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Monday, April 12, 1993
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
IN OUR OPINION
U.S. should aid family planning organizations
In 1984 the Reagan administration issued a ban on all funding for international family planning organizations that dealt with abortions. The ban stated that funds would not be given to international organizations that offered abortion counseling or performed abortions. This ban was placed on all organizations, even if the abortion supported funding came from another source. The ban came to be known as the Mexico City Declaration because it came out of a 1984 conference on world population in Mexico City.
Reagan's decision to stop funding the programs ensured an increase in population worldwide. The response to criticism over the ban was that population growth was a natural phenomenon and a necessity for economic growth. The administration felt that it was doing the world a favor by encouraging the increase in world population.
Many disagree with the views of the Reagan administration. Another Republican president, Dwight Eisenhower, thought that worldwide family planning was a necessity. President Bill Clinton holds that belief as well. Eisenhower began the U.S. support for worldwide family planning during his administration. He said that access to birth control was a "right for all people." The U.S. policy on family planning had been to support international organizations that dealt with the problem. However, this policy was reversed with the Mexico City Declaration in 1984.
The U.S. should offer funding at the U.N.'s recommended level, which is 4 percent of foreign aid. Congress should respond to President Clinton's request to additional funding by providing the needed support. The U.S. also should not let its abortion views dictate foreign policy dealing with family planning. Hopefully, the U.S. will pick up where it left off back in 1984 and support international family planning organizations.
Through an executive order, President Bill Clinton has reversed the Mexico City Declaration and reinstated funding for international organizations. Clinton has sent a request to Congress to finance two such organizations. Officials from the United Nations Fund for Population Activities and the International Planned Parenthood Federation have been assured that they will be receiving funds for their organization beginning in October.
JOLINDA MATHEWS FOR THE EDIFICIOR BOARD OF ARCHITECTURE
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
KU Students will see history in the making tonight. The first televised debates of presidential candidates for Student Senate will premier at 7 p.m on cable television.
TV debate gives students a chance to see candidates
Looking back on seven Senate elections as an undergraduate and law student, I never really knew who the candidates were, and I barely knew the issues. I wasn't disinterested, but this is a big school and it is very hard to reach everyone.
This is the best chance the KU student body has ever had to get to know the candidates and where they stand on the issues before the Student Senate elections, which are Wednesday and Thursday.
This year, every student with cable has an opportunity to see and hear the presidential candidates.
The debate will use a panel format similar to the format used in last year's U.S. presidential debate. Panelists will ask questions and the four presidential candidates will have specified time limits in which to answer.
The panelists will be Dave Miller, former student body president and lieutenant governor candidate; Wendy Rieman, president of the Audience Debate Forum; and Stephen Martino, Editorial Editor of the University Daily Kansan.
KU students are conscientious people and care about the student government that allocates their student activity fees. But it can be difficult to be an informed voter on a campus of more than 20,000 students. Educating the KU electorate is difficult at best, and we all owe it to ourselves to take advantage of this unique opportunity presented by KU Forensics, Kansas Union Bookstore and Student Senate Elections Commission.
Christopher Bailey
Election Commission
co-chairperson
KANSAN STAFF
GREG FARMER
Editor
GAYLE OSTERBERG
Managing editor
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
BILL SHEFT. Technology coordinator
For cult leader, government, it's easier to receive than to give
BILL SKEET Technology coordinator
In a recent dispatch from Waco, Chicago Tribune reporter James Coates quoted a former clerk at Sam's Warehouse, one of those big discount stores that sell products in large quantities.
If women are so dim-witted that they will move in with David Koresh, the wacky Waco, Texas, cult leader, and become part of his harem, that is not my concern. Different strokes for different folks, as the goof generation liked to say.
STEVE PERRY
Business manager
MELISSA TERLIP
Retail sales manager
JEANNE HINES
Sales and marketing adviser
But I don't want to work to support Koresh's many wives — as many as 47 of them, according to some reports. Nor do I want to work to feed the many children these women and Koresh have spawned. Not that I dislike children. I just think that if a man has them, he ought to pay for their upkeep himself.
Business Staff
Asst Managing ... Justin Knupp
News ... Monique Guillain
... David Mitchell
Editorial ... Stephen Martino
Campus ... KC Trauer
Sports ... David Mitchell
Marketing ... Mark Mulholland
Features ... Lynne McAdoo
Graphics ... Dan Schauer
The woman said: "They used to come in here and buy all sorts of staples — things like a couple hundred pounds of pinto beans, cases of powon April 15. They will be trying to figure out how to retain — to misuse one of President Clinton's favorite phrases — "their fair share."
Business Staff
Campus sales mgrs — Bradron Bade
Regional sales mgrs — Wade Baxter
National sales mgrs — Jennifer Perrier
Co-op sales mgrs — Ashley Hessel
Production mgrs — Ashley Langford
Marketing director — Angela Clevergen
Creative director — Holly Perry
Jimmy Kleinfeld
Art Director — Dave Habiger
However, it appears that as a tax-payer, I've been saddled with the responsibility of feeding Koresh's children. And probably Koresh.too.
Dream Warriors, Digable Planets,
De La Soul. Any of these names ring
a bell? Probably not. These groups are
a dying breed in a field of music that's
growing in popularity.
**Letters** should be type, 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.
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While rap music is gaining acceptance and becoming more popular, there has been a decrease in the quality of production. It seems as though it would be the opposite, but instead of hearing meaningful music, rap music has been plagged with lyrics maudled with profanity and a huge increase in pro-violence ideals.
I'm a firm believer that society should provide a safety net for those who are truly in need. But in some cases, maybe we need something other than a safety net.
The Kauai reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kauai newborn, 111 Stuart Fell Hall
But by Washington's spending standards, even $18 billion is peanuts. So why even bother writing about Koresh's petty run-off?
Quality rap music becoming more rare
Because people are sitting down at this very moment figuring out how much they will owe the government
So, while it might be better to give than to receive, the government makes it much easier to receive than to give.
Mike Royko is a syndicated columnist with the Chicago Tribune.
And as they sweat over the tax forms, they realize that there are 1,000 no-no's for every ves-ves.
At the same time, the tax laws are such that if you make even an innocent error, a computer will snarl and send out a letter demanding that you pay up right now, chump, or you are in deep stuff.
We have an interesting contrast. The laws permit the many wives of David Koresh to walk into a welfare office and, with considerable ease, walk out with your money and mine.
Of course, in terms of federal spending, that is just peanuts. No, less than peanuts. The federal government now gives out about $18 billion in food stamps.
The problem is that the artists who have the right messages, and who are the most creative, rarely put out an album. Furthermore, between these lapses is a time when a surplus of music, which is not up to par, comes out. Rock music doesn't have this problem simply because of the greater range of styles. There is more choice, thus more quality. Granted,
COLUMNIST
dered mulk, millet — you know, survival food.
They mostly used food stamps. A list of his wives were registered for wages.
Is that the purpose of our welfare system — to support the many wives and children of David Koresh? And to provide a stockpile of survival food that permits him to maintain his standoff with the federal agents?
So it can be conceivable that with 47 wives, Koresh could have been knocking down several thousand dollars a month in food stamps. And maybe considerably more, if his devoted spouses put in for cash welfare.
I thought welfare was supposed to go to unfortunate people who, for valid reasons, are unable to support themselves and their families.
This doesn't appear to be very valid.
Not if Korean can afford to buy an arsenal of expensive military assault
The food stamp laws — which provide up to $370 a month for a four-person household — are so flexible that it would be unlikely that someone would be turned down unless they walked in and said "Hi, I am one of you." Or we would want stamps so we can prepare to do war against the government."
weapons, a fleet of about 30 go-carts, a satellite TV dish and the latest in high-tech sound equipment.
If you like rap music like I do, then support it. Broaden your horizons and sample all the different types. It's worth it, because if we don't, we could see a whole lot of the exact same thing.
There are exceptions though. With the recent breakthrough of Arrested Development and Digable Planets, there is hope. It's not the norm, but when people listen to it, they realize there is more to it than bad words and violence. It just seems as though anyone that cusses can sell a million albums. What does this say about the public? It's somewhat depressing to see quality music fail, while Two Live Crew thrives.
STAFF COLUMNIST
there is always Firehouse and Poison to give rock a bad name, but for each of these groups there are two more that are decent.
It's the opposite in rap music. For every good group there are guys like Vanilla Ice and Luther Campbell making millions. The diversity just is not there. While this music may be popular, it's the hardcore that sells the most albums. This genre of rap music embraces violence and vulgarity, which is not necessarily bad, it's just
not that creative. These artists capitalize on this. It's unfortunate that an "explicit lyrics" label can sell an album, but today a good number of these artists are doing just that. Instead of being different, go for the shock value of four letter words; it sells albums, and more importantly, it makes money.
The range in rap is nothing compared to rock, for the simple reason that extremism just does not sell. Thus for the most part, the music is brought to a medium, which happens to be hardcore. Don't believe me. Go see Chris Rock in the movie "CB" Although it may be a parody, he has an interesting message on what rap is coming to. Innovative jazz samples and lyrics are a rarity. It's almost uncommon that the artists who use these techniques get quality air time or much less stick around and make money. The reason is that diversity in
rap is not welcome. Unless it's the same old stuff, people are reluctant to buy.
Andrew Glilman is a Norman, Okla., sophomore majoring in English.
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