OPINION
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE CROSSWORD CAN WAIT
PAGE 7A
Don't trust or rely on one news source for Iraq info
When I picked up the editorial page last Monday, I read a story that claimed post-war Iraq was almost in anarchy. It really saddened me to think about all the work and money we've invested in Iraq, as well as the lives of more than one thousand American soldiers and
MATT SEVCIK msevcik@kansan.com
and American soldiers the civilians. And don't forget about all the Iraqi civilians who are working as peacekeepers and police and those who were willing to give up their lives because they believe so desperately in cleaning up their country.
I was depressed all day.
But then I remembered I would be silly to get my news from a college newspaper's editorial page.
So I decided to look somewhere else for the low-down on Iraq. As it turns out, a lot of amazing things are happening in Iraq. Many people have been working very hard for what they believe is an incredibly noble cause.
Unfortunately, the space of one editorial column is not enough to comprehensively show people that good is actually being done in Iraq. So I will simply highlight the positive effects that have occurred in the lives of Iraqi women.
This is a subject very conveniently forgotten when The New York Times picks a headline. The headline, "Women in Iraq much better off thanks to efforts of soldiers," apparently sells fewer papers than something that might read, "Everything in Iraq Is Completely Dicked."
When the Ba'ath party took control of Iraq in 1968, women were already in the workplace, studying at college and enjoying relatively equal rights. The Ba'ath party drew up a constitution that seemingly preserved these rights. But a great portion of this constitution was never enforced. It's not like Saddam Hussein was known for keeping his word.
Instead, Hussein decided to enforce laws that were far more brutal — laws that legalized honor killings. Women were then beheaded for "immoral conduct," such as adultery, speaking out against their father's wishes or generally desiring a better station in life.
After months and months of vicious fighting and the unfortunate deaths of thousands of American and Iraqi soldier in 2002, these women are beginning to find themselves in a strange new position.
Instances of great tragedy still occur. Women running for public office in Iraq have been killed
and kidnapped. They are threatened daily by fundamentalist Islamic conservatives, not only because of their views, but also because of their genders.
But they're running for office. This is far more than they could have expected under Saddam's rule.
Luckily, women are guaranteed at least 25 percent of the 275-member national assembly. This does not represent a true democracy, however, because women represent 55 percent of the population. This is also a problem in America, where minorities and women are not proportionately represented in our government. But that's another column.
Master Sgt. Frank Hacker, who is from the University, has completed two tours of duty in Iraq since the beginning of the war.
"The education system is what really sticks out in my mind," Hacker said. "Before we got there, women or girls could not go to school when men went to school. That is, if the schools even offered education to the females."
Hacker said that women were only allowed to teach girls and men were only allowed to teach boys. During his second tour, Hacker said he saw some things changing, including a general improvement in women's lives over the year that followed the war.
"Right after the start of the war, they had very little," he said. "Almost a year later, they seemed to have a lot more going for them."
Though most of the largely Muslim society in Iraq is unwilling to budge on legislation that grants the female population more rights, the future for women in Iraq will be undeniably better than its past.
I'm certainly not saying that life is perfect for women in Iraq. Life isn't even perfect for women in America. But the fact that Iraqi women will have any voice, any political power is heartening to me, and it should be heartening to all Americans.
But you wouldn't know this from reading a few of the past editorials in this paper, including one that cited Rolling Stone magazine that 85 percent of Iraqis are sympathetic to resistance against American troops.
Rotting Stone magazine? Come on now. If you want to know when the next Kanye West album comes out, look in Rotling Stone. If you want the truth about soldiers and their efforts abroad, keep reading this column.
Sevcik is a Leavenworth junior in English.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Coulter's appearance an opportunity to witness opposing viewpoints
I hate Ann Coulter.
I think she's a vile, hateful, judgement-filled, narrow-minded instigator of fear. I know I'm not the only one because I read the recent commentary on her upcoming appearance as the Vickers lecture speaker.
Here's the thing: Censorship goes both ways. If you want to have Kofi Annan or Bono as a speaker, KU students have to engage in debate with people who like Ann Coulter — no matter how challenging or rife with controversy.
An education is meant to test our limits and challenge our preconceived notions. As an institution of education, it's KU's job to get us to think.
I hate Ann Coulter just like I hated watching KU lose in double-overtime last night. But in both cases, the back and forth, the give and take keep me a KU fan.
Keep KU free of a one-sided debate.
Corin Gilbert
KU alumnus
Overland Park
Pass:
REPORT CARD
$ \clubsuit $ Mary Pilcher-Cook. The Republican representative in the Kansas House introduced a resolution to ensure that students in the state be taught the whole gamut of scientific explanations as to how we got here.The move is a good one for those who respect education that is unfettered by religion.
Fail:
♦ God. If You are the one responsible for this lovely weather in February, then thank you. If not, then nevermind.
Texas Tech fans. Red Raiders fans took to the court after their team defeated Kansas on Monday night. This would be understandable if Texas Tech was not a good team and the game was a major upset. But the Red Raiders are a ranked team, and their fans should act like it.
♦ Lawrence streets. Recent snow has only added to the potholes that were on the streets from past storms.
Steve Vockrot
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SACK'S PERSPECTIVE
Steve Sack/STAR TRIBUNE
KAT'S CALL
Washing hands after using bathroom prevents diseases
Scenario: After a refreshing visit to the loo, you proceed to the sink where pink, flowery-scented soap awaits for an invigorating and necessary scrub of the hands.
The young lady from the stall next door, to whom you recently handed three resources of much need.
KATHRYN ANDERSON
kanderson@kansan.com
squares of much-needed toilet paper. emerges
squares of much-needed toilet paper, emerges. In your typically generous manner, you scoot an inch to the right so she can join you at the sink.
However, to your dismay she gives you a quick smile in passing and exits the bathroom, without so much as a courtesy water-rinse for show.
Your horror is justified. Simple rules of health and safety have been blatantly violated in your presence.
Bathroom etiquette is a topic to be tread upon by someone more sophisticated and, frankly, more pretentious than myself, but a misconduct that can spread preventable illnesses is worthy of discussion. Even the most "natural" of students have good reason to recall grade-school hygiene lessons.
The flu continues to be relentless in its spread to new victims, and although doctors usually recommend fall flu shots, the Center for Disease Control did not give the nod for mass flu shot distribution until recently. Dr. Myra Strothers, former head of Watkins Health Center and current physician, said it was not too late to get poked, but further precautions should also be taken.
Strothers recommends students wash hands before eating to prevent disease transmission
recommend that you wash them after you defecate.
Time crunch is a valid argument, and even I am guilty of the just-in-case-anyone-is-looking water rinse. But there are other ways increase the effectiveness of your restroom routine.
Those who practice the "hover" technique religiously but don't wash their hands — they are out there — should rearrange their cleanliness priorities. Save time and reduce germ-ridden splatter by sitting down at the john, then treat yourself to a well-earned hand wash.
Neither the flu, nor the common cold, is sexually transmitted.
According to the CDC's Web site, "The most important thing that you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands." They describe effective hand washing as a vigorous hand-rubbing with soap and warm water for 10 to 15 seconds. Hands should then be rinsed and dried thoroughly.
Only one in three people wash their hands after using the bathroom, according to the CDC. It comes down to personal hygiene as well as consideration for the welfare of others.
Poor bathroom habits can spread more serious diseases like hepatitis A, meningitis and infectious diarrhea. Yuck.
Only good things can come of hand washing. You will greatly reduce your risk for spreading disease, your hands will be smooth and dang it, people will like you more.
Anderson is an Omaha, Neb., junior in journalism
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♦
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