Wednesday, July 17,1991
Opinion
The Battalion
Page 5
Usual solutions to social problems aren’t working
The greatest prayers of men
have always been for light and love.
We cannot buy light and love
in the marketplace of men;
but they are given to us
without money and without price.
■ Juan Mascara
JL o some, Bryan/College
Station may seem like an idyllic haven
far from violence and social illness.
But appearances can be deceiving. In a
three issue series, the Eagle focused
several stories on "at least 100 juve
niles running in 15 local gangs."
In my opinion, this community
problem towers above every other
issue we have recently dealt with. The
MTV scuffle seems like a kindergarten
issue in comparison. The annual con
flict over bonfire is relatively inconse
quential. And identifying any ele
ments of fascism in local shopping
malls is merely an exercise in
sophistry.
Controlling gang activity is almost
as difficult as combatting guerrilla
warfare cadres. Gangs and guerrillas
have much in common. Both use ter
rorist tactics, and authority structures
tend to be very flexible. Both punish
disloyalty swiftly and seemingly
impulsively. Both kinds of groups
require deep commitment. According
to one gang member, "there is only
one way out of a gang ... dying (is)
about tne only way.
Unfortunately, the Eagle recom
mends a combination of "Taw and
order" and liberal programs that have
never worked in larger cities, and
which will never work here. The "law
and order" approach centers around
"getting tough on crime." It calls for a
"no tolerance" posture, beefing up
police patrols and handing out stiffer
sentences to those con victed of gang-
related crimes.
This approach attempts to treat the
symptoms of society's illness without
discussing the disease. This tactic is as
ineffective as fighting guerrilla forces
with conventional tactics. We may win
battles, but we won't win the war for
people's hearts and minds by using
these tactics.
Tim Truesdaie
Columnist
The liberal agenda has failed just
as dismally when it has been imple
mented. Tnis approach claims that the
problem is a lack of mental health and
education, or lack of a male role
model. Liberals claim that counseling
and education will save our society's
gang members. But these methods fail
to address the reasons kids find gangs
attractive: personal attention, loyal
friends, a sense of belonging and easy
money, which is used to provide a
sense of acceptance and power.
Even if tnese kids reach a higher
socioeconomic class (and learn to steal
with politics rather than machine
guns,) will that solve the problem? I
hear that in Houston some of the most
vicious gang activity goes on in Clear
Lake, an affluent community.
As Ellen Hobbs' Tuesday column
so clearly demonstrated, gang violence
is not limited to fatherless lower-class
youth. I doubt that any of Paul
Broussard's 10 murderers have ever
known hunger in their Woodlands
homesteads. And if the affluent
Woodlands can't offer positive role
models, then we may as well head for
the hills.
After all, gangs aren't just minori
ties who call themselves "Crips" and
"Bloods." According to Webster's,
gangs are "organized groups of crimi
nals," and groups "of children or
ouths from the same neighborhood
anded together for social reasons."
The "law and order" approach
fails because it treats symptoms with
out addressing the problem. And
although the liberal approach may
attempt to treat problems, it doesn't
offer any solutions that actually work.
So what is the answer? Jesus is the
answer. I'm not talking about some
creation of a swindling TV preacher
out to make some money. I'm not talk
ing about some image formulated by
the powers-that-be to keep people
under control. I'm not talking albout
what Marx called "the opiate of the
people" used to keep everyone in his
place.
I'm talking about the life-trans-
forming, full of mercy, loving Jesus.
I'm ta Iking about the Jesus who sent a
skinny mid western preacher by the
name of David Wilkerson to the
toughest gang of New York City to tell
them hat God loves them. Tm talking
about the Jesus who claims to be "the
way, the truth and the life."
The truth is that just like in the
fairy tale, all the king's horses and all
the king's men can't put society back
together again. Through police,
schools and social programs, the gov
ernment has had its chance to save
human beings. It has failed. Up until
now our efforts have failed because
man at his very essence yearns for
light and love, not a B.A. and a Miata.
Jesus Christ claims to be the light
of the world. He also claims to be love
personified. No one else has had much
success saving society from a living
hell. Why don't we give Jesus a shot?
Tim Truesdaie is a graduate student in
urban planning.
Decision not to adjust census
is an injustice to minority groups
r
V-^ommerce Secretary Robert
MosbaCher's decision not to adjust the
1990 census will unfairly take away $1
i billion in federal funds from Texas
over the next decade.
According to a review by the
Census Bureau, census takers missed
3.2 percent of the state population; yet,
Mosbacher said an adjustment would
"abandon a 200-year tradition of how
we actually count people."
Mosbacher obviously is following
the old cliche "if it's broke, don't fix
it."
The census bureau says 1990 cen-
j sus takers missed 5.3 million people
| nationwide, including 560,000 Texans.
1 Thus, all federal funds Texas receives
based on population will be less
because of this misrepresentation in
the census.
Unfortunately, Hispanics, blacks,
Asians and American Indians bear
much of the burden of this miscalcula
tion. Mosbacher even admitted that
minorities have endured the worst
undercounts, while whites enjoyed the
highest accuracy.
This country has a fundamental
Todd Stone
Columnist
duty to protect the minority groups in
this nation. As a representative gov
ernment, the United States will have
failed to represent all groups accurate
ly if some type of adjustment isn't
made.
Census figures are used to allocate
congressional seats to states and to dis
tinguish boundaries of political dis
tricts. When such important aspects of
the U.S. system of government rely on
the census, accuracy becomes monu
mentally important.
Still, Mosbacher is concerned that
any adjustment could "adversely affect
the integrity of the census." When the
census is already inaccurate by a count
of 5 million people, what integrity is
left to protect?
Ironically, Census Bureau
Director Barbara Bryant, along with
seven of the nine members of the
bureau advisory panel, said the census
should be adjusted. But control over
the Census Bureau falls under the
jurisdiction of the Commerce
Department and thus, Mosbacher.
How can Mosbacher blatantly ignore
census experts?
Democratic leaders claim
Mosbacher's decision is political.
Adjusting the census would give a
higher mmority count. Most experts
agree that a higher number of minori
ties would add more Democrats in
voting districts — an obvious advan
tage for the Democrats.
Since the majority of minorities are
Democrat, and Mosbacher's boss
(President Bush) is Republican, there
could be some truth to these accusa
tions.
But politics aside, Mosbacher
bears an enormous responsibility to
the American people to produce an
accurate and fair census. Without an
adjustment to correct these obvious
inequities, Mosbacher will have failed
to uphold this country's basic princi
ple of fair representation.
Todd Stone is a graduate student in
business.
seek out other media
Aggies should
O ur world of vacuous five-
second sound bites and lengthy dis
cussions by expert talking heads —
oftentimes just as empty — make it
necessary to seek out meaningful
information on the issues of the day.
This is true regardless of what your general outlook on issues
is.
Depending on a single source for news is like listening to
music from only one radio station. Some people may be con
tent listening to only country music, but they are not up to
date with music in general.
Similarly, people who get all their news from the Houston
Chronicle are only up to date with the world as seen by the
Houston Chronicle, not the world as it really is. As a division
of the the Hearst Corp., the Chronicle has a biased outlook
reflecting that of capitalist William Randolph Hearst Jr.
To understand why this is so vital, read the Village Voice
articles (May 21,1991, June 25,1991) in the Sterling C. Evans
Library on the "October Surprise" allegations. Then read the
July 8,1991, editorial in the Houston Chronicle that strongly
ridicules the allegations and their sources.
The July 8 editorial overlooked substantial evidence in the
Voice, U.S. Senator A1 Gore's resolution seeking an official
investigation, and even ignored an article in that same day's
Chronicle, in which Congressman Lee Hamilton says the alle
gations are "exceedingly serious" and called for an investiga
tion.
Not coincidentally, a recent column by Hearst in the
Chronicle openly supported President Bush, allegedly
involved in noth the "October Surprise" and the Iran-Contra
scandals. Clearly, we can't expect objective or probing cover
age by the Chronicle on the incredible "October Surprise"
story.
To alleviate this, I will give some examples of where "alter
native" and investigative news sources can be found. Be care
ful, however, as any source can have a bias.
Some very good progressive/liberal sources available in the
Evans Library include The Nation, The Progressive, Mother
Jones and The Guardian. While progressive journals tend to
do the best investigative journalism, the ultra-conservative
National Review contains some information not always found
elsewhere.
Media watchdog groups exist whose sole purpose is to
expose the biases and correct the mistakes of the "main
stream" media. "Lies Of Our Times" focuses on the strongly
pro-Israeli and other biases of the New York Times. Fairness
and Accuracy in Reporting, a similar group, publishes
"EXTRA!" From another angle, the Media Research Center's
"Media Watch"purports to uncover liberal news biases.
For investigative Texas reporting, the Texas Observer (also
in Evans) is tops. The Austin Chronicle, Dallas Observer and
Polemicist (available at the University
of Texas) are free weeklies. The
Opinion Page of The Battalion presents
alternative viewpoints to the A&M
administration, TCA cable and
Battalion articles.
One more important source doing
sharp investigative reporting is the
weekly "In These Times." Call 1-800-435-0715 for a free
sample copy.
Wnile alternative views from within a country are
healthy and necessary, views from outside a country are
useful, too. For instance, the rest of the world has a differ
ent vantage point of U.S. foreign policy actions (like
Operation Desert Slaughter).
There are English versions of many foreign-based news
papers and magazines in Evans. Be forewarned, however,
as some are censored or controlled by their governments.
Other exciting sources of information also available right
here on the A&M campus are the computer newsgroup net
works, which are accessible to all students, staff and facul
ty-
There are about 1,000 different newsgroups discussing
every topic imaginable. There are newsgroups devoted to
A&M (recently dominated by MTV postings), the environ
ment, Monty Python, computers, Austin, politics, vegetari
anism, sports, guns and many different cultures. I'm told
you can also start other newsgroups.
Many of the newsgroups are accessible and receive post
ings from all over the world, while some are limited to the
United States, Texas or just A&M. I have used the Active-L
newsgroup for Battalion columns, and to receive free infor
mation about malathion (which Bryan is spraying unan
nounced in the middle of the night for mosquito control).
You will need to go to a computer help desk on campus
to learn how to access the networks, post listings and get
printouts. Using the networks is free up to a certain point
on student accounts.
There are numerous other sources of alternative informa
tion available in print form, including Utne Reader and Z
Magazine, as well as sources in commercial radio, short
wave radio, and video mediums.
Recognizing the wide variety of information sources
available, you need not and should not limit yourself to
mainstream news sources, which as a rule repeat the offi
cial White House administration position. The standard
media outlets may be more easily accessible, but they do
not make possible a truly informed citizeniy, which is, as
Thomas Jefferson wrote, the best defense of democracy.
Michael Worsham is a graduate student in environmental
engineering.
Michael Worsham
Columnist
Mail Call
The Battalion is interested in hearing from its readers and welcomes all letters to the
editor. Please include name, classification, address and phone number on all letters.
The editor reserves the right to edit letters for style and length. There is no guarantee
letters will appear. Letters may be brought to 216 Reed McDonald, sent to Campus
Mail Stop 1111 or can be faxed to 845-5408.
— — ; —
Worsham's viezvs on issues are off-base
EDITOR:
Michael Worsham: 'The name produces feelings of pride for those poor
souls who have trouble finding and supporting a point and feelings of fear for
those who read The Battalion. After reading several of Worsham's "articles" I
decided I just couldn't sit still and let him repeatedly subject me to his unintel
ligible tripe without some sort of reaction. So here it is; for what it's worth.
In your article in The Battalion on July 12, you mention black Americans
being "victims of the United States' economic draft". I have had numerous
history classes and political science classes, and I have never run across any
mention of an "economic draft" for blacks.
With decaying societal morals, the last hope black Americans have is to be
victimized by the government and forced to enlist.
Hey, Michael; what about the white guys and the brown guys and the yel
low guys and any other color serving in the armed services I may be leaving
out? Are they victims as well or are they exceptions to your ridiculously
moronic point? Do* you think Gen. Colin Powell would war)f»fco,be lumped
into your hasty categorization of minority victims?
When those young men and women sign dn the dotted line and swear to
lay down their lives to protect their country and democracy, they are all the
same color. The U.S. armed services enlists citizens and allows them to go as
far as their individual abilities will carry them. If they serve domestically or if
they should end up in a foreign countiy to defend a democratic country from
ruthless greed and aggression, then so be it. That's what they chose to do, and
that's what they're paid for.
You also refer to the military operation in the Middle East as a "massacre"
for oil. Wrong. Desert Storm was a military action to remove a hostile aggres
sor from a democratic country. Saddam Hussein wanted something that did
not belong to him, and we wouldn't let him have it.
Anyway, after negotiations failed, Hussein knew the risks involved and
subjected himself and his people to the greatest military power on earth.
I would challenge you to speak to a very good friend of mine who served
proudly and honoraoly in Desert Storm. He is clack, and he is hardly a victim.
He also is upset at the publicity that a WHITE conscientious objector received
while he and other BLACKS were upholding their oaths and serving their
country in the Saudi Arabian desert.
He couldn't get into college, but he stayed away from drugs. He enlisted
and served his country and now the Army is rewarding him by paying for
him to go to college. Help! He's being victimized! Please ...
You said the NAACP has "its hands full" considering the nomination of
Clarence Thomas. Michael; the president nominates and tne Senate confirms.
All the NAACP can do is consider. What's the problem?
As far as your boring, bleeding heart dribble about Luther L. Taylor and
his unfortunate situation, I have one word — phooey. Ron Cobb was attempt
ing to bribe legislators. Taylor wasn't singled out. Taylor took the bribe.
Taylor broke the law. Taylor goes to jail. Oh, I'm sorry, Michael, he's black.
DISCRIMINATION! I guess it's obvious. If you're white and take a bribe,
you're a criminal, but if you're black and take a bribe ,you're a helpless victim
of a discriminating criminal system.
Get real! Stings like this have been going on for years. A good example is
that of John DeLorean.
You say we should solve this victimization through "intense activism like
the 1960s" and "instill the racial equality synonymous with true democracy."
Golly Mike, what a swell idea. If you remember, the protesting of the 1960s
forced the government to intervene regularly and quite often violently. The
1960s ideals of peace, love and understanding, free love and excessive drug
use don't mesh with modern-day realities like gang violence and AIDS.
Michael, you may be one of the last of a diminishing breed. It is
admirable, but I think your words may be falling upon deaf ears. Preach your
ideals to those who will listen and with action, and a lot of luck, you may see
results. But put them in The Battalion, and you will see opposition.
Gary P. Carroll '90