Page 4-The Michigan Daily- Tuesday, November 12,1991 G3be Lid gan ,.,w 420 Maynard Street ANRW .GTdSA Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 ANDREW K G ESMAN Edited and Managed STEPHEN HENDERSON by Students at theST PNiHEDtON University of MichiganhOpinion Editor 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. r :" " rr."lx:x: v "v rr: rvvrx "rx ! .v.".".v.".".vrxr :v" :v.":: "r:."?{+:""{?fi}:"}:{"}:?{i{i'"'f::?i{{iit"}}}?:"i:":{"}?:"}:{"i}}:"i:"}:"; S;{":{:":2{C": :":{"}:":4::":{"}:}S??: :: ?{' : ":":i ."}:{ of .{rrr."..y:"f..:"."." "::: ": f '1. . '" tRr."."."."rvr:: {1:: {!ti{;:{;:{"'r '{?.. :r.: :" .. {".. .: f "J "J "rr:: ::"::. :": ::"::::::::. ::. ::" ::::::::::::: :::"::::::::. ::::. .}rlf."}r .v " "r."... 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" :: vrv.":.:v:.v::.v.".".vav: rv:. .f:f' . .. }:":".{^x::: +"FJ."r ."rr."r .r ". . r.. r f.... . .....v ".:v "::"}....:v.: r ..................:.v.. r... a. n.... {:.,: {.,:.::...:................:......:... .,..:.i.. n ......................: :v::........ ... t?3 :: ::..........".rr...f,....r.. rf.,.frrJ..",.,f,,,;.4..,r,.¢Y..... fir.......?...,.,f,.1,.,..... r...................... .............. ..:.:...:........:............................: t Gay oCity ordinance extends recognition to all single-sex couples WE L L, (tF - H(ZE' S &o6-C>If HI N6-A~to(-a OUR- VNAT-/OW'S '1 £t1J L L F i VA L LYM // 14Ni>CHAN~&E -ri- *4A TS@) ' Mf -r-A M o K.1',& TH FOR dSd T eading the nation in the battle for gay and , lesbian rights, the Ann Arbor City Council pssed an ordinance last week granting single sex coples the right to register their domestic partner- ships with the city. This ordinance marks a major step in allowing homosexuals, who are prevented frQm obtaining a legal marriage from the city, to Mbtain the legal recognition they deserve. +The City Council's initiative on this nationally taboo issue should be applauded. Few legislators have the courage to acknowledge the fact that same sex relationships should carry the same legal weight as heterosexual relationships. In a sense it is absurd that any government need recognize a relationship in order to legitamize it. Ideally, even heterosexual couples should not be forced to get married in order to obtain govern- mental approval of theri relationship. But the fact is, an array of advantages are extended to married couples that are systematically denied to single- sex couples because those relationships lack legal recognition. Many companies, for example, offer extended health programs to only married employ- ecs. TheFederal Govemmentgives married couples a break on their tax returns. If these benefits are going to be offered to help out families, than governments have no business evaluating what constitutes a "real" relationship on a gender basis. The City Council's ruling is by no means the answer to equal recognition and benefits for gay and lesbian couples. Health care and other benifits are issues that must be addressed in the private sector as long as companies offer them on an unequal basis. Federal recoginition of gay couples must be preceded by initiatives that offer homo- sexuals the legal right of marriage. But Ann Arbor's ordinance is a step in the right dicrection. With further efforts on the part of the City Council, the private sector, and other gov- ernments on the state and national level, true equality may soon exist between both gay and straight couples. i 1 -- - vvhlv.:lvh1:-. ".:v. v: "avr:.1 ":.'.:v: - "::.:v ".vn " :vvr :v v :vhv " 1 v. w."." : v. X ". v.v.". . 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" :. ::. . .. ........................L:".Y:".Y".":":::"::::.....1.."..".". :L".".".".1":.".':::1":.".".V:".".4.:"hh".":: h": ".1...h:1....LY........:Y h".".":1L.. h...L............1..............L. h......1,....1.1................... h "I Magla Exploration of Venus teaches us o often, theAmerican space program spends billions of dollars on extravagant exploration programs. The American people currently do not favor a large budget for National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) because the ben- efits of space exploration seem distant or nonexist- ert. Exploration for the sake ofexploration doesn't help the poor to find work or the hungry to find food. Because challenging the human mind and iniagination is a natural instinct, space exploration is not necessarily a frivolous cause. But, the United States is just too strapped for cash to afford gran- dipse projects, such as the president's plan to land the first humans on Mars. NASA, however, has managed to complete programs that have direct impact on the goings-on here on Earth. The Magellan space probe, launched in August of 1990 is currently adding to the library 'f 'knowledge already collected concerning our neighboring planet, Venus. The study of Venus is of vital importance to tiderstanding the processes that shape and change tht Earth's surface and atmosphere. Venus is said to be the Earth's twin planet. While thatdescription is not quite accurate, it is true that Venus and Earth 'stem to have been formed as similar bodies, but Venus took a tragic turn, making its environment "hOstile to life. What happened to Venus is ex- plained today as the greenhouse effect gone mad. about Earth 's future The atmosphere is composed almost entirely of carbon dioxide and is simultaneously transparent to ultra-violet radiation, which has turned Venus into a virtual oven, with average temperatures ranging around 900 degrees Fahrenheit. These enormous temperatures are several hundred degrees hotter than Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun. On Earth, the amount of carbon dioxide has been increasingly steadily during the past decades. At the same time, scientists continue to report the dissociation of the precious ozone layer, which protects the Earth from the Sun's deadly ultra- violet radiation. While the greenhouse effect is not yet completely understood and some scientists are still unsure whether the Earth is really under the threat of a devastating greenhouse effect, the study of the Earth's twin will answer many questions about the possibilities facing Earth and its inhab- itants. The primary responsibility of NASA should not be to follow a 21st century manifest destiny, but to find methods by which to guarantee the per- petuation of a habitable environmenthere on Earth. Someday, that may mean emigration to other planets. But today, such programs are not practical. The study of Venus's atmosphere can help us understand the future of Earth. This is what the focus of the American, European, and other space programs should be. Hate in the 1930s To the Daily: I recently wrote my grand- mother and mentioned the ad that had been printed in the Daily concerning the denial of the Holocaust (10/24/91). Here is her reply: As for the ad about the Holocaust never happening, while it is terrible to see such a lie published, I'm not surprised. Anti-semitism is all around us and always has been. The first time I ever came in touch with it was when I was a freshman atrthe U of M. At that time there were only three dorms for women: Helen Newberry, Betsy Barbour, and Martha Cook, so most of the women lived in league houses, as I did. My house was to become an all "French" house the second semester, so those of us who were not French majors had to move. I went from one league house to another trying to find a room. In each house I was turned dlown because I was Jewish. The excuse-"It's not that I object to Jewish women, but the other girls object to the Jewish gentlemen callers coming here when their dates are here." Finally, after a number of turn downs, I went to the Dean of Women with my problem. Her answer: "Don't worry my dear, we have a Jewish league house on South Division street where they will welcome you." Naturally I moved there, but I wept tho think that I had to go to a state university to live in what I. called a ghetto. We Jews have survived many things, and we will continue to survive. Amy Nathan RC first year student Ruth Nathan class of 1930 New voice needed To the Daily: How can our white-dominated society hope to better understand Black American culture, and situations that African Americans have been forced into, when we continue to have white people speaking for them? This was the question that struck my mind - more so than the snapshots on the wall, during Jacob Holdt's presentation of his "American Pictures." I do not doubt Holdt's sincerity in wanting to expose us to the reality of injustices that prevail our country so that we can work to get rid of them. However, what this visitor from Denmark didn't learn in his journey through America is-that part of the reason problems such as racism still exist in our country is because our society refuses to give certain people the power to speak for themselves and have their voices heard. Following "part one" of his presentation, Holdt conducted a question answer session. He responded to a question about audlience reactions with a story about an African American woman who, last year after his presentation, expressed her anger for the way that he "portrayed her people." In describing her comments he said that this woman "just kept talking, and just shouting " at him. An attitude of disregard for the concerns of this Black woman came across clearly to me. He then quickly finished off the anecdlote by implying that the woman suddenly changed her mind and was no longer angry. Somehow I didn't believe his interpretation of a sudden change of heart. This quick assumption on his part, I think, only rein- forced the fact that we need to start listening to all Americans and refuse to accept white male interpretation of America. I don't believe that Holdt is capable of relating to us a Black America that he himself couldn't possibly understand--a Black America that he chose to visit and also had a luxury of the choice to leave it. He seemed more con- cerned that people approve of is show than he did with actually listening to the concerns of the people he was portraying. If we truly want to find out about the Americans in Holdt's photographs, than it's time we put the camera in their hands, and give them the stage and our ears and the opportunity to be heard with their own voices. Vivian Babuts Art School PC-ness criticized To the Daily: What's more important, the words that you use to express yourself or the thoughts which you are expressing? If you are not up to date on the most recent "correct" term for a group of people, does that make you a racist? As a member of Residence Hall Senior staff I am disturbed by the answers many people virtuallyhoping they can take offense at something you say. As a result, I find that many thoughts go unexpressed. On the few occasions where I voiced an opinion which may not have been mainstream, (I support the deputization of the security department) I have encountered extreme hostility. Is there only one "correct" opinion on every issue? I go to meetings and workshops now and "play it safe." The politically correct movement has literally shattered all hopes of having a free and open forum for ideas in our University community. : Avi Rubin Resident Director, West Quad Ph.D. Candidate, Computer Science plants 'Woren forced to risk health, dignity with surgery A lobby .war is currently being fought over a call for the Food and Drug Administration (fDA) to ban silicone-based breast implants. The lOntroversy stems from concerns made by health advocates about the safety of implanting such :stbstances in a woman's body. In opposition to the , tncerns of health advocates, plastic surgeons ,eoss the country have staged a $4 million cam- paign to allow their business to go undisturbed. However, without overlooking the real issue eenceming women's health, there is a much larger osiue at stake. It must be questioned why women ;ve these types of operations in the first place. -omen, as the advertising industry tells us, must !e-slim, rosy-cheeked, smiling objects with tight jbttocks and breasts as large as gravity will allow. Wemen are taught to strive for this form by 'agazines like Vogue and Mademoiselle. Those wmen who do not fit this conception are made to fel inferior. Here is where the cosmetics industry steps in, telling these "social deviants" that they 'can be real women if they buy certain products, cut thir hair in a certain way, and undergo cosmetic surgery. a The dangers of silicone are real. Silicone im- plants can leak into a woman's blood stream and can have harmful effects on a woman's body. Furthermore, silicone has been known to cause adverse immune system reactions in some women. For the most part, cosmetic surgery is an indus- try founded on, and sustained by, the stereotypes placed upon women. Every year, thousands of women undergo cosmetic surgery molding their bodies into a better looking form, hoping to make themselves more accepted by society. Plastic sur- geons are not concerned with whether or not the implant procedures are really good for a woman's physical and emotional health. They seem to be concerned only with their own profits. This is not to say that reconstructive surgery is without benefit. In an age of rising breast cancer rates, mastectomy patients have a legitimate desire to retain their feeling of dignity. But silicone im- plants are not the only option. There are safer sac- like vesicles that can serve the same function as silicone. In addition, techniques similar to those involved in skin-grafting can be used in recon- structing breast tissue from other parts of the body. There are two dangers associated with breast- implant surgery. One is the possible medical dan- ger associated with silicone implants. But an even greater danger is that of a society that equates a woman's personal worth with her external ap- pearance. If what women "should" look like was not determined by an uncompromising society, then the dangers of plastic surgery, risked by thousands of women, would not be so easily dis- missed. A".v.":: ~.".1":.v.": r."R"A-: ." .."r.". ." "." v:.vl"."rr.".-."r ".4".Y".'! v "."."!."::."r ">"."."r."r .'r."."R r."."r "R": vnxA"."R".".": ". ":.V:::.1V: NRVRV""i:.VJ L't '. ::lRY11VA Y::l".Vl.V .1 .J... ..JR.... . .. J...R............ ".. :. ........".V:,.::.V:.V:N:,':l.V.".':.".":.".'.".".':.".":.".".". .". '"' }... R.....1.:": X":"": :.".. """: .'.".".': .'':::... .J{::1 A...... ...1. ....r r. "::{': rS :.. 'RZ": rSx ::V "".. ."r JJr 'rJ:V: Y .YA.....R ............. J.'rl.... .JJA..... .. A..A r:RVA...................... ....... ::.V :......................................................... ..0 .......'......":x"f:r:":'. .. r'S ."rSJSA ..Y.. J. J.... .......... 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A.R..a... . .":t:";{:;:",:jyti?}:;:", L:",:"::":;:":":"}:"i:":"i:" ,;}:: r:ti :v : :r ti::....... ..R"."~".":.vr".".".".r. '::+:'. ~x "R".a"::.":.....YV:"'.".:{ { ":rrro. r.:....: ............... A"."f" vav . ..."Y."."! "." ;."r r R G: "r." .::."!A"R. rJ r YK. YtNS. 11 :r . .. J.,.: J::.V ": xAV:: J ." 1 . ..f :r{":{Y" RV" Jll 1."lx~AV "'l.'. r.:. . R:i:lNr~'::RVrSxrS rV" .Y:": .V.. "rS :r"'V :{": .:tit': :":{": .RV.'" ":r/.''"1J. R "1~:R 1. .. ....... J........ 4 .... .4 ':J .... ... ..............Y n. r ..... },:" ...".. ,{'".:. JJ...a ....Yi:{':k......JJ:..r. ~~ J. d J Press f reedo s under attack "Congress shall make no law abridging...the freedom of speech, or of the press" - from the First Amendment to the Constitution In 1964, in New York MICHIGAN DAILY: Times v. CELEBRATES Sullivan, the Su- preme.li Court ex-O tended the rights of by freedom of speech and David press intoj two critical areas: the .J right of public officials to sue for libel and paid political advertising. This protection of political advertising and the right to criticize public of- ficials isfundamental to theguaran- tees of the freedoms of the Bill of Rising Voices." The ad stated that "thousands of Southern Negro stu- dents are engaged in widespread non-violentdemonstrations" and the Montgomery police have engaged in "an unprecedented wave of ter- ror." However, the ad contained sev- eral errors. Singing in the state capitol did not lead to the arrest of nine students, but rather for de- manding service at a courthouse lunch counter. There had been no attempt to "starve" students into "submission" as the ads stated. The Times could have checked these errors, but it did not. An Alabama court awarded Sullivan $500,000, the largest libel judgement in Alabama history, at that time, for the New York Times "libel against a public official"- The Supreme Court overturned the verdict unanimously (9-0), stating the Alabama statute did not safeguard freedom of speech~ and sharp attacks on government offi- cials." The other issue Sullivan argued was that criticism of the police is not protected by the constitution because it is a paid political adver- tisement. The Supreme Court unanimously rejected this argument stating, "the ad communicated in- formation, expressed opinion, re- cited grievances and sought finan- cial support on behalf of a cause." It is immaterial whether the ad is sold as is the fact that newspapers and books are sold. Brennan sum- marized this stating, "Any other conclusion would discourage newspapers from carrying 'editorial advertisements' of this type, and so might shut off an important outlet for the promulgation of information and ideas by persons who do not themselves have access to publish- ing facilities." College newspapers have re- cently come under attack for their t 0 Nuts and Bolts L ANE asw 'OULP'tOLIKE TGO T HE MOVJE5 To N 1TOIGeT? "~TO W>N56 THAT YOUR~~I I W &JNGS RAMARMR THM"JUS)OT F NQS4"TIA3UGM 2 EN3OY YOM~~CfF ANV(AiJP by Judd Winick NO SHI-? NO Sar.