4 Wednesday, July 28, 1993 OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN IN OUR OPINION Congress learns worthy lesson about racism The United Daughters of the Confederacy were treated to a lesson about the insidious nature of racism last week, thanks to Sen. Carol MoseleyBraun, D-Ill. That is until the Senate's only African-American member heard about it. When the Daughters went before Congress to renew the 95-year-old patent on their insignia featuring the Confederate flag, the renewal initially was approved. In an emotion-filled appeal, Moseley-Braun told the chamber that the Confederate flag was offensive to African Americans because the image was a reminder that African Americans were once human chattel, bought and sold like any farm livestock. The Senate reversed itself and killed the amendment with a 75-25 vote. No one is accusing the Daughters of neo-Nazi motives. But both they and the virtually all-white Senate are guilty of not opening their eyes to the subtle roadblocks to racial harmony that have existed in this country since the first European settlers. In a public address in 1915, Woodrow Wilson said: "The flag is the embodiment, not of sentiment, but of history. It represents the experiences made by men and women; the experiences of those who do and live under the flag." It is important to remember that while ancestors of the Daughters of the Confederacy fought for their way of life under the Confederate flag, African Americans also lived and suffered under it. The defeat of one small amendment is not a giant step in the battle for civil rights, but it does show that a little diversity in Congress can go a long way. VAL HUBER EDITORIAL WRITER NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Democrats should keep Hatch Act to preserve fairness of campaigns The federal Hatch Act was passed in 1939 with a good purpose — to protect federal employees from partisan campaign pressures and to protect the public from a federal army of potential campaign workers aligned with self-serving politicians. Now the Democrats in Washington, flush with new power, want effectively to scuttle the act, and form new and unhealthy alliances with about 3 million federal employees and their unions. The risks are clear if the Hatch Act is gutted: A well-paid cadre of captive federal workers aligned with politicians in turn can control their wages and benefits, in addition to unwarranted pressures on civil servants to raise campaign dumps from other federal workers. BEACON JOURNAL AKRON. OHIO INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Floods remind a prideful nation of nature's overwhelming power The flood along the Mississippi River has reminded a nation grown nonchalant about the advances of engineering, scientific prowess and the conquest of space that its continent is still subject to the caprice of nature. Unlike European Romanticics, the early Americans never viewed nature as romantic or benevolent: it was the foe of civilization, whose extremes of heat, cold, disease and elemental fury constantly overwhelmed the pioneers' attempts to tame and settle the land. Something of that suspicion of nature remains; only in the United States is there such an abiding fascination with the weather and natural disasters. During the past 50 years, however, excessive pride has tried to defy nature. In many places, the comforts and conveniences of the suburbs, no matter where they live. The Army Corps of Engineers, proud of a century's record of taming rivers and draining swamps, has given assurances that levees and storm walls, dikes and irrigation can offer the protection without which these homes are not insurable. The Mississippi has proved them wrong. The Great Flood is more than a natural disaster. Constricting a raging river invites occasional catastrophe. Mark Twain never lost his respect for the Mississippi. The people of Hannibal are now learning again that the old awe is the homage the river demands. THE TIMES LONDON LONDON THE TRAGEDIES THAT SANDBAGS HAVE SEEN IN '93 KU will be good memory in spite of some faults It is tradition that at the end of each semester, the departing *Kansan* editor writes a fluffy, reminiscent column about the KU experience. The result is usually a choking and gagging sound emitting from my throat. Some traditions are highly overrated. In fact, Hell on the Hill is filled with obligatory observances. How will I miss these? Let me count the ways: ■ KU heating and cooling: Hot in the summer, cold in the winter. Student Senate: Much ado about nothing. Lawrence mail service: Last week's magazines tomorrow. EDITOR ■ Wescoe Hall: Architects on acid? ■ Lawrence drivers: Turn lane? What's a turn lane? Of course, these are just the little things. Not immense issues but abundant annoyances. Let's not forget tuition increases. But how could we? They are the strongest of KU traditions. Let's talk about being a fifth-year senior with an enrollment date after underclassmen and not being able to get in required classes — again. And of course, every student's enemy, the Parking Department. If you're feeling paranoid because you think the Parking Pirates are out to get you, don't worry. It's not your imagination. This is the most evil branch of the University bureaucra- cy. Every year students pay a higher price for the privilege of parking a mile from the nearest classroom. But has the quality of the grossly oversold yellow lots improved? I don't think so. Mr. Kearns I've also noticed that the Athletic Department has adopted its alumni-first seating policy for Memorial Stadium this fall. Long the policy at Allen Field House, the theory seems to be 'rob from the poor and give to the rich.' This fall the student seating section has been moved up and over as the alumni demand more and better seats. For years the students were the strongest supporters of the once-struggling program. However, now that Glen Mason has turned the team into a legitimate winner, the alumni are now willing to sit through the contests. In years past, the ticket office has oversold student seating. At more than one home game last season, students were forced to stand in the aisles. Unfortunately, loyalty does not pay as well as alumni do. If the team continues to improve at its current pace, by the 1995 season, students will be relegated to the aluminum bleachers in the south end zone. If you have stayed with me this far you might think I hate KU. Dead wrong. My five years here have been with few regrets. My two years at the Kansan have been especially gratifying. Hove this university, which makes it difficult to accept the parts of it that act in ways that affect students — the lifeblood of KU — adversely. T'll never watch watching from just behind the south end zone of Memorial Stadium as Tony Sands broke the NCAA record for yards rushing in a Division I football game. Despite the shell of Hoch and the atrocity that is Wescole, the beauty of this campus will be sketched in my memory for a long time — as will the sounds of this newsroom as I type here for the last time. I'll never forget seeing George Carlin deliver his stand-up routine in Hoch Auditorium — one of my few good memories of that fabulous building. It has been fun, my friends. But never settle for what we have. KU students deserve better. David Mitchell is the Kansan editor LETTER TO THE EDITOR asian, sexism, homophobia, stereotyping, prejudice or any of that nasty stuff — except on Page 4 in Val Huber's column. She says, "Compared to ... a drunken fraternity guy, a cat vomits lot less and is less likely to urinate in a corner." So fraat guys are drunks who can't hold their liquor and live like pigs? I've heard this crude, unfair stereotype applied to members of one particular ethnic group many times. Of course, the *Kansan* would never print a column in which such characteristics were attributed to any minority group. As we have seen, the *Kansan* goes out of its way to say only positive things about all minority groups. However, the editors of the *Kansan* don't seem to think twice about stereotyping a group of people that is composed mostly of white male heterosexuals. John Chappell Leawood graduate student COMMENTARY Kansan stereotypes no group but white male heterosexuals I was very impressed by the tone of sensitivity, inclusiveness and general concern that was exhibited in the July 21 issue of the University Daily Kansas for the welfare of those who are not white male heterosexuals. Just in the first four pages there were stories about the latest Fred Phelps publicity stunt, a science program restricted to female and minority students, something called the Second Gathering for Peace and Healing and a shelter for abused women that uses what is referred to in the story as a "broad definition of violence." In addition, on the editorial page there is one article denouncing the ubiquitous Mr. Phelps and another supporting the right of gays to join the military. There was not a trace of Defenseless plants deserve same rights animals have As a non-vegetarian type, a carnivore if you will, I come across many preyides because I eat meat. But what about plants? Are vegetarians not as evil because they eat from the plant kingdom? I have to disagree. Plants are the most under represented species as far as atrocities go. It's always puzzled me that plants go through countless terrors, and no one gives it a second thought. Animal activists would turn over in their fur coat-free graves if animals were treated like plants. For instance, yard work not only exhibits cruel behavior toward plants, but also some outright harsh terminology, like weed whacking. This term sounds vindictive. (My God, what did plants ever do to you?) Lawn mowing, a cruel sport played by almost all suburbanites, is another example. Burbatanes carefully coach their grass to be the tallest, greenest and most lush grass on the block and then pulverize the little suckers with a huge blade that chops the grass off at the chest, chlorophyll everywhere. All of the wars together do not compare to the destruction of harmless grass every week. And what about vegetarians? These people prey only on poor, defenseless plants, so defenseless they can't even talk or meow in pain when they are being chopped by the huge, white human mollars. These slaughterhouses of modern farms also are disgusting. Acres and acres of rows upon rows of one species raised only as food-genocide committed annually. (No pets allowed.) It may be argued the plants are dif ferent. Because they don't speak? Maybe we're just not listening. Farmers have told me that if you stand in the middle of a large cornfield, you can hear the corn talking. Scientists try to debunk the talking field of corn by explaining that it is only the sound of the corn growing. But I think it's a cover up, like crop circles, which aren't signs of alien life but wheat's only way of communicating. Plant eaters also may argue that plants are a renewable resource. They may argue that all it takes is a few seeds, some soil, a little water and sunshine to bring a new plant to life. As humans, we assume that plants don't experience life like we do. Therefore they can easily be replaced by next year's crop. So the questions remain. How come no one is protesting for plants' rights? Or spitting on people wearing cotton? Or raiding experimental plant labs and setting the plants free? Or lying down in front of a combine to save a field of wheat? Who knows? Long live the turnip! Doug Hesse is a Baliwin, Mo., senior majoring in Journalism and environmental studies. KANSAN STAFF DAVID MITCHELL Editor JAY WILLIAMS Managing editor TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser Copy Chief BILL SKEET, Technology coordinator Editorial Terrynlyn McCormick Campus Planning Jess Dakenavon Campus News Will Lewis Photo by Michelle Levy Graphics John Paul Fogel Lisa Cosmite Katie Greenwald Doutt Paintney David Stewart Cotton Tollett Chris Mason Reporters Tracy Ritchle... Christy Corder ... Gennifer Levy Terrihil McComick ... Beth Rendolph I. Ward Copy Editors Photographers Valerie Bontrager ...Doug Hesse Tom Leininger ...Angle Lower Heather Loftin ...Brian Vandervlier James Wilcox **Letters** should be typed, doubled 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. **Guest columns** should be typed, double spaced and fewer than 100 words. They must include the guest's name. The **Kaniana** bearer should the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kaniana newsroom. 111 Stauffert First Hall. 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