Lamar University Press (Beaumont, Tex.), Vol. 56, No. 18, Ed. 1 Wednesday, November 14, 1979 Page: 4 of 6
six pages : ill. ; page 23 x 16 in.View a full description of this newspaper.
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UNIVERSITY tyiESS November 14,1979*4
Anti-Iranian demonstration held Monday
Approximately 500people take part
^ 11
s*.....
___________
Readers’ Forum
To the Editor:
Perhaps we need periodical reminders
of our foolishness and fallibility. We have
certainly been receiving them around
Lamar in the last few days.
Over 60 Americans are hostages in Iran,
and our President and State Department
are trying coolly and rationally to save
their lives and the lives of hundreds of
other Americans who might be en-
dangered if events escalate.
So how do we respond? Curse and
threaten Iranian students thousands of
mjles from the guilty persons. Paint
threats on campus buildings. Expel
Iranians from class because they are
Iranians.
One would marvel at the irony if the
situation weren’t so serious. We are
angered at the embassy invaders because
thiy have acted in an irrational and.
lawless way to something they feel
passionately about.
So what do we do? We in turn find
irrational and lawless ways to express our
passion.
Tim Summerlin
Assistant professor of English
To the Editor:
After reading Doug David’s letter in the
Nov. 9 issue of the University Press, I feel
obligated to write my views on this letter.
First of all I think Mr. David’s com-
ments were irresponsible and insulting.
The United States doesn’t allow
foreigners into this country out of the good-
ness of its heart; those foreigners pay a
good deal of money to get that education.
Secondly, this country is founded on a
constitution that guarantees many dif-
ferent freedoms, one of those being
freedom of speech.
It seems strange that so many of us only
believe in freedom of speech as long as we
Viewpoint
agree with what is being said. This is har-
dly a democratic attitude.
Also oiir constitution states that all men
are created equal and should be treated so.
Condemning a whole culture, and race of
people by calling them a “second-class,
third world country” is anything but
democratic and smells of ignorance and
irresponsibility.
Furthermore, as an American, I fail to
see how we have been so good to the
Iranian people. Having the CIA keep the
Shah in power for 20 years by imprisoning,
torturing and killing the people who dislike
the Shah can hardly be called a favor.
And harboring and protecting the Shah,
their most wanted murderer and thief,
could never classify as a good deed.
Although I am not condoning the actions
of the students in Tehran, I am con-
demning Mr. David for his undemocratic
comments and attitudes.
Debbie Clark Noghrekar
Beaumont senior
To the Editor:
It’s all too plain to see that the majority
of the people at that rally Monday morning
were there not to protest the political
situation in Iran, but to do what they’ve
been itching to do for years—loudly and
openly call our Iranian student population
“camel jocks.”
What a release it must have been for
them not to hold it in, not to have to giggle
secretly and whisper it under their breaths
while looking over their shoulders to see if
the “camel” heard!
Oh, and how good it must’ve felt to these
rallying white souls to finally feel on top
again! After all, its’ been too long a time
since that other dark-skinned
word—“Nigger”—could be used right out
in the bright Beaumont sunshine.
Jamie Paul Kessler
Beaumont senior
The decision of Lamar
student leaders to support a
silent, non-violent protest con-
cerning the current situation in
Iran is the right move to make.
The demonstration which
took place on campus Monday
provided the opportunity for
Lamar students to publicly ex-
press their feelings and
emotions concerning the
holding of 62 American
hostages in Tehran.
However, Lamar is an in-
stitution of higher education
and the business of the univer-
sity must go on.
One service facility on cam-
pus, the Setzer Student Center,
was disrupted Monday when
demonstrators moved into the
building and “surrounded” a
group of Iranian students.
Likewise, one teaching
facility was disrupted when
demonstrators marched
through the Engineering II
Building while classes were in
progress.
The yelling matches and
scuffles that resulted from the
demonstration have caused
fear on the campus—fear
among Americans, fear among
International students, fear
among Iranians.
What if demonstrators
become carried away in the
heat of anger and violence
results?
What if students become so
concerned for their safety that
they begin to carry weapons
and behave irrationally?
What if outsiders move onto
the campus to take advantage
of a potentially volatile
situation?
Granted, Americans are
guaranteed the right to assem-
bly in the Constitution.
However, the situation on the
Lamar campus, like other
college campuses across the
nation has the potential for
becoming explosive.
This is a time which calls for
clear, rational behavior on the
part of all involved.
In criticizing certain Iranians
for their lawlessness and
brutality, there should be a con-
certed effort on the behalf of
Americans to prevent them-
selves from resorting to the
same lawlessness and
brutality.
GREG HALE
r
K
i
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Hale, Greg. Lamar University Press (Beaumont, Tex.), Vol. 56, No. 18, Ed. 1 Wednesday, November 14, 1979, newspaper, November 14, 1979; Beaumont, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth500004/m1/4/?q=Lamar+University: accessed June 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Lamar University.