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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (June 23, 1997)
The Battalion londay -June 23, 1997 iu^nin , down the House lag-burning issue smokescreens real problems facing United States ars C here was a time when constitutional amendments granted the right to vote to whole classes of people and guaran- edthe right to practice one’s own religion tely.Those days, however, are over. Aweekago, the House of Representa- resoverwhelmingly passed a proposed nendment to the Constitution that pro- hits desecration of the United States flag, heamendment awaits consideration by leSenate, but creating an amendment to rated the "Stars and Stripes” is silly and jintless. This move to mandate respect (the flag is a manifestation of America’s ndency to be distracted from truly important issues [emotionally charged sacred cows. Protecting the flag is not a new concept. After the ipreme Court struck down state laws banning flag liming in 1989, Congress passed a federal law which ■"H inned the action. The Supreme Court subsequently ^ [validated the federal law in 1990. Later that year, a 1 [institutional amendment prohibiting flag desecra- 3nc mfailed to receive Senate confirmation. ,ea Obviously, flag burning ranks highly in American &° makers’ list of priorities, but the United States . ks not have a flag-burning problem. Flag burnings e,v itrare.The last notable nationally publicized burn- | [{occurred in 1984 when Gregory lohnson burned a 4 igatthe Republican National Convention in Dallas. America’s patriotic morale is not threatened by the [ e radicals who find it necessary to express them- , s ives through this childish arson. ^ Hep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y., voted against the pro- mi amendment. “People are not jumping out from behind parked isclutching burning flags,” Ackerman said. “And if a liburns a flag, America is not under siege and we lenot threatened.” Itis too bad the glare of a burning flag blinds law- 'ud tiers from addressing the issues that really threaten lenation. Issues such as the divorce rate, the disinte- fation of the family and the effect of an aging popu- iionon the Social Security system are the problems iathave the potential to destroy the United States. [^America seems intent on obsessing on this irrele- fflitissue while ignoring tragedies and injustices oc- iringin today’s society. When Melissa Drexler gave birth to her baby at her irominAberdeen, N.J., and then killed the child, there ras not an angry public outcry. The death of Elizabeth Wakulich, who died of alcohol poisoning after being Columnist John Lemons Electrical engineering graduate student dared to drink a whole bottle of 107-proof schnapps, elicited little public reaction. Some how, America feels a burning flag ranks as a higher priority than these terrible events. Aggies have their own flag-burning issue — traditions. Many students seem willing to defend Texas A&M and its traditions with their lives. If an individual refused to remove his cap in the MSC, he would probably be chastised by fellow students. If that individual pic nicked on the MSC grass, he would probably be roughly escorted off the grounds. And if that individual were to blaspheme Bonfire, he would probably receive a swift kick to the head. Violating the unwritten and sacred traditions of A&M is the easiest means by which to anger the stu dent body. There are, however, real problems at A&M that are overshadowed by concepts such as good and bad bull. Curtis Childers, the student body presi dent, said some of A&M’s biggest problems are a lack of diversity, disunity between cam pus groups and students who are unwilling to voice their concerns. “I think it’s [these problems] largely due to the climate of A&M,” Childers said. “All it takes is making students aware (of these problems) and they care.” Issues such as race relations and alcohol abuse by students go largely unnoticed by stu dents. These are the issues that harm A&M. Childers said he feels traditions are A&M’s greatest strength but that they can also be the University’s greatest hindrance. “I think the traditions exist for Aggies,” Childers said. ‘Aggies don’t exist for traditions.” While flag burning is a despicable action that stinks more of a temper tantrum than a political statement, it does not merit a consti tutional amendment. The flag is a symbol of the ideals that make the United States great — ideals like freedom, liberty, integrity and patriotism, which no flame can destroy. Traditions are the spice that makes A&M special and unique, but they should not dominate student’s lives. The actions of petty individuals are not an excuse to ignore the issues which are vital to this nation and this school. The time has come for America to put its priorities in order. Graphic: Brad Graeber Fred Thompson shows promise for 2000 election ti; In sthe political summer in Washing ton heats up and the Senate Com- Lmittee on Governmental Affairs lakes a deeper look at campaign corrup tion in the 1996 elections, committee chair fredThompson is making quite a buzz. A senator and actor from Tennessee and anewcomer to the rank and file of “Old Guard” GOP leaders, Thompson has been awelcome addition to an all too liberal S Washington establishment. Thompson has a good track record and L i, seems to be a genuinely honest man who keeps his tasks in mind and is always working to ward progressive achievement. Many are touting him as the new Republican |k f° r the country’s highest office in 2000. , t ti Itis no secret that the Republican party leader- t l, ship is hoping that this summer’s hearings will ex pose a corrupt and degenerated Wliite House, jjj, thereby ruining Clinton and Gore’s political reputa- L ‘ e[j tionsand aspirations for the future. Clinton is des- A lined to resume life in the private sector in a few short years, but Gore still wants to fulfill his boy hood dream of becoming president. IfThompson were to manage this efficiently, he i^lcould win the support of many influential Republi li|i Columnist Len Callaway Junior journalism major cans and help boost his own career by a tremendous amount. One might do well to realize that a portion of the population does not now and will never care what Bill Clinton or the DNC has done or is supposed to have done. To a certain extent, this pres ident and his regime are immune from discord among the American citizenry. One might recall Senator Alfonse D’Amato and his crucial role in the Whitewater hearings. What one might not realize is that positions such as his in the Whitewater hearings are awarded on a “test” basis. These assignments are tests to see how a potential new member of leadership will handle themselves. Because of his overzealous attitude, D’Amato’s actions were labeled a witchhunt by liberals, and he lost popularity and approval in his home state and on the national front. Thompson will need to present an image of fair ness and non-partisanship to escape the wrath of the liberal political media. If he is able to escape this summer’s hearings unscathed he could be in prime position to begin some early campaigning for the 2000 election. Thompson has a reputation for being honest and many have said that he truly has progress on his mind in his activities as a senator. Thompson held a press conference at one point during the past few months because a majority of the questions he was having to answer dealt more with his intentions toward the Presidency than with the hearings being conducted. Actions like these show a willingness to put personal advance ment aside and do what is best at the time for the American public. Many parallels have been drawn between for mer President Reagan and the affable Thompson. Both have had other career opportunities in the acting community; Thompson has been in 18 films including Die Hard 2, No Way Out, In the Line of Fire, and The Hunt for Red October. However, despite the considerable amount of time that both have spent in Hollywood neither have made lasting ties to Hollywood or have been considered “in” with the Hollywood political scene. Critics have said that Thompson’s acting ability makes him more likeable to a certain degree by the American public. It has even been said that he has the ability to speak to a camera and make the view er feel as if he were speaking directly to them. No doubt this is a skill that could prove to be helpful, much like the presidential “fire side chats" of days gone past. Unlike Clinton and Gore, who have dreamt of the Oval Office since high school, Thompson has been coerced by constituents into running for all of the offices he has held. Some have wondered whether Thompson will exhibit his resistance to run in the way that Colin Powell did by simply not being willing to endure a run for the White House. Thompson has been coached and influenced by the legendary Howard Baker and was even appoint ed to his 1973 minority counsel position in the Sen ate Watergate Committee by Baker. Baker remains one of Thompson’s most ardent supporters. Baker is also largely responsible for the careers of such other Republican leaders as former Ten nessee Governor Lamar Alexander and current Tennessee Governor Don Sundquist. There are a lot of questions that have to be an swered about the new Republican golden boy. This summer's Senate hearings will certainly lend itself to the task of deciding what Thompson is re ally all about. All signs point to a long and prosperous political career, but only time and the summer’s political cli mate will tell. THEGOop NEWS is HE - sm HIS first / WORDS.... / CAA/tel a! a ^eL M AI L C A L Intelligence tolerance sparks student debate In response to Kristina Baffin’s June 17 column: First, people do think about the differences between intelligence versus a lack of such. For example, the book The Bell Curve proves people have studied this intensive ly. I am not endorsing this book but merely using it as an example. Sec ondly, tolerance is not equivalent with intelligence. Adolf Hider was a very intelligent man, and his rise to power evinces this most incredibly. However, he was lacking in tol erance, and thus his value system was skewed from what we consid er the norm. The author seems to fixate on the issue of hate, and my question for her is, “Do you have a problem with people of low intelli gence or those who hate?” I think these are two completely different subjects, and as such, ought not be confused. Finally, I think Buf- fin’s suggestion of restricting breeding to the “intelligentsia” is not very intelligent in itself. As evidenced by the failed at tempts at ratifying sterilization laws against lower-intelligence breeding between the years 1907 and 1917, this idea, while it may be amusing to some is one which should not be taken lightly. We ought never encourage the re striction of the constitutional rights of others based on our own personal moral values. After all, what goes around comes around, and I would not want my rights nor the rights of any other law-abiding citizen, for whatever reasons, to be taken away. Michael West Graduate Student The Battalion encourages letters to the ed itor. Letters must be 300 words or less and in clude the author’s name, class, and phone number. The opinion editor reserves the right to edit letters for length, style, and accuracy. Letters may be submitted in person at 013 Reed Mc Donald with a valid student ID. Letters may also be mailed to: The Battalion - Mail Call 013 Reed McDonald Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843-1111 Campus Mail: 1111 Fax: (409) 845-2647 E-mail: Batt@tamvml.tamu.edu