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OPINION
Page 4
Wednesday, March 16, 1983
Thq Michigan Dai
Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan
Guilty as charged;
newspapers'
Vol. XCIII, No. 129
420 Maynard St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily's Editorial BoardI
Compromise for Europe
FTER MONTHS of talks, U.S. and
A Soviet diplomats have negotiated
themselves into a virtual standstill in
the Geneva talks on nuclear missiles in
Europe. Now the Reagan admini-
stration has finally hinted it is willing to
seek a compromise that could revive
stagnant dialogue on eliminating
nuclear weapons on the continent.
With nearly 572 new NATO missiles
set to be installed in five Western
Europe countries in December, the
time to get moving on negotiations is
now. As the deployment date grows
near, the anti-nuclear groups in
Europe grow larger as more attention
is being focused on negotiations that
have failed largely because the
Reagan administration has refused to
deviate from an untenable position.
For their part, the leaders of the
countries who have agreed to accept
the missiles understandably are
anxious for negotiations to succeed.
Planned deployment of the missiles
has not only aroused considerable op-
postion, but fear that once the missiles
are put in place, no negotiating
position will be able to provide for their
removal.
Poland
THE PEOPLE OF Poland again are
proving that it takes more than the
banning of a union to break their will to
be free and independent of an op-
pressive government. Though
Solidarity was outlawed officially
more than two years ago, its spirit
lives on in the hearts of those who
struggled so long to first establish the
union.
For several months small demon-
strations have been held on the 13th of
the month calling for the re-
establishment of Solidarity becuase it
was on the 13th of December, 1981, that
martial law was imposed on the people
of Poland. The rallies aren't very im-
pressive in numbers - the largest only
involve about 2,000 people - and they
don't appear well organized.
The gatherings start out with
workers, like those in the Gdansk
shipyard where Solidarity was born,
Thus, with its professed willingness to
compromise, the administration needs
to come up with a proposal that has a
realistic chance of gaining serious con-
sideration from the Soviets.
The famed Reagan zero-option has
gotten virtually nowhere since its an-
nouncement in late 1981 because it fails
to incorporate legitimate Soviet con-
cerns - notably the hundreds of
British and French missiles the plan
ignores. And since that announcement,
U.S.-Soviet dialogue has degenerated
into propaganda war which neither
side can win and only Europe can lose.
An end to the belligerent tone would
be the first step toward serious
negotiations in Geneva. A second step
must involve not only a workable
proposal from the United States, but a
willingness to compromise.'.
The more time that slips away bet-
ween now and December, the more dif-
ficult it will be to keep the new U.S.
missiles out of Europe and to disman-
tle the Soviet missiles from the Reagan
administration to serious negotiations.
The people of Europe expect and
demand no less.
's spirit
leaving their jobs before the afternoon
shift takes over. The workers mill
around in small groups chanting
"Solidarity" and singing patriotic
Polish song. The police move in and
break up these "illegal" demon-
strations without arresting many, if
they arrest anyone at all.
These rallies are no big deal by most
standards. But the rallies represent a
spirit among Poles that lives whether
or not Solidarity as a formal union
does.
It is the same spirit of freedom and
independence in the hearts of those
that live under oppressive rule
anywhere. It is a spirit that does not
die with the death of an individual, a
labor union, or any other keeper of
people's hopes for a better life.
Poland's rulers can't wipe that spirit
out of Poles. The rally in Gdansk Sun-
day, and the rallies on the 13th day of
previous months attest to that.
are ofen
By Barry Witt
Newspapers are offensive creatures.
That's a reality I've had to face in the six
weeks since I took over as the editor of this
publication. I suppose that's something I've
known for a long time; I've just never forced
myself to understand it before.
BY THEIR very nature, newspapers are 1
bound to offend some people every day. The
press can be objective, but by no means can it
be neutral. On any given day, somebody is
calling the Daily sexist, racist, or ageist; too
liberal (by the conservatives) or too conser-
vative (by the liberals); tasteless,
thoughtless, or generally worthless.
Is the Daily guilty of all these things? I sup-
pose so, if the readers say so. Personally, I
might not agree with a reader's assessment
of a particular storyhor the paper in general,
but I'll grant that he or she may be right.'
For the last several weeks, I've spent a
great deal of time discussing, debating, and
defending one story that has received a lot of
attention. The article wascalled" 'Japs': Are
they fact or fiction," and it ran in the
Weekend section last month. The article set
up a stereotypical characterization of a 'Jap'
(Jewish American Princess) and proceeded
to discuss the term-its use and misuse-with
several Jewish women on campus.
WITHIN FOUR days of its publication, I
fielded a dozen angry phone calls. The Daily
received about 35 letters of response - far
more than on any other single article in
recent memory. The Hillel Foundation
organized a discussion of the article, which
attracted about 70 participants, including
myself.
In all, it has been a rather exceptional
response to a single feature story.
Although the complaints varied, the one
"
give - zj you
recurrent theme was that each respondent that peopl
was offended in some way by the story. To story - lik
some, the key issue involved an unfair their letters
characterization of all Jewish women as Any good
"Japs." Others said that the story presented other com
the traits associated with the "Jap" image as because it
being peculiar to Jewish women, as opposed (though the
to Protestant, Catholic, or any other kind of but becau
women - or men, for that matter. Some said there's a o
that no story involving a stereotype should be refuse to ru
written, because it only lends legitimacy to height of a
untrue characterizations and promotes ill saying that
feelings toward the group involved. gold andv
EACH OF the arguments along with irrelevent.
several others, has a point to it. To an extent, Newspap
each is correct, though I may choose to differ promoted
with the point of view. society fa
For instance, an argument can be made presumesh
that the story should have said the charac- topic, for th
teristics one associates with the "Jap" image made.
are just as applicable to non-Jews as Jews. To As for th
some, such a statement would have made the from A to
story better. To others, that sentence would discussing.:
have made the story at least acceptable. To an impor
me, that statement would have been Chicago Sui
gratuitous since I accept it without question. subject, qu
But such a "goes without saying" attitude saying thats
has put me at odds with a lot of readers, for simply bec
they believe that in a society known for its distinguish
strong prejudicial attitudes, such a statement say she's a
must be made. stand out, e
PERHAPS those readers are right. I'm not I think the
sure. But that's why this newspaper, like any he's got a p
other gives the readers a chance to argue This colu
their point in print, in the letters column. anyone wh
The Daily has been asked to do a number of the "Japs'
things in order to respond to the reaction the any other
paper has received to the "Japs" article: invitation tI
We've been asked to apologize for running it, and recogn
or to admit mistake in omitting certain "vital" not all blac
statements, or to at least recognize and
acknowledge the reaction that has taken
place. We aretunconvinced that we erred in. Witt is
running the story, but we have recognized
say s
e reacted in various ways to this
ke many others - by publishing,
Is.
id newspaper welcomes letters or
rmentary from its readers - not
tmakes for interesting readinig.
e letters column is very popular)-
se a newspaper recognizes that
ot to be said. For a publication to
un dissenting opinion would be the
arrogance; in effect, it would be
t the newspaper's word is good as
what anyone else has to say iS
ers exist, in part, to create and
discussion of the issues that
ces. No writer or editor ever
he or she has the final say on a
here are always other points to be
he "Japs" topic, the opinions run
Z. Some say the idea isn't worth.
But others feel the "Jap" image is,
tant social phenomenon. The,
in-Times, in a recent story on the,
iioted a Chicago psychiatrist as
some women need the "Jap" imagel
ause it gives them some identityto
them from the crowd. "When you,
'Jap,' " he argued, "it makes her
even though it's negative." -
e guy is nuts. But I won't deny that
lausible point.
imn itself is not intended to satisfy,
o is upset with or was offended y,
"article - or anyone who dislikes
story in the paper. Rather, it is-an
to readers to respond to our stories
ize - like we do - that the world sa
k and white.
" -P
editor-in-chie.
the Daily's
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41 au"V
LETTERS TO THE DAILY:
A.
Regent praises conference organizers.;
To the Daily:
In the interest of developing
lines of communication among
adminstration, faculty, and
students at a time when the
University is in the process of re-
posturing and re-structuring it-
self for the decade ahead, studen-
ts of the University have
organized a conference on
redirection for the weekend of
March 18 and 19.
I laud their efforts.
It is my observation that our
University community can be no
stronger than the caring and con-
tinuous review it receives from
various groups within the com-
munity: faculty, students, ad-
ministrators, and regents. Ob-
viously by the central focus of
their endeavors, it is often hard
for students to find time to ad-
dress themselves to current
issues much less think about the
longer term issues such as
redirection.
By the effort of this conference
the students are, I believe, hoping
to make a contribution to a
process which will impact on the
University in the coming decade
at the least.
- Sarah Goddard Powet
Regent, University
of Michigar
March 10
Krell 's masturbation
Groups for clerical union
To the Daily
Our letter to the Daily of
Friday, March 11, recognizing
the contributions to education
made by University clerical em-
ployees, and supporting their ef-
UM), Ann Arbor Chapter of the
National Lawyers Guild, Black
Law Students Alliance, La Raza,
Women Law Students
Association, Latin American
Solidarity Committee, and the
To the Daily:
What kind of reviewer do you
call. yourself, C.E. Krell? Come
on now. Were you at the show
("Cosmetic surgery undergone
by Tacuma,"Daily, March 11), or
in a Grad Library carrel as noted
in the Police Notes, as I suspect?
In any event, your review is
masturbation at best, an example
of limp journalism.
I suggest in the future you
station yourself in the Grad and
stay away from musical venues.
Your reviewing talents would be
greatly improved.
- Bill Shea
March 141
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