Word: plight
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...other current concern which Joel chooses to patronize is the plight of the Vietnam War veterans. In "Goodnight Saigon," he launches into a sappy, unoriginal tribute to motors, rotors, lost friends and chilling war memories. "Our arms were heavy, but our bellies were tight," he croons. Between the beginning and ending sounds of a helicopter, courtesy of a synthesizer, Joel shows his desperation for relevance by trying to conjure up vivid, fresh images. After commenting on how "we played our Doors tapes" which shows that he saw Apocalypse Now before creating this song. Joel dramatically declares. "And it was dark...
...recent years, the plight of orphan-disease victims has begun to capture national attention and stir concern. Beginning in 1980, several dramatic hearings of the House Subcommittee on Health and the Environment raised awareness of the issue with testimony from Marjorie Guthrie, the singer's widow, Actor Jack Klugman, whose TV show Quincy devoted an episode to Tourette's syndrome, and researchers like Van Woert. A study by the committee identified 134 drugs to treat orphan diseases, but found that only 58 were on the market or even under investigation by drug manufacturers. Furthermore, more than two-thirds...
...Sociology Department's current plight stems from a Faculty-wide syndrome: the extraordinarily high standards Harvard sets for tenured professors, whose appointments are for life, tends to reduce the field to scholars who are comfortably established where they...
Compounding the crisis are the currency controls instituted by López Portillo, who unjustly blames much of his country's economic plight on sacadólares, wealthy Mexicans who have been sending their money out of the country to safer havens. The scattershot regulations restrict the amount of currency that anyone can take out of Mexico. Tourists, except those visiting just the border areas, must declare all the cash they bring in. Foreign-owned industries may have trouble sending profits home; most Mexican businesses are hard pressed to obtain foreign currency for paying off outside debts; and banks...
Part of the plight comes from simple confusion. Once it becomes clear exactly how the food-export ban and currency controls will be enforced, business will settle down, although perhaps not thrive again. The underlying problem of the jittery Mexican peso, however, will probably remain unresolved until after Dec. 1 at least, when Miguel de la Madrid Hurtado takes over as Mexico's new President. That is a short time in the life of nations, but an eternity for beleaguered shopkeepers on both sides of the Border. -By Walter Isaacson. Reported by Sam Allis/El Paso and Cheryl Crooks/Calexico