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June 01, 1979 - Image 14

Resource type:
Text
Publication:
Michigan Daily, 1979-06-01

Disclaimer: Computer generated plain text may have errors. Read more about this.

Page 14-Friday, June 1, 1979-The Michigan Daily
Veterans discuss readjustment

(Continued from Page 3)
Hughel also said the image of the
Vietnam vet is distorted. "We are not
all flipped out psychotics-most of us
are gainfully employed, pursuing an
education, and living American lives,"
he said.
Hughel is not alone in his resentment
of the stereotypical view of the Vietnam
vet. Ali Hussin, a member of the Viet-
nam veterans Against the War who
spent 5 months on the Cambodian bor-
der, said "A lot of what happened was
Vietnam vets came back against the
war so they had to counter us to make
people not listen to us so they said we
were all junkies."
HOWEVER, HUSSIN, who is 100 per
cent disabled and suffers from a
disease of the internal organs, said he is
not pleased with programs such as the
Vietnam Awareness Week.
"They are attempts by the capitalist
to legitimize the Vietnam vet so they
can use him to promote patriotism
while they build up for World War III,"
said Hussin. He also claimed such even-
ts "blame the people for the plight of
the Vietnam vet. It is not the people, it
is the system and all the propaganda in
the media."
Hussin also said "the only solution is

to overthrow the system."
BUT ASSISTANT HISTORY Prof.
Norman Owen, who is also a Vietnam
vet, disagreed with Hussin.
"It is useful to have someone in the
legislature saying what is possible
among the many goals," said Owen. He
also said he thinks Vietnam veterans
have gotten a "raw deal" because the
Veteran Administration's (VA) system
is not well-equipped to handle veterans'
problems.
"The VA system does not work," said
Owen. "But where it works best is
physical injuries-the whole area of the
psychology of return is something they
cannot handle."
OWEN SAID MANY of the problems
Vietnam vets encounter involve the
short period of readjustment to civilian
life which occurred in most cases.
"(Many vets) literally were in Vietnam
one day, and on the streets of Detroit
the next day, with no cooling-off period
as in World War II-not given any ad-
vice."
"According to Owen, the fact that
many people hated Vietnam vets was
another problem in the vets' readjust-
ment. He said because "Vietnam was

an unpopular war, instead of being
welcomed home as a hero, the Vietnam
veteran was either ignored or seen as a
war criminal."
Owen also said, the "VA does not
have the resources or the type of ex-
perience to handle the problems of
Vietnam veterans."
"WORLD WAR II VETS may be the
greatest obstacle to Vietnam vets,
because they persist in claiming their
problems are the same," said Owen.
"Yet now. World War II vets are
talking about retirement benefits. And
Vietnam vets need jobs, educational
benefits, and the availability of
psychological counseling and treat-
ment."
Joh McCauley, a Vietnam veteran
who is working on a master's degree in
the School of Education, said many of
the problems Vietnam veterans have
are due to the fact that "a highly
idealistic group entered the army and
they found a very glib cynical society."
McCauley said after he entered the
University, he resented "young
idealists talking about organizing
society," because after being in the
army he did not trust "any non-

discriminating system."
Veterans' activities planned for today
include a presentation of Presidential
Certificates of Recognition at 4:00 p.m.
in the VA Medical Center Auditorium.
Tomorrow, a picnic is planned for Viet-
nam veterans and their families at a
park on Fuller Rd.
"Spoon River Anthology," a musical,
first appeared in New York in 1963. It
was based on Edgar Lee Masters 1915
book.
A2l ant i-draftt
protesters
obj e ct t o
proposed bill
(Contnued from Page i)
Protestors ranged in age from ap
proximately 5 to- 65 years. Vickie
Wilson, 27, brought her five-year-old
daughter Julie to the rally. Wilson said
she brought her daughter because she
hopes by the time Julie is 27, there will
not be a need for a draft protest.
"THE DRAFT scares me to death. I
go to bed with pightmares," Wilson
said.
Most of the protestors, however, were
high school students. Ann Zald, a 15-
year-old Huron High School student,
said, "I'm against the draft. I don't
want to go to war. I don't want my
brothers to go to war."
Molly Reilly, a 16-year-old pupil at
Huron High School, said, "It's the high
school kids it's (the proposed amen-
dment's) affecting, rather than older
people. I'll be affected." Reilly was
referring to the large number of older
people at the rally.
PIONEER HIGH SCHOOL student
Lauren Young, 17, summed up the
mood of the crowd as she wrote a letter
to Rep. Carl Pursell (R-Ann Arbor).
She penned the letter at a table set up to
encourage correspondence to members
of Congress.
"There's no reason for a draft,"
Young said. "No good reason."

Fate of new pot bill left up to House

(Continuedf rain Page 3)
because of the two amendments, and
urged the removal of both.
"IT'S RIDICULOUS that somebody
who is young and in need of counseling
would receive a harsher penalty than
adults," said Bullard.
The representative said he would also
make a sincere effort to add the
privacy amendment to the bill.
But even if these changes are made,
the bill could still be rejected by the
House of Representatives. Marijuana
legislation has had a poor track record
in Michigan's lower chamber.

TWO YEARS AGO, the House
passed, reconsidered, and finally
defeated, a bill reducing marijuana
penalties after a highly emotional
debate. Last year, after the Senate had
passed another bill reducing criminal
penalties for possession of one ounce or
less of pot, the bill once again met with
defeat in the House.
"The bills have always had a rough
time in the House because there seems
to be a more subjective consideration of
the bills rather than objective,"
speculated Johnston.
The current bill, which has been

referred from the House Public Health
Committee to the House Judiciary
Committee, now awaits a hearing by
the latter committee.
ACCORDING TO BILL LONG, an
aide to Gov. William Milliken, chances
for the bill's passage are better this
year than in the past. "There is a good
chance, if not better, because there is a
different composition (of members) in
the House," said Long.
Bullard agreed and said, "It will be a
tough fight, but it looks better than
before because we're among new
representatives,"
The Ann Arbor representative added
tha ' the bill could also pass because the
gei eral population has become in-
creasingly tolerant of pot smoking.
Legislators said they are hopeful the
House will reach a decision on the bill
before the summer session ends
sometime in July.
" The longer you keep it going, the
closer it gets to another election,"
Johnson said.

THE
GREAT ESCAPE.
You dream about it at night... the day you
can close your books, get out of this place and
forget about studying for awhile.
Well, the Great Escape is here...this
weekend, with Greyhound. Escape to the
country or go see some friends. Just decide
which escape route you want and we'll do
the rest.
We'll get you out of town and away from the
books so you can clear your head. It doesn't cost
much and it'll do you a world of good.
So make the Great Escape this weekend...
with Greyhound.
To One-Way Round-Trip Depart Arrive
Chicago 22.65 43.05 8:35am 12:30pm
Chicago 22.65 43.05 - 10:35am 4:35pm
Chicago 22.65 43.05 3:35pm 7:50pm
Kalamazoo 6.60 12.55 4:10pm 7:05pm
Kalamazoo 6.60 12.55 6:05pm 8:40pm
(Prices subject to change)
Union Bus Terminal 116 W. Huron 662-5511
W GREYIJ

WE DPON7MAKE HOUSE CALLS ...
but Health Service does offer a full range of medical care all
year round. Even if you aren't enrolled for sumrner classes,
you're still probably eligible for treatment here. If you've been
enrolled during the past 12 months, you (your spouse, too) can
use all facilities here.'
Don't forget there is a small extra charge for non-enrolled
students.
And bring your student ID for speedy service.
Have a question or complaint about
Health Service?
Call INFORMATION: 764-8320
Weekdays 8 am to 5 pm

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