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University Daily Kansan / Monday, February 17, 1992
OPINION
LIFE IN
HELL
1992 BY MATT GROENING
Army spouse sets priorities
I hope to graduate from the University of Kansas. That is my priority these days. I've shelved my other goals of plastic surgery, writing a best seller, performing on stage with "Chicago" and having a clean house all for another time.
I'm really determined to finish because this is the fifth college I have attended, and I've yet to graduate from one. In addition to being a Nontrad (older student married with children), I'm a military spouse. This means that my whole life is separated into six-month to four-year assignment blocks. Some of those assignments, such as Germany, offer little in continuing education for spouses. (Unless one wants to be a helicopter mechanic or enter the exciting career of law enforcement.) Some assignments are spent having babies (even more stressful than a Western Civ final, and it last a lot longer). Army spouses have a national pastime
Kate Kelley Staff columnist
called "going back to school."
Sometimes you get volunteered up to your neck in activities relating to your Army person's job, your children's activities, needs of your Army community, and all of that. This always results in burnout and a vow to never say yes again.
This is what happened to me during our last assignment in Germany. I was teaching eight aerobics classes a week, had a position on three different boards and was a Boy Scouts troop treasurer. Plus I was drowning in family-support activities. I was used up,
wrung out, ready for the old-shel-fole-ovice-vibrant-person-Army-wives' home. (There is one in heaven, and we don't have to do anything.)
Then came the orders for Fort Leavenworth. My husband would be in Army school, my children would be in their school, and I could go to school, too. No more volunteering. No more stress. (Well, I may have gone a little far on that one.)
A lot of military wives go back to school because they are tired of volunteering, but there are no paying jobs for them. No one likes to hire someone who's temporary. Ask any military wife about career opportunities. She'll either laugh in your face or break into sobs. There are probably more overeducated, over-qualified military spouses than in any other demographic group. Because we all go back to school, and back, and back, and back.
Kate Kolley is a Fort Leavenworth junior majoring in English.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
We must help former Soviets
Isolationism could jeopardize the New World Order, bring bloody conflict to independent states
Dangerous. That's the best way to describe the U.S. response to the current food crisis in the former Soviet Union.
Despite recent demonstrations in Moscow and growing signs of unrest throughout the region, the United States' response has been inadequate. President Bush's commitment of $5 billion in leftover food, medicine and supplies from the Persian Gulf War is nothing but a drop in the bucket.
American aid, which amounts to 16 million meals, is enough to feed the city of Moscow for two nights. Not a very significant contribution from a president who says he is committed to maintaining the New World Order. In contrast, since 1990, the European Community has provided roughly $80 billion in assistance.
It is understandable that Bush hesitates to increase foreign aid in an election year. The economy is bad, and many voters resent sending money abroad when there are such
hard times at home. Pat Buchanan, Bush's Republican primary opponent, is trying to capitalize on those sentiments with his "America First" campaign, which focuses on domestic issues and promotes isolationism
But clearly, too much is at stake for the United States to turn its back now. As the harsh Russian winter sets in, food shortages likely will grow worse. The Yeltsin government already is overburdened as it implements free-market reforms. The United States and other Western democracies must step up their commitments to Russia and the other republics to ensure that Yeltsin's plans are successful.
If Yeltsin fails, the region probably will be thrown into a new period of instability unseen since the days leading up to the socialist revolution of 1917. The prospect of bloody conflict in a region with the world's largest stockpile of nuclear weapons is something that should alarm us all.
The United States cannot put its head in the sand as the New World Order continues to evolve. Isolationism is a danger we cannot afford.
Chris Moeser for the editorial board
NASA data alarm president
With ozone hole enlarging, and on his mind.
The recent finding of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration about the growing ozone hole is a troubling development for the world.
Now President George Bush embraces a faster implementation of policies to decrease air emissions of harmful chlorofluorocarbons and aerosols for business and private use. This move should be applauded. It represents political courage to turn away from such enthusiastic friends as big business.
For the past several years, scientists from all spectrums have warned about the problems that lie ahead for the world ecology if nothing is done to reduce emissions of ozone-depleting chemicals. Bushhas exercised limited leadership on the environmental front for most of his term. But now the President has demonstrated a much-warranted change of heart.
Bush turns attention to ecology
In 1988, Bush pledged in his campaign that he would become the environmental president.
However, he has been slow to propose environmental legislation. The Bush administration's foot-dragging on this issue has been abhorrent. Recently, Bush sided with big business in favoring a long-term schedule to decrease harmful air emissions, arguing that the ozone depletion problem was not significant.
Yet the findings of NASA earlier this month have provoked a complete about-face in Bush's environmental policy.
A little more than one year ago, the United States participated in one of the most successfully fought wars ever waged. It is irresponsible to say that the United States massacred more than 100,000 people. Massacred means "to kill ruthlessly and indiscriminately." At no time were civilians targeted intentionally, but unfortunately they suffer most in war. The Iraqi populace is suffering even now because of Saddam Hussein's current refusal to sell oil in exchange for food and medical supplies as outlined by the United Nations.
Even though election-year politics surely played into the change somewhere, Bush's decision was more than he had to do. The president has charted a responsible and necessary course to improve the national and world environment. With so little time left, Bush may yet be able to preserve his claim as the environmental president.
Stephen Martino for the editorial board
The United States fought a just war in the gulf, but was the war justifiable? Saddam threatened the oil flow to the Western powers, threatened the security of Israel and the entire Middle East and was well on his way to establishing nuclear power. I would say we were justified.
Gulf war was justified
It is true that the West and the former Soviet Union are in part responsible for Saddam's rise to power. As previous and new reports indicate, this was done to ensure a balance of power between Iraq and Iran during their 10-year war. The end of the Cold War is what made the
gulf war so successful. Now that the rest of the world will not have to serve as pawns between the United States and our former enemy, perhaps real world peace is possible.
Lettersto the editor
At the same time, we should realize that the world has never been so unstable. The Commonwealth of Independent States is looking civil war in the eye with its tens of thousands of nuclear weapons. North Korea is one year away from the bomb. Libya has constructed a new chemical plant, and Iran recently has amassed a huge stockpile of weapons mainly provided by China. The world is still a dangerous place.
Travis Carlisle
Lawrence sophomore
War is inevitable reality
I have a few words in response to David Caruso's column, "Advertisements glorify warfare's obvious horror," printed Feb. 11.
War is horrible, of that there is no doubt. "Military action is important to the nation—it is the ground of death and life, the path of survival and destruction..." "(The Art of War" by
Sun Tzu). When Sun Tzu wrote those words, he meant the death and life of nations. I am glad that I live in a nation where I am free to speak my mind. Mr. Carusso should be too, for if we did not live in such a nation, Mr. Carusso might be dead or in jail by now for speaking his piece.
A volunteer army is surely a stronger one. Professional soldiers of the United States and other countries defended a tragically oppressed Kuwait. One of my best friends commanded a tank during that time. He was not happy about what he had to do, but he did his job in a professional manner. He was not stripped of his identity; he acted as a skilled member of a team. Do we want our country defended by skilled volunteers in command of technologically superior equipment designed to defeat the likes of Saddam Hussein? Is war good? These are two distinct thoughts that Mr. Caurso unsuccessfully attempts to interweave.
The United States is not advertising for soldiers to participate in a warmongering cruse. In fact, most soldiers never see combat. Advertising employed by the military serves to attract bright young men and women who seek to gain both the tangible and intangible benefits of serving their country. Exciting
advertisements distinguish themselves from the market clutter we are all deluged with daily. But when a person responds by taking an oath to uphold the Constitution and support the United States of America, that person is well aware of the consequences of his or her actions. Many enlist the benefits, despite the potential risk of serving in time of war. I think it is safe to say few enlist hoping to see combat. Most are proud to serve.
I suggest Mr. Carusuro-read the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. Our country gives us rights and privileges many would die to have, including freedom of the press and the right to free speech. Regrettably, many real people died in the course of attaining and preserving our freedoms. Regrettably, more may die.
We would all like to live in a world of consummate peace. Unfortunately, reality must intrude on Mr. Caruso's utopia.
Doug Deady,
Lenexa first-year law student
Vets know war horrors
I am writing in response to Mr. Caruso's
poignant column of Feb.11. I earnestly agree that our society glorifies violence and warfare to a profane extent. Indeed, there is nothing adventurous or challenging about killing people and destroying property. I have never spoken to a combat veteran who did not describe his experience as the most horrible sacrifice in his life.
I think it is difficult for many people to fully comprehend the realities of military action. This is especially true given the emphasis in Hollywood on Rambo and the likes. To thoroughly understand the brutality of combat, volunteer some time in a Veterans Affairs hospital.
KANSANSTAFF
TIFFANYHARNESS Editor
Talk with the veterans and get to know them as people. I know they will enjoy the companionship. Most importantly though, we should all remember this: If the women and men of our nation had not been willing to make that sacrifice in 1778 and 1861 and 1917 and 1941 and on across our history, we likely would not continue to enjoy the freedoms of our Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
VANESSA FUHRMANS Managing editor
TOM EBLEN General manager,news adviser
D.W. Jackson,
Lawrence graduate student
Editors
Editors
News ... Mike Andrews
Editorial ... Beth Randolph
Planning ... Lara Gold
Pictures .. Eric Gorsi/Rochelle Oleon
Sports .. Eric Miles
Photo .. Jule Jacobson
Features .. Debbie Myers
Graphics .. Jeff Meesey/Aimee Brainard
JENNIFER CLAXTON Business manager
JAYSTEINER Retail sales manager
JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser
Business Staff
Campus sales mgr. Brixton Appleboden
Regional sales mgr. Rich Hearnbarach
National sales mgr. Scott Hanna
Co-op sales mgr. Arne Johnson
Production mgrs. Kim Wallace
Marketing director. Kei Leeker
Marketing director. Kim Claxton
Creative director. Leah Levine
Classified mgr. Kip Chin
Business Staff
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