PAGE 2
ROTC Prof and Student
Counter Editorial
. . . . . . This does not mean
that you are war managers. On
the contrary the Soldier, above
all people, prays for peace, for he
must suffer and bear the deepest
wounds and scars of war. But
always in our ears ring the
ominous words of PLATO, that
wisest of philosophers; Only the
dead have seen the end of war."
After reading the Behrens
Collegian and speaking with
certain students there seems to
be a misunderstanding as to what
ROTC is and what the U.S. Army
does. We in the ROTC depart
ment take it personally when we
are accused of being war
mongers, pro-war advocates,
baby killers of hawks. We take it
personally, especially when it is
based on cliche and ignorance.
For those who are interested in
the facts, the President of the
United States is the Supreme
Commander of the United States
Armed Forces. The President
and Congress (all given their
offices by the voting public)
determine American foreign
policies and commitments and
order the military forces of
America to war when they deem
it necessary. It was not the
American Army that got
America involved in Vietnam, it
was an American president. It
was not the U.S. Army that got
America involved in World War
H, it was a president and
Congress . One of the wonders of
American democracy is the idea
Student Claims God Is
Displeased With U.S.
Dear Editor:
I remember as a young boy
how prpud,Lwas of our - country. I
would read my little history book
and marvel at the prosperity and
greatness of America. I couldn't
figure out, though, why America
was so great and yet so young. It
grew from a handful of colonies
to the most powerful nation on the
face of the earth. This country
was founded - men - who -
dedicated it to God and He was
pleased that our forefathers had
honored Him in this way. Be
opened up the gates of Heaven
and poured forth a mighty
blessing on us. America soon
became the world's number one
food-producer _ and great in
ventions and discoveries made
everyday life much simpler. Our
military power became so im
pressive that our enemies began
to shake in their boots at the
mention of the United States. But
why are they laughing at us now?
It's simple. God is displeased
with the United States because as
a nation we have turned away
from Him. The Bible says that,
"God's wrath is revealed coming
down from heaven upon all the
sin and evil of men whose evil
ways prevents the truth from
being known." God punishes
them because what man can
know about God is plain to them.
God Himself made it plain to
them. Ever since God created the
world, His invisible qualities,
both His eternal power and His
divine nature, have been clearly
seen. Men can perceive them in
the things that God has made
LIBERTY - flazil• WEST ME PLAZA • 9 7.1 i $TaT& JTREE T
TI4V AD WORTH sx.4o c)FF
NV REG PRICE 1.8 1 OR THE itr bSTocK• EVIRES *lBO
of "Civilian Control of the
Military." If you study American
government you will realize
that concept exists. The
mission of the U.S. Army is to
"Support and defend the con
stitution of the United States
against all enemies, foreign and
domestic." We can not hide or
attempt to hide from the idea that
to do that mission it may mean
war and killing. So therefore the
Army must be trained to do that
job.
To think that war is avoidable
and that man will live in perfect
harmony with each other is a
beautiful ideal. To think that the
rest of the world will lay down
their weapons and live in peace is
a noble myth. Man has fought
with each other since the
beginning of time and man has
not as yet evolved to the point
where warfare will never exist.
The "War" in northern. Ireland is
a "War" between Protestant and
Catholic; the "Wars" fought in
the middle east were "wars"
between Jew and Arab; Shiite
Moslems are killing Sunni
Moslems in Iran; Rhodesian and
South African Whites are killing
Rhodesian and South African
Blacks and America has been the
scene of "wars" between dif
fering factions since before the
American Revolution. When the
people of the world can end
prejudice, form the perfect
government, end greed, agree
on a common religion, have
(creation). So they have no ex
cuse at all! They know God, but
they do - not give Him the honor
that belongs to Him, nor do
they thank Him. Instead, their
thoughts have become complete
nonsense and their empty minds
are filled with darkness. "And
seeking to become wise they have
become fools." (Romans 1:18-
22).
The highest court in our land
has made two decisions which
have greatly angered God. It
has ruled that a baby in its
mother's womb is not alive, and
that prayer must be eliminated
from our classrooms. Since these
decisions, God's wrath has been
poured out upon this country in
many ways. Crime has increased
at an alarming rate of 330 per
cent. One half of our marriages:
today end in divorce. For the first
time in our history, we have lost a
war and we are no longer the
world's leading military power.
Foreign banks laugh at our dollar
which once was highly respected.
Homosexuality, drugs, alcohol
and VD problems are ap
proaching epidemic proportions
and some are pushing to have the
"In God We Trust" motto
removed from our currency.
It is time that each of us
restored our relationship with
God. The Bible says if we "Draw
near to God, He will draw near to
us." (James 4:8). Let's do it! We
can be-reconciled to God and can
have peace with Him through the
Lord Jesus Christ. God is so holy
Continued on page .3
economic equality and learn to
love one another we will, at that
point, hopefully end all war or
ideas of war.
My purpose in writing the last
editorial (Collegian 20 March,
1980) was to get Behrend
Students thinking about draft
registration because draft
registration will affect all of you.
A-draft, not registration, affected
me during my college days. This
is an election year and one of our
rights is that privilege to vote for
a candidate of our choice who we
hope will help us keep our per
sonal rights, keep us com
fortable and keep us out of war.
Not to use that voting right is an
A participant's view. .
Since none of the student body
were around during the Japanese
attack on Pearl Harbor, we
cannot but shudder to think
where we would be today if, in
stead of retaliating and becoming
a participant in WWII: we had
sent an army of negotiators to
Tokyo. How naive can Mr.
Englert be to think that any
nation can remain strong and
free by teaching peace and
negotiation and by not having a
strong military? How effective
have all the negotiations been in
freeing the US hostages in
Tehran? Negotiations, the
mutual discussion and
arrangement of the terms of an
agreement, is rarely effective if
Campus professor
for a return to activism
To the Editor:
An article in your April 3 issue
concerning the ROTC included
these sentences: "There's been a
big change on College campuses
in the last 10 to 12 years. The
turbulence of the '6o's is all but
gone and it's been replaced by a
calmer, more serious student
attitude." Casual statements like
these need to be challenged.
The student movements of the
1960's involved highly serious
confrontations with issues on
many levels of our experience,
issues of personal integrity,
social justice and international
peace. The demonstrations and,
even riots that took place on
campuses attracted some light
headed rabble-rousers and
protesters-for-protest's sake,
but at the core of them was a
conviction shared by many
people of the student generation
that changes in American life
could and should be made. And
student action produced results.
The Black Civil Rights
Movement would not have moved
as far or as fast as it did if
students had not worked and died
for it.
More young people would have
died uselessly in Vietnam if
students had not demonstrated
against the war.
The degree of personal and
sexual freedom that is almost
conventional today was
established by students who were
prepared to defy convention in
the '6o's. More women would be
suffering job discrimination
today if the '6o's students had no
atmosphere of liberalism in
which the women's movement
injustice to yourself, your
family, to your beliefs and to
America.
To write an article in a college
newspaper that is not based on
facts and strictly emotion is an
injustice to college students. If
you have questions about
Economics you should go to an
economics professor. If you have
a question about math, you
should go to a math professor. If
you have an English question you
should go to an English professor.
If you have any questions about
The Army or ROTC why not ask
an ROTC professor. I encourage
everyone to take a ROTC course
and base any decisions for or
it is only one-sided.
Random House defines a
warmonger as "a person who
advocates, wants, or tries to
precipitate war." To say that the
ROTC program is one of war
mongering is just plain stupid.
Think for a minute. Who will be
among the first to go? The ROTC
cadre themselves! I think I can
understand Mr. Englert's not
wanting to go to war, but thank
goodness they and other young
Americans are willing to go, with
pride, and fight to defend the
ideals upon which this great
democracy has been established.
About the helicopters - Mr.
Englert seems to be under the
impression that they are strictly
began. to deny the revolution's necessity
We're all familiar with these -- -and significance. With the
accomplishments, but we may reappearance of the draft on the
not like to acknowledge that they horizon today, perhaps students
simply would not have happened will begin to realize again that
without the kind of action that change can happen if they make
students in the '6o's took. In the it happen, and add to the '6o's
aftermath of every revolution, achievements some of their own
even a partial one like that of the
'6o's, there is always a tendency
Letter Critical Of
COBCSG Article
Dear Editor
In response to your recent First, it should be understood
article on Thursday, April 3, 1980 that there was prior notice as to
concerning the Faculty Senate when and how the elections were
Elections for the branch cam- to be held. A newsletter dated
puses of Penn State, lam writing February 15, 1980 with in
to clear up some misun- Continued on page 3
lithrtutt c:olltgiau
Gene Grygo
Editor
Melvyn Anderson
Business Manager
Paul Elbel
Lonnie Gilbert
Bill Hegman
Advisor: Dr. Michael Small
Typist: Melanie Nutter
Mailing Address - Behrend College, Station Road, Erie, Pa
16563
Office - Student Offices, Reed Union Building
Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday
Phone 898-1511 Ext. 238
Opinions expressed by the editors and staff of the Behrend
Collegian are not necessarily those of the University Ad
ministration, faculty, or the student body.
against the military on personal
observations, not 1960 era
Radicalism. One of the jobs of an
American Soldier is to defend
your rights under the Con
stitution and Not be the beating
block for youthful frustration.
Maybe if we could educate the
world on the evils of war, on the
grotesqueness of killing and the
misery of combat, my job will be
discontinued and our tax money
can go for better government
projects. I will willingly hit the
unemployment line for the
benefit of world-wide peace.
Cpt. R. Schneider
Army ROTC
instruments of war. Surely he has
seen the good they have done in
saving the lives of the seriously
injured and of those caught up in
natural disasters. mind your own
business, and let the ROTC take
care of theirs. But keep in mind:
someday they may be a large
part in saving the freedom we all
feel is so precious.
natural disasters.
Mr. Englert, I think you
should just go and enjoy your
own life, mind your own
business, and let the ROTC take
care of theirs. But keep in mind:
someday they may be a large
part in saving the freedom we
all feel is so precious.
Janine Callen - ROTC student
calls
John F. McDiarmid
derstandings
Member of
The Press Association
Joe Englert
Assistant Editor
Russ Miller
Photography Editor
Mary Miseta
Sports Editor
Behrend Collegian
Sue Bentz
Tom Pyne
Pat Sedlak
Barb Bogdan