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
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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
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