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/ednesday, October 7,1992
Opinion
The Battalion
Page 9
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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
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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
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We reserve the right to edit letters for length, style, and
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Letters should be addressed to:
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