ttalic
002
page 1J
bathrooJ
) n, a sen I
Even iho. ;
1 to a loi
Jtles a It
utments
PINION
The Battalion
Page 9 • Thursday, June 20, 2002
u ch as IS
ft hgate S3
ither altei
t on-camp,
i additioi
i students
ging dirtc
rm, said tli
' to camp,
'esidencei
o choose
go as hifi
i nine moi
Fame, fortune, but not expertise
Expert testimony” of celebrities a poor way for legislators to gather informat
T
1:
t is acceptable to see professional
basketball player and AIDS
patient Magic Johnson speak out
against AIDS, or actor Michael J.
Fox, who left the cast of his televi
sion show Spin City as a result of
his bout with Parkinson’s disease,
increase awareness of Parkinson’s disease. Both
have reason to further their cause and will hope
fully encourage others to fight for their lives.
But when Kennit the Frog lobbies to Congress
for a bill regulating the sale of exotic animals,
celebrity influence hns gone too far. In the past
decade, more celebrities have felt the need to
address congress with social and political issues,
and most lack the education or knowledge to
further the issue.
The Austin-American Statesman and the
Washington Bureau reported that Kevin
Richardson, a member of the Backstreet Boys,
recently testified against the mountaintop-removal
Street, v coa l mining technique. However, the hearing was
have bee s h ort one person. Sen. George Voinovich. R-Ohio.
■ Voinovich protested Richardson’s appearance and
did not attend. Voinovich doubts Richardson’s
expertise on the subject, and rightfully so.
According to Richardson, the 30-year old boy
band member, he investigates environmental
issues between concert appearances. According to
People News and The Washington Post,
Richardson claimed to have more knowledge
about the subject than Sen. Voinovich because he
grew up in Kentucky and took two flights over
the coal fields, seeing firsthand the damage of this
technique. Using this logic, every person who has
driven over the oil reserves in West Texas is an
expert in petroleum engineering. Being 20,000
feet in the air makes it almost impossible to see
anything firsthand.
Richardson's knowledge on the coal mining
technique cannot exceed those that have spent
their life making environmental issues a top pri
ority. Richardson simply does not have the wis
dom or the education needed to influence
Congress’ decision.
Voinovich’s recent boycott is a milestone for
Congress. For years Congress has willingly relied
on testimonies of celebrities to make decisions
and increase awareness. According to the Austin-
American Statesman and Washington Bureau, in
1985, a House agricultural committee asked many
actresses who played farm wives in movies to tes
tify about the suffering farm families undergo
during rural recessions. Jessica Lange, Sissy
comm® jSpacek, Jane Fonda and Sally Field all made
ling. Sijappearances. The highest education any of these
i a reside* Wornen achieved was high school or acting
ersareW; jschQQi neither of which provided them with
with f”
while li' !
CAY LA CARR
s are able
'egular re
>f the
'ered, Mi
that helc
a the mail:
‘ not had
solicit at
ager of l
j long dr:
here is nr
v and d$
number
; in the are
moblem f]
apartmer
en a drop
ildings
rling, N
a lot ofii
e been nr
iertoattre
aid Hoi
: at Met.
oared tot
n a lot
be filled
finding
; and
cial t !
as &
Apartment
.11, will off?
Ii the aat
enough knowledge to voice con
cern. The worst part of this inci
dent is that national representa
tives encouraged celebrities to
speak on behalf of middle and low
income farmers. They simply have
not been through the experiences
real farm families have and should not speak for a
cause they have no knowledge of. The fine line
between television and reality must be recog
nized, first by America’s legislative branch and
then by the average citizen. What is Congress’
obsession with media celebrities?
On June 19, the Austin-American Statesman
reported that celebrities like Angelina Jolie and
Harry Belafonte met and discussed ways in which
their names can be used to further the efforts of
the United Nations. Just because Jolie is an
Academy Award winner does not mean she has
adequate knowledge to address foreign affairs.
The Statesman and Bureau reported that Eric
Densenhall, author of several books on celebri
ties and media, was quoted as saying, “Expertise
does not photograph well. Julia Roberts does.’’
In May, Julia Roberts crusaded in Congress for
Rett syndrome, a disease that affects young
girls. Roberts has no children, nor was she her
self infected with the disease. However, she was
asked to present a case to Congress. But, as
Densenhall said, she was not asked based on
her expertise on the subject, but for her beauty.
Roberts should take this as an insult and realize
that her high school education does not give
her the knowledge needed to address Congress
about this issue. Beauty is only skin deep.
Since when does it make someone an advocate
for a deadly disease?
Many times Congress has asked or allowed
celebrities to speak on behalf of average
American citizens because their status will
attract attention. Congress must realize that by
allowing celebrity privileges to dictate national
policies, a mockery is being made of the legisla-
tive'system. An actor like Christopher Reeves
speaking on behalf of the American Paralysis
Association is more than acceptable since he can
relay firsthand the experiences he has undergone
and give others hope. Otherwise, the case is
futile. As South Park so eloquently puts it, “Just
because you are on TV does not mean you know
crap about the government.’’ Real words of wis
dom, spoken by a cartoon.
Cayla Carr is a senior
speech communicatidns major.
i
X,
nono"i uu'i'c ^
me systematic destruction or
jf our coui
: f!h '
dlwjchid wricfe tile practice of no
taken over.
it or the if y id nt IdkeS: of €0dl siudye tf
constant dynamiting that sfkM
transforn mou\U\i
iapes, and their contaniina,
engage h i the practice o^
for Detag nere today.
35
ist and Appalacnia, aiiovviii
'erDufden'' from their mount
\
MX u
vi
aE//
/
is. OverDuUcn, jiOfnj wiin cc.
Sig dtid wdsntng coal, Defoi
i?)
l ies dfid >S r.dvrf gUcsCtoi led H
s dcOSiuit co issue sucn pennies - pen
jps mining .vosce into me fcyiuti s streams?
of millions of coi scridl mining oypl
eys surrounding coal extraction sites, to dal
of headwater so earns m West Virginia and wi
--SUU/ cne sp.H'vihiig .Jiuunus Uljt Support
soy, they contaminate our drn ixing .vutcr
SARAH FOWLER • THE BATTALION
•rything-
apartniec ;
eed to lei
go grocf
Burner.-
director
nents.
JieinaU
j days il l
oking to’ a
it dorms* ; j
sannot
; years *
allege l : o
e offered :
nands mr
lid.
Teach religion unbiasedly
g e
;ushinf
s planne ;
Memorii
i.m. anC
hours,
he outag
eters art
res.
en
:olof
p) -
2 reigns
l&M's s 3 ';
■pie will f
r the Ifc
The det;
re than
200 co^
l ternet art
/vhetherj
,r aqoa
4 4 ^^tongress shall make no law respecting
I an establishment of religion, or pro-
^.^hibiting the free exercise thereof.”
This is exactly what the First Amendment to the
United States Constitution says concerning reli
gious and governmental interaction. Americans
generally hold misconceptions about the
Constitution’s position on this issue; it would surprise a lot of
people to know that the phrase “separation of church and state
does not appear once in the U.S. Constitution or its Bill of
Rights. This famous phrase was actually coined by Thomas
Jefferson in a letter he wrote to the Danbury Baptist
Association of Connecticut, and in the context of his letter, it
was intended to assure these people that religious activity
would be protected from government interference. Ironically,
Jefferson’s phrase is used today more often than not to help
protect the government from religious interference, specifically
in public schools. x
In 1962, the Supreme Court put an end to all types of piayer
in public school in the case Engel v. Vitale. I he high court
ruled that allowing prayer in federally funded schools is a foim
of governmental endorsement of religion and a violation of the
Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Since this land
mark decision, a great deal of controversy has ensued legnrd-
ing what constitutes appropriate governmental treatment of
religion in the public school system.
Christianity was the religion of many of the founding
fathers, and a substantial majority of U.S. citizens have tiadi-
tionally claimed a Christian heritage; teachers in public schools
have been rumored to use the classroom as a medium to pass
this tradition on to future generations. Because the Bible utges
Christians to “preach the good news, it is not sui prising that a
few teachers, coaches and administrators in public schools
would take advantage of their position and push a particulai
religion on children in an inappropriate manner. Their inten
tions are almost certainly benevolent, but any incidence of gov
ernment interference with one’s religious beliefs violates one
°f our most important civil liberties. Somehow, in response to
a legitimate threat, a virtual modern day witch hunt seems to
have occurred in public schools across the nation.
School districts and teachers have responded. Knowing that
they are contending with dismissal it they mention religious
beliefs and that school districts can face public criticism - even
lawsuits — for employing “bigots” who endorse religion in t ic
classroom, the public schools of today often choose to remain
completely silent on the issue of religion. By choosing a policy
°f silence, these schools are taking the path of least resistance,
hut they are also ignoring a crucial aspect of cu tin a am soci
etal education.
LINDSYE FORSON
If not for the tragic events of Sept. 1 1, the cur
rent public school procedure would probably
remain unchallenged. But in the months following
this national tragedy, it became clear that many
schools’ policies of not regarding religion would
no longer be adequate. According to MSNBC, a
barrage of questions from students about Islam
has caught teachers in public schools completely off guard,
bringing to light the fact that schools do not currently train
teachers in the appropriately to handle questions of a religious
nature.
The attacks of 9/1 1 epitomized the intimate relationship
between religion, culture and politics as critical, and to a great
extent inseparable, elements of every society. In order for chil
dren to understand the complexity of this type of event, they
must first understand the active role religion and morality play
in the world’s many cultures and societies, and there is
absolutely no wording in the Constitution that would suggest
the public school system should deprive them of this type of
information.
Religion is undoubtedly a more sensitive and controversial
subject for many than, say, math, and public schools should
treat it as such. First, each public school should use the same
textbook to ensure objectivity and universality of teaching;
MSNBC suggests the series Religion in American Life, which
is already being used in some public schools. Secondly, teach
ers should be trained in how to handle this material without
violating the civil rights of their students. Although various
school districts may be held accountable for the fairness and .
success of their policies, the responsibility ultimately rests on
the teachers to ensure that religious information is taught cor
rectly and objectively. Lastly, schools need to lay out clear
guidelines for how students may express their religious beliefs
in the classroom without infringing upon the rights of others.
The establishment clause is two-pronged: Congress cannot
make any laws regarding the establishment of religion, nor can
they prohibit “the free exercise thereof.” As citizens of the
United States, the Bill of Rights gives students the right to
express their religious beliefs, and makes no indication that
they cannot do so in a classroom.
It is a gross injustice to students for public schools to
exclude a crucial aspect of their education simply because
teaching religion in any form is difficult and controversial. If
taught fairly and objectively, the writings and teachings of the
world's religions can be imparted to students as information
without involving the government in the establishment, support
Lindsye Forson is a sophomore
journalism major.
MAIL CALL
Community reacts
to Corps hazing
In response to Christina
Hoffman's June 18 article:
As a current Aggie
Bandsman, I am, of course,
embarrassed by what I saw
on three Dallas news stations,
but I am not surprised, given
the Corps' aptitude to sweep
unharmful events like this
under the rug.
I am 10 times more embar
rassed and disgusted, howev
er, by the release of such
revealing images. This release
led to an incredible invasion
of the Corps members' priva
cy. The assaulted student's
bare body can now be seen by
any internet-user worldwide.
If the University is responsi
ble for this injustice, just as
much investigation and pun
ishment should be dedicated
to the passage of this photo
into public hands. I am con
tinually concerned and
astounded at the lack of
decency with which The
Battalion operates.
Brad Cawyer
Class of 2003
The pictures turned in to
faculty regarding band mem
bers "hazing" each other dis
appoints me. These kids are
obviously doing nothing in
the picture to build the lead
ers of tomorrow. However,
what the average non-reg
does not understand is this
brings unnecessary attention
to a military organization and
discontinues activities in the
Corps of Cadets which build
comradery.
I know people may argue
the previous statement, but
until you have been in the
Corps, don't attempt to define
comradery-building activities.
Have you thought about how
many Cadets are possibly
going to lose contracts
because of this picture?
The Corps in my eyes is at a
low point at this moment and
will not regain strength until
the University stops treating
the Corps like a fraternity and
allows it to resolve it's own
issues.
John Corel!
Class of 1998
Both my husband and I just
graduated from A&M and it is
good to know that we still
have a bunch of stupid boys
in the Corps who think the
real world involves taping
someone else up like a naked
Pig-
I have ,never had any
respect for the Corps, and
those pictures just proved my
opinion right. The Corps of
Cadets need to grow up. They
are not the keepers of the
spirit. In my eye, the only
thing they keep doing is get
ting more stupid each year.
Rachel Mosteller
Class of 2002
The Battalion encourages letters to the editor. Letters must be 200 words
or less and include the author's name, class and phone number. 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: 014 Reed McDonald, MS 1111, Texas A&M
University, College Station, TX 77843-1111. Fax: (979) 845-2647
Email: mailcall@thebatt.com