I
2
Opinion
Tuesday, January 22, 1991
The Battalion
Opinion Page Editor
Jennifer Jeffus
845-3314
Activists use protests for personal reasons
T
here are few things
that make me want to wretch more
than worthless rallies. San Francisco,
for instance, is characterized by these.
With the Iraqi war raging, I expect to
see many rallies, sit-ins, protests and
the like.
Worthless rallies are easily
identified. They usually consist of a
large group of idealistic people,
seemingly not having anything better
to do than protest reality.
A local newspaper ran a story
Monday describing a gathering of
about 30 people who met Sunday at the
Front Porch Cafe to form a coalition to
P romote peace in the Persian Gulf.
rospective future events include non
violent protests, teach-ins and
communication with members of
group
Georei
Matt
McBumett
Columnist
Congress.
Isn't it a little late, folks? Idealism
says maybe the actions of this yet
unnamed group will have an affect on'
someone. Reality says it does not
matter. Someone has to stop Iraq's
madman. Gee, maybe Jordan can do it.
Flow about those ever-dependable
Syrians?
No one wants war. I am stressing we
are in a war, we will be in a war, and a
of 30 or 30,000 will not persuade
ieorge Bush to back down.
San Francisco had enough protesters
last week to close down a major bridge.
If I had been in the bay city and was
late for work, or better yet, a tee time, I
would have been infuriated by these
self-righteous morons blocking my
way. What do these people do —
protest for a living?
These folks usually say they are
content if they convince one person of
their beliefs, or change one life. Oh
boy, one down, 250 million to go.
I suppose most of us remember the
controversy over the MSC expansion.
If not, here is the lowdown. A few trees
had to be cleared to make room for the
MSC to be lengthened and numerous
people protested. Or should I say, a
few innocent trees had to be ruthlessly
annihilated for our own selfish
motives.
As far as I'm concerned, they should
have saved the damn things in the
bonfire and planted some more. But for
some reason, people protested to save
those trees!
//
These folks usually say they
are content if they convince one
person of their beliefs, or change
to promote their cause, but to promote
themselves.
The decision already has been made
about Iraq. They have to go. These
feeble protests mean nothing. Not only
would these activists have to convince
Bush to pivot 180 degrees, the message
would have to travel to England,
France, Italy and the rest of the United
Nations. It will not, but we know that.
And these protesters also know it.
They just want to be seen.
one life.
I cannot help but question the
motives of the people who rallied for
the trees, as I question the motives of
most protesters. The decision had been
made. The trees had to go. The
protesters just wanted to be seen — not
I am well aware protesters have a
right to do what they are doing.
'"Sough, in many instances, reality so
ershadows the ideal that all I see is
Tf
overshauows tne iaeai mat an i see is
the self-righteousness of the people
involved.
Matt McBumett is a senior electrical
engineering major.
TELL. THE PENTAGON
THAT WE ■DE/nANID THE
KlGHfT TO PUT OUR
REPORTERS ON THE
FRONT LINE 7
V" '
Journalists spread biased news
T
JL hi
in
his letter is
response to the column by Dean
Sueltenfuss that appeared in the Jan. 15
edition of The Battalion.
In reading your column, I
immediately noticed the style you used
to state your points. I did not realize
the responsibility of a "free" press was
to form public opinion rather than
report it. But I appreciated you
pointing that out to me in your column.
In addition, I thought phrases such
as "f— off" were reserved for those
individuals unable to convey their
beliefs in a socially accepted manner.
I do believe in a free press. But I feel
many members of the press are no
longer responsible ana impartial when
they report the news.
At the beginning of the gulf crisis,
the press presented reports of atrocities
occurring in Kuwait against its citizens.
But as the crisis progressed, no new
news from Kuwait was reported.
Further, it appears the press has
decided this is another Vietnam and
their mission is to stop it.
I do not see this as the role of the
press. I believe the press should
present both sides of an issue and
allow viewers or readers to form
opinions. For weeks now, I have
watched scenes of Iraqis shouting
"Down with Bush!" and other slogans
on news programs.
I hate to break it to you, but many
individuals might not state their actual
views for fear that Saddam Hussein's
henchmen would execute both them
and their families.
In addition, there are countless news
stories on war protesters in cities all
over the United States. It is interesting
to note, however, that the "free" press
doesn't state what percentage of each
city's population is actually protesting.
I
have some questions
for you Mr. Sueltenfuss:
★ Why has the American public
been kept in the dark about now
Saddam Hussein gained power in Iraq
and how he maintains it?
★ Why does the American public
need to see "soldiers in extreme
anguish?" If I were "blown to bits" in
combat, I wouldn't want my family to
watch it, in color, on the evening news.
Sorry, but I would want my right to
privacy protected.
★ Don't you think United States
offensives would be more effective —
and less costly in terms of U.S. lives —
if the enemy didn't hear it on CNN
before it happened? I do. I think a
"security review" is necessary in times
of war to prevent irresponsible
journalists from giving the enemy
information that could result in the loss
of U.S. lives.
I feel the right to free speech is of
t reat importance. But free speech is
oth a right and a responsibility.
Responsible journalists allow the
public to form their own views.
Journalists who are irresponsible
usually hide behind the First
Ammendment and pretend to be the
protectors of the rignts of the American
citizen.
It appears you are well on your way
to becoming a "real" journalist.
Unfortunately, it appears that the
stories you write will be more of the
same*, biased information that currently
passes as "news."
Jason Phillips is a graduate student in
business. The letter was accompanied
by seven signatures.
Mail Call
Media emphasize anti-war protests
EDITOR:
I feel violence is an unnecessary means to solve any problem.
This opinion comes into conflict, however, due to the fact that
my father is a member of the elite group of men and women
called the United States Marine Corps.
Although I do not believe in violence, I respect my father and
all other American men and women who so bravely put their
lives at risk when duty calls.
The facts of the matter at hand, however, are that peaceful
means of solving the current situation never were ignored by the
United States. Instead, every peace proposal that came about
was listened to and rejected by Saddam Hussein.
I am totally against the idea of America fighting for oil or for
whatever "reasons'' that have been given by politicians concern
ing our presence in the Persian Gulf.
I am not, however, going to ruin my father's morale by pro
testing this conflict at hand — nor would I ever do that to any
other military man or woman in the Persian Gulf.
I feel that the media, especially, are blowing these anti-war
demonstrations out of proportion. Our servicemen and women
do not need to see or hear of any of this "yellow journalism." I
know for a fact that I, as well as other family members of military
personnel; would not want our loved ones thinking that we
were not supportive of them and their mission because of an
over-publicized protest.
I do not know or understand the intentions of the media, but
this must be stopped.
If the media want something to report on, let them drive
down the street and see all the yellow ribbons in support of our
American troops, let them interview the majority of the Ameri
can people who support and love our servicemen and women,
let them interview the families of servicemen and women who,
with tears in their eyes and an instilled fear of unknowing pro
portion in their hearts, will not denounce their support for their
loved ones. American men and women in the Persian Gulf do
not deserve this.
They are risking their lives to preserve the beliefs that every
American, anti-war or not, believe in their hearts — freedom for
all peoples of the world, no matter how obsolete a group. Our
American troops need to hear words of hope and optimism that
this conflict will come to an end very soon.
Our armed forces have enough on their minds at the moment
without having to worry about whether or not their countrymen
and women are behind them.
My father did not spend 20 years of his life to receive this
kind of treatment from those unfeeling people who make it a
point to publicize this type of rhetoric.
Terri Hooper '94
The Battalion
(USPS 045 360)
Member of
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conference
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