Opinion
Wedm
Wednesday, December 5, 1990
The Battalion
Opinion Page Editor
Jennifer Jeffus 845-33
Mail Call
Stop destruction of trees
EDITOR:
During the past few weeks I have listened to and read
many complaints about the waste of good trees on bon
fire. At first I disagreed.
Bonfire is'a deep Aggie tradition and should go on for
eternity; but as I watched all of those poor defenseless
trees burn, I cried.
What a total waste of good time and good trees — and
all so that a million or so Ags and former Ags could have
some personal enjoyment.
Well, it is too late to do anything about bonfire, so I
propose we as Americans and Aggies stop the waste of
good usable trees for our personal enjoyment and stop
Christmas — yes, Christmas!
Think of all those trees tortured to death in the living
rooms of America over a period of months. It simply
must come to an end.
So why not start here in Aggieland and end the tradi
tions of both Christmas and bonfire?
Furthermore, as long as we are ending waste, why not
end football? Why don't we all go out this Saturday and
tear down Kyle Field and make a sanctuary for trees,
maybe even a playground for them, too.
David G. Presley
as a t-sip.
Just remember, the SWC Championship lasts for a
year, but the Spirit of Aggieland will burn forever!
Jennifer McGown '93
Thumbs up to bonfire workers
EDITOR:
On behalf of the Department of Student Affairs, we
would like to thank everyone involved with bonfire for a
job well done.
We really appreciate all the time and effort that was put
into this tremendous display of Aggie Spirit!
Special thanks to the Bonfire Committee and the fol
lowing people: Bill Kibler, bonfire adviser; Andrea Be-
shara; George Thomas; Jake Betty; Wade Tatman; Gene
Zdziarski; Ann Coombes; Tim Sweeney; Rusty Thomp
son; Joey Dollins; Kellie Klaevemann; Stephanie Evans;
and Denise Garza.
Also to the senior and junior Redpots; BrownpotS;
climbers; Yellowpots; Women's Bonfire Committee; re
load crew; yell leaders; Aggie Band; Bonfire Subcommit
tee on Alcohol and Safety; University Police Department;
Parking, Transit, and Traffic Department; Physical Plant
Department; and KAMU/HSE.
The Department of Student Affairs
Proud to be an Aggie
EDITOR:
As I stood in the horseshoe of Memorial Stadium, in
the midst of 80,000 screaming fans, I realized how proud
I am to be an Aggie.
The simple fact that every Aggie carries the Spirit of
Aggieland within, creates a special bond that cannot be
broken by even the most obnoxious football teams and
their fans.
The traditions at A&M never will be duplicated by any
other school, and those who attempt are a sad sight in
my eyes.
Let's face it, no other school has what it takes to be Ag
gies.
They say they hate us, but I think they wish they were
a little more like us. Why else would they adopt our
yells?
I am also proud of the fact that we are the friendliest
campus around. We are widely known for our camarade
rie and respect for each other and to those visiting our
campus. That is apparent when our fans don't cheer
when a player is injured.
No crowd of fans will ever be louder and more sup
portive than the 12th Man.
Not only do we show respect to fellow Aggies, but to
other teams too (even though it seemed almost impossi
ble last weekend).
We acknowledge their band, fans and traditions rather
than trying to abusively drown them out.
To sum it up, we don't need to restrict other schools'
traditions to look better because no one can compete.
I confidently can say that I would much rather be out-
scored and be called an Aggie, than to win and be known
It's hugging season
EDITOR:
'Tis the season to be hugging, but believe it or not, I
have not always held this opinion.
In fact, there was a time in my life when I seldom
hugged anyone, even the members of my family. I didn't
want to get close to people because I was afraid I would
get hurt.
Hugging people meant opening up and becoming vul
nerable, and I risked being either accepted by those I
hugged — or rejected.
I've always wanted to make a significant difference in
my world, and I finally realized what the world needed
most was love.
I could take a small step in giving the world some love
by risking rejection, and opening up to people with hugs.
I began by hugging maybe one, possibly two people a
week, and today it's not unusual for me to hug anybody,
even people I don't know.
Looking back, I don't think there had been anyone
who has refused a hug from me. I know that for me, a
hug from someone can make my day.
So, 'tis the season to be hugging...
LaRae Fischer '91
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the itch
Holidays expost
cultural values
Timothy
Truesdale
Columnist
Social scientists claim to be
able to learn much about a
culture by studying that
culture's holidays. That makes
enough sense. What are the
values that cause people to alter
their normal routines? It is informative to find both the context
of a social group's special days, as well as rituals associated
with such days.
Take indigenous American groups, for example. It's
common to hear of American Indian groups that no longer
wear traditional costumes daily, nor regularly engage in
traditional rituals:
But many of those same groups will pull out the costumes
and call in a "medicine man" for special holidays. Although
their "routine" lives allow them to mix with American society
at large, the way they celebrate holidays reveals much about
their underlying cultural values. ^
The holidays observed by mass America also reveals much
about our values. Two weeks agO/ our nation celebrated one of
its oldest and dearest rituals — Thanksgiving.
Every kindergarten child is well versed in the tradition of
this holiday, which came to us from the Pilgrims. Our
forefathers paused to give thanks for their safe arrival and
material sustenance. However, as Professor John Canup
pointed out in a recent story in The Battalion, Pilgrims
celebrated days of penitence as well as days for thanks.
Why has our society chosen to leave behind one tradition,
while keeping the other?
The nation is shocked, even incensed, by the recent
savings and loan scandal. Yet, what seems to bother us most is
not the scandal itself.
What bothers us the most is the refusal of all parties
involved to accept blame for the irrespective contributions to
the problem.
Dennis
Senior ■
Fairfax
“Have;
Materii
having
just wa.
B
heroic —
ut how sillv for us to expect our politicians to be
Y r
ethical standards of the electorate! The
surpassing emical standar
reason we have no National Day of Penitence giving is simple:
we no longer believe people are responsible for their actions.
A recent court decision in Maryland shows clearly how this
principle works in our society.
John Leo reports in U.S. News that "A bodybuilder broke
into six homes, set fire to three of them, and stole cash and
jewelry." A judge ruled him guilty, but not criminally
Kelly \
Junior
Mesqui
“For G
and to
Arabia
We no longer have days of penitence in this
country because we no are no longer penitent
about anything. For I have to wonder how
many families spent more time looking for
the Alka-Seltzer than actually 'giving thanks'
for anything on Thanksgiving Day.
responsible because his frenzied use of steroids left him
"suffering from organic personality syndrome." No jail time!
We no longer have days of penitence in this country
because we no are no longer penitent about anything. After
all, why be sorry about something you have no control over,
like "organic personality syndrome?"
There's another thing about Thanksgiving that interests
me. It seems that the name for the holiday is quickly evolving
into "Turkey Day."
While at first I was upset by this development, I was
gradually appreciative of this attempt, as subtle as it is, to be
honest with ourselves.
For I have to wonder how many families spent more time
looking for the Alka-Seltzer than actually "giving thanks" for
anything on Thanksgiving Day.
Come to think of it, I probably should be thankful for no
day dedicated to fasting and repentance. After all, it would
probably just become exploited: by all of the diet companies in
the nation. And I could hardly stand being wished a
productive "Lose a Few Pounds Day."
No, its bad enough suffering through "Turkey Day"
Thanksgivings, "Bunny Day" Easters, "Santa Claus Da
Christmases...
)ay
Timothy Truesdale is a graduate student in urban planning.
by Nil
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