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Monday, February 1, 1903
OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
IN OUR OPINION
All citizens have right to serve in U.S. military
President Bill Clinton pledged during the election to make strides against one of the most overtly discriminatory policies in the nation. Clinton promised to overturn the ban on gays and lesbians serving in the military. While this action has brought criticism and pressure on the president, he has moved to extended civil rights to all U.S. citizens. These actions should be applauded.
After heated pressure from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Harry S. Truman, in 1948, integrated the armed forces. Although this move received less than unanimous support, it too was a move in the right direction. It was a full 15 years later, in 1963, when equal rights for African Americans actually were addressed through legislation.
President Clinton has drawn comparisons between himself and Truman. Clinton now has the opportunity to one-up Truman. He can move the nation one huge step forward towards greater tolerance and acceptance of homosexuals.
Many people in the United States wonder what the point in changing the policy is if homosexuals are already finding ways to serve. The point is that homosexuals expressing a sincere desire to serve their nation are forced to live in fear.A fear that not only includes public humiliation but their own job security too.
Many people claim that gays and lesbians are void of any moral fiber, and they will cause irreparable damage to the armed forces. Homosexuality should not mistakenly be considered synonymous with pedophilia, rape, or any other acts of sexual misconduct. However, not every heterosexual individual is a virtuous, upstanding citizen. Tailhook should serve as a reminder.
The ridiculous nature of these unfounded cultural myths might be exposed should the military and the rest of U.S. society adopt a more open-minded view regarding homosexuality. The nation of Denmark tells us they will. This country states, "Homosexuality doesn't create problems at all. We don't have the square view on the matter as the Americans have." In Denmark, not only are gays allowed to serve, but military spouses receive the same death and disability benefits as heterosexuals.
Obviously, the concerns of military officials should not be forgotten. General Colin Powell and his fellow members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff obtained their respected positions because of their military experience and expertise. They did not gain them because of their knowledge in the areas of human nature and human rights. Statements like "confidence and morale will be undermined" are not factual statements based on well-researched studies. They are simply weak attempts to legitimize discrimination.
Lastly, the concerns of the enlisted soldiers need to be placed in the forefront of concern. The armed forces are renowned for being able to adjust and adapt. The U.S. Army can defeat Saddam Hussein and his forces and keep children in Somalia from going hungry. Yet, the same fighting forces can't seem to adjust and adapt to other U.S. citizens being given the right to fight.
Discussions concerning the military ban against homosexuals often are endless. Issue after issue seems to arise, but one, among all others, lies at the heart — the issue of discrimination. An individual, as President Clinton stated, should be judged for service based solely on conduct. Denying a person this opportunity based solely on sexual orientation is discrimination. On July 15, when a formal executive decree lifting the ban is drafted, the discrimination will end. Gays and lesbians finally will receive their long-awaited and well-deserved rights.
KYLE KICKHAEFER FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
KANSAN STAFF
GREG FARMER
Editor
GAYLE OSTERBERG
Managing editor
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
BILL SKEET, Technology coordinator
Editors
Asst Managing ... Justin Knopp
News ... Monique Gutlam
... David Mitchell
Editorial ... Stephen Martin
Campus ... RC Trauner
Photo ... Mark Rowenda
Features ... Lyne McAdoo
Graphics ... Dan Schauer
Steve Perryry
Business manager
MELLE TATERLUP
Retail sales manager
JEANNE HINES
Sales and marketing adviser
Business Staff
Campus sales mgmt ... Brad Breun
Regional sales mgmt ... Wade Baxtier
National sales mgmt ... Jennifer Perler
Co-op sales mgmt ... Ashley Hessel
Production mgmt ... Amy Stumbo
Astley Langford
Marketing director ... Angela Grainger
Creative director ... Holly Perry
Classified mgmt ... Jill Torney
Art Director ... Dave Habigger
Letters should be typed, double spaced and fewer than 200 words. They must include the word structure, 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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Dealing with municipal court can cause anxiety, paranoia
This is a lesson, nay, a precautionary tale of woe, for those of you who have yet to tangle with the Lawrence municipal court.
Lawrence municipal court was a first for me. It was the first courtroom that I ever visited for non-academic purposes. And it was the first court to threaten to have me arrested.
I appeared in court, at 7:45 a.m., two weeks later. My visit went smooth. The judge reduced my fine. I paid it, showed a court clerk my up-to-date insurance card and went home.
" BUT △ OFFICER, I DIDN'T LET FAIR WARNING! DO I LEFT ANOTHER CHANCE!"
Last March, I got a ticket for driving at an unreasonable speed. When it happened, I was too annoyed to think straight because I had been clocked in the parking lot behind the Kansas Union.
And if you end up in Lawrence municipal court, you'll be OK as long as you remember this lesson. The clerk's office is the worst part.
So the lesson here is this: Don't assume that people are doing their jobs correctly. If a transaction could come back to haunt you, make sure you have copies of everything.
I forgot that my new insurance card was in my wallet, and I could only find one that had recently expired. So, I was also cited for no proof of insurance, which meant I had to go to court.
And what did the attorney tell me? Since I had no proof that I had shown the clerk's office my card, there was absolutely nothing I could do about it.
So I took in the letter from my insurance agent. I watched a woman fill out a form confirming that she had indeed seen my card. Then I asked her to pho-
And then, last semester, more than six months later, I received a letter from the municipal court. The letter stated that a warrant had been issued for my arrest for failure to comply with the court on the March ticket.
toconv it for me.
The judges are nice.
She acted completely offended and mumbled something about having to give the form to someone else. I repeated that I just wanted a copy, and she offered to give me a printout of the ticket, which showed that nothing was outstanding.
I never would have thought to ask for a copy of that form before this incident. I kept my ticket and receipt and thought that it was enough.
Sexist language cannot be tolerated
I wanted to be sure that no warrant had been issued for my arrest. I had visions of the horrors that would await me once a warrant became part of my permanent record. I wondered if I could file a complaint against the court clerk's office. I thought someone should be fired.
Julie Wasson is a Springfield, Mo., senior majoring in political science and Journalism.
One problem that faces our society today, yet gets little attention, is our attitude toward language. In a time concerned with communication, it amazes me that there is a lack of concern with language.
I took her up on the offer and then asked for a printout of the only other ticket I had received in Lawrence. She looked at me like I was bothering her, then sighed, printed it out, shoved it across the counter and stomped away.
The issues are numerous, and are as far reaching as anti-Semitism, and the effects of sexist language. Responses are common ones, "Everyone knows what I mean," or "what I say really doesn't effect anyone," when actually it is a much bigger issue than this.
I had to call my insurance agent and ask him to send me a letter stating that my car had been insured on the day I received the ticket. While I was waiting for the letter to arrive, I talked with a lawyer about the situation.
C'MON LET'S GROW UP!
But then I was told that the office had no proof that I had brought in a valid insurance card. I explained to the woman I was speaking with that I had done so, and she explained to me that she had no record of fit, so it didn't really matter what I said.
The issue is apathy. People simply don't care, men and women alike. No one actually believes that language has as much of an effect on anything. This belief is untrue. The first harmful thing that poor language does is condition men and women. For many years no one said anything about sexist language, it was the norm. Instead of saying he or she, it was just as easy
The problem is communication. We want people to understand what we are saying and we want to understand others. So the next time someone in a newspaper or one of your professors or friends uses bias language, think if they really mean what they are saying. Poor diction is wrong at any level, but especially harmful when the person saying or writing it is highly visible. It is important to know that words can hurt people and furthermore it is even more important to realize that the need for change exists.
STAFF COLUMNIST
Andrew Glilman is a Norman, Okla., sophomore malaria in English.
I took it with me everywhere I drove in case I was in an accident and the police became involved. I knew I wouldn't get pulled over for speeding because I drove 5 mph under the speed limit. I was feeling a bit paranoid.
called the municipal court clerk's office and was assured that no warrant had been issued for my arrest.
The next Monday, I got another letter from the municipal court. This one stated that I had failed to comply, and that if I didn't take care of the matter promptly, a warrant was be issued for my arrest.
This letter was a little nicer, but I was still completely confused. So I
I got the letter on a Saturday, so I couldn't call and ask what was going on. Instead, I searched my room until I found the ticket with a receipt from the court clerk's office stalled to it.
I can't understand, especially in an environment like KU. It seems almost imperative that we dig ourselves out of the trenches that we have created, and not only broaden our vision, but be fair to those it may offend.
STAFF COLUMNIST
We have to change this attitude. We "Must ensure a non-biased future for tomorrow's leaders" ("Folio," Eliminating sexist language, June 1989, p. 178). It is important for people to become informed so they know when choosing their words that they do
Words form opinions. The things people say and the things they write cause stereotypes. If you don't believe me, read any column in the *Kansan* or any other paper. Watch for people's word choices, and see what kind of responses come of them. This goes for anything from religion to Rush Limbaugh. We form opinions in peoples' minds when talking about groups of in generalities such as saying, "he" when we mean both he and she. This is not only wrong, but it can
to say he when in actuality both sexes were meant. This tradition still haunts us today. People just don't want to change for the sole belief "it's just fine the way it is."
matter. The pro-education atmosphere at the University of Kansas has an obligation to the students to be as fair as possible, especially when trying to communicate. This can be done by ensuring action is taken when language is used the wrong way. Whether it is sexist language or anti-Semitism, neither should be tolerated under any circumstances.
be potentially dangerous.
501 Bluez
HEY YALL. WHAT'S HAP'NING?
I'M JUS HERE TO TELL YA, ITS
BOOOD TA' HAVE CLOSE FRIENDS.
ONI WOULD ANYTHING FROM MA
FRIENDS WITH NO PROBLEMS.
by Moses Smith