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T’S MY PARTY
III conform if I want to
side
from
the oc-
sional
hoop” that
wanting to attentBmnds like it
and soccer mate® me from a
teen-age girl,
■ost people
.would find
, Woo
similarities between a
Miung female demographic
and the student population of
\'Y7 r £*ITl P!T exas A&M. But do not be mis-
▼ W lllvij ec | — ^0 likenesses are more
bout breaking 70. » an i ust s ^' n d 06 ?-
just a matter of till According to Rolling Stone
1 to be patient ancft a S azine ’ there is a “secret” life
i g ime so that i ol teen - a 8 e g irls - 0ne reporter
id 1 could start v for the magazine, Jancee Dunn
its. When it came; was s H ent ° ut to t in ^ ^orre-
.oulcl Stan winmf w ', lh 12 , g,rls ln
, . . ' a small suburban town to un-
lal round of tl: e( lhthesesecrets
.xpu ss ^ ainpraB Upon reading the article, one
emembered for | s COI ^ fronted w f th the usual
tl'le bogey on I en _ a g e stereotypes — boy-
111 s | K1ts ^- Jaziness, an eagerness to
t ike Jean Yarn:- pease, a sometimes-desperate
; b\’ one stroke, i n( f or attention. However,
h the green and: tn an y 0 f the girls’ behavioral
i \\ oods was sor characteristics went far beyond
o walk off thegra stereotypes, if only because they
i more fortunatei w ere so unwaveringly adult in
Jimenez fell to nature. In fact, their behavior
he 18th hole. was so adult in some aspects it
Sunday's finii was overly reminiscent of the
a may have ovt behavior of college students.
•eal reason whyM How can it be that 14- and
test streak in 46 w 15-year-old girls can act like stu-
dents not only in college but
specifically the students of A&M?
I A reader might venture to an
swer that it is the girls’ reputa
tions as over-achievers that lends
them to the comparison. Or that
the similarities are simply a mu
tual youth and exuberance.
I To an extent, the reader
would be right. Many teen
age girls and A&M students
exhibit an affinity for achieve-
ment. And it is also true that
wiih tetTemendov6s f cof/ege students have the
ds has a\x\dese\eeOT7T 0 °d fortune to be young,
! good sercevtato--
promise
vill
le to
R WOODS
0 GOLFER
with the chance to decide
what they want out of life.
But these only superficially
answers the question and
sounds strangely like a bad Ag
gie joke — what’s the differ
ence between a teen-age girl
and an A&M student?
The answer: maybe fewer
than one would think.
Initially, one notices the talk
of conformity that permeates
both the worlds — teen-age
girls and A&M students. Both
groups speak of individualism
in the face of conformity but al
most unanimously conform to
fit the standard. Sometimes
both teens and students are in
nocently unaware of their even
tual conformity.
Teenage
girls value
individual
uniqueness
but cling
to trends.
“Most of [the girls] weren’t
fully aware of how pervasive
[the need to conform] was as
they blithely chatted about cele
brating individuality, while
wearing the same flared jeans
and Adidas shell-toed sneak
ers,” Dunn said.
It is fairly the same with
A&M students. There is a look
about campus — a style, or
theme to the clothing, and a
uniformity of colors and
brands that is rarely found
outside of cliques, whether
teen-age or not.
No one says, “you must
dress like this to be no
ticed, accepted or
loved,” but one almost
senses it. Style and
trends are always arbi
trary. The enactment
of those trends are
not, however, which is
what pushes people to
ward conformity.
Though many students
think differently and imagine
they are original in their out
look, that rarely goes beyond
the mind. People may think
differently at A&M — to a
point — but they do not usu
ally look different.
Another significant similar
ity between teen-age girls and
students at the University is
the prevalence of a cautious
optimism. Most students here
are excited, but a little scared
about the future that looms
after graduation.
It is the same for young
girls. They know so much of
the world but have yet to ex
perience it — all they are sure
of is that one cannot be sure
of anything. If that does not
describe the typical college
student’s fears about life after
ERIC ANDRAOS/The Battalion
college, what would? And
both young girls and many of
A&M’s female college stu
dents, specifically, feel that the
days of serious protest are
over, as far as feminism goes.
Both seem to think femi
nism is a remnant of a pitiable
history that they will never
have to face. Because their
mothers fought all the hard
battles, the teen-age girls and
college students already have a
sense of female empowerment.
Feminism, for
them, seems
overbearing now.
Perhaps teen-age
girls and college stu
dents are not exactly alike,
but they are all heading
down the same path, and deal
ing with the same insecurities.
All worry about sex, dis
ease, pollution, the economy
and future jobs.
But noticing the similarities
between the two groups might
just help all to understand
each other just a little bit more.
Our problems are their prob
lems — solving them together
might just be easier than trying
to work through them apart.
Beverly Mireles is a junior
microbiology major.
Popular Harry Potter novels wrongly attacked
CHRIS
HUFFINES
leans he will be a 13%
it every tournament 5 .
J there has been pro!
ast six months. 'r-. K. Rowling is a
uck a 9-iron all olT I fascinating au-
he 17th. True,hekS/ thor. After writ-
the wind and t)%g the first of her
/ wound up in the now-famous Harry
Is took twoextra p 0 / fer Uooks while
i off the ball an- living on welfare in
i the green. Great Britain, Rowl-
toi a tricked-upjlg has shot to star-
woukl have been doil(1 j n wor id of
a f v ' U)n !,on i children’s literature,
uictly the macho dm Harry Potter’s adventures have
hhkI 11S niu , e1 ' caused flurries of activity in bookstores
shot into a sc\t as ^ u 00 k s have flown to the top
the 14th that setUr three spots of The New Y ork Times
i , Bestsellers’List.
e ;..i. 0Wn 3 J But as happens all too often, reli-
fect angle into th® us zea]o ^ has marred what would
i m birdie otherwise be excellent writing,
to went high and lrJ For J ) h ° s e readers who have not read
am 196 yards ont!®^ Potter books > the y are about a
an 8-foot birdie. /0lin § or P han na ™; d Harr y Fo 1 tter who
good was woc: 18 ^ 8611110 llve Wltb bls resentful aunt
Until he caught unc,e aber bis parents are killed
reaks he was an evb sorcerer - One day he learns
64. That wouldh# le 13 t0 be sent t0 Hogwart’s School of
an 11 strokes betti^ tcbcrab and ^i zardr y> anb the rest
nf thp fipirl ^ the books follow Harry’s schooling
I boggling," Jim Furtfjlogwart's.
can’t believe howjjff Tb e magic involved is the root of
Lee Westwood ad he problem for many protesting the
Price, who playe(P ooks - Many religious groups have
on Sunday, said j-ondemned Harry Potter books as dan-
ma under those coi®ously close to witchcraft,
ave been one of tin These groups feel the books may in-
ds ever played. : he children to dabble in the occult
ind eventually fall into evil.
E nfortunately, these religious
groups are making a critical error in
their thinking. The fundamentalist
Christians who make up these groups
have made the all-too-com-
mon mistake of thinking di-
chotomously.
Dichotomous
thinkers see only
two possibilities in
a situation.
The most
insidious atti
tude associat
ed with di
chotomous
thinking is
that if some
one is not in fa
vor of some
thing, he or she
must be
against it.
But that
thinking is
wrong.
There is a
fundamental,
albeit technical,
difference be
tween not liking
something and dis
liking it.
Not liking is an absence of positive
feelings. Disliking is a presence of neg
ative feelings.
Those who dislike also do not have
positive feelings and so do not like.
However, those who neither like nor
MARK McPHERSON/Tiii; Battalion
dislike are stuck in no-man’s land, con
stantly being mischaracterized by both
extremes as a supporter of the other,
when in reality they are neutral.
Harry Potter falls squarely into this
neutral area.
While the idea of sorcery as a
good thing is not supported by
Christian doctrine, magic as it is
used in the books is not anti-
Christian either.
However, some Christians are
refusing to recognize the neutrality
and are instead con
demning Harry Pot
ter’s non-Christ
ian use of magic
as anti-Christ
ian, dangerous
and satanic.
While
Christian
doctrine
makes a
point of creat
ing a Christian/non-
Christian dichotomy.
Biblical lessons like
“hate the sin, love the
sinner” reveal the
Almighty’is well aware of
the difference between
not being for something and being ac
tively against it.
And while Christianity cannot sup
port a non-Christian ideal, it seems it
cannot condemn a neutral item with
out hating the sinner.
Instead of defending against anti-
Christian behavior, these groups are at
tacking non-Christian behavior.
A parallel can be drawn between
Harry Potter books and C. S. Lewis’
Chronicles of Narnia.
In both cases magic is not explained
away but is simply a part of the world
the novels are set in. Like the Narnia
books, written by the famously Christ
ian Lewis, Harry Potter books have
earned a reputation because of their
adult sub-themes.
Narnia is an allegory for Christiani
ty, with Aslan, the lion prince of the
fantasy land, as the Christ figure. This
mystical theme allows older readers to
enjoy the stories on all of its levels,
while children are drawn into the fan
tasy of a realized, magical world.
But by the definition of these reli
gious groups, Lewis’ Narnia books
may incite children to dabble in the oc
cult and eventually fall into evil.
There is a difference between what
is right, what is wrong and what is on
the sidelines of the rugby match that is
religion in America. Leaving the field
to tackle a spectator is not behavior to
be encouraged.
All religions should learn this les
son, but Christians need to learn it be
fore alienating their children from a se
ries of books that can only enrich their
kids’ imaginations.
Chris Huffines is a senior
speech communication major.
/E SPECIALIZE L
! EXTRAORDINt
DISCOVER
Bryan . c,CCU/„
Drowsy driving
‘"lot enforceable
n response to David Lee’s
tov. 5 column.
David Lee does not provide
AMBER* INCENSE SOUS*® 1 :
CLOTHING • MUSEUM REPROfr
IPPETS • FOUNTAINS • Wl»'
SACRED ART • TAPESTRIES . . .... ..
iFULhandcraftedsilvertJ standard that could prove
rPCTBWWmevond a reasonable doubt
hat an accident occurred as a
“direct result from someone be-
RSITY F0h«Ved.
,ow open FOR business* Unfortunately a law such as
neione you have proposed
/v.varsityfordcstx ; OLild not be enforced under
lejlegal burden of proof, “Be-
out our specials on on L a Reasonable Doubt” ,
dangers and Mercuf-^i t t | ie p ro bable
wned specials change a use? Droopy eyes?
/VNLOAD COUPl ' s wb ^ our s y stem
for service specials
(questions?-e-mail use'
as! civil law.
A person can be sued for
negligence and the burden of
proof is much less. Before we
consider knee-jerk reactions to
tragic events, we must first at
tempt to understand the limita
tions of our legal system.
We have enough laws that
are not enforceable.
How does someone know
that they are too tired to drive?
A good defense attorney would
destroy that argument in a
criminal trial.
I am not trying to downplay
the tragic events which have re
cently occurred, but we must
look for more effective solu
tions, instead of having the
government pass more and
more laws.
Are DWI laws effective? Tell
MAIL CALL
that to the thousands of fami
lies that lose people every year
in drunken driving accidents.
Daniel Snow
Class of ’89
Aggies still never
quit playing hard
In response toAl Lazarus’
Nov. 8 column.
I would like to take my hat
off to Al Lazarus, and then
throw it back in his face just
as he has thrown all of the
football team’s pride back in
its face. There is nothing
worse than picking up The Bat
talion every week and hearing
someone trash talk our own
football team. Obviously,
Lazarus doesn’t know what the
Twelfth Man or school spirit is
all about.
I came to this University all
the way from Wyoming be
cause of the tradition, and the
fact that Aggies never quit.
I watched every second of
the 37-0 loss to Nebraska
this weekend. I was disap
pointed, yes, but I am not giv
ing up on the team.
The team didn’t give up ei
ther. Nothing made me and
my friends prouder to be Ag
gies than when late in the
fourth quarter I watched Ja’-
Mar Toombs barrel down the
field with no helmet on, fight
ing for extra yards, even while
knowing that the game was
over. That is what it means to
be an Aggie.
David Voorhees
Class of ’03
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. 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-mail: battletters@hotmail.com
Page 9 • Tuesday, November 9, 1999
Markets
should fix
health care
E ach November the
city of Bryan has
open enrollment for
its employees’ health plan.
This is the time when em
ployees may make changes
to their health insurance. It
also is the time when the
health-insurance company
informs employees of cov
erage changes.
Many large employers use this practice —
it is not unique to the city. Neither is employ
ees’ expectations that the changes announced
by the plan’s operator mean one thing —
higher costs for fewer services.
Years after Bill Clinton tried to reform the
health-care system and discovered his feet
were nailed to the floor, noise is again being
made by Congress about reforming the
health-care system. One wonders why legisla
tors think 535 people could make a plan that
most might agree with. Instead, it would
seem that as the number of cooks rises, the
chances of a palatable soup falls.
Government failed to reform health care
eight years ago, and it will fail again. As gov
ernment continues to grow and attempts to
be all things to all people, failures like previ
ous efforts to reform health care will become
more common. People should realize govern
ment has limitations and take things like
health-care reform into their own hands.
Government failed
to reform health care
eight years ago,
and it will fail again.
The business of government is to make
public policy and administer it. The business
of government is not to micro-manage every
sector of the U.S. economy. Every other busi
ness is driven by supply and demand. Why
should health care be different? When the
price of name-brand cigarettes rose precipi
tously, many smokers switched to generic
brands. The resulting dip in profits led ciga
rette manufacturers to introduce promotions
and sales for their products. What would
happen if people switched their patronage
from health-care providers with few benefits
to health-care providers whose financial
arrangements were more reasonable?
If the demand for high-dollar health plans
plummets, those plans will have little choice
but to give up some of their profits to retain,
or regain, patients. Patients also should ques
tion their doctors’ judgment about the kinds
and number of tests, asking that they look for
problems systematically instead of launching
massive fishing expeditions costing thou
sands of dollars. Doing so would help make
health-care costs more manageable.
One of the distinct disadvantages of the
current health-care system is the lack of
choice. Most people only can afford the
health-care plan subsidized for them by their
employer. Often these plans specify partici
pants only may use “in-network” providers,
who have agreed to a particular fee schedule.
The family doctor who has cared for several
generations of a family is an endangered
species. As plans find new ways to cut costs,
the single-practice physician finds the going
gets rougher.
Health-insurance companies are in busi
ness to make money. Generally they try to
charge the highest rates and exclude the
largest number of illnesses possible. Compa
nies also find ways to cut down on the
amount they pay to providers.
One common practice is to pay providers
slowly throughout the year. At the end of the
plan’s fiscal term, they offer providers a per
centage of outstanding claims in return for
immediate payment. The doctors are left with
a choice between a smaller lump sum now or
the prospect of spending months and work-
hours tracking and collecting outstanding
claims. Understandably, many opt for the dis
counted payment.
The whole system encourages antagonism
between providers and their patients. Each
sees the other as the problem. Doctors and
patients should unite in an effort to force
health-care providers to institute fair and hu
mane practices. It is hard to understand why
these two groups miss the fact they are not
each other’s enemies and are both getting
raw deals from insurance companies.
When the Coca-Cola company changed
the formula of its main product in the early
’80s, consumers gave them a clear message
about who was boss. Doctors and patients
have an ideal coalition. Insurance companies
are supposed to serve both. When they wake
up and find that their ex-clients have decided
to leave them out of the loop, they will have
to take notice.
Does the health-care delivery system need
first aid? Certainly. Can the government fix it?
Probably not, nor should they try. It is not the
government’s responsibility to right all the
wrongs plaguing citizens. It is the responsibil
ity of the citizens to refuse to be abused.
Ann Hart is a senior English major.