The Ik
Battalion
inion
Page 11 • Wednesday, October 14, 1998
us injuries,
studeniKj
Savior" id!
ted it to
serious®
sity pol
is,’’ saidi!;
‘Ritalin use harms children,
ignores deeper problems
veryone remembers
that kid in elemen
tary school who
vas labeled as the “bad
dd.” He did not pay at-
ention, she always acted
'd of thei ,p or maybe just an
ti memte
' when ini
.shesaii
lireaorw
ble force
the banc;
d and Scd
ispendedii
hwesteiTi
r gettin'
if a footbi!
int.
ELIZABETH
STRAIT
h
swoman
rbachev
ar hall, exp
led beef jn
• pavilion,
ttleandC!
s visit «i
opted the
re depani:
mg
royed everyone. Thanks
o modern medicine, the
bad kid” may belong to
he past.
Now parents and teachers have a new
ool to use in their defense against un-
uly children: Ritalin. Thanks to this
[rug, when a child is bored, inattentive,
ndisciplined, resentful or violent, par-
nts just have to pop a pill in the child’s
nouth and the problem is solved.
Parents need to find a way other than
nedicating their children to deal with
iisrespectful or disruptive behavior.
When a child acts out in a negative
vay, something is wrong in that child’s
arger world and simply labeling that child
is having Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity
)isorder, does not solve the problem.
According to one study, after taking
lie drug Ritalin, children are left exhibit-
ng behavior that is isolated, withdrawn
nd over-focused. It is not normal for
'oung children to be in a zombie-like
late. Children are supposed to talk too
mich, ask tons of questions and throw
emper tantrums.
According to the American Psychiatric
Association, ADHD is more common in
loys than in girls. The ADHD occurrence
ate for boys ranges between 6 percent
ind 16 percent. These statistics alone of-
eran argument against the prevalence of
his disorder. Diagnosing little boys with
ADHD seems to be another method of
xcusing behavior in boys that is unac-
eptable for girls.
Parents should be aware of what they
ire giving to their child when they are
giving them Ritalin. Ritalin is a form of
peed that is classified with ampheta-
nines and has many of the same risks
nd effects. The Food and Drug Adminis
tration classifies Ritalin in category
of high addiction which also in
cludes amphetamines, morphine,
opium and barbiturates. Young peo
ple have been caught selling Ritalin
to their peers because of its stimu
lant abilities.
Parents with children that are out
of control want an easy way out. They
want to hear it is not their fault. So when
a doctor tells them their child has a neu
rological disorder, the are relieved instead
of concerned.
Many parents are not spending the
time with their children that they should.
Divorce rates continue to climb. Parents
recognize this and know these unfortu
nate situations have consequences and
they feel guilty about it.
When parents feel guilty, they have a
hard time demanding respect from their
children. As a result, they have a child
that is out of control. When someone
tells them it is not their fault and all they
have to do is give their child some Rital
in, it is music to their ears.
Unfortunately, by excusing parents,
doctors send children the message that
they are the ones doing something wrong.
There is a solution. The American
Psychiatric Association specifies in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders that a child does not
exhibit symptoms of ADHD when he or
she is “under very strict control, is in a
novel setting, is engaged in especially in
teresting activities, is in a one-to one situ
ation.” In contrast, when a child with
ADHD is in an environment “that lacks
intrinsic appeal or novelty” they exhibit
behavior characteristic of the disorder.
Parents have to make time for their
children. They must be an example of
good positive behavior. If parents respect
their children, their children will behave
respectfully in return. If parents love
their children, they will get love back.
Elizabeth Strait is a junior
journalism major.
BRAD GRAEBER/The Battalion
MAIL CALL
U!
udeii
atiofl
iristians follow
tire scripture
•sponse to Lisa Foox’s Oct. 12
inn:
am disturbed by Lisa Foox’s as-
iption that those who oppose
B osexuality must hate homosex-
, Granted, this assumption is
for some Ags, but not all.
lomosexual actions are con
fined in scripture (Leviticus
22-30 & 20:13, Romans 1:26-
1 Corinthians 6:9, and Jude
But why does Scripture con-
pn homosexuality?
lomosexual activity is con-
ined because it is a sexual re-
Jnship outside of the bonds of
[ [riage. Sex is to be reserved
[forthe marriage relationship.
Jtiis argument, homosexuality,
ication and adultery are sinful
leeyes of Christianity.
Is Christians, we are called to
i all those around us. Loving
srs entails teaching the truth
rever necessary. And when we
ch others, we must teach
pi in a charitable manner we
it follow the model that Christ
[for us and persist in love.
Ray Felderhoff
Class of ’99
Bible presents
outdated views
In response to Oct. 13 mail call:
The Bible says slavery is ac
ceptable but that does not mean
it is right.
Give Battalion readers an argu
ment besides “it is in the Bible”
because the Bible cannot be fol
lowed word for word. I cannot do it
and I doubt those who condemn
homosexuality can either.
What I will do, however, is never
judge someone just because they
are not attracted to the same per
son I am.
The Bible was written a long
time ago by people who had great
knowledge and insight, but they
could not possibly know what so
ciety today would be like.
Brian van Staveren
Class of ’99
accompanied by 2 signatures
Advertisement
violates values
I was extremely disappointed to
see the half-page advertisement for
Playboy in last week’s Battalion.
I think it is a poor reflection on
A&M. What message does this
send to them about A&M, its stu
dents and what we value?
Playboy is nothing but pure
pornography. Why would we choose
to pollute our newspaper with such
trash? Pornography defiles the im
age of women. It only corrupts the
minds of those who choose to look
at it. Sometimes it even results in
destroying relationships.
Come on, Aggies, we can do bet
ter than to advertise pornography in
our newspaper. Let us show some
common sense and dignity in what
we choose to promote.
Elizabeth Ambrose
Class of ’02
accompanied by 93 signatures
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
77843-1131
Campus Mail: 1111
Fax: (409) 845-2647
E-mail: batt@tamvml.tamu.edu
Many student actions treat
minority religions unfairly
A merica has
made great
strides in
dealing with the
discrimination of
minority groups.
Through the
civil rights cru
sade of the ’60s,
construction be
gan on the road
to racial equality. Efforts to pass
an Equal Rights Amendment dur
ing the ’70s led to an increased
awareness of women’s issues.
And the ’80s and ’90s have
brought an increasing willingness
to examine issues concerning the
homosexual community.
But when it comes to religion,
most of America is still living in
the Dark Ages.
Nowhere is this more apparent
than here at Texas A&M, a bastion
for the religious ignorant.
On behalf of every student at
Texas A&M who is not Christian
and is tired of feeling like their
ideas and philosophies are ig
nored because they do not come
from the Bible, it is time to say
the following:
Wake up! There is a whole
world out there that does not fol
low the teachings of Jesus Christ.
And unless students start learning
about that world, America is
doomed to an era of stagnation
and isolation.
Before readers begin denounc
ing this “heathen, hell-bent liberal
columnist,” please keep reading.
Nowhere is it written that the
Christian religion equals igno
rance and intolerance. There are
many Christians who have taken
the time to understand other re
ligions and their philosophies.
These enlightened Christians
are, generally, the ones who are
tolerant and considerate of those
who do not follow the same be
lief systems.
It is the other group of Chris
tians that is cause for concern.
The ones who would sooner de
nounce members of other reli
gions than take a moment to try
and understand their views. The
ones who cannot see the vast
number of people who want laws
based on something more sub
stantial than the writings of Chris
tian prophets and saints. The
ones who would alienate the en
tire non-Christian world.
Impossible, some say. No one
at Texas A&M would conceive of
such open hostility towards mem
bers of other religions, right?
Try and convince every non-
Christian who has had a Bible
shoved in their faces of that. Tfy
and tell that to a non-Christian
who has endured the rants of
people like Tom Short.
The culprit here is not reli
gion itself, but ignorance. The
ignorance of what kind of an ef
fect religion can have on people,
their judgment and their values.
It is the ignorance of how a reli
gious minority can be made to
fqel in America.
For example, a hot topic these
days is prayer in public schools.
Many Christians argue prayer
will be good for children and
will help them become better
people. Unfortunately, the
prayers that are usually spoken
end with a tribute to Jesus
Christ before the “Amen.”
Despite the fact this kind of
prayer is patently offensive to
members of other religions, some
Christians refuse to give an inch.
“This is America and this is
majority rule. Deal with it.”
Members of the religious ma
jority, please take a second to re
call high school graduation. Pic
ture the excited faces of friends
and family. Remember the thrill
of finally graduating.
Now, imagine how it would
feel if the invocation speaker
read a prayer petitioning Allah,
the one true God, to bless the
ceremony and everyone present
that day.
It does not feel too good, does
it? Welcome to the world of the
non-ignorant.
In America, it is the Chris
tians who are the majority and
must make the extra effort to
learn about minority religions
and.consider their feelings. In
India, it is the Hindus. In Israel,
it is the Jews.
Regardless of whoever is in the
religious majority, it is their re
sponsibility to be tolerant and
considerate of minorities.
Manisha Parekh is a junior
psychology and journalism major.
Maroon Out
unifies Aggie
football fans
T he mind
blasting
cheers
have died down,
thousands of vis
itors and former
students have
left town and
our Aggie foot
ball team is al
ready preparing
for its next game.
Time marches on, even for the
Fightin’ Texas Aggies who
whooped up on Nebraska. But, for
anyone who was at the game, for
everyone who heard the news and
for all of those who enjoyed it, the
Texas A&M football team played
well in what could be termed the
best win ever for Aggie football.
It was a victory over the high
est-ranked A&M opponent ever.
But, on Saturday, there was more
than just talent and determination
that led to victory at Kyle Field.
The 12th Man added something
that usually does not accompany
a home game. Based on the over
whelming sea of maroon. Maroon
Out was very in.
This university is one of deep
tradition and spirit. This fact is es
pecially evident at home football
games. From the yells to the si
multaneous scoring on the field
and in the stands, the Aggie foot
ball team is always well backed in
their effort to win.
Although, Saturday’s event
proved to be anything but a nor
mal game. The plan to encour
age as many Aggie fans as possi
ble to wear maroon to the
Nebraska game on Saturday was
an outstanding success. There
was even more reason for Aggie
fans to be unified, and the expla
nation was as simple as the color
of their shirts.
There are plenty of reasons
Maroon Out should become Texas
A&M’s newest tradition. The first
reason is that Maroon Out
worked. More shirts were sold
than anyone expected. The class
councils had to order more shirts,
and they still could not meet the
demand. The crowd was as loud
as could be and provided the foot
ball team with a home-field ad
vantage in its truest sense.
Even Nebraska quarterback,
Bobbie Newcombe said the
crowd confused his offense in
their all-important last drive. Ob
viously, fans would have been
excited about the Nebraska
game, maroon shirts or not. But
ask any football player if they
appreciated the unity, and the
answer will most likely be a re
sounding yes.
Maroon Out was also success
ful because it made all football
spectators feel as though they
were a greater part of the game
and the Aggie spirit.
As a university, any new
changes or ideas should focus on
unity, not separation. The Greek
Bloc seating is a bad idea for just
this reason. All sporting events
are times for Aggies to come to
gether as Aggies and nothing
more or less.
To separate the Greeks from
the rest of the student body di
vides the Aggies.
If the student body division
starts at Greeks, who will get
their own seats next? The class
councils, MSG committees, the
Student Senate?
The only distinctions that are
acceptable at university events
are the yell leaders and the
Corps of Cadets who are the ulti
mate tradition of this university.
Anything more divides the
cheering Aggie body. During
football games and other univer
sity events that demand unity,
the greek letters should be stored
away in favor of a unifying T-
shirt, such as one that reads
“Maroon Out.”
The class councils are, going to
meet to decide where to take Ma
roon Out from here.
It would be wise, based on
the fan response and game out
come, to keep this new tradition
going strong at football events
and even extend its influence to
all other sports. If it is not bro
ken it should not be fixed. Ma
roon Out definitely worked and
the student body should make
sure it keeps going strong.
Andrew Baley is a junior
political science major.