^ Opinion
Monday, January 25,1993 The Battalion Page 7
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Should the United States forcibly
return Haitian refugees to Haiti?
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DAVID
BROOKS
I Columnist
I
On Dec. 21,
1992, 380 Haitians
drowned during
the sinking of the
freighter Vierge
Miracle, which
was bound for the
coast of Florida.
This terrible acci
dent was just one
factor that con
tributed to Presi
dent Clinton's
wise decision to
continue the poli
cy of repatriating
Haitian refugees.
During the presidential campaign,
Clinton criticized President Bush's poli
ty of repatriating refugees. Clinton
suggested that if he were elected, he
would allow refugees to freely enter the
United States.
Even before his inauguration, Clin-
on realized the pitfalls inherent in such
ifree-entry policy. According to Pen-
agon reports, reconnaissance flights
aver Haiti showed more than a thou-
and boats being built.
Pentagon estimates stated that up to
Haitians might be planning to
flee to America around the time of the
inauguration.
The possible effects of such an exo
dus could be catastrophic. The medical
and welfare services required would far
exceed the resources available to state
and local governments. To relate an
idea of the scale of the possible influx,
Newsweek stated that "the Pentagon is
preparing to give aid on the scale de
manded by Hurricane Andrew."
Faced with the prospect of such a mi
ration, Clinton made the smart deci
sion. He broadcast a radio message
stating that his administration would
continue the policy of repatriation. Clin
ton asked Haitians not to leave their
country, and he promised to speed up
lie processing of asylum claims.
This policy is the best of both worlds.
Haitians who really are suffering from
political repression can be identified
more quickly, while the United States
can avoid the massive economic and so
cial upheaval that would result from a
policy of open acceptance.
Last week, the Houston Chronicle
stated that Haitians were staying in
Haiti in response to Clinton's radio
message. Refugees in the water mean
several things: deaths from unsafe
teats, economic strain for governments
and social upheaval along the Gulf
Coast.
We need to continue the policy of
lepatriation. Last week, the State De
partment said that former President
lush and President Clinton worked
hand in glove" while formulating the
current policy.
When an outgoing Republican presi
dent and an incoming Democratic presi
dent agree on a policy, it's a safe bet
the policy is in the best interest of
the country as a whole. The frightening
cesponse of the Haitian people to the
mere suggestion that we might drop the
lepatriation policy sheds light on the
Probable result.
If we change to a policy of free accep
tance, we will create social, political and
fconomic chaos.
MATT
DICKERSON
Columnist
"The present
King of Great
Britain...has en
deavoured to pre
vent the popula
tion of these
States; for that
purpose obstruct
ing the Laws of
Naturalization of
Foreigners; refus
ing to pass others
to encourage their
migration hither."
-The Declaration of
Independence; July
4,1776.
Bill Clinton's presidency promises at
least one big change: lies with syntax.
On January 14th, President Clinton em
braced the Bush administration's policy
of forcibly returning Haitians attempt
ing to immigrate to the United States -
a practice referred to by Clinton during
the campaign as a "cruel policy of re
turning. ..refugees to a brutal dictator
ship without an asylum hearing."
Clinton betrayed the trust of Haitians
who hoped to flee Haiti's repressive
junta, which, according to Amnesty In
ternational, has murdered over 1,500
Haitians. The United States, as a signa
tory of the 1967 Protocol Relating to the
Status of Refugees, is bound by interna
tional law to render protection to
refugees, including the right to apply
for asylum.
Clinton claims that he merely wants
to save lives. Is intercepting Haitians
on the high seas, destroying their boats
and returning them to Haiti without
asylum hearings merely incidental to
saving their lives? It is not necessary to
return refugees to Haiti in order to save
their lives. In fact, returning the
refugees could very well expose
Haitians to the danger of a "brutal dic
tatorship," to use Clinton's words.
The United States, which accounted
for over 70 percent of Haiti's exports
and 50 percent of its imports, is largely
responsible for the influx of Haitians
into the United States. The embargo,
which destroyed 144,000 jobs out of a
total employment of 252,000, exacer
bates the almost inhumane economic
conditions in Haiti. The embargo has
failed to bring democracy to Haiti and
has further eroded social, economic and
environmental conditions.
The embargo should be lifted imme
diately in conjunction with the deploy
ment of human rights monitors. This
will stem the flow of economic and po
litical refugees.
The opposing argument that immi
grants come to America to get on wel
fare is completely fallacious. Economist
Julian Simon wrote that every study es
timating the tax contributions of immi
grants at all levels of government show
that "tax payments vastly exceed the
cost of the services used, by a factor of .
. . five, 10, or more." Studies show that
in the long run, immigrants give much
more than they take.
Haitian immigrants, rarely on wel
fare, are law-abiding and hard working.
They bring to America a strong belief in
education. Immigrants raise not only
their standard of living, but those of the
receiving community.
Let the Haitians come to America, for
our good and theirs.
Brooks is a senior economics major.
Dickerson is a sophomore economics ma-
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fe opinions of other Battalion staff members, the Texas A&M student body, regents, administration, facurty of staff.
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Reality 101: the 'other' education
Not all of life's lessons are learned in the classroom
ROBERT
VASQUEZ
Columnist
Y ou can learn the most amazing
things in college. In a
government class at junior
college, like a scene from the movie
"Dead Poet's Society," my teacher
suggested an education beyond the
scope of the everyday college
experience.
I should have known to expect
more than the regular lesson when the
professor walked into class with his
ponytail bouncing and dropped his
books on the floor. As he sat Indian
style - not behind, but on top of his
desk - his big toes were working to
free themselves from his sandals.
Strangest of all was this man's smile,
wide and unabashed, as if he knew something the rest of us
didn't.
Given his appearance and his "thirty-something" looks,
most students agreed that the ’60s must have been good to
this man. Like, very good, dude. We wondered what kind
of semester was in store from this guru. The homework
assigned on the first day gave a strong clue. We were to
write an essay on Arlo Guthrie.
"Who was he?" we asked. "What significant role did he
play in American government?" The guru wouldn't
answer. He did say the words, "Alice's restaurant." But
that was the last he would say on the matter until the next
class when we were to return with an essay on this man
whose name we had never heard.
We also were to define the word "koan." No hints, no
trouble. Just look it up in the dictionary. "In Zen, a
nonsense question asked of a student to force him, through
contemplation of it, to a greater awareness of reality."
Like wow, man. This class was going to be quite a trip.
The rest of the semester was spent discussing the finer
points of, well, anything. Any topic, he said, was fair game
for class discussion. From the living earth to Roy G. Biv,
our class pondered the questions of the universe, and
occasionally, American government.
Despite — in fact, probably because of — this professor's
unorthodox methods, I was surprised to find that 1 actually
learned something. As much as I tried to scoff at his
teachings, I caught myself watching things a little more
closely. I began to consider motives rather than actions. I
began watching people and learning from professors before
they even spoke. I found that I had climbed down from
that peak just a little enlightened.
Coming to a major world class university like Texas
A&M (Whoop!), many students anticipate a quality
education to fall into their laps. Like a syllabus and a few
textbooks, some students expect to pay their fees and go
home a better person.
Granted, the endless nights of studying will render your
commercial skills more marketable. And your social skills
will benefit from daily observance of classroom etiquette.
Don't sleep when someone's talking to you. And if you
must, don't drool or snore.
But education has much more to offer than facts and
figures. You can learn so much just by looking and
listening a little closer to things which too often go
unnoticed.
Texas A&M has so many opportunities where students
can forget formulas for a while and learn a different kind of
lesson. Get out of class and find the lessons that others
never notice.
The University Center Galleries offer a new perspective
on subjects ranging from the routine to the exotic. Touring
exhibits let you observe the deepest thoughts of the artist,
displaying how others perceive their little corner of your
world.
Take a walk by the Menos sculpture, the towering wave
of stainless steel standing near the Blocker building. One of
the most recent additions to the University's art collection,
the Menos excites a wide range of reactions from Aggies.
Some have expressed their pleasure at the inspiring flow
of design and the delicate balance between light and
shadow. Still others have expressed their disgust at the
zillion dollars spent to buy the wiry mass of mindlessness.
What do you think about it? Have you ever seen it?
Does it matter what you think? Not really.
Your grades probably won't improve if you watch a
silent film. You're not guaranteed a better job if you can
spot a Monet.
Learning to look for a lesson in everything probably
won't change the world. But it might change your world.
What you think isn't as important as the fact that you
think — about everything. And not just when the professor
is droning on and on. Make sure yours isn't another
brilliant mind ruined by higher education.
Vasqnez is a senior journalism major.
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© WZ TUB FBCORP
NEW 0ER4EM
Pro-choice argument
contains hypocrisy
I have a few comments in response
to Matt Dickerson's column regarding
anti-abortion logic. First of all, not all
"anti-abortionists" support legislation
allowing abortion in the case of rape or
incest. Secondly, the favoritism for the
woman over the fetus given a situation
in which either the woman or the fetus
must perish does not suggest that the
fetus lacks human rights. If such an
unusual situation were to occur, it
would be a matter of self-defense.
Lastly, if abortions were to become
illegal, I along with many other pro-life
advocates would support sanctions
against women who have them and the
doctors who perform them. The focus
of the pro-life movement is currently to
ban abortions, not to create sanctions
for what is now a perfectly legal
procedure.
The ones with the flawed logic are
the self-proclaimed "pro-choice"
advocates who do not support third-
trimester abortions. I have talked with
many. What is the difference between
a five-month-old fetus and an eight-
month-old unborn child? Viability is
the response I hear so often. They
argue that if the fetus can survive
outside the womb, then an abortion is
wrong. The viability of a human being
is irrelevant. How many of us are truly
viable? We are all dependent on others
for survival in one way or another.
Stephanie Fuller
Class of'93
Abortion based on
morality, not legality
I am writing in response to Matt
Dickerson's Friday column about
inconsistencies in the anti-abortion
position. I believe abortion is murder
because it is the purposeful taking of an
innocent human life. However, I use
the term "murder" as a moral term and
not a legal one.
Just as one might correctly say that
the guards of Auschwitz murdered
thousands of Jews although their
behavior was legal under the prior
system in Germany and was, therefore,
not murder in any legal sense.
As far as the cases of rape, incest and
danger to the mother go, I must admit
that many of my fellow pro-lifers have
tried to mainstream their ideas at the
expense of their consistency. Using a
definition of abortion as the purposeful
killing of the fetus, 1 believe abortion
should not be allowed under any
circumstances. In the case of danger to
the mother, I believe the mother should
be allowed to have the baby removed
regardless of its stage of development,
but then doctors should attempt to save
its life. Although some of the fetuses
(in this highly unusual case) would die
anyway, this is totally different than
their willful destruction.
Authorities would not have to
investigate miscarriages any more than
they currently investigate any personal
injury as a case of attempted suicide.
Although you say these are logical
conclusions, they don't logically follow
at all.
Just as there are inconsistencies
within certain elements of the pro-life
movement, the pro-choice movement
has its own fair share. With the legal
term "health" defined so broadly,
many states allow abortions for any
reason up to the point of labor.
However, they consider the same
action a few hours later infanticide. Is
there really something magical about a
trip down the birth canal?
Michael Seller
Class of'93