1. society
2. unrest and war

91990 - 58
PHROGG
Letters to the Editor
SO, I AM MOTANV
SHALL
Li«e:t> PLAYING....
Conservation Better
Than Protectionism
Editor:
In response to "Fake Fur Takes
Off of Nov. 15 by Elaine Louie, I
wanted to impart a few facts.
Fake fur is a petroleum basedproduct. It pollutes our environment
from the beginning of its human-use
cycle and is not biodegradable in our
market for furs and skins, tax dollars would have to be allocated to
harvest the excess each year. An example of this is the fur seal. The
market for fur seals was destroyed
by uninformed animal activists. In
Alaska, this year and every year,
you r tax dollars pay for the slaughit ic
ter of ov^r 4,000 -juvonilo fur seals
Real fur is a natural fiber and a re- Why? If left to themselves, they will
newable resource upon which our overpopulate, deplete their food
country was founded. Every state base (fish) and, in an overcrowded
except Hawaii, which has no indig- state, become susceptible to disease
enous furbearers, has a furbearer and starvation.
trapping season. The experts in the
Haw does this issue affect _yon as
wildlife management field know that a citizen? If racoons and foxes overwe must manage the population of populate, they are more susceptible
our prolific furbearers. Self-styled to disease, many of which are comanimal activists say that this prac- municable to humans and their pets.
Females at VMj? The Day May Come
Richmond, Va.
under the rubric of "separate but
equal." That legalistic facade began
to collapse in 1938, when the Supreme Court ordered Lloyd Gaines
admitted"~to~thir*1aw
school of the
r
"Universlfy ofivtissdurr.
The crusher came in 1950with the
case of G.W. McLaurin in Oklahoma. The black graduate student had
sought to take his doctorate in education. The university grudgingly offered to let him in, provided he sat
at a separate desk in an anteroom,
studied at a balcony desk in the library, and ate at a separate table at
a different time in the cafeteria.
Chief Justice Fred Vinson wiped
out these conditions with a stroke of
his pen. The right to genuinely equal
education is a personal right. Black
students must share equally in every
benefit, privilege or program offered to white students. No institution of higher learning may discriminate on account of race.
The same 14th Amendment principles that apply to race apply to
sex. Given these precedents, it is inconceivable that the trial court will
uphold VMI's male-only policy as a
matter of constitutional law. There
is a slim chance that VMI may prevail on the statutory ground that an
amendment to the Civil Rights Act
permits undergraduate institutions
that historically have been all-male
t all seems so familiar. Once
tice is cruel and we should let nature if beavers overpopulate, they pollute
again this gracious old city is
ly involved in litigattoitcoTrtror ournvnMffi
means ~^waterr~de^roy^timber anfr-flrorf
over'a"
and predation. Our wildlife profes- Wildlife Society estimates beavers discrimination. Ghostly banners
sionals say that a regulated harvest cause $200 million damage per year bear a worn device. Their legend
keeps wildlife populations at a level in the Southeast alone. Your tax dol- proclaims "tradition." It is Virginthe available habitat can sustain. If lars go to fix the_T£ads__&Qd bridges la's most enduring product,
we only look at the short period of they destroy.
Tradition is now imperiled. Since
detention and the quick death of the
For the past month I have been its founding in 1839, the Virginia Milindividual animal, we neglect the trapping coyotes for farmers in Jeff itary Institute at Lexington has en- along. He came down firmly in favor
needs of the entire species and the Davis, Coffee and Bacon counties, rolled men only. Last February the of letting the women in; he denied
other forms of flora and fauna upon You ask why? Coyotes have been Department of Justice filed suit to VMI the assistance of state counsel
which an overpopulated species will eating the farmer's baby pigs by the compel VMI to enroll women also, in defending its discriminatory polihundreds. How does this affect you? Remarkably, the department has no cy; and he threatened to withhold
impact.
client: Not a single young woman VMI's state appropriation if the sheWhether you buy a fur coat or It makes food prices rise.
has applied for admission. Though nanigans didn't stop.
not, our wild flnafurbearers will still
Conservation is the wise use of no true case or controversy exists, a
-have to ixR,.p) gfid,_-tft include an
This put Wilder once again on the
annual harvest. Today, hunters and our resources. Protectionism is no trial has been set for early April in side of the political angels. It also
the U.S. District Court at Roanoke. created a delicate problem for Virtrappers pay for this harvest use.
STEVEN GREENE Meanwhile the case has turned into ginia's attorney general, Mary Sue
through license fees, excise taxes on
what Virginians define as a fine, fat Terry. She is running to succeed
equipment, etc. If there were no Hinesville
how d'ya do.
him. VMI's alumni constitute the
Politics naturally has raised its wealthiest, most politically active,
pretty head. Virginia's Gov. Douglas most gung-ho defenders of tradition
Wilder, who learned the meaning of in a state that thrives upon tradition.
discrimination by personal experi- Ms. Terry's problem is to respond to
Editor:
The poverty that exists today in
On Nov. 23, a newspaper story ence, is running unabashedly for the the suit, mollify the women's vote,
the world community, that exists in staged that the Salvation Army was vice presidential nomination on the pacify the alumni, and uphold the
our local community is anathema; one of three local charities to serve Democratic ticket'of 1992. When the Constitution without actually apand coexistent with that indigence, free Thanksgiving dinners. The oth- VMI suit began, he first sought to pearing to do so. And she must do all
the brutality of the streets, the pro- ers were Union Mission and the wiggle out by saying he had no real these things at the same time.
7ee£-^¥irojnyrnjent, the escapism of- Inner City Night Shelter.
authority over state-supported VMI.
Memory rolls back. For more
fered by substarice^atfttser-" ~ ._„.. _
mu
• * a, U •*
TV,
Last month, after thinking qver
The outpouring of concern and S
LI *e PoUtica, implications, WiWer did than 70 years following The War, the
love for one's fellow man at this Price Streets which served 140 din- what he had been expected to do alt South preserved racial segregation
time of year is heartwarming, but
there are 12 months in the year, not ners. For some reason, the Social
Apostolate is left out of announcejust Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The homeless in our community ments, though it is one charity that
not get government aid.
that partook their Thanksgiving does
schools, businesses and
meal at Inner City Night Shelter cer- Churches,
help all year and we disChicago
tainly felt that love and concern, not individuals
tribute
bags
of
groceries
all
year,
only from the staff but from the chil^ mostly at the request of government
f we gotta have a war."
dren at May Howard School who doagencies.
Slats Grobnik said, "then
nated food, Piggly Wiggly Corpora^
at least they're putting it
Is it known that the bulk of the
tion, and so many others who did
in the right time slot."
likewise; and, the volunteers who food served at these dinners is doThe right what?
cooked and served the meal. To all nated by Piggly Wiggly, which has
"Time slot. Ain't that TV talk?"
these people we thank you for these, been doing this for years?
Yes it is, but what has the time
the poorest of the poor.
How about the churches, schools,
One need not look to Calcutta to businesses who ask for families at slot to do with it?
"Middle of January. All the colsee the miracle of God's love at Thanksgiving and Christmas times
work. It can be seen at work in our that would be grateful for being able lege football bowl games are over.
local community, and should be seen to have their celebrations at home? Pro football is over except for the else happening."
every day, not just Thanksgiving We go through our records and sup- Super Bowl. Baseball hasn't started
But you talk as if the war is nothyet. Basketball's kind of sloggin'
and Christmas. The special feeling ply the information.
along. There won't be much going ing more than a TV production.
that we all experience over the holi"Well, ain't it? I mean, the TV
I have been a volunteer at the So- on."
days can be felt year-round, by conWhat does that have to do with it? set is as close as most people will get
tinually helping those less fortunate cial Apostolate for years and know
of which I write. In fact, our volun"Well, we figure to win this one, to it. Even right now, what do you
than ourselves.
get? One bunch of experts go on TV
JAY BRADLEY teers keep our doors open to the dis- don't we?"
So -we*re~ told." Quickly and deci- and say we should keep going with
Director advantaged in our community.^ _.,_
—~—IVTRSTCECELIA WERNTZ sively because we have superior the sanctions. Then another bunch
technology. As well as being more goes on and says we should quit talkpure of heart, decent, honest, good ing and start shooting. Then the TV
and true, in contrast to Saddam Hus- pollsters ask the people watching
sein's evil, nasty, nakedly aggres- what they think and one bunch says
to defend your interests over here. sive dark soul.
we talk, another bunch says we
Editor:
Should
I
have
to
go
into
battle,
as
in
Dear people of Savannah and es"OK, then if we go in there and shoot. It's show biz."
You seem to be forgetting that if
pecially all those kindhearted souls medieval times, I will carry your whack 'em out fast, the war don't
who participated in the "Great Sa- thoughts and prayers with me as to- have to compete with other big TV there is a war, thousands of our
kens of favor. It is comforting to see shows. Think about it. What if you troops will die. Some think it could
vannah Square "lift:
Greetings and salutations (or just I have something tangible to protect, had the Rose Bowl and the Orange be as many as 30,000 if we are to
plain hi y'all) from the Kingdom of not just the ideals of the flag, God Bowl going on. Or even worse, the drive Saddam out of Kuwait and reSaudi Arabia. I am writing this let- and country.
Super Bowl, And the networks had to store the downtrodden Kuwaitis to
ter to express my gratitude and apcut away to show you some of our their luxury condos. Thirty thousand
It
is
ya'll
that
give
me
the
great
preciation for all the hard work and pride I have in wearing the U.S. tanks shooting shells over sand is a lot of lives.
"Yeah, that's what I thought, too,
effort that has gone into your sup- Flag on my right shoulder, and dunes? You know how mad football
port for us over here on the other showing off this great symbol of fans would get? Oh, boy, President until I started listening to the shootside of the planet.
Bush would really be in trouble. But now-talk-later experts. And I didn't
freedom,
justice,
and
democracy
to
The brownies tasted great, and all who live here. And it is for ya'll this way, people can sit down and see any of them getting weepy. They
your cards, letters and video post- that I will give my life, if need be, to flip over to Cable News and say: take kind of a practical approach,
cards have been truly uplifting. It defend those very same principles.
'Let's see what's going on with the like they're figuring in the cost of
makes my job here easier knowing
war,' because there's nothing much doing business, and that's all part of
Thanks
again,
and
God
bless.
that there is so much support for us
SGT. STANLEY A. COHEN
^^
back home,
home. lamprouaananunuicu
I am proud and honored
The Miracle of God's Love
or all-female to stay that way.
VMI's supporters are bombarding the Richmond papers. Do "Sister
Rats" want equality? Then let 'em
have it: same
shaved
heads, same spartan discipline. If
this course is followed, said a reader
in Midlothian, casting jchiyalry to
the winds, "I do not bejieve the female presence witt-present a longterm problem."
At the U.S-Military Academy in
West Point, 474 women are among
the 4,366 cadets. At the Naval Academy in Annapolis one finds 415 women among the 4,420 midshipmen.
Both service schools have admitted
women since 1976. If coeducation
creates any problems, the problems
are kept under wraps.
VMI, with only 1,300 cadets,
would have problems adjusting to
young women, and young women assuredly would have problems adjusting to VMI. But law is law, and if
a daring and determined young lady
seeks entrance, VMI will have to
take her in. This will mean showers
and latrines that are separate but
equal, and so we will go full circle,
back to the doctrines of 1866. One
thinks of Yogi Berra, who looked
with incredulity upon some; recW~
ring phenomenon. "It's deja vu,"
said the tough old Yankee, "all over
Putting a War in the Right Time Spot
The Brownies Tasted Great'
the overhead,1
Overhead? Isn't that a casual
way tp think of thousands of lives?
"Look, I'm just trying to think
like the guys planning this thing.
And you got to keep it all in, un, perspective."
And what is the perspective?
"OK, what's 10 percent of this
country's whole population?"
Pro&ably about 25 million, if you
count the illegals.
"OK, and what's 1 percent of the
whole population "
That would be about 2 1/2 million.
"OK, and what's one-tenth of
that?"
..About 250,000.
"See?"
See what?
"When we talk about how many
might get killed, we ain't even talking about one-tenth of 1 percent of
the whole country. In fact, the way I
got it figured, we're really talking
about one-tenth of one-tenth of 1 percent of the whole country. When you
look at the big picture, that ain't a
lot of people.
That's one of the most coldblooded things I've ever heard you
say
Maybe so, but that just shows
that you don't have what it takes to
be a leader"
And you do?
"You betcha. I could probably
get a job in the White House Office
of Tough Guys. Figure it this way.
We go in there and we stomp Saddam. Knock him out of Kuwait and
make Kuwait safe again for people
who like solid gold toilet seats. And
_m
we make sure that Saudi Arabia
don't have to worry, so that Sheik
Abdul Hi Roller can go drop another
$25 million at the Monte Carlo craps
table."
Yes, but think of the cost.
"That's what I mean. Look at the
numbers. We can do it and 99.9 percent of the people in this country
v^on't have a scratch on them. So
that'slow overhead."
What about their families,
friends, neighbors and other loved
ones.
"Awright, round it off at 99 percent that don't have a nick on 'em."
Yes, but many of those 99 percent
will be appalled at the loss of life
"Some, yeah, butafterJ^
the president on TV saluting the caskets and hugging some mothers and
widows and making a good speech —
maybe he can bring up those 10,000
points of light again — a lot of the 99
percent is going to feel pretty good."
About what?
"About winning. Sure, this country likes the underdog, but it likes a
winner better. Remember Grenada
and Panama? People felt good."
Those were rather minor victories.
"Hey, in poker, the small pots
add up too. And if we win this one,
you watch, people are going to be
jumping up and down on TV and
holding up a finger and saying:
'We're No. I.'
I still think that is a cold-blooded
way to look at it.
"What you mean, cold-blooded?
We're waiting till after Christmas,
ain't we?"
_M^
•
Let the Military DO its job How To Tell Recess From Recession
Editor:
This is from a man who was born
before we entered World War I, into
a family that has fought in every
war the U.S. has been in since 1760.
A war cannot be won by a committee, neither can the peace.
• World War I: no World Court.
• World War II: We won, but lost
the peace We gave away Eastern
Europe.
• Korea: Congress couldn't do
what was needed to win. McArthur
was fired.
• Vietnam: You can't bomb rice
paddies because people will starve,
it's inhumane. So, we lost.
We spend millions of dollars to
train
tin soldiers then won t let them do
what we trained them to do — win.
Then we spend millions of dollars to
maintain the status quo.
Keep Congress out of the Gulf
and let the military do their job.
veys: A recession is not as much fun
as a recess.
Recess means going out to the
playground and eating your bologna
sandwich and tearing a hole in your
HOWARD L RHOADS new pants and waiting for the bell to
Burton, S.C.
summon you back to class in time
for an afternoon of dozing while
English grammar is being touted.
A recession is when your money
has gone out for recess and won't be
ports of Savannah and Brunswick back until someone rings a bell and
have on the area both for those of us says it now has to return and do its
directly involved, as well as the sec^
cost of a
ojKlary effect in P^di^goodsjand ™^gc ofboiogna when'you'd preservices, is tremendous.TSrFidarte—^ffT*-bone ter a- fancy vegetable
day operation it is generally accept- medlev if you eschew fauna and eat
ed by residents and in fact, is little only flora).
known to many. Ms Jackson's apWhat I need to know now is. who
proach in spreading the word about rings the bell when the recession is
the ports in the News-Press is cer- over. or. indeed, when it begins^ I
tainly a positive, informative step I don't really mean that I need to
look foward to its continuation and know who's in charge of opening and
appreciate your supporting the ef- closing a recession; I mean it would
More Emphasis on Our Ports
Editor:
As the District Director of the Savannah District, the United States
Customs Service, it is wttfc great
pleasure I have noted the addition of
a weekly News-Press column dedicated to information about the ports
of Savannah and Brunswick. In addition to the information that is both
interesting and important I believe
the efforts of reporter O Kay Jackson to be a tremendous means of
promulgating the importance associated wit the ports of Savannah and
Di uii5wiciT~~~'""
The economic impact that the
aving seen and heard the
word
recession
used
frequently in recent weeks,
I became curious and
- n my dictionary and
looked u
thereby
thereby Iearned the bad news it con-
fort.
ROBERT J RICHTER
something of value here.
If someone in government has the
responsibility of ringing the recession bell, it must be a bureaucrat
versed in the higher forms of circumlocution, in which case we may
be awaiting an English translation.
English words such as recession
often have so many meanings that it
is best to ignore them when you can
and invoke a passionate French expression even if you don't know what
it means. You donT have to knew
music to whistle "He Loved Me Till
the All-clear Came" (B Johnny Mercer song selected here purely at random)
At a meeting of our editorial people the other day, to discuss the
Be nice 1ft were abte te^eH yettrse- merits of changing nur format to fnlthat for a change you could learn low the latest Paris fashions, one of
our staffers unabashedly spoke the
word verticality loud enough for everyone to hear.
I heaved a loud sigh and swooned. I had never heard the word used
in mixed company before. (I think
the subject was miniskirts. 1 had
just finished my bologna sandwich
and was dozing off when "verticality" rendered me temporarily upright. )
Nor do the modern dictionaries
know where to draw the line anymore on the rules of decency, and
they will print just about every word
you ever heard on either side of the
barrio. Verticality is typical.
Everyone I know, I am ashamed
to say, uses — dare I say it 0 — copulative verbs in public and on a regular basis these days and, unfortunately, it is just about everyone I
know who sets the standards of
As in oral expression, little respect remains for tradition in the
writing trade. Hardly anyone uses
such tried and true expressions as
exemp/uin gratia in their writing, as
we did in the good old days of innoThat respectable old Latin phrase
has come down to the curt e.g.,
which could mean any number of
things; e.g., extravagant gams, eleemosynary glands, or Easy Gladys,
about whom the less is said, the better. At least for now.
Meanwhile — I might have
digressed there — everything was
rolling along just peachy-keen in my
portfolio, and my starboardfolio was
also looking up, until some unauthorized lout shouted "recession!" and
all of a sudden my Dow-Joneses fell
below average.
It is an insidious thing, this recession stuff When I complained to the
boss the other day that the water
cooler wasn't working, he said it was
"the, uh, the. . . that is, it's the, you
know, recession. We've had to cut
back in a few places."
"I suppose there'll be no raises
this time around," I said, somewhat
coolly so as to adjust to the atmosphere
"Of course, there'll be a raise for
everyone," he said "We're moving
the staff up to the third floor. It will
be warmer there this winter."
lM_kPS£*^ojl_^
minute.