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errorism
happen
enters denies that Sept. 11
ttacks were acts of terrorism
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teven Jukes, global editor
in chief for Reuters news
agency, has prohibited
is reporters from using the
ord “terrorists” to describe
lose responsible for the Sept,
attacks on America. In an
internal memo
to his staff,
Mr. Jukes
defended his
decision by
stating, “We
all know that
one man’s ter
rorist is anoth
er man’s free
dom Fighter.”
Mr. Jukes' inability to call
errorism by its proper name
tems from a problem plaguing
ociety today: a belief in moral
elativism. Moral relativism is
philosophy that asserts there
no objective moral truth in
he world. Whether an action is
ightor wrong depends on the
deasofthe individual or group
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exhaustandaca enorming that action. Despite
d 574-8052. tstolerant facade, moral rela-
:r-600. Grayii ivism is a bankrupt philosophy
at 693-6246 Ihat leads to self-contradiction
3000 miles. 5(3 tnd intellectual dishonesty.
[he primary argument for
7000 miles, cua noralrelativism is that because
haust, jet kit, tank! . . , ,
U j ndtviduals and cultures have
liffering moral practices there
an ENsoo, i3Kt* :annot be a set of universal
aat, $2400/080moral truths. Mr. Jukes ostensi-
oly prohibits the word “terror
ists” because he believes that to
be unbiased he must recognize
fiepossibility that other cul
tures do not consider the
todies in New York and
fehington, D.C., terrorism.
In actuality, there are many
moral values that are universal.
There is no society, for
example, where men are
praised for being cowards or
si where dishonesty is extolled as
a virtue.
Two people disagreeing on the
answer to a question does not
— mean the question has no
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never happened, but that does
not change the fact that it hap
pened. Or, as UNLV Professor
Francis Beckworth said, two
people who “disagree about
whether or not the earth is
round is not proof that the
earth has no shape.”
John O’Sullivan, editor in
chief for United Press
International, responded to
Jukes and said, “A terrorist is a
man who murders indiscrimi
nately ... We may want to
defeat his political cause or see
it triumph. For his methods,
however, the terrorist is always
to be condemned.”
O'Sullivan exhibits the
proper perspective on this
issue — he realizes that there
are differing opinions among
various groups, but he is not
afraid to state the obvious fact
that indiscriminate murder is
universally wrong and should
be universally condemned.
If one believes that there is
a difference in the world
between right and wrong, he
must believe there is a univer
sal standard by which these
qualities are measured.
Otherwise, for example, no
one could legitimately criticize
the Nazis for murdering mil
lions of Jews.
Murder may be considered
wrong by one group, but
absent an absolute truth by
which to measure, we cannot
say that murder should always
be considered wrong. We can
not, therefore, say that there is
anything inherently wrong
with murdering someone.
Along this line of thinking, we
must respect the rights of
other groups and individuals
to rape, steal, lie and murder
as long as they feel these
deeds are acceptable.
Of course, this is ludicrous
— but this is exactly where
moral relativism leads.
Relativists will counter that
the government would not
allow these things to go on.
But government derives its
power from the people. If the
government did allow these
things, would that make them
acceptable?
Former Cambridge
University professor C.S.
Lewis said, “Whenever you
find a man who says he does
n’t believe in a real Right and
Wrong, you will find the same
man going back on this a
moment later. He may break
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dvertising has become an important part
of American life in the last few decades.
No more commercials of exuberant or
carefree living urge you to feel insecure in your
sheltered or boring lives.
Instead, advertising in America has become
culturally acceptable and at
times even comforting after
the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Since then, advertising cam
paigns have been transformed
into socially sensitive displays
that would be almost impossi
ble to be taken the wrong way
by a country in mourning.
According to the Houston
Chronicle, Houston advertis
ing agency Fogarty Klein Monroe planned to
launch a campaign for Subway restaurants that
would promote their low-fat sandwiches and
encourage people to try healthy eating options.
This campaign would have been perfect for
LEIGH
HENDERSON
but the campaign became instantly offensive
and inappropriate. In the advertising for the
Subway campaign, Houston citizens were going
to be persuaded to lose weight as if it were a
military mission. -
The advertising campaign was planned to be
extensive and included issuing draft cards and
dog tags to those who wished to join the
weight-loss army. Fogarty Klein Monroe
planned to have Subway’s company spokesman,
Jared Fogle, act as Uncle Sam and proclaim
demandingly, “Jared Wants You!”
Such an advertising campaign would have
probably been successful, yet with the United
States in a war with terrorism, dreadfully
unsuitable at this time. Subway has since soft
ened their campaign with the “Subway
Challenge.”
Subway is not the only company that has
changed advertising tactics. In many cases,
advertising campaigns have been pulled alto
gether, such as the campaigns promoting Coca-
Cola and Pepsi. Most of these companies’
Advertising in America has become
culturally acceptable and at times
even comforting after the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
advertisements related the importance of drink
ing soda to the importance of joy and even life
itself. Advertising agencies know this is not
what the American people now want to hear.
It would be shameful if advertising agencies
ignored the feelings that have arose in America
lately. Americans are in an emotional and
wounded state, and agencies would be remiss
not to address the sorrow.
Thankfully, for the most part, advertisers have
done a job worthy of congratulation. Patriotism
has spread rampant with help from advertising
agencies that have eloquently commercialized
the people’s never-ending love of their country.
The country is in mourning, and advertising
agencies are wise not to jeopardize their success
by offending a nation set on justice. Advertising
agencies quickly recognized that after a tragedy
of this magnitude, Americans need to grieve
without the bombardment of joyously shallow
or offensive advertisements.
Advertisers did not thwart their responsibili
ties of influence, but decided to take the high
road by assuring the people that they, too feel
grief for what happened in New York City and
Washington, D.C., by caring for the well-being
of those here today.
his promise to you, but if you
try breaking one to him, he’ll
be complaining Tt’s not fair.’”
Whether they admit it or not,
everybody recognizes some
universal truths in the world.
No one can look at the savage
acts of Sept. 1 1 and believe that
there is no basis for determin-
Thank you stranger
On October 18 while reading out
side, I left my keys and wallet sitting
on a bench outside of Harrington.
When I came out an hour later, I
realized they were missing. After
checking the lost and found i
trudged back home thinking of all
the cards I would have to replace
and they keys I would have to get
duplicated.
But I need not have feared. Not
only did you find my keys, but you
took the time to look up my phone
number, call me, and come to my
dorm and drop them off with my
roomate, all before I even
returned from my class. Thank
You, People like you make me
proud to be an Aggie.
Kathleen Jansen
Class of2002
Clever cartoon by
the Uncartoonist
In response to cartoon on Oct. 16:
Being a proud member of the
Corps of Cadets, and ironically
holding the job of Regiment
Scholastics Officer, I wanted to tell
the Uncartoonist that he or she
made myself and many of my bud
dies laugh! The cartoon I talk about
is the cadet sleeping in class with
ing whether they were “right”
or “wrong.”
The fact that we live in a
society that allows differing
viewpoints does not mean each
of those viewpoints should be
considered equally correct.
Those who want to deny that
the Holocaust took place or that
MAIL CALL
the caption “Corps Scholastic
Policy.” I took the initiative to cut
out a copy of this hilarious cartoon
and post it on my Scholastics Policy
Board in Dorm 5. I’m sure through
out the Corps many other cadets
did the same and added that car
toon to their “Good Bull” boards. I
know that the Corps usually only
responds to The Battalion in rage
for some remark made against it,
sometimes with the occasional
death threat, but I’ll break tradition
by saying “Job Well Done." I under
stand we all have Freedom of
Speech, and I will actually serve in
the military starting this May to pro
tect that right! Keep up the good-
natured work Uncartoonist, we sit
in anticipation...
Allen Okvist
Regiment Scholastics Officer
Class of 2002
Strong stance
made with litte
factual knowledge
In response to Mark Passwaters’
Oct 16 column:
In Tuesday’s edition of The
Battalion, Mark Passwaters vicious
ly and unfairly attacked a group of
people of which he knows absolute
ly nothing about. There is no way
people protesting for peace is a
ADRIAN CALCENAO • THE BATTALION
the earth is round are free to do
so. But the news media should
not temper its language to
accommodate people who
express these, or other, ridicu
lous notions.
Charlton Wimberly is an
accounting gradate student.
“pathetic form of selfish ignorance"
when the concern they are showing
is for the lives of the innocent civil
ians of Afghanistan. Martin Luther
King Jr. and Gandhi both used
peaceful protest to try and end the
violence and prejudice that their
people faced and I seriously doubt
that history looks upon these two
men as being pathetic, selfish, or
ignorant.
Another mistaken accusation
than Passwaters made was that
Saddam Hussein is not a villain to
Americans on the left.
Well, in the 1980’s when Iran and
Iraq were at war, it was Regan, the
hero of only those on the right, who
supported.Hussein with money and
military hardware. It was also this
Administration that trained and
armed Osama bin Laden.
I’m not against the current war,
but I think it is important to under
stand that 6000 innocent people
have already died and innocent
civilians in Afghanistan will suffer or
die as well. We will not be surebe-
cause the Taliban will always exag
gerate the figure and our
Government will lower it as much
as possible. Make no mistake
about it, blowing up energy plants
and water facilities will hurt the
innocent more than it will hurt the
Taliban.
Oscar Ortiz
Class of 2005
Leigh Henderson is a sophomore
psychology major.
The Battalion encourages letters to the editor. Letters must be
014 Reed McDonald • MS 1111
300 words or less and include the author’s name, class and phone
Texas A&M University
number.
College Station, TX
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
Fax: (979) 845-2647
McDonald with a valid student ID. Letters also may be mailed to:
Mail Call: mailcall@thebatt.com
Email: opinion@thebatt.com
The Battalion — Mail Call