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Wednesday, April 26, 1972
University Daily Kansan
KANSAN comment Editorials, columns and letters published on this page reflect only the opinions of the writers.
Defending Death
As the killing in Southeast Asia continues we will be treated with a visit from Robert Dole at the Vickers Lecture tomorrow. It is not out of coincidence that I mention the two in the same sentence.
Politically, Dole is an apologist for Richard Nixon—more politely, he is chairman of the Republican National Committee. As Nixon's man in the Senate, Dole is bound to defend his policies. As chairman of the National Committee he takes the offensive supporting his incumbent candidate. In both instances his tactics involve first, discrediting the opposition, and second, standing on his candidate's record. He is a name caller; that is his job Unabashed about his criticism Much of his rhetoric tomorrow evening will undoubtedly be devoted to defending Nixon's current war posture in Southeast Asia. Nixon, and Dole by association, are very much responsible for the carnage in bit of the world.
Dole plays the war rhetoric game by attacking those who oppose the military incarctions—and denies are Democrats—sending for President—and by refusing to
confront the fact that we drop bombs that kill people.
This is what makes him so pathetic and frightening. He has made a political game out of death. He still talks in terms of strategy—protective reaction, counter offensive. He fails to sense that this war has drained too much of the national spirit. Americans are weary of My Lai, tiger cages, napalm, defoliation and killing, most of all killing. The war has left its scar on the face of the nation—a nation that has come to accept violence as a way of life. Many psychologists attribute this violent disposition to the alienized our morality. Our heroes are gangsters and football players. We worship violence. All this is out of Dole's consciousness; his only mission is reeleding Richard Nixon. To do so he has deserted his constituents and become a slave to rhetorical offense and defense.
When you listen to him tomorrow, remember—he cannot face the American responsibility for the dead in Southeast Asia.
—Thomas E. Slaughter
Readers Respond
Memorial
Memorial Donation, Cops
To the Editor:
It was with great sadness that we learned of the sudden death of Richard Wiercienk on Easter Sunday of this year. He was the victim of a fatal automobile accident in Kansas City, his home town.
Richard had just completed the requirements to obtain a B.A. in Slavic Languages and Literatures, with a major in member of the student exchange between the University of Kansas and the Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznan, Poland. This April, he attended Trans World Airlines in Kansas City. He hoped eventually to be a steward on an American airline with flights to Poland. He also had hopes of being able one day to travel to Polish descent in social work.
His teachers and his friends.
particularly those who came to know him well during his studies in Poznan, will always remember him as a kind-hearted, courageous and likeable young man. We all grave deeply at his loss.
Personal condolences can be sent to Richard's parents, Mrs. and Mrs. Wiercinki, 5044 E.16th in Kansas City, Missouri, 64127.
Richard's friends at KU can give a concrete token of their memory by contributing their blood to the Kansas General City City, and designating their donation to the hospital in his name.
Blood can be given at the General Hospital, Kansas City, (third floor), or the Lawrence Memorial Hospital. A Blood Mobile will be at Lawrence University from 9 a.m. to 2.15 p.m. Please be sure to designate your donation for: Richard
Wiercinski, Kansas General Hospital, Kansas City.
Professor of History
Resident American Director,
Poznan, 1971
Security?
One wonders why Traffic and "Security" people have time to walk around a blue space and been detained in a dorm for an extra 25 minutes around 11:30 p.m. on a Friday at the school where they ticket those who park on yellow lines around campus on Saturday mornings. Both are illegal at all
I wrote this letter not because I expect to argue about my ticket. I want the police to voice to those extremely with me with the priorities in that department.
Who determines which rules are enforced so strictly and which are not?
-Diane Beecher.
Lawrence graduate student
Garry Wills
It is odd that Senator McGovney, the "egg-head" of the lot, seems to be giving George Wallace his toughest challenge in the country of world-class America. Some think his very maniac help to him - it sounds tjihl-Catholic.
'Ethnic' Vote Really Means Catholic Vote
The mere fact that this possibility has been seriously raised is an indication of the weight that "ethnic" factors bear in determining what a woman really means. "Catholic." After all, what else is left when one eliminates WASPs, blacks and Jews? The Irish, Italians, and Poles are left—along with a largely Catholic background.
Since Americans are deferential to the idea of church-state separation, it is not safe to form an open religious faction in electoral terms—a Catholic fraternity or a secular political politics to encourage "ethnic diversity" barely covers the fact—that a large
Catholic vote is out there (roughly a quarter of the electorate); that both parties want to get it; and that both sides will largely come in "ethnic terms."
It is hardy accidental that most theorists and spokesman for this movement are Catholic- e.g., b. Barbara Mays and J. O'Donnell, the principal spokesman are both priests -Mgrr. Geno Barne and Fr. Andrew Greeley. And a good deal of the ethnic speculation has centered on them, especially Ed Muskie and Ted Kennedy.
Nixon is well aware of this movement's importance. It is not enough for him to point to his own Irish background, or to celebrate the near-heritage of the Irish language and his birthday. Nor is it enough to have a Greek Vice-President. That gives us three "ethics," indeed—but none of them are Catholic, in this very Protestant administration. So Nixon would address the issue; address large Catholic assemblies and tell them he would save parochial schools. He issued a gratuitus, unsolicited statement against abortion. As usual, he gets down to basics very quickly. He taught Catholic bishops and their monied benefactors. While Democrats
passyfoot around the religious issue (Muskie so carefully that many people do not even know his name) the emperor blatant appeal to this important blog.
Like all political tactics, this one is full of imponderies. Catholics themselves are undergoing a crisis of faith in the church and in chaos; most of them seem to ignore parapalach teaching on contraception; the parochial schools themselves are under fire. It might seem there is no Catholic loyalty for politicians to take a free ride.
But much of the unrest is directed at reforming priests and theological dissidents. Some schools are abandoned because they were attached to inner-city parishes, now inundated by blacks. The crisis of faith has made many Catholics look for promises stability. Mass Catholic dissatisfaction is not directed to reactionary bishops, but to younger clergy under them. Thus heightening of Catholic political awareness and social grievances can well be channelled to the purposes of Right-Wing politics. The Catholic Church's "new populism" to the parishes are in that sense doing Richard Nixon's work for him.
Copyright, 1972, Universal Press Syndicate
James J. Kilpatrick
A David in Academic Groves
WASHINGTON—One of the pleasant things about our town is that some ambitious David is forever passing through, twirling his slingshoot for a crack at some Goliath. Such a visitor turned up last week: Richard W. Mason, 43, of the San Fernando Valley.
He doesn't look much like a David. He looks more like a school teacher, which is precisely what he is. For the past fourteen years he has taught sixth-grade math and English in the Los Angeles public schools. Now he has taken indfinite leave to have his go at Golatlh: He is
serving as president of the National Association of Professional Educators. His purpose is to offer teachers an alternative to the compulsive National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers.
Not many of our David's manage to tell their targets; Justice Douglas is not impached, a World Calendar is not adopted, seniority reigns untouched on the Hill. But now and then, against improbable odds, a few determined men and
women put enough energy and dedication in a cause that is right, and crash—down comes a supersonic transport plane. Mason and his NAPE may triumph yet.
Surely, at least in a conservative view, their cause is right. Whatever, may be said of trade unionism in other areas of public employment, trade unionism among teachers holds an incongruous place. Teachers in schools should loyalty should be to teaching only—to the difficult art of pursuing truth and transmitting
learning. No winds should blow in academic groves but winds of freedom.
In recent years some alien winds—winds of compulsion—have entered there. The American federation of Anthers (AFL-CIO) has into a powerful body with all the trappings of old-time trade unionism—the bargaining committee, the shop steward, the strike. And the NEA, once a free teacher, has become a teachers, has felt compelled to compete with compulsory devices along the same line—checked-off does and a union shop. Both organizations are involved in representing their own members in bargaining with school boards—
supposes, of the AFT, and to the outraged cries of the independents.
Hawaii's compulsory "service fee" is not unusual; it is increasingly typical of the power department. The defense of the compulsion, union spokenmars allhall the threadbare arguments against free riders. But their arguments were so effective that the "service fee," or call it an "agency shop," the system approaches extortion—the obtaining of money under threat with force, the case of fire being fired.
Mason's National Association of Professional Educators, headquartered in Encino, came into being two years ago when
"Congratulations on reaching this great new height... I flew up to greet you..."
By Sokoloff
"Trade unions among teachers hold an incongruous place," says James J. Kilpatrick today, and the American Association of Professional Educators, an organization committed to conservative or unionism.
no one reasonably could object to that; they also are demanding the power to bargain exclusively for non-members as their own. The non-members to pay a fee for the unwanted service.
In Hawaii, to cite a recent example, the Hawaiian State Teachers Association, an NEA affiliate, won a certification election over an opposing union aligned with the American Federation of Teachers. On November 15, the Controllor notified all teachers—the NEA members, the AFT members, and the several hundred independent teachers who wanted no part of either union—that henceforth a "service fee will be deducted from all payments amounting to $77 a year, "is a "mandatory deduction." Proceeds will be turned over to the HSTA—to the considerable chuggin, one
Griff and the Unicorn
6,000 independent teachers in Los Angeles rebelled at paying compulsory tribute to a union they positively did not want. Now membership is spreading among the nation who are fed up with militancy, with strike threats, and with class war against parents, pupils, and taxpayers. Mason was in town to testify and argue that legitimate exclusive bargaining rights for unions of public employees. He was headed for Miami to talk with independent teachers there. He will be visiting students in his community and the AFT are seeking to impose union membership or service fees as the price a teacher must pay to stay in her classroom. And he has his own mission with a lovely missile—the love of freedom. Right on!
Copyright, 1972, Washington Star Sendleate, Inc.
"Copyright 1972, David Sokoloff."
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