OPINION —- jesii.iy, January 25,2000 THE BATTALION Page 13 J mcc Bible beating down the door T n spreading their faith, some groups spread animosity as well /EFf SMITH 1 c nol provu g to mere* 1 a-s Rode; re raiist .wA r ihroughout the year, students are subjected to an array of individuals peddling nevvs- magazines and credit irds, but they are also targets for illeis of something far more per- — religious ideology. ^Herhaps it is because college is ^Hed as an influential time in a ers< ’s life in which adults and eers alike seem to feel such a Hg need to share their spiritual beliefs. But there is a tin line between sharing a belief with another person (Kvesorting to infective conversion methods. ^nmidst a vast array of groups who ride the line is a hri itian organization known as The Gideons Intema- ». This religious group comes to campus every year /ith the sole purpose of handing out beliefs in the form flitlc green Bibles ^Betting up shop at strategic locations such as the VehnsT Building or Sbisa Dining Hall, these typically Idei gentlemen are masters at herding students like cat- e feto an outstretched hand and offering them a little book. Just as a student instinctively dodges one hm Bible, another seems to be right in front of them, ^■housands of these texts, containing the New Testa- nenjt, Proverbs and Psalms, flood campus during the veel i which the Gideons visit. Because people feel fuilty about throw ing one of the books away, these liblcs can be found in places like classroom floors or linlig hall tables. Even students professing to already lave several editions cannot seem to avoid the Gideon’s ouch and often walk away with one, if not several ^Bi books. ^■hough the theory behind flooding campuses and lotel rooms w ith Bibles is to spread their faith by ^nding the text it is based on. Gideons tactics neglect Kiel that often the more insistent one is to an uninter- ssted person, the further disinterested they become. “ individuals sometimes get so excited about sharing he if beliefs they overlook the fact that those beliefs ■tangibility and are unable to be physically passed J one person to another. In addition, concepts within spii itual belief are often so complex or vast that words ire in no wa\ sufficient enough to describe them. While in individual could refer to a dictionary and find a defin- tion for terms such as mercy, faith or even God these vonls take on a much broader meaning to those affiliat 'd w ith a type of spirituality. Grace to one person ma> >e just a name or the movement of a ballerina, but to a .’hrjstian, the term encompasses something far more im- lortjuit and possibly even beautiful. So though a textual lefinition may supply a general understanding, in some htuations that is simply not enough. Furthermore, religious beliefs arc unique to every extensions of themselves. Because such beliefs can in cite strong feelings, organizations attempting to circu late them need to tread lightly and respect those they seek out. One group among many who actively send their members out to knock on doors and spread their beliefs is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are commonly known as the Mormons. Many students have opened their doors only to find two young men, dressed in slacks, a w hite dress shirt and tie standing politely outside. Introducing themselves with a smile, the pair, when given the opportunity, can embark on a sales pitch that rivals the best of telemar keters. Fifteen minutes is all the young men ask for, and no is apparently not in the Monnon vocabulary. It is, however, this unyielding persistence that ulti mately defeats the message Mentions are seeking to dis tribute. A disinterested student is more likely to be turn ing over thoughts concerning how to politely, or not-so- politely, shut the door than listening to the belief being shoved at them. When a person believes in something with fierce conviction it is only natural they desire to share that be lief, especially if it impacts their life in a positive man ner. But most times in attempting to share, the person tries so hard that others are actually turned away, possi bly missing out on views that could enrich their lives. Sharing beliefs is not about who is right or who is wrong. Sharing beliefs is not about shoving faith down someone else’s throat. Sharing beliefs is about open minds and intelligent people. When these definitions are confused, the etTorts put in by proselytizers often do more harm than good. Elizabeth Kohl is a junior accounting major. k lixtiM ndiVidual and to a certain degree become emotional GABRIEL RUENES/Thf. Battalion more can be don Jt stated that po ic color of theirs The media are in cd. The 1 , must a Solicitors intrude upon former students . It ISt Ma Pas icah n Wholesale E very year. University organizations ponds millions of lollars on various xpenses ranging prrfoni building reno vations to tailgate tallies. University evenues primarily ome from govern- ’ hent funding and financial support from 22 if ' »encfactors such as fomicr students. ——' 1 lowevcr, many of these donations ^iven by former students are given k o IT V rflCrixfging'y ■out of exasperation. For- * * • viner students are repeatedly solicited by i open for business 1 lumerous organizations that use unfair . , . aid irritating tactics to ensure generous /arsityfordcslx: nonetarvg f fts Jt our specials ott ? ' fpiiversity organizations contact for- iqers and Mercu(!! ner students and request donations for nany areas including athletics, scholar- id specials chanc- f 1 jp s anc j cam p US improvements. Groups JLOAD COUPOuch as the 12th Man Foundation and the tor service specials Association of Former Students pursue uestionss’-e-mailusat iew graduates and older Aggies alike for year -■varsiiv-iord.cr noney each year. With growing needs, fi- —manual appeals have expanded in the past J)ur to five years to include phone calls -r-—well as mail-outs. Ill JEWELRY ANPtf ( )ne approach these groups use to in- AROUND THE \JtCt r ease contributions is the employment of current A&M students as telemarketers in contacting potential donors. While it is easy to hang up the phone or get angry w ith a stranger calling from credit card or phone companies, being disrespectful to a fellow Aggie is another situation. Feel ings of obligation can cause a sense of re sentment that should not exist when do nating to one’s alma mater. Another tactic used to petition finan cial support from former students is to get the potential donor to talk about their col lege days at A&M. Callers smoothly dredge up old sentimental memories and then move in for the kill. Some Universi ty organizations use underhanded meth ods of reminding former students of their Old Army days as a ploy to ease open their wallets. For example, one former student said a young woman from a University orga nization called and began to ask him about his involvement in the Corps of Cadets and the A&M track team while he attended. As he reminisced about his Old Army days, the student asked him if he would like to make a contribution to as sist the track program. I Ic agreed and then to his surprise, her supervisor got on the phone and asked for verification of his gift. This lack of trust was shocking to a man who remembers A&M as a place where “Aggies do not lie, cheat or steal.†Elis disappointment caused him to retract his donation. The Association of Former Students says that members “give time, thought, energy and money freely for its advance ment.†Millionaires may give money freely, but new graduates who are work ing in entry-level positions with a base salary of $25,000 do not. Encouraging is a pat on the back or a gentle request, not repeated appeals for loyalty displayed through a checkbook. The Association also states that donors “derive a feeling of satisfaction from knowing they are contributing to programs of the highest quality.†For many people however, being short a cou ple hundred dollars every month rarely warrants a feeling of satisfaction. The 12th Man Foundation states its mission “is to support Aggie Athletics by encouraging, receiving and managing gifts for athletic scholarships and pro grams ...†Encouraging is a pat on the back or a gentle request, not repeated ap peals for loyalty displayed through a checkbook. The Foundation offers bene fits such as priority parking and season ticket options to potential donors. Mean while, students walk miles to get to foot ball games and haggle for extra sports passes each week to sit where the view of the Jumbotron is better than the field. The average annual donation from 12th Man Foundation members is ap proximately $325. Granted, this money adds up, but the Foundation can raise money without having to result to petty tactics. Bernard C. Richardson probably did not donate his millions for the build ing of‘The Zone†over the telephone to a 19-year-old student during a routine fundraising call. A&M organizations such as the Asso ciation of Former Students and the the 12th Man Foundation do provide valu able contributions to the University, but their fundraising techniques are repetitive and often irritating. The constant, growing need for dona tions batfies many former students who remember A&M as a “poor boy†school from years ago. How the times have changed. Summer Hicks is a senior English major. VIEW POiNTS Bush should be wary Movie rating system of over-confidence leaves room for error George W. Bush campaign of ficials, take note. Research pub lished by a psychology professor at Cornell University suggests that Bush’s confidence in his ability to lead does not prove he has the ability to lead — it may prove just the opposite. According to a study in the December issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psy chology, Dr. David A. Dunning has shown that the least com petent people tend to be the most sure of their competence. On a series of tests gauging logic, English grammar and oth er skills, Dunning found that subjects who scored in the low est percentile were the most likely to “grossly overestimate†how well they had done. The New York Times reports that the research aligns with other studies showing that the vast ma jority of people rate themselves as “above average†on a variety of abilities — despite the fact the widespread excellence suggested by such widespread confidence is statistically impossible. Perhaps a political lesson can be gleaned from these psycho logical results. There is no doubt that George W. Bush, front-runner for the Re publican presidential nomination, believes in himself and his apti tude for the job. His claim to lead ership ability has become a cam paign slogan. He goes out of his way to point out that he reads real ly big books. Unlike that guy Dan Quail, he can spell. Those who question his political experience — which consists exclusively of two gubernatorial terms — receive little more than a summary scoff. Of course, Dunning’s study does not prove that the mere ex pression of self-confidence is evi dence for actual incompetence. It could be, after all, that Bush is right about his command of the issues. But he will have to do more than be sure of himself to contin ue riding his wave of popularity. If nothing else, Dunning’s results reaffirm the warning to those who stand: "Take heed lest you fall.†And to Bush and all other can didates who believe unswerving ly in their competence, take heed lest you fail. Americans would rather have a president who admits faults that prove un founded than one who robotical ly repeats “I know how to lead†only to find out that he does not. — Caleb McDaniel The Motion Picture Associa tion of America (MPAA) has been placing its rating system on movies for years. The familiar G through NC-17 ratings have so graced or cursed movies that di rectors will cut shots, dialogue or even entire scenes to get a low er rating. When parents do not let children see any R- or PG-13- rated movies, the director must cut to ensure a bigger audience. However, the MPAA rankings are not only arbitrary, but uninfor mative and imprecise. Two entirely different movies, American Pie and Die Hard, both received an R rating. American Pie is a sexual comedy, while Die Hard received its R rating for vio lence and language. But, in the eyes of the MPAA, they are both R-rated movies. As another example, The Iron Giant and Dead Poet's Society are both rated PG. The movies are nothing alike. The Iron Giant is a children’s cartoon with some jokes only a grown-up would understand, while Dead Poet's Society is well above the head of most ten-year-olds — and many 30-year-olds for that matter. Yet, they received the same rating. The MPAA should take a page from television's book and insti tute a more precise and informa tive system. The small screen currently uses an age scale, simi lar to the MPAA’s. Television rates content some may find objectionable such as foul language, violence, adult sit uations or nudity. Such rankings for movies will not only aid parents who believe the content of movies affects the content of character, but it will also help moviegoers of all ages determine if they find a movie ob jectionable before shelling out the price of a ticket. Hollywood’s wallet fetish is one reason — the other being the MPAA’s total lack of connec tion to the public — the rating system will not be improved. No matter how necessary they may be, the changes will negatively affect the bottom line. The MPAA is quoting one of its favorite sons, Clark Gable, by telling the public, “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.†— Chris Huffines society’s troubles should come before Mars exploration se & Oils Indian Cl ic Crosses • Henna Kils ions An • Zen Garden! Rings • Mushroom Lam' Aml>er • Gongs & Dnir e Battalion Online ers access to news from \ssociated Prei provides contii# lews coverage fro r 'Id’s oldest, largest /ia The Battalion'! 1 live, up to tbe-minute no«[Bp(»u |l? iloiics wilh pholos, giaphics, smU 1 bnllelins delivered as soon as nw†isiness. Sports, Science, Irtnoktr ial Sections. MATT ROY/Tiik Battalion O n Monday of last week, engi neers and scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Labora tory attempted to contact the missing Mars Polar Lander for the final time. The only answer they heard back was silence — the missing lander is the sec ond loss for NASA’s Mars Surveyor Pro ject in its attempts to study the formidable red planet. The first loss was the Mars Cli mate Orbiter, which burned up while trav eling through the Martian atmosphere last September. While these losses weigh heavily on the hearts of the scientific community, the losses weigh even more heavily on the taxpayer’s wallet. The red planet has been the dream of all people, scientist and lay person alike and has been the subject of speculation, books and theories. It is the nearest planet with the possibility to sustain life, which is one of the reasons NASA initiated the Mars Surveyor Program. The goal of the program was to search for evidence of past and present life, to understand the history of Mars, and to see what resources the planet may have to of fer. As of now, NASA is planning to launch one more orbiter next year with another lander waiting in the wings. Yet, after the loss of the $165 million Mars Po lar Lander, it is time for NASA to reassess the the program and decide if it is worth the cost to the public. For many, the an swer is a resounding no. Exploring Mars does not rank high on their priority list. Taxpayers have more important issues to spend their money on than scientific research of the red planet. Though society has received many every day conveniences from NASA research, one cannot see any viable items coming from the Mars Surveyor Program. Further, while NASA stated that these missions to the red planet were to be at low cost to taxpayers, millions of dollars especially when lost on failed missions, is not a low price. The money spent on the Mars explo ration project could be put to better use. The money could help fund the failing Social Security program, a tax cut, or to reduce the trade deficit. In everyday life for the citizens of the United States, the Mars exploration is just another way the government is mis using our money. The United States could use funds from the Mars program to help its citizens. NASA has begun to look into the loss of the lander and of the total failure Mars pro gram. After a careful and detailed investiga tion, the board will most likely draw the same conclusions the public has come to. The Mars program, though scientifically worthwhile, is not in the best interest of the government — or the general population — at this time. The money already spent can not be recovered, but by choosing to stop the program, the government can prevent more money from being wasted. There are many more urgent places for that money to be spent than on the Mars program. With a steady crime rate, overcrowding of jails, and too few police officers, the gov ernment could give money spent on the Mars exploration projects to states in the form of block grants. This new aid could help hire more officers or build more jails. Society is plagued with problems that the few million dollars saved could help solve. Before looking to the stars, people need to look within the country and face its everyday problems. The government cannot ignore its problems and let our cit izens suffer the consequences. People should search within this country and to try to solve the problems of homeless ness, poverty and crime. By spending the money in more impor tant ways, the United States, can be made a better place for its people. Mars should be studied later when our country can afford to spend $165 million, but the standard of living cannot be expected to rise while spending money exploring other planets. Brieanne Porter is a freshman chemical engineering major battalion.tamu’