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wednesday, June 30, 1993
OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
IN OUR OPINION
Iraqi bombing incident praised and criticized
Pro:
The attack launched by the United States against the Iraqi Intelligence Compound was a reasonable and compelling response to Iraq's sponsorship of international terrorism. The attack was instigated by clear and convincing evidence that Saddam Hussein and members of the Iraqi intelligence community plotted to assassinate former President George Bush and his wife during their visit to Kuwait last April.
President Clinton and his advisors chose the most reliable way to carry out the mission without exposing large numbers of civilians to danger. Unfortunately, a small number of missiles did miss their target and struck residential areas. This occurrence, while regrettable, should not keep the United States from taking action when necessary to deter other nations from supporting terrorism against Americans.
This most recent action brings to mind the attack authorized by President Reagan in 1986 against Libya for its sponsorship of a bombing that killed a U.S. serviceman at a Berlin nightclub.
Yet the terrorism sponsored by Iraq greatly outweighs the events which resulted in the Libyan attack. Iraq, from the highest levels, planned the assassination of the former leader of the United States. It was President Bush who led an international coalition which removed Iraqi forces from Kuwait more than two years ago.
It is the responsibility of the U. S. government to ensure the protection and sovereignty of its citizens both at home and aboard. This action should give foreign leaders reason to pause and consider the possible retribution of terrorism against Americans in the future.
STEPHEN MARTINO
EDITORIAL WRITER
Con:
Clinton's decision to attack Iraq's intelligence headquarters in Baghdad last Saturday was a mistake. One that sacrificed human lives in attempt to flex the almighty American muscle.
the justification for the surprise attack was the uncovered Iraq plan to assassinate former President George Bush. Bombs were found by the U.N. that were intended to terminate Bush's life while he was in Kuwait in April. U.S. action against Iraq was decided without a trial and without a conviction on the international level. Other measures to punish Iraq were not taken into consideration before the attack which ended the lives of eight people and wounded I2 others was ordered.
Clinton said in reference to the casualties, "I'm sorry that happened but I think we had minimal loss of life and we sent the message we needed to send."
What was the message we needed to send? Don't mess with the U.S. Wasn't the quick removal of Suddam from Kuwait during Desert Storm a message of the power of the U.S.? There probably are few nations if any in the world who do not recognize the power of the U.S, and the unnecessary use of force to destroy the intelligence headquarters did not sway anyone's opinion of it.
The attack did however signal Clinton's attempts to raise his ratings which are at an all-time low. In the United States nothing raises a president's rating than a successful raid on the enemy, and Suddam is the classic enemy.
The only "clear" success was the rise in the people's faith in their president. Unfortunately that came at the expense of lives.
TERRILYN McCORMICK
EDITORIAL EDITOR
PRESIDENT CLINTON AWAITS RESULTS OF THE U.S. BOMBING OF IRAQ
Fireworks, singed hair part of Fourth of July
The Fourth of July is the best holiday known to a child. It is not the patriotic feelings that stir in all of us as our national anthem is sung at a game. Nor is it seeing all of our long-lost relatives for a picnic in 95 degree heat. It is fireworks — a word that raises my heart rate not only from the excitement that I feel upon its mention, but from the remembrances of past, near-death experiences.
The Fourth of July was not just a one-day holiday. It usually started about mid-to late-June, or as soon as my friends and I could get our hands on some fireworks. My mom would let me spend $20 on fireworks. I remember we would spend the early weeks of June trying to find the best deals so we could get as much gunpowder for our money as possible. It was a great lesson in economics.
We would order from a mail-order company and get our explosives from United Parcel Service. It was a great day when the UPS truck stopped at my house, and the delivery person basically would throw a package at me, as if it could explode at any time. The sheer look of terror on that man's face is one of my best memories.
I was quite a pyromanica in my day I knew how every kind of pyrrotechnic device worked and what was in each.
COMMENTARY
But I knew the most important thing of all that made me a star among my peers during that time of year. I knew how to make gumpowder.
Of course, this proved more dangerous than anything. One Fourth of July, I learned what not to do with a blow torch and several chemicals. But I did learn how to burn off all my arm hair and most of my eyebrows. I just chalked it up to experience.
When July the Fourth finally arrived, we children would let the grown-ups in the neighborhood sleep until 9:30 a.m., and then we would begin. And it always started with a bottle rocket fight. We savored these moments of stupidity. We still look back and laugh when each of us shows off our scars — burn marks where bottle rockets landed and exploded, or missing fingers because we lit a firecracker and forgot it was in
Those were proud times.
our hands.
They were also times of great inventions. I invented a bottle rocket gun that had an accuracy of six inches from up to 50 feet away. We also invented a great way to melt steel and cause a smoke cloud that would engulf the entire neighborhood. It was a time of great thought, not unlike the Renaissance.
We were as safe as we could be when it came to fireworks. We never started any fires (at least not with fireworks, but that's another story), we never got hurt (except for a little premature baldness), and we never were caught (though we were chased by police many times). Fireworks were not legal where we lived. But as children, that didn't matter. It was well worth the risk.
But as an adult, I wimp out when I hear that I could be fined or thrown in jail. Mom is not here to protect me now.
But now that I know fireworks are legal here in Douglas County ... well, I wouldn't come around my way on July the Fourth, I'm going to be living it up!
Doug Hesse is a Ballwin, Mo. senior majoring in journalism and environmental studies.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
University does not pay professor enough money to prohibit smoking on campus and in his office
Two things go into effect on July 1st. One is my annual salary increase of $990, the most I have received in the 18 years I've been employed as a calculus teacher at this University. (The next smallest was $1100 in 1976, on my then salary of $17,500.) The other is the new policy, according to which the University will no longer provide me with an office to work in. (Technically, I still have an office, but I am no longer permitted to smoke in it. Amounts to the same thing.) Now, I have a couple of questions for the University administrators who thought up the smoking prohibition. I'd like answers, but I'm not going to hold my breath (in what's left of my tobacco-damaged lungs) waiting.
First, I wonder if they are familiar with the phrase "adding insult to injury?"
Second, have they considered how this policy is
going to exacerbate the difficulty we already have in recruiting and retaining faculty?
Third, do they really think that posting "SMOKERS KEEP OUT" signs on the campus perimeter is constant with the University's loudly proclaimed ideals of Diversity and Tolerance?
Finally, and most important of all: except for dark hints of reeduction camps ("smoking cessation seminars" in Newspeak), I have seen no published statement of the penalties to be imposed on violators. I need to know this so I can convert my salary increase to smokes: e.g., if they are planning to hit us with $500 fines, that makes my raise worth 2 smokes per year, before taxes.
Professor, Mathematics
Fred Galvin
Women need more toilets than men do
Sometimes I just don't understand legislators. Well ok, most of the time. It seems to me that they spend way too much time sitting around debating budgets and bills that have little relevance in my life. I was ready to give up on the whole democratic process, but just the other day I heard something on the radio that restored my faith in the process, something that is a great boon to the masses — well the female ones at least. I'm talking about the "putty parity" law enacted in Texas last year.
For those of you who haven't heard of this great advance for womankind, I'll explain. This law requires that there be two toilets in women's restrooms for every one in men's restrooms.
Now I know what a lot of you men are thinking. Why are legislators spending taxpayers' money debating such absurd issues, and why do women need more toilets anyway?
Anyone who has ever been to a concert, sporting event or mall can answer that. The women's restrooms are clearly marked by a mile long line of women hopping up and down as they wait for what seems like an hour to get in the door. Meanwhile, men cruise quickly in and out of their restrooms. It like there is a sign above their door that permanently says "no waiting."
As a woman, I've often wondered just how this could be. I've had plenty of time to think about it while waiting in line. One thing it've noticed is that women spend more time in the restroom than men. One of my male colleagues said he suspected that we had bowling alleys in there, and that this was the reason for the delay I can assure you that this is not true. I believe that men just spend too little time in there. Statistics say that women spend an average of three minutes in the restrooms if they don't wash their hands, while men only spend 84 seconds and that includes hand washing.
KANSAN STAFF
The reason for this is that most men use the restroom as a pit stop. They go in, do what needs to be done, and get back out on the track, always trying to better their time.
My little brother is a prime example. When we go to the mall and he uses the restroom, he's back so fast I barely have time to tie my shoe. Of course, he's only 10 and probably doesn't wash his hands, but you get the point. Now I don't mean to say this includes all men.
One other reason that the process goes much more smoothly for men is that their restrooms can accommodate so many more people. Through the course of my conversation with my colleague, he confirmed a suspicion that I have long held — the existence of an item known as "the trough." I won't go into details, I think you can all figure it out.
He suggested that they could add these to the women's restrooms, but somehow I just don't think it would work.
I think it's interesting to note that the "potty patty" law was enacted in a state where a women is governor. It gives me hope that it will catch on in
Just something to think about while you're waiting in line Joan.
COMMENTARY
Editors
Jess DeHaven is a Topeka senior majoring in journalism
DAVID MITCHELL
Editor
JAY WILLIAMS
Managing editor
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
BILL SKEET, Technology coordinator
Central University Terrilyn McCormick
Campus News Will Lewis
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Photo Melissa Lacey
Copy Chief Tracey Ritchie
Graphics John Paul Fogel
JOHN CARLTON
Business manager
JENNIFER BLOWEY
Retail sales manager
JEANNE HINES
and marketing adviser
Business Staff
Production manager ... Robin Kring
Creative director ... Brian Fusco
Classified manager ... Brenda Daubert
Photographer ... Andrew Armone
Retail Zone manager ... Cathy McWilliams
Regional Zone manager ... Dallis Vanick
Promotions
Josh Hahn
Business Staff
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Birds of a Feather
By Brian Fitzpatrick