4
OPINION
Page 4
Tuesday, November 22, 1983
The Michigan Daily
t stt anthigan t
Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan
Stewart
i4
Vol. XCIV-No. 66
420 Maynard St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily's Editorial Board
Remembering JFK
O N THE STEPS of the Union there
is a small bronze medallion
marking the spot where an idea was
first announced by a candidate for
political office. Though it was cold and
rainy and nearly two in the morning,
nearly 10,000 people, mostly students,
warmly embraced both the idea and its
creator. They didn't think of the idea
as one only to grab headlines and
votes.
The idea was the Peace Corps. The
candidate was John Fitzgerald Ken-
nedy.
The plaque near the medallion ex-
plains it best: "Here, at 2:00 a.m. on
October 14, 1960, John Fitzgerald Ken-
nedy first defined the Peace Corps. He
stood at the place marked by the
medallion and was cheered by a large
and enthusiastic student audience for
the hope and promise his idea gave the
world."
The Peach Corps lives as a reminder
of a man who brought this nation a skill
- leadership - and a hope which has
been lacking for exactly 20 years. For
20 years ago today was Dallas.
What is most painful about John
Kennedy's death is that so much of this
nation's potential - its future -
seemed to die with the young
president. No one can know what
might have been. John Kennedy's sen-
se of what could be was so positive.
Because of his leadership, so was the
nation's sense of what could be.
As president, he had his grand
failures and his great triumphs. His
name is as much linked with the abyss
of the Bay of Pigs as the pinnacle of the
Cuban missile crisis. He was cautious
on civil rights at first, but later
recognized the importance of the issue
as few politicians have since. -
. Kennedy's most important asset,
though, was his unshakeable belief in
the future and his ability to convey that
belief to whomever he spoke with.
31
C)1
0
C)s
Ni
1C-
-th.w: J
tt) '7{
1I
'-Ptoor!-
I4
0 C)
a
r-.
C>
Ffrn
4
ONE DAY
9A
ino
-'
C,
A FEWIDAYS
AFTER ...
i
l t
When he said the United States would
go to the moon, somehow the nation
knew it would get there. When he an-
nounced the New Frontier he wasn't
seeking to reverse past failures, he
sought future successes.
Today's generation of leaders seem
more intent on avoiding failure than on
succeeding and moving forward.
There is no one asking "not what your
country can do for you, but what you
can do for your country." No one is
telling the people of this nation what
they can do to solve problems. Too
many people are telling others what
the nation is or isn't supposed to be
doing for them.
There aren't any politicians who can
draw a crowd in cold and wet weather
at two in the morning. Nor are
there any politicians thousands would
line the streets to catch a fleeting
glimpse of as his or her motorcade
swept past. But then again, John Ken-
nedy was not only a politician, he was
a leader - the last leader this nation
has had.
William Manchester said it best in
the title of his book: Johnny, We Har-
dly Knew Ye.
LETTERS TO THE DAILY:
Gear up to fight Solomon III
4
To the Daily:
Opponents of Solomon Amen-
dment legislation have their work
cut out for them.
As of October 1, 1983, Solomon I
and II are in force: Solomon I on
college campuses where a
student's statement of com-
mpliance with draft registration
must be given to receive federal
financial aid, and Solomon II in
the states' job training programs
in which the compliance
requirements may vary from a
statement of non-conviction un-
der the Military Selective Service
Act to proof of registration.
Another Solomon amendment,
this time attached to the Hawkins
full-employment bill, H.R. 1036,
passed the House September 21.
No debate was offered, and only
one representative (Levine, D-
Ca.) entered into the record a
statement of opposition to the
amendment after the voice vote
was taken.
Under this bill, funds would be
distributed to cities, counties,
and states based on unem-
Engine. students rebuff Duderstadt.. .
To the Daily:
In an article ("'U'
won't increase lab security,"
Daily, November 10)
Engineering Dean James Duder-
stadt was quoted as saying that
the military research issue is
dead. As engineering students,
we feel compelled to respond
In his official capacity, Duder-
stadt apparently speaks on
behalf of the entire engineering
college. We are among many
engineering students who
disagree with him and need to
publicly state our view. For those
of us who fight for peace and self
determination for all world
citizens, the military research
issue is not dead. And we will not
fade out with the media publicity.
No doubt Dean Duderstadt
wishes the military research
issue were dead, as the Defense
Department contributes heavily
to the engineering school resear-
ch budget. You may conclude
that, because of these grants and
the lucrative jobs offered by
defense contractors, military ex-
penditures are in the best interest
of engineering students. Perhaps
this conclusion justifies the
school's behavior of being led
around by the defense depar-
tment like a donkey with a carrot.
But every engineer who loves
technology and is excited by the
technological functions of society
' should see that the opposite is
true. Military research is
destroying American technology
and industry by pouring billions
and billions of research capital
into products that are used only
to 'enforce our heavy handed
policies around the world.
Although in some cases military
research does have limited
civilian applications, the advan-
cements in scientific knowledge:
obtained from military are
wasted. Most of the money
needed to develop new products
and industries is controlled by the
military..
With regard to academic
responsibility, the engineering
school has disturbing priorities. -
The military research sponsored
by our school is an outrage to
students and- the community.
Dean Duderstadt's recent
statements have added insult to
injury.
- James A. Schueler
John Haughton
November 16
Schueler and Haughton are
Michigan Student Assembly
representatives for the
engineering college. This letter
was co-signed by eight other
engineering students.
i
OThTUSWNGEROUS) THAT TV PROGRAM"
K ,
/a T
-Ci
ployment rates to subsidize
private and public sector jobs.
Solomon III, if it becomes law,
would mean that any person
receiving funds under the act
would have to state compliance
with draft registration.
Since compliance with the
Solomon Amendments falls most
heavily on young men in lower
economic groups (Black,
Hispanic, Puerto Rican, Native
American) who need help in
securing a college education, job
training, and jobs, the racist
characteristic of the legislation is
glaringly obvious. Another
frightening aspect is that colleges
and state governments are
required to enforce draft
registration for which there is
already a penalty for violation
(five years in prison and/or
$10,000 fine). This lays double
punishment on non-registrants
and leads to further
militarization of civilian
education and labor.
Those who are concerned about
the creeping tentacles of
militarism should take action.
The most viable measure in the
House at the present time ap-
pears to be Rep. Bob Edgar's (D-
Pa.) H.R. 1286 to repeal Solomon
I, which has about 50 co-sponsors.
(An attempt to repeal Solomon I
was defeated in the Senate
earlier in the year.)
Contact Congressman Carl
Pursell, 2nd Congressional,
District, and Congressman.
William Ford, 15th Congressional
District, to ask them to become
co-sponsors of H.R. 1286. Ask
them to work for repeal of
Solomon I and II and for defeat of
III.
Thank Senators Donald Riegle
and Carl Levin for their earlier
yes vote in favor of repeal of
Solomon I, and ask them to in-
troduce measures in the Senate,
leading to the demise of all
Solomon legislation.
The Washtenaw County Com-
mittee Against Registration and
the Draft (W-CARD) has also
produced a petition asking for
repeal of Solomon I and II.
- Edith Hefley
November 14
by Berke Breathed
4
4
4
.. .Research issue not even sick
To the Daily:
As one of the 26 protestors who
blockaded Prof. Thomas Senior's
lab this past week, I would like to
address Engineering Dean
James Duderstadt's comments
in the article "'U' won't increase
lab security," (Daily, November
10). Dean Duberstadt states that
"(He and others) look at this as
kind of a last gasp of a dying
movement, it was a very ineffec-
tive way to get attention."
First off, I'd like to ask Dean
Duderstadt, which movement is
he speaking of? If he is referring
to the movement which resulted
in the 1972 classified research
guidelines, then he should know
that I was only ten years old then
(and I'm not significantly
younger than any of the others in-
side). There were a number of
elderly and middle-aged people
who attended the support rallies.
If Dean Duderstadt is speaking of
another movement on this or
another campus, I urge him to let
us know of it - I'm sure we could
help breath some life back into
any dying movements out there.
However, if Dean Duderstadt is
referring to the present
movement on this campus which
has been building for the past
three years to extend the
citizens, and businesses
throughout the Ann Arbor area
supported the sit-in with voices,
letters, food, blankets, and help
in coordinating the many support
activities. As far as attention
generated, the Daily recieved let-
ters and telegrams of support
from student groups ranging
from nearby MSU to the Univer-
sity of Massachusetts. The press
coverage was also nation-wide.
So, Dean Duderstadt should not
bother mourning the movement
for peace and aginst militarism
on this campus; it's alive,
kicking, ahd on the rise.
- Tom Mendelsohn
November 11
4
4
Letters and columns represent the opinions of
the individual author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the attitudes or beliefs of the Daily.
BLOOM COUNTY
!T'5 6./'?A.t. '6f*YRFAMPwM5
01V LvIAST II(h7 ePCNIMMY,
%A7CHIN& /VC WOKIR 7WCWP 5 iY
NOUCI. AR 4' 6A5 Wer 01/9AMAN
WEC A 9(T5HqAA'. OH 51V/51R
M1AY KCHAW A 016IF COW4Ar ONc
YOUiR f66uIM 15 MaPN& ?
OF COUREYOUJ %AUtZe THAI
5 -'(KJU7 Ws
'V
PAD PA P V/
r ,
'I
asvNW
Q'WI
4
1
1
I