o
jSThe Daily Tar HeelFriday. September 9. 1983
Funeral for a forgotten friend-
jejr 0 editorial freedom
Kerry DeRochi,
Alison Davis, Managing Editor
LISA PULLEN, University Editor
Christine Manuel, state and National Editor
MIKE DeSISTI, Sports Editor
BILL RIEDY, News Editor
Legal losers
For criminal trials, the state will bear the expense of legal counsel for
those who cannot afford a private attorney. But for noncriminal court
proceedings, the government's only assistance exists in the form of the
Legal Services Corp. Last week, however, that floundering agency issued
new, more stringent guidelines which sadly demonstrate the toll President
Reagan's frugal policies have taken on the poor.
The Legal Services, a federally-funded agency which makes lawyers
available to low-income persons, has three times withstood the Reagan
administration's attempts to abolish it. With the backing of Congress, the
agency has managed to survive, but its strength has been exhausted. It
suffered a 25 percent budget cut in 1982. At present, the maximum an
nual income allowed a family of three requesting assistance stands at
$10,275 a figure which has clearly denied assistance to people who can
not afford private legal representation.
The new guidelines established by the agency last week are especially
disturbing. An amendment to former policy states that "an otherwise
eligible individual" may be denied legal assistance if he or she has more
than $15,000 equity in a home. This stipulation would hit especially hard
on the elderly, who bought homes years ago but may have little present
income. .
The other major alteration to Legal Services policy states that the agen
cy must include government financial assistance, such as welfare and
Social Security, when tabulating the income of a potential recipient of
legal assistance. Not only will this change penalize those individuals the
government is aiding in other areas, but it also will short-change the elder
ly and the handicapped.
These last-resort amendments are not the fault of the Legal Services
Corp.; the agency is rnerely attempting to make certain that its severely
limited funds go to the neediest recipients. But these changes in policy are
nonetheless unacceptable. They target some individuals more than others,
and they deny the benefit of noncriminal legal representation to many
who require it.
The policy changes are not scheduled to go into effect until Sept. 28.
There is time for both the voicing of public concern and appeals to Con
gress to alter the rules through legislation. But the real problem lies in the
insufficient funds of Legal Services. Congress has kept the agency alive,
but it must allocate additional funds to make the organization's work
worthwhile. The lifeblood has been drained from Legal Services, which
has been forced to respond with unjust, partisan guidelines. If the United
States is truly a land where justice for all and not simply justice for
those who can afford it prevails, the Legal Services Corp. must be re
stored to a position of greater consequence.
Don't cry wolf
.What does James Watt have against gray wolves? They are not like
American: Indians, who Watt described as an example of the "failures of
socialism." They have yet to be compared with Nazis, as Watt has done
various environmental groups. Perhaps, like the Beach Boys, they attract
the "wrong element"?
No, the wolves' crime lies in their struggle to survive. Watt's depart
ment has decided to allow the trapping of gray wolves even though there
are only 1,200 left in the lower 48 states. Watt and his cronies claim the
wolves have shown they can survive whether or not they are protected.
But wildlife experts disagree. Members of 14 conservation groups have
called the government's reasoning "the most fallacious argument we have
ever encountered," and have filed suit to block the new rules, which are
to take effect Oct. 11. "The secretary has gone bonkers," Gaylord
Nelson, chairman of the Wilderness Society, said. "It's time the white
coat people took him away."
Watt's new rules will allow trappers to kill any wolf, including a
cub. One of Watt's henchmen justified the action saying that "the species
size is to some extent self-regulating," and that up to 50 percent of the
wolves in Minnesota could be "harvested" without adversely affecting
their population.
Wilderness fans, sun worshippers, and nature and animal lovers really
shouldn't be surprised by such decisions. After all, this is coming from a
man who used similar reasoning to divide his countrymen into "liberals
and Americans." As a spokesman for the National Congress of
American Indians put it earlier this year, "Mr. Watt has offended
everybody." Unfortunately, it appears Watt wants to arbitrarily
eliminate the wolves just as he wants to arbitrarily eliminate wilderness
areas from federal protection and the Beach Boys from July 4th
celebrations.
THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Reagan uses restraint,
By KELLY SIMMONS
President Reagan has shocked many
Republicans and pleased most congres
sional Democrats with his restraint in im
posing sanctions against the Soviet Union
for shooting down a Korean airliner last
week. At least 269 people died in the inci
dent. Instead of canceling arms negotiations
and nullifying grain agreements with the
Russians, Reagan stressed the need for ad
ditional air safety precautions in order to
prevent further disasters. He also called
strongly for a Soviet apology.
Reagan's language was tough. He called
the Soviets "barbaric" and the attack a
"Korean Air Massacre," but the presi
dent's actions were soft. Republicans, in
cluding Sen. Jesse Helms, labeled
Reagan's response much too lenient.
Richard A. Viguerie, publisher of Conser
vative Digest, said Reagan was like Teddy
Roosevelt in reverse: "He speaks softly
and carries a big twig."
Maybe so, but Reagan delighted mem
bers of the "enemy" Democratic party
with his response. Sen. Gary Hart,
D-Colo., praised the reaction as the best
thing for the American people.
The Soviets finally admitted Tuesday to
shooting down the plane, an action they,
had denied since last week when the inci
dent occurred. But their claim now is that
they were convinced the Korean plane was
a U.S. spy plane, and they are placing the
Jeff Hiday, ,400 &
John Conway, aty Editor
KARENflSHEK. Features Editor
Jeff Grove, Am Editor
Charles W. Ledford, photography Editor
responsibility of the tragedy on the United
States.
Soviet Ambassador Oleg A. Troyanov
sky told the United Nations Security
Council this week that it was "a lengthy,
gross and obviously pre-planned violation
of the airspace of the Soviet Union."
More Marines killed
Two U.S. Marines were killed and three
wounded in Lebanon this week during
general fighting between the Christians
and Druse militias. In the 34 hours before
that, 148 people were killed.
The casualty toll now stands at 247 kill
ed and 628 wounded since the Israelis left
the area Sunday.
The Marines at the Beirut airport re
portedly spent much of the day under con
dition one the heaviest alert and
returned fire at one point.
Major Robert Jordan said the Marine
camp was hit both from the South and
from near Bourj el-Barajneh to the North
east. The shells were directed in such a way
that it was clear the target was the
American camp.
About 1,2000 Marines are in Lebanon
as a part of the multinational peacekeeping
force, and 2,000 more are expected to ar
rive later this week.
Larry Speakes, President Reagan's
spokesman, said he thinks the Syrians
should know that the United States has
enough power offshore and they should be
careful in instigating violence.
Also this week, U.S. presidential envoy
By FRANK BRUNI
According to Gandhi, the willing
sacrifice of the innocent is the most
powerful answer to insolent tyran
ny ...
Benigno Aquino in a pre-written
statement he had planned to read upon
his August arrival in the Philippines.
The insolent tyranny assumed the
form of martial law under the regime
of Philippine President Ferdinand
Marcos; the innocent man was Aquino
himself; the willing sacrifice was his re
turn from self-imposef exile to his na
tive islands with full knowledge of the
threat posed to his life.
Benigno Aquino always stood for
democracy, the eccentric but exemplary
brand of democracy which not too long
ago flourished in the Philippines. His
commitment to human rights never fal
tered and always attracted followers
among his fellow citizens. That is why,
after imposing martial law upon the
Philippines in 1972, President Marcos
accused Aquino of numerous out
landish crimes and silenced him with
imprisonment. That is why, after being
allowed to travel to the United States
three years ago for heart surgery,
Aquino chose to remain here tempor
arily in exile.
But why, when President Marcos so
flagrantly violated the rights of Philip
pines 11 years ago, did the United
States remain relatively reticent? Why
did Vice-President George Bush, upon
his visit to Manila two years ago, toast
President Marcos' "adherence to
democratic principles"? And why did
President Reagan so graciously enter
tain Marcos' visit to Washington last
September, only one month after Mar
cos had begun arresting labor leaders in
an attempt to silence political dissi
dents? The answers lie in the anti-communist
attitudes and militarism of the
United States. Our ideological war
against communism, which has precipi
tated a frightening attention to military
strength, pays no attention to the vast
distinctions between communist parties
in different countries. Yes, the Soviet
Union's particular brand of aggressive
communism must be monitored close
ly. And, yes, a certain degree of
military strength is integral to the de
fense of our country's democratic prin
ciples. But where should our govern
ment draw the line when its ideological
and military concerns ignore the in
justice inflicted upon the citizens of one
of its strongest allies?
In relation to the Philippines, the line
was not indeed, has not been
drawn soon enough. The horrifying re
sults include the much wasted life of
Benigno Aquino and the current tur
moil and internal dissent which threat
en the stability of the Philippines.
To the editor:
Dante was right. The root of all politics
is power. And the ultimate weapon is using
appearances to ingratiate yourself through
false promises and hypocrisy. In the '80s it
is President Reagan who is the master
seducer. After conceding to his top aides
and advisers that there is another sex out
there (and they do have the right to vote),
he has been actively courting them. Ken
Mingis' editorial column of last weak,
"Reagan's re-election nemesis," (DTH,
Sept. 2) brilliantly showed several exam
ples of Reagan's recent and embarrassing
Soviets blame U.S.
Robert C. McFarlane went to Syria to try
to convince the president there to get the
Druse to accept a cease-fire.
Night flight
The first-ever night landing of the space
shuttle Challenger went smoothly early
Monday morning, ending a highly suc
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Tale of two leaders
Benigno Aquino was bom a politi
cian. His ebullient, charismatic charac-.
ter served him well in his assent to
political prominence in the Philippines,
where he had served as mayor, gover
nor and senator by the age of 34.
But his contributions to Philippine
politics were to be short-lived. Rivaling
Aquino's political pursuits was Ferdi
nand Marcos, a man whose lust for
power and shrewd methods ultimately
disgraced Philippine democracy.
In 1965, Marcos was elected presi
dent, and he repeated this victory in
1969. But as 1973 approached, he
sought constitutional changes that
would allow him at least one more term
as president. He succeeded in securing
an indefinite term as president by de
claring martial law in September, 1972.
He then threw Aquino into a military
prison.
Marcos' authoritarian government
drastically altered the face of Philippine
society. The military was transformed
into a crucial guardian of Marcos' poli
tical power, the press was rendered im
potent, and the economy was crippled
severely by blatantly partisan govern
ment intervention.
During his eight years of imprison
ment, Aquino was able to observe none
of this. But after his exile to the United
States in 1980, Aquino became acutely
aware of the situation in the Philip
pines. Months ago he decided it was
time to return to his homeland, where
he would attempt to redeem Philippine
democracy.
Despite warnings from Philippine
leaders and pleas from his family to re
main safely in the United States, he was
determined to return.
He told the reporters who accom
panied him on his flight to Manila that
he was aware of the threat posed by his
political foes in the Philippines. He
conceded that this flight might ulti
mately be the last opportunity for jour
nalists to interview him.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The Gender Gap can 't be ignored
failures (Barbara Honegger, the interna
tional women's group).
Women, like an increasing number of
blacks, have seen that the only way to
wield any authority is through their right
to vote. The fact that in 1984 women will
probably exercise this right (and for the
most part against Reagan) must surely be
sending shivers through the White House.
Yet every time Reagan tries to rectify
himself, it results only in blundering in
sincerity. More shivers.
The importance of this evolving role has
received a lot of press, and the fun has just
cessful six-day orbit.
The crew included the first black
American in space, Guion Bluford, and
the oldest person ever to fly in space, Dr.
William Thornton, 54. Thornton, a North
Carolina native, conducted tests on space
air sickness during the flight.
Lt. Gen. James A. Abrahamson, direc
tor of the shuttle program, called this mis
sion the cleanest one yet, and the
Challenger is expected to head back to the
PearMnQndropov,
His prophecy of doom was fulfilled.
Within minutes after the plane's land
ing in Manila, Benigno Aquino lay on
the tarmac in a pool of blood flowing
from three bullet wounds in the back of
his head.
The aftermath of U.S.
self-interest
Shrouded in speculations about a
possible execution order from someone
within the Marcos regime, the assassi
nation of Benigno Aquino has cast
shadows of suspicion upon the already
waning credibility of Marcos' govern
ment. Aquino's martyrdom has been
the impetus for worldwide reflections
concerning the plight of Philippine
society. With leftist Philippine coali
tions like the New People's Army con
tinually growing stronger and human
rights at their nadir, Marcos' military
dictatorship is being scrutinized more
harshly than ever. Appalled observers
throughout the world are wondering
how the degeneration of Philippine
democracy occurred so swiftly and es
caped the notice or concerned efforts
of other countries.
Much of the responsibility rests with
the United States. Since we made the
Philippines a U.S. colony in 1898, we
have fancied ourselves guardians of the
islands' well-being. When we suffered
88,487 casualties in protecting the
islands from Japan during World War
II, we waved the banner of democracy.
And when we granted the Philippines
independence in 1946, we took pride in
the emerging democracy of our former
colony.
But U.S. interest in the Philippines is
now motivated by forces much greater
than mere nostalgia for a former col
ony. Both Clark Field Air Base and
Subic Bay Naval Base, the United
States' largest military installations in
Asia and integral passageways to the
Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf, lie
northwest of Manila. The United States
begun. The showdown will be next year's
election. Or, it may well be a contributing
factor in deciding not to run again.
I am certainly not suggesting the ridi
culous idea that men are intrinsically
chauvinistic or that all registered women
will vote against Reagan, (for conservative
Republican women are also a strong poli
tical force), but feminists and closet
feminists alike are gleefully acknowledging
that, should more women vote, the tide
may be turned against Reagan.
I have certainly noticed, and, fortunate
ly, so have many men, how a huge percen
launch pad soon.
The mission was not only to test the
Challenger's performance during a night
take-off and landing, but also to deploy a
communications-weather satellite for In
dia. Besides Bluford and Thornton,
astronauts on the flight were Dale A.
Gardner, Daniel C. Brandenstein and
Richard H. Truly, commander of the mis
sion. Mandatory clamps
Most students don't have to worry
about the lawn and garden watering
restrictions (only between 4 p.m. and 8
p.m.), but a few other water conservation
rules are going to affect on-campus
residents as well as other inhabitants of
Orange County.
The Orange County Water and Sewer
Authority Tuesday requested mandatory
restrictions on water use. Both Chapel Hill
Mayor Joe Nassif and Carrboro Mayor
Robert Drakeford approved the conserva
tion effort.
OWASA can request the restrictions
when the water level at University Lake
falls to 48 inches below full. Tuesday the
lake was 49'2 inches below full.
Besides having limited watering times,
residents are forbidden to wash their cars
with OWASA-provided water, to use
water-cooled air conditioners except for
perceives its military investment in the
Philippines so important that its
planned military and economic aid to
the Marcos government over the next
five years neared $10 million.
Yet the American press and public
have given little attention in the past
years to the Filipino people's struggle
for the restoration of democracy. The
United States often seemed too busy
paying attention to the issue of human
rights in countries like Poland and El
Salvador, where the source of the
threat ostensibly wore the color red. In
light of our ignorance concerning the
plight of the Philippines, where an indi
genous brand of communism may be
the most likely alternative to the injus
tices under Marcos, our country's in
volvements in Central America seem
little more than anti-communist hys
teria. Perhaps it is military prominence,
not human rights, with which the
United States primarily concerns itself.
Perhaps our government is willing to
tolerate the rape of human rights just
so long as our military investments re
main safe. And perhaps our self-proclaimed
altruism toward the citizens of
Central America is only a well-veiled
attempt to protect the home turf.
Washington has not disrupted its re
lations with the Marcos regime since
Aquino's assassination, nor has Presi
dent Reagan cancelled his scheduled
November visit to the Philippines.
While such ah immediate response to
still unproven allegations of Marcos'
involvement in the slaying of Aquino is
prudently unassuming, Reagan and his
predecessors in the White House can
and should be blamed for the degen
erate Philippine society which allowed
Aquino's death.
The bitter lesson
One of the many motivations behind
Aquino's decision to end his exile was
his perception of United States insensi
tivity toward the plight of the Philip
pines. He had hoped that some support
from the U.S. government might give
him the diplomatic leverage to forceful
ly represent the views of his oppressed
people. His hope proved futile.
The United States does indeed need
to concern itself with its military de
fense and the threat of the Soviet
Union. But more importantly, we must
recognize both the rights of human be
ings throughout the world and the var
ious applications of communism. Our
embarrassing failure in the Philippines,
a failure which threatens to make all
our efforts toward democracy else
where in the world seem hypocritical,
has resulted in tragedy for a great
leader and the people he might have
helped.
Frank Bruni, a sophomore political
science major from A von, Conn., is an
editorial writer for The Daily Tar Heel.
tage of women (the overwhelming majori
ty of whom are on the lower end of the
pay scale) have been painfully affected by
Reaganomics and its unrealistic notions
and assumptions. Reagan has been dream
ing contentedly, and many (aides and cer
tainly the press) have tried to prod him
before his nightmare starts. Wake up,
Ronny, the gender gap can't be ignored.
Jennifer Keller
Hinton-James
health or safety purposes, or to add water
to swimming pools beyond the level need
ed to operate the facility. Water will not be
served in Orange County restaurants ex
cept by request.
Students are expected to comply with
the restrictions, and OWASA said it ex
pects to have no problems with the Univer
sity. Too hot to handle
Besides causing serious water problems
in the area, the dry weather and heat are
generating other inconveniences.
Children at one Chapel Hill school, as
well as others around the state, have been
getting afternoon vacations from school
this week because of the extremely high
temperatures. Some Chapel Hill students
have been spotted around town and cam
pus as early as 1 p.m. that's when
they've been dismissed four days this
week.
Temperatures, which have been in the
upper 90s, are expected to remain in the
90s through the weekend.
The heat has been an annoyance to Uni
versity students living in dormitories, also.
Thank goodness we're having classes
they're the only cool spots on campus.
Kelly Simmons, a junior journalism ma
jor from Reidsville, is an editorial writer
for The Daily Tar Heel.