OPINION
Coming Thursday, November 8..
Brown: The Writer's Guild strike interrupts entertainment.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievance.
Williams: Speaker of the House Nancy Pcelos will visit the Dole Institute of Politics on Friday.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2007
PAGE 7A
NON-LINEAR MUSING
Who can we blame for not voting now?
Questionable intercollegiate study cites university for students' lack of civics knowledge, political illiteracy
We don't know jack about civics and it's all our universities' fault. Apparently that's what a recent study by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute concluded. The study found that the "average" college senior got a score of 54.2 percent in a civic literacy test. Oh my.
First, there is the whole issue of only utilizing a 60-question, multiple-choice test to evaluate a person's knowledge of something. It's absurd to think that you can really understand someone's grasp of a subject through a test, especially one
But is there truly something to be concerned about in this study?
that doesn't give space for developing and explaining one's reasoning. Also, knowing dates and names is somewhat important, but they are secondary to understanding a concept.
Second, the ISI is a conservative organization, and its test is clearly biased toward
that ideology. At least 10 questions are about economics and some of these are phrased in such a way to support free-market capitalism. Whether this truly has to do with civics is up for grabs, but one can't help but wonder.
But, lets ignore the ISI's faulty method. Campususes are hot spots for activism and political activity, but this seems to be conducted by a vocal minority; it is apparent that a large number of college students are uninterested in civic processes and institutions. It is, however, absurd to blame universities for this.
As a matter of fact, universities instigate interest in the civic process. Students are exposed to new ideas—ideas often called
subversive by organizations like the ISI—and different people, and with that political, social and culture awareness increases. Whether this is a lasting process or not is open to interpretation.
This happens precisely because in a good university class, the focus shifts from the memorization of names and dates to the nature of ideas and their consequences. When a student studies how a certain structure works, or reasons why it is unjust, it sparks an interest in him or her. Hopefully this interest will evolve into further involvement and questioning so that in the future we can construct a better society.
The reason a large number of students aren't involved in the civic process has less to do with universities and more to do with upbringing. There needs to be a greater emphasis on civic participation as a child grows up. This includes a greater emphasis on political participation when a child is in elementary, middle and high school. It also includes getting young people involved in politics.
How can this be done? Give their voice power. Why not lower the voting age to 16? Several countries have done this, and a teenager that age already has some sort of political conscience—not to mention that many already are "productive" members of society. Also, how about making Election Day a national holiday? Isn't there a slight possibility this would increase voter turnout? Actually, the lack of a national holiday just shows that our society values capitalism more than democratic participation. It's depressing.
So the problem isn't that young people don't know enough about civics. Yes, that could also be improved. The main issue is that our society doesn't trust them to be part of the political process. Once that trust is given, interest and participation will follow together with a healthier democracy.
De Oliveira is a Belo Horizonte, Brazil, junior in journalism, history and peace and conflict studies.
DRAWING BOARD
THE LIBRARIAN YOUR PARENTS WARNED YOU ABOUT
Lawsuit necessary in stopping hate
Court awarded settlement is a beginning in the struggle against the many questionable messages of Westboro Baptist
MAX RINKEI
Finally, the Phelps family got a little of what was coming to it.
Many people, including myself, cheered happily when the news broke that the law had finally been able to come down on Fred Phelps' church in Topeka. Last Wednesday, a Maryland judge ordered the church to pay, "$8 million in punitive damages and $2.9 million in compensatory damages," according to the Washington Post. The family of Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder filed the lawsuit after the Westboro Church protested Snyder's funeral with signs bearing distasteful slogans such as, "God Hates You" and, "Thank God for Dead Soliders."
The Snyder family filed claims on the grounds of, "invasion of privacy and infliction of emotional distress." Though some, including the Phelpses, claim that the Westboro Baptist Church has been disrespectful, but has not legally done anything wrong.
Certainly, there is little else more disrespectful and rude than showing up at a funeral bearing hateful signs. I am unable to understand how the Westboro Baptist Church feels this type of behavior is God's will. I guess I missed the part of the Bible that says you should actively hate large sects of the population or use slanderous terms to refer to others who don't. Probably because that part doesn't exist.
The God that I believe in is caring and forgiving. I'm fairly sure he doesn't champion vicious slandering, and I know He doesn't appreciate the Phelps family telling everyone who He hates and who He doesn't.
They're saying that the lawsuit has helped them get their "message" out. Well
ful for this verdict. On one of their Web sites, www.god-hatesamerica.com, the front page proclaims, "Thank God for the $10 million! [We] prayed for it to be $109 million!"
the Westboro Baptist Church claims they are extremely thank-
They're saying that the lawsuit has helped them get their "message" out. Well, it's certainly gotten them face time in the media, but I'm still unclear as to what their message is. To make my point, here's a riddle for you: what do Ronald Reagan, Jon Stewart and Mr. Rogers have in common? Answer: They've all been targets of the Westboro Baptist Church.
Even after reading countless articles on their protests and perusing their Web sites declaring their "message," I still have no clear idea what it is. The only common thread that I can find is that they believe God hates anything that, well, isn't the Westboro Baptist Church. Coretta Scott King? In hell for having, "feces-eating fag friends." Pope John Paul I? The church proclaims him, "the great pedophile pope." I can't tell what's at work here: brainwashing, insanity or mere attention-grabbing. Maybe a combination of all three.
Unfortunately, it seems this verdict will not stop their funeral protests. According to their Web site, "as long as the Lord our God gives us breath, and He continues to kill your G.I. Joe-wannabe brat kids, we will still preach at funerals."
Can we say unstable? Crazy?
Another down side: there is a good chance the verdict will be overturned when the church appeals. The important thing is that someone has managed to bring them down. Even if it can't register as a loss in the Phelps' senseless brains as a loss, the sane world has finally scored a win against the Westboro Baptist Church.
Gentry is a Kansas City junior in English and pre-medicine.
FREE FOR ALL: 864-0500 OR KANSAN.COM/FACEBOOK
I really hope the T-shirt that misspelled "you're" does not win the T-shirt contest, because that would be really damn embarrassing.
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.
Great. Everyone that saw the game is going to think that
If your hero is White Owl then you're really shooting for the starts.
In the T-shirt idea "If you can't beat KU, your not alone," the "your" should be Y-O-U-apostrophe-R-E.
Does anybody beside me think that this White Owl guy is a joke, and he should just leave our campus the hell alone?
Lawrence is full of crazy hippies like White Owl. It's not true.
I have come to the conclusion that if I was ever lost in the wilderness I would die.
I figured out why Kansas is so windy. It's because Nebraska blows and Oklahoma sucks.
I was just wondering why in the UDK they have more stories about Kerry Meier catching a touchdown pass than people shooting at Lewis Hell.
Go to YouTube and type "Kansas White Owl."
hell alone?
It wouldn't be a day in the life if organic chemistry didn't continue to rape me up the butt hole.
You know, giving Britney Spears
her kids back is like giving Michael Vick his dogs back — probably not a good idea.
Reasing hangs six touchdowns on Nebraska and doesn't get Big 12 offensive play of the week? Sweet Jesus! What does our team need to
do to get some respect?
I just saw a girl walking across campus wrapped in her comforter.
You know it's starting to get cold
on campus when you see a girl wearing Uggs and a high school letter jacket. Now that's awesome.
It's getting cold outside. Time to stop prowling for booty and find a snuggle-buddy.
I wonder if that girl that lives on the fifth floor of Oliver will ever notice me?
There's an army of North Face clones taking over the campus.
Get over it. The princess is always in another castle.
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The Editorial Board
Erick R. Schmidt, Eric Jorgensen,
Daria Slipe, Kelsey Hayes, Bryan
Dykman, Brandon T. Minister, Angellie
McNaughton and Benjamin R. Smith
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