4 - The Michigan Daily Wednesday; August 7,1996 Edited and managed by LAURIE MAYK ERIN MARSH students at the Editor in Chief PAUL SERILLA University of Michigan trin Ci Editorial Page Editors A A r 4UnlessOtherwise noddo wignedoedtnorals Iec the pinison ofhe f420 Maynard Street najority otie DailS c eutorial board. All ot er articles, letters and A nn A rbor, MI 48109 cartoons notot necessarily aflect the opinion f he Michigan Dail. P rimary elections were held throughout the state yesterday, and if history is any indication, voter turnout was appallingly low. People give many excuses for not vot- ing, but the consequences of this are sig- nificant. Citizens are not only failing to carry out their civic duty, but greatly limit- ing their options come November. Primaries play an important role in our electoral process. Equally as important as general elections, primaries serve to nar- row the field of candidates. Often decided by slight margins, the outcome of a prima- ry can produce well-qualified, dedicated individuals intent on serving all of their constituents. Or, in an extreme case, when voter disinterest is at its highest, the result may be extremist candidates of question- able character and intentions. In many instances, failure to vote in pri- maries is as bad as missing an election. The winners of Democratic Congressional primaries in Detroit are invariably those who are elected in November because of the area's predominance of Democrats. The same can be said for dozens of com- munities in Michigan, from the strongly conservative western regions of the state to Priary inications Voter turnout must increase by November labor strongholds in Flint. For many parts of the state, the real winner of the November election is determined in the primaries. Many express feelings of frustration with the current political system as their reasons for not voting. But with the showing of third- party candidates in recent elections, dissatis- faction with Democrats and Republicans isn't reason enough not to vote when viable alter- natives exist. And for those who say they don't have the time, the question is quite straightforward: For something that only hap- pens once every two years and requires so lit- tle time, why not make the time? All of that said, it is still too late for those who didn't vote. But what can they do? Be sure to vote in November. This elec- tion year is especially important because it is a presidential election. With that comes the choice of deciding where students want to take the country. The issues become more important. Students' votes can decide where the nation is headed in regard to reducing the budget deficit, reforming wel- fare, fighting crime, establishing job securi- ty in a changing economy and funding higher education for the country's youth. The two major political parties differ sig- nificantly on the issues, and the outcome of the election will determine whether the country moves forward or back. But students can only vote if they are registered. Registration is the important first step for the young to become politi- cally involved and have their voices heard. Students have the option of registering to vote either in Ann Arbor or back home, regardless of permanent residence loca- tion. Registration nowadays is extremely convenient and can be done in a variety of ways. Residents of the state of Michigan can register when they renew or apply for a driver's license through the Secretary of* State. Many other states also have similar systems. Students can register the old-fashioned way by stopping by their local city clerk's office. Some cities allow citizens to do this by mail as well. Additionally, several groups on campus stage voter registration drives in late September. Among such groups are the College Democrats and Republicans and the Undergraduate Political Science Association. All of these options make it easy for a student to register. The choice is theirs - on campus or by mail. The important thing is to vote. Access to voting is made easy by the various registra- tion options. And polling stations on elec- tion day are placed around campus, so stu- dents do not have to travel far and can fit it into their schedules as they choose. All the obstacles to voting have been removed - there aren't any excuses not to vote this November. Forced out Co bating terrorisi Conservative community cheats its students Bill has positive and negative provisions E arlier this summer, the Michigan State Senate and House of Representatives voted to ban gay marriages - a move that violated the civil rights of gays and lesbians everywhere. The legislature sent an underlying message along with the bill- a mes- sage that encourages discrimination, homophobia and unsubstantiated fear. Harassment and discrimination is nothing new to the gay, lesbian and bisexual co:- munity. It forces them out of their homes, their jobs and thei1 communities Pe expressed by a fes is ampltfied so urbearable les ls, as ani igioiont mmn'city s ( es itself appe'ar large r than it actually is. However, soinstimes the ign raist homophobie miinoroty slinws OP in. p wefu piaces Thismadethen news lstweek as scho bdriis rdinalons erv. iviisuthweso Mihian forc i t 5ne of( it s mos)v ibl teces. h By c CeIrsholbad is igated. ad o manaie hihive hirsmn n nmstwihldGry Cr5 cah ByI C. trH d col ece , to (sg as ek rn wsa se o iarginhat iss thn sup ive, tears It S t.d ensiicis ere to presiEw - .s e cn y dii P. s1 Th thei rPts anad wilse the dseIits is 'hins tducaion To den thsV tdnsa c thesir paCs in tbc osmnsisty is abhorrecc. The Byroii Cenuter school Isoard ,nd select soonbe isf Ithe co snis ty 1have di se them- selves - not to mention Geirry Crane - a signifie..ni disservie. ThIeI ignsorant few havse elseated their students of s fair and dii erse education. aisd as she same time, gis en ihens smss- representation of the world. It will siow be up to the students to discos er for themselves she injustice -and emerge as more intelligent people tlan their school and communisy leaders. L ast week Congress began hastily piecing together a bill to strengthen the nation's efforts in combating terrorism. Though the bill, which has strong presidential sup-@ port, did not make it through Congress before its monthlong recess began last weekesd, the bill carries all the mrkings of shoddy patchwork politics that dominate election yesrs. The bill has significasit Merits but also has the potential to set dangerous prece- dets ii the ares of inidis dual rights. Osse sfs Pig es S pr ems with the bill is its ient to iicrease the wiretaps ig abl- isles I' Phe 1FB1 nid ichr laws enftoreent ageneces, maily through slse use of high- seel oi e aping ui s. As, th bill in pr'senitI fom wvoold re'duce tIhe ce eks Isiw en see agnis haS Ii'i trghii' e aproilsfr wiieap. Theseii pr iins see t b arelacme'ii rth FIs reuei.as flls foPa$50 ilis oehal ra-5 or-rqetdta th'iflhls ih wh7l yea). e i S hasst ld y ttah g t s prvsn ' mNg p iyl, 'i reln.' a Th Pbl -al o agm t eitou ist som eia exloivefr .zr n niinadis as sparke the isa sliths N.aid tal i As~satesn whicIs fig'Is t ioectIthc ansotyity f ef'Irar e-rs faggans pose iso ihreat ts he sveiagC ccrse 'stioa fiearmss user snd sisey woold speed she sCearch for suspects ii nbomiings. The NRA's asrgsoseas is sieeped sin dogms not cimmnsi sens e -Cosigres s caisnset prsdisce cie scix e teicisis I 'gisl ians witI eu taggasits Pcinsg p 5 o f is. A rational approach most be taken to conaa an iriasional foe, free of she peilisics asid snares sisal are as prcas a threat to our security as domestic and foreigs eunemiues.