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EDITORIALS
On Smeal, Christmas And
A Whole Lot More
By: Claire DeSardis
There were a few issues that I wanted to address this week—quite a
few. One was Eleanor Smeal. (I didn't necessarily want to address
her, but I did want to address the issues she discussed.) Another was
the film "The Day After" which after seeing the amount of copy we
received on the topic, I have decided not to address at all. The third
was Christmas, and all of you who read this column faithfully will
surely know that I would not pass up an opportunity to write about a
holiday.
There were a few other issues that I had wanted to bring up, but
frankly have decided not to. I will address Ms. Smeal, though and,
as I said, wouldn't miss an opportunity to talk about Christmas.
When I decided to attend the Eleanor Smeal talk a few weeks ago,
I was unsure as to how I would feel at the end. I was, honestly, a lit
tle indifferent to the whole evening. That was before I arrived at the
scene. Since that night, a whole lot of things have changed.
It seemed that Ms. Smeal, in addressing her topic, "Women's
Issues in the 'Bo's," answered plenty of questions for me and finally
hit on what it was that had been bothering me for so long.
I had always considered myself a "bra-burning feminist" but had
never actually done anything except not wear a brassiere sometimes
and talk about how I hated to be patronized at home about being
female. They do that all the time.
What Eleanor Smeal did do was make plenty of people present
(and I use plenty, and not "all") feel as if they could indeed do
something to realin the rights of women.
You see, the problem is that too many people, like myself, do ex
actly what I had been doing all along—sit back and talk about how
nice it would be if women were guaranteed equal pay for equal work,
etc. Too few of us go out and try to get involved, try to address the
issue face to face. I don't deny my guilt, but things have changed
within myself. Somehow, the issue seems all too important to let it
slide.
I don't solely address women when I write this. I- address those
men sensitive and rational enough to understand that the issue at
hand does need the support of so many more people and everyone's
help is needed.
I have spoken to a few people that did not enjoy or agree with Ms.
Smeal's views. I feel it is important to add that, though these view
points were male, these men felt it important enough to attend and I
give them credit for caring that much.
On Christmas, I think I should reiterate that this is one of 'my
favorite holidays to address. So much preparation for one day, it
seems almost a little crazy, especially when so many of us miss the
point completely. Somehow I still believe that it should be con
sidered the religious holiday that it is. It's almost funny that I keep
forgetting it is a religious holiday! With all of the decorations, the
gift buying, the baking and cooking, it seems as if the celebration of
Christ's birth is lost. I've even met people who question the existence
of a god and still celebrate Christmas.
In spite of all of my quandry about Christmas, and all of the
frustration I feel when I think of what it has become, I still enjoy the
season.
We who staff the Collegian hope that everyone here at Penn State-
Behrend has a wonderful holiday season. Try to remember the true
reason we celebrate the holidays during your preparation and
celebration.
And just as an added note: If you are going to be drinking, please
be conscientious about your driving and care enough about friends
and family to care about theirs. After all is said and done, it is the
season of love.
And so it goes until next year... I'm finding it sad that this is my
final Christmas editorial at Behrend. That in itself makes my wish
for "Happy Holidays" even more special in its expression. And it
accompanies my wish for many, many more...
EDITOR'S NOTE: The photo shown in the "Roving Reporter"
column, Nov. 11 edition, was not that of Jackie Wrobelewski, as the
opinion implies, but of Carolyn Brust.
Our apologies to both parties.
Behrend Collegian
Editor: Claire DeSantis
Assistant Editor: Risa Glick
Business Manager: Rod Luery
Sports Editor: Joel Campbell
Advisor: Robert DiNicola
Staff
•
Jeff Bedford Edward J. McCloskey Ken Sonnenberg
Elizabeth Gillian Thomas Miller Cynthia Stipancic
Dave Harrington Steve Nesbit Sarah Tamil in
Mary Hickin Justin Panson . Marge Tomczak
Michael Kitchen Lisa Pavadore Ann Weunskl
Main AddneasaalweruS College, Station Road, Erie, Pa. 16510 OfficaStudent Offices, Reed Building
Office Phon. 896-1511 Ext. 221
Opinions equessel by the Editors and staff of the Bohnesi Collegian are not necessarily those of OW
Unhnirsity Administfation, faculty, or the studs,: befit'.
BEHREND COLLEGIAN
Letters to the Editor
The Myth Of
Neutrality
Dear Editor:
Acceptance appears to be a
necessary follower of com
promise. I'm referring to double
standards, and the myth of
neutrality.
Why is it, I must ask, that when
a conservative suggests that
something is offensive and should
be removed, he or, she is labeled
"a narrow minded book burning
censor?"
If liberals point out areas offen
sive to them (such as Nativity
scenes on public property), and
suggest removal, they are called
"protectors of our civil liberties."
If athiests point out areas of
fensive to them (such as prayer in
schools), and suggest removal,
they are called "defenders of
pluralism."
If feminists point out areas of
fensive to them (such as textbooks
which depict some women as be
-ing satisfied housewives), and sug
gest removal, they are called
"champions of academic
freedom."
If humanists point out areas of
fensive to them (such as schools
having equal time for Creation
science), and -suggest removal,
they are called "architects of pro
gressive free thought."
I suppose freedom exists only
for those who wish - to control it.
Cordially Tyrannized,
Michael R. Kitchen
Reagan-Policies
Supported
When I first read the article
"Reagan's Polides Critized" by
Gerald Kely my initial reaction
was "Who the hell is Mao Tse
tung?" This may sound rather
naive on my part and I apologize
to all those who have studied or
A Great Miracle Happened There
By: Risa
Jewish peoplearound the world
have just completed the celebra
tion of Hanukkah—known to
many as the festival of lights.
Some of you 'may ask—What is
Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is an eight-day
festival beginning on the 25th day
of the Jewish month Kislev and
lasting through the 2nd day of the
Jewish month of Tevet.
As with otherfestivals in the cy
cle of the Jewish year, there seems
to be a dual origin to Hanukkah—
seasonal and historical. The
historical story is quite well
knoWn. Judah and Maccabee led
a revolt against the Hellenistic
Syrians who occupied the land of
Israel around 165 B.C.E.—and for
some reason he was victorious.
There is a miracle associated with .
this victory. Some say that when
the Temple was to be rededicated
only one cruse of sacramental oil
was found. Although this was on
ly supposed to burn for one day, it
who are studying the history and
politics of China.
But now that I understand that
Mao Tse-tung was at best a
heartless tyrant, I fail to unders
tand how Mr. Kelly could ever
compare his policies to those of
Ronald Reagan. I do not unders
tand the motives of any person in
the United States who could con
demn such actions which in turn
provide security world-wide. The
intervention into Grenada by our
military was not a "senseless
military adventure" but instead
was an attempt to show not only
the Soviet Union and Cuba, but
the rest of the world as well, that .
the United States will not sit by
idle while Communist regimes
threaten the freedoms and rights
of individuals around the world.
Simply by being able to write
such a liberal article, Mr. Kelly
should realize how much he en
joys the freedoms found here in
the United States. I doubt highly
if he would have had the same
satisfaction in Grenada before the
United States liberated the op
pressed people living there. I also
found that Mr. Kelly avoided two
key issues involved in the situation
in Grenada. First, I found that he
failed to note that there was an
airstrip being constructed on
Grenada by Cuban engineers.
Once completed,. this airfield
would have been capable of
handling military - aircraft from
Cuba as well as other Communist
points around the world.
Therefore, by eliminating that
"link" in the Communist chain,
not only does the Caribbean com
munity become more secure but
other non-communist countries
around the world (including the
U.S.) benefit as well. Second, I
found that Mr. Kelly grossly fail
ed to note the most important fact
involved in Grenada and that is
the simple fact that practically all
Grenadians were greatly pleased
to see the United States abolish
the tyranical government which
had brutally taken power on their
island.
miraculously lasted for eight full
days, during which time other oil
was prepared. Others maintain
that the victory in itself con
stitutes the miracle.
The seasonal referents of
Hanukkah are much less known
and, in some ways, much more
stimulating. Long before the Mac
cabees, there was some kind of
established winter festival at this
season of the year. The motifs
were several. One had to do with
the gradual increase in daylight
after the ominous, steadily
darkening days of late autumn. A
number of legends connect
Hanukkah with the winter
solstice, which occurs during the
holiday: Another motif had to do
with the kindling of fire, reported
as an ancient Jewish custom at the
dedication of the Temple altar. A
third was a festive act, which in
cluded the carrying of wands
wreathed with leaves, branches
with their fruit, and palm fronds.
DECEMBER 8, 1983
I realize that the price of in
tervention is often very costly.
Lives were lost in Grenada, and to
me that is a terrible tragedy. But I
feel that Mr. Kelly, as well as
others living in the United States,
should renlin that the price of
isolation might be more costly.
Personally, I am tired of
apathetic people who continually
condemn the actions of our
government. But then again I
acknowledge the fact that because
our government is what it is to
day, that everyone is entitled to
their opinion - as I have just stated
mine.
Todd Kightlinger
Grenadian Invasion
Addressed
This letter is in reply to Gerald
Kelly's editorial in the November
11, 1983 issue of the Collegian.
You were so negative on Presi
dent Reagan, it seems you forgot
some of the positive things that
came out of the Grenadian
invasion.
Did you ever stop to think that
if Reagan had not been so decisive
that we Americans might have
suffered another "Iranian
Crisis"? You say this threat was
not real, but the students who
were there said the'threat was-very
real. You obviously did not listen
to their, views of the situation
which was first hand.
Let us not forget the attitudes
and views of the Grenadian peo
ple. I think their state of mind can
be summed-up by the fact that the
American Freedom Fighters had
to protect the coup leader from
his own people so they could not
do to him what the Italians did to
Mussulini at the end of WWII.
Another fact you obviously
overlooked was the weapons con
fiscated on that tiny island. There
were enough weapons to outfit
every man, woman, and child -
continued on page 3
Whether Hanukkah draws its
source from the historic, the
seasonal; or as is most likely,
from some combination of the
two, it is clear that the central
motif is light. It is customary to
kindle the lights of the menorah
during Hanukkah. We .begin with
one candle and increase to eight as
the holiday progresses.
There is a widespread custom of
giving Hanukkah gelt (money)
and presents during the holiday.
There is a long tradition of play
ing games of chance during the
evenings of Hanukkah. The most
widely played game is dreidel-a
derivative of an old German
gambling game. It is played with a
four-sided top—on each side of
which is one of the Hebrew let
ters, nun, gimmel, heh, and shin.
Although these represent various
gambling terms, they have been
reinterpreted to mean a great
miracle happened there.