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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 1994)
Opinion iiesday, February 22,1994 The Battalion Editorial Board JULI PHILLIPS, Editor in chief MICHAEL PLUMER, Managing editor KYLE BURNETT, Aggielife editor BELINDA BLANCARTE, Night news editor DENA DIZDAR, Aggielife editor HEATHER WINCH, Night News editor SEAN FRERKING, Sports editor TONI GARRARD CLAY, Opinion editor WILLIAM HARRISON, Photo editor JENNIFER SMITH, City editor ^ The Battalion Page 9 EDITORIAL Veterans' dilemma ting Vick way tor ice, how. pessimi: alistieviet ing job, i Stiller yet nut execute ; in make: y about k: :hael is k tod bab 3 and ai til witboi nmendjt riend. Ii ig this get ion for, or, safe ss ck: VA fails to expedite claims When the Gulf War erupted, all of America rallied together in the belief that whatever hap pened, America was going to win. No dne imagined that when our soldiers came home, our government would ignore them. Although the war ended three years ago, it still rages on for thousands of veterans unable to get benefits they rightly deserve. Recently, the Department of Vet erans Affairs (VA) admitted that it is losing ground in the fight against thousands of claims for VA pen sions and compen sations. In 1990, there were 377,000 backlogged claims. By 1995. that num ber is expected to reach 870,000. For the average veteran, a 200 day waiting period can be ex pected once a claim is filed ini tially, but that figure pales in comparison to the two-year wait just to get a decision from the Board of Veterans Appeals. That doesn't necessarily mean the veteran will get a dime; it just means it takes that long for the bureaucrats to decide if the case is worth a review. Excuses for the backlog in clude under-staffing, lack of money to pay doctors and piles of paper work. VA officials be lieve the number of claims will actually decline over the next few years. The number of claims for veterans benefits will de crease because those veterans will be eligible to start waiting for Social Security. The govern ment has no ex cuse to defend ad equately its appar ent lack of sensi tivity and speed in taking care of the claims. If a divi sion of the Air Force decided it didn't feel like go ing to war because the right papers hadn't been filed in triplicate, they'd end up in the stockade before the jet en gines cooled. Understandably, the VA has a huge task in dealing with the enormous number of claims, but taking care of the people that take care of you should be top priority. Practicing golden rule good for the soul Random acts of kindness brighten life of giver, receiver T here's a new maxim appear ing on car bumpers all over America and Oprah (yes, Oprah!) dedicat ed a recent show to it: "Commit random acts of kindness." (All over Chicago she and her guests paid tolls and shoveled snow.) Wonderful advice, eh? Apparently this new phase is sweep ing the country as it well should. We are in danger of becoming a nation of uncaring and uncared for people. In every community there are people who are hurting or forgot ten. ' But before it became trendy to be nice, my parents encouraged such behavior because it was the RIGHT thing to do. When I was young we often chose a family to whom we would deliver gifts anonymous ly for the twelve days preceding Christmas. Choosing gifts for each family member and baking pastry wreaths kept us busy and hap- py- Our family was even the recipient of such kindness once, when my parents and sister were in a car accident. After they were released from the hospital, we didn't have to cook for nearly a month — meals ar rived daily from friends and church mem bers, along with offers of help. This eased the strain tremendously as my family recov ered, and it demonstrated how many people cared. This bumper sticker made me reflect on past acts of kindness, then it forced me to consider what I was doing now. Not enough, I concluded and set about to commit such acts, often with abandon. Little things like cards and phone calls to friends actually brightened my day more than theirs, Tm sure. And this new attitude helped me keep things in perspective. When my roommate and I purchased a magazine subscription from a phony salesman, I was able to chalk up the money to a "random act of kindness." I figured he probably needed the money more than I if he had to be dishonest to earn it. (True, this is a bunch of baloney. But if I viewed it differently. I'd be upset.) Along with keeping track of my activities, I started noticing what others were doing for me. In fact, people's acts of kindness toward me far outnumbered anything I did. Every thing I gave was returned to me in some form, giving a new twist to the old cliche "what goes around, comes around." The best example of this occurred one morning after it seemed my world had col lapsed. Considering that life was over as 1 knew it (I was having a really bad day), I could hardly go to class. Instead, I sat in the Academic Building rotunda and wept. It was a sight to see, I'm sure — me in tears. But I felt terribly alone. Then I felt a tap on my shoulder. "There, there, said a stranger, putting an arm around my shoulders. "It's going to be all right." I looked up into the smiling face of a little elderly man in a Dr. Pepper uniform. He hugged me and whispered, "Now you go dry' your face — everything is going to be OK." With that he handed me a red lollipop and walked back to finish filling the vending ma chine. I was stunned. Then I stopped crying and even giggled a little. I felt comforted. He gave me a sweet smile when I walked up the stairwell to my class, and I reflected on what had occurred between me and this gentleman. I was struck by the poignancy of both his gift and kindness. Though I had been extremely lonely when I walked into the building, I left feeling cared for. Unlike this man, I would probably not have the courage to approach someone. I might feel awkward, and my words would be clumsy. But this man's sincerity and un polished words touched me. Not many of us bawl in the Academic Building. But people are lonely everywhere we look. We'll find those who feel uncared for and those having bad days in our class rooms, dorms and clubs. A kind word or deed on our part truly can make a difference in the life of another person, whether we are aware of it or not. Aggieland should be no exception in the kindness trend. After all, aren't we supposed to take care of each other? So go commit those random acts of kindness. The best part, as you'll discover, is that you end up feeling better, too. Erin Hill is a senior English major Editorials appearing in The Battalion reflect the views of the editorial board. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of other Battalion staff members, the Texas A&M student body, regents, administration, faculty or staff. Columns, guest columns, cartoons and letters express the opinions of the authors. The Battalion encourages letters to the editor and will print as many as space allows. Letters must be 300 words or less and include the author's name, class, and phdhe number. We reserve the right to edit letters and guest columns for length, style, and accuracy. Contact the opinion editor for information on submitting guest columns. Address letters to: The Battalion - Mail Call 013 Reed McDonald Mail stop 1111 Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843 Fax: (409) 845-2647 Let's face it — they just don't make jingles like they used to h W, •Itnfck ncludioS U2 and die ’atching television the other night, I noticed two things. First, Tonya Hard ing and Nancy Ker rigan would lead off every newscast in America even if Bill Clinton was ar rested for the mur der of Michael Jack- son. Second, the top music hits of the '50s, '60s and '70s are now the jingles for almost every DAVE WINDER Columnist product sold on television today. I just don't think it's fair that every gen- 1eration except ours can have flashbacks to lj a npthe good ol' days by simply watching a he- u t a d® 11 but iff the site ny. W avitz h th, slink' larmcte ie albu® lawks (i e mote one to J Ollld His son? >adPte' shbad .abe, ^ ng, ^ to sing ; i ot a pf; ad dad ip is/ ol Fran? /Vay" as sote t rnak e ' almos 1 es' l° vC morrhoid ointment commercial. Buford: "Betty Jo, would you look at this? They are advertising a hemorrhoid ointment on television at 8 p.m." Betty Jo: "I know, honey. It is pretty dam sickening. I think we should sue Stumps Hemorrhoid Pads for ruining such a classic song." Tears on my pillow, Pain in my rump Because I need Stumps. Buford: "Betty Jo, that little jingle just took me back to when we were teenagers. Hell, I even remember where I buried my parents' bodies." But you really can't blame advertisers for not choosing songs of the '80s. Let's face it — most of them were terrible. The Jetts, Rick Astley and Wham all had nu merous hits in the past decade, but I don't think their songs will be selling Wheat Thins anytime soon. So I think we should show Madison Av enue that the songs of our generation can sell any product they want. Tone Loc's "Wild Thing" would make a great pitch for Dole String Beans. Couldn't get her off the chair She was like static cling But that's what happens When gums start smacking Wl'ien eating Dole string beans. All the companies that make home pregnancy tests should buy the rights to Madonna's "True Blue." If the indicator is true blue Then it's a baby for you. Vanessa Williams and Brian McKnight could sell Oxy 10 with their song "Love Is." "Betty Jo, that little jingle just took me back to when we were teenagers. Hell, I even remember where I buried my parents' bodies." — Buford Look at this face It was paradise But now it's puscuous I need to start using Oxy 10. The big drawback of '80s music is that the songs aren't real catchy. The '60s lyric "Sugar, sugar, ah, honey, honey" is perfect for pitching anything, but the same cannot be said for any Bon Jovi tune. I walk these streets, a Hostess Ding Dong on my face I eat them five at a time cause I’m addicted to the taste Some people think they know you by the snack food that you eat I eat Twinkles all the time because they're so gosh dam sweet. 'Cause I'm a junk food cowboy until the day that I die And I’m wanted, (wanted) for eating Host ess fruit pies. One hit wonders also turn out to be great. Commercial jingles these days are loaded with them. But could the '80s most famous flash in the pan. Vanilla Ice, sell throat lozenges with his rip-off hit? Nice, Nice baby. (Funky Baseline) New and improved Nice, Nice baby. All right stop, collaborate and listen Nice is back with a brand new invention Something to cure your pain rightly Cooling your throat daily and nightly Will it ever stop? Oh, no, no Because sore throats have got to go. It's Nice, Nice baby. New and improved Nice, Nice baby. The '90s aren't doing too great so far ei ther. I just don't foresee Snoop Doggy Dog or Pearl Jam songs selling goods on televi sion. Then again. I'm pretty sure nobody thought Canned Heat's "On the Road Again" would help sell beer. So one day we might see Pearl Jam's "Jeremy" on a commercial. At home, cleaning toilets, with dirty socks With mildew on top, lemon yellow stains His arms rested on his knees, while the grungies lay in the small pool Daddy never paid attention to the fact that mommy never cleaned King Jeremy used Toilet Duck today. Then again, the advertisers will proba bly choose Michael Bolton songs. So I won't get to remember my glory days any way. Dave Winder is a sophomore journalism major Remembering a hero "As the men filed into Valley Forge at the beginning of the winter of 1777-78, they passed a tall figure on a horse. He didn't greet them, but it was enough that he was there. And from where he sat, he could see that many of them were bare foot. Some were leaving bloody foot prints in the snow ... At key critical junctures in this na tion's history, the right man has been in the right place at the right time — often enough for those who believe that God governs in the affairs of men, to see His hand upon them. Such a man was George Washington, born on this day in 1732," — from "The Glory of Ameri ca" by Peter Marshall and David Manuel. Sometime today just pause and reflect upon this noble hero, a man of character, integrity, and conviction, and his role in the establishment of our great country. May we never take for granted the price which he and others paid for the liberty and freedoms we enjoy. Josh Summey Class of '96 Battalion needs good crossword puzzle Two things about The Battalion have become evident to me. (1) For the most part Mail Call is a forum given to se lected Aggies for which they are al lowed to voice their frustrations, and (2) the "comic" strips are a pathetic waste of space. So as to keep tradition number one alive, I am writing. Let's look at the words "comic strip." Comic is taken from the word "comedy" which pertains to humor. We all know that humor plays no role in The Battalion's "funnies." This is not written to offend the cre ators of the strips, but then again if I knew the people who actually spend the time ar.d "effort" creating them, I probably wouldn't care if they felt in sulted. Rather than simply bitching I will offer a solution. How about a crossword puzzle? You wouldn't even have to create one. I'm sure the AP puts one out. Just a suggestion. Brian Creech Class of‘95 Basketball attendance nothing to brag about Why is there such low attendance at basketball games as opposed to football? Is it because the team sucks? No. They are 16-6 and leading the SWC. Maybe G. Rol- lie is too huge to fill on Saturday after noons. I don't think so. It only holds 7,500. Obviously, the basketball program needs to take lessons from the football program. First of all, all you boosters out there need to start paying these basketball players for work not done. Hey, it may be illegal, but it keeps Kyle Field full. Second ly, Coach Barone needs to get A&M a real ly high ranking and then find the worst teams in the country to come here and play. No true Aggie wants to see any real competition in College Station. Thirdly, the basketball program should concen trate more on becoming a professional farm team than a competitive collegiate team. Maybe basketball just isn't the thing at A&M. Kermit Davis, the previous bas ketball coach, made numerous recruiting violations, and still the Aggies stayed away. I just don't understand it. Aggies always pride themselves on their spirit and tradition, yet it never seems to bother anyone that that little school in Austin, averages an attendance almost four times that of Texas A&M. But I guess as long as we have a bigger fire than they do, it doesn't really matter. Keith Stubbs Class of'96