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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (July 27, 1990)
The Battalion OPINION Friday, July 27,1990 Opinion Page Editor Damon Arhos Death, disaster exist in Cambodia due to American polfci The pictures and words coming from my television curdled my blood. But there it was on national television, with Peter Jennings reporting from Cambodia. Yes, in stark, living color I saw two rebel guerrillas holding hands, as if they were best friends. Both were fighting to overthrow the present Cambodian government, but they wore different military uniforms. One wore American military gear and is part of the “non communist resistance.” He is supposed to be one of the “good rebels,” fighting and killing soldiers and civilians to make Cambodia a democratic state. The other guerrilla wore Chinese military gear and is part of the murderous and much more powerful Khmer Rouge. When the Khmer Rouge ruled Cambodia in the 70s, they killed about 2 million people in three-and-a- half years. The Khmer Rouge are the “bad rebels,” fighting and killing soldiers and civilians to make Cambodia into their own state once again. But there they were, the good rebel and the bad rebel holding hands. Then there were pictures of the good rebels and the bad rebels shaking hands and sharing machine guns with each other. Then came Prince Norodom Sihanouk, figurehead leader of the rebel coalition that includes all the rebels, both good and bad. Sihanouk said, “On the battlefield, they are forced, naturally, to go on fighting the enemy side by side.” That means the good rebels fight in cooperation with the bad rebels. Prince Sihanouk and his son are the military leaders of one of the non communist rebel factions (“good rebels”). The U.S. government gives Sihanouk and the other non communists millions of dollars of both non-lethal and lethal aid, both overtly and covertly, even though Sihanouk himself has admitted to cooperating with the Khmer Rouge. In fact. Prince Sihanouk lives with a Khmer Rouge “body guard” or “monitor.” Furthermore, most experts, especially people and reporters living in Cambodia, report that not only do the non-communists and the Khmer Rouge fight side by side, but that they also share supplies as supply lines run deep into Cambodia. This means that there are genocidic mass murderers in Cambodia blasting away with American M-I6s. Nevertheless, the Bush Administration keeps saying that they don’t believe that the good rebels would ever cooperate with the bad rebels, and they keep sending arms to the non communists. Ask questions when looking for summer vacation hotels It’s summer and you are asking, “How can I be assured of getting a reasonable, comfortable hotel room during my annual vacation?” It may sound great that you can stay in The Ramshackle Inn for $27 a night and the kids can shower free, but if you want to assure yourself a pleasant vacation, there are a lot more questions you need to ask when considering a hotel than, “How much?” • Because f am a veteran traveler and care about you, I am here today to share my wealth of knowledge on the subject of booking a room. It’s pretty simple, really. Just make sure you get answers to the following 20 questions from the reservation clerk before you go handing over your credit card number: 1. Can I check in in less that an hour, or should I get in line and you’ll get to me as soon as possible? 2. Is this a Pepsi hotel or a Coke hotel? (There are very few hotels that give you a choice. Coke hotels tend to have larger towels.) 3. Is room service prompt, or should I go ahead and order morning coffee now for my August visit? 4. Does any member of the hotel staff speak English, in case I need to ask a question like, “Is the water in this hotel supposed to be brown?” 5. How long after midnight will the maids start banging on my door if I forget to hang out my “Do Not Disturb” sign? 6. If you have SpectraVision and I fall asleep during “Naughty Stewardesses,” and it plays all night, will I be charged for each showing or just the one I intended to watch? 7. Will I be able to figure out the shower control without a degree from MIT? 8. Do you prosecute for stolen robes? 9. How long is the average wait for an elevator? I only have two weeks. Lewis Grizzard Syndicated Columnist 10. Which is more expensive per day, my room or what it costs to leave my car in your parking garage? 11. Will there be a college fraternity convention in this hotel or in any hotel within a 50-mile radius during my stay? 12. What will the sound of the air conditioner in my room remind me of — a freight train? A tractor and trailer climbing a hill? The Battle of Midway? 13. If there is a mini-bar in my room, is financing available for what it will cost me if I use it? 14. Does the band in the lounge ever play “Feelings,” “Jeremiah Was a Bull Frog,” or “Proud Mary”? 15. Which is cheaper — a Cutlass Supreme or what you charge for local phone calls? 16. Is the key to my room an honest-to-God key with my room number on it, or some flimsy piece of plastic that may, or may not, open my door depending on how badly I need to use the bathroom? 17. How long will it take me to figure out how to turn on the lamp next to my bed? 18. Is the food in your restaurant comparable to most hotel food? 19. How far to the nearest Waffle House? 20. How long will it take me to check out or should I just get into the line and you’ll get to me as soon as you’re finished checking out the Mormon Tabernacle Choir? Ask questions. Demand answers. Otherwise you could wind up where the towels are too small, the' pillows are too soft, there’s no hot water or cable and your room is next door to the honeymoon suite that includes a trapeze. Welcome, then, to Hotel Hell. Copyright 1990, Cowles Syndicate, Inc. The Battalion (USPS 045 360) Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Associated Collegiate Press The Battalion Editorial Board Monique Threadgill, Editor Melissa Naumann, Managing 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 Todd Stone, Lifestyles Editor 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 77843-1 111. 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. Perhaps the Bush Administration does know of the cooperation, but just does not care. After all, the U.S. government presently funds Khmer Rouge — controlled “refugee camps” in Thailand which are actually camps in which the Khmer Rouge have enslaved refugees (from the time the Khmer Rouge ruled Cambodia) to work for them. If the Bush Administration does care about Cambodians at all, it needs to realize, before it’s too late, that it does not matter if the non-communists don’t believe in genocide. If the rebel coalition succeeds in overthrowing the government, the Khmer Rouge could easily control or destroy their smaller and much weaker non-communist allies. The situation is bleak. The Khmer Rouge, with the help of their non communist allies, have made recent military advances in the Cambodian countryside and are now fighting within 40 miles of the capital, Phnom Penh. Cambodia is within 40 miles of reliving the killing fields. But as the bodies pile up in Cambodia, only apathy and indecision pile up in Washington. Last week, Secretary of State Baker said that the government of the United States was withdrawing its diplomatic support for the rebel coalition’s U.N. seat. This action is too little, too late. The U.S. government must take immediate, meaningful action to save Cambodian lives. First, the U.S. government must stop military shipments to rebel forces in Cambodia. Non-lethal aid to the non communist forces should be discontinued until they stop fighting and return to their bases in Thailand. The continued fighting of these forces helps the Khmer Rouge and continues to kill civilians. (Non-communist mines and missies blow off legs and heads just like any others.) Second, the U.S. government should pressure the Chinese government to stop supporting the Khmer Rouge. The Chinese government gives the Khmer Rouge $100 million worth of aid every year and could be using military equipment from the United States to aid the Khmer Rouge. Third, the U.S. government should pressure the Thai government to stop supporting the Khmer Rouge and to arrest Pol Pot (who lives in Thailand) for genocide. Fourth, the U.S. government should talk, talk and encourage more talks. The present Cambodian government has offered a plan for national elections with international monitoring, and so have the United States, the United Nations and the rebel forces. A cease fire should be negotiated as soon as possible, and negotiations over an interim government and elections IET AN — should begin full-scale. TheU.S government could tell the Vicinal government that if they want recognition from the United Slatti must make the present Vietnamt supported Cambodian governing agree to free and fair electionsai If supervised by the United Nation! an interim government thatindi non-communist forces. Finally, the U.S. governments! repeal the federal law that prohil sending of American humanitaiij to Cambodians living in Cambodj United States should help theUai Nations and the Red Cross in seni much humanitarian aid as possill these war-torn people. Andtheai; should not be allowed to be ha the rebel forces. Besides savin the present, sending aid will save the future by providing an infrastructure or channel forU.)i monitoring and perhaps further! intervention. Ever since Richard Nixon bega secretly bombing Cambodia in tin American policy has led to death disaster in Cambodia. How mam decades must these people suffer! Americans, let us stand upforo: brothers and sisters in Cambodia you congressman how you feel. Irwin Tang is a junior political^ major. « \ Thi College experience in Aggieland stresses both unity, individuality Eric 1 By T< OfTh An Columnist looks back after receiving senior ring I hate waiting. But that’s what I did for almost three months before I received that all-inspiring symbol of Aggie excellence: the Aggie ring. I picked up my ring on Monday. I did what many Aggies before me have done. But instead of dunking it at the Chicken, I dunked it at Duddley’s, » because that’s where I like to go to drink a beer or two. (I’ve been to the Chicken, but I didn’t like it as much.) So with full Aggie pride and tradition, I christened my Aggie ring with a pitcher of beer. As I saw my ring at the bottom of the pitcher, I started to think about everything. It felt like I was having to fflP.5LViRl} Rudy Cordova Jr. Columnist have the honor of wearing this symbol. We’ve all been through it. I remember being told that because I was attending such a large university that I was going to become just another number. My response was always the same. “I can become whatever I want to be.” I took that attitude and drove to A&M on my with your intuition. That’s thegre thing about being and Aggie. Wee become whatever we want to be,11 who always come up with excuses: doomed. I’ve seen it happpenbefa This past week was my turn toff out where I was at this point inmv As an Aggie, Em sure most of you done the same. My advisor finally me I could graduate. What a relief about time. Now' I havetolookto future, which is really scary. 1 wishj someone would tell me whattotkl —= yfraB mor 1 wis, b ment Battal “IN gartei serioc it If I could give future Aggies some advice, I would tell te Don’t listentc; strive again just to get the ring back. So, I finally finished, and here are some thoughts that went through my head. It was almost four years ago when I attended Fish Camp and I sat with other strangers as the counselors tried to mold us into one. Well, they left quite an impression. It took me a long while to accept this new world. As I understood it, Aggies were sent from heaven. I think the most interesting thing about the last four years is all the knowledge I’ve gained, from life not from books. The trick to graduating from A&M is to understand what it means to be an Aggie, but at the same time, being able to accept each person’s individuality. That one ring means so many different things to each person. When I look back at the last four years I think about all I had to go through just to own. I was pretty cocky when I first attended this University. Little did I know that this was totally different from high school. Up until that point, graduating from high school was the biggest thing in my life. Now getting that A&M diploma means so much more; this time I had to study. I had to make my own decisions. Excluding finances, I was on my own. Well, I survived these last few years. Through it all I tried to remember who I was and what it meant to be here. It always amazes me to see the people out there wandering about aimlessly. Without any direction, they always seem to get lost in the shuffle. They are the ones that don’t get the chance to wear the Aggie ring. They are the ones who listened when they were told they were going to become just another number. I suppose it’s the hardheaded people that make it through. If I could give future Aggies some advice, I would tell them to be hardheaded. Don’t listen to all the statistics that tell you how many people don’t make it. Listen to yourself and go be hardheaded the statistics that tell you many people don’t make way I don’t have to go throughalltj trouble of making another decisiot I’ve done my share of workforti degree. I know what I’ve been thro ! and what it all means to me. Thepd that I finally have that direction 1m thanks to all my years at this school means a great deal to be an Aggie means a great deal to be me. That: most important thing I’ve learned: Ai to So here I am, five months away ft graduation. I have a fewoptionso] me. I can go out into “the realworl I can continue to get an education i Sometimes I get worried about becoming a student for the rest oft life. I’ve met my share of profession students. I don’t want to becomeot instead, I’m going to make my owe decision and stand tall. I’m just got have to make sure I make it throng last semester of Spanish. Likelsaic hate waiting. Rudy Cordova Jr. is a senior then: arts major. FAX by Brett Bridgemu Hei/o dad, TH/S /*=> YtuvPN 5ok|. VJeTL- i'm < rfcu f\FT<zR ! ftco f2=rJ/s/VSfl\eC /S A FfeNfsiy' en&siep" VflP, I* went Fo/^ rr ltd ACCcoNTlNC*. ■SoN, 't&iu KtVoW WHtfl IHer-say: up they sap 'THfitr all* HlGHTiTZaT I ST/lU FeMcEO. YOU FahedV. VIfll TH&ji 1ST F&MCM&R: Ml U/7T&ZS /LvdyCL W/N £ kWft QjlT" i£fO R * X.