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Thursday, June 22, 2000
THE BATTALION
Page 5
New York’s whiniest
New York police protest of Springsteen song unfounded, infringes on singer’s free speech
B ruce Springsteen sparked
protest from the New York
Police Department (NYPD)
with his musical tribute to Amadou
Diallo, who was killed by New York
police. Officers fired 41 bullets at Di
allo as he reached for his wallet to
provide identification.
Springsteen rants about the Dial-
■monti q
.mg sounds alike, andii
?re are only eight trackst
TD makes the albumli
ind not worth the
last CD, A Thousands
1998, is a better buy
ariety of hard and enjc
ic sounds.
d is going in a different
sically and is not afraid
s response. They shot
>e afraid of Ghost & FI
sales. (Grade: C-)
Dewey Bat
Kid Rock
American Badass
urtesy of Atlantic^®
lock is an American bite
country is in a sad stall
ffairs. This new album
of songs from Kid
albums remixed for a
us one extra new song
lo tragedy in his song "American Skin." Springsteen's
bittersweet song speaks on behalf of its victim and is
quick to blame the NYPD, forcing it to face the error of
its ways. In defense of its reputation, the New York
!ity Policeman Benevolent Association and its presi-
ent, Pat Lynch, have
Music must be
valued as a
great form of
express ionistic
art, not
shunned and
disgraced.
called for a boycott of
Springsteen's current
concerts at Madison
Square Garden. Lynch
said, "I consider it an
outrage that he would
be trying to fatten his
wallet by reopening
the wounds of this
tragic case."
Lynch should cast
his arrogance aside for
moment — Spring-,
steen enjoys making music, and his success is im
mense. Springsteen's motive is not to make a profit,
but to criticize recent police actions.
The NYPD deserves all the negative media atten
tion it has received. Referring to Springsteen as a "dirt-
Bob Lucente, president of the New York chapter
of the Fraternal Order of Police, defines what it means
to be shallow. Lucente should take a long, hard look in
the mirror and take the dirt out of his own eye before
pointing out Springsteen's faults.
Boycotting Springsteen's concert is an immature
way for the police force to refuse to deal with the con
sequences of its actions. Such a protest is insensible and
selfish, and it demonstrates a refusal to honor Diallo's
untimely fate.
Face the music boys — severe misconduct results in
severe consequence. Ridicule is the price paid for such
outlandish wrongdoing.
The New York police argue that Springsteen's testi-'
mony serves no common good. However, such a con
victing song should be prompted and learned from,.
The song brings to surface some unpleasant memories;
the memory of such a tragedy should not die with Di
allo. America is quick to forgive when remorse is
shown. Had the NYPD given an apology rather than
belittle a musician for stating his opinion, n6 conflict
would be at hand. The NYPD's reaction to Spring
steen's song is childish and an embarrassment to the
department.
Boycotting this musical virtuoso sends another neg
ative message to the American public. The police seem
to be saying that singing about Diallo's death is off-
limits. Bruce Springsteen should not be punished for
utilizing his constitutional right to freedom of speech,
but rather be applauded for the audacity and ge
nius behind his song.
Free speech does not please
everyone; someone or some
thing often suffers. Limiting
Springsteen's freedom of ex
pression makes a mockery
of democracy and liberty.
Springsteen's popularity
stems from his repertoire of
songs about the highs
and lows, glories and
tragedies of the Amer
ican dream. His music
pleads for justice and
harmony and acts as an
instrument for change.
Springsteen's talent
and heart address is
sues and make pro
found political state
ments that need to be
heard by the NYPD. Music
must be valued and upheld
as a great form of expression-
istic art, not shunned and dis
graced.
Throughout history, peo
ple have used music to
protest certain institutions
and injustices. Buffalo
Springfield's "For What It's
Worth" and Bob Dylan's ballads defined a
generation seeking peace, not war. As Crosby, Stills,
Nash and Young's recent tour came to a close, America
remembered four Kent State University students who
were killed by the Ohio National Guard as they
protested the Vietnam War. As the group sings "Ohio,"
people remember and mourn for the fallen victims of
authoritative abuse and injustice. Music represents
people. To boycott a great American artist is to ignore
both his constitutional rights and the voices of the
American people. Music has glued the nation to
gether in times of brokenness and has implemented
change as musicians like Springsteen speak for
citizens. Therefore, music's voice should not be
hushed. It should be recognized as the american pulse.
Amber Rasco is a
junior journalism major.
JEFF SMITH/The Battalion
does this say about
jys he is trying to pawn
; on a new audience
itly jumped can theKidF®
an.
Ibum isn't as good as
t a total disgrace,
sgrace is the ego Kid 1)
he not learned from
dr bands? Hehasabot
nore of popularity bet
ular on VHl's "Where
v?"
bum's theme is hacklier
t of the songs concentrat
ag and trailer trash, just!
bum, and since thesonp
n previous Kid Rockrele
s like he doesn't have®
ience to write about.
>f Kid Rock who don't o’
ous albums will definb
s one, but everyone
:ip this release and his of
mmer tour. (Grade: C+)
-Kyle mm
Splitting Microsoft helps
users, other companies
' lI ^ /'
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O n June 7, 2000, Judge
Thomas Penfield Jack-
son made one of the
greatest decisions for American
consumers. Jackson ordered
that Microsoft be split up into
two companies and he also
ordered both companies to
comply with a list of restric
tions on their business practices. The breakup de
cision should have been made a long time ago, as
the effects from this ruling will only be ad
vantageous for consumers. Eventually
this decision will create more bal
anced competition in the software
industry. Consumers will benefit
from the breakup because it will
weaken Microsoft's monopoly
power, lowering software prices
and giving consumers more choices in
software applications.
The division of Microsoft means
the company will have to separate
its Windows operating system from its
software products. On PC machines,
it is almost impossible to use sys
tems besides Microsoft. Microsoft
has made it clear that it has no
compassion for consumer needs.
Traditionally, Microsoft has re
fused to make software for other
operating systems. In fact, if a con
sumer chooses to use a program like
Linux he or she cuts down the number
of programs, especially Microsoft pro- v ~
grams, available. With the breakup of c
Microsoft this will mean that more of Mi
crosoft's software programs, like Word,
will have to become compatible with
more systems.
Microsoft is the true definition of a
monopoly. Windows computer oper- JEFF SIV|,TH / l H,: Battalion
ating systems runs on nine out of 10 personal com-'
puters. How can any software company compete
with that? The breakup will certainly increase com
petition by leveling out the operating systems. If
more software companies make their products for
systems other than Windows, then Microsoft will
have to lower its prices on its own software to
compete by lowering their prices. "If Microsoft even
sees itself has having more competition, it is that
much more likely to lower its prices," said Silicon
Valley antitrust lawyer Rich Gray. The decision for
the division of Microsoft will be good not
only for consumers but also for other
software companies.
Furthermore, the breakup of Mi
crosoft is warranted because Microsoft
waged an illegal campaign to preserve its
monopoly on operating systems by intimi
dating others and binding Microsoft soft
ware programs to the operating systems.
With the decision, Microsoft will be
prohibited from linking software pro
grams to Windows. This will be an excel
lent advantage for people who want to
use alternative software products while
still using Windows.
Americans have seen a technological
breakup like this before — the 1984
breakup of American Telephone and
Telegraph (AT&T). Many feared that the
division would be bad for the telephone
N industry, but it turned out to be a bene-
^ ficial decision for American consumers
and the economy.
Judge Jackson made the right decision
with the Microsoft breakup. As technology
advances, America will see more of these
types of monopolies and more people like
Bill Gates. They must be stopped. In time,
> consumers will realize that Jackson was right.
We should be grateful for the breakup; it will
only be beneficial. Consumers will save
money and other software companies will
be able to prosper.
Sunnye Oivens is a junior journalism major.
Texas GOP full of misguided ideas
G eorge W. Bush, Texas' favorite
son, was apparently too busy
raising money to attend the
Texas convention of the GOR That's too
bad, because it would have been inter
esting to hear Bush explain how he had
no intention of paying any attention to
the state party platform.
Let's start with the "official" view to
ward foreign relations as outlined in the
Houston Chronicle: "End all forms of U.S.
participation in the United Nations. Re
peal the North American Free Trade
Agreement and General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade and withdraw from
the World Trade Organization." It's nice
to see that the isolationist Taft Republi
cans still have enough clout to influence
the party.
The UN is a classic kicking dog —
but NAFTA? Does anyone think that
Bush is going to disagree with his dad
dy on this one? Pull out of GATT and
the WTO? Republican leadership will
not even discuss such nonsense. The
distance between the stated desires of
the party faithful and the actions of the
people they seem to love are so great
that only a cosmologist could measure
the distance.
What about economic issues? "Abol
ish the income tax and the IRS." It's been
a long time since elected Republicans
have even joked about that. "Repeal
minimum wage laws" is always a popu
lar chant.
Here is a real howler that all econom
ics students can ask their professors
about: "Return the federal monetary sys
tem to the gold standard." What would
happen if a Republican presidential can-
Have not these
hayseeds noticed their
own politicians do not
even act on these
platform planks?
didate announced that he would actual
ly push to do such a thing if elected?
Business leaders would probably have
him shot.
Of course, the Republican convention
came up with some other old standards,
like "Prayer in school should be encour
aged" and "Corporal punishment in
Texas public schools is effective." These,
combined with "The U.S. Department of
Education should be abolished" are ap
parently all the Republicans' solutions to
our educational problems.
Interestingly, the party platform also
says "Gov. George W. Bush's 1994
pledge to abolish the authority of the
Texas Education Agency should be ful
filled." It's now 2000, and it is probably
not very high on his agenda.
Of course the God-fearing and all
knowing Republican convention of
fered its wisdom on religion as well.
In addition to prayer in schools, the
party platform states that "homosexu
al behavior is contrary to the funda
mental unchanging truths that have
been ordained by God." I always love
it when a political party tries to tell
people what God has ordained. It
reaffirms my faith in atheism.
Have not these hayseeds noticed
their own politicians do not even act on
these platform planks? Phil Gramm and
Kay Bailey Hutchison would not be
caught dead actually trying to enact
rpost of this populist garbage. But that
does not stop them from cheering the
crowds and collecting the votes.
Steve Forsberg is a columnist for
The Daily Cougar at the U. of Houston.
Mail Call
If University wants alcohol-free
housing, RAs need pay raise
In response to Jessica Crutcher's June 21 column.
One would hope that, along with blanketing the campus
with a substance-free title, the University plans to sub
stantially increase the pay of the resident advisers (RAs)
and graduate hall directors (GHDs).
Already the pay is too low for the amount of work being
done. If A&M chooses not to increase their pay, it is ridicu
lous to think that these over-worked, under-paid students
will actually enforce this no-alcohol rule.
In my opinion, there’s really no need for on-campus res
idents to get up in arms about this matter.
We all know they will never give the RAs and GHDs a
raise in pay, so its highly doubtful that the hall staff will give
the rule even a passing glance.
Tara Gray
Class of '99
The Battalion encourages letters to the editor. Letters must be 300 words
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The opinion editor reserves the right to edit letters for length, style, and
accuracy. Letters may be submitted in person at 014 Reed McDonald with a
valid student ID. Letters may also be mailed to:
The Battalion - Mail Call
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College Station, TX
77843-1111
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