THE UNIVERSITY DARY GANSAN
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014
PAGE 6A
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TEXT FREE FOR ALL
opinion
Text your FFA submissions to (785) 289-8351 or at kansan.com
Some people's logic: Guy waits 15min for the bus so that he can ride it to the building next door.
Someone should organize a Flash Mob. Do it soon
Does anyone else in the dorms have like A MILLION dead flies in their window sill? Where do they come from?
I just love getting pelted in the face with hail.
To the person who missed the 36:
you know there's a schedule, right?
If you leave it to chance, you're
probably going to occasionally
miss a bus. - A Bus Driver
Kansas, the only state where it rains and snows on the same da
A foot of snow...then 70 degrees...
now snowing again. Must
be getting close to spring
break in Kansas!
Shout out to whoever quoted The Labyrinth, *we love you David Bowie*
There is one leaf that hung onto a tree at work for the entirety of winter this far. What a champ.
Did anyone else hear that loud banging noise outside school halls on Friday night at 3 AM? Maybe that's just the gin speaking...
By how long the camping groups take to get in you'd think no one had ever done this before.
Never do you ever relate Wiggins to Bieber...never.
There's newsletter confetti *in* my sock...
My new KU password: 20. Me: 3.
WHY?
Shit, I wish my friend would set me up with someone. #Jealous.
when Kansas beat Texas it all but sealed up the big twelve for the tenth straight year. #DecadeOfDominance
What babe?
The babe with the power.
Tried to use a newspaper as an umbrella and realized that it only works in movies.
POLITICS
Friends who make cookies are friends for life.
Just saw a commercial for KU where Big Jay was hanging out in Anschutz. Why don't I ever see Big Jay studying there?
That basketball game!
Legislators fail to separate church and state
The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United
States distinctly calls for the separation of church and state. This is a founding principle of America, ensuring that the government will in no way force religion upon its citizens or endorse a specific religion, while at the same time not interfering with any religious practice. Though individual state governments are bound to abide by this rule, some have tested the limits of this constitutional foundation. In particular, Kansas, often with no degree of subtlety, incorporates religion into its government proceedings.
Governor Sam Brownback, in his recent State of the State address, clearly
overstepped the line separating church and state. At times he sounded more like a preacher than a governor, with lines like, "As has been foretold to us: God is in Heaven" and "We know the way. God wrote it in our hearts." This overtly religious tone was present throughout the address. Brownback, in all, mentioned God seven times. This stands in contrast to President Obama's State of the Union address, where the word "God" was only said three times though his speech was more than twice as long.
The relationship of church and state in Kansas needs to be evaluated. When the governor makes statements such as, "Our dependence is not on big government, but on a big God that loves us
and lives within us," it seems clear that the government is endorsing Christianity. In addition to religiously fueled speeches, both the State Senate and the House of Representatives begin their daily sessions with prayer. This is certainly not out of the ordinary; the federal legislature continues this practice as does several other states. However, it's time that this custom is examined.
More than 80 percent of Kansans identify as Christians, according to
a Pew survey. Though the majority of Kansans are Christians, the diverse religious views of the state need to be recognized. Brownback may hope that every Kansan is a God-fearing Christian, but this is simply not the case.
He and other politicians seem afraid that their religious views are in danger. This is evident with the language used in the State of the State address and the recent bill, HB 2453, that passed in the House. This bill, which states that it will protect religious freedom, instead impinges upon the views of anybody who is not a conservative Christian. Thankfully, this bill failed to even appear before the Kansas Senate, so it will not be passed into law for the
time being. However, the fact that this bill passed so easily in the House speaks to the attitude that many Kansan politicians hold regarding the separation of church and state.
It is time, in Kansas and in the United States, to examine how religion is treated within government. Invoking the name of the Christian God in speeches and introducing bills that attempt to deal with a perceived threat to religion directly go against the separation of church and state. The government needs to work to further inclusion and be less overtly biased toward Christianity.
TRENDS
Ike Uri is a freshman from Concordia studying English and sociology.
Social media movement spreads acts of goodwill
It has never been easier to start a trend. All it takes is the insertion of a simple hashtag and the press of a button. Martin Luther King Jr. could have simply created, #IHaveADream, and tweeted out the rest of his iconic speech in segments of 140 characters. Would that have been as moving? Would it have the same impact?
On Wednesday, I saw a social media movement unfold before my eyes. I thought it started off as a good cause that was stripped of its significance over time, but I had it all wrong. In fact, it was the complete opposite.
As soon as I got home from class and did a running jump onto my bed and logged in to Facebook. The first thing to appear on my newsfeed was a video with the hashtag, #FeedTheDeed. I also noticed a notification showing me that I had been tagged in the comment section of this video. Intrigued, I clicked through and was led to a 30-second clip that showed two of my friends hand-delivering cupcakes to a construction worker in downtown Lawrence. The comment I had been tagged in nominated me to pay it forward.
The object of #FeedTheDeed is to encourage others to pass along goodwill. The video included directions, informing me that, "The people tagged below have
24 hours to perform a random act of kindness and share it on Facebook with #FeedTheDeed. Then each of those five people must nominate five more people!"
Kindness Counts, a Toronto-based non-profit organization that intends to inspire and spread kindness, launched the #FeedTheDeed initiative just weeks ago. Founder Russell Citron was inspired to create the movement when he saw a video his friend, Josh Stern, had posted in response to something entirely different.
Stern had been nominated to fulfill a Neknomination bid. For those of you who have seen, or possibly even posted, a video of someone accepting a challenge to quickly consume alcohol before passing on the challenge to a friend, then you know what I'm talking about.
popularity in Canada and has now entered into the States.
"The game, known as Neknominate, is thought to have originated in Australia and is now sweeping the world," reported CNN.
What we consider "chugging,"Aussies consider "necking,"hence the name of the game. Neknominate gained
The Toronto Sun reported that Nekominate is "peer pressure drinking on a global scale." From cyberbullying to cyber-peer pressure, what will we come up with next?
I have seen countless videos — both advocating for #FeedTheDeed and Neknominate — appear on my newsfeed each time I log in to Facebook, which is more times than I would like to admit.
Next time you find yourself gulping down a cold one, my first suggestion would be to perhaps not post a video of it on social media. But more importantly, I suggest spending your time to propel a cause forward rather than hold it back.
LETTER GUIDELINES
While at first I was annoyed to see such a positive initiative revoked of its meaning, I felt a rush of relief once I found out that it was actually developed to rouse rivalry. Social media can create a meaningful movement, one that makes an impact. We might as well take advantage of the technology we have at our disposable — as long as we do truly use it to our advantage.
You have officially been nominated.
I challenge you to #FeedTheDeed
SEE #FEEDTHEDEED IN ACTION AT KANSAN.COM/OPINION
Lyndsey Havens is a sophomore from Chicago studying journalism.
If you could ask any question of the student body, what would you ask?
rollow us on Twitter @ KansanOpinion. Tweet us your opinions, and we just might publish them.
CAMPUS CHIRPS BACK
FFA OF THE DAY The first thing I plan to do after I graduate is catch up on 4 years of sleep.
ADVICE
**Length:** 300 words
The submission should include the author's name grade and hometown. Find our full letter to the editor policy online at kansan.com/eletters.
Allison Kohn, managing editor akohn@kansan.com
Katie Kutsko, editor-in-chief
kkutsko@kansan.com
Don't take your life for granted
Length: 300 words
Lauren Armendariz, managing editor
larmendariz@kansan.com
Send letters to opinion@kanan.com. Write LETTER TO THE EDITOR in the -m mail subject LETTER.
HOW TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Anna Wenner, opinion editor
awenner@kansan.com
Sean Powers, business manager spowers@kansan.com
It is natural, especially as college students, to spend your time thinking of all the things going wrong in your life. We all do it, sometimes without even knowing it. I know that every day when I wake up I immediately think about what schoolwork I have to do, how long I have to work that day and all the other boring things I need to get done. It's hard not to.
However, recently, I've realized that so many people have it worse off than I do. I take so many simple things for granted, like the fact that I have supportive friends and family, shelter and especially my health.
Kolby Botts, sales manager kbotts@kansan.com
Think about how miserable you are when you are sick with the flu for a week. Imagine feeling that way all the time. Some people are extremely sick all the time and still have to do all the boring, everyday things that I have to do. I know for certain that I would not be a fan of that.
My sister, unfortunately,
is one of those people. She
has had plenty of medical
problems in the last ten
years that she has had to deal
with on top of everything
else going on in her life.
She recently was diagnosed
with a brain disorder called
Chiari Malfunction, which
means she has had a horrible
migraine for the past few years
(everyone's dream, I know).
She finished school, takes
care of her son and goes to work every day, always with a smile on her face. Since I never heard many complaints, sometimes I was unsure if she was still even having medical problems. As for me, I would react by pouting every second of every day.
Molly Smith is a sophomore from Lenexa studying speech-language pathology.
Plenty of people are going through things like this. Some people have cancer, some have lost someone close to them and some people are fighting every day just to survive. Kind of makes that math test you were complaining about seem a little less horrendous now, huh?
By Molly Smith
opinion@kansan.com
I guess I'm just trying to make those of you who complain about all the silly things feel bad about it. I do it, too. We should feel bad about it. Try putting yourself in someone else's shoes every once in a while. It can really change your perspective, and maybe even make your life seem uniquely glamorous. Applaud those who are being positive while going through tough times and hope that God gives them the strength to keep being brave.
@m2marcus
@KansanOpinion Why can't we form an orderly line during basketball games? Group 70 does not need to be up front before they open doors.
@MelanieRR
@KansanOpinion Why is it so hard for people to walk on the right side of the sidewalk?
@loganzane512
@KansanOpinion why do you ruin the Rock Chalk chant and National Anthem by Whooing and saying "Go chiefs"?
@MorganAideen
@KansanOpinion What changes would you like to see on campus? What matters to you?
CONTACT US
Brett Akagi, media director and content strategist
hakazi@kansan.com
Jon Schitt, sales and marketing adviser
jschitt@kansan.com
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Katie Kutso, Allison Köhn, Lauren Armendariz, Anna Wenner, Sean Powers and Kolby Bots.
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