University of Houston - Houstonian Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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Middle Fast. From a safe distance, Americans speculate that the communists are behind the problems of the world, but would be appalled and refuse to think that the U.S. promotes this kind of senseless killing by its actions in places like Nicaragua, FI Salvador and South Africa. Many Americans continue to believe it is up to us to make the world safe for democracy, and at the same time, they become immune to the realities in the world and even fail to take notice of our problems at home. While the U.S. holds on to the old idea that a strong military that is visible throughout the world will protect our homeland, other countries have found another defense — economics. The Japanese receive 50% of their oil through the Persian Gulf, Western Europe 26% and the U.S. 6%. But when Iran threatened the transporting of oil through the gulf, the U.S. was quick to send in the mili-tary. While the Japanese are concerned because they need the oil for plastic products, they have an economic strength greater than military might. The U.S. on the other hand, continues to spend millions on a military that is nearly obsolete. We have a massive unemployment rate in our own oilfields. And our policies at home have made the traditional American farmer nearly extinct. The U.S. government is primarily concerned with big business and by this we have stretched capito-lism to new limits — in the constant struggle for bigger profits and more productivity, big businesses have taken manufacturing out of American hands and into inferior countries where labor is cheap and regulations are few. While the economic growth of those countries is stifled, corporate leaders see it as more of a business deal than a human rights issue. In short, we import goods that American corporations produce at low costs in foreign countries and then sell them to American people in a country where inflation and unemployment is up and the usefulness of a high standard of luxuries is down. But as long as upper class Americans continue to see profits, they will remain blind to the sinking foundation of the middle class. With unemployment and the lower class expanding in the U.S., the military industry has reached its highest point since World War II. The ever present threat of communism keeps funding of the military on the increase. So, while countries like Japan and West Germany surpass the U.S. in technology exports, the U.S. remains the world leader in missile exports. And the U.S. continues to come into conflict with other countries' business in every part of the world. — Mark Lacy Three old men squabble over a cheap bottle of liquor in ihe heart of our nation's capttol. Photot by Mark Lacy. 29

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As the many conflicts surrounding Iran. Iraq. Kuwait, the Soviet Union, the United States, and many others. are constantly in the news. Americans are willing to forget their troubles at home, but the U.S. government fails to take a well guided approach to world problems. As the Soviet Union is willing to support countries in need, such as Nicaragua, with food and medical supplies, the U.S. reacts with arms and ammunition. Americans remain fearful of the communist plot. At War Around The World As Anti-American Sentiments Are Up The U.S. Continues To Meddle In Foreign Affairs I don't recall seeing Oliver North on TV. I don't deny watching the Iran-Contra Hearings. But I do understand that Oliver North diverted funds to the Contras from profits raised by selling arms to Iran. And that Oliver North was responsible for coordinating the Grenada invasion, the bombing of Tripoli and ran the Contra War from the White House with the belief that his superior Admiral Poindexter had the approval of President Reagan. Amidst growing concern over military actions, the United States continues to defend the free world against communism with military might. De- mocracy around the world is symbolized by the U.S. Marine Corps, war jets flying overhead and destroyers stationed on the coast. And hatred for Americans continues to spread throughout the world. But here at home, the government perceives our role to be the world police. Many scare} plots arc handed down from righteous leaders, dating back to Manifest Destiny. One of these is the Strategic Defense Initiative (a contradition in terms), which is designed to give the U.S. first strike in the event of communist aggression, by means such as Star Wars.' And more popular is the Domino Theory in which, one by one. the Latin countries will fall to communism and eventually so will the U.S. unless we take steps to prevent it. These righteous leaders believe that Nicaragua is the key to preventing the spread of communism to North America. The government and the media have made Americans more fearful of communism than ever. In our homes, on the evening news, Americans hear about the death squads in El 1 Salvador and car bombs in the 28

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Mobilization For Justice And Peace )0