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Show The Daily Utah Chronicle, Monday, March 28, 1983 Page Nine W ''" i.M .m M .kF mr m ssa iW fiction alive, well do Who cosmic Though its day may have passed at the movie houses, science fiction is being kept alive and well in none other than our own White House. President Reagan has unveiled his new "vision of the future which offers hope." That vision is lasers in ... space. ;' It seems our forward-lookin- g president thinks the answer to all our nuclear weapons problems is to put lasers or particle beams in space, rendering all other weapons useless. iW United States and its allies would have complete immunity to strategic weapons attack?, protected behind ' this laser shield. The first problem with this farfetched scheme is the fact that it would be a direct violation of both the 1972 agreement banning missile defense and the 1967 affrAmpnf tf foot? ctvis sfomilifariTAsI Further, this Star Wars scheme can't , possibly be put into effect until past the turn of the century. Beyond that, we simply can't see the purpose of proposing such a fairy tale scheme now. Yuri "Darth" Andropov was not far from the mark in saying the whole effort is "not just irresponsible, it is Hoys otherwise. Just when people are beginning to take Reagan seriously as a statesman, he can be trusted to come out with a ludicrous X insane." This could possibly be an attempt by Reagan to divert attention from the many other more earthly problems which face our nation today. It could just be another effort to escalate the shouting match with the ; ; statement which shows how slight is his basis in reality. With Reagan in office,, we can only hope the force is with us. -PUT...IT Lu ve YOU, HeNRY . li- - ' ' NGV6R WORK. VouR ViDeo RecoRoeR i& Beta, MWe ig VH; You Havea STeLMTe M&Hii'M HaPPV viflficaBi? aNP our coMPufeRS at?e TbTaiW WcoMPaijBLe. MX Soviets which Reagan seems to so genuinely enjoy. Or it could be (and this is the scary possibility) that he actually thinks this spacey jingoism will accomplish something. Reagan needs to realize that the "evil empire' (his phrase) will not be cowed by loud threats, science fiction-typ- e or Utes make great comeback Before the '82-'8- 3 season began, the Ute will in no way dinimish the Utes accompbasketball team was picked to finish no lishments this season. They were the team higher than sixth or seventh in the nine-tea- m that came from nowhere, played with Western Athletic Conference. Once nothing to lose, and for a week anyway, the season began, they struggled but found turned the basketball world on its head. themselves written off by the media and The Utah ski team also represented the even by some of their own fans. The Utes University well, winning the NCAA chamnever wrote themselves off, however and pionship for the second time in three years. therin lies one of the great comeback stories In the past years men's and women's ; national meets were held separately, but in of this or any other year. The dream ended in Ogden Thursday 1983 they were held together and the Utes against what has proven to be an unstoppa- showed even more strength. ble North Carolina State team, but that loss Our hats are off to both teams. Reagan's plan: necessary futuristic thinking tony isakakis President Ronald Reagan's announcement of a stepped-u- p effort by the United States to eventually eliminate the threat of nuclear war may have been one of the most important messages of ours or any time. Although Reagan's plan, announced from the Oval Office last week, has already come under sharp criticism, especially from the Russian leadership, it shows the kind of necessary futuristic thinking that made America great. One should recall that a bit more than 20 years ago, 1961 to be exact, a U.S. president named John Kennedy proclaimed America would put a man on the moon within a decade. Critics sconed at JFK's plans but, in only eight years, Kennedy's dream has been realized. i Though the Reagan proposal is one of the few bright spots to come out of this administration, it is one that merits serious consideration. While true disarmament and peace can be found if uulii aiuca uc willing iu my uuwu tiicn amis, uiai suiuuuu is nowhere likely in the near future. That feeling was strengthened by the weekend statement of Soviet leader Yuri Andropov, who labeled the White House plan "insane." Andropov said, "Let there.be no mistake in Washington. The Soviet Union will never allow them (the United States) to succeed. It (Russia) will never be caught defenseless by any threat." Andropov expounded on that in his statement when he said, "All attempts at achieving military superiority over the USSR are futile. It is time they (the United States) stop devising one option after another in search of the best way of unleashing nuclear war in the hope of winning it." The basic plan advocated by the president would be a system of high-tec- h weaponry that could shoot down and destroy any missiles before they could reach U.S. soil. nuclear incoming the "merits of technology" is an idea whose call to Reagan's time has come. The United States has the science and technology drawn from some of the world's most brilliant minds to develop such a nuclear deterrance, and calling such a Star Wars scheme or Buck Rogers thinking is clearly narrow and tunneled vision. Some American scientists are already working on The Chronicle welcomes letters to the editor from readers. to expose myself to punitive action. As I see line. Letters of 200 words or it, if I want to break the law, the smart time to Letters must be typed on a less will be given priority. All letters must include signature, do it is when I get my draft card. If I decide I valid mailing address and telephone number. don't want to fight, then I'll split to Canada. The Chronicle reserves the right to edit for libel, propriety and This way, I only expose myself to punishment for use in the Chronicle offices, when there is space. Typewriters are available a draft, I get drafted and decide " v Union 240. not to go. The chance of all that happening to make is it does All registration registration. me is slim. easier to mobilize and, hopefully, with a The point is that every male my age has to Editor: quick mobilization the war would be over but only some of us will be drafted register, Over a year ago I registered for the draft. quicker. is a draft. Statistically, I will gamble if there At that time I asked myself why I had Thus, my selfish reason is this. During a that I'm not drafted and, if I am, then I'll about debate the recent major war, I'm going to be drafted anyway. registered. With all about complying with the draft. During a minor war, I won't be drafted. This worry registration, 1 reviewed by reasons once is because during a minor war trained troops My third reason is an extension of the again. reason draftees who I behind a draft. As I mentioned above, some be not to reasons are that used, There were basically three going in on. idea what's no have going i only the event of a major war will the draft had for registering a year ago. Since, then, I realize is I it have that second reason 'be instituted. Registration will make reason The first I've come up with a fourth; The. is useless it mobilization and not it not could hurt to register, quicker, hopefully shortening was entirely selfish in nature. I realized that the war. Thus, if I can, through one of my to. By not registering, I would be breaking couldn't hurt to register. The reason for that the law, thus opening myself up to actions, help, shorten a war involving the is simple. The draft would be instituted only United States and its citizens, I will be punishment. Furthnnorejjawjioeasrr in the event of a major war, with or without 74-spa- ce letters ! Draft reasons - - , ,; Editorial Board: Brian Aggeier, Joe Baird, Michael Morris, Joan O'Brien, Brian Wilkinson. The Daily Utah Chronicle is an independent student newspaper published daily during fall, winter and spring quarters, excluding test weeks and quarter breaks, by the University Publications Council. Editorials reflect the opinion of the ' editorial board, and not necessarily the opinions of the student body or the administration. Subscriptions are S25 a year, $10 an academic quarter All subscriptions must be prepaid. Forward all subscription correspondence including change of address, to the Business Manager, Daily Utah Chronicle, 240 Union, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 841 12. Editor in chief .. Associate Editor .News Editor Copy Editor Editorial Editor . Sports Editor Photography Editor Entertainment Editor Assistant Copy Editors Senior Reporters Joan O'Brien Joe Baird Brian Wilkinson Michael Morris Brian Aggeier Tony Tsakakis Mike Johnson Lesly Herbert Tina E. Neinstedt Mark Saal Assistant Sports Editor . Assistant Entertainment Editor Photographers. Matt Adelman Steve Green Ann Jardine Jill Johnson Kim Osborn . Business Manager Ad Representatives ' helping the United States, of which I am a citizen. The last reason I have for registering for the draft, and my main point, is a combination ct of patriotism and theory. I I a believe that freely became member of this society. After all, I could leave society and head for the hills if I wished. On becoming a member, I explicitly agreed to obey society's laws and implicitly recognized that the prime; duty of government is to provide for the national defense, and one day I may be asked to help the government defend society. Thus, as registration is the law, I must; either register or leave society and not take! advantage of what it offers me (education, social-contra- protection, etc.). Furthermore, since; registration is to be used only to aid the ' national defense, patriotism and my contract with society dictate that I register. f Edwin C. Olsen - Backshop Foreman Audrey Grover Brian Moss Assistant Foreman Backshop Assistants Leslie Keith Maryam Hedayati Mike Lloyd Typesetters Alison Van Steve Hausknecht Julia Jenkins TroyWilsdn - Peter Behle . Kinde Nebeker . . Accountant Lori Baucum Secretary Patty Felkner Jerry Stanger -John Kennevkk .. Bonnie Thomas Mike Stevens Acct. Asst. David Husted Robert McOmber 1 a device that is capable of destroying missiles, and it is said the weapon could be ready for production in the next three to five years. But the date of activation, be it one or 20 years, is not important; the ultimate goal of peace is. While tne critics say true peace will only be found with disarmament talks, that is the basis for Reagan's idea. "It is reasonable for us to begin this effort," Reagan said. "This could pave the way for arms control measures to eliminate the weapons themselves." It is time we remember the late Robert F. Kennedy who said, "Some men see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were and say why not?" Isn't it time we begin to dream of true world peace? particle-bea- m Staff Meteorologists Frank Rod Dallin Deanne Harper Mary Kienitz Eric Gurney Robert Long |
