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The Michigan Daily
Edited and managed by Students at the
University of Michigan
Friday, July 2, 1976
News Phone. 764-0552
Letters to The Daily 1
I
A ime to forgeon to
America' next century
r11HE NATION'S SECOND CENTURY is almost over,
and it is with the greatest relief that we realize
the Bicentennial hoopla is drawing to a close. From
license plates to fire hydrants to souvenir glasses to
special airline rates to red, white, and blue Chevy Vegas,
the Bicentennial stares us in the face at every turn,
blinding us with commercial intensity to the values we
ought to examine. The two-hundred-year anniversary
of the United States is indeed a time for reflection,
but the gaudy, tacky celebration about to gasp its last
breath has stolen the opportunity the occasion provides.
Yet it is not too late. There is still time to applaud
what is good in America and pledge ourselves to cor-
rect what is bad.
At the risk of sounding like some American Legion
newsletter, we point out that citizens here have much
to be proud of.
Despite a government whose arms have reached
too far into the privacy and civil rights of many citi-
zens, we live nonetheless in a society in which free-
dom of speech, religion, travel, and assembly are the
highest standards of conduct. We are dismayed again
and again by failure of members of the federal execu-
tive branch, the legislative branch, the intelligence
community, and the private sector to meet those stand-
ards, but at least these failures provoke outrage - a
reaction far preferable to the apathy and resignation
of other nations.
BUT SATISFACTION in these things has too often
taken the edge off determination to improve our
lot. Too many are deprived of the opportunities others
enjoy, too often the wealthy have neglected to help the
poor. Too many Americans live the misery of the un-
employed, too many die from insufficient nutrition and
from illegal handguns and from lack of sufficient health
care.
The sentiment wsilch has been encouraged this
Fourth of July seems to be the celebration of what is
past, of the country's greatness. Yes, let us take quiet
satisfaction in our accomplishments, but the time is
nigh for a forging on. Note what is good and press
for what is better. The excess energy of the Bicenten-
nial should now be channelled to accomplishing what.
we will celebrate one hundred years hence.
To The Daily:
My little twelve-year-old sister
waited all year long to visit me at t
ful University of Michigan. She g
ecstatically at the Michigan Union bu
was eager to see the campus, so I
cut across the Diag, pointing out t
sights. What a harrowing experience
first approached by two pathetic-lo
handlers who were persistent in obta
money from us. Next, my sister was
to our beloved Dr. Diag who gave
lightening speech on sexuality. A few
we encountered a strange flute playe
a weird leather mask who eerily ser
This was to be out-done by the five
youths we somehow picked up under
neering Arch who, while making lewd
tried to get better acquainted' witho
Needless to say, my sister was ter
seeing her reaction, I suddenly beta
of how much I tolerate while gettin
cation here in Ann Arbor.
Ann While
June 19
To The Daily:
In the past few weeks a new p
has been added to the Ann Arbor str
thing that adds nothing to the cit
beauty and charm. With the warm,
new breed of men-folk have been ad
street scene, men who find great p
taunting women passing by. There
be no limit as to how explicit these
get when expressing their opinions on
appearance. Hassle is the name of t
When they sit in groups I sometim
if they keep score; who can get th
actions? Never before have I heart
unprintable "compliments used so
ing one stroll down State Street. Ut
they do not limit themselves to t
Car windows serve as another facet o
pus-wide sounding board,
To speak to them, or to become
yell back would be falling into thei
only hope is that one or two of t
can and do read a newspaper. M
will realize how absolutely aggravat
sting, belittling, and child-like this su
behavior is.
M. Friedm
June 13
hassled coming together in Philadelphia not to celebrate,
but to demonstrate.
People from all around the country will be
anxiously coming. Vietnam Veterans Against the War (one
he wonder- of the groups sponsoring the demonstration) have
reeted me had first-hand experience with some of the most
is stop and destructive aspects of "American democracy."
decided to After being forced or tricked to fight an un-
he various just war, they've returned to find no jobs and
.iWe were that they have to fight again for their bene-
oktng pan- fits.
ining some
introduced There will also be workers from the Unem-
us an en- ployed Workers' Organizing Committee who have
steps later been collecting hundreds of thousands of signa-
er sporting tures on their petition demanding "Jobs or In-
enaded us. come Now!"
obnoxious Students, who have been struggling for yea:s
the Engi- to end U.S. interference in other countries, and
comments, who are trying to make education available in
our bodies. lower income and minority people, will also be
rified, and there.
ame aware Coal miners, who last year walked out 50,
g my edu- 000 strong to demand the right to strike and
safer conditions, meatcutters from Milwaukee,
steelworkers from Washington, autoworkers from
Michigan, and many others will be gathering
in Philadelphia.
We will all be united around the same slo-
henomennon gan, "We've Carried the Rich for 200 Years-
eets, some- Let's Get Them Off Our Backs!" From the very
y's overall beginning the common people of this country
weather, a have built up everything and are responsible
Ided to the for the tremendous wealth that exists today, but
pleasure in for 200 years the rich, from the slave-owning
seems to Founding Fathers to the Rockefellers of our age,
e men will have run this country. Two of the most glaring
a woman's examples of what their rule has meant for the
heir game. American people have been the constant ulcer
tes wonder of unemployment and the innumerable wars
e most re- that have been fought to defend their profits
d so many Our response is to demand "Jobs or Income
often dur- Now" and to express our determination that
nfortunately "We Won't Fight Another Rich Man's War.
he streets,
if this cam- n July 4th, while the whole world's eyes
are focused on Philadelphia, we will be there
angry and to reach out to the millions of Americans wh
r trap. My will be watching; we can show that there i
Iese males a movement of people who are getting together
Aaybe they to fight the way thigns are run, that it is possi-
, infuri- ble for us to do something about the conditions
tinmerntime we face. And, on the 5th, when unemploymeit
and inflation go on rising and as our leaders
an talk more and more about the possibility of
new wars, we will have reached thousands of
people with our ideas, and united thousands in
action against our common enemy. There will
r backs be many battles facing us after the 4th, but
out of our organizing, we will be in a much
ito its last stronger position for what lies ahead.
spent many Join us in Philidelphia. For more informa-
red, white tion, call us at 995-8957.
e "Land of The Revolutionary Student Brigade
paint can't A member of the Rich Off Our Backs-
re. And so, July 4th Coalition
Rich off ott.
To The Daily:
The Bicenteninial blitz is going i
lap. By July 4th the rich will have
millions of dollars trying to paint a
and blue picture of life in this, th
Opportunity." But a thin coat of
cover up conditions as they really a
on July 4th, many thousands of peo
ple will be
July 1