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November 10, 1976 - Image 4

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Publication:
Michigan Daily, 1976-11-10

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ISSUES AND ANSWERS:
Teach-in: Latin American cultural

By SUSAN HILDEBRANDT
RAYMOND GLEYZER is something of a hero in his na-
tive land. As an Argentine filmmaker and winner of seven
international awards for documentaries, he has earned the
respect and admiration of millions. His stark portrayals of
political and social injustice have received four major na-
tional. awards in Argentina, where he also directed more than
200 television programs- and dozens of industrial films.
Raymundo Gleyzer is behind bars today for this very work
and is reportedly near death from repeated torture and un-
sanitary prison conditions. He is married and the father
of a five-year-old child.
Gleyzer is not alone in his imprisonment and torture.
He is merely one of hundreds of Latin American poets,
singers, playwrights, journalists tand filmmakers jailed by
right-wing governmental regimes fighting to retain. or re-
cover their power.
THE PLIGHT OF GLEYZER and many like him is a
major concern of the Ann Arbor Committee for Equal Rights
in Latin America, a politically non-partisan body organized
to educate the public to "the severe suppression of human
rights in Latin America." The Committee, established this
summer by U-M students and faculty and Ann Arbor com-
munity members, will conduct a campus teach-in November
15, 16, 17 and 18 to publicize this situation and prompt par-
ticipation in efforts to rectify it.
The teach-in will feature major films and speakers, in-
cluding Isabel Allende, wife of slain Chilean leader Salvador
Allende. It will also conduct panels exploring the causes of
the rise of repressive regimes and governmental terrorism
in Latin America, the treatment of civil liberties, arts and
artists; and women political prisoners in Latin America, the
adridgement of intellectual and journalistic freedom, the role

of Latin American churches and trade unions, and the growth
of anti-semitism in Argentina, according to the Committee.
American economic and military aid to Latin American gov-
ernments will also make up a large part of the teach-in.
. "MILITARY FACTIONS presently rule the populations of
Argentina, Uraguay, Paraguay, Chile, Peru and other na-
tions," stated Jane Praeger of the Committee. "The right
to basic freedoms, most of which U.S. citizens take for
granted, is withheld from most of our neighbors to the south.
Beyond the relevance that abuse of any human being has to
all of us, the fact remains that such conditions could not
exist without the tacit approval of the United States."
Existing legislation outlaws military assistance to nations
with substancial numbers of political prisoners, according to
Praeger. However, Congress has repeatedly defeated legis-
lation which would make U.S. foreign aid distribution con-
tingent upon the observance of human rights. United States
citizens should work for passage of such laws and insist that
military assistance prohibitions be enforced more stringently,
according to the Committee.
"Recent Congressional hearings on the influence of multi-
national business on domestic politics show that many repres-
sive regimes survive on bribes from American companies,"
explained Praeger. "Our comfortable lives in Ann Arbor are
all too closely tied to the dark side of life in Latin Amer-
ica."
The United National estimates that at least 12,000 Chileans
remain in prisons since the 1973 coup and fears that more than
half have been tortured. More than 18,000 Chileans have been
"missing" since September 1973, according to UN officials.
CHILE IS MOST NOTORIOUS among the Latin Ameri-
can nations for its recent offensive against artists and as
such will dominate the teach-in. However, oppressive condi-

tions are not restricted to Chile, as the four-day sessions
will illustrate.
"We hope people will realize that this situation is wide
spread. In Peru and Argentina, refugees have been systemati-
cally harassed or murdered by 'terror squads' employed by
the military governments. This is not a case of the left ver-
sus the right; this violent abuse of personal lives transcends
political lines. It is sheer terrorism," stated Praeger.
In v addition to motivating people to demand an end to
U.S. support of such regimes, the Committee is presently
attempting to arrange a writer or artist-in-residence program
to free an imprisoned Latin American.
"A formal teaching invitation from the Committee and
prominent community members to one of .these political pri-
soners may persuade the government in charge to release
him or her," Praeger offered. The University of, Minnesota
and other academic communities have succeeded in such ef-
forts, according to the Committee member.
"WE HOPE THIS TEACH-IN will have the same effect
that the Viet Nam teach-in in Ann Arbor had years ago -
U-M was the first to hold a teach-in on that war and it in-
itiated the public uproar that eventually brought the war to
an end," Praeger, said. "Perhaps we can start some action
to end the abuse of Latin American lives, especially before
we can start some action to end the abuse of Latin American
lives, especially before we have another Viet Nam on our
hands. Something must be done to stop our aid to these mili-
tary regimes."
To fully impress upon people the severity of the situa-
tion, the teach-in's opening evening will feature a Raymundo
Gleyzer film entitled, "Mexico: The Frozen Revolution" and
Laurence Burns, Director of the Council on Hemispheric Af-
fairs, speaking on Gleyzer's plight.,

mUppression
Continuous political film showings will highlight Tuesday
afternoon, Nov. 16 and Isabel Letelier, widow of Orlando Letel-
ier, Chilean ambassador to the United States under Allende who
was recently assassinated in Washington, D.C., will speak
Tuesday evening.
Two Chilean refugee priests will relay their experiences
under repression and discuss government action against the
clergy and the church's role in Latin America's future at 7:30
p.m. Tuesday and again at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Other Wedries-
day topics will include, "U.S. and Repression in Central Ameri-
ca," "Labor under Repression in Latin America," "The Treat-
ment of Women Political Prisoners," and "The Abridgement
of Legal Rights in Latin America."
Thursday's workshops will highlight the United States'
role in Latin American affairs, the resurgence of and meth-
ods of fighting repressive regimes. Thursday evening is de-
voted to Isabel Allende.
MANY SPEAKERS on all four days have themselves been
held captive by Latin American governments and all money
generated by the Committee will support organized efforts to
free Latin American political prisoners.
States the Committee: "If you are unable to join us or
contribute to our programs, do your best to express your
own concern to the diplocatic representatives of nations which
abuse, human rights, to the United States Department of State,
and to your senators and Congressmen. Public expression of
concern is crucial. Many imprisoned Latin Americans have
already been released thanks, to U.S. and other international
protest. The Committee hopes you will add your voice to
those now raised against the abuse of human dignity.
Teach-in tickets are on sale in the Fishbowl and at the
Women's Bookstore. For more information, call 662-4609 or
stop by 554 S. Fifth Ave.

Eighty-Seven Years of Editorial Freedom
420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, Mt 48109

Wednesday, November 10, 1976

News Phone: 764-0552

j Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan
dmoke the Bear dies
but his campaig n goes on

(LD SMOKEY BEAR, not a highway
cop but the big black bear that
became the nation's most famous
symbol of fire prevention, died Mon-
day night in his sleep at the National
Zoo in Washington, D.C. He was 26-
years-old, or the equivalent of about
70 human years.
While we prefer to reserve this
space for- more significant obituaries,
Smokey Was a character that - from
our earliest cartoon-watching days-
taught us the now-familiar phrase,
"Only YOU can prevent forest fires."
It's a stone cold fact that most for-
est fires are caused by careless indi-
viduals who decide to leave a camp-
fire burning or toss a cigarette out a
car window; the death and destruc-
tion ,left by such senseless acts is
quite incredible.
Unfortunately, it takes the con-
stant pestering of a bear to remind
us.

'Old Smokey was officially retired
as the symbol of the National Forest
Service's prevention campaign in Ap-
ril, 1975, and was replaced by a
younger bear. "It was just old age,"
explained a service spokeswoman.
Officials said Old Smokey's body
will be flown to New Mexico where
he was found orphaned after a for-
est fire in 1950. He is to be buried in
the Smokey Bear Historical State
Park near Capitan, N.M.
TODAY'S STAFF:
News: Rob Meachum, Jim Tobin, Bill
Turque, Pauline Lubens, AnneMarie
Schiavi, Liz Kaplan
Editorial Page: Michael Beckman, Rob
Meachum
Arts Page: Lois Josimovich
Photo Technician: Chris Schneider

Lookin
By DOUG TIMMS
THE 1976 Presidential election, a week
removed, has now excused itself for
history. In a year which held an ab-
sence of galvanizing issues, a basic
residual cynicism about politics in the
post-Watergate era, and little charisma
offered by either major party candidate,
final voter turnout surfaced at 53 per-
cent, despite generally good weather, a
tight race, and the relatively novel im-
pact of the Presidential debates. Per-
haps, as columnist George Will has ob-
served, times must be good or at least
good enough to warrant a near majority
of, the adult population not voting. Cer-
tainly there has been no groundswell of
disaffected. Radicalism's remaining em-
bers only smolder now. Perhaps the
warmth that it once transmitted has long
since catalyzed others into the longer
process of living and loving others. For
in the main and always at its sometimes
confused center was a deeply felt cry
for human appreciation - of our po-
tential; of our dignity, self-made and
sometimes dying, and often broken in
time's sands.
NOT SURPRISINGLY, Jimmy Carter
has claimed, as has many of his prede-
cessors, a "mandate" from the Ameri-
can people. Yet, his support, heavily
concentrated in the South and the cit-
ies of the Northeast, hardly invites such
as interpretation. In the end, Carter
not so much defeated Gerald Ford be-
cause of the issues, but due to a sus-
pected felt vacancy in leadership. Water-
Doug Ti uns is an MBA candida/e in
the School of Business.

g

back on

The

gate to the contrary, 66 vetoes and a
plodding economy later, Gerald Ford
just did not excite the American elec-
torate enough, despite an emerging con-
servatism, to be rewarded with four
more years.
In actuality, Ford has probably done
a creditable job given an' inherited' situ-
ation. He has had the tough, political
courage to say "No" - never mind that
he said it too often. le also withstood,
unlike Nixon, the cosmetic temptation
to dress up the economy for the elec-
tion.
Regardless, Jimmy Carter may have
been correct in his assessment of the
electorate: we probably do ndt expect
a lot from government; but it should
be better than it is. He has massaged
our ego with a promise that his gov-
ernment will be as fine and as decent
as the American people. No, he is not
being naive in this respect. He is talk-
ing fundamentally, but not operationally.
WHAT TO EXPECT from Carter in
his first few months? Jimmy is a
"doer." An activist President, he will,
as has. been remarked, hit the beach
running. A tax cut is possible if the
economy continues its lull. A serious
and intense effort will precede the de-
termination of his cabinet along with
more minorities, in emblematic. fash-
ion, being blended into government. He
is likely to start first with the naming
of a Secretary of State to signal his
interest in foreign affairs. Look for an
important position, perhaps, for Bar-
bara Jordan; an increasingly admired
woman. Carter envisions, overall, a
healing process. Accordingly, the par-
don of many Vietnam objectors should

at long last ensue come January. Car-
ter will also, if only symbolically, ef-
fect some recognition of bipartisanship
in foreign affairs; eliminate the power-
ful chief of staff position developed
under Nixon and Ford by allowing for
more multiple access; and likely con-
tinue with Ford's final budget with
some identifying stamps placed along
the way such as an early push .for
welfare reform, and to the cities, and/
or national health insurance. In the
main, look for cautious, studious activi-
ty balanced by quick, symbolic acts.
But leadership is back.
THE PLAYBOY INTERVIEW with
Carter seems to have garnered misdi-
rected attention and I personally left
it with a feeling of prodding by that
magazine on its constituent concern
With Carter's religious beliefs and the
likelihood of their spilling over into
Presidential politics. The remarks Car-
ter made that received media by-play
came at the very end of the interviews
segments, while more, perhaps, reveal-
ing remarks were ignored from a gen-
erally informative interview. A few sam-
ples:
"People ask how a peanut farmer
from the South who believes in bal-
anced budgets and tough management
of government can possibly give the
country tax and welfare reform, or a
national health program, or insist on
equal rights for blacks and women. Well,
I'm going to do those things . . ." "I'm
not an ideolog ... I've tried to analyze
each question individually; . . ." "Vic-
timless crimes, in my opinion,, should
have very low priority in terms of en-

lecion
forcing the laws on the books ... You
can't legislate morality." (Sure it's bas-
ic, but it's also attitudinally important.)
"On human rights, civil rights, envi-
ronmental quality, I consider myself to
be very liperal." "It might be that
now I sho ld drop my campaign ..:
and start a crusade for black major-
ity rule in South Africa or Rhodesia."
" I COULD NEVER intervene for the
purpose' of overthrowing a government
... I don't ever want to- do anything'
as President that would be a contraven-
tion of the moral and ethical standards
that I would exemplify in my own life
or that would violate the principles
or the character of the American peo-
ple." "I never saw any reason we
should be involved in the Helsinki .meet-
ings at all." "Kissinger has had a kind
of Lone Ranger, secret foreign policy
attitude, which almost ensures that there
cannot be adequate consultation with our
allies: there cannot be a long range com-
mitment to unchanging principles; there
cannot be a coherent evolution in fore-
ign policy; or ... a bipartisan approach
with support and advice from Congress."
And finally: "Our government -should
justify the character, and moral prin-
ciples of the American people, and our
foreign policy should not short-circuit
that for temporary advantage."
NO, CARTER IS NOT without his
'warts. But he is, or claims to be, a
populist above all else. He has promised
to serve the people well. He has prom-
ised a basic decency; a basic dignity.
In the main, he has promised good gov-
ernment. Hold him to it. We're in this
together. .You and I.

Contact your reps
Sen. Phillip Hart (Dem.), 253 Russell Bldg., Capitol Hill,
Washington, D.C. 20515.
Sen. Robert Griffin (Rep.), 353 Russell Bldg., Capitol Hill,
Washington, D.C. 20515.
Rep. Marvin Esch (Rep.), 2353 Rayburn Bldg., Capitol Hill,
Washington, D.C. 20515.
Sen. Gilbert Bursley (Rep.), Senate, State Capitol' Bldg.,
Lansing, MI 48933
Rep. Perry Bullard (Dem.), House of Representatives, State
Capitol Bldg., Lansing, MI 48933.
..*.mm...m....~...............................

bombs
To The Daily:
AS A Wolverine fan, I enjoy
listening to broadcasts of foot-
ball games. Bob Ufer's enthu-
siasm is especially refreshing.
But when Jim Smith caught
a long touchdown pass in the
Purdue game, I was shocked:"at
the parallel cited by Mr. Ufer.
He happily declared that it took
only one bomb to destroy Hiro-
shima.
One may believe - as I do
not - that using the bomb was
justified as the only way to end
the war and save American
lives. But even then one must
only be horrified that 100,000
human beings were killed or ter-

Letters
ribly maimed- to accomplish
those ends. Modern war is not
just a ball game.
Moreover, the bombing start-
ed a nuclear arms race and set
a precedent that will almost cer-
tainly result in the slaughter
of millions of citizens of the ma-
jor nuclear powers. Unless the
nuclear race is halted, that will
probably' be the fate of the
young men on the football field.
With atom bombs becoming
simpler and more readily avail-
able, their chances of reaching
the age of sixty are slight in-
deed.
I do not blame Mr. Ufer per-
sonally for words uttered
thoughtlessly in the excitement

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of the moment, but since the
jubilant statement was made in
public, this reaction should be
publicly expressed,
Phillips Moulton
November 7
f/reedo im
To The Daily:
IN YOUR ISSUE of Novem-
ber fourth I noticed a letter of
protest, though I could not quite
make out whether it was a let-
ter of protest to God about a
mismanaged universe, or to
man about the existing social
order. He said, for instance,.
"we are going to spend the rest
of our lives in the world of
work". So it is, so it should be.
I have worked hard all my life
and so have most of my fellow-
Americans. But he adds that in
this time and country there is
"not even the pretense of de-
mocracy, equality, privacy, dig-
nity or personal freedom". Is he
so innocent as not to know that
his very protest could not have
been printed in any Communist
or Fascist country without the
risk of jail? Personally, I know
of few times or places in human
history where there is even so
much freedom and democracy
as we daily enjoy without even
thinking about it. Why have
millions of people persisted in
coming to this country for two
hundred years if none of them
found' some things better here
than elsewhei-e?
If I felt as bitter about every-
thing as he evidently does, I
would be a political activist of
the most determined sort. But

Daily
him. To subtract a vote 'from
the lesser evil, is the same in
its effect as to add a vote to
the greater evil.
Preston Slosson
Professor Emeritus of
History -
November 4
greenpeace
To The Daily:
THANK YOU FOR your ar-
ticle in Friday's issue of The
Daily on Greenpeace, the Van-
couver - based organization
which, according to a recent
Wall Street Journal article, has
become the most effective effort
in the fight against the slaugh-
ter of the whales by the Japa-
nese and Russian whaling
fleets. We discovered Green-
peace at the Cousteau Society
Involvement Day meeting this
summer in Wisconsin. Just days
before the article appeared in
The Daily we wrote to the
Greenpeace Organization re-
questing specifics on organizing
such a group on the U-M cam-
pus. There are so many people,
like us, who feel a need for
something to be done, but with
no means of channeling their
efforts. Greenpeace is getting
the job done and needs money
and support. Anyone interested
in receiving information on the
Greenpeace Organization or
helping establish this group on
cmnus. nlease send vour ad-
dress an" nhone minmber to:
Eric and Sandy
PFox 327
Che1 ea, Michigan
4R119

two collisions with pedestrians
and state that on both occasions
you applied the brakes before
you hit them. Why couldn't you
have stopped without hitting
them? In both instances you
were looking right at them; in
the first case, the "venerable
professor" was standing direct-
ly in your path, and in the sec-
ond a young girl was crossing
the street in front of you, and
began to "nervously dance".
Why couldn't you have slowed
down enough to avoid them?
It doesn't seem to me that you
are "always in control of my-
self", as you claim. Your style
of bike riding, it seems, is a
danger, just as driving a car
carelessly is a danger. You
might be able to slow down
enough to avoid injuries, but as
far as you're concerned it's the
other person's fault if they don't
know which way you're going
and so don't know which way
to move to evade you, and if
you run into them as a result,
it's their own fault. Sure, you
know where you're going, but
sometimes when a person is
walking along and you come
flving towards him he doesn't.
It is interesting that the peo-
ple you ran into were embaras-
sed afterwards. Maybe it was
because if they had guessed
riqbt as you bore down on them
they might have gotten out of
your way. Perhans it didn't oc-
cr to them that they had the
right of way, or that you might
be expected to stop without hit-
ti-e them. Rest assured, Mr.
(odai. that if you run into me
I will not make the same- mis-
take-: fzrthermore, if one of us

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