Opinion
Page 4 University Daily Kansan, April 3, 1981
Don't mend those walls
When Kansas legislators came pouring into Topeka earlier this year to open another session of the Legislature, some of them came armed with brick and mortar. They were determined to reconstruct some walls that had partially come down in recent years.
Unfortunately for Kansans, those walls that the Legislature was aiming to rebuild were the walls of secrecy around public meetings. The plan was to alter various sections of the Kansas Open Meetings Law, thus making public meetings in Kansas less open to the public.
But before those legislators decided to rebuild the walls, they should have asked just what it was that they were walking in and walling out. The answer is easy enough—they'd be walling out the public from its own government. And they'd be walling in public officials, which is a bad thing to do, because when public officials feel too insulated from public scrutiny, they tend to work less and less for the people and more and more for themselves.
It's an ominous sign when legislators want to restrict open meetings laws,
because that invariably means they don't want the public to see how its own government is operating.
Yes, something there is that doesn't love a wall, and when it comes to public meetings, that something is democracy. Democratic government is open government. And the Kansas Open Meetings Law, imperfect though it may be, is a step toward open government.
Fortunately, the proposed bill to change the open meetings law has been watered down somewhat. But the remains of the original proposal still would help to buttress the wall between the people and their government, both on the state and local levels.
Government bodies already have too many ways they can avoid public scrutiny. The last thing that's needed is the bill still alive in the Kansas Senate, which would help government hide itself even more. Kansans can hope that the bill freezes to death in the frosty chill of an end-of-the-session Senate committee.
Good fences make good government—but only in totalitarian regimes.
THIS IS A MEDAL I GAVE MYSELF FOR
KILLING ORLANDO LETELIER
AND RONNI MOFFITT
BY BLOWING UP THEIR
CAR IN WASHINGTON D.C.
THIS HOUSEHOLD HOLDS THE #5 I USE TO SHOOT ANYBODY IN MY OWN COUNTRY WHO ——— DISAGREE WITH ME. AND THIS LEATHER BELT AND ELEGANT HAND STITCHED UNIFORM WERE MAKED FOR ME BY THE STUPID PEASANS.
AND THIS IS THE MEDAL I GAVE MYSELF FOR SUCCESSFUL TERRORIST ACTS CONDUCTED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
AND SEE THESE?
THESE ARE THE BOOTS
KISSED BY
ALEXANDER HAIG
AND RONALD
REAGAN.
Current festival of the arts a celebration of life itself
Violet lilacs and a teasing warm breeze dancing up Mount Oread couldn't have provided a more marvelous introduction to spring. Not to light the merits of these luscious pink delicacies, but what was there here was somewhat of a celebration
And what a celebration it is. Indeed, the first University Arts Festival is a celebration in full bloom, a celebration of the arts and perhaps, unintentionally, of the blossoming Kansas spring. Better, it's a pubic celebration. Better, it's an art junkies have been doing all along.
Beginning March 23 with the performance of Andre Previn and the Pittsburgh Sym-
AMY HOLLOWELL
phyon Orchestra, the three-week festival not only has brought art activity to the University, but, more importantly, it is focusing on the "wealth of activities" already here, appropriate ending April 12 with a chamber music concert by KU fine arts faculty.
Actually, it's not surprising that KU is having an arts festival, rather, it's surprising that we've never had one before. Such a festival should have been a part of this University's fine tradition in the arts long ago.
ormance as a people, as a nation, as a culture.
Perhaps there has been a momentary lapse in perspective; perhaps we've forgotten what it is the arts really are and what they signify. For our arts are us; in them, in our music, our theater, in our museums, in our tatures, reside our thoughts and our ideas, our hearts and our minds—in effect, our very
But elsewhere there seems to be surfacing a disturbing disregard for the arts, not only locally, but nationally as well, threatening both the small, such as KU's festival, and the large, such as the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities.
And what a culture it is. The grandeur of western man, in particular the American, is nothing short of singular in world history. And we are all aware that there are among other things, the solander of our arts.
Therefore, this premier festival must establish itself, must prove itself (to the skeptical anyway) worthy of an annual three-week celebration. Good luck. For in the minds of many, this festival explains that it must go on; nothing but hearty roaring and roaraping from this corner.
We are a nation of daring explorers, striving, as Emerson has prompted us, to make it new. In this pursuit, we are unassured.
Mark Twain did it with his wit and words,
Mary Cassatt with her paint brush, Fred
Astaire with his sprightly steps and Leonard
Bernstein with his notes and a few waves of
his hands. In each is all of us; in each is the
moment, forever.
Likewise, American film is surpassed by that of no other nation, and in it we see the conscience of our times: James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Robert DeNiro
In the frescoes of Michelangelo, in the sonnets of Shakespeare, in the tunes of serenity of the sculpture, in the murals of Nurgea, in the wear, we feel the past of a gushing at us in the present, engulfing us somewhere, not here, with something that belongs to them and to us at once. We know in that one precious, fleeting moment there is indeed community in our humanity.
Here in a little town on a hill in the middle of 20th century America, we are making a contribution as we celebrate our arts. But the University Arts Festival has a past only two weeks old and a present that is drawing quickly to close.
And it has a future only in possibility, despite its significance as a celebration of us all, not to mention the less profound significance of its simple pleasures: pleasures found in a truly devilish "Carmen," in a sage William Allen White, in a poignant portrait by Robert Barker of his orchestra, in a tiny lithograph of a Paris masquerade ball more than a century ago.
That America should be remembered for its political and technological contributions to the world is without question essential, but that it must be remembered for its cultural and artistic contributions to mankind is imperative. We must not forsake our beauty, our creation, our arts, this our great gift, if not our greatest gift, to the future.
These are the violet lilacs and the luring spring breezes of our culture. This, lest we forget, is the best of what we like to think we are. Eniv.
Letters to the Editor Nukes not safe nor cheap
Marvel Maring Salina freshman
The government has praised nuclear power as being the answer to our energy needs, but the catastrophic risks have either been denied, "forgotten" or covered up. The public has been led to believe that nuclear power is clean, safe and economical. These claims are false.
Over two years have passed since the "accident" at Three Mile Island on March 28, 1979. But the danger continues, not only for the people of Harrison, Pa., but for every person on this island. Three Mile Island was only one of many accidents, and the potential for others is growing.
To the editor:
Nuclear power is produced from splitting the nuclei of uranium. Uranium is a natural element with a half-life of 182,000 years. Plutonium is a man-made element created by bombarding uranium with a stream of neutrons, and its half-life is 24,000 years. These elements are known carcinogens. One pollen-sized grain of plutonium, if inhaled, will cause lung cancer.
Kansans are faced with two nuclear issues: Wolf Creek power plant in Burlington, two-thirds completed, and the prospect of an international repository in Lyons. We must know the facts.
These elements damage tissue and genes, yet we cannot see, smell, taste or feel them. One of the most toxic chemicals is chlorofluorine.
Because of the huge amounts of waste, the industry must find an effective method of storing it. There is no safe or permanent method of disposal for these wastes that remain toxic for many years and so their wastes keep growing. Leaks have been discovered from many storage sites and plants.
We cannot tolerate "surprises" or this exhibition of irresponsibility. One leak went undiscovered for 51 days, releasing 118 gallons of high-level waste. How can we stand for this?
person in the world lung cancer. One power plant creates 400-500 pounds of plutonium a year. Plutonium, refined from waste, is then used in nuclear power. Nuclear power means nuclear weapons.
Plutonium was found in the Erie Canal outside an Ohio plant and a spokesman said, "We have no idea how the plasma leaked out of the mud. This comes as a complete surprise."
Nuclear power poses more questions than it answers, and the need for invasivating to the point of endangerment is indeed lauded. If a killer worth $17 billion
Nuclear power is not economical. It only produces enough electricity to meet 13 percent of our electrical needs, an amount that solar and wind generate. It also generates 35 percent more than coal-generated electricity.
In the weeks since Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer (Shi Di to her millions of close personal friends) announced their engagement, she undergone massive amounts of public scrutiny.
Pot Shots
Her legs have been found to be long and
shapely, her bosom is pleasantly pneumatic, and
Vanessa Nerron
as the London newspapers solemnly assure us
Lady Diana almost certainly is a virgin.
In past weeks, however, Lady Diana's most prominent feature, and the one that proves her beauty, is her thick eyelashes.
The woman has a nose like a macaw. And unfortunately, she doesn't have a claw. Parts of her anatomy to be cootied.
The weeks before spring break had been unspeakably dismal. I had paced past the Kansas Union candy counter countless times, glancing forward toward shoulder to see whether anything had changed.
to serve the Shi Dy look-alikes who are springing up on one another in the Atlantic, the other has assembled this product list of accessories that are available in area stores: • Lady Diana Sinara strappet straight gown:
- Lady Diana Spencer strapless evening gown:
$5,000.
- Lady Diana Spencer collarure: $39.50.
* Lady Diana Spencer finance: Price unchanged.
But it was no use. They were phasing out the candy sold by the pound because it was no longer
- Lady Diana Spencer nose job (permanent): $2,000; (temporary); $139 (customer may or may not receive this service).
Judy Whedhun
profitable. The glass jars stood desolately on the
sides for the sugary crumbles that dusted their sides.
My mind was riddled with questions.
Where would my critical writing teacher teach the gumdrops he passes out before class? And how could I eat an entire half pound of M&M's and buy them? If I had to buy them one tiny bag at a time?
After break, I strolled by to pay my last respects. But instead of empty glass jars, I saw heaven on earth. The jars were once again full, and the glass bellies colored with all of my favorite sweets.
Many sweet-toothed souls may never know how close we came to losing this cornuopaca of confections. Thank you, candy counter people, the guys at the bar, I am counting my blessings and my jelly beans.
Qantas airways has had success selling off bout tours to different parts of Australia for years—mainly to Americans and Canadians curious about the huge desert continent down under.
These tours are described by Qantas as being "probably unknown to most Australians." They are only accessible by plane.
(prospecting) expeditions, ornithological safaris, one-day busk treks, overland camping tours by camel and a day in the life of Australia's last riverboat postman.
Dare I suggest that I know, or at least can guess, why these events are "probably unknown to most Australians." It seems me that most Australians would be delighted to continue in their ignorance.
We all know the strange love of deserts, of wide open spaces and “the Outback” that afflicts many North Americans, and so gold-fossicking or riding camel-back for days under a blazing sun and in lung-destroying dust would surely make them helpless with joy. I guess it’s a case of “if you wish to be thoroughly misinformed about a country, consult a man who has lived there for thirty years and speaks the language like a native.”
Definition problems doom bong laws
The Kansas Legislature is considering a bill to save people from the degradation of drugs by outlawing the sale, advertising and possession of pharmaceutical instruments of drug use, drug paraphernalia.
Lawrence already has an ordinance against the sale of paraphernalia to minors. The legislative bill would make the sale of minors in a felony and the sale to adults a misdemeanor.
She also said that once, when she had thoughtlessly left her pipe at home, she made them.
The legislators probably think they have sound reasons for considering the bill. After all, it seems logical that if marijuana and cocaine are made into drugs that are used to take them should also be illegal.
The legislature really can't outlaw aluminum
foli. Nor, presumably, it can ban brown pans
However, they are tilting at windmills with this bill. It will have little or no effect on the use of drugs, and it should not be passed because it would make them more respectful to the tobacco and marijuana industries.
The bill is obviously directed toward closing down head shops, those places that specialize in selling paraphernalia. But the Legislature cannot really outlaw things like pipes and rolling papers, because the tobacco smokers would shriek.
Of course, bongs are another matter. Very few tobacco smokers buy bongs so that they can smoke their pipe tobacco through a water flask, and saying that people who buy bongs don't really intend to smoke pot in them is about as useful as saying that people don't glass it to drink his morning orange juice from it.
So perhaps the legislator thinks that if we banish the bong, we strike a blow against drug use.
So the bill would leave a situation in which pipures purchased in head shops are illegal, but those purchased in tobacco shops are all right. What the Legislature really is saying is that they want those damned hippies to get out of town by sundown.
As a friend said, "I think, frankly, people will get ingenuous. What do you take a ceramics class for, anyway? It's easy to make a bong in a ceramics class."
Ha. And again I say ha. There are just too many different ways to take mariana.
JANE NEUFELD
chips and pickle juice once the infamous marijuana munchies hit you.
all the Legislature can possibly do is to make some kinds of paraphernalia more inaccessible. This means people will pay more for blackmarket paraphernalia, or they will go back to the drug consumption, using hastily joined joints of marijuana and plastic spoons for cocaine.
Any bill that tries to outlaw drug paraphernalia faces the problem of defining just what is and what is not paraphernalia. Often the item is not paraphernalia, but legislators for it are. Legislators are not mind-readeres.
After all, do we really need strawberry rolling papers, gold-painted phallic roach clips and two-foot tilt blown glass bongs? No. If certainly not, we would return to a simpler method of drug consumption.
But, if people want to pay $20 for a giant bong.
why shouldn't we let them? We might as well let the free enterprise system operate, and say where there's a demand for bongs, there'll be a supply.
Probably what galls the legislators more than anything is the audacity of the people who buy and sell the paraphernalia right out in the open and the light of day.
As State Rep. Robert Miller, the sponsor of the bill, said, "Government and the free enterprise system are allowing this paraphernalia to be sold on merchandised just like hot dogs and apple pie."
Is Miller implying that free enterprise is notas American as apple pie? I thought we were in the era in which government was going to get out of business and let things work for themselves. Clearly, someone out there feels there is profit in paraphernalia.
I think marketing paraphernalia is a lot less disgusting than marketing chicken hot dogs, which I have eaten since coming to KU, and which is better. The organic additives and ground-up chicken beaks.
What the legislators really want to do is make a moral statement by closing the head shops and showing everyone that they disapprove of drug use.
Because taking away a little bit of paraphernalia is no way going to cut down drug use, the Legislature really is just exploiting a conservative mood in the country to make a politically pragmatic gesture that will impress all their constituents with their hatred for drugs.
The University Daily
KANSAN
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