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Monday, January 25, 1993
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
IN OUR OPINION
Media bashing of Chelsea unnecessary, meaningless
Age 12 is an awkward time of adjustment for virtually everyone, but for Chelsea Clinton it must be a living nightmare.
In recent months, members of the press and public have brutally scrutinized every facet of Chelsea's less than model-perfect appearance. Because President and Mrs. Clinton will not allow Chelsea to grant interviews, journalists have analyzed and criticized what little they know of Chelsea — mainly her appearance.
The press has derided Chelsea's face, haircut and braces to the point of being cruel. People magazine believed it necessary to devote several paragraphs to analyzing when and if Chelsea would get her ears pierced.
In this case, the press and public have passed the bounds of acceptability into utter absurdity. No one deserves this type of harassment, least of all an innocent 12-year-old. Chelsea didn't ask to be thrust into the spotlight. In fact, she makes few public appearances and avoids media coverage when possible.
The Clintons have worked hard to keep Chelsea's life as normal as possible. Chelsea's father may be president, but Chelsea's primary concerns are adjusting to a new school and new friends. Though Chelsea-bashing may provide entertainment for some warped individuals, Chelsea is the one who must face her classmates.
Members of the press should adopt a hands-off policy regarding Chelsea and focus their energy on Bill Clinton's actions. Chelsea's appearance is absolutely irrelevant to everyone but Chelsea. Whether Chelsea is gorgeous or grotesque will not determine Bill Clinton's effectiveness as president.
Chelsea Clinton's haircut is not news. But President Clinton's plan to reduce the deficit is. Journalists and voters alike should concentrate on issues that actually affect them, rather than ridiculing a defenseless child.
COLLEEN McCAIN FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
KU fans should learn from others' blunder
Tonight, Long Beach State will come into Allen Field House to face the No.1 basketball team in the nation. If that isn't intimidating enough, they'll also face one of the most feared groups of fans in all of college basketball.
But why are Kansas fans feared? Because Jayhawk fans cheer loudly. The support shown by fans is enormous. This causes fear — a good kind of fear.
However, another kind of fear can develop — the fear of assault. It seems that at least one in-state, Big Eight institution has a select few fans who think throwing objects, for example quarters and pennies, at opposing players can somehow accomplish something. Does it accomplish anything? No. Is it imature? Of course. But what these acts of foolishness and the cut above Rex Walters' eye can do is teach us how just a few people can tarnish an otherwise brilliant game.
These acts also can give us a refresher course in how to be a fan. Fans are there to show loyalty for a team and to have a good time. But a responsibility comes with it. Fans must show respect for all players. No one deserves to have things thrown at them. It's just dangerous. Players of any sport are there to win, and they deserve to be shown the respect they've earned for giving a great effort.
So whether it's Long Beach State or that in-state, Big Eight rival that will come to Allen Field House on Feb. 20, don't reward their effort with violence. Try waving the wheat.
CHRIS RONAN FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
A generation of youth must plan for tomorrow
Each new generation enacts national policies that are in its own best interest. Thus, my parents' generation enacted social security, falsely labeled it a "pension," and then fraudulently contributed a fraction of the money needed for their own retirement. Present and future workers now are doomed to pay exorbitant payroll taxes in a futile attempt to control the hemorrhage started by today's retirees. But because calling social security a welfare program is political sacrilege, it's now impossible to stop millions of well-off elderly from receiving welfare.
The inevitable outcome of this mass denial of reality is that huge numbers of my fellow baby boomers will someday ask you and your tiny pool of workers to shore up the trust fund that was emptied by our parents. People in their 20s, who merely resent baby boomers today, will thus learn to despise us in a couple of decades. The most disturbing part of this rip-off is the lack of concern by today's youth, who will suffer the full brunt of this financial impasse. Why aren't they shouting their outrage from every rooftop and voting booth?
The failure of today's young voters to challenge this retirement fraud is especially frightening given the less "provable" but more blatant abuse of the young represented by environmental degradation. If you can't look ahead 20 or 30 years and realize that your grandparents are clearly picking your pockets, then the extent of what we are doing to your future environment is surely beyond your comprehension. You might even be fooled into thinking, as you nervously anticipate graduation, that "jobs versus environment" is a persuasive phrase.
STAFF COLUMNIST
Today's anti-environment rhetoric mirrors the shortsighted thinking that made social security such an effective rip-off of the young. During the fall campaign it was even argued that the scientific case had not yet been made that an ecological "crisis" even exists. Thus, why should the United States enact costly measures that could reduce competitiveness and cost jobs? This argument for delay fails to recognize that ecologies, much like social security trust funds, don't turn on a dine. In fact, ecologies may only turn on a millennium, with irreparable damage evolving long after it's too late to fix it. Thus, waiting for undisputed scientific proof is the same as choosing to do nothing at all. Not surprisingly, many people working in unsustainable industries are unmoved by this reality, just as decades of fraudulently low social security taxes were of little concern to my parents' generation.
The younger you are, the greater the price you will ultimately pay for environmental damage. When President Bush derided Al Gore as "Ozone Man," it was less of an insult to Gore than it was to the nation's youth, who will personally suffer the reduced options created by long-term ecological damage. Baby boomers got lucky by accidentally breeding their way out of a huge social security shortfall during their lifetimes. But no juggling of the books will bail us out of the aftermath of poor environmental choices. Once we degrade our environment, it's neither easy nor often possible to restore what is lost. More than any previous generation, today's youth must think decades ahead, and actively push for policies that protect their stake in the future of our economy and environment. The consequence of inaction today is that no action may be possible tomorrow.
Steve Chapman is an Overland Park senior majoring in systematics and ecology.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Limbaugh's views misrepresented in Kansan column
I am writing in response to Ms. Cossello's article criticizing Rush Limbaugh. She called Limbaugh "a righteous conservative, who delights in half-truths, racial and gender slurs and claims to be undeniably correct." First of all, it is not a crime to be extremely conservative.
Second, Limbaugh does not delight in "half-truths, racial and gender slurs." He believes in the inherent good of all people. He believes that every person, regardless of race or gender, should be able to achieve anything without the help of the govermant and special interest groups.
As for Ms. Cosmillo's incorrect definition of "feminiz," Limbaugh does not use the terms "feminiz" and "feminist" interchangeably. He defines "feminiz" as an individual whose sole goal is to have the most abortions performed as possible, and he claims there are only about 10 such individuals today.
While this terminology may seem harsh to the uninformed, he is making a thoughtful and serious political statement. For some reason, the media are petrified of Limbaugh. His views are based solely on conservative values, not hatred. Unfortunately, like Cosmillo, many "racists" and "sexists" read their own views into Limbaugh's commentary, clouding the true spirit. This is unfortunate.
It is ironic that the same people who revere Howard Stern and Madonna as crusaders for free speech condemn Rush Limbaugh.
I wish Ms. Cosmilo would have been less reactionary in her opinions. As a journalism major, she should know better. it is unfortunate that Mr. Limbaugh gets such a bad rap. He is the most listened-to radio personality in the United States, and believe it or not his television show beats Arsenio Hall in many markets. This is because his audience is made up of middle-class Americans, not bigots and billionaires.
Brian Gillespie Leawood senior
STAFF COLUMNIST
Well-spent family time takes some patience
It's nice to know that you can always come back to school. Thoughts of quizzes, papers and tests are hardly comforting unless, of course, you have spent your entire vacation with your family.
Don't get me wrong. Family time is wonderful. I get to relax, sleep late and get away from school. The home cooking is great, too.
But this winter break was a little different. I found out that nonstop time with nonstop relatives could be an experience that paralleled the horrors of finals.
Such was my holiday trip (vacation?) to the Catskill Mountains with not only my immediate family but also my grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. For those of you who don't know what a pleasure it is to spend your vacation with Jewish relatives, read on.
We stayed at a resort where there was plenty to do, including skiing, skating and sledding, but all we ever seemed to do was eat. Mealtime was an experience in and of itself. Dining with relatives, as you may know, can be tiresome. With Jewish relatives, dining becomes an ordeal. While on vacation and dining out, the ordeal only compounded itself.
Waiting on people is not easy, but with our family . . . "Now I want it spicy, but not too spicy, but I still want spicy. Oh, forget it all. I will just have the grilled cheese, but can I have a baked potato and some applesauce on the side, and throw in some Milk Duds, too." This was my 7-year-old cousin.
Seriously though, this was the atmosphere at every meal. If there's food on the table, feel free to order more. As my grandmother would say, "Oy, why reach?"
Most of you, I'm sure, have had similar experiences. Maybe you've gone out to eat and seen people complaining. That was us. All in all, eating not only filled me up, it tired me out.
Of course, there were evening activities, too. You haven't experienced life until you've done a tour of duty with your grandmother listening to lounge singers.
Like 1950s show tunes as much as the next guy, but one can only hear "New York, New York" so many times.
There's no doubt that this trip was a positive experience. It's not often that I get to see my relatives. But with the resort, meals and nightlife, it seems to me that school may be more relaxing.
Since I've been back in Lawrence, I've put myself on a schedule. I've been able to get more sleep, and fewer people have asked me about when I'm getting married. When it comes down to it, papers and tests have nothing on family.
Next time classes or studying depresses you, just think. You could be with your family or, even worse, with my family on vacation.
KANSAN STAFF
Andrew Gilman is a Norman, Oka., sophomore majoring in English.
BILL SKEET, Technology coordinator
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