH
WARNING! AVOID” and a list
followed:
“All contact with Negroes as much as
possible!
All contact with other non-Whites!
Monique
Threadgill
Editor
All contact with interracial couples!
Low moral Whites who are suspected
of engaging in interracial sex or
socialize with Negroes or other
non-Whites.
Interracial sex — it can and does
spread AIDS!”
On other pages there were
unfounded and utterly degrading
stories that spouted off misleading and
false statistics for crime rates according
to race in places such as “Jew York
City.” Other stories were about
supporting abolition of the Martin
Luther King holiday, an interracial teen
couple murdering elderly whites and a
story written by a “pastor” about the
biological inferiorities of blacks.
Also included in this piece of trash
was a graphic depicting areas highly
populated with African Americans
which was supposed to help whites
“KNOW WHERE THE NEGROES
ARE!” and numerous advertisements
that had parts quite obviously
superimposed with malicious statements
and pictures about blacks.
In the back there were
advertisements for the Ku Klux Klan,
whose address matched that of the
publisher’s and other groups. However,
there also was a disclaimer notice stating
that “The ads placed herein are a
courtesy to these organizations without
their prior knowledge or consent. We
were in no way reimbursed for the ads,
and it does not necessarily mean that
they are in agreement with the content
of NEGRO WATCH.”
Certainly organizations that the Klan
impermissively included, advertisers
that had their ads taken from
respectable publications and altered,
and people that had quotes taken out of
context or simply fabricated by the
writers, would be angry. But I doubt
they even know or can do anything
about it.
I have no idea how in the world The
Battalion got on their mailing list and I
don’t ever want this trash sent here
again. The publisher’s address in Waco
is listed so that people can write to
subscribe, but after calling information
in both Waco and Victoria I found that
there is no phone listing for anything
even remotely familiar to the name of
the publisher, The Freikorpsmann
Presse, or the name of the publication.
I called the post office here and was
told they had no way of preventing the
KKK from sending anything to us. So,
my next option was to write the
Freikorpsmann Presse a letter telling
u
them to remove us from their
list. I did that immediately andti;
received any response from them
It frightens me to think thatilit,
people left in this world that baits
sick, uneducated, immoral and
downright disgraceful beliefs.Iti|
makes me extremely mad thattktj
they can impose their perverted
thoughts on me, our newspaperi)!
anyone for that matter.
They should realize that by
unreasonably attacking minority
of any race, publishing this and
it out to people who may not want
they are only making their unbelt
stupidity and beliefs blatantly
everyone. Any person thathassnt
“superior brain” (or any brainau
By ELIZAE
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Mike W
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should welcome all racial group: ; in t
look on the changes that are taic ; nesses, rui
place in our country as a chancett&ucation;
knowledge and experiencediffertffl A prole
cultures and ways of life. Er'J- niver
Yes, I believe all men are creattl . ^ ^
equally, but somehow I thinkindri n
that contribute to such disgusting
inhumane things like thispamphiT
cannot possibly be looked uponas;
Monique Threadgill is a senior
journalism major.
M “I short
ma
tht
Racial tension product
of personal prejudice
Today is flag day! Rather than
expostulate on the right to burn the flag
though, I prefer to discuss a particular
topic that can, at times, make life under
our flag a little rough.
The topic is racial tension.
In regard to this issue, a lot of people
follow John Wayne’s advice.: “Talk low,
talk slow and don’t say too much.”
Unfortunately, this attitude will do little
to ease racial tensions at A&M or
anywhere else.
Some whisper that black student
groups, blonde student groups and
birthmark student groups are not
legitimate organizations. The argument
goes that such groups accomplish
nothing; that they only intensify racial
divisions and de facto segregation.
But these whisperers are sweeping
something under the carpet: the raison
d’etre for such groups’ existence —
racism. (Some claim it is pride for a
heritage and in a few cases, I agree.)
When minorities arrive at Texas
A&M, many of them experience an
Aggie shock. For several of them, the
American status of “minority” is driven
home for the first time. These students
came from high schools where they
were part of a majority.
Furthermore, insensitivities on the
part of the crayon majority intensify
minority discomfort with A&M. Most
minority students, if not all, have at one
time or another been involuntarily
“introduced” to racism.
But when thrown into a new
environment, like A&M, encounters
with a “little slip” or, let alone,
intentional racism, can be enormously
discomfitting and offensive to them.
Although some minority
organizations unite because of cultural
differences (primarily those composed
of students born outside the U.S.), most
minority social and service groups unite
as a direct or indirect response to
discrimination.
In these groups they can feel secure
from the racial attacks they have
encountered.
Consequently, for those that profess
concern regarding voluntary social
segregation of blacks, hispanics or
ft 1
Jon
Beeler
Columnist
w
orientals, let me make two suggestions.
• One: Worry more about the
comparatively involuntary segregation
of blacks in the slums of Houston and
hispanics in the slums of San Antonio.
• Two: Do something about it.
There are two immediate methods by
which you and I can help reduce racial
division in America. The first and
easiest is to just say NO (I’m sorry to
steal your idea Mrs. Reagan) to racism.
This is much simpler than saying no
to drugs because there is no physical
dependency involved.
Next time you hear someone make a
racist comment, let them know you are
offended. You might even go so far as
to politely ask them to keep their racist
thoughts to themselves.
A second solution (realizing none are
absolute) is to actively recruit minorities
in the political parties. The Democrats
have been most active in the recent past,
but Republicans are quickly making
headway.
Frank Lewis is a local example. He is
a black American running for Brazos
County Commissioner of Precinct 4
(includes the north side of campus and
Northgate) as a Republican.
With successful minorities leading
our local, state and national
governments, minority children will
have someone to admire and emulate as
they mature. They will not feel like
outsiders because then they will be
inside the system.
My message for those who bicker
about minority awareness organizations
is start doing something useful.
Stop bickering about these groups
and start doing something about the
discrimination which directly or
indirectly causes their formation.
Jon Beeler is a junior nuclear
engineering major.
The Battalion
(USPS 045 360)
Member of
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conference
Associated Collegiate Press
The Battalion Editorial Board
Monique Threadgill,
Editor
Damon Arhos,
Opinion Page Editor
Holly Becka, City Editor
Meg Reagan,
Lisa Ann Robertson,
News Editors
Clay Rasmussen, Sports Editor
Eric Roalson, Art Director
Editorial Policy
The Battalion is a non-profit, self-sup
porting newspaper operated as a commu
nity service to Texas A&M and Bryan-
College Station.
Opinions expressed in The Battalion
are those of the editorial board or the au
thor, and do not necessarily represent the
opinions of Texas A&M administrators,
faculty or the Board of Regents.
The Battalion is published Tuesday
through Friday during Texas A&M sum
mer semesters, except for holiday and ex
amination periods.
Mail subscriptions are $20 per semes
ter, $40 per school year and $50 per full
year: 845-2611. Advertising rates fur
nished on request: 845-2696.
Our address: The Battalion, 230 Reed
McDonald, Texas A&M University, Col
lege Station, TX 77843-1111. Newsroom:
845-3313.
Second class postage paid at College
Station, TX 77843.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes
to The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald,
Texas A&M University, College Station
TX 77843-4111.
Mail Call
Society is based on ethical code
Can
EDITOR.
The article concerning homosexuality by C.E. Harris
misrepresented the basic idea behind the natural law the
ory of ethics. Natural law rests on an ideal of human na
ture: that of a fully developed human being. It would not
necessarily condemn homosexuality as “immoral,” if by
“immoral,” reprehensible or damaging to others is meant.
To be “immoral” from a natural law point of view means
that the person or action somehow falls short of this ideal.
For example, masturbation is “wrong” because it encour
ages egoism.
such as corporations, which are known to commit nil:
outrageous crimes against the environment and aga AUSTI
persons, without abolishing these corporate entities, [dunged V
1 natorial ri
Much ink is spilled on such subjects as the rights.
mosexuals when it is clear that, as citizens, their rights j| cq u ; (
not be infringed upon or restricted any more thanMi ne and
n.i
rights of other citizens. It is important for Americans to i^ad agre<
member that, civil society, a society based on morallv: Isowouk
tral foundations, is a great achievement and shouldf " He s d
carefully guarded.
Michael Kraft, Ph.D.
Hlonte W
Rimpaign
K ‘it bee;
Similarly, the natural law theory holds that the sexual
act should be considered basically procreative (that it
should not be degraded to a means for entertainment).
The difficulty lies not in the question of whether or not ho
mosexuality is “right” or “wrong.” Our society is not based
on religious values or deeply held moral values, but on a
code of ethics which is essentially neutral with regard to
those questions. Remember, it accords “rights” to entities
Bnmary i
■lyjoint £
expertise,
Have an opinion ? Express it! Ifc;!;,;
Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words m length. The editorial a ■ Puarance
serves the right to edit letters for style and length, but will make every tffom Jwnie day
tain the author’s intent. There is no guarantee that letters submitted J A spok
printed. Each letter must be signed and must include the classification, adirt IV
telephone number of the writer. All Utters may be brought to 216 ReedMdk '•
or sent to Campus Mail Stop 1111.
A&M bureaucracy should help students
Not too long ago I was involved in a
very lengthy, costly and discouraging
battle with what seemed like the entire
administrative system here on campus. I
was a victim of sexual discrimination in
its most blatant form with my personal
and legal rights having been violated.
I had to stand up for myself and
make a point for those who had been in
similar situations. Fortunately, I knew
who I had to talk to in order to obtain
just retribution for this injustice.
However, in an attempt to get
someone’s attention and support, I
found myself baffled by the
bureaucracy within the departments I
delt with and the people who staffed
them. Ironically, these departments
were created for the purpose of helping
students and employees with their
problems. Instead, I came to find out
that I would just be turned away while
rapidly becoming more and more
frustrated.
I had meetings with some of the most
prominent and influential people in our
University system and I got the royal
run-around with every conference. I
was pushed aside, passed on and
referred to a total of seven different
people whose jobs were to become
aware of and to prevent those types of
incidences that mistreat students and
employees. Not one person would take
Christen F.
Rocha
Columnist
the responsibility for making a solid,
positive decision regarding my
dilemma.
I have given my time, money and a lot
of effort to Texas A&M. Accordingly, I
expect and deserve the services and
attention that go along with that effort.
The administration and staff are here
because of the students. But I have
come to find out that some people
might not share that sentiment with me.
If those who hold positions will
personnel offices really aren’t
concerned with the students’ welfa
then maybe they should consider
finding employment elsewhereviti
they could be necessary as well as
productive. I know that rmnottkl
person who has ever had myrij
ignored. I would hate to thinkokl
other person having to endure tilt
of helplessness and frustration
did.
What 1 am addressing here is iKil
the apathy and lack of “affirmative
action” that affected me. I amattafi
apathy in general. I cannot imagin;
who is so successful and secure will
their station in life that they do
obliged to help out the mistreated
neglected and discouraged around
them.
People have to stand up for then
rights and know the possible chant
NARCO
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the nami
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1 understand that many people can
only act on what is within their job
capabilities even if they wish they could
do more. That’s unfortunate; they too
are usually victims of a system that
appears to be neither geared toward
advancement nor wholeheartedly
concerned with the needs of its students
and employees.
take if their rights have been violan
These channels should be madeei
known as well as accessible to them
think we can help to make a lot of
progress toward a more compassiot
society if we utilize the control welii
in our positions in order to helpthi
who might need the knowledge a
help we can provide.
Christen P. Rocha is a senior El
major.
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