Editorials September 16, 1993 Page 2 Viewpoint A Call To Arms Generation X- a.k.a slackers. Face it, you, me all of us ( the twenty-nothings) are all for the most part, lackadaisical intellect known as Generation X. And because we are such a diverse generation, the media has branded our hides like a herd of cattle with the term “Generation X, the lost youth”. Sociologist and psychologist all over are trying to determine what makes our generation the way it is. The answer is simple; do what we always do, blame it on the media. That’s right, it’s the medias fault, The way television and newspapers glorified the ‘80s is the reasoning behind our “slackness”. Think back to the 80s. It was an exciting time. No, really it was Everything was changing: the economy, politics, entertainment, music technology. We saw the first Space Shuttle launched into the final frontier and we were shocked as we watched NASA’s first disaster live from our classrooms. In politics, a retired, washed up, actor took the biggest role in his career, as President of the United States. For the most part, 01’ Ron played a convincing role. He was always full of humor, and he even starred in his own action series; his attempted assination. The entertainment thrived throughout the 80s. Sitcoms laughed us to sleep each night. Arnold Drummond talked out his problems with his fish Abraham; Blair and Joe fought endlessly, while Mrs. G straightened things out; and Alex P. Keaton exemplified the perfect mentality of the ‘80s-make money and lots of it. The music of the ‘80s was outstanding, way ahead of it’s time Music television (Mtv) exploded onto the scene like an Atom Bomb and our generation was hooked like heroin addicts. We all ran home to watch the latest Duran Duran video for the 100th time. Rap music stormed out of the streets and onto the big time, Mtv Run D.M.C., LL Cool J. and the Beastie Boys help launch rap into households across America. Ah, yes; the ‘80s were a time of hope. Benefit albums and concerts brought together nations in need. Farm AID, USA for Africa. See Arms, Page 8 The Pendulum Serving the Elon College community Editor Tonya Taylor Managing Editor Erick Gill Asst. Managing Editor Sheila Kendall Arts Editor Lori Haley Sports Editor Scott Hildebrand Photographer Bill Harvey Reporters Matt Ball Tandie Ebrahimi Tara Ann Graytock Ashley Stone Advertising Rob Mancuso Sarah Mitchell Adviser Joey vSenat Office 102 Williartson Ave. Elon College, NC 27244 VUC>OStAV/A YU&oing^lAvia VUGO/MGSi-AV/A YUC>OODniD0ANCkSL WA T>C QJ^^LO P>3?’S FPREIGN POLICY... WHAT? Whether it is a policy born out of ignprance, no spine (The Jimmy Caj;ter syndrome), or just plain incompetence, the voting public will never know the truth about the inner workings of the Clinton foreign policy. Last fall we heard the same tired story about how the Clinton/Gore team was going to revitalize America and make America a happier place. His mastery of economic issues was going to lead America to the world’s forefront and end poverty. Fine and dandy... well, except for the fact that his economic plan is awful. But I digress. One thing that the American public apparently forgot when they cast their ballots last November wasn’t that they were voting for our economic savior (not!) but that they were voting for the most powerful man in the world. Yes, that’s right folks, Bill Clinton is the most powerful man in the world. 1 will use two examples to illustrate why you should be pining away for the “safety” of the threat of mutually assured destruction (MAD). Teddy Roosevelt once said in regards to his approach on foreign policy, “talk softly and carry a big slick.” President Clinton has Scott Miller ii He (Clinton) joins every Democrat this century at being really bad at foreign policy, with the possible ex ception of Harry Truman.^ managed to twist that maxim around and warp it as much as humanly possible. During the campaign he began the talk of using air strikes and lifting the arms embargo to enable the Muslims that arc being slaughtered by the Serbs in the former Yugoslavia to defend themselves. Okay, so we can forgive the ramblings of a governor of a small Southern state who knows little or nothing about foreign policy. But, even as president a few months back he was threatening air strikes against the Serbians. The New York Times reported that we were within 10 days of starting strikes near the beginning of the year. Serbian leaders must have been pulling their hair out. Then... nothing! Secretary of State Christopher informed the press that this was a “centuries old conflict that we were doing everything that was within our national interests to solve.” Oops! Sorry Muslims! When that happened tyrants around the world from Cuba to Iran to Nortli Korea started scribbling notes on their notepad, “Hmm, American president talks big but is really a big wimp.” He joins every Democrat this century at being really bad at foreign policy with the possible exception of Harry Truman. Now, some of you are scratching your heads and saying, “didn’t he just beat the heck out of Iraq a few months back?” Yeah, you’re right. He was really tough about it; he sent a bunch of Cruise missiles in the dead of night to Baghdad and aivcrely damaged the ability of Iraq to conduct terrorist See Policy, Page ^

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