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Forwarded (from: ANEWS) by Pete Snidal using timEd.
Originally from Joe DeLassus (1:100/355.0) to All.
Original dated: May 05 '97, 02:50
Subject: [PN] Top NEWSPEAK Stories of the Week #68
>From AMERICAN NEWSPEAK, back issues at http://www.scn.org/news/newspeak
Celebrating cutting edge advances in the exciting field of Doublespeak!
Written by Wayne Grytting
Children Studying Illegally
In Cleveland, Ohio, Judy Kincaid was sent to jail for five days for a
crime that is mushrooming, illegal school registration. The inner city
mother sent her 5 year old son to a kindergarten in the suburbs without
authorization! Across the nation, inner city parents are resorting to
subterfuge to escape overcrowded , under funded city schools and enrolling
their children in affluent suburban schools. To "protect" themselves,
suburban districts have taken to hiring private investigators, offering
bounties up to $500 for identifying out-of-district illegal students and
passing legislation making the use of a false address a misdemeanor.
Fortunately, this raising of barriers to youth from poorer neighborhoods
is being done with the best of intentions. As Elizabeth Fineberg,
Superintendent of Schools in Morrisburg, Ohio relates: "We're only staffed
for the number of children we're supposed to have in the district. We
don't want to have to give less to our children." Sadly, parents like Ms.
Kincaid are unable to appreciate the need to sacrifice for the good of
"our children."  (NYT  4/20)
Tuskeegee Deja Vu Again
In April, President Clinton apologized to the remaining survivors of the
infamous Tuskeegee experiment that left Black sharecroppers untreated for
syphilis. Not two weeks later came word of a larger medical study of AIDS
that will result in the transmission of the disease to an estimated 1,000
babies in Africa. The study is an attempt to find a cheaper substitute for
a drug called AZT,  that has proven effective in blocking AIDS
transmission from mothers to their newborn. But AZT treatment is
considered too expensive for Third World countries. And what is "too
expensive"? What is the current value of a human life? Try $400 to $800.
Of course, low cost substitutes require proper scientific testing. But why
placebos for thousands of participants? Simple, according to  Timothy
Dondero of the Center for Disease Control and UN researcher Joseph Saba.
You need "unassailable proof" (thus the placebos) in order to "marshal
international support and money" for the HIV treatment of millions of poor
pregnant women. If you've ever applied for a grant you'll understand.
Maybe the 1,000 babies could be used as poster children for the financial
institutions requiring their sacrifice.  (WP 4/23)
Balanced Environmentalism
Are you worried that our young are receiving an "unbalanced" view of the
environment? Well so are state officials in Texas. Like many critics of
environmental education, they are concerned about children being "scared
green" by textbooks and the media. Conservative  author Michael Sanera
warns, "Children are getting slogans and dogma instead of being taught
to think critically." To correct this problem the  Texas Natural Resources
Conservation Commission sponsored a conference for educators to help them
present more balanced accounts of environmental problems. Invited to
address them were experts from Exxon and  the state's leading oil and
chemical corporations. In fact, to make sure all viewpoints were heard,
all of the state's major polluters were invited. And to insure that only
objective information was presented, activist environmental groups were
excluded.  (WP 4/22)
Teen Smoking Going Up
Recent studies have shown a marked increase in teen smoking, a fact
critics are quick to blame cigarette advertising. But according the NY
Times, industry officials say these critics "grossly exaggerate the effect
of their marketing." What, after all,  is a mere $4.83 billion in ads
going to accomplish? Fortunately, the tobacco industry has found another
culprit. It turns out a major cause of increased teen smoking, according
to them, is the anti-smoking campaign. This happens because teenagers are
"naturally rebellious against efforts to stop them from smoking."
Meanwhile, Andrew Schindler, president of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, testified
under oath that smoking can not kill. This good news was followed by a
shocking revelation. Schindler revealed that smoking is no more addictive
than coffee or carrots. "Carrot addiction?" asked an unbelieving attorney.
``Yes,'' Schindler answered. ``There was British research on carrots.''
Crisis hot lines are being opened up now for you carrot addicts. Call now.
(AP 4/21, NYT 4/20)
Newt Gets Back on Track
Newt the Grinch got back into prime form while addressing a conference of
advertising executives following that dreadful low period when he was once
described by Rep. Pete King as "the most powerful liberal in American
politics." Newt explained the difficulties he faces trying to get the
Republican message across. "It's very hard to communicate that partly
because the media, which you all control with your advertising, doesn't
have a clue what we are doing..." Apparently Newt believes they are doing
something. And who's fault  is the sad shape of our media? "The
responsibility for a news media that can't report accurately how the world
works, rests on those who pay for it, and that's the advertisers."
Advertisers just need to do a better job of controlling their employees.
and who better to have an accurate picture of how the world works than our
advertisers? Right on Newt.  (NYT 4/23)
AMERICAN NEWSPEAK is inflicted weekly. You can join the mailing list by
sending the message "Newt can kiss my ..." to wgrytt@blarg.net
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