Lincoln Gazette from Lincoln, Nebraska • 11

A fir i Ml 011 arl" WUm -n tvmMkkjPfeuNnc rdn fjuwry iMlIUtHi Hi iwp 'JVirii What I'm saving then is lhat women ate discriminated against by the capitalistic enterprises which support rock music This is wrong and we should make it riit There is however nothing inherently sexist in the character of rock music as an art form nor is there any sexist conspiracy among rock musicians people but try taking a more true and comprehensive statement like' "a lot of men and women could benefit from a sincere relationship founded on mutual respect and understanding and setting it to rock music It )ust doesn't make it The naivete of people wAo wantto liberate me from cbck rock is amazing Do they really think that a musician wrfio sings "every man needs a woman" is -exhorting the mindless masses of his mafe fans to go forth add claim a woman as their personal property -and commanding his simpering audience of women to meekly submit to this treatment? Does it occur to them them that he misfit be saying something as simple as "men imd women need each other?" The most valid argument about men's domination of rock is purely statistical there are very few women rock musicians and women are involved only in in a menial way in the business and recording phases pf rock I ctQ suggest a couple or reasons for this First the big business end of rock is definitely sexist Women simply are not promoted to the upper echelons of the recording and promotion business Promoters lookupon "all-girl bands" and thelike as freak or novelty attractions Here I think is alegiti-mate basis for protest themselves That is my reply to the sincere and rijfitly concerned advocates of sexual equaiity As for the author of the bitter and spiteful attkkon one-of the members of Bumpy Action which ran in Gazette No 13 1 am tempted to write it off as nothing but jealousy But instead I will assume that the author is only misguided and naive First there is nothing wrong with having a beautiful body Secondly it is a natural and accepted thing in our society today for women to wear tijfit-fitting clothes and show their legs inublic Criticism of doing so doesn't strike me as a blow for sexual freedom Finally the natural and spontaneous movements the musician made on stage bore absolutely no resemblance in fact or in spirit to the "bump and grind of a New Orleans burlesque stripper" When the author asks "What do you want people applauding your voice or applauding implying that the audience is so sexist or homy or Jr A REPLY TO COCK ROCK In the feet couple of wars with the advent of the women's liberation there hat been growing out ciy agsinst sexism and the exploitation of women in rock music and the rock culture Protests have become increasingly more active and vehement On their recent tour the Rolling Stones were leaflfted and picketed by women's and liberation groups Somewhere along the line the term Mcock rockH 4vas coined and it was the topic of an article in Gazette Nou 12 and a letter to the editor in No 13 As a student of rock music and a male rock musician I feel compelled to reply Attarsaries of cock rock state that the lyrics to a good deal or most of rack music are blatant and overt put-downs of women don't buy that "Under my Thumb" by the Rolling Stones is a song frequently pointed out as degrading to women I think people who interpret the lyrics that way miss the point completely The song is not Mick dagger railing against women and demanding that they be kept in their place but Jagger wallowing in Ms revenge on a woman who once put him down The lyric is an overstatement Jagger heaps insult after intuit on Hie security and freedom of Ws victim in hit cool firry But the tong is a piece of art not a political doctrine and should be treated as such Rock lyrics contain a greetdral of stereotyping and oversimplification That's not good but its very difficult to moid Bumpy Action's song that said "every man neerfc a woman" mijpt have offended softie It'S one thing for a woman to reject the stereotypes which dictate that she must be a housewife or a teacher to study law or medicine It's quite another for her to pursue the very insecure profession of an itinerant musician There are a lot of duet to be paid by any musician and with the added burden of her sex I would guess that the price It too hitfi for many woman who might aspire to a career in rock whatever that it can't appreciate a beautiful woman's talents unless she wears concealing clothes and stands stock still? How about hiding her in a box? Really I can't take that letter very seriously Dave Downing A-VV- 'V ---W BLACK WORKERS STRIKE AT ATLANTA NA8ISCO PLANT ATLANTA (LNS) About 8S black workers joined -a picket line in front of die Nabisco plant in Atlanta's West End on Auprst 1 1 to protest racist attitudes in the 1 company's hiring and firing policies That was on Friday By Monday tfwy had heqn joined by some whites On Auigjst 8 Fred White a black1 Nabisco worker had been fired after a dispute with his foreman On Tuesday vtfieri his work was caught up White went to the bathroom When ho returned the foreman cussed him out for not mklng permission before hewent When White stood up to this intimidation by pointing out is a grown man whocen make these basic decisions for himself the foreman fired him for insubordination another term for not staying in hit place" Of course pompany management took the foreman's side and refused to allow White to have representation of his choice from a job steward The union Bakery Confectioners Local No 42 -also went along with management Mr Gallaier the plant manager even had Whits escorted from the plant by security guards attfigup there had been no confrontation er threats from Whits only from Gallewr White's firing brouit to a head the grievances shared by most black Nabisco workers especially those In the packaging department where White worked The black workers also said there wore certain foremen who are especially racist that Uacks are hired for busy seasons and are the first fired when work slackens Black workers' difficulties era compounded because the unions cooperate witfi management One woman has worked at Nabisco for six yean and still is not consider ed permanent so she can be laid off every time work slacks Anoiher woman worked two weeks last fall was called back last week and the day before the picketing started was laid off again Joe Ponder die only black member of the local electricians union of the eJectricri workers' union was also unjustifiably fired about a month ago Aitfioufjt he had a good work record and was certified by die International Brotherhood of Electrical Worfcen as a master electrician the company wddenfy claimed he couUki't do hit job and union refuted to support him In getting rehired Tentative plans for the strike supported by tfie Meg? -Adenta Summit Leaderahip Conqmsa (MASLCL Include a aefectfce buying campaign against Nabisco products picketing at tfie company gnd perhaps at grocery stgres "Mfttfipg tobisco products Worker repreaem' fetors on tho grpundi that US security was involved and is going ahead with the $1 13 million program Before Nixon's veto the US hid funnelled large sums of money to Greece through ATCtthus side slipping Congressional rulings against direct aid anyway US and NATO officials often use the argument that without American help Greece would have to divert money from economic and social development to defense Hovwvar In spite of the aid Greek military expenditures have increased by 25 since 1967 In addition some 12000 Greeks have been given military training in tha US including approximately one quarter of tha entire Greek officer corps end hrif of tho division commanders "THE BEST DAMN GOVERNMENT SINCE ANOTHER BOMB EXPLOOES IN US EMBASSY IN GREECE ATHENS iLNS) A bomb exploded in the women's washroom of the US embessy in Athens on August 29 Tho bombing wot In protest to US support of tho right-wing dictatorship of the army colonels who have ruled Greece without constitution since 1967 It was the latest in a series of bombings that underground opparition forces in Greece have directed against the US embassy in Pie last two years The coup which put the colonefs ir) power took place shortly before an election in vrfiidt Andreas Papan rktou appaared to ba a sure winner Papandreou was an ppponanf of U-S NATO (North American Treaty Organization defenta alliance established after World War II to contain the Soviet Union) domination of Greece and of the CIA's use iri Greece as a Middfe East In Wiiganca basa as wel (ft of tha domination of the Greek economy by lergtqtsisids investorv In the year anda half that followed' somqJSffy thousand One hiffwsnking US military officer in Greece describes U5m)1JtarYfeid this wey: "It is the' cheapest way of making friends It is one of the most mos important tilings that tha Uni tad Stars Ayes" In his opinion the miUa(y junta "is tha bast damhad -giwwmwaninM Plrides" Prlvste InvHinienC i anothar nugoUSkeanomic ijbipul In Greece ULS' mveltort provide MxMt401bf totioriV Woupiori so have echoice ofjob stew pyrsonsweri arrested mostofjtam for jhfti involved in worker-management dispute definite i Ucfesiiricstion fc floor helpers 40Ws work each- Vr'wekaodieinstaementPonder and White ip subjecfedSi tCAII ahd urywHities irtd SMmiciiM WwetionfertlgncepKjl TomePappisGreek American wtilHsgq Irnbbriant Nixon fund-raivln have hjjeg jxwgrti ptjfeamycbnridrfed to bo7" totodStaje accounts for about StBB mittlpn In an ti jUnia Arid the government jm4fewntl thrawsJt tife Essoappir cookie Ir1 addition to improved erarklng tondltians v' 'Companies like Nebieco (rirjjlack people but then exploit torn' knowing Jhat tiny aapadally Mack woman have die most difficult time of all workers getting jobs at alL It is not anoutfi just to be hired If there are not decent working conditions or job security (Thanks to Cwtdy of Adana's "Greet Speckled Athanatifortie JGraak opponent of the regime and former unfear-slty professor expressed a view widely stated by Greeks in private conversations with US reporters: "The survival of tha regime has been made possible by the attitude of tho United States aid NATO's toierancs" Jl eecortiSon aH indnriduels Tha Nixon administration despite Official protestations thist It has "differencas" with some of tho cdonalf' policies fe currentfy ntaUitiunga homa basa for tha UJw Sixth Flaet in Greaco Last August Congress turned down a massive military aid appropriation for tha colonels' reglAie but Nixon overrode tha legis- i 0 -4ieei- I tit 1 1 i I j-t iff ir i 1 ewwflHw uo ta i.