4 Wednesday, February 10. 1993 OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN IN OUR OPINION Clinton's Haitian policy needs honesty, integrity We came, we saw, we got sent home. Thisparaphrase describes the experience of Haitian refugees during the Bush administration. They came to the United States in search of the American dream. Yet they were never given the opportunity to pursue their dreams, they were rounded up and sent back to Haiti. Bush claimed that the Haitians were "economic not political" refugees and were subject to normal immigration laws. Bill Clinton disagreed. Clinton contended that the Haitians were indeed political refugees and that it was wrong to send them back without consideration of each individual case. This was one of the many policies of the Bush administration that Clinton said should be changed. Many Americans realized that Clinton was campaigning on image rather than substance, but the desperate Haitians clung to his words like drowning men to a lifeboat. A few days before the inauguration, 400 Haitians set sail for America. Due to shoddy craftsmanship and poor materials, the boat broke apart and 400 men, women, and children perished. Clinton's campaign rhetoric notwithstanding, these Haitians died in vain. No Haitian refugees were allowed to come to the United States, instead Clinton sent the Coast Guard to blockade Haiti and stop all would-be refugees. For them, nothing had changed. President Clinton made a number of promises during the campaign that he seems to be in no hurry to fulfill. Many dismiss this as politics as usual, but unfortunately his actions cannot be so easily excused. His willingness to say whatever he thought people wanted to hear at the time may have gained him some points in the polls, but it also cost the lives of 400 people. Clinton continually relied on image over substance, but people believed the images. Haitians are now dismantling their boats and will stay at home. Clinton must learn that when he speaks as the most powerful person in the world his words have effects and consequences. DAVID OLSON FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Give Clinton Hillary, that is, a fighting chance Appointing Hillary Clinton to head the task force on health could prove to be a blessing for President Bill Clinton, or it could prove to be a curse. Besides, the first lady said she will accept no salary. In many ways, the first lady is a good choice for the position. She is an accomplished lawyer. Plus, the fact that the president put his wife on the health care task force shows the seriousness with which he views the issue. It is safe to assume that the president will read her final report from its beginning to its end. But Hillary Clinton is also a proven liberal. She served as chairman of the Children's Defense Fund. And her values and her priorities will shape the final report. Critics have complained that the American public elected one person to be president, not two. The first lady's record was not seriously scrutinized during the campaign. Questions about her beliefs were brushed aside as irrelevant. Had voters known she was going to shape health care policy, they would have asked more questions. Obviously, this change in the role of the first lady takes a little getting used to. But the change should be given a chance. How well Hillary Clinton performs will reflect on her husband, and voters can hold him accountable on Election Day, 1996. Who knows? Maybe the candidates for first lady (or gentleman) will debate then too. It is time for Bill Clinton to give it up and start acting like commander in chief. The 10-day episode over whether to end this country's ban of homosexuals in the military was a disgrace β€” a colossal waste of time. U. S. citizens voted for Clinton last November because they wanted change. That means a president who is decisive, focused and engaged in the problems of everyday people, a slow-growth economy, a tattered health care system and a runaway federal budget deficit. Clinton was on the right side of the issue. But he should have stopped acting like his television pal Arsenio (Hall), worrying about how his executive orders would make the generals and senators he offended feel. Arsenio's a terrific role model for millions of U.S. citizens, but not for the president of the United States. Chicago Sun-Times History month needed to display achievements Here is a short history quiz for those who see no need for African-American history month: Who received a patent for the cotton gin? Who actually invented the cotton gin? Who invented the light bulb? Who invented the filament that allows the light bulb to burn continuously? Who invented the telephone? Who invented the transmitter that makes telephone conversations possible? Who wears long white robes with hooded masks, and what do those people stand for? Who first wore similar garments, and what were they worn for? Anyone scoring more than 50 percent on this quiz has a solid grasp of U.S. history as a whole. But those of us scoring less have an inking as to why times such as African-American history month were founded. STAFF COLUMNIST Personally, what I like most about African-American history month is something sad but reflective of U.S. society: February is the only time of This month, the achievements of African Americans are showcased as the nation celebrates African-American history month. The accomplishments include both well- and little-known discoveries and inventions that continue to benefit everyone, such as: Garrett Morgan's invention of the gas mask and traffic light; Benjamin Banneker, an inventor who also designed the nation's capitol city and an African-American fur trader named Jean Baptiste DuSable who founded Chicago. the year that I can daily look at any form of the media and find news about those of African descent that does not come from the sports page or the crime report. Yes, today's news coverage of minority events is much better and more extensive than in the past, but if objective coverage of all aspects of our society were mandatory, specific months of ethnic celebration would not be a necessity. Everyone's news would be told β€” good and bad. African-American history month was created to try and circumvent this oversight of the African-American community. It provides a time for African Americans to reflect upon the contributions of their race to the development of the United States, allowing them to feel a renewed sense of pride and respect for themselves and their race. This is particularly pertinent this year as many people still mourn the loss of Thurgood Marshall, a champion of civil rights and the first African American appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Because of Marshall's vigorous opposition to the concept of separate but equal facilities for Black and white U.S. citizens, African Americans can access virtually the same educational benefits as their white counterparts today. This month, opportunities abound for anyone desiring to learn more of the untold chapters of U.S. and world history. Many events are scheduled on campus in celebration of African-American history month which should prove entertaining as well as informative. Also, publications including the Kansan are running features that focus on various aspects of African-American history. Although February focuses on the history of African Americans, one basic fact must not be ignored: African-American history is U.S. history. The only difference between the two is that African-American History is not a required component of the traditional education curriculum. Because of this fact, little African-American history is known by most people, including African Americans. The time should now be taken to learn that there is much more to the African-American culture than crime, sports, entertainment, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. As a poster located in Strong Hall suggests, African Americans make up 12 percent of this nation's population. Ignoring the history of African Americans constitutes ignoring 12 percent of U.S. history. J. R. Claiborne is a Coffeyville senior majoring in Journalism. LETTER TO THE EDITOR Bus riding may not be convenient, but it is environmentally safe Clearly, it still hasn't gotten through to all of you. Global warming is occurring now and is caused mainly by carbon dioxide emissions, the stuff that comes out of your exhaust pipe. It is not going away by thinking about it, and it creates real dangers. According to the April 1900 issue of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, "The resulting climate changes will wreak devas The United States, compared to Western Europe, is far behind in environmental-friendly measures and laws. There is virtually no public transportation and recycling hardly exists (except on some campuses). tating changes on agricultural production throughout the world, among other problems. Such changes could lead to the death of far more people and cause far greater environmental damage than any nuclear reactor accident, and appear more likely." minor adjustments in your lifestyle can help. One of these is taking a bus instead of driving your car. To prevent more pollution, some Obviously, the environment doesn't really matter to Natalie Lien, as is stated in the Kansan of Jan. 26, 1993, on page 1: "The convenience of driving was more important to her than the environmental factors." Well, maybe this time you have to put your own convenience aside and think of the things that really matter right now. Sanne Lowenhardt Hoorn, Netherlands freshman U.S. culture not reflected accurately by television "I suppose," said my friend Andy. "If John McErore at Wimbledon was a real representation of Americans in general then you could say that they are all proud, arrogant and very loud." I can remember sitting in Andy's room in Aberystwyth, Wales pondering this comment one day last year. The tricky problem was that if people in the United States were true to their stereotypes, did this mean that all Texans wore plaid shirts, lived with Uncle Jessie and jumped over ponds in an orange car shouting "Yee-ha?" Were all Californiaians brainless beach beauties as portrayed by the great TV classic "Baywatch" and if I went to Kansas would my only friends be a cowardly lion, a thick scarecrow and a bunch of munchkins? Not only were people too ready to tell me about their misguided visions of the United States, but helpful friends constantly gave me tips on how to cope with the language barrier. I was continually reminded to say "mail" instead of "post," "trash" instead of "rubbish." and "guy" instead of "bloke." The list was endless. In fact, a friend authoritatively told me that all people in the United States say, "Missing you already" when they part company. Bearing in mind that he has never set foot in the United States, and his only exposure to U.S. culture was watching "My Two Dads," and "Out of this World" every week, I didn't take too much notice. I coped with people informing me about what the United States was like or rather what it was like on television, that was until someone innocently mentioned that they have Benny Hill in the United States. Suddenly the tables were turned. What does the U.S. citizens think of Britann? I mean Benny Hill isn't exactly a desirable image to reflect British culture. I soon became firmly convinced that I would be judged solely on the fact that my country had off loaded a pasty, camp, bottom pinch pin, half-wit comedian on to their culture. It seemed obvious that if a dirty old man chasing scantily clad women with his tongue hanging out was the best that British humor could come up with, then I would be judged very poorly indeed. What about "Are you being served" yet another great British comedy full of camp characters inciting risque double-endres which you were apparently subjected to here in the United States. Basically I would either be seen as a complete sexist nightmare or a dated prude who demanded a cup of tea at four o'clock and cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off. Neither images seemed too appealing. So what was I going to do? My assimilation into U.S. culture, my academic career and any meager amount of credibility that I may have had, had already been swept away by a load of horrendous TV programs, and I hadn't even got on the plane yet. I voiced my fears to a friend, and she asked me where I was going. I said Kansas. Her advice was that as long as I click my heels together three times and wish well hard, I should be all right. Somehow I should have known better. Francesca Glyn-Jones is a Ludow, England Junior major in American studies. KANSAN STAFF GREG FARMER Editor GAYLE OSTERBERG Managing editor TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser BILL SKETE, Technology coordinator STAFF COLUMNIST Justin Knupp News Monique Guildain David Mitchell Stephen Martineo KC Trauer Sports David Mitchell Photo Mark Rowland Features Lynne McAdoo Graphics Dan Schauer Wire Tiffany La莎 Hurt Assoc. Editorial Assistant Editors Chrla Moeser Assoc. Campus Joe Harder Ast. Campus Christine Laue Stacy Morford Assoc. Sports David Bartkouskii Reporters Vicki Bode Mark Button Jess DeHaven David Dorsey Matt Doyle Dan England Mark Sklar Will Lewis Frank McCleary Tervyn McCormick Brady Prusar Jim Reece ... Brett Rigsley Todd Selfart ... Blake Spurgey Jay Williams ... Ezra Wolle Copy Chiefs Scott Anderson ... Shelly Solon Copy Editors Heathbor Anderson ... Aaron Baker J.R. Clarborne ... Aimee Estedna John Fogel ... Artie Foger Kevin Furlong ... Katy Greenwald Karon Hadley ... Jo Harder Thirth Larsen Hurt ... Chris Hougow Noelle Kastens ... 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