Page 5 - coccanyoncall_fy19771978

Page 5

OPINION

Will They Say,

"U.S. Get Lost"?

By Jim Walsh
Problems are stirring down south
in little Panama.
President Jimmy Carter has
achieved a goal to return the
/
Panama canal to its rightful own-
ers, the people of Panama.
A treaty was signed yesterday in
Washington D.C.
Maybe treaties should be written
on toilet paper, especially in this
day and age when a little country
such as Panama hasn't gotten out of
kindergarten yet as far as self
government is concerned.
What is to prevent dictator
Torrijos Herrera from saying, "Get
lost U.S., I'm going to nationalize
the canal."
First of all, the treaty is very
"slow". The canal will not be
released to the Panamanians until
the year 2,000. If there's friction
now between the United States and
Panama, what will happen in the
COC's Jim Boykin (center) poses in 1963 with a coastguard skipper and five elementary school teachers he trained for the next 20 years?
first school ever constructed'in the outer islands, Yap district, Micronesia. Two of the teachers are now Yap district In my opinion, the Panama Canal
congressmen, one was lost at sea, and two will soon retire. Boykin revisited the islands last summer to be present when a is not as useful to the United States
high school was named in his honor. ( See accompaning story below). as it was in the early 1900's. But
national pride is involved. To keep it
is absurd.
Micronesians Honor Jim Boykin Bus service to and from Now that the Panamanians are
College of the Canyons and getting their own way, they should
be able to manage it, they should
By Naming High School For Him Saugus, Canyon Country, pay for its up-keep and they should
Friendly Valley, Valencia and
Newhall is available to stu- not depend on us like a parasite in
Uncle Sam's stomach.
dents on Mondays and Fri-
By Linda Hitzeroth President Carter already agreed
days, the Santa Clarita Valley
Seven thousand miles from here "It was one constant party," Bus Service has announced. to give Panama a $345 million dollar
- on an exotic South Sea island - Boykin said. "But a lot of work, One-way student fare is $.25. package, over and above the $2.3
there's a new school called the too." Detailed route maps from million we give them every year. If
James D. Boykin High School. A ware that many Ulithians suffer each community to COC are it weren't for the United States
It is named in honor of COC's from diabetes, Boykin initiated an available at the Student having constructed the canal, Pana-
highly regarded biology instructor, educational program emphasizing Activities office in the Stu- ma's land would be zilch. Panama's
Jim Boykin, who has returned to his proper diet to help control the dent Center. economy is based mostly on the
classes here after a summer on disease. canal.
Ulithi Atoll in the Yap district of the He also organized a research Militarily, we should not be
Trust Territory of Micronesia. project to help in ultimate reduction Temptation was placed before alarmed. We really have no use for
The story goes back to 1961 when of the affliction. Boykin by the islanders who hold the canal. Our aircraft carriers and
Boykin left a comfortable teaching While Boykin rejoiced in his him in such high regard. They tried other ships are too big to use it. We
job in the United States to answer reunion with the island people he to convince him to remain with them have navies in both oceans. Presi-
the siren call of the South Pacific. had learned to love years ago, he permanently this time. dent Carter's treaty states that we
Before he could teach he had to was disturbed by the emergence of Boykin admitted he considered will continue to protect it.
build a school from the sand up a new problem - alcoholism. the proposal. The 1903 treaty was to be "in
which he did on Asor Island about "I don't have a great aversion on "But then a friend .pointed out perpetuity," but now the Pana-
800 miles south of Guam. moral grounds," he explained. "It's that I could probably do as much or manian government doesn't go for
(The United States, under United just that I find excessive drinking to more for the people by returning to that anymore.
Nations trusteeship, administers be a destructive force." COC and sponsoring students as I But remember, a treaty is a piece
the Pacific Islands' Trust Territory, Boykin -observed that the Micro- have been doing for several years." of paper, and not the attitude of the
a vast South Pacific area containing nesians are suffering "cultural Five Micronesian students are heart. If the 1903 treaty is being
some 2,140 tropical islands). shock" frustrations. attending COC this fall, all spon- broken now, does anybody have a
Each year· another grade was "We've destroyed an old culture sored by the biology teacher. They, definite guarantee that the new
added to the school, and locals were and put nothing in its place," he as have a number of others in the 1977 treaty will not also be
trained to teach. The first class was pointed out. "Consequently, the past, will live with Boykin in his scrapped?
graduated in 1967. islanders are enduring a difficult Valencia home. I wonder what that tough rough-
A decade later - last summer - period of extreme transition and The five are Lazorus Ulith, rider Teddy Roosevelt would have
Boykin made a nostalgic return to upheaval. In their frustration, many Lourdes Lamog, Cyrilla Tathog, to say about all this?
the islands and learned the district have turned to drink." Louis Tamang and Julie Yale mar.
legislature had passed a bill author- The students from Micronesia and
Boykin minced no words in telling
izing that a high school be named in the islanders that he was disap- Boykin have a "deal". TRANSFER STUDENTS
his honor in recognition of the pointed in this development ( to "The agreement we have is that Students planning to transfer to a
pioneering educational services he drink). after they get an education here, Californian state college or uni-
had performed years ago. they are to return to the island versity next fall (1978) should apply
Boy kin was treated as a VIP "I told them I didn't like it, that I home - not remain in the United beginning Nov. 1, 1977. Stop by the
everywhere he went. Each island was disappointed, and that by States as so many foreign students Counseling office to sign up by Sept.
arranged a special feast for him. All continuing they would undo much of do (or attempt to). 23 for a planned workshop on the
knew the foods he enjoyed most, the good that has been achieved in "They are to go home and help transfer requirements and prob-
serving him lobster and crab almost improving their lives in recent improve the quality of life on the lems. Time and place for the
every day. years." islands of their birth." workshop will be announced.