Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1999)
Opinion Page 11 • Monday, February 1, 1999 at is in a name? Pursuit of politically correct names, mascots leaves numerous groups with poor substitutes F JB i he recent sale of the Washington Redskins has rekindled a contro- ?rsy about the team’s name, gome people, who say the e is racist, have demand- ji that it be changed along itli those of the Atlanta ayes, Cleveland Indians d|Kansas City Chiefs, his sounds like a noble Mark PASSWATERS e at first glance, until one considers that little or ing has been done to confront other more criti- natters facing Native Americans. Among these, ■oted in studies by the federal government, are ■ levels of unemployment, illiteracy, alcoholism (drug abuse. Suddenly, complaining about the me of a team seems rather insignificant. ■here is, regrettably, a lot of this kind of com- aining going around. Some people seem to think pat changing the names of teams will make things etner. In the crusade for political correctness, the ?al problems are taking a backseat to “problems” lafl are easier to take care. H\nd ego salve is a lot cheaper than big band-aids. In 1996, the president and trustees of Lehigh iniyersity caught a case of this moronitis and itt Moone) i-^hged the school’s nickname, having decided fternoona ldt |t was “discriminatory.” The old, offensive ickname? Engineers. The new name can easily in- lude all races and sexes, since Mountainhawks do ot exist. ^■aking this mind set into account, along with tiendea that there should be a law against offend- igbnyone, is it really too far-fetched to see peo- ilecomplaining about other team nicknames? In his day of PC, there is something out there to of- M EPSON'I m B‘ Rush. es 4-HI nend anyone: LI ImI The New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, /liiinesota Vikings and Seattle Supersonics could t the untrutbffend people because they might promote mili- gh to warn arism. The Golden State Warriors could probably loval.acconbe Allowed to slide because their on-court manner e official v, 5 to roll over and play dead, ymity. Fhe Dallas Mavericks could probably be left d, two of tilt lone too, since they cannot break 100 points, secutors nuch less the law. ek — piesideiui Jordan atiiW dney Blumeri: struction qiii' perjury ch is close to said that fe;" nnessee, v,^ .ewinsky, «ifj ion on Clint, al their affat young baby girl rests .senaorsMle#^ ! ', n 'thavotheC^H^Y ovehtata.*?'^ es are far 1*3 It f^fWrandtrib twisting Texas Tech’s Red Raiders, on the other hand, have to go. They are exclusionary. What about all those Blue Raiders, Green Raiders, and Lavender Raiders out there? At least Oakland’s NFL team includes all Raiders — but that would get the peaceniks going again. The University of Texas is also exclusionary. Longhorns only make up a small portion of the state’s cattle population, so shouldn’t they make sure everyone is happy and just be the Cattle? Or, perhaps, they would feel better with a name more in touch with Austin-say, the Singing Salamanders? The New Orleans Saints and San Diego Padres could draw the ire of the ACLU, not to mention Satanists everywhere. Their religious names are no-no’s. In a similar vein, the Christian Coalition might be prepared to go after Duke’s Blue Devils, Ari zona State’s Sun Devils and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. Satan has no place in sports! People who are music fans might want the names of teams in Utah and St. Louis changed. You call that music Jazz and Blues? St. Louis can not quite get a smooth rhythm and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir just does not play a quality funk sound, thus they are not deserving of the names. One place that should be offended by their own nickname is Virginia Tech. One of the finest public schools in the nation, a Big East football power-and they are the Hokies? Not even Virginia Tech students are sure what a Hokie is, but they think it is a turkey. Nothing like taking a Saturday afternoon to root on those Fighting Gobblers. Planned Parenthood and people supporting ab stinence could be up in arms about the Minor League Hockey team Macon Whoopee. All non-Or ange people at Syracuse must be clamoring for a change from Orangemen. The people of Cincinnati are demanding a name change for the Bengals, too. Not because it is in sensitive, but because they hope if the name goes, maybe the team will go with it. The group wanting changes from Chicago’s NFL team and Baylor University would be ... well. Bears. They would prefer not to be associated with groups whose collective fortunes have dropped quicker than the CPA of a freshman with a new fake ID. Scientists might request the names of the Washington Wizards and Orlando Magic be tossed out, since magic and wizards are not real. Then again, neither are Washington’s playoff hopes. Boston’s Red Sox and Chicago’s White Sox dis criminate against those who wear black, blue, and brown Sox. And what of the people that wear no Sox? Scandal! Beware. Unless the Crusade of Political Correct ness is buried in worthwhile causes, this could happen. Be aware of the menace, and defeat it by MICHAEL WAGENER/ The Battalion addressing what is important, not by charging af ter some sideshow. This may require people who are complaining about these names to do something difficult, but they would accomplish something that would ac tually improve our nation. Oh, no word from the Peaceful Texas Aggies as of yet to say they have taken offense to our Fight- in’ Texas Aggies. Mark Passwaters is a electrical engineering graduate student. m. Pro-life should work to outlaw bortions, not fight providers iwyers Kenneth Christ ima BARROWS 'lulmonolani i^ (m ^ tear i n g them away from ly that Jan ^ rest Q j- j ier ]j 0 gy Because the le 1 , as l . jlBy’s skull has hardened to bone lit is mdtd#!^ time, it must be crushed or hip showed j'Hpressed to facilitate removal. gain as the ■m^ n f nnocen t haby boy is sleep- lators ot both ^ 0 t j ie soun( i G f ht s mother’s nay at a report'■ rt w f len t he amniotic fluid is ig in l he No em0 ved and replaced with con- ?66 rated salt. The little boy reathes in, swallows the salt and s poisoned. The chemical also auses painful burning and deteri oration of his skin. Within 72 \ours he is dead, shriveled and THUR Feb 4 Prac Exams Although horrifying and graph- these details are facts and soon '.ojlege Station-Bryan will have ■abortion clinic that performs rsyfhem. Many pro-life activists have ;Aought to prevent this addition to Manned Parenthood, but the fact i Mains that abortion is legal, lighting the clinics might keep ibprtion out of the city, but it will lot keep the woman from getting ml abortion. It is time for those Vho believe in life to step forward ind fight the law. In a recent interview, a health iresentative at Planned Parent- d in Bryan said that a woman outside of a large city will simply drive to another in order to re ceive an abortion. As long as the law stands, the number of abor tion providers will continue to grow in an effort to provide this service conveniently. In 1992, the Supreme Court abandoned the “trimester” ap proach to abortion, making it le gal during all nine months of pregnancy, for any reason. At a National Right to Life Convention in June 1998, it was reported that one third of Generation X had been wiped out by abortion. Ac tion needs to be taken to save the next generation. Out of the 10 Planned Parent hood clinics in southeast Texas, only one performs abortions. Planned Parenthood primarily pro vides excellent women’s healthcare at more affordable prices. This is a necessary service for many women who are unable to afford a private doctor. Some locations provide mammograms to help detect breast cancer early. All locations provide counsel ing in sexual health education. Teenagers who find it difficult to talk to their parents about intima cy issues can find guidance and confidentiality here. Unfortunately, Planned Parent hood also fights to keep abortion legal. According to their Website, it advocates public policies that guarantee these rights and ensure access to such services. It is fight ing to keep abortion legal and is clearly winning. A lawyer does not appeal to the executioner to free his death- row client, but instead he appeals to the governor. In the same sense, pro-life activists should not fight the clinics and doctors that perform abortions, but should concentrate on the laws that en able them to carry out these ser vices. Planned Parenthood abor tion clinics would not exist without the legalization of abor tion, so why not fight the law and kill the real problem. Those fighting the law have evi dence it is working. The Centers for Disease Control reported in 1997 that abortion rates have decreased every year since 1992. In the last 25 years, pro-life literature has been cir culating . “Right to Know” legisla tion exists in many states to inform women of abortion risks, its realities and the alternatives. The uneducated are constant ly claiming that abortion is only the removal of cells that may or may not form a child. The ma jority of abortions occur in the first seven to ten weeks when the child’s face is recognizably human. It is sucked or torn from the womb and the baby’s small heartbeat and already measur able brain waves cease to exist. No funeral is held for the child that no one wanted. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” (Jere miah 1:5) Life is sacred. Stop the clinics by changing the law. Christina Barrows is a sophomore English major Pro-lifers need to provide real solutions, not more problems Manisha PAREKH I n the battle over abor tion, there have generally been two sides: pro- choice and pro-life. Generally, pro-choice forces have fought long and hard to make abortion legal for all women, re gardless of financial status or age, while pro-life forces have tried to block their every move. To this end, abortion clinics have been bombed, abortion providers have been brutally killed and women who are fac ing the toughest decision of their lives have been harassed. Pro-life forces appear to be us ing every weapon at their dis posal to force the long arm of the law into women’s bodies and outlaw abortions. However, if the self-proclaimed “pro-life” groups were really that, they would realize abortion is not the problem; abortion is a solu tion for women who find them selves facing a pregnancy for which they feel they have no oth er alternative. If pro-life people re ally want abortion to end, they need to attack the real problem, not the solution some women end up having to use. Outlawing abortion will not stop it. Before Roe vs. Wade, women who lived in states where abortion was illegal did not stop having abortions — they simply found ways to get around the law. Underground networks sprung up to help women get in touch with doctors who were willing to perform abortions. Women who had enough money traveled across state lines in search of a legal abortion. Women who did not have the money to afford quality care, however, resorted to back- alley butcher shops or primitive “home-remedies;” many of these women ended their pregnancies as well as their own lives. History has a habit of repeating itself. Therefore, for those who are truly “pro-life,” outlawing abortion should not be the goal. The only way abortion will stop is if women think they do not need to have one, and that should be pro-life’s goal: creat ing a society in which abortion is not necessary. Yes, the majority of women do not have abortions for “med ical reasons.” Many women have them because either they did not use contraception or contraception failed. The solu tion? Sex education and better contraception methods. It is rather elegant, is it not? If women who do not want to get pregnant do not get pregnant, there will not be as many abortions. Second, offer alternatives to abortion. Pro-lifers often vaunt adoption, but the truth is un less a child is white, without any disabilities and very young, the chances of being adopted are small. So why not have every pro-lifer ; open up his or her home to at least one unwanted child? Why not have each pro-lifer pledge his or her time to making sure every child who gets a chance at life also gets a chance at a quality life? Some women, who would car ry a pregnancy to term, cannot afford the cost. Pro-lifers should offer to help every woman who cannot afford neonatal care with the costs of pregnancy. Pitch in and help pay for pediatric visits, for diapers and formula. It takes a lot of time and money to care for a baby. Chances are, at this point, there are some pro-lifers saying to themselves, “But none of this is my responsibility. ” Yet, somehow, it is their re sponsibility to try and take away a woman’s choices without provid ing her with feasible alternatives. Something just does not seem right about that. So, instead of pouring time and money into protests and rallies that will never stop all abortions, invest pro-life resources in contra ceptive research, sex education, foster homes and charities to sup port pregnant women. Only then will there be a chance for abor tion to end. After all, it is easy to shoot doctors, bomb clinics and harass women. It is harder — but more effective — to help women find true alternatives to abortion. Manisha Parekh is a junior psychology and journalism major Prac Exams 3-6 PM ther education’ jelpful to Aggies In response to Glenn Janik’s . 26 opinion column, would submit some real evi- (ice that the students who ? .$>hhoose to pursue academics and racurricular activities are in- gxariHeed successful students and are ' ctually better equipped to take Dn|real authority and responsibili- ifter graduation. 3&4 y fpirst, students who partici- e in the other education are MAIL CALL not “2.5 and go’’ students as you suggested. I cannot speak for other stu dent organization, but as for the “abysmal network of MSC com mittees,” our average GPR for ap proximately 60 officers for Fall 1998 was a 3.30, more than a half grade point higher than the University average. Second, those who participate in student leadership activities are better prepared for life in the real world because of their partici pation during the college years. Serving on subcommittees and selections processes may seem obscure or meaningless to some, but the skills of interper sonal communication, critical thinking, problem solving, and conflict resolution, just to name a few, are best learned through experience which only comes from student involvement. The truth is that involved students generally make excellent grades and enrich their academic experience through the “other education.” Bill Anderson Class of ”99 Student thankful for thoughtfulness I just wanted to let everyone know that there are still honest people in this world. Monday, I left my keys on the bus, and like others, it contained my whole life. Of course I panicked and waited for the bus to make the complete loop so I could retrieve my keys. Unfortunately, my keys were nowhere to be found. Almost in tears and standing in the door way to my home, I found that my answering machine had a new message. Someone that I had never met before had already called to say they had found my keys, and was going to check with my apart ment office, and leave them there for me. My answering machine has its good and bad days, so I was not able to catch her name, but I just wanted to thank her very much for saving my sanity. Kimberly Cervenka Class of’VO The Battalion encourages letters to the editor. Letters must be 300 words or less and include 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 McDonald with a valid student ID. Let ters 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
