4 t I' OPINION . a" FOage 4 Friday, March 9, 1984 The Michigan Dail-.: * Scientific research expands data base .1 - ,.. By Peter Ford, III Several factors determine a nation's ability to survive: the strength of its ekonomy, the ethics of its people, the stability of its government, and its military effectiveness. Scientific research with military applications helps maintain an effective military. Scientific research with various ap- plications, including military but not ptimarily military, should be perfor- med at universities. This research helps a University perform one of its. primary functions: providing knowledge for the welfare of humanity. Each nation possesses its own distinct qualities: government, economy,. ethics, religion, and culture. It would be dangerously ignorant to assume all nations act and think as we do. Democracy isn't thi ohl' government; capitalism isn't the only economic philosophy; Christianity isn't the only religion; all the people in the world aren't white. DESPITE these unique qualities, one thing all nations have in common is survival. Nations cherish their uniqueness, and will go to great lengths to preserve those qualities they cherish. Unfortunately, many nations will go to extreme lengths to preserve, or im- prove themselves, even if that means exploiting and abusing other nations. As long as such threats exist, a nation must possess these qualities to defend itself: a vibrant and diverse economy, a stable government with experienced and educated leaders, social and cultural respect among its people, and an effective and efficient military. As long as a nation requires an effective military, along with its other qualities, to survive, it requires military research to support its military. Military research helps the military maintain its technological effectiveness relative to its adversaries. This resear- ch helps prevent opponents from gaining edges in weapon system development that might threaten world stability. Without this research, it. would be very difficult for this country to maintain its ability to defend itself from external threats. These threats vulnerable to these actions. Research aimed only at producing weapons does not belong at a univer- sity. The knowledge this research scientific research with various ap- plications, even if some of them are military, should be performed at a univer- sity. This research expands the knowledge base for everyone-not just for a few society, then this type of military research does not fulfill the university's mission. Also, the armed forces possess facilities that are better equipped and staffed to perform this research. YET scientific research with various applications, even if some of them are military, should be performed at a university. This research expands the knowledge base for everyone - not just for a few researchers with security clearances, or weapons manufacturers - as does weapons research. Research sponsored by the Department of Defen- se is always going to have military ap- plications. If the research has civilian as well as military applications, and its findings are open to the public, it belongs at a university. Attempting to ban this research at a University makes little sense, for if this research will always be conducted, whether to expand our knowledge base and/or military effectiveness, banning it, say, at the University would only hurt the University. Some other research facility, or university (Cal Tech or researchers with securi ty clearances or MIT.) would gladly accept thes projects. Therefore, only the UniversitK' professors, financial base, acd2 ultimately its students would suffer. People hoping to ban defense depar- tment-sponsored research here suggest this research is immoral. One can veir,? easily argue that a professor, or # university is very moral when perftb ming a service that in some small way helps the nation they love preserve the qualities, traditions, and character it possesses. A university has just as mach right to pursue these activities as a' other entity in our country. Research with various applications, even if some are military, provides knowledge for society. Research which only helps to produce weapons does not: Expanding the knowledge base 'of society is a primary mission ofA'? university; any research fullfilling thii mission should be performed at univ&9' sities, especially at an institution as'ex- cellent as ours. Ford is a senior in the College Engineering. A~cc)I> weapons manufacturers-as does weapons research.' don't necessarily have to be military. Hostile economic, diplomatic, and social actions could be taken against a country when it's perceived to be produces is not available to the whole university community, or the greater society. If one of a university's primary missions is providing knowledge to - -- Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan Stewart 6:3-r8 MATTHEW 33 Vol. XClV-No. 125 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt snot be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye there- fore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ',, 0.,m Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily's Editorial Board Away with the manger ask him. P AWTUCKET, Rhode Island's official Christmas display including a Nativity scene is not a con- stitutional violation of the separation between church and state. Or so ruled the Supreme Court Tuesday, 5 to 4. But there seems to be many discrepancies in he ruling on this touchy con- stit tional issue which has recently became! embroiled in election year politicking. The Court's ruling is questionable because Chief Justice Burger writes that "admittedly" the Nativity scene "is a reminder of the origins of Christmas." This seems to imply that the display is promoting the Christian concept of Christmas exclusively. Because it uses city funds, the disply ought to be purely secular in nature. Although the court over the years has upheld government programs that accommodate religious observance, such as the recent state tax deductions for parochial school tuition and prayes by chaplains in the state legislatures, this is the first time the justices have endorsed an official display of a sym- bol that is explicitly and exclusively Christian. It is disturbinig that in approving Pawtucket's Nativity scene, Burger writes that even the "traditional, purely secular displays" put up during the Christmas season "would inevitably recall the religious nature of the holiday." It seems Burger does not understand that for some non-religious citizens or minority religious groups Christmas is simply a time for gift- giving and celebration of the com- munity spirit of good will and not necessarily a reminder of Christ's bir- th. The Court goes on further to declare that Thomas Jefferson's interpretation of the "wall" of separation between church and state is not possible in this day and age. Burger writes "total separation is not possible in an ab- solute sense." While it would be uncon- stitutional to forbid individuals to practice their religions or to forbid in- dividuals to display Nativity scenes on church-owned private property, the fact that the Pawtucket scene is pur- chased with city funds is a worrisome union of church and state. Furthermore, the Court's ruling trivializes the meaning of the Nativity for those who are religious by implying that the scene of Christ's birth arouses no stronger emotion than Santa's house or reindeer which are also part of the Pawtucket display. Let us hope that this decision will not play into the hands of those who wish to have the U.S. affirm that this is a "Christian nation'' so they can promote their individual beliefs in the form of a constitutional amendment permitting prayer in public schools. This nation, like most other countries, has citizens of diverse religious backgrounds and also citizens who are not religious at all. In the future, the Supreme Court would be wise to keep the church and state on opposite sides of the wall. Scaling the wall poses a dangerous threat to the religious freedoms Americans now enjoy. N. N\ 1/ i 111/// MPROY c NO -.. v ,S ,01E Gov Qv GO 4 . 4 The big losers in the current flurry of negotiations in Southern Africa are likely to be the leading liberation movements in the region. For the Reagan ad- ministration, the agreements between South rAfrica and its neighbors are especially welcome after the debacle in Lebanon. There have been two apparent diplomatic breakthroughs. FIRST, Angola and South Africat agreed to setsup a joint com- mission to supervise South Africa's withdrawal from southern Angola, which it has oc- cupied in a manner not unlike Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon. Barely a week later, Mozam- bique and South Africa announ- ced a security pact, under which South Africa would stop suppor- -ting rebel forces fighting the Mozambique government. On the surface, these agreements seem to herald an era of peaceful relations. But Southern Africa's major problem-apartheid in South Africa-remains untouched. The white minority regime has skillfully managed to shift atten- tion from its repressive policies to the larger issue of regional in- stability-an instability formen- ted by South Africa itself. IN SHORT, the new accords crown the success of South Africa's destabilization policies in the region. The major aim of these policies has been to isolate the African National Congress (ANC), which represents the greatest threat to South Africa's internal security. The ANC, in fact, was totally frozen out of the agreements. The multi-racial ANC is the leading national liberation movement in South Africa. For years, it advocated non-violent change. More recently, faced with an increasingly repressive South Africa 's latest diplomacy destabilizes region By Louis Freedburg TM NW!IMSMART ~I'M FREH! t'AAwow/ I'mA YOUNG 1 I M WO~w IS TIiS 0NE OF THOSE NEW PENSIADS? 1f'," most of its operations from Angola. Using sheer military force and disregarding national boun- daries, South Africa has managed to intimidate each country on its perimeter to put the squeeze on ANC exiles and their activities. Its most devastating "destabilization" policies have been directed at the former Por- tuguese colonies of Angola and Mozambique. In Angola, it provides aid to UNITA, the rebel guerrilla organization. By U.S. estimates, UNITA has caused over $7 billion damage to the country's infrastructure and poses a real threat to the gover- nment. IN MOZAMBIQUE, South Africa has backed the anti-government Mozambique Resistance Movement. This guerrilla organization has attacked bridges, railway lines, and power plants and generally left the coun- try so vulnerable that intelligen- ce sources speculate South Africa could overthrow the government in 48 hours if it wanted to. Beyond supporting rebel BLOOM COUNTY groups, South Africa also has in- tervened directly, bombing ANC, and SWAPO targets in the two countries and killing many civilians in the process. Both countries have been further weakened by a terrible drought. It is this combination of con- ditions that has forced Mozam bique and Angola to the negotiating table. with South Africa, where they have been pressed to restrict the activities of both ANC and SWAPO. FURTHER evidence of South Africa's success appeared at a recent meeting of the Southern African Development Coor- dinating Conference, which was attended by representatives from all black-ruled states in the region. The organization's aim is to help these countries achieve economic independence from South Africa. Contrary to previous years, neither SWAPO nor the ANC was invited. ANC officials concede that South Africa's policies have "created difficulties." If it loses its footing in friendly countries like Mozambique and Angola, ANC may well attempt to strengthen -its underground ac tivities within South Africa so' that it can rely less on others for'r Te wie minriy egie,' however, is likely to increase the; chokehold on the ANC inside . South Africa by continuing to ji members, extending its netwo of informers, and increasin g pealtesfor ntigovernmnac- UNDER these circumstances, the ANC will find itself hampered by its inability to move supplies and personnel into South Africa from neighboing countriteAN will not put a stop tp turmoil in' South Africa. The trade union movemegt is urgingfrsorwad spite of unrelenting police action has mobilized a large portion of urbanized blacks. Resistance against the government's effort j to remov millions of blacks for- nment "homelands" could become powder kegs of resistan- ce as unemployment and poverty reach intolerable proportions. As conflicts escalate, and they inevitably will, the black African countries to the north will find it increasingly difficult, from a political standpoint, to sustain agreements restricting the only- real representative of South Africa's black majority. This will quickly make the recent diplomatic "victories" more and more irrelevant. As in Lebanon, the web could unravel quickly. Freedburg is an an- thropologist and native of South Africa. He wrote this article for the Pacific News Service. by Berke Breathed 71 'M CLW4I VA& &ARY / I'M TEE I'MAM N! ON~CE Mmoe., 1'Ml GONW I 6 55 -PSitRO." WHO'5 I RE/19 IN "RO(7-E 5 ON6 " THA~T 5We5 SGzBAz..YAAM Jv- - I