2
Opinion
Monday, February 4, 1991
The Battalion
Opinion Page Editor
Jennifer Jeffus
-
845-331^
Americans must deal with current problems
O '
Wednesday, I
went to the "rally for the troops" in the
MSC Flagroom because I felt it was the
least I could do for the troops serving in
the gulf.
As the rally got underway, a war
protester felt it was his obligation to
disturb speakers at various times
during their speeches.
His sign read something to the effect
of the United States arming Iraq. He
personally said to me, "We armed
A war supporter quickly countered,
"If we arm someone, is it not our
responsibility to disarm them?"
After the rally, I had the opportunity
to talk to one person against tne war.
She told me how Kuwait loaned money
to Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war (which
Iraq started) and the Kuwaitis were
demanding all money be paid back at
once in one lump sum. Wnen I went
back to the early August papers to
research this, I could find nothing
supporting her claims.
She also claimed that the Kuwaitis
were "slant-drilling" for oil, which I
assume means they were stealing oil
under the border. All of this, I
suppose, then would be justification
enough for Iraq to invade Kuwait.
After all, it is not Iraq's fault that they
owed Kuwait money to fund a war Iraq
itself started with Iran. Besides, it
would be too difficult to negotiate
controversial mineral rights on a few
wells.
Saddam obviously invaded Kuwait
because he thought he could get away
with it. Had he really felt it was a 19th
province of Iraq, he would not have
offered a trade-off for the occupied
territories.
She then began to talk about how the
war was for oil anyway. So I assumed
Chad
Walter
Reader’s Opinion
she was right. She began to talk about
how we needed to convert to
alternative energy sources like
hydrogen.
I agree that, yes, we do need to
utilize more alternative fuels, but the
fact still remains that the heart of our
entire economic system is currently
tied to oil and that cannot be changed
overnight.
At this point, I could see how
idealistic and far off base this person
was, and so I left the Flagroom and
proceeded to go to my next class.
After seeing all the war protesters on
TV shouting "iSJo blood for oil! Fight
AIDS not Arabs!," I began to wonder.
What would have happened if the
United States had done nothing after
Iraq invaded Kuwait? Would Saddam
have found an excuse to invade Saudi
Arabia? Obviously the Saudis think so,
or else they would not have been so
eager to let our army go over there.
Saddam Hussein is a power hungry
man. Within two years of a ceasefire
with Iran, he decided he would invade
someone he could defeat. What makes
people think that he would have
stopped with Kuwait?
He said after Iraq invaded Kuwait
that Iraq was pulling out. But Western
intelligence snowea exactly the
opposite! Saddam Hussein is not a man
of his word, and he simply cannot be
trusted.
So what other realistic choice was
there? The war opposer whom I
referred to earlier felt the United States
WE RBCCPV
new •jER'-ey
should have sent a contingent of 50,000
troops to the gulf, in case Saddam
decided to invade Saudi Arabia and
kept economic sanctions in place for at
least a year — as if this would force
Saddam out.
This would give Saddam time to:
develop a nuclear bomb, manufacture
nemical weapons, organize
dt - - -
more c
terrorist attacks an
provoke Israel to
do something that would break up the
coalition.
The simple point to all this is that we
are now past the point of no return. I
mean if this war is for oil and our lack
of an energy policy, then so be it.
It is our fault we have no energy
policy. We must fix that then, too. But
first we must finish our current
objective of removing Saddam from
Kuwait and reducing his radical
military potential.
We can do nothing about past
mistakes; we can do something about
current problems.
The bottom line is "Support the
troops in the gulf!"
Chad Walter is a freshman chemistry
major.
Mail Call
The BattaBoji Ui Interested in hearing from Its readers and welcomes all letters to the editor. Please Include name, classification, address and phone number on a8 letters. The
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Hats off to Nito
EDITOR:
Nito has run a slick campaign. He has created a letter
war in Mail Call to give his strip notoriety, or at least a sense
of relevancy.
Writers pray to have their work banned. This creates
best-sellers and fame (Salinger, Rushdie, etc.). Nito's
strength, regardless of the content of his strip, is in his fore
sight, and in his friends' help in creating a conflict over "The
Itch." Regardless of the strip's merits, Nito has pulled a fast
one. Hats off to his manipulation and to his friends' sup
port.
Scott Guttormson '92
Clean up dead squirrel
EDITOR:
I know that this campus is filled with people that believe
"If it moves, let's shoot it." But I cannot understand why no
one in charge of the fountain in front of the Chemistry
Building has bothered to call the humane society about the
poor dead squirrel that has been floating there since Jan. 29.
I like these little creatures and I enjoy seeing them (alive)
on campus. I, personally, was saddened and appalled upon
seeing it on Tuesday as late as 10 a.m.
But on Thursday when I saw that it was still there, I felt
even more disgusted. Don't we pay good money for work
ers to maintain the aesthetic pleasures of our campus?
Alice S. Prendergast '93
Unborn deserve right to life
EDITOR:
Abortion is the termination of a human life or the poten
tial of a human life. What about woman's choice? What
about the baby's choice and right to life?
This issue boils down to responsibility. If two people are
going to have sex, then they have to plan for all possible re
sults, including pregnancy. Why should that innocent baby
have to pay for their carelessness and irresponsibility? What
if that baby was going to be the next president? Children are
our future and God calls them "a reward from Him." Please,
stop the senseless slaughter of the unborn. They deserve a
chance to live.
Todd Primm '92
Listen to other views
EDITOR:
A female student was standing at the front of my class
room Jan. 30 talking with another student a few minutes be
fore class was to begin.
She was discussing the war in a normal tone of voice.
But the room is very small, so if you were paying attention
you could hear what she was saying. Evidently, a male stu
dent at the back of the room was listening because suddenly
he began to scream, "You are wrong! You are stupid if you
believe that!"
He began screaming his views at that point, but I was so
in shock at his behavior that I really didn't listen. And that's
the point. His actions were so rude and disrespectful to the
person talking that no one really heard his opinion. And
that's what it was — an opinion. Contrary to what some
people seem to think, we'll probably never know who's
right. So you have your views. I'll have mine.
Tracey Burns '91
Support war or leave
EDITOR:
Normally I am unprovincial and very open-minded to
ward the opinions and ideas of others. But let's forget about
all that. I only have one thing to say to those of you who
wish to acquire needless attention through your denial and
protest of our military involvement in the gulf.
I will gladly incur the expense of loading you up in the
back of the truck, drive to Mexico, kick you out and let you
waller with your disrespectful friends in tequila the rest of
your lives. If you want to spit on the American flag and the
graves of our forefathers who died for what that flag stands
for, don't do it here!
It's people like you who disgrace this country and this
fine University. If you don't like it, leave! We don't need
you.
B. Jon Traylor '92
Research might alter
future animal testing
.s is true of most animal-
rights advocates, Mr. Truesdale did not
think through his propaganda
statements thoroughly. If he had
investigated a little bit, he might have
discovered that computer simulations
are normally less expensive than
animal models.
Most animals used as animal models
are raised in isolated colonies. Most are
• either viral antibody free or specific
pathogen free. These animals are
expensive. Care for them also is
expensive. Their water must be
uncontaminated as must their food and
air.
Not just one model is used. Product
testing should involve several different
animal models in the same condition as
the final patient. To do less invites
product liability suits.
A computer can be used over and
over again, which would reduce
product testing costs. However, we do
not know enough about how actual
bodies work to trust just a computer
program. Garbage in/garbage out.
We do use computers to design new
products. Hartz Blockade is an example
of a computer designed and tested
product. Take two safe products.
Check for chemical reactions (on a
computer). Mix and sell. Result: several
thousand pets dead from liver and/or
kidney damage (not a nice death). The
problem was corrected in animal
models and the product is now safe.
Mr. Truesdale, do not insist that my
family (pets included) must be the first
full body test that a new product
undergoes.
Why cosmetics are animal tested is
simply stated: They must be safe when
used properly, they must be safe when
slightly misused and doctors must
know a suitable treatment when they
Bill
Howard
Reader’s Opinion
are used outside of normal reason.
This last involves toddlers moretha:
anyone else. How many times a year
does a child eat lipstick or drink
cologne?
As to real research. Research falls
into two categories. Basic research
attempts to unlock mysteries of life.
Most basic research centers around
how or why a certain body function
occurs. Applied research searchesfon
cure or treatment for a problem.
Both require whole body systems.
Some research is done using cell or
tissue cultures. A cell culture is cells
derived from cancer or aborted fetuses
that continue to replicate indefinitely
As you might guess, they sometimes
have reactions very different from
normal cells, and they have no
reactions between different tissues or
organs. All of this information goes
into computer networks so maybe one
day we no longer will need to use
animal models in research.
igh
tnl
none of this means anything. To them
animals have the same rights as
humans. In fact, pet ownership is
slavery and mouse traps are murder
Researchers and product testers do
not enjoy inflicting pain on their
subjects, but some pain today maybe
able to prevent much pain
tomorrow.
Bill Howard is a first year veterinary
student.
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the itch
by Nito
graduate studs ait a Few days a6o.