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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 10, 2002)
ernatiox.: IE BATTALit Opinion THE BATTALION 7B Wednesday, April 10, 2002 EDITORIAL KRT CAMPUS ■y in Jerusalem up the fight Mont ad with a stick Moment and A Name Some will say it was only a year. Three times four months. I these were days and nights unending." iis was written by one of the 6 million Jews killed in the bcaust, one of many final testaments left by victims of histo- biggest atrocity. It is important to remember these last voic- of the Holocaust to memorialize those who died and to wre such a tragedy never happens again, sarsfrom now, Americans will vividly remember the devastat- tragedy of Sept. 11 in the same manner Texas A&M honors imsof the Holocaust during Holocaust Remembrance Week, jartof a generation deeply wounded by the historical events terrorism, the need for remembrance and education of the t should be especially acute for Aggies. In a time of fast-paced icentrism, it is necessary to stop to recognize and remember jortant history-altering events such as the Holocaust, ocaust Remembrance Week encourages students to reflect past events by inviting them to view gripping exhibits in the Imorial Student Center, listen to a reading of the victims' es and attend an interfaith memorial service. Holocaust embrance Week encourages students to reflect on the jactofthe Holocaust atrocities because they are an important tofour history. It is through remembrance and education that lire persecution similar to the Holocaust can be avoided, s part of the education community, Texas A&M has a respon- ility to include tolerance and respect for other cultures and ieties as a significant element of an all-encompassing educa- i.With Holocaust Remembrance Week, all Aggies should take opportunity to reflect on these tragic events and promote a ire welcoming campus to those of different ethnicities, reli- n, gender and sexuality. In addition, we remember the timely deaths that have occurred as a result of religious and ial persecution and reflect on the tremendous effects govern- nt policies have on governed masses. Thus, it is imperative for jgiestotake advantage of the week and participate in creating :ampus that is aware of its past and considerate of its future. THE BATTALION J Araya's son ident." e condition, amos said officia ice would be assigne urther attacks, ledical attention aft? panic attack. l SINCE t«93 ■ EDITORIAL BOARD Editor in Chief j MARIANO CASTILLO knifing Editor Brian Ruff Member MELISSA BEDSOLE inion Editor CAYLA Carr Member News Editor SOMMER BuNCE Member News Editor Brandie Liffick Member Jonathan Jones Jennifer Lozano Kelln Zimmer Won encourages letters to the editor. Letters must be 200 words or less |i<include the author's name, class and phone number. The opinion editor reserves ledit letters for length, style and accuracy. Letters may be submitted in per- JialOMReed McDonald with a valid student ID. Letters also may be mailed to: 014 ^McDonald, MS 1111, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-1111. Fax: [9)845-2647 Email: mailcall@thebatt.com ;it us at errace.biz 25.8072 UeticiUWf 0 * jpping, Food Con" slave descendants deserve [Pensation? Well, while we are et us give the Indians back land. Let us give the entire West back to Mexico. Let us e Parations to Southerners for Constitutional invasion, and squent pillaging of the • Let's pay reparations to , -f Se ' n America because of 'Th em ^ nent d ur ' n § World War I 15 suit will inevitably open a l 0ra s box of similar suits. Lftt suits not bein 8 filed I th ■ 6 nat ' ons °f Africa who eir own people into slav- | er e lies the problem. The Lr re P ar ations ignores all Ip 0r y ar| d law. Like it or not, II oorporations did nothing 8 Jews have been the most Itorv'nated group in world 'l,'■, They have been e d thousands of years. icrhf Vere roun ded up and S ered by the millions just ars a go. Yet they have mm?- des P'te extreme dis- ation, because they fo let it keep them •Reparations are not ut ri ? htin g past wrongs. It is deflecting responsibility nes own lot in life. James Drew Class of 2001 Questions not worthy of answers Texas A&M was very fortunate to have such distinguished leaders visit our campus Sunday and Monday. I am sure most students would agree that keeping these forums open to all members of the community is a wonderful way for this University to act as a strong educational resource for those around us. It is for this reason that I was no doubt the only one shocked at the irrelevant and almost insulting questions that several A&M Consolidated High School students addressed to National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice Monday. Although I agree that debate and raising questions is impor tant to education, the place for that is in the classroom. I applaud Rice for the intelligent, forthright responses to those stu dents. It was a true example of her abilities as world leader. I hope, however, that she does not consider the actions of those few students to be an example of the Aggie community. Being a gracious host to those on cam pus has always been an indelible part of the Aggie spirit, and I hope that those seniors who do not realize this sent their college applications elsewhere. Jessica Berkey Class of 2004 Only the young survive? ‘Survivor’ for children unhealthy and unnatural JENNIFER LOZANO J ust when reality televi sion could not get any more bazaar or tacky, the BBC has proven differently. Fans of reality television can anticipate the arrival this December of “Serious Jungle,” a Castaway- style reality show for young people. In this program, children between the ages of 12 and 15 are pitted against crocodiles, bears and rhinos in the depths of Borneo’s virgin rainforest in their quest to reintroduce rescued orangutans to the wild. However, viewers should see through this cloak of environmental morality draped over the typical “Survivor”-esque reality show and view “Serious Jungle” for what it is: a tacky, potentially dan gerous and pathetic attempt by the BBC to make money off of mainstream television viewers who have minimal discretion. “Nothing about this trip is going to be easy,” said BBC producer Marshall Corwin, according to the UK Guardian Unlimited Observer. For this reason, the children will under go a week of intensive survival training by a Royal Marine, including a two-day trip into the jungle to build the base where they will live for two weeks. Although the idea of a group of anal, pompous British producers and camera crew having to deal with eight adolescent children in the jun gle is pretty hilarious, one has to consider the safety of these children. Could one week of “intensive” training be sufficient for children to learn how to survive among dan gerous animals, forage for food amidst many poison ous plants and build shelter? Of course not. But after all, that seems to be the point of the show. Wait. Reintroducing the orangutans into the jungle is the point. Right. Although the producers of “Serious Jungle” claim children will feel like they are in the middle of nowhere, a doctor and nurse traveling with the group and a helicopter on standby to airlift them to a hospital within two hours will actually protect them. So then, it is not real, is it? Either way, there is no doubt that these intense experiences will have innumerable negative emotional — if not physical — effects on the children involved. “It’s going to be the toughest, most testing experience of these children’s lives: that’s the drama of it,” Corwin said. In an effort to make these potentially traumatizing events seem benign and beneficial, the organizer of the trip, Trekforce Expeditions, boasts that these children will build strong, mean ingful relationships based on more than “what music they like or what trainers they wear.” However, these types of simple relationships are what children of their age should be involved in. As adults, people have to deal with many obstacles other than crocodiles and poisonous plants. Sometimes these difficul ties come in the form of an illness, broken relationships or death, and exposing these children to unnecessary, extreme LUNA* THE BATTALION physical hardship will not benefit them in the future. Although Corwin said his program has a “genuine” point and the chil dren will learn life lessons, it is obvious that Corwin is exploit ing their vulnerability and naivete for the network’s benefit. The predecessors of “Serious Jungle” exploited dim-witted adults and problem-seeking couples, and viewers sat by and watched contentedly. However, “Serious Jungle” has reached a breaking point by placing children in dangerous situations to capture their “very clear and honest reactions” to extreme con ditions. Although discretion lies with the parents of potential volunteers, viewers should be aware of the true worthlessness and exploitation that is at the heart of this television program. If people really want to see British people doing weird things at the expense of no one, they should tune into MTV and watch “The Osbornes.” Now that is quality programming. Jennifer Lozano is a junior English major. ‘Dear Abby’ betrays confidence GEORGE DEUTSCH F or a national advice column, “Dear Abby” slowly has sunk to the depths of mediocrity, as the advice rarely deviates from a female-empower ing, forgive-and-forget standard. Still, there are troubled people the world over who take much of Abby’s gab to heart. They trust that the fictitious Abigail Van Buren will not only look out for their best interests but also help them and respect their confidentiality. These people are fooling themselves. First of all, America’s grandmother, Abigail Van Buren, is not actually a real person. She is a pseudonym sisters Jeanne and Pauline Phillips share. The nation should learn to be less trusting of these women, as they have finally and decisively, turned their back on the very lifeblood of the ho-hum “Dear Abby” column: their audience. Unfortunately, what was once a forum for advice has transformed into a police lineup: The misguided efforts of the Phillips have resulted in the arrest and prosecution of one of their would-be advice seekers. It turns out Abby’s “help” is not much help at all. Consider what happened to Paul Weiser, 28. Admittedly, he is a confused young man. His fantasies about young, under-aged girls bothered him to the point that he sought help from four doc tors. They each assured him he was fine. But Weiser, not feeling fine, wanted a clear conscience. He turned for help to the bastion of kind words and support, Abigail Van Buren. Weiser sent “Dear Abby” a letter detailing his problem. After all, Abby always steers the trou bled in the best direction. But Weiser’s help-seeking letter resulted in his demise. Perhaps the years have not been kind to Abby, or perhaps decades of writing a national ly-syndicated column is enough to inflate the ego. The police were notified by the Phillips, and Weiser’s door was eventual ly kicked in. In a sweep reminiscent of Operation Candyman, they raided Weiser’s computer. The authorities dug through Weiser’s personal property until they discovered pictures of nude women that they arbitrarily labeled as juveniles. Weiser was condemned as a pedophile and taken away. He never got the help he desperately wanted. This is clearly an instance of illegal search and seizure. The Phillips had no legitimate evidence against Weiser or proof of wrongdoing. The police, too, operated on impulse and emotion, not proof. Not only had Weiser never com mitted any criminal sex acts, he was seeking to rid his mind of troubling fan tasies. The only evidence against him was his written plea for help. It is disheartening and disgusting when an international personality like Van Buren betrays readers and their con fidentiality in this manner. The women behind the “Dear Abby” column have unquestionably overstepped their bounds. The truth is that Weiser had never acted on any of his fantasies. He did not pose a threat to anyone but himself. Weiser was neither proud of his condi tion or encouraging it. Help was all he wanted. Last month, Weiser pleaded not guilty to three counts of child pornography. Regardless of whether he wins the case, life as he knows it is over. A family has been destroyed and a life has been ruined by two women. Child pornography is undoubtedly a social evil that needs to be addressed, but a two-woman crusade will not solve the problem. Jeanne and Pauline Phillips have destroyed the worth and credibility of the “Dear Abby” column. Not only did they not fix Weiser’s problem, they were Weiser’s problem. Abby owes the nation an apology. George Deutsch is a junior journalism major.