A OPINION Page 4 m mt tigan tlu Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan Vol. XCVI, No. 48 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily's Editorial Board Monday, November 11, 1985 The Michigan Daily Emotionalism denies logic Shapiro ' U NIVERSITY President Harold Shapiro has adopted a position of silence on police brutality at peaceful political demonstrations on campus. It is time he clarified his policy. Although University Vice- President Henry Johnson did at- tend an open house held last week by the Latin America Solidarity Committee (LASC) (the group that organized the Today show protest), Johnson had no comment to make on the University's recent actions against LASC or other protesters. The Michigan Student Assembly has unanimously passed two resolutions condemning police brutality at the demonstration against the Central Intelligence Agency, as well as the use of University security personnel and Ann Arbor police to quash even silent political dissent during the Today show broadcast. The resolutions called on President Shapiro to apologize for the police abuses and to ensure that similar actions will not occur in the future. Shapiro has not responded. Reacting to concerns of City Council members, the city ad- ministrator is conducting an in- vestigation into the activities of the Ann Arbor police. The city will in- vestigate allegations that in- dividual officers have acted im- properly and generally review city policy regarding the use of police force at legal demonstrations on campus. Again Shapiro has offered no counsel During the Today show broad- cast University security and police silence took a political banner out of the hands of protesters. Shapiro has of- fered no justification. At the CIA protest staged at the Career Planning and Placement Office, there was no indication of protester violence or illegal ac- tivity, and in fact the protesters made no effort to block inter- viewees from entering the offices. Last year, the University allowed protesters into the offices of Career Planning and Placement during CIA recruitment to chant and talk to people. This year Shapiro sent in the police. The use and abuse of police force in response to peaceful protest clearly intimidates students who wish to express their legitimate oppositions to such actions as the CIA's mining of Nicaragua's har- bors. On Tuesday, the 26 protesters arrested at the anti-CIA rally will start pre-trial hearings at the ex- pense of their time and money, not to mention the city's resources. Since it was hopefully only an isolated, unfortunate over-reaction that Shapiro called in the police to an initially peaceful demon- stration, Shapiro should drop the charges against the protesters. By ignoring student and public concern over the University's ac- tions, President Shapiro only lends credence to the protesters' claim that the University is deliberately repressing them for political reasons. The University's silence strategy should not force the questions raised by community members regarding the police actions to die. By David Kaufman There once was a group of students who knew what should be taught at a university, what should not be taught, and what areas of concern could be investigated by faculty members. They assured everyone that their reasons were based on "higher moral grounds," grounds so sacrosant that no one could or should question them. This small, yet vocal minority was able to legislate their beliefs into law. Certain sub- jects could not be taught, discussed, or pur- sued. Maybe the state of the economy allowed such legislation to pass, maybe it was the apathy of the majority, or the indif- ference of the legislators. But whatever the cause, it was a dangerous precedent. Sometime later another groupfell into favor and decided what could and would be taught on college campuses. This second group's beliefs were completely opposite those of the first, however theirs were also based on "high moral principles." So Kaufman is a student at the Institute of Public Policy Studies. Wasserman. "moral" were these precepts that those who questioned were labeled heritics. They too were able to legislate their beliefs on what should be taught and what subjects deman- ded further investigation. The first group became impotent and irate over the reversal of their "accom- plishment." "So much work for naught, because of a vocal minority," they thought. How could such a travesty occur? Surely there are safeguards which should allow in- dividuals to study and learn about anything that they wish. But somehow the logic the two groups used over what should be taught was based on ethical concerns paramount to the freedom to study or to learn. "Lives are at stake," they cried. Well, were there not individuals who gave their lives for the freedom to study or learn without inter- ference? Many have paid the price so that freedom can be enjoyed. But why has the debate on "military research" on campus not focused on these issues, for these are at the crux of the mat- ter. Often emotional appeals void of logic are easier to wage against a largely disin- terested populace. It is not whether "Star Wars" or more appropriately SDI is good or bad or whether it will improve our nuclear deterence or not. It is not over whether this will increase or decrease international stability. The issue is not whether a certain study will help lead to a new method to end or abbreviate life. Not that these concerns are unimportant, but they are related to another debate. No research itself is inherently "good" or inherently "bad." It is what the research is used for that one can attach value judgements. Ths issue is whether one group can prevent others from teaching or studying certain phenomenon or occurances. There it is. The proper (and only) role for a univer- sity to take is to provide a forum for free and open discussion of all the issues from all points of view. Certain conservative positions should not be excluded anymore than liberal or radical ones. What would happen if certain groups were able to ex- clude certain avenues of discovery? The parable at the beginning of this piece serves as a reminder of what could happen. k OW ARE NNGGOING To CATWA AOty SOvWET sP~s? ~ WELL- W& NEED N 1 W E oP t.' MORE~ .GCCUQITY \NITI4 CUOATY G ~C-.CLAACS. Wq C1T j1V2. 13GCAUr -THY Ct_6AIANCES., . SEECASFE DOCUNT5 M~ORE SFISS. , MOQ DOCU~AifT5! -Ju LETTERS: Pro test m ultin ation als, no t just m ilitary To the Daily: "Daily should drop military advertising" (Daily, Oct. 29) written by Susanne Greenlee was a letter of ignorance. In this let- ter, she calls the military im- moral, evil, frightening, and based on "the ideals of money and hypocrisy." She also points out that to lessen the power of the military, one must stop printing military ads. My reaction to this was that of disgust. I cannot imagine why so many people in this world blame those in uniforms for the bad things that happen around them. What really should be said is that in a world of information, so many are misinformed and misrepresented. Such is the case. IBM, Texas Instruments, etc., who work with the military in one way or another? Without the military, we would not be able to enjoy the freedoms of this country. If we are to en- sure world peace, we should strive for human relations bet- ween us and our enemies, and not this "get rid of nuclear bombs and the military" business. Ignorant are those that hate those that do their job, protecting this country and "the principles which made my country free." Let us not use our freedom of speech to deny someone else's theirs. -Darren L. Stout October 31 Linking Israel and South Africa To the Daily: After reading Ronald Rogers' letter ("Activists at the Height of Fashion," Daily, Oct. 30), I received the impression that he is not current with the latest "styles and trends" in current events. If one were to cut out the campus events mentioned, the only "fashion" remaining is Israel and South Africa. Except for a short two paragraphs on cor- porate investment and activity in withdrawal, Syrian forces main- tain a strong presence in Lebanon and have a ruling hand. Maybe we should ignore this presence though, because Syria does not even recognize Lebanon as a sovereign state. Other violators of peace are the religious and sectarian factions within Lebanon. A prime example oc- curred this summer in two areas called Sabra and Shatilla (remember them?). A second Making sense'? 'T HE RECENT compromise of- fered by several record producers to provide ratings for their lyrical content is a shrewd political move to fend off real in- fringement of their artistic freedom, although it does offer a disturbing precedent for future in- fringement. 19 record manufacturers have agreed to voluntarily issue warning labels concerning the lyric content of their records or to print the lyrics. Their move comes in response to political pressure from a coalition of parent groups and several wives of influential Senators calling for governmental regulation of the industry. It seems appropriate that rock lyrics should be available to paren- ts interested in monitoring what their children hear, but it borders on censorship when those lyrics are categorically judged as "offen- sive" by "concerned citizens." In adopting their compromise of self-regulation, the record industry has probably taken the wind out of the sails of the coalition, and while that concession appears to be wor- th the price, it may prove problematic if a similar coalition ever musters such support again. While some of it may be of questionable quality, rock music is a form of art. As with all art, it -- L~i'd . - Rock music gets attention when it meets the needs of the people who want to listen to it. If teenagers are drawn to particularly violent, sexist, or satanic lyrics, it is not the fault of rock music so much as it is an articulation of problems un- derlying society in general. By the same token, network television reflects a national ob- session with specific definitions of physical beauty and simplistic ideals of vigilante-style justice which are in some ways as offen- sive as any of the worst rock lyrics. The point is simply that censor- ship, or any effective means of banning such "art" does not attack the root of the problem. Violence in rock music is an outgrowth of youth frustration and disenchantment with what "inoffensive" society has to offer. Instead of trying to prevent teenagers from hearing the type of music they want to, the coalition should work to understand why teenagers are attracted to that music in the first place. Record producers have taken an expedient route to sustain their brisk business. They may have done away with the likelihood of the coalition imposing any serious form of censorsism on the industry, but in agreeing to some of the coalition's demands have given thtam n lac MM-m, + mav tn en In the Constitution, especially South Africa, he links the massacre occurred at these! in the Preamble, of which this problems in that country to camps, even more devas country was founded and Israel. So let's face it, Mr. Rogers than the one in 1982. Yet vex established, it is mentioned that is not a fashionable guy (by his people know about this the citizens should "provide for own words) and has decided to because the media was the common defense." If one is to target Israel. ALLOWED to report exten protest the advertising of the Focusing on Lebanon, the only on this by the Arab parti military, shouldn't he be violator of its "national volved. Such activity receiv protesting the adverstising of sovereignty" is Israel. But what tle attention and protes Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, about Syria? Even after Israel's because it was not "in style Oromo struggle outside the media eye same tating ry few event NOT sively es in- ed lit- t not e" but because the forces in power dic- tated such results. While on the subject of violating national soveriegnty, why only blame Israel? It is not as if they have not been attacked by other countries. In fact, only one of Israel's neighbors has recognized Israel's sovereignty and this occurred in 1978. Should we ignore the terrorist activities of the PLO within Israel - acts aimed at bus riders, shoppers, and school children - since they are not a country? Surely a delegation recognized by the United Nations can be held in violation of national sovereignty. One element of protest which is in vogue is accurate information. So, where is the evidence that Israel is an arms supplier to South Africa? A recent Congressional Research Service (a nonpartisan research organization) study indicates that France and Italy are the main arms supplier to South Africa and that "since 1977 weapons transfers have mostly ceased..." In fact Israel only ex- ported $69 million in goods to Pretoria in 1983, or 0.4% of South Africa's imports. If activism and protest are truly fashionable, and it seems that Mr. Rogers is protesting against the state of Israel, then we ought to demand the current style to include traditional elements such as fairness, com- pleteness, and accuracy. -Eric Gould October 31 by Berke Breathed To the Daily: Thank you for publishing the plight of the Eritreans and recognizing the hypocrisy in our president's recent denunciation of "Soviet Imperialism" in Ethiopia ('Anguished Eritrea', Daily, Nov. 4). The parade of fickle alliances that have been forged in the Horn of Africa reads like a supermarket romance: U.S. spurned when ex-lover Ethiopia elopes with Russia begins courting Somalia, Russia's previous mistress, until Ethiopia, unhappy bride, seems ripe for an affair.. . but not until she comes crawling back for aid. All this intrigue generated by the two superpowers' attempts to protect "strategic interests" alo ng the Red Sea might be amusing if it were not for the wake of human wretchedness that follows the troops of desperate men, ar- med to the teeth with Soviet and American weaponry, as they terrorize the countryside. These bloody wars consume not only 30 Ipercent of Ethiopia's G.N.P., as you point out, but also the lives of the young and able-bodies who could be out planting their fields. In the southern landlocked provinces of Ethiopia, another human struggle is taking place although their lands are fertile and have not been affected by drought. Currently the Ethiopian government is carrying out plans to resettle involuntarily famine victims from the rebellious nor- thern provinces into strategic hamlets in the south. Thousands of Oromos are being displaced from their homelands and are fleeing as refugees to neigh- boring countries. U.S. trucks, donated for grain transport, may be aiding this forced resettlement program. Teferi Fufa, Oromo intellectual now living in Minneapolis, escaped Ethiopia as a college student in 1972 and represents the Oromo Relief Association in the BLOOM COUNTY U.S. Mr. Fufa will be speaking here on our campus late in November about the persecution of the Oromo people and the role of U.S. aid in Ethiopia. An Oromo proverb states, "He who stood by and watched the slaughtering of the donkey felt more guilty than the one who did the slaughtering." I would add that those who refuse to know about the slaughtering of the world's donkeys are implicated in this guilt. - Sandra Steingraber November 4 Steingraber works with the World Hunger Education Ac- tion Committee. A AMCAC~ 6 66g/0U5. SIOB ' CANI YOU sous ?' MUCKV Jd5rST 77/67h~?T Of71Ar NME 6 T 5/A'OZ UNIER 50UN05 M'Y M667r (TCH. AR I RISKY 7t/E. l"~ I CMRAINLY 1qAV NOW 70 Hope h56 Ff/PS YOU 5WPO A GOP, hr15 69M K6Pe,14Et(?O A8O 'r 506E6ON. 1alNb r'4~ 4tr YO1.I ,%Iw9%A'SPO MM. 101 -a