Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Dec. 5, 1967, edition 1 / Page 2
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Tuesday. December 5..1S67 '" "jy uestioiis Jl osetir .xv On Protest Week THE DAILY TAB HEEL 1 75 Years 0 Editorial Freedom Bill Arnlong, Editor Don Walton, Business Manager IThe Anti-War Protests Voices No One RALEIGH It was the same, tired old tune that 70 draft protestors were singing here Friday morning as they picketed the Armed Forces Induction Center in near freezing weather to a weak chant of "Hell No, We Won't Go." The demonstrators carried signs which read things like: "Rich Man's War Poor Man's Fight and "Don't Lose Your Life to Save LBJ's Face." Basically, Friday morning was just a repeat performance of an act that has lost its punch. For everything that happened at the Induction Center here Friday has happened before, at similar in duction centers and on college campuses and on sidewalks all over this nation. The picketing, the chanting, Jhe placards are all old hat by now. And perhaps the biggest reason that they are old hat is that their combined effectiveness has been so minute. Plainly and simply a sidewalk protests' of the draft and of )he war no good whatsoever. Should you want proof of this, just flip on any newscast and listen to reports of how the war is being escalated day by day. 4 Quite often, the escalation xrcports -: and ' the ' box scores of American and Viefriam dead and ; wounded can be' heard imthe same ; five-minute capsule report as the : stories of picketing and vigiling. Which rather forces the con- elusion that this form of protest has ; the same effect on American policy ; as a BB does on the hide of a bull ' elephant. ' ; Included in Monday's demonstra- tion was the presentation of a statement to the Induction Center that two young men would refuse to be drafted next month, when ; they expect to be called. This was a little different ?rom the rest of the protest, if for no j other reason than that it was much more of a personal thing than mere ; marching and singing area. This action was the voicing of a personal committment against the jVietnam war by the two men in volved one a former Sociology ! graduate student at UNC, the other 'a Duke law student. It should be 'noted that both are eligible for draft deferments, since the former grad student is now a teacher and the law student could easily remain in the II-S category if he so chose. However, both say they feel that they must protest the war and the draft in this manner. They say they are morally committed to do so. This being the case, there is little else these man can do but to refuse induction if they are to stay at peace with their own con ; sciences. But, it is becoming increasingly : clear that as personally compelling as this may be, it just doesn't work : as a mode of protest. For the odds are heavy that these two youths will be very simply put :in jail perhaps with a flourish, :but still with isolation from the rest ot society for up to five years while :they are in prison. Don Campbell, Associate Editor Lytt Stamps, Mending Editor Hunter George, News Editor Brant Wansiey, Advertising Manager e o jriearg IT COMES DOWN to a question of just what is someone buying when he refuses cooperation with the draft, and pays the price of going to jail? If this were an effective tool with which to chisel at United States in volvement in Vietnam, it would perhaps be worth it An individual's or even thousands of individuals' going to jail in protest of the Vietnam war would not be too high a price to pay if by doing so, he strengthen ed the case against the war. It would, indeed, be a fiarly small price in comparison to what States in, terms of lives, national resources and neglect of festering domestic problem.s However, it just doesn't work thatway. While there is a great need for dissent from America's persent foreign policy especially in Southeast Asia one thing re mains very clear: Picketing and handing in of draft cards won't do the job. All these tactics are doing is making cannon fodder, so to speak, of the protestors who engage in them, and by so doing is wasting energies that - could far -f niorefe; fectively be 'channeled through other means. Basically, it's like writing the greatest, most moving protest song ever composed and then singing it only in the shower. But What About The People? Senator B. Everett Jordan $ doesn't like the idea of Terry San- : ford opposing Sam Ervin next : S year's Senate race; he feels it may -x hurt party harmony. 1 I As Sanford might say, though, : $ "But what about the people?" j Which is a pretty good question. &: iv We don't dislike Sam Ervin, con- : $ servative that he is. We $1 iv' asknowledge his reputation of being y somewhat of an expert on con- &: x stitutional law. : $ But he is not representing many : of his constituents, because, believe . ;iv it or not, this is the twentieth cen tury, and many North Carolinians are realizing it. ;S It is true that Ervin has been a $ staunch defender of individual S & rights, especially in the case of federal workers. But he has not :5 g been a defender of civil rights. He : has not been a supporter S of foreign aid. He has not supported i anti-poverty measures. . g In fact, there are about as many x "nays" in Ervin's voting record, as $ there are in any U.S. Senator's $ record. Ervin may have been register- 5 : ing his convictions and those of :j S many of his Constituents with his : i opposition to progressive legislation j j during the last few years. But he : hasn't pleased everybody. : S For that reason, a primary i; between Ervin and Sanford would 5 U be very enlightening. :$ Ervin's seat has been "safe" : :$ ever since he went to Washington. : Often times, pcliticans with "safe" j: seats lost contact with their con- j: g stituents. Maybe this is true in i; Ervin's case. . , g We hope Terry Sanford will j: challenge Ervm. Indeed, a man as j seemingly out of step with the j: times as Ervin should not go ; unchallenged. : mm, jar r Til. 1 1 ft 3e Pimishmeiit Not Duty From The Daily Texan II. 3ea. Lewis B. Hershey has arous ed fury with his recommendation that local draft boards revoke deferments for college students interfering with the Selective Service system or attempting to disrupt activities of military recruiters. .While one doesn't agree with the ac tions of such students, neither can one condone the use of the draft system as a type of punishment such as suggested by Hershey. Punishment-if warranted should be by legitimate, judicial methods. The The NSA And Student Power From The Clemson Tiger The National Student Association con ference on student power . conducted recently was interesting, informative, but not impeccable. The diversity of types of persons present ai(fed to t the interest of -the con vention the differing experiences of eacih person was very informative; but the ap parent poor planning for the conference by the NSA staff caused some con fusion. Attending a national conference with delegates from all parts of the nation is I quite an experience by merely listening (to others. Meeting as many of these 1 delegates possible is another experience, ! for there exists a variety of beliefs. j The NSA staff made no plans for those i students who would object to their pro gramming, so those who did object form ed their own small groups discussing a; wide range of topics. Apparently the NSA staff allowed more people than previously designated into the first banquet Friday, . for members of the Minnesota Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and several other students staged a noisy protest over the programming. Their objection was to a role-playing skit. Actually, their objection, and they voiced it as such, was to any form of authority over the NSA delegates by members of the NSA staif. After shouting and cursing for an hour these students were able to decide what should have been apparent at the beginning of the protect: those who wanted to stay for the skit would and those who did not would leave. . . The highlights of the convention were the Saturday afternoon workshops, and the NSA staff was fairly successful in the planning for these discussion sessions Everything from students' rights to educational reforms was discussed, and the diversity of . students present pro duced a diversity of experiences and opi nions. . Students related rules, regulations, power and communications existing orr their campuses, and they did so without becoming emotionally distraught and ex cited. The workshops proved to be the height" of intellectual, open discussion at the conference, and most students learn ed that their "problems" are not uni que. The discussions that ranged into the evenings were varied: ''radical'' caucuses were held, discussions on civil rights, the Vietnam war, capitalism, the South, the North, sex, drinking, ad ministrators, faculty and so on. The important fact was that most students present were not concerned over the dress or habits of other delegates they were concerned over the words that were spoken. The presence of elements which seek to disrupt NSA conferences only gives the outside press good copy. The sooner NSA officials realize that there are more im- portant things in their conferences than yelling and screaming. , .as soon as the NSA staff realizes that their planning should be flexible enough to provide for most everyone. . .as soon as the NSA staff realizes all their efforts should be centered around constructiveness. their organization will be greatly strenghtened. 1 TVi r Selective Service system does not fit into this category. There are enough laws concerning the unlawful actions by many draft evaders and pacifists. These laws should be enforced. In no way, should the draft board take over the tasks of punitive actions. Too much of a bad aura already surrounds the methods of the armed services. Besides as US Rep. John Moss, D Calif., who is demanding Hershey's resignation, points out federal courts already have ruled that war protesters cannot be punished by the draft. The Selective Service system contains quite enough inequalities now without us ing it as a substitute for a jail term. Many have claimed that "free speech'' is another matter at issue. Perhaps this is so, in some regards. But one . must also take into account, that 'speech" is now interpreted by many as flagrant abuse of federal law and of destruction. ' . ' Therefore, the real issue is not so much "freedom of speech" as it is "freedom to dissent." If local draft boards follow Hershey's suggestions, there are chances that many people will be punished because of their political beliefs not their actions. r l.v This is undoubtedly usrconstibitionar ' From the Chapel Hill Weekly The debate on whether the University here should make a special effort .. to recruit Negro students will be rejoined this week at a meeting of the Chapel Hill Chapter of the American Association of University Professors. As a topic for debate, the question is interesting. As a matter of University policy and practice, that is something else. The University is on sound ground in declining to be a party to such a recruitment program. The student legislature was wise, too, in voting down a proposal to divert student fee dollars to spread the information to Negroes that Chapel Hill offers them rare educational opportunities. Chancellor Carlyle Sitterson has set forth a proper policy: that the University does not and should not discriminate for or against students on the basis of race, color or religion. It has drawbacks, but it seems the most reasonable of courses to follow. Admissions policy at Chapel Hill is to accept students if they are qualified academicallyRace is not a criterion. It is a well-publicized fact that qualified Negroes have entered . the University. . Some of them have distinguished themselves as excellent scholars. There will be others who will do the same. Their number will increase. On the surface, it is appealing to give a special welcome and encouragement to the disadvantaged. But a recruitment program, especially for white neoole, or for Negro people, or for Episcopalians, or for Methodists, Cnristian Scientists cannot be - supported. Q Dest Plan adhered to by the . University, is to let it be known aenerallv among all North Carolina high schools the advantages and opportunities of enrolling at Chapel Hill. The plain facts also should be communicated m I 1 -'ITf J .'.-rivf,J' "- -- 0 some hcj no." s nose. Draft Others have pointed out another major fallacy in Hershey's suggestion. Who can feel safe knowing that the defense of this nation rests with pacifists and others who have expressed their negative views on the actions of this government? It has been suggested by many, be sides Moss, that Hershey should resign. Perhaps he should. For although he pro bably felt he was making the "right" decision, he showed tendencies that might be termed by many as "dictator like" or even Fascist." Hershey should reconsider and rescind his orders. The rashness which he has showed is not fitting to one in, this auth oritative position which affects so many. The American draft system must never become a punitive organization. This has never been and should never beits purpose or intent. It was organiz- - ed for surveillance and protection of the Aimerican people and their interests." Already too many people feel its methods are unfair and punitive. Undoubtedly, the United States needs ,a method to ensure liberty and to safeguard freedoms. But people cannot be forced into these roles as piinisbment. . - Surely, Hershey will become aware of the consequences ; of the actions he sug- - gested. about the high and rigid scholastic requirements. There is merit in encouraging qualified or qualifiable students to . go to college even in aiding them to make up deficiencies. The State maintains universities, four-year colleges, two-year colleges, cornrnunity colleges, technical schools. If there is to be promotion . and "recruitment accompanied by scholarships, loans, self-help opportunities and other incentives to find talent and develop it, all of the higher education institutions of the State . should be given the opportunity to participate, possibly through the Board of Higher Education. The public schools should likewise be involved in such a statewide program. But none of this should be approached on a basis of discrimination in favor of or in opposition to any person because of his color, his creed' or his race. 4- rii km Of rTp ti 1 : I M 7l 1 JtM, its"sA I Midnight Comes To Tne Editor: Your editorial of December 1 was at least consistent with your biased reportage of the Peace Mobilization in Washington earlier assessment of the anti-war move ment in general. : I have one question: if the Mobilization in Washington was so "notably unsuccessful," why is there a sequel, why a Stop the Draft Week Jr., to use your own words? Doesn't this, to some ex tent, give the lie to the conclusive assessments of your two eye witness reporters to that Mobiliza tion, that the anti-war movement was dead or dying? Or perhaps this latest manifestation is only a sign of rigor mortis? You say, just as conclusively and confidently as the above two reporters, that the Stop the Draft Week is doomed to failure, that any protest on the street or sidewalk is useless. How do you know this? Have you asked those foolish people who participate in these forms of pro test what they think? Could you, in other words, make an effort, for once, to give a fair hearing to "the other side," in this case the anti war demonstrators? Do you really believe that the present policy in Viet Nam can be changed by simply recording one's opposi tion with the ballot? And for whom would you vote in 1968, if the choices were between Johnson and Nixon? or Bob Scott (after his Dunn speech) and Jim Gardner? or Sam Ervin and Sam Ervin? I seriously ask you to reconsider your assessment of the protest movement, to make an effort to give a more balanced picture of the issue, rather than writing off the whole thing as "zilch" wihout bas ing your conclusions on any documented facts. It is possible, just possible, that the "bit of good" that these protest movements are accomplishing is intangible, not to be measured quantitatively in ..terms of objective and immediately evident "results." . ' , ; Pejerfi. Gerdine Vt' rf T-'ri The Negro recruitment plan is unsound. Its implementation would do a disservice to qualified scholars, black and white, now enrolled and who will be educated here in larger numbers in the decades to come. Those promoting the Negro recruitment program undoubtedly have the highest motives and the most moral and selfless of intentions. But the effect of such a campaign, especially if it should gain substantial support, could be extremely damaging to the University. It would almost certainly become another in the long series of efforts to discredit the University, to tarnish its aims and ideals, and to divide its sup porters. Beyond that, such a cam paign could not hold out any real hope of success, or a special promise to the advantaged or dis advantaged, rich or poor, black or white. 4 f ii r
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Dec. 5, 1967, edition 1
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