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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 12, 1999)
e Battalion PINION Page? • Monday, April 12, 1999 ppear in ad). This 0:; i or you get an addit: 1 scheduled toendlc: f 1/ an’t we all just get along? erences between cadets, non-reg students should not be source of conflict for Aggies PETS Kittens & cats lot adop y to excellent homes £ , Students 4 Invests \ homes less than ■ 9 for Free CaHAm Chrisitna BARROWS ith the new of i-corps pupp.<>s akc v- mber Ricky >50 Pleased. |od ^ the REAL ESTAiiditionally ps position /ell leader, eems an oropriate time to reflect on the si 011 anc l competition be- non-reg Aggies and ROOMMATE^- Aje ,. IT . Everyone at lexas A&M Um- ' s ' tv should be considered l -»;/•>.* :> JalSy “Aggie.” Every student - plied to this University in the iaf 9 « txK*yw c nBmanner and should be ated as equals. Unfortunately, mfTUl!es ■ !re seems to be a huge prob- a between those who wear le asao tr C Sta 5250/ ■ ifoi ns and those who do not. s time A&M students stopped 1 unfair political competition ;wlen non-reg and Corps and ilizr d all Aggies should be on ? same side. *k| example, Kyle Field would « 2txir mi bam-.c- Velooked pretty sad during ^' ! Nebraska game if the non- q population had not filled the diam decked-out in maroon irts. In the same manner, the lf-|me show would be just an- ler high-school performance thout the Aggie Band. summer Om no-. mate needed w.a Leavenes •: xhe traditional foundation of oommate? Rnd Oh “■would be lost without the ——.—rps of Cadets. Don’t believe it? Nem^sn cat?' 51 imagine silence after a TaTiTl-c 7 lc h tlowu because non-regs bus-rt. 2-po( s :ided they did not need Par is Mounted Calvary anymore, jd Silver Taps and Muster are longer held in the honor of all gies, non-reg and Corps alike, :ause non-regs could not rec- hze the importance of the i Summer-99 3W” Jttle route Cat 896-2 Summer-^ itce house 5210' jstin/ Round fto 79-2624 .~5S Volunteers. ne^iAK The hostility between the Summer 99 ^ lU P s js most apparent at elec- 52/mo phis time when the student body Summer 99 in ^ the tWO “political i pets ok. caii58ocsc‘ rtics” of non-reg and Corps. “Aug ztxwijwTith signs such as “Vote Non- m. $262/mo. 268-969: g,|ion’t let 5 percent represent ccDt/ircc 0percent,” it is evident the otnVIbto 5 ecomes divided. tensive Driving. Lols-o"- al/insurance discoual n), Fri(6pm-8pin) SSs? m). Inside Nations-Br sh. Lowest price allo»t : >17 846-6117. Sto«4 Why do non-regs consider cadets to be in a different cate gory from other Aggies when they have been representing A&M for over 100 years in the same fashion as any other orga nization? Another ignorant point about this sign is the implication that the majority of the student body airs and Upgrades W Services Company. 816' a town to find a high d-” I need stylist from H«S J f want best colorJtgwc' : ;T| tudy. Benefield SCo ^ ig. typing, etc.? CPfe®' 3 ! 5-8989. iomosexual-rights movie for econd-grade students wrong ne of the most con- Itentious issues in Ameri can society today is ho- TUT0RS pons- Free Quoies ysexuality. It is an issue that r popular name brand < . T / vw.viamaii.eom/par#' ikes such strong emotions iaccessories. 693-629* jj sides of the Spectrum - 3 m!to have gone overboard. On one side, there is the First Jir. Native speakeris-'ptist Church of Topeka, MARK ^ ^ !68- C 7Mo hbUSlneSS8 nsas — niore commonly RASSVCATERS own to the public as the folks EIGHT LCb'it carry the “God hates fags” signs around any weight. , j , 2nt where TV cameras might be found. Not to Wanted:' 1; ’ : ® ° iteo e&i si, Doctorrecommet^ 1 outdone, the homosexual rights side has the bate! caii279-9899 )U p “act UP,” whose tactics are very similar to —trapse of the New York Knicks^ defense — get up in (eight. Energybooi?; ?ryone s faces as often as possible. 11 695-6983or 693^The ] a ^ es j- episode in this conflict centers vmB/cb ash, ^ documentary in which second-grade chil- I natural are tau 8 ht about homosexuality. In one ife!! 40%oft MSB' .ine, shown on both CNN and the Fox News independentdWfW^^hngl, a young boy looks at his friend and says, ® aoibs by4/2o ; /ho cares if I’m gay?” 88^2887.^ ^iend replies, “Not me.” How cute. However, a large question looms over this scene — how many of these kids ve any concept of what homosexuality really is? laieland matter, can they understand the concept ,| “sexuality” at all? i 1-2‘3N What the makers of this film seem to have for- tten is that it is next to impossible to understand Birds and the birds if someone cannot under- tnd the birds and the bees. Instead of having Aat seems to be the desired effect — “These little l Rldien can be tolerant, so why can’t you?” — V i'Sfjlm lands firmly in the category of child ex citation. Be concept of human sexuality is not an easy e.pt is usually taught in sixth grade or later for a ison. The most mature children do not get “the k| until third grade or so, then it usually takes a uple of years for the children to think that they illy know what is going on and a couple more ioqSt ars a ft er thst t° truly understand what happens TOT Cld s i en 1^)-,^ go out. Sfex is not a cavalier issue; it should be ap- o cached with discretion and tact. Homosexuality ■ n tn even touchier issue, and one that should be tIO' ■ cached between far more mature individuals. Having a conversation in class about the book 5 ; : ^] Has Tlvo Mommies, followed by a detailed nd, call 8 cussion on homosexuality is not really some- your I thing that should be happening with someone who will go home after school and watch “Animani- acs.” If the homosexual lobby thinks that efforts like this will help convince the average American to accept them, they had better think again. Many people are not merely personally or morally op posed to homosexuality, but feel that it is a sin condemned by God. Other people, who have not yet developed a stance on this issue, will almost certainly be sick ened by the use of children as pawns in a high stakes game between adults. "... it is next to impossibie to understand the birds and the birds if someone cannot under stand the birds and the bees.” Eventually, children will learn that God created (and/or humanity evolved to) Adam and Eve. They will also learn that, in certain parts of the popula tion, they might find Adam and Steve. Before they reach that point, they will have also learned that there is a time and place for everything. This, it would appear, is something that the cre ators of this film and those that back their political position have not yet learned. A second-grade classroom is most certainly not the time or the place for a discussion on homosexuality. Children of this age cannot possibly fathom the depths to which such a discussion can go. One thing that adults most certainly can fathom, how ever, is how sick an idea this film is. One of the most often repeated lines by homo sexual rights activists is that “hate is not a family value.” This may be true but planting their beliefs in the minds of young children who are not men tally capable enough to make their own stances is not education — it is corruption. If this is the way that the homosexual rights lobby chooses to approach this delicate issue, it is in serious trouble-for no matter what may come from the mouths of babes, the parents will be so repulsed that it will make no difference. Mark Passwaters is a graduate electrical engineering student. does not want cadets in office because they do not represent non-regs. The Battalion reported that four times the number of cadets went to the polls in the Readers debate feminism, abortion In response to Demand Reid’s Apr. 8 opinion column. Reid mentions in his review that feminism is “veering off in more directions than a drunken New York cab driver.” This is true because many truths have been distorted, and women are blinded from what they are truly seeking — equality. By choosing abortion as a solution to a problem women subject them selves to much hidden pain and suffering. Like an abusive relationship, she doesn’t foresee the destiny of grief, pain, fear, abandonment and much more. If a woman knew that she would be subjecting herself to this entrapment, she surely would not enter into the relationship. i don’t believe Foster’s compar ison of abortion to violence against women was farfetched be cause they yield many similar characteristics. Like the battered woman, the woman who suffered an abortion goes through physical and psycho logical distress while the man walks away free from the damage he has caused. Many myths bury the truth about abortion. This simple proce dure not only contains many risks such as infertility and death but is also unnatural and painful. If the situation were reversed where men were pregnant, legisla tion would not be any different. Tough laws are created to pro tect women and innocent children not to prevent women from gain ing equality. Abortion is a moral is sue, therefore whether it is a woman or a man that was under going it, it would not be widely pro moted. There would still be the same fight that exists today. In the end, the true debate is about the right to life. Because one is weak, helpless, and unable to speak for himself or herself, is it right to terminate his or her ex istence? RUBEN DELUNA/Tiie Battalion 1999 election and four cadets made yell leader. The math is simple: the Corps block would not decide the yell leader elec tion if non-regs did not want MAIL CALL To do so would be to allow the dominance of strong over weak, therefore defeating the purpose of feminism — equality. Mary Tran Class of ‘01 I am not a feminist, so I open ly admit that my perception of the feminist movement is one of an “outsider." However, I feel the need to point out how feminism and anti-abortionism are mutual ly supportive. Reid’s statement that “a femi nist against abortion is like a drowning man against a life pre server” seems ignorant of either ideology. What is the essence of feminism? Why did the move ment originate? Consider this answer: Femi nism came into existence to am plify the weak voice of a si lenced, suppressed, an abused group of people. Women began to demand their rights and stand up against the mistreatment that had been a part of their lives for so long. Now tell me this ... have you heard an aborted baby cry out against the robbing of its life? How many fetuses have you seen demanding their right to life or standing up against the abuse of abortion? The answer is none. So tell me, how similar were the si lenced, suppressed women of the ’50s to the soundless, help less babies of today that can’t scream loud enough for anyone to care whether their lives are snuffed out? Feminism is about the rights of a powerless group of people. It is so hard to see that the plight of the unborn is the same? I do not speak for feminists, and I do not speak for the unborn be cause I am neither, but I do see a common goal of the two: the right to life and dignity. Furthermore, the only thing that Reid illustrated by saying “if men were able to get pregnant, abortions would be easier to get than gonorrhea at a latex-option- them to, or if they felt misrepre sented as Aggies by a cadet. It is also time to stop harass ing cadets for their “biased” voting. Just as any non-reg Ag gie would vote for his fraternity brothers or Bonfire buddies, the same applies to the Corps of Cadets. Organizations support their members and friends support each other. It is not forced upon cadets to vote for other cadets, it is a matter of choice. And many times cadets choose to support someone else. Case in point, several cadets were seen passing out fliers for Will Hurd, despite the fact his opponent is a proud member of the Corps of Cadets. However, there is a deeper issue that cannot be overlooked when discussing this topic. The Corps block itself does need to be stopped because of its politi cal unfairness to other potential Corps candidates. It is only a matter of time be fore the rest of the school clues in and forms a non-reg block. That’s right, the ultimate A&M divider is on its way and it will not be pretty. Other non-regs will still be permitted to run, but the mere advertisement of a concentrated non-reg vote on five candidates will shatter the Corps block by sheer numbers. This will only further the loss of voter rights as elections become a fight be tween non-regs and cadets. Political unfairness, both in the Corps and among the non- regs, is not a tradition that should continue at A&M. No one has the right to designate who can run for a position and who cannot. And it causes mis representation when Aggies vote strictly non-reg or Corps as if these titles are some political ticket. All Aggies should just vote for the individual they be lieve in, and may the best Aggie win. Christina Barrows is a sophomore English major. al bordello” is that no one on Earth is more abusive, self-seek ing, and blissfully murderous than men. Congratulations De- mond, you sure can make policy. It is because of that mentality that there is a feminist move ment at all. As long as men abuse those who aren't strong enough to stop them, there will be feminists. As long as there are women who do the same, there will be anti-abor tionists. Both stand against the abuse of the weak and power less. They are remarkably simi lar. Carrie Kendrick Class of ’CO I just wanted to say thank you for your article on abortion. This is your best opinion since the be ginning of the year. I think men speak out against abortions more than women. Regardless, it is a woman’s body, so let them do whatever the hell they want with it. I also have a suggestion for the anti abortionists. Why don’t we worry about the living children who are starving and impoverished first. If the ‘pro-lifers’ put the same energy into the living children as they do protesting in front of abortion clinics, we could see a dramatic dropoff of hunger in America. Think about it. Adam Manson Class of ’CO 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-mall: batt@tamvml.tamu.edu