4
OPINION
I
Page 4 Friday, February 19, 1988 The Michigan Daily
,i
Gli fidligan tlU
Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan
Vol. XCVIII No. 98 420 Maynard St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Unsigned editorials represent a majority of the Daily's Editorial Board. All other
cartoons, signed articles, and letters do not necessarily represent the opinion
of the Daily.
Students fighting racism
Don't rag on this fat
boy
4
LAST FRIDAY almost 200 students
at the University of Massachusetts-
Amherst began occupying the
African Studies building on their
c ampus in protest of racial
discrimination at their school. The
occupation ended yesterday. The
similarity of circumstances between
",this campus' and Massachusetts'
puts students at both schools in
solidarity. -
Tensions began to flare i n
" Amherst after the final game of the
World Series in 1986, between
Boston Red Sox and New York
Mets fans. The post-game celebra-
tion erupted into a racially charged
fracas that left ten students injured.
Students at UMass placed de-
mands, similar to those here, on
their administration to address
racism. The sit-in at U M a s s
demanded University action against
five white males who allegedly as-
saulted two Black men and a white
woman on campus.
- Racial discrimination is a disease
which plagues our entire society.
The university campuses of this
j' country are in no way the only
arena of our racism, but of late they
have become the battlefield of those
fighting for civil rights. The Uni-
versity of Massachusetts is but one
of many institutions of higher
learning that has experienced mass
& demonstrations against racism in the
last two years.
Universities strive for excellence
in many in fields. At Michigan,
students are faced with an adminis-
tration which will settle for nothing
less than the finest academic and
athletic programs in the country. As
the University so proudly claims
during half-time of nationally tele-
Vised football games, it has "A
-Ieritage of Leadership."
Although the University brags
about its leadership in academic and
athletic endeavors, it is steadfastly
W---4/i ) - /y ria JJLA a
unwilling to provide national lead-
ership in the anti-racist field. The
administration has not moved to
implement a mandatory class on
racism, sexism and classism as the
University of Wisconsin and Stan-
ford University have. The adminis-
tration has not even admonished
LSA Dean Peter Steiner for of-
fending Black students and faculty.
Finally, they have taken almost no
action to try and alleviate the prob-
lem of racism on this campus or
decrease racial tension.
It is foolish to assume that racism
only exists on college campuses. In
fact, there may be even less racism
on college campuses than in the rest
of the country. At present there are
cries of racial injustice and incidents
of racial violence arising on college
campuses across the country. Stu-
dents should unite in their struggle
the shirk the status quo and help ar-
rest racism. The bounds of their in-
fluence have often extended outside
their own university communities.
The anti-Vietnam War movement
and the civil rights movement of the
late sixties and early seventies
proved that the influence of student
movements can have profound ef-
fects on the entire nation.
The uprising at the University of
Massachusetts, underscores the fact
that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did
not end racial discrimination, it only
served to pacify the strong national
movements which centered around
civil rights.
The two Black Action Movement
(BAM) strikes of the 1970's virtu-
ally closed the University and then
President Robbin Fleming was
forced to meet all of the student de-
mands. The students of UMass
used a similar model and won.
The cause of racial equality is
just, and the soldiers who have
proved willing to fight for the free-
dom of humanity will surely arise
victors.
"A public challenge to the Daily."
That is what "Drew and Allen" the edi-
tors of the latest campus (not dish) rag is-
sued to the Daily. Well, you picked the
wrong little fat boy to push around this
time.
I figger I've got to do me a little ex-
plaining here cuz I know most of my
loyal fans have never heard of this tripe
piece of trash. Well, see, it's some sort of
goofy mag-e-zeene for our favorite posse
of geeks - the Greeks, and we definitely
ain't talking 'bout Plato.
"The Greek system is an active and im-
portant part of the University of Michigan
campus life," they say. Uh-huh, uh-huh.
Well, first thing's first. Why did this here
fraternal system name themselves after a
bunch of decadent, little-boy raping, orgy
lovin', slave holdin' drunks anyhow? Kind
of tips you off to the whole kitten kaboo-
die, huh? I've got my hands full with my
natural born clan of 12 siblings. I sure
don't need me no art-e-fish-al brothers.
Alright, back to the facts at hand. Let
me quote to you some more from this
lurid piece of ridiculous trash. Right after
the public challenge, they say "we know
our magazine is better than your rag will
ever be. Is this why you try to pretend we
don't exist?"
No, sirreebob. We pretend you don't
exist because you don't. You are a piece of
crapola. I wouldn't even wipe my fat ass
with your ragola. Let me fill in the folks
out there who are smart enough to have
never seen your trash. Here's some choice
samplin's.
"Finding a date is the first step in the
most important event of your life, next to
owning your first BMW."
Very nice people. This will go a whole
long way in changing the reputation of
your twisted system. But there's more.
"There are certain levels of 'wasted-
ness.' One may hook up with a 'cool
buzz' while other (sic) lay in the snow
making 'snow angels.' Or in extreme
cases, one may puke either on their date or
with their date."
Stop, please! Us here at the Daily are
just aquakin' in our boots at the threat
FAQT
SA L
t r.
your journalistic excellence poses. Heh-
heh- heh. But wait a speck. Lord have.
mercy, there's more where that fine stuff
came from.
"One must prioritize when considering
the look for the evening. 'I'd like to get a
light blue dress,' said one sorority mem-
ber. 'But my date insists on wearing his
red and green plaid vest and tie.' Or what if
your date is really tall and you have a
strapless dress on?"
Lordy lord have mercy, what would you
do? I'd rather be a muskrat in heat than
face such unpleasant prospects. But it
makes me feel right fine that you good ol'
boys over at Eminence are confronting the
pressing issues of today's angst filled
modern world. Heh- heh -heh. You guys
are pathetic.
All of the above asininely absurd quotes
are from one (article?) on the rough and
tumble Greek formals. Hmm-hmmm. But
lest you 'cuse me of bein' unfair, I'd like
to issue a hearty reminder that aside from
your pubic challenge to the Daily, there
ain't but three stories in your entire mag-
e-zeene - and I use the word lightly.
Coursin' I know it's difficult to come up
with more than two or three articles a
month. Specially since you got to find
space to run all them real purty photos of
bozos and bimbos with beer cups in their
hands. Yessiree, seven out of nine pictures
in your rag feature fellers or gals armed
with loaded beers. Watch out!
Course you are right 'bout one thing.
The Daily does "report only the news (we)
see fit" and you definitely ain't fit. The
only reason I wrote this here column is I
know half of my loyal fans have already
hit the ol' four lane on their way barreling
out of town. I didn't want to waste this
column space on a half-way decent sub-
ject.
Dear Al,
Jt's me... Billy Bob and I'm madder
than a 'gator with lockjaw atfeedin' time.
Like New Age music and a lot of other
stuff in the Daily, the word "JAP" is a
joke that's gotten way outta hand. It was
coined as an innocent kibbitz but it turned
into Frankenstein. The truth is that, in
some circles, "JAP" has taken on some
nasty racial connotations.
The word "JAP" is not only derogatory
'n' racist, but it doesn't even apply. My
granpappy used to say: "if the shoe don't
fit, maybe you need a new one." (He was a
profound guy) Well these people aren't all
Jewish, they're not all American, and the
only royalty in Ann Arbor are the meter
maids who are a royal pain. As y'all can
see, it don't take no linguistics professor
to figure "JAP" is obsolete.
Hell, there ain't nothin' wrong with
wanting to offend obnoxious materialistic
snobs. There should be a holiday for it,
but "JAP" just don't cut it. It's collapse
was inevitable, that is, you could see it
comin' for a long time. A word as flimsy 4
as it was could never stand up to the over-
use and abuse that it took.
There's still a problem. What we need is
a word for Winy, Obnoxious, Materialis-
tic, Bitchy, Anal Types. Al, the world
we're lookin' for is: WOMBAT. Folks
who embody those traits deserve to be ha-
rassed and WOMBAT is the right acronym
for the job. It combins the right amount
of offensiveness with the accuracy of a
laser sighted .38 Winchester. But beware,
some folks don't appreciate bein' called
names, so when you insult, -always be
careful who you're callin' a WOMBAT
cause they tend to travel in packs.
Billy Bob
A hearty thank you Billy Bob boy. You
know the key to my heart, slick. I love
inventin' new words for outdated ones and
yours hits the mark. Keep up the good 4
work. By the way, you're right 'bout New
Age. music. Just give me Hank and the
Wolf.
Have a good break, y'all. I'm headin' off
for the salt flats of Utah for some ramblin'
good times.
Middle East needs solution
4
Gay discrimination unfair
By Suha Hamid
Palestinian resistance of the "Iron Fist"
policy of Israel still continues, and Israel
is maintaining brutal measures to try to
put it down. For 2 months the Israeli
military has kept virtually all Palestinian
refugee camps in the Gaza Strip and many
camps and villages in the West Bank under
all-day curfews. Then they reinforced their
terror even more by declaring that food
supplies would be cut off until the general
strike by workers and merchants was called
off and "calm" returned to the camps.
Rather than gunning down the innocent
masses, now the Zionist regime has im-
plemented a "new" way to handle the
Palestinians: systematic, vicious beatings
deliberately carried to the point of breaking
bones. Defense Minister Rabin said, "The
first priority is to use force, might, beat-
ings." A new set of directives ordered
soldiers to club demonstrators "if possible
with blows on the hands and legs."
This is not the military going "out of
control," but rather "decided upon and in-
Suha Hamid is an LSA junior .
stituted by the government as a whole,"
said Israel's Prime Minister Shamir of the
beating policy.
One military analyst for the Israeli
newspaper Jerusalem Post described the
intentions behind the beatings: "A de-
tainee is set free in 18 days unless the au-
thorities have enough evidence to charge
him. He may then resume stoning sol-
diers, but if the troops break his hand, he
won't be able to throw stones for a month
and a half." Another Israeli "expert" added
that a broken leg could idle a would-be
rock thrower for weeks.
Israeli officials dare to claim that the
policy of beatings was "humane" - an
alternative to simply gunning down
demonstrators. "No demonstrators have
died," Rabin said, "from being thwacked
by soldiers dispersing riots in the areas."
The newspaper Ha'aretz said of the
beatings in the West Bank: "A discussion
with some of those assaulted showed the
beatings were often done in a demonstra-
tive way, deliberately, in order to set an
example, and often the victims were quiet
residents, adults and children, who are not
suspected in violent or illegal activity."
Hospitals and clinics in the West Bank
and the Gaza are being flooded with injured
Palestinians who have been beaten by Is-
raeli troops. Men and women of all ages
are showing up with hands and legs
smashed by rifle butts and two-by-fours.
On January 22 fla'aretz reported that in the
previous three days, 197 people had been
treated for fractures in Gaza hospitals. But
there are hundreds of others with broken
bones and other injuries who are not going
to hospitals for fear of coming to the the
attention of the military and being ar-
rested.
The Palestinians through their resistance
have rekindled international support for
their just cause and they have exposed the
fact that Israeli power rests on the use of
savage violence against masses of people.
It is now the time for Israel to come forth
and negotiate a just and durable solution
for the region - an independent sovereign
nation for the Palestinians on the West
Bank and the Gaza in return for recogni-
tion and safety of its pre-1967 borders.
The Palestine Liberation Organization
(PL-O) under the leadership of Yasser
Arafat has taken the initiative for peace, it
is now time for Israel to come forth and
show peoples all over that it was and is a
nation "reborn" on Jewish pillars -
pillars of love and respect for all of
humanity.
LAST WEEK THE U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Ninth District ruled
that the Army's refusal to reinstate a
soldier on the basis of sexual ori-
entation violated equal protection
guarantees under the Fifth and
Fourteenth Amendments.
Writing for the majority, Judge
William Norris compared the
Army's regulation excluding
homosexuals with anti-miscegena-
tion laws. Moreover, Judge Norris
argued that homosexuals were enti-
tled to the same protection afforded
to members of racial minorities
against discrimination.
This ruling is a significant depar-
ture, albeit nonprecedential, from
recent cases challenging the consti-
tutionality of consensual sodomy
laws, in general, and armed ser-
vices homosexual prohibitions, in
particular. The court's stance is
commendable since laws that sanc-
tion consensual homosexual con-
duct unjustly infringe on individual
rights of privacy and are inherently
discriminatory.
This case revolves around
whether or not the Army can dis-
charge individuals on the basis of
sexual orientation. A lthon zh con-
discipline, and the effectiveness of
the combat unit.
Judge Norris counters these
claims by pointing out that legal
prohibitions on certain aspects of
sexual conduct cannot be translated
into "a state license to pass
'homosexual laws' - laws impos-
ing special restrictions on gays be-
cause they are gay." In other
words, though the constitutionality
of state sodomy statutes have been
upheld, laws restricting or selec-
tively sanctioning those who are
merely homosexuals are impermis-
sible. This analysis can be taken
further by asking the Army if a per-
son who doesn't pay taxes is
designated as a tax evader and are
grounds for that person's dismissal.
The Army's second claim, that the
morale of the soldiers will be
harmed, is answered by Judge
Norris as an attempt "to cater to
private biases." Furthermore, if the
plaintiff had been on active duty for
seventeen years (he was discharged
in 1984), then why didn't the
morale or combat effectiveness of
his different units become seriously
compromised?
LETTERS
Eminence'
misrepresents Greeks
To the Daily:
Webster's defines "eminence"
as a position of great distinc-
tion or superiority. Eminence's
only distinctions are bad. It
achieves superiority only in
tone, never in content.
The editors cutely introduce
themselves as "Drew & Allen,"
then adopt the reasoning of an-
gry six year olds. "Our maga-
zine is better than your rag will
ever he" thev taint "T this
formal-"the most important
event of your life, next to
owning your first BMW."
Damn them.
Eminence's first article
vaguely addresses the excite-
ment and difficulties of rush.
Its most correct idea is to put
the word "issues" in quotes.
More than half of the piece fo-
cuses on the snacks sororities
offer rushees: "more specifi-
cally, what to eat, how to eat
anA w.eh.. at .".T t A. .kt
its various forms and offering
arguments for and against it,
however, Eminence just floats
over the issue. Its perspective
is superficial, literally what
hazing looks like from across
the diag or the classroom. The
"best"reasons for why men and
women put up with hazing,
Eminence explains, are "it's
cool" and "it's, instant popular-
ity."
If Eminence's simplicity
xc.n .n n-,.....2 n-, T .. lri- . f..
enough. That thoughtlessness
does more than misrepresent
Greeks, it propagates insensi-
tivity.
Eminence's subject matter is
insubstantial. Articles are
poorly reasoned and undirected.
Its trite, "just-between-you-and-
me," tone is insulting. Even
its layout is rudimentary and
sloppy. Paragraphs float on the
page, headlines lean, typos jar
the already humiliated Greek