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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 1992)
V A I uy.W'tn?, \ ® • 'H October?,] /ednesday, October 7,1992 Opinion The Battalion Page 9 a judicial a* , but he Jij it Bush’ssptj ame ofthttj y reversiHt, ris interven- xecutiveoff Harrissti- d ad nor re majorih'l ;ent in then -oad yard, redical billsi dence supps kes —‘Two nations, under tfie ‘Dottar, 'With Liberty and Justice zuithdrazim. PLEDGE or ALl£GlAMCt Inc., win viousdayi in its icntal. ar already ound itself i ing theta irlines," ll ; had conti >, and belie' s drawn fe ms from AS has my one of h ontinental Editorials Coddling China U.S. trade policy far too forgiving Once again, the Senate fell short f the vote needed to reverse Presi- lent Bush's veto of a bill placing Jonditions on China's most-fa- ipjred-nation trade status. This is a ad commentary on an administra- ion rhetorically touting the forma- ion of a kinder, gentler nation and ig trumpci rromoting democracy around the their cotagvorld. The killed bill held China ac- ountable for the flagrant civil ights violations that occurred at tananmen Square in the summer of by revoking most-favored-na- ) important ne with piis 1 North Vid reementw itrol overtfi f in Laosaa ioners wol ther they Id ng moreflii Hiatchettsai lore the fj h Vietnamesp 011 trading status for those Chinese nterprises that are state-owned. President Bush refuses to deal therefore^ with a Cuban government that de- ties its citizens basic civil rights, ronically, the same Bush adminis- n; nd of co* {ration failed tow aas continued to carefully ourt China's hardline government - a government that ordered the assacre of hundreds of protesting )t that in in Laos, doubt tk meed an at’ massai - students, that arrested and executed countless more, and that continues to forbid thousands of Chinese from returning to their homeland and families. Our country prides itself on its long-standing practice of espousing democracy to the less fortunate citi zens of the world. Yet, the Bush ad ministration continues to grant most-favored-nation trade status to a country that would go so far as to kill its own people. While it is a political reality that the United States must maintain friendly relations with China, we do have a responsibility to exercise the appropriate reprimand when the is sue is critical and the means of ad monition readily available. By veto ing this bill, which placed moderate restrictions on most-favored-nation trade status for China, the Bush ad ministration once again failed to back idealism with action. ew order, new policy Time to cut arms sales to Mideast - Greek >m each ?ar Rod- e Tap (9 9 Tourna- According to the Congressional Budget Office in a report issued last week, the United States could save $10 billion a year in defense costs by reducing arms sales to the Middle East. Though these defense cuts might cost the United States as much as $3 billion, the long range savings combined with the added possibility of peace in the Middle East outweigh the short term prof its that accompany America's posi tion as the weapons clearinghouse for the world. Faced with the skyrocketing costs of the federal debt, trie United States can no longer afford to shovel mil lions of dollars into the war-making machinery of a volatile Middle East. While the Bush administration pushes for peace in the Middle East, the United States continues to rely on arms sales to those same nations in order to prop up a sagging U.S. economy. The Middle East represents a small and shrinking market for American arms: since 1984, arms sales to the Middle East dropped from $33 billion to $15 billion. If the Bush administration proves successful in its endeavors to bring a lasting and meaningful peace to the war-tom region. Middle East de mand for American arms will only continue to dwindle. An added tool in the peace pro cess, arms sales limitations to the Middle East discourage further al tercation by limiting access to war machinery — and arms sales reduc tions allow America to make the transition from cold-warrior to peacemaker in the new world order. I charn- he polo Christianity not the only guide to life i Room Student jg The Sept. 29 Battalion published a long list of faculty and staff members who are willing to provide us with a road map to "help us avoid getting mis led or lost" as we struggle to decide the question, "How should we live?" The road map they use is the Bible. I'm not a Christian and I have no simple road map to living to give you. I would like, however, to discuss the meaning of life ith anyone who is interested, prefer ably late at night over appropriate drinks. I would also like to hear from acuity and staff members who believe hat Christianity is only one of many Ways to find meaning and purpose in ife and who are willing to have their lames published in The Battalion. Bob Presley Professor Oceanography Don’t pick a fox to guard the henhouse Lately I've seen many T-shirts, bumper stickers and signs advertising for the re-election of Brazos County Sheriff Ron Miller. Throughout the twin cities, it seems there's at least a moderate amount of support for Miller. Have the people of this University and Brazos County forgotten that this man is a convicted criminal? Miller was caught gambling in a place where an il legal weapon (a sawed-off shotgun) was present while he was sheriff of this county. He was arrested, indicted, and found guilty. This is a fact. Aggies, why are you supporting a man who was convicted of breaking the law he swore to uphold? Don't be tak en in. A crook is a crook. Dana R. Williams Class of‘92 We can beat racism if we communicate Recently, there have been a few opinions in The Battalion regarding the racism that exists on campus. I sincerely believe that we can cure ourselves of this evil, but it begins with each one of us. ►17! Television: opiate of the masses Boob tube a malignant cancer on American culture A llen B. Dumont changed our culture more than any other individual in the last half of of this century. In 1939, the indepen dent inventor marketed the first ver sion of the television. In the intervening 53 years, televi sion became the most important cul tural force in America. For the most part, it has served to undermine our society with bad programming and excessive viewing. Television robs America of its cul ture and replaces it with a cheap imi tation, the rewarmed product of a few bankrupt imaginations. Televi sion is the (dominant and uncon trolled means of social education and cultural change. It is our storyteller and our babysitter. It is our dinner time conversation and our pillow talk. Yet it offers very little of interest or value. Nielsen Media Research reports that the average Ameri can spends more than 26 hours a week watching television. People spend half as much time watching television as they do sleeping and going to school or work. And look at what they see. There are the "adult" pro grams like the lawyer shows and the yuppie shows. These programs often treat sex like candy. Characters casually in dulge in sex without responsibility to each other and with out bad effects like sexually transmitted diseases. And the programs make sure that viewers know exactly what's hap- penmg. Some scenes and some commercials border on pornographic. Then there are the sitcoms. My personal image of hell is a labyrinth of sitcom sets in whicn you are condemned to participate. These shows are predictably stupid to the point of insult. They are simply not funny. Granted, a few sitcoms provide almost-believable characters and semi- plausible plots. But even then the messages are still nega tive. For example, "Cheers" is a popular show which teaches people that marriage relationships are hopelessly grating. The humor is often based on belittling another character. The kids' shows aren't any better. "The Simpsons" makes me sick. There is absolutely no hope, no joy. There is nothing positive in the show. And we can't forget Music Television (MTV), that target of parental indignance, that extended pubescent fantasy of noise, sex, violence, sex, and more sex. Television hurts children the most when it assumes the role of babysitter and educator. Too often, parents abdicate nurturing to the remote control. Inexperienced children unable to differentiate between real and scripted activity learn social skills and values from Hollywood producers. Children's undeveloped values and limited knowledge make them undiscriminating targets. Television continues showing more and more shocking material as it becomes necessary to keep viewers' attention. Four years ago, cop shows flooded the airwaves. When the daily murders got old, networks started showing "real cops." A couple of weeks ago, a "real-life" cop programs showed a woman being gunned down by her nusband's homosexual lover. People sit in front of the boob tube and soak up this trash for 26 hours a week trying to convince themselves they are having fun! I imagine that in times past, pleasures were simple but real. Wisdom passed from generation to generation through word of mouth or written language. Children grew up slowly, requiring time to investigate and explore the wonders of nature and of science and of relationships. Today, children, entranced by our expert advertising techniques, stare at the tube for hours learning what's bad in life. They rarely go outside to play; they don't read; but they can explain every "Simpsons" episode of last season. Television consumes adults as well. Adults willingly shut down their minds for hours on end pretending to recreate. Shows do not stimulate thought. People don't want anything else. It doesn't really matter what's on, just as long as it doesn't resemble life. Television has become America's art. It records and shapes our culture. It influences our language and our fashions. Unlike the past, people can now enjoy this "art form" which is almost devoid of thought and skill. Ironically, television also offers the most effective means of information transfer man has seen. It has positive uses. Sadly, the bad far outweighs the good. If we are not careful, the mass media will continue con suming people's lives by unseating meaningful conversa tion and thoughtful art. America needs to turn off the tube and rediscover the beauty of real life. Purvis is a junior petroleum engineering major DWAYNE PURVIS Columnist ©1972- TVI£ R£Z<W The task is not simple, for nothing "short of genuine love, extreme pa tience, true humility, consummate tact, sound initiative, mature wisdom and deliberate, persistent and prayerful ef fort can succeed in blotting out the stain" of this disease. Such an opportunity exists in a weekly meeting held at the Lincoln Center in College Station. The Institute for the Healing of Racism is an informal meeting where participants share their personal suffer ings and triumphs with this issue. The only requirements are that you come with an open mind, listen while others speak, and realize that you are respon sible only for your own feelings. The institute meets every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Recreation Center, located off Holleman Drive at 1000 Eleanor St. We welcome your participation in dealing with such an important topic. Peyam Barghassa graduate student Some Aggies refuse to respect tradition If I had not been raised with it in my life, Texas A&M and the Corps of Cadets have taught me one thing — re spect. This apparently has not been taught to all Aggies. While passing by Rudder auditori um on Sept. 30, another man cut in front of me via the grass. I calmly pointed out to him that it is "bad bulT' to walk on the grass around the Rudder Complex due to its symbolism as a memorial. My information was met only with words of disgust and anger; then I was told abruptly, "Just drop it." This was easy for him to tell me, but how about the old Ags who gave their lives for their country in the vVorld Wars? They would not be so polite in in forming such a person of the traditions of such a fine school. Though the Corps of Cadets does its best to keep the spirit and traditions of Aggieland alive, we can't do it alone. It was my belief that those who had such little respect went to school at t.u. It is a total Aggie responsibility. Mike Shoemake Class of ‘96 A brief criticism... This is in response to John Klement's column, "Bonfire protesters way off base," which appeared in The Battalion on Oct. 2,1992. Klement, you're embarrassing. Richard D. Herron graduate student World doesn't need more unwanted kids How sad that with millions of starv ing children in the world, there are peo ple who want to bring more unwanted children into existence. How horrible for a child to be born only to be dumped in a trash can, or to be beaten to death by its mother's drunken boyfriend. Maybe it will live long enough to be chained in a closet and slowly starved to death, or to be shuf fled around the child welfare system because it was too old or the wrong col or to be adopted. Every child that comes into the world should be a wanted one, brought into being by people who will love and nurture it; that is what being pro-choice means. Sharon Semik veterinary student Editorials appearing in The Battalion reflect the views of the opinion page staff and editor in chief only. They do not represent, in any way, the opinions of reporters, staff, or editors of other sections of the newspaper Columns, guest columns, and Mail Call items express the opinions of the authors only. The BattaNon encourages letters to the editor and will print as many as space aBows in toe Mail Call section. Letters must be 300 words or less and include the author's name. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, style, and accuracy. Letters should be addressed to: The Battalion - Mail Cafl 013 Reed McDonald /MaM stop fill Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843