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n Oct. 7. the United States took the first steps of retali
ation against the Taliban and Osama bin Laden’s al-
Qaida network. In Austin, students from the University
Texas started protested against “Bush’s racist war.”
\nNew York City, Athena Shapiro was holding a memorial
ice for her mother, who was killed in the attack on the
orldTrade Center. There would be no funeral; her mother’s
body was incinerated by the 2400 degree heat
caused by initial explosion.
In the minds of most Americans, there is no
question that this fight that has been brought to
our shores is one that we must not only take
on. but win. It is likely that this conflict will
not be short, but drawn out and away from the
public eye. Some people, over time, may
waver in their support of America’s war on
terrorism. Those individuals, as well as those
ktooppose military action, should be reminded in the starkest
lossible terms why this battle is being fought.
is a pathetic form of selfish ignorance that causes the anti-
var Protesters to take to the streets. They are able to justify the
clionsthat killed 6000 people. According to them, there are
igitimate reasons that led to thousands of children to grow up
ithout their mothers or fathers. They are wrong.
The United States is not the reason the Palestinian people do
lot have their own state. Former Israeli leader Ehud Barak
iffered a comprehensive land for peace deal to Yasser Arafat last
ear, and it was rejected. Arafat cannot have peace with Israel;
here are too many Palestinians w ho seek the extermination of
he Jews for that to be possible. Real peace would be Arafat’s
indoing. In simple terms, American support for Israel prevents a
mg.
That is hoi
T she’s aware
-rent the
«.i on campus.
do well.”
is open to Blin
nts, and tryoui
=h April. J(
rhool seniors
Dut priorto
econd holocaust. The withdraw! of American support for the
very one tolitei state a humanitarian disaster.
The United States is not the reason that tens of thousands of
raqi children are starving to death. Saddam Hussein, a villain
toallsave those on the far American left, is the root of their
iemise. Iraq is now the second largest exporter of oil in the
not like us.”sit wrld under United Nations regulations that stipulate that Iraq
will train harda nustusethe money they make on food and supplies for its peo-
squad will hat >le- Instead, Saddam uses the money on his military and
weapons of mass destruction, leaving the Kurds and Shiites who
pose his regime to die. Saddam Hussein has added $7 billion
to his personal checking accounts since the end of the Gulf War,
andhehasdone nothing humanitarian with it or any other
monies. Still, confused people blame America for his misdeeds.
BinLaden says that he fights for the rights of Palestinians
md for the children of Iraq. His followers and opponents of the
'where in America seem to believe him. These are merely
asesthat Bin Laden has recently co-opted in an attempt to
- 9 ^support for his suicidal assault on the United States. His
goalis the removal of American troops from Saudi Arabia and
’ creation of an Islamic republic in that nation. He is willing
every American to achieve his objective.
Bin Laden and the Taliban have declared jihad against
America and have stated that they will not be satisfied until
even single Christian and Jew is dead. They claim their warped
|rsion of Islam gives them justification to kill innocent women
children. “We have as many people here that want to die as
you said an al-Qaida spokesman.
some Americans think we can sit down and talk out our
issues. A conversation can only happen when two sides are wili
ng to speak and to listen. Our enemies do their speaking with
Mbs and airplanes filled with innocent men, women and
Ipdren. Since this did not happen to them, or affect anyone
yknow, protesters continue to demand that we “Make
ove, not war.’
Maybe this will change their minds; Somewhere in
ifghanistan sits a man with a gun prepared to kill them, their
lends and every member of their family. He thinks that he is
ustified by the word of God. He thinks that the destruction of
World Trade Center was a great victory. He also thinks that
, |-j 0 || eman ) America does not have the courage to send people to find and
U itophim. There are others like him.
er your
MENTS
ou ready
ne week
i S n
it-
irance
Notepads
infing.com
Mark Passwaters is a senior political science major.
GEORGE
DEUTSCH
ike some
thing out
fof a col
lege student’s
dreams, the
University of
Houston is cre
ating an aca
demic program
to prepare stu
dents for a
career in the
wine and spirits
industry. This
new division of
UH, the Wine and
Spirits Management
Institute, will offer
students a serious
approach to a $100-bil-
lion industry often asso
ciated with social irre
sponsibility and reckless
overindulgence.
UH is not the first school to
focus on the world of wine and
spirits, but many other colleges and uni
versities offering such programs rarely escape
the realm of the popular tasting-related classes.
Backed by big names such as Guinness, Ernest and
Julio Gallo, and Robert Mondavi, the new Institute will
provide significantly better training to an ever-expanding
line of work, while also giving students a central location to
learn about the wine and spirits industry.
“There has never been one place to get an education in our
industry’s practices,” said Guinness Southwest President
Stephen Nelson. “The Institute will afford
students solid training, leading to better
employment options and higher entry-level
salaries.”
And it is this “solid training” that has
been absent in other alcohol-related educa
tional programs of the past. The wine and
spirits industry is well known in the business
world for a high turnover rate and underquali
fied management, concerns that have not gotten
any better in recent years.
Because alcohol misuse all too often results in death, it is of
prime importance that these issues are addressed in a responsible
and formal manner.
“A lot of the people who get into this field think, ‘You
mean I can go out every night and party?” said Institute
Director Glenn Cordua. It is
this type of irresponsible men
tality that the new Institute is
trying to combat.
With available careers in
manufacturing, distribution,
hotel operation and restaurant
sales, the wine and spirits
field is far reaching, making it
important to have a continu
ous supply of welLtrained per
sonnel. The new Institute will
teach both marketing and retail
techniques and demystify the
numerous rules and regulations sur
rounding liquor and wine sales.
With 15 hours of credit, students can
get their commercial beverage manage
ment certificate and be well on their way
to pouring beers and serving shots.
Other schools, like Florida
International University and the
University of Nevada, have
announced plans to institute
programs similar to this. But
the UH Institute promises to be
serious and business-like in its
approach. “We only have one
course that’s tasting-related,” j
Cordua said.
Ideally, these new pro
grams will decrease both
alcohol-related deaths and the
industry’s high employment
turnover rates, but it is much
too soon to judge its effective
ness. Although these problems
never may be wiped out complete
ly, it is important to focus on them so
that college students and others may
continue to drink in peace.
George Deutsch is a junior
journalism major.
Knowledge
in college
of the vine
Programs focusing
on the alcohol
business a positive
CHAD MALLAM • THE BATTALION
EDITORIAL
m
iut
s for
rism
m 114,
arks
p er
S**
3
ffairs
Tex as A dr M University — Celebrating 125 Years
THE BATTALION
EDITORIAL BOARD
ASM COMMUNITY SINCE 1893
Brady Creel
Mariano Castillo
Cayla Carr
Jonathan Jones
Rolando Garcia
Editor in Chief
Managing Editor
Opinion Editor
Opinion Editor
News Editor
RHA, Reslife Failed Texas A&M Students
The Residence Hall Association (RHA) voted
last week against a recommendation requesting
that students be allowed to hang American flags
outside residence hall windows. This is unac
ceptable and wrong in a time of national tragedy,
RHA failed its constituency. For that, RHA
must make amends with on-campus residents.
Apparently, administrators are doing a better
job of hearing student concerns than elected
student representatives.
Dr. J. Malon Southerland, to whom the
Department of Residence Life answers, issued a
statement Monday night providing that students
may hang American flags “provided they do so
a safe manner, and University personnel are
available to assist them.” Southerland's deci
sive actions are laudable; however, he must
take immediate steps to mediate between pro
tocols of safety and students' desires to hang
flags. In the meantime, students should side
step the prudence of ResLife and RHA and
proudly display their flags in residence halls.
RHA should have more aggressively repre
sented on-campus Aggies by working with
ResLife to reach a compromise on how flags
can be displayed, lest ResLife and RHA ignore
the responsible wishes of those whom they are
supposed to serve.
ResLife and RHA have cited safety concerns
as one of the reasons for forbidding students to
hang the American flag. But exceptions to this
rule are occasionally made, including for hang
ing residence hall banners at the beginning of
each semester. To forbid students to hang
potentially offensive items outside their win
dows is the right thing to do. The University has
a right to protect its property and the safety of
those in the residence halls.
However, hanging the American flag during a
difficult time is a special case. Aggies living in
residence halls overwhelmingly want to hang
flags, and that must happen.
The measure voted upon by RHA is perfunc
tory, not active legislation; RHA is a representa
tive body of on-campus Aggies, serving in an
advisory role to ResLife.
Yet with this recent action, both have miserably
failed the students they are supposed to serve.
ResLife claims to be concerned with student safe
ty, but what about the safety of the brave men
and women defending their country? This is the
campus of Red, White and Blue Out — a culture
of ingrained patriotism — and the administration
should do whatever is necessary to allow stu
dents to responsibly display their pride, patriot
ism and support for those servants of freedom.
Some students expressed concern that allow
ing only American flags to be displayed would
create an exclusionary environment and be a
detriment to campus diversity. This is likewise
foolish. The United States, a nation under siege,
should have her flag take precedence over any
other symbol. Americans, and those from
across the globe who support freedom and
democracy, should have no qualms with citi
zens or anyone else supporting the United
States in a time of national crisis.
After all, Aggies could be burning flags
instead of flying them.
CARTOON OF THE DAY
—
AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY
TlW RV&Ob/vi'f-'
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 Battalion — Mail Call
014 Reed McDonald • MS 1111
Texas A&M University
College Station, IX
77843-1111
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
also may be mailed to:
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