Wednesday, March 3,1993
The Battalion
Page 9
Generation gap over
Tubularman comics
I would like to address to Bob
Knebel's Feb. 25 letter: How long has
he been reading Tubes? Knebel's solu
tion perplexes me: “Replace crude
Boomer with someone clever, entertain
ing and subtle." Does he realize that if
that happened there would only be 2
comics left that fit those specifications --
Margulies and dp?
Some of us actually enjoy Tubes be
cause it deals with such topics in a hi
larious way, and these are the topics
that we all think about -- at least with a
passing thought — but we are afraid to
talk about.
Do Knebel remember when he was
in his late teens and early 20s? I'm sure
these topics crossed his mind at least
more than once, although at the time
such topics were taboo.
There are several "comics" that I de
spise, but I don't complain about them.
Solution: Don't read those comics with
which you don't agree.
Katie Cunningham
Class of'94
Food services serve
unsanitary surprise
What is up with the food services on
this campus? Thursday evening, I had
the lovely experience of watching a
food service woman empty a dripping
bag of garbage with her bare hands, set
down the bag and immediately turn
around and touch the meat that was on
the grill. She knew I saw her, and I was
completely disgusted.
First of all, I would think that any
sane person, after emptying the
garbage, would be thoughtful enough
to wash his or her hands before touch
ing the food that patrons put in their
mouths.
Secondly I know there are sanitation
regulations for the food industry. I
have worked in food services before. It
was mandatory for us to wear HAIR
NETS and GLOVES. This particularly
disgusting incident is not the only one
that I have witnessed on campus.
Either these things happen quite fre
quently, or I have just had the misfor
tune of witnessing them twice!! If
something doesn't improve, I would
suggest that people watch more careful
ly as their food is prepared or eat else
where.
Susan Spicer
Class of'95
"Howdy" is dead.
That may be blunt. That may be
harsh, but it is true. I say "howdy" to
everyone that I pass on campus. It may
sound odd repeating the word to three
or four people in a row, but if one of
those people deserves to be acknowl
edged, why not recognize the others?
Why not answer with a howdy when
given one? Why wait to see if the other
person says it first. Why do Corps
members choose to say howdy only to
other Corps members? Probably be
cause they have to.
I believe that is a bunch of crap,
when I first started coming up here as a
child, one could not walk across cam
pus without receiving a "howdy" at
least 96 times. I grew up saying the
word to everyone. The first semester
saw a bunch of fish that did just that.
Where did they go?
Is it that great a burden to look
someone in the eye and say a kind
word? Think of what a warm smile
and a friendly "howdy" can do for an
other person, especially someone who
may be having a bad day. To me, that
makes the burden that much easier to
Remedies for phlegm
madness, sniffle fest
It never fails. Inevitably the individ
ual who's head is producing rivers of
phlegm and/or snot sits near me dur
ing my longest classes. Never will I un
derstand the need to sniffle and snort
every half-second.
During Fish Camp, Counselors
should teach nasal courtesy along with
Aggie traditions. The program should
include my three level model that
guides the small-minded few along
easy steps to snot suppression. Primar
ily, the incoming freshman would learn
to think and plan ahead.
Step 1. Ideally the first symptoms of
congestion, the student should take ad
vantage of our pre-paid health care.
Unfortunately its inefficiencies and in
conveniences oftentimes force the stu
dent to bypass Step 1.
Step 2. Select an over-the-counter
medication that works for the individ
ual. Personally, I find that Sudafed best
clears my head without drowsiness.
Step 3. The final option embraces
simplicity — keep a snot rag. The
breathing-impaired should carry facial
tissue - handkerchief, toilet paper, etc. -
with them at all times. It is possible to
blow one's nose in class without a mas
sive disturbance. I have even watched
the timid type use tissue to soak up
their runny noses instead of blowing.
Within a few generations, students
could take their tests in peace. The only
thing annoying about taking a test
would be the exam and not someone's
drainage problem. Preparation is the
key.
Michael Mogonye
Class of'93
Lee is a film maker,
not a spokesman
This letter is in response to Roy D.
Parsons statement concerning Spike
Lee. Parsons argument consisted of ig
norance.
First of all, he states that Lee was
hired with a sum in excess of $10,000 to
come speak on campus. Lee came to
the Texas Film Festival simply because,
as Mr. Lee put it, "I was asked."
Parsons then asks why Spike Lee did
not make a movie based on the life of
Mahatma Gandhi. Is it so wrong for an
African-American to make a movie
about one of the most influential black
leaders in history? Is it so wrong to use
one's talents to educate the world about
the life and teachings of an extremely
influential leader? "Hoffa" was a
movie about a very controversial white
leader. It contained its fair share of vio
lent protests. Why did you not write to
protest that movie as well?
Parson's also associated Lee's movies
with the Los Angeles riot and other vio
lent protests. Spike Lee does not pro
mote violent protests in his movies. He
merely shows the problems that affect
young African-Americans, in hopes of
bringing the issue into the open so that
a solution can be found. He said him
self, "I am not a spokesman for 35 mil
lion African-Americans, I am a film
maker."
Kevin Stewart
Class of'96
Same old same old,
GOP vs. Democrats
• I'm writing in response to Corky
McMillan's recent demands stated in
the Batt on Feb. 26, "Yo, Republican's!
Sit down and shut up." Why doesn't
he put a "cork" in it? He has quite an
open mind for a Democrat.
I'm sure he received it from the De
mocratic Party since they're determined
to give everything away nowadays.
Furthermore, as far as working together
goes, the Republicans worked with the
Democrats to pass the 1990 Tax Bill,
and that was one of the big reasons that
the GOP did not receive more support
1992 election.
Clinton may be in charge, but until
he gives us a reason to support him
don't expect Republicans to change our
beliefs. In fact, our beliefs have been
proven time and again throughout his
tory.
For example, no tax increase in the
history of the United States has ever re
duced the deficit. The only way to re
duce the deficit is to reduce pork-barrel
spending. Why wouldn't Congress
ever give President Reagan and Presi
dent Bush the line item veto? The rea
son is because they knew our former
presidents would cut outrageous Con
gressional spending. They won't give
it to President Clinton either.
I also like how McMillan stated his
bottom line: "Clinton's plan hasn't
failed yet, so no complaining until it
does." I admire someone who is such
an optimist. So, how long will take for
his plan to fail? I'll give it a lot less time
than eight years. However, I'm sure
the Republicans will receive the blame
for the failure even though they control
no part of the government.
McMillan also needs to be corrected
on one last point. President Clinton
did not receive a majority of the vote.
To begin with, a majority of the people
in the United States did not vote. Also,
six out of 10 voters did not vote for
Clinton. Therefore, no majority was re
ceived in the 1992 election.
Finally, Til take four years Clinton
for another 12 years of Republican rule.
Of course it will only take a couple
years for most sane people to see how
big a mistake was made.
Blaise Walker
Class of'91
• If Corky McMillan would follow
the events in Washington, he might see
quite a few Democrats complaining
about Clinton's economic plan. As for
working together, McMillan seems to
forget how well the Democrats worked
with the past few administrations.
Bottom Line: Clinton's economic
plan has been tried before, and every
time a major tax increase has been
passed, the economy has suffered, an
example being in 1990. According to
the Congressional Budget Committee,
since 1947 every dollar in new taxes has
resulted in $1.47 in new spending.
What about spending cuts? Clinton has
yet to announce any major cuts, there
fore it is hard for anyone to come up
with an alternate plan.
Finally, no election is a sure thing
and three years is a long time in poli
tics; just ask George Bush.
Paul Ache
Graduate Student
Editorials appearing in The Battalion reflect the views of
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carry.
Brent Radford
Class of'96
'Howdy' is dead;
long live 'howdy'
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