Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Oct. 28, 1977, edition 1 / Page 6
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6 The Daily Tar HprI Friday October 28. 197" Greg Porter Editor Ben Cornelius, Managing Editor Ed Rankin, 'Associate Editor Lou Bilionis, Associate Editor Laura Scism, University Editor Elliott Potter, City Editor Chuck Alston, State and National Editor Sara Bullard, Features Editor Chb Ensslin, Arts Editor Gene Upchurch, Sports Editor Allen Jernigan, Photography Editor 85th year of editorial freedom letters to the editor America should encourage stand against terrorism 1-40 link a Pandora's Box Most persons fear the unknown, and perhaps the best reason local opponents cite for not building the proposed 1-40 link through Orange County is the distinct possibility that environmental damages outweigh the advantages of a new interstate highway. At a forum sponsored by Student Government Tuesday night, a state Department of Transportation (DOT) administrator even acknowledged the hazards involved in constructing a route through rural Orange and Durham counties. "Alternate 1 -B (the proposed route) is the most expensive route in terms of money and environmental impact, but we feel the benefits derived from it offset the additional cost and additional environmental impact." We doubt that many local residents would trade precious water, energy resources and damage to Duke Forest for a faster route to Raleigh or Eastern North Carolina. That basically is the return on investment confronting Orange County residents if the 1-40 link is constructed. DOT has said the primary purpose of the 1-40 link is to provide service to the people. A better way for DOT to improve the East-West corridor for this area would be to widen highways N.C. 86 and N.C. 54. DOT already plans to expand N.C. 54 to four lanes from the east end of Chapel H ill to a point where it meets the proposed 1-B corridor. The forum Tuesday night pointed out another problem with the 1-40 controversy. DOT has not held a public hearing on the 1-B route since its proposal early in the summer. The forum here, however, clearly showed that the costs of alternate 1-B could heavily outweigh the benefits. We don't want to see a Pandora's Box opened in the middle of Orange County. Racial bigotry or overspeak? The long-awaited Senate race between Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C, and a host of Democrats is heating up. Democratic frontrunner Luther Hodges received his baptism of fire Tuesday, even as Helms was singed by a charge of racial bigotry from Raleigh lawyer Hugh Cannon. Cannon, the first Democratic to announce his intention to oppose H elms, said at a press conference Tuesday that he.was leaving the race to support Hodges, whom he called "the viable candidate." Hodges was present to receive blithely Cannon's endorsement. But much to his surprise and chagrin, the fallen candidate began to tear emotionally into Helms. The situation got too hot for Hodges, who tried to dissociate himself from the vituperation by joking, "I'm just a tourist here." The next day H odges called Helms' office in Washington to make it clear he did not endorse Cannon's statements. The damage was done, however. Helms cleverly stayed above all the pettiness and at the same time linked Cannon and Hodges. "1 would want Mr. Hodges and Mr. Cannon to know that I bear them no ill will," Helms said. As it turns out, the whole episode was a political lesson in semantic derring-do. Although many Democrats may agree in heart with Cannon, all wise politicians know they must speak cautiously like Hodges. Cannon called Helms a "racial bigot," but Hodges said in more acceptable terms that Helms "does not have a good record of support of poor people black or white." Thus, all the politicians said Cannon "overspoke" himself which means he said what he thought. While all this brouhaha over Hugh Cannon's political faux pas arose, a reporter for the state's most traditionally Democratic newspaper pointed out that Helms was fighting in Congress for a measure to prohibit busing school children to achieve racial integration. Helms lost that battle in Congress, but he won a skirmish in North Carolina because one Democrat broke out of the limited dictionary of politically "viable" phrases. 1 o the editor: The West German army deserves strong words of praise for its handling of the recent hijacking of a Lufthansa passenger jet by political terrorists. Following the example set by the Israelis during the 1976 Entebbe incident, the West Germans used u commando-type raid to retake the Boeing 737. killing the hijackers on board and freeing their hostages in the process. This action by the West Germans is no longer atypical of the reception terrorists receive in many nations. Despite their idealistic claims of striving for an Utopian society, terrorist groups are recognized ' worldwide as little more than modern day barbarians. The children on board the Lufthansa jet were taken from their parents and forced to watch the plane's pilot as he was murdered brutally while begging on his hands and knees for his life. t he commando style of anti-terrorist action taken by the West Germans is discounted by many authorities as being potentially dangerous to hostages if handled by an inept attack force. Clearly, there is validity to this statement, yet the danger of taking aggressive action against terrorists vastly is outweighed by the danger of taking no action against them. We should realize that giving in to terrorists' demands will not stop these people. Rather, it will breed more of their sick species. The United States, through its role in the United Nations as well as other dip'omatic circles, needs to maintain a leadership position in the fight to eradicate political terrorism. The U.S. should help to train police and military forces throughout the world to deal aggressively with various types of terrorism. American diplomatic policy needs to be more forceful concerning international anti-terrorism laws to help preclude the escape of known felons such as Abu Daoud to countries that welcome terrorists with open arms as can be seen in Algeria and Libya. In addition, an international capital punishment agreement should be drawn up to deal with terrorists as coldly and efficiently as they deal with their victims. We should hope that many other nations will follow the examples set by Israel, West Germany. Japan and the Netherlands in dealing with terrorists. Nations should not only refuse to deal with terrorists but actively should use military tactics against them. Political terrorism is a threat to the freedom of all men and forcefully must be stopped now. Robert Wells 303 Stacy Bring back editorial freedom To the editor: To call your rebuttal of Elliot Cramer's letter ("Professor demands 'no more bullshit' on drop policy," Oct. 26) childish would be to give it undue credit. It is one thing to disagree with a reader in a formal editorial column, but to use an "Editor's Note" as a guise for debate with a reader is a shameless abuse of the editor's position. Editorial freedom is something which the DTH proudly boasts and rightly so. But Mr. Porter apparently has misunderstood its meaning. Editorial freedom allows not only the editor to give his opinions freely, but also gives the readers a forum for expression which is not subject to the whim of an editor 'AWtCHrTO tt MlfflNS, WE ANY FIND' IWCWm D VOLUMES lfoSm,aMm SMLMAKIN6 GOMfiWY HASNT DELIVERED, W M SH MEMBERS Of THE CiW HAVE MUTINIED, SIR." no nappcns to disagree with the point being made. Also, one must wonder whether Mr. Porter believes that the readers of the DTH are capable of discerning fact from "bullshit." The matronly way in which the "Editor's Note" was written seemed to indicate that Mr. Porter feels all of us need remedial help in formulating opinions about letters to the editor in the DTH. If each letter is to be accompanied by an equally lengthy rebuttal from the editor, then the editorial page of the DTH has become nothing but a propaganda sheet. Finally, when will Mr. Porter stop his name-calling and mudslinging and stick to the real issues? His attitude that those who disagree with him must be stupid is analogous to the little boy who decides to take his ball and go home. Unfortunately, one has to wade through all this to see that, on the issue of an extended drop period, Mr. Porter is right in his advocation of one. Please Mr Porter, clean up your act and allow editorial freedom to exist once again at the DTH. Kevin Barris Department of Biochemistry Affirmative discrimination To the editor: Having spent four years at a liberal northeastern institution of higher learning I am accustomed to the flow ol liberal diatribe emanating from the sheltered halls of academe. Consequently, it was with nostalgic interest that 1 read the article by Roger Lancaster ("Bakke victory would be loss for all minorities") in the Oct. 7 issue of the Daily Tar Heel. Mr. Lancaster's very pointed remarks about the impact of the Bakke case on blacks, women and gays left me feeling rather nauseous; even though I tried very hard to convince myself that it did not warrant a reply my better judgment overcame my initial tendency toward apathy. Mr. Lancaster seems to be overly concerned about the failure by supporters of reverse discrimination to define this "racist and reactionary" concept. How is it that the liberal thinkers in this country, who are capable of conceptualizing something as nebulous as "affirmative action," are unable to understand a term as "complex" as reverse discrimination? Why is so much time spent attacking reverse discrimination and its supporters? Could it be that our well meaning liberal supporters of affirmative action have failed to take the time to define clearly the concept which they support? Heaven forbid! Tell me, Mr. .Lancaster, What is affirmative action? How do we put such a plan into operation without violating the constitutional rights of other U.S. citizens? I am curious as to the mechanics of such a system. Desegregation and the racial problem in general have been brought further along during the last 30 years than would have seemed possible prior to 1950. Steps, but no great leaps, were taken to ensure that the constitutional rights of blacks and other minorities were not violated. But not content to stop there, our judiciary proceeded to hand down a series of rulings which on the surface appeared aimed at making up for "two centuries of slavery and racial discrimination." In reality, however, the courts were playing a game of discrimination bingo. All that was changed was the group being discriminated against, white anglos for blacks. If this is progress then I want no part of it. Anytime the law of the land is not administered impartially individual rights are violated and there is legitimate cause for concern. In Mr. Bakke's case the law is not being administered impartially, and unless the supporters of "affirmative action" are prepared to amend or rewrite the U.S. Constitution, their concept and programs are in direct violation of the law. Really, Mr. Lancaster, have the decency not to insult my intelligence by calling the concept you support "affirmative action." "Affirmative discrimination" would be much more appropriate. Jack E. Karns Class of '73 Syracuse University Fancy envelopes To the editor: At the CGC budget hearings last semester, the Yackety Yack, along with other publications, lamented over the rising costs of printing. 1 sympathize with their budgeting problems problems common to every campus organization as well as every individual. What 1 don't understand is why the Yack spent its funds paying postage to send out printed letters with stationery-type return envelopes to all students soliciting buyers for next year's yearbook. First, most students know where they can order a yearbook if they want to. Secondly, the portraits being taken this week have been publicized adequately so, if students want their pictures taken, they'll get their pictures taken. Lastly, a question that I've often heard echoed is: why should I buy next year's yearbook when I haven't gotten this year's yet? Betsy Koerber 210 Aycock The Daily Tar Heel welcomes contributions and letters to the editor, l etters must be signed, typed on a 60 space line, double-spaced and must be accompanied by a return address, l etters chosen for publication are subject to editing. 'Happy Warrior Hubert Humphrey returns to his favorite battleground The Happy Warrior returned to the Capitol City this week. After undergoing a two-month battle against inoperable pelvic cancer, Sen. Hubert Humphrey, D-Minn., came back Sunday to the place he loves most Washington. President Carter, who was on his way back from a three-day western tour, stopped in M inneapolis, just long enough to provide the Air Force One taxi service for Humphrey. Carter, who called Humphrey "the greatest. American 1 know," said later that. as a "small gesture" he would sign a bill naming the headquarters of the Health, Education and Welfare Department after Humphrey. Humphrey had not been in Washington since undergoing an operation in August which disclosed an inoperable cancer tumor. But H umphrey, never one to turn in the face of battle, told an airport crowd, "1 feel mighty good," despite his pale appearance from chemo therapy treatment. And amid the emotional displays of a welcome home, Humphrey returned to the Senate Tuesday, the battleground he knows the best. "Today is a very special day in my life," he told his colleagues. "The greatest gift in life is the gift of friendship and 1 have received it, and the greatest healer there is is the friendship of love." Humphrey, 66, vowed that he would help Carter ratify the Panama Canal treaty and pass energy legislation. A proposal to put an end to "double dipping," the practice by which federal employees who have worked other jobs accrue both Social Security and federal retirement benefits, failed Wednesday on the House floor. As part of a bill designed to shore up the financially frail Social Security system, the proposal would have required six million federal, state and local government employees and employees of non-profit organizations to join the Social Security system in 1982. While most state and local government employees are already under Social Security, almost all federal employees are outside the system unless they have worked another job. Supporters argued that the additional revenue was needed to finance the system, that many local pension plans are underfunded and unreliable and that the bill would eliminate double-dipping. Instead, the House passed an amendment to the bill calling for a feasibility study, thus postponing any further action until the study is completed in 1980. Testifying before a House subcommittee on the environment, a spokesperson for the New York Port Authority (NY PA) said Wednesday that the supersonic Concorde has stayed well within permissible noise levels while landing at Kennedy Airport. THE WEEK BY CHUCK ALSTON But Joseph Lesser, the NYPA's assistant general counsel, said that new noise levels may be established, making it tougher on the Concorde. In addition. Lesser testified that vibrations have been a major problem with the experimental flights. Lesser said the vibration levels of the Concorde are five times greater than any other commercial aircraft, thus rattling dishes in homes surrounding the airport. While no vibration levels have been set, Lesser said the NYPA may set vibration standards when it rewrites its regulations. I he Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was plunged into further controversy this week as the House judiciary subcommittee began moves to determine if the time allowed for ratification can be extended by seven years. Seeking to clarify the issue, the subcommittee began moves to determine if the time allowed for ratification can be extended by seven years. Seeking to clarify the issue, the subcommittee scheduled hearings for next week and invited the Justice Department and legal experts to give opinions. The issue arose as the result of a bill introduced last week by Rep. Elizabeth Holt7man, D-N.Y., who complained of "stalling strategics" by opponents. The study being prepared by the Justice Department has been underway for sometime. though, as President Carter previously ordered an opinion. The deadline for ratification of the ERA is March 22, 1979, and there is no precedent as to whether an extension on the seven-year limit may be granted. Thus far, 35 of the needed 38 states have ratitied the amendment, which would become the 27th amendment to the Constitution. Remember 30-year-old Buddy Cochran, the Americus, Ga., mechanic who smashed his sports car into & Ku Klux Klan rally on July 2? His name made its way into the headlines once i.gain on Tuesday when a Sumter County, Ga., jury convicted him of eight counts of aggravated assault. Cochran, who injured about 30 persons when he slammed his car into the speaker's stand at the KKK rally, faces sentences totaling up to 80 years. Cochran's defense centered around arguments that an intense hatred for racism and the KKK, which grew out of his Vietnam War experiences, had resulted in his action. The prosecution countered that Cochran was drunk when he went to the rally and "was looking for trouble, and when he couldn't find any, he created it himself." But Cochran's troubles are not over. Several of the injured spectators at the rally have filed civil suits against him, asking over S 1 .2 million in damages. Representatives of organized labor began mapping out strategy Tuesday to shorten the work week for the first time since the New Deal. Officials of the United Steelworkers, United Mine Workers, Retail Workers, Electrical Workers and Longshoremen unions were among those present at the meeting in Detroit, Mich., which was sponsored by the United Auto Workers local. The representatives listened to the local president, Frank Runnels, describe the shorter work week as a necessity due to the failure of government unemployment compensation, food stamps and welfare to stem unemployment. "It is our position that it would be cheaper to employ these people than to pay for their unemployment," Runnels said. The 40-hour w ork week was established w ith the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. which also established the minimum wane. not mowing Anv eemfc, ?itTct& Always VOLUHTWj) to gather the mail rdr the rtPTEOflfXOGICAl, FORECAST CNTR . . . If folklore is to be believed, the woolly worm can predict the severity of an oncoming winter. While the woolly worm doesn't issue up-to-the-minute bulletins, the careful observer, as the legend has it, can predict the winter's severity by studying the colored bands on the worm. Students at Appalachian State University arc doing just that for the third year in a row, it was announced this week. In a massive effort to further scientific knowledge, ASU said that they want people to send the woollies to them to aid in the research. The woolly worm, which is the caterpillar stage of the tiger moth, is said to be affected by temperature, humidity and rainfall. The students want to find out if the factors which are said to relate the worm's color also affect the severity of the winter. After studying 623 of the worms last year, the school issued a prediction that was somewhat off. But you can bet that soon enough the students will be looking to see if the bands are a dark brown the sign of a mild winter. C huck Alston, a junior political science major from Greensboro, N.C, is state and national editor for the Dailv Tar Heel.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Oct. 28, 1977, edition 1
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