Opinion
Monday, February 25, 1991
The Battalion
Opinion Page Editor
Jennifer Jeff us
845-3];
Feminists must unite on Persian Gulf issuer
■ A
, s much as it would
like to, the feminist movement can't
seem to incorporate the anti-war
movement into itself.
Feminists have been speculating for
a long time that, perhaps, if women
were in charge of the world there
would be a lot less gratuitous
bloodshed needed to maintain peace.
But some factors in the gulf crisis are
keeping feminism from having the
driving force it needs to be a leader in
the anti-war movement.
Most voices from the women's
movement have been saying "no" to
war. Before the war began, the
National Organization for Women
approved a resolution calling for the
immediate withdrawl of U.S. troops
from the Persian Gulf. NOW President
Molly Yard told the Washington Post
the United States should not support
jj§| ;
Ellen
Ha
Hobbs
Columnist
i j
Kuwait or Saudi Arabia because of their
blatant oppression of women.
Yard also said female U.S. soldiers
had been asked to "respect the culture"
of the Saudis by bowing their heads to
Saudi men, and if the White House had
sent troops to protect South Africa and
asked black soldiers to show deterrence
to white South Africans, the United
States would be outraged.
While the women's movement
withdraws its support for the war, it's
having a hard time not stepping on the
toes of those women still supporting it.
From day one, feminism has
supported women who have decided
to take on jobs supposedly reserved for
men, especially in the armed services.
And now the war the women's
movement feels so set on protesting is
the first in which women will play a
major role, not in actual combat, but
certainly in real, front-line danger.
This leaves feminism in a quandary.
Does supporting the anti-war
movement mean jerking the support
out from under female soldiers in the
Persian Gulf?
Both Ms. Magazine and off our
backs, a women's news journal that
has been in publication since 1971, ran
stories in their February issues on
Stephanie R. Atkinson, the first
woman to go AWOL and receive and
an "Other Than Honorable" discharge
from the U.S. military. The off our
MAR&tjeS
<S>I9?I THE RBCDRP
Mail Call
The Battalion is faiterested in hearing from its readers and welcomes ail letters to the editor. Please include name, classification, address and phone n “ m
her on all letters. The editor reserves the right to edit letters for style and length. Because of limited space, shorter letters have a better chance oi appearing.
There is, however, no guarantee tetters wiB appear. Letters may be brought to 216 Reed McDonald or sent to Campus Mall Stop 1111.
Do the right thing
EDITOR:
I am writing in regard to "the itch" as it appeared in the
Feb. 21 paper. I fully recognize that the First Amendment
has been sufficiently warped to cover such items and you
have every right to continue "the itch."
However, The Battalion, I believe, should be trying to
provide Texas A&M with articles and features it wants. I
cannot obviously speak for all, but I would greatly prefer
for this feature to be cut.
"the itch" is a disgusting comic most of the time, and
Feb. 21 was the most revolting thing I have ever seen in
this paper.
Please consider all of the opinions you have been re
ceiving, and do the right thing.
Jason T. Day '93
Vote against cable
EDITOR:
I generally feel the Residential Housing Association
(RHA) does a good job representing the average on-cam
pus resident.
After all, they brought back lofts in the Corps-style
dorms — not an easy task against the infamously inflexible
housing authority.
However, in their latest attempt at making residence
hall life "better," the RHA has deemed mandatory cable
usage a viable option and, through the Department of Stu
dent Affairs, is allowing us to vote on it.
Assuming it passes, this would automatically add more
than $50 to your fee slip over the typical fall-spring-sum-
mer periods.
This money goes directly into the pockets of the vul
tures at TCA Cable.
Now, I don't have a problem with others spending
their money on cable. However, I don't even own nor
want a TV.
Why should I be forced to pay for the excesses of oth
ers? Maybe the Department of Student Affairs should read
Jeff Farmer's column about the "merits," or lack thereof, of
television before they allow such a vote to be taken. How
ethical is it to supply a major means of student distraction?
Cable is not like phone lines, electricity or water. It is in
no way academically oriented, and my bill from an aca
demic institution should reflect that.
In this case, the RHA needs to protect the right of the
minority. Vote NO for cable.
Stephen Pace '91
Editor's Note: Students who live in residence halls will be
allowed to vote for or against cable during April elections.
The Battalion
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Editor
Kathy Cox, Managing Editor
Jennifer Jeffus,
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News Editors
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Fredrick D. Joe, Art Director
Kristin North,
Life Style Editor
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the itch
backs article also included stories of
another female soldier who was AWOL
and two more who were seeking
conscientious-objector status.
The articles seem to show support
for women who are protesting the war
by resisting being shipped to the gulf.
But these women are already enlisted
in the military— they could be an
example of women who have dropped
the charge of "making it in a man's
world" and gotten out before they were
sent to war with "the boys."
Feminism is sitting on a fence: It
can't decide if it is going to support
only some women and lend the rest of
its support to the anti-war movement,
or if it is going to continue toward its
expressed goal and support women 100
percent.
It's no crime for feminists to be
against the war and protest. Nor is it
wrong to be of the opinion that, in
general, war seems to be a "male
thing."
But as feminists working for wot
we can't forget that there are other
women out there who, for whatevs:
reason, support the war. We can't
allow ourselves to be lead away fro®
supporting women who are soldier!
jobs we encouraged them to get. An;
we can't let ourselves get so involve!
protesting for peace that we forgetl;
be supportive of the mothers thah>
the war to be won so their sonsand;
course, daughters, can come home
Feminism doesn't need the split 1:
must allow women who supportthe
war to continue to be a part of its ran
Sisterhood must stay strong enough
make it through this aggression and
work toward a less sexist peacetime
Ellen Hobbs is a senior journalism
major.
Racial prejudice
Ignorance perpetuates
racism, discrimination
W
hen I had my first
real bout with racial prejudice (I say
first, because being a black woman in a
dominant white male society, I look for
many more to come throughout my
life), I found myself upset and
wondering how God could create
people with such shallow attitudes
toward others.
I already had prepared my letter to
The Battalion, condemning all who
were racists, when it dawned on me
that I was being no better.
By condemning them, I not only
showed no self-control, but I felt I was
not showing the proper Christian
attitude. So with those thoughts, I re
evaluated my views and composed
another letter.
It being Black History Month, I
found myself unable to just sit back
and let this racial incident pass, for I
truly believe racism (whether white or
black) and prejudice of any kind is not
acceptable. But instead of getting
upset, I tried to figure out ways I could
deal with it and help others by doing
so.
It seems impossible and asinine to
me that people could despise one
another and never know anything
about the other person. Personally, I
believe that is a very shallow belief,
and before anyone can work to remedy
racism, we must learn to outgrow that
stigma.
I wanted to point to the fact that
racism and prejudice most often is
caused by the simple point of
ignorance. The ignorance is that of
some race not caring to know and learn
about other races.
First, I want to point out that, yes, it
is true that as a black race (as well as
other minorities), we have been taught
the white culture throughout our days
of schooling.
But when I speak of learning and
knowing others, I speak of learning
about that person as a human being.
Just knowing others' views or feelings
on certain topics can bring new light to
many personal relationships.
Second, I would like to make a
suggestion to the white race in dealing
with prejudice toward other races. In
referring back to learning about others.
there are a number of courses,
programs and seminars offeredheii
give some insight to the black,
Hispanic and Oriental experience.
It is true that people never willge:
the true experience because they art
not of that race, but part of healing^
ill is at least taking medicine.
For example, in response tornyboi
with racism, my sister suggested Igt
my assailant and suggest he takePF.
489 (Philosophy of African America:
which she is taking now. I not only
suggest it to him but to all.
Also it is important for black peop
alike to take these courses becauselk
majority (including myself) ofusare
not aware and proficient in our own
culture and history.
Everyone learns about the things
Martin L. King Jr. and MalcomXdii
for our race, but our history runs®
deeper that those two great leaders
is important to learn more about
ourselves so that we can tell others
This brings me to my next and fin;
point, which is more directed to the
black race coming from a black perse
After learning about our powerfular;
rich culture, we as a black race (and
other races) must be proud and tell
others about our heritage. IhiscanK
compared to Christianity and other
religions.
When Christians learn about God
is their duty to go out and witnessle
others about His great works. \
mixed races, you must go and
"witness" to other races and let that
know how proud you are of your
culture, for if you don't respect
yourself, you can't expect any
to.
In doing this, others are learning
about you and it will eventually help
them to outgrow that ignorance whii
causes racism in the first place.
Tanya Ovea Williams is a freshman
journalism major.
by Nit
Nlc
Tanya Ovea
Williams
1
Reader’s Opinion