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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
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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
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25.8072
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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.