Eighty-Six Years of Editorial Freedom
420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, M1 48104
Friday, November 21, 1975
News Phone: 764-0552
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan
o excuse for King smear
"'any
By DEBRA LIPSON
AFTER MONTHS OF debate
and petty politicking, the
State Senate defeated SB 399 by
a vote of 12-22. It would have
permitted birth control infor-
mation and VD education to be
taught in the public schools.
By defeating this important
piece of legislation ,the Senate
has shown its indifference and
irresponsibility to the young
people of this state.
As a teen counselor at Plan-
ned Parenthood's Express Clin-
ic, I see teenagers with so
many misconceptions and mis-
information regarding human
sexuality. Some girls believe
that the time of greatest risk
in becoming pregnant is around
the time of their period. Others
think they are too young to get
pregnant. But the majority
seem to depend on pure luck.
The reasons for failure to use
contraception are numerous, but
ignorance of basic human re-
production and birth control
methods account for too many
0
miscon
unwanted pregnancies. These
are the realities, but the Sen-
ate has chosen to ignore them.
THE BILL'S SPONSOR,
Gen. Gilbert Bursley, (R-Ann
Arbor) desperately tried to
compromise the opposition by
introducing a number of amend-
ments last week. Included were
such things as specifying that
competent instructors meant
teachers qualified in all aspects
of health education, requiring
a parent advisory review
board for sex education courses,
and allowing school boards to
prohibit discussion of abortion.
The bill had always given the
parents the right to exclude
their children from a sex edu-
cation class. Sen. Dale Kildee
(D-Flint) then introduced an
amendment reversing this pro-
vision, requiring parental per-
mission before a student could
enroll in a sex education class.
While the bill was considerably
weakened, the essential part
of the bill still remained.
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
stands out as one of the foremost
leaders of this century. He believed
--with an unyielding faith-in non-
violent civil disobedience and the
cause of equality.;
He wove those two strands into a
powerful movement that improved
the lot of blacks across the country.
-and in doing so tried to lift the
burden of racism from all people.
In the face of unfair arrest, police
clubs, and angrily-thrown bricks,
King never wavered. He continued
to preach love: perhaps his greatest
legacy.
Of course, his Noble Peace Prize
remains as a more tangible memory,
as do the headlines of the news-
papers of April 5, 1968. "REV. KING
SLAIN," cried the Daily headline in
bold simplicity.
King was back in the news this
week.
During the Senate Intelligence
Committee hearings over the past
several days, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation revealed that it had
made no less than 25 attempts to dis-
credit King and by implication, the
work he was doing.
The agency bugged King's tele-
TODAYS STAFF
News: Gordon Atcheson, Mitch Du-
nitz, Stephen Hersh, George Lob-
senz, Pauline Lubens, Ken Parsig-
ion, Sara Rimer
Editorial Page: Michael Beckman,
Paul Haskins, Mara Letica, Jon
Pansius, Tom Stevens
Arts Page: Chris Kochmanski
Photo Technician: Ken Fink
phone calls, read his mail, and sent
him a letter suggesting he commit
suicide before certain unspecified
damaging material on him was pub-
licly released.
All of this and more was under-
taken because the government be-
lieved King and the civil rights move-
ment were both in some way being
influenced by Communist subver-
sives, or so an FBI representative
testified to the senate committee.
The agency has yet to produce a
shred of evidence that supports the
allegation, which sounds more like
a deranged dream that hatched in
the deep recesses of J. Edgar Hoov-
ers cranium.
The FBI did not confine its illegal
surveillence to King. It also moni-
tored the activities of black, student,
feminist, and radical political groups.
In many ways the surveillence knew
no bounds - it stretched from the
Ku Klux Klan to the Communist
Party. From King to Hollywood cele-
brities.
The agency admitted pulling to-
gether over half a million dossiers on
supposedly dangerous people in this
country.
Dr. Martin Luther King was among
them.
That, alone, opens the whole oper-
ation to serious questions of proprie-
ty. Why should the government spy
on a man who merely wanted to see
the law enforced and to see every
one treated fairly and equitably un-
der that law?
There can be no morally satisfac-
tory answers - which probably
ought to be the FBI's legacy.
ception.
Birth control information and
referral could be included in
any course. It makes so. much
more sense to bring up a dis-
cussion of sex while reading
"The Scarlet Letter" or when
reproduction is taught in a bi-
ology class instead of separat-
ing sex into its own little cor-
ner.
THE ROLL CALL Wednesday
was in itself a lurid example of
the kind of politics that for-
warned the loss. One senator
had no idea which bill he vot-
ed for (he later changed his
yes vote to no). The senators
displayed last minute thought-
lessness in changing many fa-
vorable votes against the bill.
Once it became clear that there
were not enough votes to pass,
three more senators changed
their yest votes to no "for the
record".
Why did it end up like this?
Ah yes, if there was even a bit
of rational explanation. The list
of supporters included all the
respectable organizations: State
Department of Health, State
Dent. of Education, the PTO,
ACLU, NOW, Michigan Planned
Parenthood Council - led and
coordinated by the Michigan
Education Association. They
cited all the relevant statistics
on teenage pregnancy rates, in-
creasing VD rates among teens
and a number of other health
reasons.
BUT THE OPPOSITION was
comnrised of Hanpiness of Wo-
manhood, Michigan Catholic
Conference, and the state
Right to Life group. Not to men-
tion all the "concerned moth-
ers". While sneskine with some
of these women, the fear and
Bu rsley
kill sex
bill
nancies. They are the people
who want and should have the
information needed to make
responsible decisions about
their own sexuality.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
This being the fifth attempt in
seven years to get birth con-
trol education into the schools,
it appears that the legislative
route is pretty much exhausted.
Bursley has already introduced
a similar bill for consideration
next year and the same fight
will begin again. Increasing
conservatism appears to be the
trend. A couple of attempts to
get the law ruled unconstitu-
tional in court cases have fail-
ed on technicalities. Any subse-
quent case would have to be
carefully chosen in the future.
But what will probably happen
is that school counselors and
teachers will ignore the law.
Planned Parenthood and Coun-
ty Health Departments will
continue to provide the essen-
tial services that comprise any
non-discriminitory family plan-
ning agency. And the teens
themselves will make it quite
clear that they will continue
to experiment with sex, with or
without society's approval, with
or without knowledge of basic
human reproduction, and with
or without contraceptive mea-
sures. It's time for both par-
ents and the legislators to face-
these realities.
LSA senior Debra Lipson is a
student intern for the Popula-
tion Institute in Washington,
D.C.
U
Lettenr
To The Daily:
THE SOCIETY OF A
Engineers' volunteered
tire day of Saturday, T
15th, to tune up andr
sion tests on about
These cars were rando
ed at the Thursday l
tune ups, which was
the community.
We would personall
thank the 30 men and
tors who spent their;
5to the Daily
thanks being, not only friendly and pa-
tient, but informative as well.
Both of our cars are now run-
utomotive ning not only more efficiently
[their en- and economically, but less pol-
November luting then they have in years.
run emis- Nowadays it is a rare occasion
40 cars. to see excellent mechanical
)mly pick- knowledge distributed to the
ecture on community. Much thanks to all
open to the men who participated in the
program for a job well done.
y like to Denise Symons
d instruc- Judith Rengert
afternoon November 17
ignorance of the bill's actual
contentewas more than evident.
They fear homosexuality being
taught as the norm, they fear
governmental control over fam-
ily size, and they believe that
the schools will dramatically
change the values they instilled
in their children. One woman
honestly believed that the bill's
passage meant that movies
showing sexual intercourse
would be shown to kindergar-
deners. And in the end, all the
Catholics had to do was accuse
the senators of being dirty old
men or promoting promiscuity
to get their votes. Hardly re-
sponsible government. Through-'
out this entire, controversy ev-
ervone involved seemed to for-
get the teens themselves. They
are the ones who find them-
selves with unwanted preg-
Upheaval near in
troubled
& 4
By the Organization of
Arab Students
LEBANON AS IT now exists is
the territorial, socio-economic
and political creation of Frenchc
colonial rule. Taking the semi-
autonomous provinces which
constituted historical Lebanon
as the nucleus of the new state,
France carved additional pro-'
vinces out of Syria, including'
rich agricultural areas, and at-
tached them to this nucleus in
order to make the new state
economically self-sufficient.
Following the policy of di-
vide and rule, France then
proceeded to drive a wedge
among the varying ethnic and
religious groups of the new
state, favoring both over the
others socio-economically and
policitally. Thus, France suc-
ceeded in creating a privileg-
ed class which was to serve
her interests in the area, there-
by perpetuating and increasing
the traditional cleavages with-
in the society.
FRENCH COLONIAL rule
was not alone in developing the
basis for Lebanon's socio-eco-
nomic and political life, which
was to survive long after the
French were gone. Collaborat-
ing with colonial policy were
the semi-feudal lords and the
political religious leadership
who had a vested interest in
the creation of such a state. It
was this same elite which in
1943 sanctified its own privi-
leged status in the National
Pact by continuing to favor
its own class over the others,
and which continued to serve
outside interests.
The confessional system
which makes up the National
Pact doles out political power
and administrative jobs accord-
ing to a quota system based on
religious affiliation, on a 6 to
5 ratio in favor of the Chris-
tian denomination. Within the
Christian and Muslim blocs,
the Maronite and, to a lesser
extent, the Sunni Muslim feud-
al-political - religious leader-
ships, maintained their pre-
eminence. -
THUS, LEBANON WAS never
allowed to develop into a dem-
ocratic, secular state. Far from
giving a just percentage of po-
litical and administrative pow-
er to all sects, as claimed by its
partisans, the National Pa'ct
has instead served to sanctify
and reinforce political and class
divisions along sectarian lines.
Moreover, it does this, on the
outmoded ratio of 6 to 5, al-
though the Muslims now con-
stitute the majority of the pop-
ulation.
Economically, to make their
own greatest gain in the short-
est time, the semi-feudal politi-
cal leadership encouraged the
growth of a literally uncontrol-
led serviceeconomy which has
led to at least two results. The
first was the creation of a
small, rich, upper-middle class
dedicated to serving as the mar-
keteers for goods from the in-
dustrial West and as the bank-
ed in violence, most not
1958, and is today reach
most critical stage.
Since greater politica
economic power was ori
vested in the Christian
cifically Maronite eleme
gain over the past few d
has been generally accr
it. Thus, while the confl
day is between the trad
leadership and bourgeo
both Christians and M
on the one hand and the
vantaged of both religi
the other, since the Chr
as a whole are generally
off than the Muslims, it
Christian political - ec'
leadership which clings
tenaciously to the status
the confessional system.
"While the old c
of privilege in1
non would have
u n e r attack
crumbled in any
it might have
spared a while l
but for the Palest
cata yst."
The elite never relin
its privileged position
tarily. The Christian
spearheaded by the PhaL
is forced to prevent the
vantaged Christians fr
cognizing their comm
terest, allying with the
disadvantaged elements
the society, and to in f
them as cannon fodder,
the rest of the disadva
classes. This they do
ploiting their common r
ties and by instilling fea
in them as a minority.
tempt them with the carr
as a Christian element
to their advantage to
the existing confession
tem, since their day wi)
to likewise benefit from
the same time, they wi
stick that says any
would emphasize their 1n
status and so imperi
physical well-being.
AS THE CONFLICT is
however, it is only a m
time before the poor Ch
will come to realize th
ploitation at the handsi
co-religionaries, that th
tian elite is not only in
of protecting their interi
is actually despoiling th
that their interests a
served by allying the
with the rest of the und
leged in the country.
As for the Muslimc
likewise has its aspira
ably in aware of the
ing its tion and tha
al and
ginally
, spe-
nt, the
acades
ued to
lict to-
litional
isie of
most to gain from a change in
the status quo. As the battle
continues, more and more of
this element will also progres-
sively reject the opportunistic
Muslim elite which is now at-
tempting to take advantage of
the present upheavel to reap
benefits for itself.
eir relative depriva-
at they have the
[uslims WHILE THE OLD order of
disad- privilege in Lebanon would
ons on have come under attack and
istians crumbled in any case, it might
better have been spared a while long-
is the er but for the Palestinian cata-
onomic lyst. Those Palestinians who
most were forced to take refuge in
quo of Lebanon after having been driv-
en from their homeland in 1948
by the Zionist forces in Pales-
tine were not allowed to ac-
quire political power within
the Lebanese system for fear of
)rder upsetting the 6 to 5 confessional
ratio. Since the majority of
[eba- Palestinians are also Muslims,
they were incorporated into the
co e system. I
COle syThe growth of the Palestinian
resistance movement after the
a n (1 1967 war was a major factor in
mobilizing the disinherited Pal-
case, estinians as well as the disad-
vantaged Lebanese. The Pal-
been estinian misery in the camps,
combined with their impotence
nger within the political structures of
the area, was translated into
inian the guerrilla power of the Re-
sistance. The long-quiescent dis-
inherited Palestinians as rep-
resented by the Resistance
found a ready ally in the dis-
: advantaged Lebanese. The Leb-
anese found, organized and po-
quishes liticized this ally willing to aid
volun- them economically and militar-
elite, ily. The Palestinians found that
angists, their Lebanese allies were their
disad- first shield in confrontations
om re- with the government and the
on in- army.
other
within WITH MORE ELEMENTS of
act use the Palestinian Resistance tak-
against ing refuge in Lebanon upon be-
antaged ing driven out of Jordan in 1970-
by ex- 71, and with the poor of the
eligious Lebanese South more and more
r with- exposed to Israeli bombing and
They firepower, this alliance was
ot that, bound to grow. The significance
, it is of this growth was not lost on
protect the privileged class of Leba-
al sys- nese. Failing to drive a wedge
11 come of their own between the Pal-
it. At estinians and their Lebanese
eld the allies they had to try, a la Jor-
change dan to wipe out the Palestinian
ninority movement in Lebanon in order
i their to crush the mounting move-
ment of the disadvantaged Leb-
anese. The clashes of 1969 and
waged 1973 represented only the peak
atter of moments of this continuing at-
ristians tempt.
eir ex-
of their AS THE BATTLE rages, the
e Chris- true essence of the contending
capable forces comes more and more
ests but clearly into view. Beginning
em, and with the February clashes in
re best Saida trigered by the attemnt
mselves of a large, private fishine cor-
er-privi- nrration owned byone of the
elite to comnete with and ruin
elite, it the smnil Lebanese fishermen,
tions to the hattle continied in Anril in
party now receives aid,
port from Israeli and U
ernment sources. Th
September, Israel bo
the South and its jets w1
sonic booming overflew
while the Phalangists a
rightist groups pounde
poli and Beirut. Israeli
openly call on the "C
world" to aid the Chri
Lebanon against the "
Moslem majority," hy
ally disregarding thl
treatment of the Chris
well as Muslim) Pale
They threaten Syria no
tervene," while thri
themselves to invade
tect the Jewish minori
US State Department
issues permits to deal
viding the rightists wi
as the CIA pours munit
their stores.
THE TRADTTIONAL
both Christians and
are now struggling t
Lebanon
and sup- tain the confessional system,
. S. gov- since it is they who benefit.
roughout They differ only with regard to
mbarded which is to take the bigger per-
ith their centage of power. What the pro-
v Beirut, gressive forces call for is not
nd other the substitution of a quota
d at Tri- based on one outmoded ratio
leaders for another ratio. The only solu-
Christian tion is to abolish confessional-
stians of ism as the basis for political
fanatical representation. In the words of
ypocritic- Monsignor Gregiore Haddad,
eir own former Greek Catholic archbish-
stian (as op of Beirut, "The will of the
estinians. poor to overcome their wretch-
t to "in- edness, which has become un-
reatening bearable, is helping to let loose
"to pro- a flood tide which is capable
ty." The of destroying everything in its
quickly way in order to rebuild some-
lers pro- thing better" (Manchester
ith arms Guardian, October 19, 197S).
ions info That. superior order can only
be a democratic, secular sys-
tem dedicated to the preserva-
elite of tion of the equal social, eco,
Muslims nomic and political rights of all
o main- the citizens of Lebanon.
...The Lighter Side
Paranoia digs deep,
pols act Zle sheep.
mz'-mmmmremDick West
By DICK WEST
WASHINGTON (UPI) - I dont have the exact figures but
probably about 90 per cent of the current presidential candidates
are running against the government.
Even President Ford, who heads one branch of it, frequently
attacks the government. And many of the senators running for
president are outspokenly critical although they are part of it, too.
I WAS DISCUSSING THIS the other day with Dr. Luigi V.
Populi, the noted political scientist, and he compared it to an
episode n the old "Pogo" come strip.
When Albert the Alligator saunters up to
creatures, one of them cries, "Alligator!"
the animals flee in panic. Including Albert.
a group of swamp
Whereupon all of
Tragedy ours not King's
By DAN BIDDLE
FTER A WHILE, inevitably, we grow
numb. Nixon quits and barely escapes
a pack of prosecutors; the CIA is shown
to be spying on thousands of us. Progressive
foreign leaders, men with principles once
voiced in the Declaration of Independence,
get targeted for murder by our intelligence
agencies. All our wildest paranoia about the
FBI bugging the left now is confirmed by
facts.
We grow numb or we would, I hope,
dissolve or explode in anger. Then there's
this news item about the FBI harassing
the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King.
"King, there is only one thing left for
you to do," read the bureau's anonymous
threat letter to King in December 1964.
. You are done. There is but one way
out for you."
It was part of a six-year attempt to
discredit King, FBI officials have now ad-
mitted. They insist the letter does not sug-
gest suicide.
THE OFFICIALS now offer their fear
.. .V0" -til'ra t
ancient principles and made our supposed-
ly moral intentions into a grisly interna-
tional joke.
What side are we on? Our agents --
persons paid with our taxes and directed
by our leaders - treated the nation's
greatest nonviolent leader as a wild, dan-
gerous aberration. They invaded his pri-
vacy, plotted his downfall and systemati-
cally tried to scare him to death.
SO WE BOIL WITH OUTRAGE or re-
treat quickly into complacency. But acer-
tain self-knowledge must emerge from these
endless disclosures. The Rev. Dr. Ralph
Abernathy, King's successor as leader of
the Southern Christian Leadership Confer-
ence, spoke of the FBI plot on Wednesday
and touched on that need in the soft, under-
stated voice of the old civil rights move-
ment, and made his point.
He was surprised, he said, that the FBI
could have paid a man to write strange
letters to Martin Luther King when the
government could not find money to pay
for another poor child's breakfast.
The statement has the same quiet sweep
that ran through many of King's sneeches.
"Why is you running, Albert?" one of the creatures asks,
pointing out helpfully that "You is an alligator yourself."
"I KNOW," ALBERT REPLIES, explaining that "When you
say it sudden-like" even he is frightened.
Accordingly to Populi, this is basically what has happened
in the presidential campaign.
One day President Ford sauntered up to a group of California
Republicans with the aim of making them a speech.
"Government!" cried Ronald Reagan,- and all of the Republi-
cans took off in wild alarm, Ford among them.
Meanwhile, each time a Democratic senator went south to
campaign for president, a warning cry of "Government!" was
sounded by George Wallace.
In the ensuing pandemonium, the senators bolted for safety
along with the other Democrats.
I asked Populi if government officials who were scared by
the government realized they were frightening themselves.
"THEY KNOW IT, but it still makes them nervous,' he
replied.
Mainly, he added, it is the government's size that causes
consternation.
"Although the government may only be a pitiful helpless
giant, anything that big looks dangerous. Your reason may tell
you it won't hurt you but when you encounter it sudden-like,
your instinct tells you to get the hell out of there.
"Actually, the odds against being attacked by the govern-
ment probably are greater than the odds against being eaten