The Battalion
MON
Page 7
Friday • January 31, 1997
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Columnist
Jenne Hamlin
Senior
Journalism major
* Te’ve all done
\l it before. Two
' V VCRs, one
one blank tape,
isto, your own per-
lal copy of the latest
antino, Rodriguez
Cohen brothers film
ease. You’re not hurt-
anyone, right? The
in, or big-name stu-
is like Miramax, will
ibably never notice
plain black copy
ting on your enter-
nment center next to its fellow
stard video children.
Unfortunately, the same logic
metimes applies to software. 1
ian, who’s really going to get up-
ifyou make an innocent copy of
litaire for your own private con-
imption? Probably no one, be-
use computer solitaire prolifera-
mis like the napkin dispenser
ipulation at any fast food joint,
hat about Doom? Your buddy
jys it, and the next thing you
aw, everyone on your dorm floor
:
is blasting the guts out of
evil cyber-aliens. No
harm done, right?
According to the soft
ware industry and the
F.B.I., however, it’s soft
ware piracy, and it vio
lates U.S. copyright law.
It’s also called copyright
infringement, and it de
prives the idea’s owner of
potential income.
On Jan. 28, the F.B.I.
led an eight-city search,
code-named “Cyber
Strike,” following an eight-month
undercover investigation into na
tionwide illegal software duplica
tion and distribution. While no ar
rests were made, agents were
authorized to seize computer
hardware, software, documents
and records.
Arguments have raged on the
Internet regarding intellectual
property and copyright infringe
ment. Apparently, to some the free
sharing of ideas on the bandwidth
also implies the free sharing of the
latest ideas in software. Pirate
Newsletter, an electronic magazine,
says computer pirates aren’t boot
leggers, they just promote comput
er literacy.
“A pirate is someone who be
lieves information belongs to the
people,” the newsletter said.
Microsoft Corp., Adobe Sys
tems Inc., Sony Computer Enter
tainment, Sega of America and
Nintendo of America disagree.
Their losses, along with those of
four other software companies,
prompted the investigation. They
argue the estimated $2.9 billion
lost in 1995 from software piracy
suggests the situation has gone far
from being a cyber-agora.
F.B.I. spokesman George Grotz
said pirates obtain legitimate soft
ware, copy and distribute it
through bulletin board services, file
transfer protocol sites and relay
chat channels. By most accounts,
pirates were making a healthy bun
dle off the fruits of others’ labors.
So, how evil is it to take a free test
drive indefinitely of the latest ver
sion of a program? I think I’d get
pretty violent if some snot-nosed
punk college kid decided to help
himself to my hard earned cash by
way of freeloading off my software.
It would be like someone other
than me getting my paycheck for
my work. Forget it.
The notion becomes muddier for
some people when they consider
the legal and ethical similarities of
popping out a copy of “Reservoir
Dogs” and testing a pirated copy of
Adobe Illustrator they don’t have the
cash to buy. Someone put a lot of
time and effort into a product, and
now others think it’s just a gift.
It’s flat out illegal either way.
But, no F.B.I. agent in dark glasses
is going to show up at your front
door and raid your Hastings-es-
que video collection. Considering
the months they spent tracking
software downloads on the Inter
net, however, they very well might
nuke your hard drive if you install
a hot copy of Donkey Kong.
For now, I think I’ll go watch
a copy of “The Professional” I
just made.
Stereotypes leave true personalities alone in the dark
1 bath duplex. $225/™ JN tereotypes are taking the place of com
mon sense. Apparently, if an individual
is in the Coips of Cadets, he or she is a
inatical right-wing conformist who hates
on-regs and anyone else who opposes in-
Columnist
$275/mo No deposit n«( sding Canada.
If someone is in a fraternity, he has a len
to sublease half of 2/2. j ency to wear Dockers and cowboy boots
2 bins, can for compietsi* V ery other day. He also sports the ‘slicked-
acklookinhis hair.
Moreover, we all know the stereotypes
Surrounding sororities.
* speak" Z\ teacher if' These generalizations are hardly accurate.
lumping to conclusions is a problem
Jon Apgar
Junior
Journalism major
l7ma^ Jva7 3 Z° m M'^r 0upsai,d organizations with having certain, spe-
»secrets" Call Free characteristics.
This method of stereotyping is perpetuated by the
1 Services Include word proce
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1-2163.
rRAVEL
ver, Angel Flyer, New
newly refurnished. Sis
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Positive outlook aids in dealing with tragedy
After the death of a sibling, friends can comfort, but only time heals
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River, Taos & Angel Ri
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Editor’s Note:
The following is an open letter
submitted by Elizabeth Meloeny
and Keith Randolph. Meloeny re
cently lost her brother in an apart
ment fire in College Station. The
sections in italics are the words of
Randolph...
utor for college student. P ii,:
.11 Sherry 774-7101 or??^* 1
s out on
opportunity
sxas A&M's
yearbook.
ares will be
m. - 4 p.m.
Friday
uary 21.
okstore
jaloo
Univ.
PLUS
n society today. People associate
media when it portrays models as heroin ad
dicts and sports figures as egoistic children.
While many times the stereotypes are true
of some individuals, these generalizations do
not always apply to every person associated
with a particular organization.
Yes, some Corps members are — how
should I say tills — still living in 1861. Most,
however, are only distinguished from the aver
age “Joe Cadet” by uniform and commitment
to the armed services.
Because stereotypes of success exist (in
dividuals who are good looking, wealthy and
living in New York City, etc.), people today
are more worried about conforming and be
ing accepted than with basic needs, such as breathing
and eating.
Remember middle school years? Everybody who was
anybody had a pair of Z. Cavaricci pants.
Of course, those pants cost approximately the same
as a used car. But in order to conform, it was necessary to
break the bank to buy them.
Wearing Cavariccis did not make one instantly popu
lar, nor did it make one smarter.
But a good lesson can be learned. Just because a trend
is popular and it seems like conforming will turn your life
around, think again.
Today, stereotypes in politics are overly rampant.
The word “liberal” has become a derogatory state
ment by conservative politicians. Bob Dole called Presi
dent Clinton a liberal, hoping the “L-word” would knock
Clinton down 15 points in the polls. Obviously, the tactic
had no effect.
Moreover, liberals are regarded as bleeding-heart,
hippie socialists who want everyone else to pay taxes so
the poor can get paychecks for not working.
Conservatives, on the other hand, are viewed as right-
wing wackos who love the rich, hate the poor and think
everyone should have an AK-47 under their beds.
Once again, political misconceptions are brought
about by the modern practice of jumping to conclusions.
If an individual questions the morality of animal re
search, ignorant people who have never met this individ
ual immediately brand him or her a liberal, based on one
philosophical view.
Along those lines, people may advocate lower taxes,
but this does not make them militia nuts who read “Guns
‘n Ammo” while polishing an arsenal.
Those who revel in assigning stereotypes should take
the time to really get to know a person.
As for myself, I’ll save you the trouble. I’m just a liber
al, conservative, trendy, middle-class, non-smoking, tax-
despising communist who hates stereotypes.
otograpW
C\ aturday, January 18, 1997,
^ ^ my world changed forever.
News of the accident came
torly in the morning. The fire had
aken Paul’s life hours before, but
tfelt as though it was happening
vhile we were being told. Eliza-
'leth went to answer the door just
ike any other time.
At 9:20 a.m., I answered the
loor to a police officer, fire mar-
hal and two representatives from
he University. The shrill screams
that woke my roommate were
creams I never thought would
eave my throat. That morning
there had been a fire at Kensing-
on Apartments. The fire started in
ipartment 211, the apartment my
twin brother shared with two oth
er students. Three people were in
the apartment that morning. Two
people made it out — my brother,
Paul, did not. Paul died of smoke
inhalation between 4:30 and 5:00
that morning.
Her cries downstairs are a
sound I can live without hearing
ever again for the rest of my life. I
can not even fathom the pain of
losing your twin brother one week
before your birthday. The scream
Was so frightening because it
sounded like his part of her was be
ing violently torn from her soul.
I would like to take some time
to comment on Paul Lewis Meloe
ny. He was currently in his fifth se
mester at Texas A&M, majoring in
electrical engineering. Before en
tering A&M, he competed for the
Clear Lake High School Swim
Team, and spent summers life-
guarding and teaching young chil
dren how to swim.
He seemed to touch everyone
he met. He was kindhearted,
good-natured, down-to-earth and
honest. He could find joy in many
things and provide an uplifting
word to those in need. He seemed
to pass no judgment on people.
Elizabeth Meloeny
Sophomore
General studies major
Guest Columnist H e would
accept
someone for
who they
were and
only expect
ed the same
courtesy.
I hope
that quality
will live on
in me and in
those who
realize its
importance.
It is truly amazing to be able to see
people for who they are, and to
know that others are thinking of
you in that way.
Later that morning we gathered
our courage and drove to the site of
the fire. From the back seat of the
car, I watched the world going by as
we passed Northgate and the polo
fields. I saw people walking in and
out of buildings and then to their
unknown destinations. I watched
trees, grass and apartments pass by
as in a film. I didn’t see any one ob
ject, it all moved before my eyes at
once. I watched the traffic. The
people in the cars looked no differ
ent from us.
Now that you know a little more
about Paul, maybe you can accept
and allow this tragedy to affect you
on a more personal level.
Tragedies occur every day.
Though we think we are invinci
ble, tragedies still seem to break
into our lives when least expected.
I know my friends and I surely
never realized as Paul left for
home that Friday night, that
would be our last real good-bye.
Paul and I had plans for our
birthday the following Saturday. I
never imagined he wouldn’t be
able to make it.
But we were different. I saw that
even though we were in pain, the
world was going on as always.
That’s precisely when I realized
that this sort of tragedy happens
every day, everywhere and my life
continues as usual. It brought to
mind the cliche "statistics are real
people.’’! knew the day was not go
ing to get any easier. I was experi
encing more reality than I was ac
customed to dealing with on a
daily basis.
The burnt-out shell of the
apartment was still damp from the
fire hoses, which were laying about
on the grass, filled with water but
slack without pressure. The ground
was wet everywhere with muddy
footprints cutting into the turf.
Charred shells of stereo equipment
and the metal frame of a reclining
chair were littered around a pile of
ash. A firefighter was shoveling it
from the floor of the living room
and dumping it over the balcony
onto the ground below.
I came to A&M because my
brother was here, and I think I truly
believed that he would always be
around. For birthdays, holidays,
and eventually weddings and ba
bies. This is something everyone
must realize: We must treasure the
time we have with those we care
about, for it is
truly those mem
ories we keep in
our hearts.
There is,
however, anoth
er message in
this story.
Smoke detec
tors often seem
to be quite a
bother. Many of
us treat them with the same regard
as a bicycle helmet. It isn’t until
something tragic occurs that we
wonder where the precaution was.
The smoke alarm in Paul’s apart
ment had gone off several times
before while they were cooking,
and they often disconnected it.
Paul was usually quite adamant
about reconnecting it. Even so, the
alarm was in the hall closet be
hind a closed door on the morn
ing of the fire. There is no question
that if that smoke detector had
been in its proper place, Paul
would still be with us today.
The fire presumably started in
the couch and most likely could
have been escaped with a fire
alarm. Theirs was found in a hall
closet on top of a microwave.
My mortality has forcefully been
placed a lot higher on my list of
priorities. I see the precarious bal
ance between life and death that
every single one of us lives, and I
feel closer to everyone.
These days, I’m learning much
about questions that can never be
answered. Paul and I have three
young brothers in our family, ages
four, six, and seven. I thought I
had run through the gauntlet of
questions, however, it seems to be
a labyrinth. For the first few days it
was, “When will we see Paul?” and
“Where is Paul now?” These ques
tions now seem to have turned
into variations of, “Why didn’t
anyone get Paul out?” and “How
come Paul didn’t wake up?”
These are the same questions
that will stay with me forever.
Why did Paul not make it out of
the apartment when his best
friend and other roommate did?
Why didn’t anyone go back for
Paul? Why did the fire fighters,
who arrived at 4:35, not find Paul
until they went back to check for
hot spots around 5:40? Why did it
have to happen
Mail
Her cries downstairs
are a sound I can live
without hearing ever
again for the rest of
my life.
to someone
who was so
wonderful, lov
ing and young?
None of these
questions have
easy or com
fortable an
swers, neither
do the “what-
ifs” that follow.
I’ve heard it said a thousand
times “tell people how you feel
about them.” Write that down on
your hand with a permanent
marker and look at it when you see
someone you love.
The grieving is the hardest part.
All that can be done is to give or re
ceive support. A time then comes
when one must go on. You are still
alive. You can’t be dead with them.
The sun still rises and the
stars still come out at night.
When it rains, the dirt washes
away for a time.
I’ve explored life, death, love, trust
and responsibility to my full capaci
ty. Now I can only survive this ordeal
until it is time to move on.
But my life will never be the
same. Paul was my twin and soul
mate. I never believed I would be
in this world without him. I sup
pose it is some consolation that he
is still with me in spirit, thoughts,
and memories. The most impor
tant of these is that the last thing
either of us said to each other was
“I love you.”
Confederate Flag
not equal to heritage
While reading Ryan Kirk
patrick’s letter in which he pro
moted his view that the Confed
erate flag is not a racist symbol, I
was continually disheartened by
his lack of knowledge of basic
American history. At several
points he just threw out “histori
cal” statements and treated them
as established facts, apparently
not realizing that he was abusing
history in the process. I only have
space for a few of the more obvi
ous examples.
First of all, I would like to know
exactly how “the government”
was “suppressing the South” by
“tearing apart its ideas, way of life
and economic foundation.” Abe
Lincoln and the Republican Party
did not a darn thing to affect the
institution of slavery in the South.
Next, Kirkpatrick states that
there are “far more historical ac
counts of slave owners providing
for their slaves and treating them
humanely.” Could he name a
couple that have been published
in the last 80 years that say so?
Curiously, he failed to name
even of these “historical ac
counts.” He seems to be under
the false impression that the ma
jority of historians think slavery
was not a harsh system. It also
appears that by deluding himself
into thinking that slavery “wasn’t
so bad,” he can believe that the
Confederate flag can’t be so bad.
Also, he should know that the
Rebel flag never appeared on
Southern state flags until the
1950s, when it became a symbol
of defiance against the Civil
Rights Movement.
I do not believe that Kirk
patrick is a racist, I just believe he
is not knowledgeable about some
basic elements of American his
tory. Whatever view one takes on
this issue, if they use history to le
gitimize their arguments they
should make sure they get the
historical facts straight. I agree
with his statement “one should
not degrade something they do
not understand,” but I would also
add that one should not praise
something that one does not un
derstand either.
Keith Volanto
History Lecturer
Aggie Spirit comes
to comfort motorist
I just wanted to thank two Ag
gies for their thoughtfulness and
kindness. Sunday night, flying
from Dallas to Austin, I sat next to
an Aggie on her way back to Ag-
gieland. As we left the plane, I
told her to have a safe drive. She
said she and her husband would
look out for me on the road. I
stopped to fuel and there she was
again. Because it was late and I
was traveling alone, they offered
to caravan with me back to Col
lege Station. In this time of racial
tension, these two saw me as an
Aggie, not anything else. David
and Marilyn, thank you for show
ing true Aggie Spirit.
“We are the Aggies, the Aggies
are we, true to each other as Ag
gies can be.” Gig ‘Em
Carina Casas
Class of‘99
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