4
Wednesdav. February 4, 1976
University Daily Kansan
KANSAN Comment
Oinions on this page reflect only the view of the writer.
Movnihan mellows
Daniel P. Moynihan bit the dust at the OK Corral Monday.
He did it with a calmness much unlike the rest of his stay as the United States ambassador to the United Nations, announced that "It is time to teach" to teaching.
However, the erudite professor has, in his own way, been doing just that for the six and one-half months he has been at the United Nations. He has lectured the other U.N. delegates and the world on Zionism, the place of the third world in present diplomacy and myriad other topics.
Moynihan was given the UN position largely because of an article in which he urged Washington to take the offensive against countries that were making the United States a whipping boy at the United Nations.
He accurately described his plans when he presented his credentials to Secretary General Kurt Waldheim July 17
"This animal is not wicked," he said,
but when it is attacked it defends itself.
In doing this he called the General Assembly "the theater of the absurd," Ugandan President Idi Amiin a "racist murderer," a UN committee report on the 1975 islands "rubbish" and the 1875 U.N. session "an alarming disappointment."
Perhaps his most virulent U.N. speech came when the General Assembly approved a resolution Nov. 10 calling Zionism a form of racism. Moynihan declared that the United States "does not acknowledge, it will not abide by, it will never acquiesce in this infamous act."
"the abomination of anti-Semitism"
"the appearance of international sanction."
Moynihan spoke out when others were
afraid to comment and because of this has ranked diplomats in the State Department. Although he often expressed the sentiments of President Ford or Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, his speeches were just as likely self-inspired, which didn't endear him to his bosses.
Twice before, he came close to resigning when he didn't think he was getting the support he needed as the U.S. spokesman. In November, Moynihan withdrew a threat to resign when he received no initial support after the delivery of a speech by the British delegate containing a veiled attack on the United Nations and amidst the storm on the blasted heath," and said that whatever the United Nations might be, "it is not the OK Corral and I am not Wyatt Earp."
Just last week, Moynihan felt compelled to send a cablegram to Kissinger and all U.S. embassies saying that he was being opposed in his campaign to crack the anti-American bloc at the United Nations.
Ironically, Kissinger told a panel discussion in Los Angeles Monday night that America had better unify behind its "enormous potentials for chaos."
It was precisely this chaos that Moynihan was working in the United Nations to avoid. His tough-guy stand united many liberals and conservatives in his support. Thus many Americans were dismayed by the seeming callous attitude of Ford and Kissinger toward Moynihan's forcibly oppressive approach when Moynihan spoke or stepped out of bounds, that Ford and Kissinger had to answer, or stand up for his actions.
And when high noon struck Monday,
Moynihan had to do the same.
By Betty Haegelin Associate Editor
Ford's feet not an issue
Just how clumsy is Gerald Ford?
It's hard to say, really. Nobody could be as clumsy as the increasing number of Gerald Ford jokes say he is. And although it is doubtful whether Ford is the coordinated marvel Ron Nessen seems to think he is, he still gets around very well for a 60-year-old man.
But even if the President were completely uncoordinated, it shouldn't be that important. There are more important issues in the upcoming election than which candidate is the best option and what unfortunate result to vote against Ford and almost any of them are better than "because he falls down a lot."
But a candidate's coordination—or other facets of his personality, such as how he dresses or talks or what kind of wardrobe he uses, is an important factor when deciding whom to vote for.
You could vote against him because of the budget, or Israel, or the CIA, or unemployment, or inflation. You could even vote against him because you don't think he's quite up to the job intellectually.
The present system of primaries, the 30-second profiles on the evening news
and the short commercial announcements don't really give the voter anything but the candidate's personality to decide on. The problem is especially bad when there are almost a dozen Democratic presidential candidates. Little but superficialities can be examined.
When one of these superficialities, such as Ford's clumsiness or Henry "Scoop" Jackson's dullness, is blown even further out of proportion by a press secretary's overreactions and by overreactions to these overreactions, it's surprising that there's any room left for issues at all.
A candidate's personality is, of course, impossible to ignore completely. There's nothing wrong with noticing, for example, that the candidate has an irritating laugh.
It would be nice, however, if people wouldn't vote against Ford just because they think he's clumsy, or—even worse—voted for him because they think people have been picking on him for being clumsy.
There's a lot more than that to worry about this election year.
By Jim Bates Contributing Writer
Rv Tim Ratios
SAGNIAW, Mich.—All of us are at least dimly aware—it is impossible not to be aware of the impact of changing technology on our lives. But it is also important upon the political process? It is far more pervasive than is generally thought.
Leaders follow technology
That is the conclusion of a small group of scholars at Saginaw Valley State College who are spending this year in an intensive examination of technology and politics. Having heard from a number of students at Saginaw Valley State College of philosophy, they recently invited a Washington newspaperman to lecture. His was perhaps an application of the Hruska theory of judicial interpretations of government implications of this world deserve a little representation. The faculty members of Saginaw's Academy of Applied Philosophy are concerned, at bottom, with leadership. They believe leadership is a fundamental characteristic of a culture. If so, how is leadership encouraged and nurtured? Why does history reflect periods of active, passionate leadership, the quality of leadership periodically go into a slump? Their immediate concern is with American leadership during the past 25 to 30 years. In the view of many observers, the evidence of a correlation between declining leadership and expanding technology? Are our leaders so bewildered by the rush of events that we experience uncertain sound? The Saginaw scholar suspect this is true.
It is the custom of the academic world to speak of "political science," but politics is seldom a science. It is an art, not a science. The political leader, seeking office, must be skilled in communications; once he wins office, he has to deal with an astonishing variety of issues in the public domain, not, technology has blim down.
This past quarter century has witnessed radical changes in communication. Their impact is but dimly understood.
Sticks have many talents. If
By James J.
Kilpatrick
(c) Washington the Sundale
stations were on the air. We were newspaper and radio oriented and these media are very different from television.
When Harry Truman was running for president in 1948, the computer was no more than a primitive tool. The science of polling had not advanced greatly beyond the Literary
Or are they following sophisticated polls?
Over most of our political history, science has ranked low on the list of priorities in cerms. It was enough that a congressman had a rudimentary knowledge of swords and plowshares. Until recently, only scientists dealt with scientific issues, and their role was modest.
Today the role of television in political communication has assumed immense importance, but it is not so well known but also in defining issues.
If a stick is treated in a humane way, he is a very good pet. He is quiet and easily entertained. If you take him to a lake, he will float contentedly all afternoon. He is also a clean man who doesn't uncontrollably sap but this problem is solved with age.
expected to legislate on oil shale, coal deagnasification, the diseases of shellfish and the disposal of atomic wastes. Does his trumpet give an uncertain sound? It does indeed.
It is small wonder that today's member of Congress, looking at the legislative calendar, feels out of his depth. He has an impact of technology like a stone in his stomach. Somehow he is expected to understand and to demonstrate the quality of wise leadership in atomic fusion, solar energy, sulfuric acid, biofuels, supersonic transport and sequential contraceptive. He is
Television. The computer. The satellites. The hot line. What have they meant in terms of the political process? In 1949, as the period began, only 949,000 families had TV sets; only 50 TV
Would we have better government—better leadership—if our politicians were highly trained in chemistry and physics? It is a doubful proposition. The quality of political leadership can't be improved from a lack of flame. We will get better leaders one of these days, when our society again produces men and women of integrity, intelligence and honor, whose special gift is to understand the eternal conflict between liberty and control, and understand the rise of technology, fine; but they ought first to understand the fall of Rome.
Did you ever feel lonely and a pet rock just couldn't help? Maybe you need to broaden
Sticks say love me like a rock
CAMPAIGN '76
But the hardships were only beginning for the stick. Now as he lies upon the ground, people pick him up and throw him. Next thing he knows, a dog is chewing on him and carrying him around. Other sticks have marshmallows and are tossed into fires. Others are tossed into fires and destroyed.
By Marne Rindom Contributing Writer
one is long enough, he will gladly support his owner like a cane. Also, if he is gently
your horizons. There are all kinds of objects that are eager to help if you need a friend. For example, take a stick. Both you and the stick could benefit from a lasting relationship.
The Kansas welcomes letters to the editor, but asks that letters be typewritten, double-spaced and no longer than 400 words. All letters are subject to editing and condensation, according to space limitations and the editor's judgment. The student must provide their name, year in school and hometown; faculty must provide their name and position; others must provide their name and address.
Most sticks have had a rough time and deserve to be loved. Think about it a minute. Even the act of becoming a stick is violent. Most sticks probably were leading contented lives as branches when, through the fire, humans they were broken off and to left live their remaining days as sticks.
Letters Policy
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southern plantations have the southern charm and sophistication of the antibellium era. Also, some sticks are direct descendants from famous historical trees. In this bicolentennial year, who wouldn't be proud to own a relative of George Washington's cherry tree?
The list of fine points continues on and on. The versatility of sticks far outranked that of any rock. Now, I'm not saying that rocks are completely useless. They are a very ef-
sharpened at one end, he enjoys participating in games like cowboys and Indians.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
reactive weapon if you have the urge to throw them at someone. But even throwing rocks is more effective if you turn a forked stick into a slingshot. Besides, I don't know of a single rock that has led anyone to water.
people and placed in the mud. Sticks have a wide range of color combinations, family backgrounds. Sticks from oaks are often self-confident to the point of being conceited; weeping willow branches can be used for emotion. Poplars and birches usually have even temperaments and make fine pets. Some sticks have prestigious backgrounds that would make them especially suitable as descendants of the trees of the
So go out and find a stick you can love. It doesn't cost you anything. If you prefer, though, keep your rock and ignore the sticks. But remember the usefulness of sticks the next time you try to give someone the short end of your rock.
He loves playing an arrow to a spear. He can be shaken at people and placed in the mud.
Readers Respond
Hopeably, "hopeably" acceptable
"Hopeably," I had long been desiriful that I might never write to the Kansan. Desireable as I was, I could no longer withstand the impulse. As someone loving of the Kansan, I must maintain a balance between my affection for the past and my interest in the nowish and futurable development of the language. Still, I am brought up shortly when I encounter the formative years of "Hopeably"? Perhaps too much reading of the old Chicago Tribune, or an uncontrollable reverence for Time? A maniacal loathing of Edwin Newman? Some childly trauma during the formative years of this life will reach to this, I am sincerely hopeable that suchly occurrences will be cessant.
To the Editor:
Today, hopeably. Tomorrow, The Dayfully Kansish?
James J. Scally Lawrence graduate student
Editors Note—The use of hopefully is a vigorously debated topic by many lexicographers, including several interested professors in the School of Journalism. The term was meant to be hopeful, about which the American Heritage Dictionary says: "as used to mean 'in such a manner as to be
hoped" or 'let us hope', is still unacceptable to a substantial number of authorites." Theodore Bernstein, an expert on English usage, outlines the controversy in his book, "The Carefulness of Writing": "He carefully can't take the place of the phrases "it is hoped that," or "if hopes are realized". He ends his discussion by saying "... in English we can take care of a somewhat similar situation where the same kind of that calls for regret) as contrasted with regrettely (in a manner full of regret). But regretfully hopefully is not equal to the burden sometimes placed upon it. What is needed to overcome this, which is not here being nominated for the job."
The Kansan hereby makes that nomination.
Family law
To the Editor:
and married, by law you cannot receive family planning services. If you are under 18, single, sexually active and have parental consent to receive such services, you may not. If you are under 18 you may not receive any counseling or information on family planning, education, health care, and not married must be referred by the clinic to a licensed physician.
I believe that this law and its interpretation discriminate against single persons, low income and minority groups, and people with a history of age. Family planning clinics are designed to give high quality comprehensive care to anyone who needs or desires to prevent pregnancy; those who cannot afford the services of a private physician.
Welfare recipients can receive medical care through private physicians, and those in middle income groups or above are required to have care. What about those in between those two groups: young marrieds who desire to plan their families, or single parents who lack responsibility and wish to receive proper medical care, education and contraception information? These people have the right that health clinics can provide information, education and
treatment for venereal disease to those who request it, regardless of age or marital status, but now the law is being interpreted to deny these same sexually active people any information or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
We should all be aware of what family planning clinics provide. Most family planning clinics follow HEM guidelines and use medical history and comprehensive physical examination.
There are also follow-up questioning, checks on abnormalities related to present or past medical or surgical problems, and referrals to other physicians. It is private physicians when necessary. The clinics also provide other education.
I am concerned about individual rights and needs. You may not need these services, but why should the state law mandate them? Why should they and want them? Where is the equality in our health care?
If you are a teenager, married or single, a parent, a single adult or a concerned citizen, please get in touch with your legislator and express desire to deny any additional information. Call the Douglas County Health Department, 843-0721.
Karen Edmister
Lawrence graduate student