4A
Wednesday, November 9, 1994
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
No more sex in Missouri; legislators say it's illegal
The state of Missouri has outlawed sex.Language experts have agreed that the Missouri legislature passed a law that made intentional sexual contact between all people illegal.
Surely that was not the intention of the law; and state prosecutors say they will not prosecute any cases concerning the law, but the real harm does not lie in this particular error.
It is clear that the law was actually intended to protect individuals from being sexually abused, raped or otherwise molested by others.
The actual danger is in the fact that such a poorly written law was allowed to pass, because if that error can slip by, so can any number of other errors. And some will use those errors to their advantage.
A misplaced comma or improper phrasing could be
used to make or break any legislative decision or any criminal or civil case.
By displaying such disregard for the correctness of any written law, the Missouri legislature has shown a clear lack of concern for the future of the law or for the abuses that could result from such a law.
Not only should this law be immediately repealed and properly rewritten, the Missouri legislature should take additional precautionary steps in preparing laws for presentation to the legislature.
Lawmakers clearly need to show more interest in the legislation they are passing or failing because, as this incident has proven, even a grammatical error can distort the meaning of any piece of writing.
They should consider themselves lucky this time.
DONELLA HEARNE FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD.
Kansas basketball legends deserving of worthy tribute
With the basketball season just around the corner, the temptation to look back at KU's illustrious past is irresistible. While most schools claim to be rich in tradition, KU can make the claim better than anyone.
With such icons as James Naismith and Phog Allen in Kansas' history, more should be done to recognize their contributions to the game. A fitting and appropriate tribute would be a statue of the two men in front of Allen Field House, similar to the statue in front of Lippincott Hall.
Naismith and Allen's accomplishments are far from ordinary. Naismith invented the game and remains our only losing coach. Allen was the game's first great coach and has been dubbed "the Father of Basketball Coaching." Some of his most notable players were Adolph Rupp and Dean Smith, the two winningest coaches of all time.
Such a memorial would serve as an attractive addition to the exterior of the field house. Furthermore, it would constantly remind everyone, both friend and foe, of the contributions these two had on the University, as well as the game itself. An informative plaque could be attached at the base detailing their accomplishments.
Funding for such a project would be quick and easy. The money could be raised privately through donations by alumni and supporters. It's very possible that one person or a small group of supporters would be willing to pay for the whole project.
With the game of basketball's popularity expanding globally, the University of Kansas should not shy away from recognizing two of the game's founding fathers, both of which made Lawrence their home. Such a statue would be an appropriate tribute to two extraordinary men.
RICHARD BOYD FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD.
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TOMEBLEN
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Editors
Letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words. They must include the writer's signature, name, address and telephone number. Writers affiliated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison are required to submit a resume.
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and views on the authority of the Bible, let's see what it has to say about this issue.
The Kansan reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer Flint Hall.
The apostle Paul says, "Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peacefully with all. Beloved, never average yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'" (Romans 12:17-19).
Beware, stereotypes can be wrong
There are two things in this world that really make me mad.
The first is street-preachers who don't know what they are talking about. You know the type, they talk about the wrath and justice of God without mentioning the love he shows too. I get really angry at these types because they only tell half of the story. What also makes me mad is that this is sometimes the only way people hear about God, and what they are hearing is wrong.
So what's my point? Why am I telling you this?
Among the examples are Fred Phelps and Brother Jed. I don't know how many times I have heard these two preach. I do know that each time I have heard them, I became very angry and frustrated that so many people were listening to their half-truths and think this is what most Christians believe.
My second pet peeve is violent proliers. As an opponent to abortion, I
Because if all you see about pro-lifers is that they are despicable, radical and violent, you will naturally think this is true for all people who agree with them. But just because some people are irrational and violent doesn't mean the rest of us are.
do my part to promote the rights of the unborn; I write columns, I write letters and I talk with people about why I believe the way I do. WhenProfile protesters become violent, however, I set angry.
DAVID ZIMMERMAN
lifers seem to be saying, "This unborn baby's life is more important than yours." They are making a decision about whose life is more important than others.
Violence in protest to promote life is a severe contradiction in terms. In essence, by attempting to kill doctors who preform abortions, violent pro-
Their stereotypes terribly hinder my efforts to peacefully promote pro-life issues. Whenever I say I am pro-life, people think of me as a radical who will stop at nothing to see my cause fulfilled.
The obvious examples of this are the lady who attempted to kill Dr. George Tiller of Wichita and the man who was recently convicted of the murder of a doctor and his bodyguard in Florida.
Of course, the man in Florida would justify his actions in a different way. This man said his actions were justifiable homicide in defense of those who could not defer themselves.
This man's actions, however, remain unjustified. Since he, as most pro-lifers, would justify his actions
David Zimmerman is a Wichita senior in communications.
Sean Finn / KANSAN
Would you double-dog dare this columnist to give up TV?
What now?
Well, O.J. has his jury. It was long, it was difficult, but the selection process is complete.
I'm glad you asked because important decisions are about to be made. Not by Judge Lance Ito, he pretty much has his mind made up about the whole deal. Not by the prosecution or the defense, their jobs will get easier and easier as time passes.
I'm talking about the jury, I mean,
what TV shows would you pick?
There's Beverly Hills 90210, Mad About You, The Golden Girls and countless soap operas. Oh God, I almost forgot about Full House.
Those jurors are going to have to be brave people. They only get to pick three shows! And I bet Hard Copy and Current Affairs aren't even choices.
EDITORIAL EDITOR
The real question is: Jeez, what is this nation coming too? Not only do we have to sequester the jury because there has been so much stupid media coverage over the whole ordeal, but the jurors are so addicted to TV that taxpayers have to hire somebody to tape and edit their favorite shows. At least the ones they "can't live without."
OK, it's obvious I'm being facetious right?
I could not do it. I mean, how could you live without all that junk?
If they're worried about giving the jurors something to do, why don't they take them to the damn library? They can read, can't they? (I mean
DONELLA HEARNE
they could read anything but what she-face s" tell all" cruel novel.
Take 'em to Disney World if they're bored.
Maybe they could gain a "skill that nobody could take" from them. That's it, send them to Vo-Tech.
Anything but encourage them to sit on their flabby, couch-potato butts watching imitations of real life. I bet if they sat around and told stories about their own lives they'd come up with better material than they'd ever find on TV.
But it's not just the jurors I'm worried about. It's YU. Yes, YOU.
Obviously you can read, you're reading this. But are you a TV junkie anyway?
Just say no.
I admit I like my fair share of mindless drivel. I'll even admit that I sometimes watch hours of TV without even thinking about it. But I do not have and have never had an addiction to any singular program. I have gone
whole semesters without seeing Days of Our Lives. (Had to go to class, you know.)
It is time for this nation to kick the TV habit. For God's sake, take up smoking or drinking or something.
And now it's time for you all to say,
"Sure, easy for you to write some disjointed column about it, but can you do it?"
What kind of question is that? Of course I can. And if you really, really want me to prove it to you (and to myself) I just need 100 of you to send me a postcard or drop me a line at my office. It's the tiny cubicle in the Kansan newsroom, but beware, everyone else calls it a mailbox.) OK, how about 10, but you have to be total strangers.
And how will you know if I've succeeded?
Just count how many times you see my smiling face in one of these column picture boxes. If I'm on the page enough to get annoying (OK, more annoying), then I've given up the boob tube.
Test me.I'm ready.
But can you at least wait until Billie can prove Hope is really Gina and just brainwashed by Celeste to ruin Bo's life? Or until Jack and Jennifer have a confrontation and get back together? Or until that little brat Sammy falls off a cliff?
Donella Heine is a Wichita senior in Journalism.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Ska music not a high school clique
I am writing in response to Jack Birmingham's column on the subject of 'alternative' people.
I agree with your statement that "the word 'alternative' can no longer be used to describe something different or new," and the belief that it is now just a label for the Stusy-donning Lollapaloosers and their now trend culture-in-a-can.
"The highly alternative girls" you so eloquently judge in your column were skinheads (and for those of us not educated enough: no, they're not racists or Nazis, nor do they represent any such ignorant, closed-minded ideals or organizations.) Many of the people who attend ska shows are skinheads and rude-bobs.
We have been attending ska shows since the creation of this pre-reggae music shortly after Jamaican independence in the early 1960s, and it has been an integral part of our culture ever since. If we appear to be elitists, it is because of the degradation of sub-culture by "alternativism" and the paradoxical popularity of nonconformity.
It is not the enjoyment of ska music by others that is feared, just look at the recent popularity of such psuedo-ska bands as The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and MU330. It is inevitable that people will begin to listen to true saa, thereby increasing it's popularity. The result of this popularity, however, is feared and will be fought by us at every opportunity. The result of the popularity of grunge music, for instance, was that every image-starved fan went out to The Buckle and outfitted themselves with designer Italian flannel shirts and Doctor Martens.
We foresee a fate possibly befalling ska that is not unlike the fate of grunge music. Never want to see the day where Sharkskins, Braces and Porkpies become the “trend-of-the-week” and our culture is open to anyone who want to hop on the happy little MTV bandwagon.
I think that drawing parallels between "alternativism" and high school cliques is appropriate in certain genres of music but not in skulture. Sk culture is not an aristocracy, as it is far from it.
Your judgment of the entire skai scene was seemingly based on one conversation overheard (but not participated in!) by you between two people unbeknownst to you.
As for assuming to know how we think, well, that just shows your immaturity, and that all you know about sub-culture comes from the oh-so-safe corporate mind-tool called Music Television. Just for your information, we will not be the 51st state in the "Alternative Nation."
Eric P. Oyen
Auburn Freshman
HUBIE
Bu Grea Hardin