Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down
By Daily Bruin Staff
Nov. 10, 1997 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 11, 1997
Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down
Condom recall a little too late
Thumbs down to Ansell Personal Products for distributing 57
million defective condoms. Popular brands like "Lifestyles,"
"Contempo" and "Prime" were among the recalled condoms. The FDA,
along with Ansell Personal Products, agreed to provide an exchange
for consumers who brought back defective condoms. In some cases it
may be a little late. Will Ansell agree to pay for the results of
the defective condoms like unwanted pregnancies or life-threatening
STDs?
Clinton dinner not satisfying
Thumbs down to President Clinton for his hypocrisy. He recently
had dinner with actress and gay rights advocate Ellen DeGeneres.
Although Clinton is said to be the first sitting president to make
such an overt demonstration of support, his support may be flawed.
In 1992 Clinton addressed the issue of gays in the military by
making a "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy. Last year Clinton signed a
bill that bars federal recognition of same-sex marriages. Isn’t it
interesting how our top-ranked public officials often live their
lives through contradictions and hypocrisy?
Police abuse
is no surprise
Thumbs down to police officers in Humboldt County for abusing
the use of pepper spray. On two separate occasions the police were
caught spraying the eyes of logging protesters at close range.
Witnesses say that even when protesters began following the
officers’ instructions, they continued to pull back the heads of
protesters by their hair and apply the liquid spray onto the
surface of the eyeball using cotton swabs. Manufacturers as well as
doctors reviewed the tapes and issued a statement confirming that
the officers violated the guidelines for use of the spray. Are we
surprised? Since the incident there have been measures taken by
citizens to ban the use of the spray by officers, but in cities
like Berkeley, the council voted against it.
Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down represents a majority opinion of the Daily
Bruin Editorial Board. Please send comments to
[email protected].
