Page 4-Wednesday, July 12, 1978-The Michigan Daily
-michigan DAILY
Eighty-eight Years of Editorial Freedom
420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, M. 48109
Vol. LXXXVI, No. 41S News Phone 764-0552
Wednesday, July 12, 1978
Edited and managed by students
at the University of Michigan
Indecent
censorship
The CIA had an alarmingly successful day in
court last week when a federal judge ordered
former CIA agent Frank Snepp to give up
royalties from his i'Decent Interval" and to seek
the approval of the agency before publishing
another word.
U.S. District Judge Oren Lewis upheld CIA
allegations that Snepp had broken an oath to clear
his manuscript with the intelligence agency
before publication despite the fact that both Snepp
and the CIA have stated that the book about CIA
conduct in Vietnam did not reveal any confiden-
tial information or expose any agents.
What the book did expose was evidence that the
shadowy CIA made errors in judgment in the
evacuation of Saigon that resulted in leaving
behind for the enemy the names of many Viet-
namese who had aided the U.S. Unlike their
authoritarian stand against Snepp, the CIA made
little effort to be discreet as they stumbled out of
the besieged city, leaving behind files identifying
those Vietnamese
who had worked
closely with the
U.S. personnel
during the war.
It turns out that
the CIA demands
censorship author-
ity beyond the in-
terests of national
security. The
agency wants -
and the court
At I nsider's Account of ruling indicates
Saigon' - *decent End that it can get -
Told bvtheCIA'sChief the power to cen-
StrategiAnalysinVetna sor whateverit
pleases and fur-
thermore decree
that an individual must submit every word
he prints to its investigators for an indeter
minate amount of time.
It is not surprising in light of the revelations
which have been made about the agency - some
of them as close to home as the ARTICHOKE cam-
paign and campus recruitment - that we are
seeing another chapter in a long book full of insen-
sitive and inexcusable violations of the rights of
citizens. But we note with particular distaste such
an ominous decision by a federal judge.
Lewis' ruling labelled Snepp's actions a
"breach of trust." But Lewis himself has
damaged the faith we have in the legal system. It
was a gross, indiscriminate decision that opens
the door for greater CIA claims to illegitimate
spying and censoring, both in this country and
abroad.
We agree with Frank Snepp when he is quoted
as saying, .... an American dared to criticize the
government ad '(did). so lespnsibly- and he is
being gagged and cannot speak out."

ERA politics: join a
By Ken Parsigian effrontery to cry foul when we merely ask for a legal time
"What do you want?" I hollered, straining to be extension. Gloria Steinem put it mpst succinctly,
heard over the jabbering of curious onlookers and "You can't puta deadline on people's rights."
the rhythmic din of nearly 200,000 marching feet. The most inspiring aspect of the march and rally
"ERA!" my co-marchers shouted in unison. was the diversity of the participants. There was a
"When do you want it?" I demanded. time when the thrust of the ERA's support came
"Now!" came the singular reply. from so-called radical groups, opponents like
There were almost 100,000 of us - young and old, Phyllis Schlafly contend that this is still the case.
men and women - marching down Constitution Sunday's demonstration proved them wrong. The
Avenue to the steps of the Capitol last Sunday to radicals were there alright - Socialist and Com-
demand extension of the March 1979 ERA deadline. munist parties, radical lesbians, etc. - but the
It was an impressive display of the strength of the moderates and even some conservatives were there
women's rights movement, with contingents too. I struck upa conversation with a woman behind
present from every state. me who had brought her children with her.
The movement is at low ebb with the defeats in "I'm a mother and a Mrs. and even a
Illinois and the ominous deadline approaching, but Republican," she said, "but I'm still for equal
the message of the march was clear: the fight has rights. A lot of people have made this into a political
just begun. This week the House will determine the issue," she continued, "but it's not. Everyone
short term future of the ERA when it votes on the should be for human rights, no matter what your
extension question. But even if extension is denied, views on other subjects are."
Sunday's march was an affirmation of our deter- I have never heard it put so well. For years I have
mination to put women in the Constitution. As one of struggled to understand the views of the opposition,
the speakers said, "We fought for over 100 years to and this woman showed me why I have failed - the
get the vote, so we're not about to quit now in our opposition's view simply doesn't make any sense.
fight for equal rights." . This issue transcends politics. It even transcends
ERA opponents have charged that extending the sex.

Sen. Birch Bayh (D-Ind.) sits on his desk at the for the ERA, many of whom marched
Capitol Monday as he met with a group lobbying on the Capitol Sunday.

deadline would be changing the rules in the middle
of the game. This view was eloquently rebuked by
several speakers who explained to the crowd that
the first 18 amendments to the Constitution did not
have deadlines, and that it would be by no means
illegal or even out of step with tradition for
Congress to change its mind about the deadline,
which was only arbitrarily set at seven years
anyway. Many states are currently employing
stalling tactics in an attempt to postpone a vote on
the ERA until it is too late.
The only way to counteract these methods is to ex-
tend the deadline. It's all part of the political game.
ERA opponents have used every political ploy in the
book to prevent ratification, and now they have the

There were some 15,000 men marching Sunday,
and I am proud to have been among them. The point
is that the ERA Isn't just for liberals, or women, it's
for all people.
It was this sense of solidarity and justness of
cause that brought us so close together on Sunday,
and it is this broad-based support that will help us
win once and for all equal status for the women of
this country.
Ken Parsigian is co-director of the Daily's
Editorial Page, and a long-time supporter of
the women's rights movement.

Editorials which appear without a by-line represent a con-
sensus opinion of the Daily's editorial board. All other editorials,
as well as cartoons, are the opinions of the individuals who sub-
lt themn.' -