4 University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, February 26, 1992 OPINION Alternative spellings may change attitudes I've come up with a better name for "Boys Against Ridiculous Females," Andrew Hodges' proposed organization. I like "White Males Who Are Threatened by Anything That Challenges Their Privileged Position in Life," or W.M.W.T.A.B.T.C.T.P.I.L. The acronym is a real tongue-twister, but we cannot all have the creative genius that Hodges possessed when he cleverly came up with B.A.R.F. Hodges is upset at the introduction of the word "womyn." He feels more comfortable with the old spelling, w-o-m-a-n, which comes from the two words "womb" and "man," i.e. "womb of man." Now, anyone who has taken a basic communication course (Mr. Hodges?) knows that the way we speak influences the way we think. Hodges may find it "ridiculous," but I can understand why a feminist would not want to think of herself as the "womb of man." (God, how depressing!) Although I don't use the new spelling of the word yet, I respect the perspicacity. And that is the very concept that Hodges, and others like him, do not understand. "Political Correctness" Laura Moriarty Guest columnist (I hate that phrase) is not about "thought police"; it is about sensitivity and respect for others. No one is going to imprison Hodges for saying and spelling words the way he chooses. People probably will just consider him less sensitive, less cultured and less educated than he could be. If I constantly called a person something they did not want to be called, I would hope they would tell me so that I could refrain from doing so. Hodges writes about how the word "herstory" grates on his ears. Maybe, for the first time in his male life, he realizes how it feels to be excluded by a word. Maybe he feels the way I do every time I am asked to write an essay on "The Literary History of Mankind" or "Man's Varying Ideas on Religion." People who are asking for different spellings and phrases are simply asking the world to take a look from a different perspective; to question its own language and the effects it may have. It was not too long ago that the "thought police" cut the use of words like "nigger" and "faggot" to a minimum. I consider the term "political correctness," the column by Hodges, and the even more annoying column by Eric Olkoski only to be the expected backlashes against women (or womyn, whichever you prefer) who are promoting change in the way we are treated in academia, the press and life. Perhaps Hodges considers this to be "childish," but you cannot convince me that our language — which consistently excludes females from the human race — does not affect the fact that my sex earns 62 cents for every dollar a man makes. Little words add up to big ideas. If someone wants me to refer to her as a "wommy," I'll do it. Furthermore, I'll stop to think why she prefers it. - Laura Moriarty is a Bozeman, Mont., senior majoring in social welfare. THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Abortions must be accessible An Irish High Court decision exemplifies problems that may lie ahead for the United States In a recent Irish High Court decision, a judge ruled that a 14-year-old girl who claimed she was raped by a friend's father could not leave the country to obtain an abortion. Ireland passed a constitutional prohibition against abortion in 1982. The court decision has led to much dissension among the Irish. This case also identifies a key problem that can occur in the United States if abortion rights are severely limited. The current direction of the U.S. Supreme Court indicates that Roe vs. Wade's days as the law of the land might be numbered. The addition of conservative justices by the Reagan and Bush administrations has produced views that are openly critical of a woman's right to have an abortion. However, those who want to diminish this right fail to fully consider the inequities of such a decision. The underliving tenet of Roe vs. Wade is the right of every woman to have equal, uncompromised access to abortion. The problem with overturning this landmark case is that it would no longer provide the universal access. Wealthy women would be able to leave a state or country where abortion is prohibited, while less fortunate women would be left behind. The results could be disastrous. If Roe vs. Wade is overturned, women are still going to attempt to obtain abortions. Only this time they won't be safe. The United States doesn't need to turn into another Ireland, forcing its citizens to remain in the country and get illegal and unsafe abortions or have unwanted children. The pro-choice forces realize that diminished rights to abortion are only going to increase the number of back-alley and self-inflicted procedures. It is time for people and the courts to accept human nature as it is and not as they would want it to be. Ireland could be a good example of the United States in a few years. Apology comes 50 years late Stephen Martino for the editorial board War hysteria, racial prejudice imprisoned U.S citizens in '42: It should never happen again This month marks the 50th anniversary of one of the darkest moments in Amer- One of the darkest moments in American history. On Feb. 19, 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt signed an order that placed 120,000 U.S. citizens of Japanese descent into concentration camps. They had committed no crimes. No charges were filed. They were guilty only of living on the West Coast in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor. Roosevelt ruled that the citizens posed a significant threat to national security. They were rounded up, placed on rail cars and transported to camps like Minidoka in Idaho or Manzanar in the California desert. They could take with them only what they could carry. Many families lost everything. Survivors tell of scraping manure off the walls of the converted animal stables in which they lived. They also tell of the barbed wire and rifle towers that ringed the camps. It was anti-Japan sentiment run wild. Roosevelt feared they would spy or participate in other war-time crimes. Yet there was no evidence. Most of the people in the camps had never been to Japan, and Japanese-Americans were fiercely patriotic during the war. How could this happen in the United States? The performance of the 442 Regimental Combat Team, a unit of second-generation Japanese-Americans, proved that. Today, the 442nd remains the most highly decorated unit in U.S. military history. Recent ceremonies in California displayed pictures of the 442nd participating in the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp at Dachau. The 60,000 survivors of the camps this year will receive an official apology and $20,000 each from the U.S. government. This was approved in the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 to redress the grave injustice motivated by racial prejudice and war hysteria. We must never forget the unjust, illegal treatment of U.S. citizens of Japanese descent during World War II. And we must never let it happen again. Chris Moeser for the editorial board Friends help Martin Readers may have noticed Gary Bedore's column regarding Jackie Martin in the sports section of a recent issue of the Lawrence Journal-World. Martin was a starting forward for the KU women's basketball team. Her collegiate career was cut short by an injury to her Achilles' tendon. On New Year's Eve she learned she had leukemia, and she now is receiving chemotherapy at the University of Kansas Medical Center. I hope you will read the article, because it gives a glimpse of this remarkable young woman's accomplishments and unfailing spirit. Martin came to the University of Kansas from a very small town in the most rural part of Georgia. I met her shortly after she arrived, and I advised her during her freshman year. Bedore's column quotes Marian Washington as saying, "I've seen so much growth in her. They talk about graduation rates and the whole bit. She is one of those, quote, 'late bloomers.' She didn't get her degree in the time period they measure it by. But she has come so far." I agree with Coach Washington's statement. Jackie Martin affirms the belief that the college experience adds up to mucr more than just a bachelor's degree. Martin's life was radically transformed by her years at KU. It took a great deal of courage for her to start this journey, and she certainly has encountered a great deal of personal tragedy along the way. But she has persevered through all of this, completing a degree in sociology and exploring career options while working as an assistant coach under Washington's guidance. To compare Martin today with the awkward young lady I advised six years ago is to ponder one of the most remarkable changes I have ever observed in another person. I visited Martin in the hospital. Her spirits are great and the chemotherapy has presently brought the cancer into remission. But she faces a lot more medical treatment and, of course, some horrendous medical bills. Washington has established a fund to help pay Martin's expenses. Any contribution would be greatly appreciated by all of us whose lives have been enriched by knowing this courageous young woman. Contributions may be mailed to this address: Jackie Martin Fund Box 3302 Professor of Psychology Lawrence,KS 66046 Letters to the editor Rape is a violent crime The Kansan's Feb. 19 editorial on the "sex poll" ignored a critical point. Rape is more than a mere "lack of communication between the sexes. It is a violent crime. Sharon Danoff-Burg Lawrence graduate student Alumni merit respect Throughout the University of Kansas' rich history, alumni have enjoyed the respect they appropriately deserve. However, a recent article by staff columnist David Mitchell uncovered a very disturbing anti-alumni sentiment that seems to be festering among certain groups of students. In his article, Mr. Mitchell suggests that student fans at KU do not appreciate the behavior of alumni at basketball games. Mitchell contends that instead of acting in a mature and classy manner, alumni should look to the student section as an example of how to act at games. This expression of ignorance and blatant disrespect probably does not even warrant a response. Nonetheless, to clear up any misunderstanding that may have arisen from this article, I would like to make it abundantly clear that Mr. Mitchell's opinions are only shared by a small, ungrateful minority. It is great that Mr. Mitchell and those fans who share his sentiments are enthusiastic at games. However, the motivation for this enthusiasm seems a little dubious. I wonder if these fans truly understand Jayhawk basketball and its rich tradition, or if they merely attend games at Allen Field House to paint their faces, taunt free-throw shooters with Duke-like antics, and partake in ridiculous ice fights. Lawrence is a cridle of basketball, and KU has enjoyed tremendous success since Phog Allen revolutionized the game. History is the lifeblood of Jayhawk basketball, and our alumni are living part of this history. For a group of 20-year-old rowdies to impose their ways on people who have been supporters of Jayhawk basketball before they were even born is presumptuous and rude! Allen Field House is one of the top arenas in the country for college basketball, and this is the case not merely because it is loud and obnoxious. The field house is such a neat place because So, for those who are not satisfied with the manner in which alumni choose to enjoy Jayhawk basketball, please remember that KU basketball has been around for a century and that you are only a small piece of the Jayhawk tradition. Have a little respect! when one first enters it, one can sense the tradition — the merging of young and old that makes KU basketball so special. Trevor Wohlford Wichita junior Show respect for dead I am appalled at the actions of a group of antihomosexual activists who found it necessary to picket a funeral of a person who died of AIDS-related causes in Topeka. A funeral is a time of peace and understanding. It is a final journey to go before the seat of God so that he may decide the fate of the soul. A funeral is NOT a place for hate. I think that these people need to show some courtesy and let the deceased rest in peace. Michael C. 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