Page 4 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, April 20, 1990
b1me SidiganiUaiIy
EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
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Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
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P o I N E X T E Q N fl x T4
QoINDXTE-
ARTS
NEWS
OPINION
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764 0552
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PHOTO
SPORTS
WEEKEND
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747 4630
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Unsigned editorials represent a rnajority of the Daily's Editorial Board. All other cartoons,
si~gtd articles, and letters do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Daily.
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Mapplethorpe
Show support for free speech, artistic expression
'080
Guilty. x - r y
THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS CEN-
ter, a museum in Cincinnati, opened an
exhibit of Robert Mapplethorpe's pho-
tographs April 6. On the opening day,
the city sheriff's deputies and other
police officers arbitrarily closed the
gallery for an hour and a half. A grand
jury indicted the Contemporary Arts
Center and its director, Dennis Barrie,
on charges of obscenity, pandering and
pornography. Barrie has since pleaded
not guilty to these charges, which were
precipitated by photographs depicting
sexual and homoerotic images and
nude studies of children.
Mapplethorpe's work was at the
root of the recently defeated Helms
amendment, which sought to deny fed-
eral assistance or financing for sexually
explicit art. An exhibit of the late
artist's work was cancelled by a gallery
in Washington as a result of protests in
the capitol by Helms' supporters,
though it later re-opened in other
galleries around the country.
Even before the Mapplethorpe
retrospective opened in Cincinnati, a
city noted for its conservatism, it was
threatened with closure by the city
sheriff, and was the object of a strong
campaign of defamation by the
"Citizens for Community Values," a
local anti-pornography group.
The city's already repressive anti-
pornography laws are now being
brought to bear against a serious art
exhibit, which has received national
recognition and acclaim. The uproar
that preceded the exhibition reflects that
the primary objection is to a few
homoerotic images that certain resi-
dents find offensive. This distaste for
homoerotic art is clearly the residue of
homophobia in Cincinnati.
The attempts to shut down the
Mapplethorpe Retrospective exhibit
continue to be a serious threat to
freedom of speech and artistic ex-
pression. While the nation's attention is
focused on Cincinnati, people around
the country should continue to support
the Contemporary Arts Center's right
to display the works of Robert
Mapplethorpe, unhindered by local
officials.
Also, perhaps the University should
bring the exhibit to Ann Arbor, so we
can show our support for free speech
and free artistic expression.
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Kurds
Turkey should end persecution of ethnic group
By Eleni Eleftheriou
At the meeting point of three conti-
nents - Europe, Asia, and Africa - lies
a divided and occupied island. Known as
the birthplace of the Goddess Aphrodite,
Cyprus remains caught in the cross-fires
of international rivalry. Although small in
size, its cultural heritage dates back to the
7th millennium B.C. It has been con-
quered or ruled at one time or another by
the Phoenicians, Assyrians, Egyptians,
Persians, Romans, Crusaders, Franks,
Venetians, Turks, and recently, the Bri-
tish. Throughout its long history, Cyprus
has been the object of international rival-
ries as the international powers coveted its
position.
This diversity of the island's cultural
heritage contributes to the pluralism and
tolerance of diversity which is characteris-
tic of the people of Cyprus. Why then,
one would ask, is there so much conflict
on such a small island? This is the issue.
The conflict does not stem from the peo-
ple of Cyprus (approx. 80 percent Greek
and 18 percent Turkish). Cyprus has sim-
ply fallen victim to international rivalries,
and to the dangers of its strategic position.
For hundreds of years, Greek and Turk-
ish Cypriots lived in social harmony and
economic interdependence in Cyprus. This
web of interdependence was disturbed only
after protracted and violent attacks against
it. The Greek Junta, a dictatorial regime,
which oppressed the people of Greece for
seven years after World War II, had orga-
nized subversion against the government
of Cyprus through the illegal terrorist or-
ganization, "EOKA B." The Junta sought
desperately and violently to establish
Don't stereotype
To the Daily:
I am a minority, and nobody's defend-
ing my rights. In fact, all but a few on
campus seem to think it their duty to
stereotype me to death. I'm pro-life, anti-
choice, anti-abortion... whatever. And the
first person I told here at the University,
dedicated to speaking out and fighting
against oppression, looked around in terror
and told me for God's sake to keep my
voice down.
So fine, you don't agree with me. But
what I don't understand is how the same
people who are screaming that we must
have open minds, that we mustn't judge
people by their skin color or sexual orien-
tation, are the very same who are actively
stereotyping other groups.
What I've found is that pro-lifers are
considered stupid bigots that may even be
a little insane. I've repeatedly been labeled
a religious fanatic. I think its important to
let everybody know that my beliefs con-
cerning the existence of God have nothing
to do with my views on abortion. My rea-
soning is rational and complex, but how
can I expect anybody to know that when
many pro-choicers would rather rip down
"Students For Life" signs than talk to me?
My initial hurt from the cruel com-
ments from fellow students has almost
reached the point where I am ready to give
un Bu T nurnoselv chose to attend a Uni-
"Enosis" (unification of Cyprus with
Greece).
On July 15, 1974, the Greek Junta
mounted a coup against the government of
Cyprus, precisely because Cyprus insisted
on protecting the independence and territo-
rial integrity of the island. Rather than
take action against the culpable Greek mil-
itary dictatorship, which was also pro-
Western, Turkey invaded Cyprus on July
20, 1974. The island incurred extensive
destruction and massive fatalities that
culminated in the forced occupation of the
northern 1/3 of the island (nearly 40%).
All Greek Cypriots were forced to move
south and all Turkish Cypriots north.
Over 200,000 Cypriots remain, to this
day, refugees in their own country.
Once again, caught in the cross-fires,
Cyprus had fallen victim to international
rivalries and to its strategically valuable
position. The entire population of Cyprus
was oppressed by outside powers not in
the least interested in the rights of the
people of Cyprus, but interested only in
the pursuit of their strategic purposes.
Since the invasion, 1,611 Cypriots
(men, women and children) have been
listed as missing by the Cypriot authori-
ties. No one has seen or heard from them
since, and inquiries made by international
organizations like Amnesty International
and the International Committee of the
Red Cross have proven fruitless. Turkey
not only claims ignorance about the fate
of these people, but insists that there
never have been any missing at all.
Cyprus doesn't make the nightly news,
and the plight of its missing certainly
doesn't lead the priority list. Yet, consider
a stereotype that I don't fit into. And I
will not keep my voice down.
Rebecca Coll
RC First Year Student
Army policy is bigoted
To the Daily:
Discrimination, sadly, still lives and
breaths in today's society. Some forms are
often subtle. Others are not. Such is the
case with the army's policy toward homo-
sexuals.
The army bans homosexuals from en-
try. This is clear. What isn't so clear is
their rationale for doing so. In my quest
for an answer, I've asked professors, stu-
dents, and, yes, even army officials, and,
come up short.
One brave soul guessed the army dis-
criminated because of its need to maintain
"internal stability within the defense unit."
Thus, the army seemingly equates a ho-
mosexual influx into the army with de-
creased security, since gay soldiers will be
harassed by the heterosexual ones, thereby
creating disorder within the army ranks.
Finally, some rationale.
Unfortunately, the reasoning is prob-
lematic. First, it assumes that gays will
be spotted on sight. Second, if chaos is
f- -.n.l{ -- - _Ak _J., -r" a th irl_
us must stop
this fact: comparatively speaking, if te
tragedy that befell Cyprus should occur in
the U.S., it would be as if over 600,000
Americans were to be unaccounted fot,
never to be heard from again, and their
loss were to be treated with no more inter-
est than just another statistic.
In the twentieth century, a century
characterized by the liberation of peoples,
the Cypriots themselves have embarked on
a struggle for freedom. The long and had
struggle has been repeatedly frustrated. In
the 16 years that have elapsed since the
invasion, Cyprus has largely rested he
hopes for the safety of the unoccupied pat
of the island and the liberation of the oc-
cupied north in international law and it-
ternational organizations.
The government of Cyprus wishes to
see a solution to the problem in acco'-
dance with the resolutions of the UnitMd
Nations. Despite their suffering, or per-*
haps because of it, most people jn
Cyprus, Greek and Turkish, harbor not ha-
tred but a wish to live in one independent
Cyprus, free from foreign troops or for-
eign interference."
Almost everyone knows of the inces-
sant animosity between Greece ad
Turkey. But what is ignored are the abho-
rent consequences which a people are
forced to endure due to external force.
How much longer must the island of
Aphrodite be caught in the cross-fires? ,
Recent developments of the Cyprus si-
tuation and prospects for a peaceful solu-
tion will be discussed at a lecture given by
the Counselor to the Cyprus Mission t
the United Nations. Elias Eliades will
speak today at 8 pm in Rackham Audito-
rium.
Run comics every day."
To the Daily:
You are supposed to be running three
comic strips every day. You have three
people working for you - WattersoR,
Woody, and Winick.
You have made a commitment to those
three people to run their work every day.
You've lied to them. Watterson could care
less if you forget to run "Calvin and
Hobbes," but your two other cartoonist*
are University students and regular con
tributors to the Daily. Stop jerking
around.
"Nuts and Bolts" has a continuity lb
keep. It has regular readers. And what E
you do? You screw up your classified page
and jerk Judd Winick around by not rub-
ning four strips - Monday through
Thursday of last week.
I called Winick and he was prey
pissed off. You wasted about 15 hourseof -
his work.
The same holds true with "Full Moon
Over McDonalds." I hate that strip. Trut
me, no one at this University besides
Woody's close, personal, friends under-
stands or enjoys the stupid, insignificat
inside jokes of "Full Moon." Yet, Woody
still deserves some respect. He works had
on his comic strip. :
And, dare I mention it, what else have
THE KURDISH COMMUNITY IN
southeast Turkey continues to suffer
oppression on many fronts - in the
most underdeveloped region of
Turkey, and victim to daily persecution
and discrimination, the Kurds' status
as second-class economic citizens re-
mains securely fixed. However, they
are also victims of government-en-
forced legislation which attempts to
deny their very existence as an ethnic
people. Forms of Kurdish self-expres-
sion are banned - including the sing-
ing of national songs - while books
or music can be published in any lan-
guage except Kurdish.
The Kurdish Workers' Party's
(KPP) fight to end their people's op-
pression has grown to such an extent
that a full-scale revolt seems possible.
The Turkish government continues to
portray the KPP as a tiny minority of
Syrian-backed terrorists, but recent
mass-demonstrations in the area belies
this view. In reality, the label of
"extremism" is a front used to justify
the use of force against legitimate
forms of political protest, and to per-
petuate the myth that there is no
"Kurdish problem."
In March of this year in Nusabybin,
a town on the Turkish/Syrian border,
police fired upon mourners who were
asking for the return of the body of a
KPP guerilla; one of the mourners, a
Kurdish youth, was killed. In a related
nrotest at the nearby town of Cizre.
that there would be further restrictions
on press coverage of the issue.
A recent Amnesty International re-
port has detailed the large number of
political prisoners in Turkish jails, the
continued routine use of torture, and
the persistent and violent police ha-
rassment of journalists. With the esca-
lation in the government's war against
Kurdish rights, such abuses seem to be
increasing. Only last week, the printing
presses of two of Ankara's daily
newspapers were ransacked by gov-
ernment troops.
The Kurds are being systematically
isolated, and their right to exist as a
people is being slowly taken away.
Turkish legislation ensures that any
Kurdish symbols can be equated with
terrorism, and correspondingly
crushed. Within mainstream Turkish
politics, they have no one to turn to; the
opposition parties ignore the problem,
and Turkish politicians who do broach
the issue are quickly marginalized, or
even prosecuted. Six members of the
opposition party were recently expelled
from their party for simply attending a
international conference on the Kurdish
problem.
Through rigid military control of
any dissension in the press, and by ex-
pelling any pro-Kurdish sentiment
within the already narrow political
spectrum, the Turkish government
hopes to deflect any national or inter-
national attention away from southeast