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Show 4 The Signpost - Friday, May 26, 1989 The shout heard 'round the wor Id By Peter Avion Senior Reporter At what price democracy? History tells us it is usually a very bloody price. Yet recent events in China have shown another great path toward democracy peaceful demonstration. The turmoil in Tiananmen Square began as students rallied to march for democratization. It started with little more than 3,000 of them on a hunger strike, and has . become a revolution with over one million Chinese nationals camping outside the very seat of government, "...a surreal deadlock chaotic yet tranquil, jubilant but darkly ominous," according to Time magazine. Make no mistake. This is not a minor uprising to be quelled quickly and silently. The students want freedom, and more than a million of their countrymen are right beside them; blocking military convoys, bearing signs which read "Sheng Yuan" (support the students), "I Have a Dream", and "Give Me Democracy or Give Me Death," testament to their American soul-mates who fought valiantly in their own time for their own freedoms. What makes this demonstration most notable is the sheer fact of its presence in a normally serene society which holds respect and honor above all else; the outright refusal of Chinese soldiers to turn on countrymen who have fed them with popsicles and kindness; the tenacity of hunger-strikers who are carried off the square in ambulances and later return to their fast after treatment;-the utter cooperation of the demonstrators to cordon off traffic lanes for the ambulance and to keep them clear. All in all, an amazing testimony of a people tired of a corrupt government, yet struggling valiantly to keep from having to pay for the change in blood. Which isn't to say the government hasn't tried to silence the students and any who support them. Troops were ordered in, some even kept in camps outside Beijing for more than a week, cut off from newspaper and Satire television in order to isolate them from the public furor. Satellite uplink stations have been shut down, as was done in Panama. Government-controlled television and newspapers were also gagged. Yet these efforts have proved to be little more than a minor annoyance to the Chinese revolutionaries and the watching and waiting world-at-large, which have found alternate ways of getting news out of this bloodless war zone. Cries of support have come from all over the world. President Bush urged the Chinese government to discontinue jamming the Voice of America radio network. Mikhail Gorbachev conceded reform alone, and little else, would satisfy the dissenters, during his tumultuous visit to the Chinese capital. Perhaps the most interesting conclusion to be drawn here is the feeling that Communism doesn't work in its present form. Whereas in the Soviet Union, progress toward one-party democracy is sluggish, the Chinese arc tired of waiting around. Would the Soviet citizenry emulate their Chinese counterparts had they not been subjected to Stalin's iron grip? China then, can be considered a model for communist reform in true Marxist style. And what are we to do about this shout heard 'round the world? At present there is little we can do as a nation officially except to watch, and wait, and offer our support to these budding Chinese democrats. Let us all remember our own Constitutional guarantees of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And while we're at it, say a prayer for the people of China, that they too may enjoy the benefits of freedom from a repressive government. CHINESE fANPCUFFS Cardboard sun shades could cool heated encounter By Paul Johnson Contributing Writer Nothing knows just how hot the sun can get better than your car. We humans enjoy the springtime warmth of 01' Sol, but the sun beating down on your car's windshield can turn the interior into a veritable microwave oven, baking a 3-qt. tuna and potato chip casserole in 15 minutes flat. (Try it sometime. You'll be glad you did.) That's why somebody brilliant invented those cardboard window screens. Prop up one of these in your car's windshield and then even on the hottest summer day, your Buick stays as cool as a polar bear's paw. Who hasn't walked by one of these heat-blocking boards with their colorful designs and let out a chuckle at their whimsical displays. There are those ever loveable California Raisins dancing their way into our hearts yet again, or our huggable little blue friends the Smurfs, or look again yes, (slap your forehead in delightful surprise) it's that furry, way-out space alien crack-up clown Alf behind the wheel of that Chevrolet. But lighting up our day is only one of the many useful purposes of these immensely practical devices, for on the backside of many of them in bold letters are the words, "HELP! CALL POLICE!" I don't care how fast you're going who wouldn't screech to a stop after seeing this prominent alarm. Never mind that the driver might have put it in backwards someone's life could be in danger. Get on over to the nearest telephone and alert the proper authorities. Imagine this chilling scenario. You come back from shopping and climb into your car, which of course has one these cardboard window screens, and just as you close the door, you feel cold steel on the back of your neck. A guttural voice announces, "All right, buddy. You and me are goin' for a little ride." What would you do? Well, thinking quickly, you point towards the back window and say, "Look, who's that? Isn't that your parole officer?" "What?" grunts an alarmed Mugsy, turning over his shoulder. Acting fast, you take advantage of his distraction to switch the cardboard and its message of help in the other direction. A few heart-thumping moments later, Mugsy scowls, "Hey, wait a minute. Weren't those raisin guys the other way a second ago?" You gulp and offer an innocent grin, but your terror is short-lived. Suddenly the doors are thrown open, and police officers nab Mugsy in the nick of time. Now you're safe and Mugsy must pay for his evil doings under our stringent justice system with 10 to 20 minutes of hard labor at the city park. And all because you had the wise foresight of buying a cardboard sunscreen. Your car's cool, you're cool, and Mugsy's on ice. Now there's something for those raisin guys to sing about. Letter Policy The Signpost welcomes letters to the editor. They must be typed and should not exceed 300 words in length. For subjects requiring greater exposition, arrangements may be made with the editor in chief. Letters MUST include name, address, phone number, will not be printed, relationship to WSC (student, The Signpost reserves the family, staff, Ogden resident, etc.) right to edit for reasons of space and the signature of the writer, and libel and reserves the right Letters without this information to refuse to print any letter. The Signpost Editorial-Advertising-Production Spring Quarter, 1989 The Wcbcr State College Signpost is published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during fall, winter and spring quarters, and once a week during the summer quarter by the WSC Department of Communication. The Signpost is distributed free of charge and is available by subscription for S9 per quarter. The Signpost offices arc located in the Union Building in Room 267. Mail correspondence should be sent to: WSC Signpost, Weber State College, Ogden, Utah 84408-21 10. Editor in Chief 626-7121 Advertising Department 626-6359 News Department 626-7105 Entertainment Department 626-7105 Sports Department 626-7983 The Signpost Staff Editor in Chief Scott Summerill Managing Editor Jill Tilcnsor News Editor Tim Fairholm Sports Editor Ethan Yorgason Entertainment Editor PcteTesch Signature Editor Lisa Dayton Photography Editor Robcen Gillcm Asst. News Editor Cecily Markland Asst. Sports Editors Chris Barrett Rich Ericson Asst. Entertainment Editor Dcbra George Asst. Signature Editor Christine Stout Photographers T. Stacy Nctz Clarkllurd Senior Reporters Ray Eldard Jr. Peter Avion Columnists Mickey Beck Staff Reporters Brett Hart Kathleen Montoya Copy Editor Advertising Manager. Production Manager . . Ads Production Mgr. . Production Staff Distribution . Advisor . . Secretary . Publisher . Joyce Zabriskic Ene Presley Steve Hord Dcbra Luby . Keith M. Quimby Kathy Mohr . . . Jcannic Thome Gina Carbajal ... Ray Eldard Jr. Jeff By bee . . . P. Larry Stahle . . Lciscl Wayment Linda McGcc . . Randolph Scott |