The Ba
Battalion
inion
Page 11 • Tuesday, November 10, 1998
HS IT LIVE, OR IS IT MeMOREX?
'Wlecent news reports appear to repeat stories, issues, cycle through familiar patterns
r epresentatiw
■ the fairto
'ing, summe.'
nd cooperative
[unities.
'id professoij
m the College
?ge of Libera!
gricultureand
College of Er-
among those
uss questions
ons.
Jems can talk
about caree;
le said,
lid students
vith advisers
look for their
to gain mar-
; has been a good
heveral months for
journalists.
The media have had a
[table field day with
rent events — leaping
pi hurdles to publish
is, throwing the
blin at President Clin-
|and turning a be-
ctacled lawyer into a
lazzled track Starr.
ip
CALEB
MCDANIEL
llournalists have been most success-
however, at throwing the
merang. For if the recent parade of
dlines has proven anything at all, it
shown what goes around once
es around again. The cycle of cur-
history has started to become as
notonous as Peter Jenning’s voice.
0 re du n d ant are the themes on the
^ . Mning news one sometimes wonders
J^^^S»ether the broadcast is a rerun or a
es c ^ ivp taping. From week to week, month
the fair willW^Hth, the same headlines, the
' leaders, the same video footage
, 0 . V Rear in the press. Little changes, and
job of the journalist is easy.
, !ven a little fun.
0 P^®W«rherefore, in the interest of even fur-
it lightening the journalist’s load (Old
■nese proverb: Always cover your own
|ar), it is high time to create a formulaic
pt for the media. Conservation, after
is the buzzword of the day. Perhaps
recycling and reusing news stories,
s can be saved for more noble means
e students,'
Affairs
fpisposal such as incineration in the
htin’ Texas Aggie Bonfire.
■And if not, at least it would be worth
laugh.
ISo members of The Associated Press,
Ire is the answer to your prayers — a
AdLibs news story. Forget daily editions
Ibewspapers. Just publish the following
interactive press release. When readers
|me to the parentheses, circle one of the
erms. Which term you choose should
|t change the report much. It all gets re
lated anyway.
^Imagine — a front page of The New
'k Times that looks like this:
“Circle the word of your choice in
each set of parentheses to write your
very own piece of investigative reporting!
“Today White House Press Secretary
(Mike McCurry/The New Guy) an
nounced that (Saddam Hussein/Presi
dent Clinton) refuses to cooperate with
(UN Weapons Inspectors/The Office of
the Independent Counsel).
In a surprising related development,
(Republicans/Democrats) on Capitol Hill
have been clamoring for the president’s
(impeachment/censure), (in spite of/be
cause of) the fact that a shocking (major
ity/minority) of (Americans/Iraqis) have
expressed their (approval/disapproval) of
the proceedings in Congress.
“In other Congressional news, the
House of Representatives has voted to re
lease the (lewd/salacious) details of Pres
ident Clinton’s escapades for broadcast
on (the Internet/television/bathroom
stalls across America).
“In other news, (tropical storm/hurri
cane) (Bonnie/Mitch/Monica) continues
to wreak millions of dollars of damage in
(Honduras/Nicaragua/Little Rock).
“Also, (George W. Bush/Jeb Bush)
was elected governor of (Texas/Flori
da), and his dad is former President
George Bush. Political experts say this is
really neat.
“In still other news, (astronaut/na
tional hero/really old guy) John Glenn
ate (tuna fish/Vienna sausages/dried
ice cream) for (breakfast/lunch/din
ner) (yesterday/today/tomorrow). In a
televised press conference that cost
taxpayers millions of dollars to be
broadcast from outer space. Glenn
said, ‘I think every American should
have the opportunity to eat (tuna
fish/Vienna sausages/dried ice cream)
in zero gravity. It sure is swell.’
> “The names of the other crew mem
bers on Glenn’s historic voyage are (not
available/not important).
“And in brief news, renewed violence
in the Middle East has many
(Israelis/Palestinians) wondering
whether peace is still a possibility.
“Oh, and Newt Gingrich resigned from
Congress, leaving vacant his position as
the bearer of the most (colorful/laugh
able) first name in the House of Repre
sentatives.”
Journalists (interested in purchasing
this script/deeply offended by anything
tongue-in-cheek) should (contact news
bureau/contact news bureau).
Who knows? Maybe this is the dawn
of a new era in passive media. After all.
BRAD GRAEBER/The Battalion
history repeats itself. Why shouldn’t
headlines? Why shouldn’t headlines?
Caleb McDaniel is a sophomore
history major.
bnumbH
EDITORIAL
Battalion
Editorials appearing in The Battalion reflect
Ihe views of the editorials board members. They
io not necessarily reflect the opinions of other
attalion staff members, the Texas A&M student
body, regents, administration, faculty or staff.
Columns, guest columns, cartoons and letters ex
press the opinions of the authors.
Editorials Board
Mandy Cater Grabber
Editor in Chief
Aaron Meier
Managing Editor
Dave Johnston
Opinion Editor
Jennifer Jones
City Editor
Gore’s support of striking workers serves political aspirations
DAVE
JOHNSTON
b Place Like Home
omeless population faces disdain,
isunderstanding instead of assistance
ege
The recent fire that swept
through Dorm 9 should remind
tudents how easy it can be to
ecome homeless.
The homeless population is of-
held in disdain by those who
re more fortunate. Many perceive
lomeless individuals as lazy peo
ple who choose not to work and
decide to live on the streets. The re-
lity is different and much sadder.
The homeless population has
ieen victimized by closed minds for
oo long. The homeless are conve-
tient to ignore. They are difficult, if
impossible, to count in the cen-
us, they possess no political power
nd the entire issue is discomforting.
Although it may be an exagger-
tion to say everyone is “one pay-
heck away from being homeless,”
string of poor luck can put any-
itie on the streets.
Aside from the somber reminder
Tovided by the recent residence
fire, recent news from
Nicaragua and Honduras describes
housands of people whose homes
fere destroyed by Hurricane
Jitch. Closer to home, recent
bods washed away many central
feas homes,
Other homeless may have lost
^eir savings trying to pay medical
Is that followed a serious illness,
Kthey may be coping with mental
iess or chemical addictions. The
National Coaliton for the Homeless
ports 50 percent of women and
lildren on the street are fleeing
bmestic abuse.
Any number of tragedies can
fad to homelessness, and once
omeone has lost his or her home,
can be very difficult to climb back
J ff the streets.
By the time someone is force
to move unto the streets, he or
she is usually without trans
portation as well. With no way to
get around, keeping a job can be
tough. Resumes without ad
dresses or phone numbers look
at least suspicious.
Homelessness can become a
downward spiral offering no hope
of escape.
There are, however, many pro
grams designed to aid the home
less population, and these orga
nizations deserve the attention
— if not the support — of the en
tire community.
Groups ^uch as Habitat for Hu
manity provide materials and vol
unteer labor for building or repair
ing houses or homeless shelters.
Food banks and homeless shelters
collect food and clothing through
out the year to help provide for
those in need.
The Christmas season brings
out Salvation Army foot soldiers
ringing bells and collecting do
nations for the needy. And as the
holiday season approaches, there
are more opportunities to help
the homeless.
With dropping temperatures,
shelters will see a high demand for
blankets and warm clothing.
Locally, Twin City Mission is al
ready making preparations to pro
vide a Thanksgiving meal to the
area’s needy.
The opportunities are great, but
so are the needs.
Instead of flippant attitudes, the
homeless population requires seri
ous help. Instead of merely offering
disdain, it is time for Americans to
begin offering substantial help.
L abor unions
have al
ways had
significant politi
cal clout, now
they have
proven their
ability to use it
in new, innova
tive ways.
There is noth
ing wrong with the creative
strategies an ABC network work
ers’ union employed last week,
but Vice President A1 Gore’s re
sponse was less than admirable.
Last week, technical crews for
the ABC network staged a one-
day strike. When they tried to re
turn to work the next day, they
found themselves locked out by
network management.
Uncontent to stage the stan
dard protests and picket lines, the
workers’ union used a more un
usual technique to influence their
employer. Union representatives
urged politicians to refuse inter
views with the network — even
though last week’s elections were
the top news story.
The request was honored by
some political leaders, most no
ticeably Gore who cancelled a
scheduled appearance on “Good
Morning America. ”
Unions can use whatever
tools they have available in an
attempt to reach their goals, and
when the displaced ABC em
ployees found they had less
leverage than they expected, it
was time to call in the favors.
The first day after the strike,
most network production proceed
ed unhindered. There were reports
of “Good Morning America” hosts
looking into the wrong cameras,
and a few daytime dramas post
poned filming. For the most part,
however, the public did not miss
the locked-out workers.
Not to be forgotten, the union
played to Gore’s political prowess.
Unions are traditionally strong
supporters of the Democratic par
ty. Consequently, pandering to a
union — any union — will aid his
campaign for the Oval Office.
With union support, Gore can
count on thousands of votes and
plenty of cash — two essential as
sets for a successful campaign.
Gore’s decision served his in
terests and the out-of-work ABC
staff, but it did not benefit the rest
of the nation — the majority of
the nation.
Political heavyweights have
meddled with labor disputes in
the past, but the situations were
vastly different.
When airline pilots went on
strike prior to the holiday sea
son, President Clinton called for
federal arbitration to settle the
dispute as quickly as possible.
The airline strike warranted such
action. Holiday travel problems
would have affected most Amer
icans. Striking cameramen, on
the other hand, would have a
much smaller impact.
Internal disputes at a media or
ganization do not deserve atten
tion from the American vice presi
dent, especially when the dispute
is only a few days old.
Gore is, of course, a private cit
izen who can make personal deci
sions based upon his moral con
victions. However, opting to
cancel a media interview in this
manner could create a trouble
some precedent.
If Gore begins denying inter
views to ABC because the net
work is fighting with a supportive
union, the next step might be re
fusing White House press infor
mation to media outlets running
unfavorable news stories.
L1C
*ACHM£NT
WIR SLAVES DID . k .
moRE mn Cook Anp
CLEAN FOR YOU, DIDNT
-fflEY PRESIDENT
JEFFERSON ??
The vice president is a busy
person. He cannot honor every
media request. That discrimina
tion, however, should be based
on considerations such as expo
sure, topics of discussion or
scheduling. Instead, Gore is pur
suing a personal agenda and not
the national interest.
If Gore felt an interview on
ABC worth his time before the
one-day strike, the event would
have been just as valuable after
the lock out. Gore’s public ap
pearances offer him an opportuni
ty to present the Clinton adminis
tration’s point of view and
address the American people.
When he cancelled the interview,
he threw away an opportunity in
exchange for making a statement
few people even noticed.
The drafters of the Bill of
Rights considered the press a
valuable asset, choosing to pro
tect its freedom. Gore’s action in
dicates he considers the press
unimportant. He chose to manip
ulate a media institution instead
of aiding journalists who work to
serve their consumers.
Dave Johnston is a senior
mathematics major
MAIL CALL
Kind act helps
Aggie in need
On Nov. 6,1 missed the bus for
my afternoon class. A young girl
who witnessed what had happened
stopped and gave me a ride to cam
pus. I had a test that day, and be
cause of a random act of kindness
by a complete stranger I made it to
my test with plenty of time to spare.
With all the problems in the
world it is comforting to know some
people are still kind. Thank you.
Brian van Staveren
Class of ’99
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