THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE CROSSWORD CAN WAIT
PAGE 5A
It's a bird,it's a plane,it's a decent person!
People learn the definition of a hero at an early age. He could leap tall buildings in a single bound, fly around the world to reverse time, rescue mankind from Lex Luther, and still meet Lois Lane for dinner.
He was the costume for Halloween and the topic of conversation during recess. He was Superman. The hero: the one with the ability to save the world in the blink of an eve.
YELENA PAVLIK
opinion@kansan.com
We come to find, however, that just as coloring books are replaced with Shakespearean anthologies, our definition of a hero suddenly evaporates, and is tossed into the toy chest with the coloring books.
When we realized that Superman was no longer real, and that he would not swoop into save us from plummeting into Niagara Falls, our hope of a hero was washed away. It is not that the definition of a hero that has changed; people just begin to accept that one individual cannot
save the world.
This comfortable realization, so easy to accept, is wrong. The refusal to expand the engraved definition of the word "hero" affects the ability to see an everyday person, who truly improves the quality of existence for another, as a hero.
I was painfully shy, without confidence and filled with doubt for the future. Responding to a question in class shot chills through me, and I couldn't fathom the thought of anyone reading my writing aside from my required English essays.
It was not until I hesitantly walked into the journalism room as a junior in high school that I found the potential and ability I
always had, but was too afraid to embrace.
My journalism adviser spent hours working with me on stories and layouts preparing them for print, and preparing me for life.
She selflessly helped me develop a sense of self, confidence and passion for life as well as journalism. Without appearing on the cover of "Time" magazine or raking in millions, she is my hero. She saved my world.
Imagine life as a flip book. Think about the most significant events. Those that shift perspective, leave someone with a new sense of reality, or higher purpose.
Think about it.
Are you going to remember the score you made on your last math exam? Or will you smile at the memory of your best friend calling you three times a day that summer you broke up with your first love?
passed the last piece of legislation in Congress? Or will you sit and wondrously ponder at just how your favorite teacher inspired you to chase the dreams you never thought you could?
Will you think about who
Are you going to recall the number of metals America won during the last Olympic Games? Or will you silently count your blessing for the time that your parents grounded you after you chose to drink and drive?
Ten years from now, the winner of the Nobel Prize for molecular science will be forgotten, the baseball player with the most home runs will end up a plaque and the headlines covering the top fortune 500 company, along with last year's Mrs. America, will be in the newspaper recycling bin.
The hero is not the Superman with X-ray vision, the strength of 50 or the one with the biggest paycheck and most fame. True heroes are everyday people. They do not ask for glory
The refusal to expand the engraved definition of the word 'hero' affects the ability to see an everyday person, who truly improves the quality of existence for another, as a hero.
or compensation, they possess nothing more than will and desire.
months serving his country with nothing more then honor. They are the night janitor at the local convenience store who forges his mid-break coffee in order to give the saved buck or two to the homeless women he passes on this way home each night.
They are the middle-aged father who works three jobs in order to pay his children's way through college. They are the next door neighbor who has been overseas for the past six
All it takes is a single, selfless action, perhaps without forethought, to set the path in motion. The classification of a hero no longer lies within the boundaries of Superman, nor does it need to be tossed out with GIGO and Barbie.
None of these actions alter time and space, nor do they save the world in a single bound. These accomplishments, however, do leave a lasting impact.
Not only do these deeds validate another person's experience on this earth, but they allow someone to feel worthy, accepted and loved.
Free All
for
Call 864-0500
Pavlik is a Plano, Texas freshman in journalism.
Free for all callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded. Instant message the Free for All at "udkfreeall".
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Is it cheating if I google all of the crossword hints to find the answers?
Good news, Free for All. My girlfriend just called to tell me that she's not pregnant. Hurray for the Pill!
In May 2003, George W. Bush declared victory in Iraq. Now, he claims we won't exit until victory is achieved. I think we're a tad bit overdue to get out.
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Oklahoma is the place to be.
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So, I was walking to class and I saw a lady pull up in a van and take a stack of UDKs, and then drive off. Sketch
Thank God for Andrew Stangl. Except God doesn't exist.
The girl who works at McDonald's has a total crush on me. I know it. I just want her to tell me about it. I mean, come on. Let's be honest, drive-thru girl!
The girls on the Lawrence Country Club waitstaff are the most amazing hot girls I've ever seen.
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Don't you love how the KU Intramurals always puts the crappy teams against the overzealous frat teams?
Give us a chance.
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To the person who double parked on the roof of Corbin:
The KBC is ready and waiting with their keys.
Move yo' car!
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Christian mythology? I didn't know how immature our faculty members could be. Just because you have a personal problem with Christianity doesn't mean you should handle it in this immature of a way. An athiest has no business heading the department of religion.
I just beat my roommate at paper football! Whoo-hool! I'm going to go tear down the goalposts! Sarcasm off.
Dear Kansan: Is it that hard to print the crossword puzzle above the fold?
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Can't we all just get along?
RYAN HAS SPOKEN
You know, Free for All, now that you're on my buddy list you're always Away.
Where do you go? I miss you.
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What is the big deal about Chuck Norris?
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Ugh, the elevator at Strong is broken.
My life is now officially over.
Christ-missing the point
Christmas must suck for the Jews.
I sat and enjoyed the bright colors and cute jingles that played until I looked over and realized that the girl sitting next to me was Jewish.
A few nights ago, I was watching TV with friends and commercials came on. More specifically, Christmas commercials came on,
I'll admit that I felt more than a little bad. While it's true that the majority of Americans celebrate Christmas, Jewish people still have money to spend (insert stereotypical joke here) for their own holiday.
RYAN MULVENON opinion@kansan.com
Though I was a tad hesitant I leaned over to my friend, who hadn't even flinched while the commercials played, and asked her if the lack of Jew-friendly commercials bothered her in any way. She smiled and laughed.
And all she said was, "Honey, I'm from Texas. And Texans love their Jesus."
Well, as far as I know, it's true. The other Texans I know do love Jesus a great deal, but that doesn't justify exclusion. Isn't this supposed to be the country that embraces the minority whole-heartedly?
Christmas, at least to me, is
about embracing the people around us. So to exclude a whole group of people that are around us seems to go against the "holiday spirit."
The real problem is that none of the excluded seem to mind. I've asked my Jewish grandmother about it, and she couldn't have cared less.
I suppose at a certain point that Jewish people have no choice but to accept the insane power of Christmas, but they should still feel free to be pissed off about it.
To step back and look objectively at the two holidays, Christmas is one of the most significant Christian holidays and Hanukkah is one of the least significant Jewish holidays. Because of its proximity to Christmas, however, Hanukkah has become incredibly well-known and turned into sort of the Jewish equivalent of Christmas.
I'd be pissed if every commercial was advertising a Hanukkah sale.
If Christmas is so overwhelming that Jewish people have to make their own version of it, then we have a problem. It makes me think that the spiritual aspect of the holiday is gone, replaced by parents' need to buy their children as much as possible.
Not that I can complain; I love getting presents on Christmas. Everyone does.
But people are so gift-hungry that the entire month before Christmas is dedicated to it; the majority of our culture becomes obsessed with it. The holiday itself has lost its meaning.
By treating it as an excuse to indulge in materialism, Christmas isn't that big of a deal. The Jews can let it be meaningless, and if it continues along this path, apparently so can a lot of people who actually celebrate the holiday.
If people were to start emphasizing the religious aspect of the holiday and buy fewer gifts, I think we'd all be better off.
Our country has enough materialism as it is, who needs an entire day devoted to the celebration of it?
♦ Mulvenon is an Olathe freshman in art history and English.
Matthew Sevcik, opinion editor 864-4924 or msevcik@kansan.com
Sarah Connellly, business manager 864-4014 or adddirector@kansan.com
TALK TO US
Austin Caster, editor
864-8544 or acaster@kansan.com
Jonathan Kealing, managing editor
864-8544 or |keeling@kansan.com
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864-8544 or |bickel@kansan.com
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864-4462 or adddirector@kansan.com
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864-7864 or jweaver@kansan.com
Jennifer Weaver sales and marketing
The Kanas welcomes letters to the editors and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni.
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For any questions, call Austin Caster at 864-4810 or e-mail opinion@kanans.com.
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EDITORIAL BOARD
Also: The Kansan will not print guess columns that attack another columnist.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Elis Ford, Yanting Wong, Joel Simone, Danh
Hoy, Anne Wettern, Julie Parisi, Nathan
McGinnia, Joan Goettling, Sara Garlick,
Travis Brown, Julian Portillo, David Archer
SUBMIT TO
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Lawrence, KS 68045
(786) 864-4810 opinion@kansan.com
As a graduate student in religious studies and Amy Leochner's classmate, I find her recent letter to the editor both disturbing and insulting.
Dr. Mirecki's e-mail expressed his private opinion in what he believed was a private forum. It should not be allowed to reflect on our department as a whole.
Given that two of our faculty members are ordained clergy, a third faculty/clergy person recently retired after many years at the University and the variety of faiths represented in our student body, it is unfair and inaccurate to characterize the department as intolerant of any religious tradition.
We study religion because we recognize and respect its importance.
Dr. Mirecki's e-mail should
I am surprised and dissapointed to be attacked from within my own department by someone who ought to know better.
not be used to gauge the atmosphere in the department as a whole.
In many conversations with both faculty and fellow students, I have found no one who agrees with the tone of Dr. Mirecki's e-mail.
Having taken a class with Dr. Mirecki, I can attest that his personal opinions do not
I am surprised and disappointed, however, to be attacked from within my own department by someone who ought to know better.
impinge on his classroom conduct.
I expected conflation of Dr. Mirecki's private opinion with department policy from those who make knee-jerk accusations without taking the time to think through the issue.
If Amy had experienced intolerance in her classes, her accusation would be valid; however, that is not the case she makes in her letter.
She wants to discredit the entire department because of one professor's personal opinion expressed in a personal e-mail.
- Noelle Barrick,
Wichita, graduate student
in religious studies
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Rumsfeld shows true colors
I am utterly shocked at the complacency that ordinary citizens have exhibited in response to Donald Rumsfeld's implicit endorsement of torture.
Rumsfeld, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, corrected Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Tuesday after he said that all service members were obligated to intervene during a situation of abuse.
Rumsfeld claimed that physical intervention was never necessary. All anyone
could do was report it and hope for the best, he said.
Pace was, thankfully, curt in telling his boss that was not correct.
The arrogance evident in Rumsfeld's rhetoric is typical of the autocratic right wing.
Speaking of autocracy, the press conference was called for Rumsfeld to announce his desire to dehumanize insurgency by, without regard for the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or military, changing the term of reference from insurgent to something he will
decide on later.
"Insurgents," though accurate, is apparently too humanizing.
As if silence and the snide lack of consideration in response to the horrors at Abu Ghraib prison were not complacent enough, now our government has implicitly endorsed torture.
It makes me wonder how long until our government does so explicitly?
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♦ A. Bryce Myers
Overland Park sophomore
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