Page 4 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, April 20, 1990 b1me SidiganiUaiIy EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 U_ bd P o I N E X T E Q N fl x T4 QoINDXTE- ARTS NEWS OPINION 763 0379 764 0552 747 2814 PHOTO SPORTS WEEKEND 764 0552 747 3336 747 4630 r ^to. 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. U I. 'Jfl .x . l. ..I 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. / se to eas(i be/eve.::hat fhsz 5 atrend }vats 3 tole'- AFTER E wr YEARS AN NLPL WHoSa T S NAM.. SOUNDS FNAMILI~JZUT.', I CW~T J2GALLY I dr 4 Foreign intervention in Cypr ., V 1" ! r ! r" ! N 1 1 1 C voz r- " IoA-( % L i1 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