4
University Daily Kansan / Thursday, March 19, 1992
OPINION
Being politically correct helps raise consciousness
1. To be politically correct is to be conscious of the diversity of our society and to practice non-offensive speech and action.
2. To be politically correct is to be paranoid that with your every move you are figuratively going to step on someone's toes.
It has become an increasingly popular notion that 2. inevitably follows 1., that somehow sensitivity leads to social dysfunction.
Kate Kelley in the March 16 Kansan introduced her thesis that we should all lighten up with the provocative notion that political correctness makes for bad ("flat") jokes. The implication seems to be that jokes with racist, sexist, etc. expressions are funny.
Matthew Davis
Guest columnist
This leads me to suspect that the thesis she distills in the last line of the article "...sometimes it's OK to just lighten up," is not really the thesis after all.
The purpose of politically correct speech (and activity) is to heighten consciousness of what counts as
racially, sexually etc. offensive. I think these goals are not too high to reach.
When a person uses a word or phrase, for example, to refer to another person or group in a derogatory way, the way to show societal disapproval is to show that such language is repulsive and only will alienate society in all its diverseness.
Also, it 'too easy to say,' "lighten up" when a joke is not on you. Words and phrases, again for example, have meanings to people and are not simply harmless bits of syntax such as, "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me").
We can eliminate these offensive uses if more people come to understand, if not why they are offensive, then at least that they are offensive. If you are in doubt as to the status of a particular word or phrase, say it at your own risk. I tend to think the cards are being stacked against political correctness by exaggerations from the conservative camp.
Accusations to the effect that sensitivity leads to infringement on the right to free speech are bogus attempts to conceal the wrongness of bigoted and hateful language and action.
Even though there are good arguments on both sides, the fact that we can and do identify certain activities, words and phrases as offensive to certain races, genders, etc. is evidence that consciousness can be raised and that, after all, is the point.
Matthew Davis is a Lawrence graduate student in philosophy.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Champion 'Hawks fly again
Outsiders eventually will learn what we knew all along about
Kansas basketball teams
For the second year in a row, Kansas is the basketball champion of the Big Eight Conference. Only this year, the title means a little bit more.
After sharing the title with Oklahoma State last year, Kansas won the Big Eight outright after being picked to finish behind Oklahoma State and Missouri in the preseason. With the Kansas women winning their conference title too, Kansas became just the third Big Eight university to monopolize the sport in one season.
The men's team took the domination a step further last weekend by winning the conference tournament for the first time since 1986. To put that in proper perspective, Danny Manning was a sophomore, and Coach Larry Brown led that Jayhawk squad to the Final Four.
Since Manning and Brown moved on to the National Basketball Association in 1988, Kansas has been viewed by outsiders as a
team without a star, despite producing AllBig Eight selections and NBA draft picks. Before each season, the so-called experts proclaim a rebuilding year and look elsewhere for a Big Eight favorite. But in the end, eyes always turn back to Kansas, and they marvel at the workings of the unselfish team and its self-efacing coach.
Commentators Dick Vitale and Mike Francesa will say they liked Kansas all along.
The NCAA did give the Jayhawks their deserved respect in seeding the team No.1 in the Midwest Regional.
Though Kansas' success continually surprises the nation, people in Kansas have come to expect nothing short of a long march to the Big Dance. In fact, in his typically humble manner, Williams has said that Jayhawk fans might be a bit unrealistic in their expectations.
No matter what lies ahead, Jayhawk fans already have been spoiled by another season worth remembering.
Win or lose - show maturity
David Micklehill for the edithiorial board
David Micklehill for the edithiorial board
Fights and vandalism marred last year's fun; this year, fans should show true team spirit
The University of Kansas has continued the tradition of participating in the NCAA basketball tournament. This is something that all students, faculty and staff should be proud of.
But fans should be careful not to create a tradition of destructive behavior.
Last year, people celebrated Kansas tournament victories on Jayhawk Boulevard. The celebrations were positive until the last game, when Kansas lost the tournament. The campus was left looking like a battleground. Fights broke out. Trees were torn apart. People were injured from flying bottles and cans.
It was unfortunate that this occurred. Not only did it reflect poor sportsmanship, but it also did much to disgrace the efforts of the
team. The country was shown that KU could be supportive only as long as its team won.
It is because of this abhorsent behavior that precautions such as the use of more police officers and an alcohol ban on campus have been put into effect this year. Alcohol was a part of the celebrations of last year, but it was no excuse for the destruction that occurred.
This time, people must remember to celebrate responsibly. Support should be given to the basketball team regardless of how far it progresses in the tournament. The team has worked hard to achieve its first-seed ranking and should be respected.
KU fans have been noted for their enthusiasm and pride. That is the image that should be maintained. The team has given the campus a lot to be proud of. The fans should do the same.
Amy Francis for the editorial board
Hunting is despicable
I'd like to respond to Greg Dyer's pathetic attempt to rationalize and defend hunting. Since we happen to live in one of the richest and most technologically advanced countries in the world, the facts are with regard to animals: We don't need to eat their flesh, we don't need to wear their fur, we don't need to experiment on them, and we don't need to kill them for fun. Dyer argues that killing plants is equivalent to killing animals, claiming that they hate to be ripped from the earth. I don't believe that it's possible to determine whether plants are even capable of expressing torment, but clearly and indisputably, animals are.
The animal you just shot that is lying thrashing on the ground, or the fish struggling on the end of your hook is suffering for your enjoyment, which has to be the most barbaric form of legal amusement imaginable. The cruelty of hunting is matched only by the hypocrisy of the hunters, who claim to be ardent supporters of preserving nature as they wander through the woods murdering the wildlife.
Even more amazing is that they call themselves "sportsmen"' The day hunting becomes a sport, rather than the wholesale slaughter it
really is, is the day when animals can shoot back.
Lettersto the editor
Eric Hockersmith Lawrence graduate student
End Israel-bashing
A word or two about Kevin Bartel's column that appeared Feb. 27 in the Kanan.
I wonder if Mr. Bardels ever looks out of the window. Perhaps he just sits in his smug little room at Stauffer-Flint, tapping out these absurd ethnocentric columns, having his lunch brought in, sleeping on a cot, not looking at anything but the Give Peace a Chance and to Hell with Common Sense newsletter in order to gain his input on the events in the outside world. Have you ever been to Israel, Mr. Bardets? Ever go to the beach and have six or seven Palestinian party boys run down the beach and hack other bathers to death with hatchets? Ever been in a riot? Ever been hit in the head with a brick bat as you were walking down the street? Sudder fall on your house? It's real easy to criticize someone else's lifestyle from one of the nicest campuses in the Midwest, isn't it?
How about passing judgment: "The Israeli
government lately has acted like a group of hired thugs with the assassination of (head of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah faction Sheik Abbas) Musawi. "Yes, Kevin, he wasarealphantropist. He supported the cause real well by holding bake sales and handing out copies of the Koran on the corner of downtown Beirut, didn'the?
While we're on the subject of Lebanon, how about those fine, upstanding citizens of the Hezbollah? Have you forgotten that 240 American Marines died at the hands of the seemingly harmless Hezbollah while on a peacekeeping mission? How many innocents have the Hezbollah killed as they blew up planeloads of people and opened fire on schoolchildren? Read any good books lately Mr. Bartels, or are you getting your perspective from the alignment of the stars?
It's nice to have the right to say what you like in a public forum. I would give whatever it takes to defend your right to do so, Mart.Bartels. But occupying a prominent space in a widely read newspaper does have its inherent responsibilities. Ever heard this word? Research. What about conformity? Real popular viewpoint these days, kicking the Israelis, isn't it? Most of us haven't lived in war zone lately, especially here in America, so it's real easy to
call someone a warmonger. It's not difficult to label someone a murderer when the home he or she defends is across the world from ours. I suggest that you do a little more thinking in the future before putting pen to paper, Mr. Bartels. I know the safety one has when sewing forth some opinion that he knows 90 percent of his audience will support. I know what peer pressure is like, too. Peer pressure doesn't support arguments very well and you, being a grad student in English, should recognize this.
S.E.M. McIntosh
We would like to clarify the etymologies that were mentioned in Laura Moriarty's column of Feb. 26. An etymology is the origin and development of a word. The word "woman" derives from the Anglo-Saxon words 'wif', meaning female — which comes from the diminutive of the Latin word "femina" — andmann' meaning human being.
Additionally, it does not make etymological sense to change "history" to "history." Only in modern English does this word take on gender-related connotations. "History" derives from
the ancient Greek *historia*, *meaning a narrative of an inquiry, or simply a story.
**Anastasias Daskalopoulos**
Graduate teacher assistant in classics
Errors mar argument
Stephen Martino ("China should earn free trade," March 4) could use some better study habits and clearer thinking channels. Nations with Most Favored Nation status do not get the "right to free trade." His statement, "This training of arms (in the Middle East) is against the firm beliefs of the United States," is a real whopper considering what we poured into Iraq, not to mention Israel and Saudi Arabia. Finally, the last sentence, "Trade with China should be free only if they agree to play by our rules," makes one wince.
"Our rules?" Since when are standards of civilized behavior, and the definition thereof, "ours"? There are some universal rules, or values, that apply.
Actually, agree with Mr. Martino's position on Most Favored Nations. But let's do our homework better.
**Dan Bays**
Professor of history
KANSAN STAFF
TIFFANY HARNESS Editor
VANESSA FUHRMANS Managing editor
TOM EBLEN General manager, newsadviser
Editors
News... Mike Andrews
Editorial... Beth Randolph
Planning... Lara Gold
Campus... Eric Gorski/Rochelle Oleson
Sports... Eric Nelson
Photo... Julie Jacobson
Features... Debbie Myers
Graphics... Aimee Braindaw/Jeff Meesey
JENNIFER CLAXTON Business manager
JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser
Business Staff
Campus sales mgr ..Bill Littengood
Regional sales mgr ..Richard Ashburner
National sales mgr ..Scott Hannah
Co-op sales mgr ..Ame Johnson
Production mgrs ..Kim Wallace
Marketing director ..Lisa Keeler
Marketing director ..Kim Claxton
Creative director ..Leah Deng
Classified mgr ..Kip Chin
JAY STEINER Retail sales manager
Letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words. They must include the writer's signature, name, address and telephone number. Writers affiliated with the University of Kansas must include class and hometown, or faculty or staff position. Letters must be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be photographed.
The Kansan reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stuifer Fint Hall.
Loco Locals
SPRING BREAK
JOURNAL '92
ADAM LISTENS TO THE MUMBULING'S OF HIS FRIEND WHO EXPLAINS THAT THE THINGS THEY EXPERIENCED ON SPRING BREAK WILL PROBABLY PROHIBIT ANY THOUNTS OF RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE...
HONNEUER, ADAM NOTICES ONE DETAIL MISSING FROM KRISS' MEMORY...
by Tom Michaud
DON'T FORGET YOU ONLY
DRIVE A TOTAL OF SIX
HOURS...ON A 48 HOUR
DRIVE!!! YOU SHOULD BE
WELL RESTRICT!