Monday, June 12,2000
Dallas
series
londay, June 12, 2000
Page 5
THE BATTALION
hree-overtime Game 5, but
ead didn't last two minutes
sey this time.
.'dermayer ended the Dev-
iute, 33-second scoreless
ist Bel four on a 3-on-l break
Devils' second short-hand-
s many games in Dallas,
^emieux started the play by
I vain Cote at the blue line,
ly Pandolfo'spasstosetup
er, who played junior hock-
coach Ken Hitchcock,
rsey's first lead since the
1 of Game 4 lasted only 1:05
? Keane tied it with only the
I in four games for Dallas,
ano made a drop pass to
ton, who threaded the pud
ce for Keane's high wrister
ight circle that sailed past
6:27.
ims had a flurry of chances
period. The Devils' Colin
ie post and Elias struck the
and Brodeur stopped
short-range shot from the
vay through the first period
he most physical and ram-
of the series — it appeared
listing the cup wouldbethe
lough players left to do so,
am lost a key player: de-
Darryl Sydor for Dallas and
rward Petr Sykora for New
was taken to a hospital ona
ir examination followinga
I neutral zone collision with
•erian Hatcher at 12:08.Tesls
gative, but Sykora waste
ight for observation,
r appeared to hit Sykora
oow up, but no penalty was
ysical play increased signif-
er that. Arnott hooked his
r Nieuwendyk's leftlegte
i immediately after a faceofi
r endyk was not hurt despit
into the ice back first.
Rosie, get your gun
Talk show host and gun-control activist hypocritical
iy employing bodyguard with concealed handgun
MARK
PASSWATERS
A s her fame has
, J\ grown because of
. A.her popular telev
ision show over the past
wyears, Rosie O'Don-
ell has become an out-
oken proponent of sev-
ral hot issues. The one
si' has gotten the most
ttention for is her stance on gun control.
The "Queen of Nice" has become, over
lepast year, the "Queen of No Second
jnendment." She has often said that all
uns should be taken from private citizens
nd that only police should be armed, and
lehas worked hard to get her message out.
■isodoing, she publicly accused Tom Sell-
Ick, a member of the National Rifle Associa-
■on (NRA), of causing the Columbine High
pcliool massacre while he was on her show
■romoting a movie.
She has also called Charleton Heston, the
[resident of the NRA, a "fascist" for his pro-
m views. Rosie should know better than to
ess with Moses, who in turn labeled her
lokyo Rosie." Now, Heston can use another
nice phrase to describe O'Donnell: Morally
inkrupt.
Two weeks after O'Donnell was the
ilebrity chair of the Million ryfom March and
[ferring to Texas as the "Wild West" because
fits concealed weapons law, a Connecticut
xlyguard applied for a concealed weapons
ermit for a 9 mm pistol. The reason? To pro-
ict Rosie O'Donnell and her 5-year-old son.
Hypocrisy, thou have a horrible New York
cent. What is not good for the rest of the na
tion is good for Rosie O'Donnell? When
essed on the issue, O'Donnell told the Con-
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necticut newspaper Greenwich Time that she
did not have a problem with people owning
guns, so long as they were properly trained to
use them. When it was pointed out that the
NRA trains people to use their weapons cor
rectly, O'Donnell immediately went back to
her original stance that all guns should be
banned.
With people still criticizing her for hav
ing two faces on this issue, a baffled O'Don
nell stated her case to that bastion of tough
journalism. People magazine. "Whether or
not my family is in need of armed guards,
that doesn't change my position on gun
control," O'Donnell huffed and puffed.
"It's not inconsistent."
It is not? Advocating the repeal of the Sec
ond Amendment and then providing the
money for someone to buy a gun is not incon
sistent? It is not only inconsistent, it is blatant
ly hypocritical. O'Donnell seems to to think
that since she does not carry a gun on her per
son, employing people who do carry them
will not besmirch her reputation.
Time to make that Exit from Eden, Rosie,
and join reality. One of the reasons she has no
use for guns is she already has guards. Due to
the fact that somewhere, someone made the
crucial error of thinking this woman had tal
ent, she has a great deal of money. This allows
her to sit behind the walls of her Greenwich
estate and pontificate about all that is wrong
with America — while guards armed with
weapons stroll around outside.
A lot of people do not like O'Donnell, and
she feels threatened. Many other people
around the country are also disliked and feel
the need to defend themselves. As a result,
they buy guns for protection. The only differ
ence between their situation and
O'Donnell's is she is rich enough
to have someone else carry the
gun for her. The weight of being a
martyr for her cause is enough of a
load to carry around.
From her comments, O'Donnell
is showing herself to be a monumen
tal hypocrite. But she is not alone. This
"do as I say, not as I do" mental
ity seems to be pervasive among
members of the entertainment
community. Before society follows
their lead, these celebrities need
to show some leadership.
O'Donnell spouts off
about banning guns from |
behind armed guards.
Musician Don Henley
has his own environ
mental organization,
Walden Woods, yet flies to
his concerts on a private jet
while the rest of his en
tourage takes another plane.
Ted Turner and Jane Fonda
are also involved in environmen
tal causes, yet have massive fleets
of luxury automobiles, jets
and yachts. They pollute the
society at a far greater rate
than most citizens, yet they have
the gall to complain about other people's be
havior? Apparently this can be done when
you are such a wonderful person, and all of
these examples are — just ask them.
O'Donnell may think a "vast right-wing
conspiracy" is making her into a national joke,
but it really is not. Rush Limbaugh, Heston
and other conservative voices need not do a
thing to besmirch Rosie's reputation, because
she is perfectly capable of doing it herself.
If O'Donnell really thinks,she can be a pro
ponent of gun control just because she per
sonally does not have a gun — just hires other
people to carry it for her — she is truly clue-
RUBEN DELUNA/The Battalion
less. If she is going to advocate such a stance
to the nation, she has to be willing to apply
the same standards that she places on society
to herself.
Mark Passwnters is a senior electrical
engineering major.
Portrait removal wrong,
mistakes historical truth
ort.
i skin testing and allergy
:ion coordinator Margaret
lergy sufferers visit A.P.
•rmation, and help from8
jgh Friday or call Dial-a-
ontinued from Pagel
rhat was going on between
heard rumors. They heard
nate their partnership and
>1 because of the renegotia-
th Scott and White," Noren
da ip is put into effect, then,
occur for four years, which
his or her education."
n a letter to A&M medical
ts receive training and edn-
■ System (VA) and the Scott
ty of Scott and White mak-
tension felt on behalf of the
ie future of the A&M and
of the College of Medicine,
dean of A&:M's College of
dee president for academic
ies the College of Medicine
d of the American Medical
dace McCallum until anen’
ended his June 16 deadline
ititutions.
A historical dispute
surrounds the por
trait of Gibb
ilchristin the building
lamed after him. On Nov.
11, Texas A&M and the
Texas Transportation Insti-
ute (TT1) dedicated the
uilding located near Re-
:earch Park in honor of Gibb Gilchrist and his
lignified achievements. As former president of
A&M, former chancellor of the Texas A&M Uni
versity System, dean of the engineering depart
ment and head of the State Highway Depart-
nertt, Gilchrist deserved
ecognition and reward. In
fionor of his contributions to
he state and the University, a
oortrait of Gilchrist was placed
nside the building's entrance.
So the trouble began. In the
Portrait, Gilchrist sits in front of
painting of Robert E. Lee,
general of the Confederate
Army. The background portrait
)f Lee has understandably
:aused some controversy.
Dr. Herbert Richardson
lirector of TTI said stu-
lents and members of
he faculty were offend-
:d by the background
vith Lee . Richardson ex-
hained that the portrait was re-
JEFF SMITH/Thi: Bahai, ion
held him in high esteem. The painting's re
moval clearly shunned Gilchrist and his beliefs.
Those who asked for the portrait's removal are
incorrectly associating Lee with poor character
and promotion of slavery. The truth is being
erased, and history is being rewritten. Worst of
all, by ignoring historical fact and by allowing
the portrait's removal, A&M damages its own
credibility.
History is history, and Lee does not deserve
such harassment and discredit. While almost
everyone agrees the Confederacy represented
some foul principles such as slavery, people must
also note that the Confederate states fought for
many worthy causes as well.
Both the Confederate army
and Lee have been discredited
and persecuted for their stance
in the war. Lee's characteriza
tion needs reassessment.
Noted as a military genius,
Robert E. Lee was the embod
iment of patriotism and loyal
ty to one's country. Jnstead of
being offended by a man who
believed in nationalism, peo
ple should honor and uphold
ee as a dedicated, deter
mined patriarch. A native Vir
ginian, Lee found himself
caught between the Union
l and Confederacy. Not willing
to take arms against his own
blood, Lee chose to represent
noved because TTI did not want
:o tarnish Gilchrist's honor with the controver-
ial issue.
Richardson made the decision to remove the
I picture. Although Richardson must be recog-
lized for his sensitive to the issue, there should
lot have been controversy in the first place. To
>pend one's energy arguing over the pains of
listory is a waste of time. History is not and
ihould not be considered offensive. The re-
neval of the portrait was a mistake; it reveals a
Here glimpse into a much greater issue — the
nisrepresentation of history. While the Gilchrist
amily has agreed with the decision, the direc-
iorofTTl overreacted, thus causing innumer
able negative effects. The true history of Lee has
een cast aside for political reasons. One must
onsider that as time passes, fewer representa
tives of history's truth remain to speak on be-
alf of its defense.
In honoring Gilchrist, his decision to pose in
ont of Lee should be respected. Obviously
ilchrist respected the Confederate general and
the Confederacy. Called to serve the
South, Lee performed above and beyond his
call of duty. According to Kenneth C. Davis'
Don't Know Much About the Civil War, Lee said
he personally opposed slavery as "a moral and
political evil," but "Lee supported the preserva
tion of the union that his father and uncles had
helped to create." Lee's fight was not to uphold
slavery, but rather to preserve states' rights. For
Lee to stand by and watch tyranny overrule
democracy was to disrespect and disservice his
forefathers.
In light of this injustice, people must learn to
accept history's mistakes instead of burying the
past in order to avoid the cold truths.
Using the portrait of Lee in the background of
Gilchrist's portrait did not mean he was a racist,
but rather he respect ed a great man. Taking of
fense should not have been an issue. This situation
demonstrates how easily history can be erased.
Lee was a great man who deserves the same honor
and respect Gilchrist does.
Amber Rasco is a junior journalism major.
Junk food tax hurts *
personal freedom
E ating that big burger and luscious
chocolate pie may start costing
more, if a so-called public interest
group has its way.
The Center for Science in the Public In
terest wants states to tax “junk
foods,” like candy, soft drinks and
gum, and then use the revenues to
promote healthy lifestyles.
Taxing foods because they are
deemed unhealthy is completely
wrong. The government should have
no say over the food choices people
make, no matter what health problems
the choices may cause.
After all, the war on drugs in the
’80s flopped, as the undeclared war
on cigarettes is now. No matter the
cost, people still buy and use products
that the government taxes for being
unhealthy.
Those who advocate taxing “bad for
you” things like junk food and sports
utility vehicles are encouraging social
ism, as much as they may deny it. The
U.S. government was not intended to
make rules concerning matters of its
citizens’ basic personal freedoms.
Surely the Constitution’s framers
would have added freedom of appetite
if they had known the topic could be
come debatable.
It is unbelievable that in a country
with personal freedom in areas like
abortion, some people could want to
limit personal freedom in another facet
of life.
Viewpoints
Although people are paying higher
health insurance, life expectancies
have risen dramatically in the last cen
tury, despite Americans’ eating McDon
ald’s Quarter Pounders. Do people re
ally want to extend their lives so much
that they end up spending 20-plus
years in an adult diaper?
History books recount what hap
pened at the Boston Tea Party and
with prohibition. Americans are not
known for being understanding when
the government tries to force people to
cut down on something they like. Let
the people have their cake, if they
want, and eat it too.
— Jill Riley
Drivers’ safety more
important than flower
J udging from legislation such as re
strictive speed limits, seat belt
laws, and DUI restrictions, traffic
safety is a primary concern in the Unit
ed States. But certain lawmakers
seem to think otherwise, judging from
a recent decision to forestall improving
the stretch of Highway 6 between
FM159 and the Navasota River.
Construction plans have been put on
hold at least until fall, because during
an environmental check the Texas De
partment of Transportation discovered
the area could support the Navasota
Ladies Tress, an endangered wildflower.
The transportation department
must wait for an environmental survey
before road improvement plans can be
made. Enough rain must fall this au
tumn to meet Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department standards before officials
can determine whether the flower is
present.
It is utterly ridiculous to forestall
road improvements that could save hu
man lives because of a flower that may
not exist. Letting one flower go is not
going to wreck the ecological system
‘of Bryan-College Station.
On the other hand, forestalling con
struction further will almost certainly
result in the loss of more lives. Since
January 2000, there have been 20 ac
cidents along this stretch of Highway
6. The accidents resulted in 15 in
juries and two fatalities.
The delay might be more under
standable if construction could begin
this fall. But chances of this actually
happening are slim. The last time
wildlife officials were satisfied with the
amount of rain was in 1993, according
to Michael A. Carpenter, environmental
coordinator at the Bryan Department
of Transportation office. If enough rain
does not fall this autumn, will environ
mentalists expect motorists to wait an
other year before Highway 6 can be
made safer?
It is a sad day when a wildflower is
considered more important than hu
man lives. The Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department needs to realize
that although ecological balance is im
portant, losing one flower probably will
not make much of a difference.
— Jessica Crutcher
Mail Call
Students react to removal of
portrait in Gibb Gilchrist building
In response to Stuart Hutson’s June 8 article.
I think it is wonderful that Texas A&M University is be
coming more sensitive to race-related issues and the feel
ings of non-white people. However, the University is begin
ning to go overt^pard with the issue of sensitivity. The
removal of former president Gilchrist’s portrait is ridiculous.
•If A&M is to continue this campaign of oversensitivity,
then it should remove the statue of Laurence Sullivan
Ross. OF Sully was a Confederate soldier and slaveholder,
and shot retreating Native Americans in their backs. His
statue should offend more than anything else.
Samecia M. Bloomfield
Class of ’01
I am disgusted the portrait of a former president of our
great school was removed because a few politically correct
people took it upon themselves to impose their views.
To equate Lee to racism is ridiculous and shows the
ignorance of the persons who complained. The South se
ceded because of economic reasons and because the
government was violating the Constitution. Lee was a
man of great character as were most of the leaders of the
South like President Davis and Stonewall Jackson. The age
of political correctness is sickening. The anti-South propa
ganda that is pervasive in our society and textbooks needs
to stop now. Please let us Southerners be proud of our her
itage without being blasted with names such as racist and
bigot. That is all I ask.
James Drew
Class of ’01
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