4
Monday, April 4, 1994
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
Parents' religious rights shouldn't endanger child
An ethical debate has erupted between the parents of Naomi Funches and the physicians at Frankford Hospital in Philadelphia. The physicians did the right thing in superseding the parents' wishes and providing medical treatment to the 1 1/2 pound premature baby.
Adolph and Catharyn Funches are members of the Original Apostolic Faith Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, which rejects medical treatment and follows a literal interpretation of the Bible. They told the doctors not to treat Naomi when she was born on Jan. 10. The doctors administered treatment anyway and obtained a court order allowing the hospital to continue treating Naomi, who is now in stable condition.
Currently the Funches are not participating in decisions regarding their daughter. But more legal fights could lie ahead if they choose to take an active role. Mrs. Funches told The Philadelphia Daily News that, "I will never bring Naomi back to a hospital ever again."
The doctors were correct in upholding their Hippocratic oath to provide care to their patient and denying the request of the parents. The court also was correct in its ruling that the parents do not have the right to withhold medical treatment for their child.
The First Amendment right to freedom of religion should not cover one individual's ability to withhold medical treatment for a small child. The Funches can withhold medical treatment for themselves based on their religious views. Yet this freedom does not extend to their daughter. Naomi deserves to undergo treatment that will give her a better shot at life. Her individual right is the most important consideration, not the religious views of her parents.
J. J. ANDRE FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Court's ruling correct; insanity plea abused
The Supreme Court ruling last week that makes states free to abolish the insanity plea is a step in the right direction. The courts have let too many violators of the law slip through the cracks of our system for too long. The Supreme Court is allowing Montana to rid itself of the "not guilty by reason of insanity" plea. This decision will decrease the number of criminals who abuse the insanity plea and utilize more appropriate sentencing measures.
The insanity plea is one that has been abused in recent years. Many would claim "not guilty by reason of insanity" to escape the consequences of their actions. In other instances, those who are insane are released into society without being punished. By allowing states to abolish the insanity plea, realistic sentences may be handed down.
Another distinct advantage to the ruling is that it provides for more realistic solutions to the problems of mental illness and crime. For instance, many states have decided to use a "guilty, but insane" law. This law is designed for those who would have used the insanity plea. The jury has the option to hand down a punishment for someone who is ruled insane. In these instances, hospitals are usually proscribed in lieu of prisons. This gives juries an option other than ruling a person "not guilty" because of their mental condition.
The Supreme Court acted in the best interest of society by allowing Montana to eradicate the "not guilty by reason of insanity" defense. Society can now protect people from those who are deemed "insane." This precedent clears a path to allow courts to do what they were constructed to do with those who violate the law, whether or not they are sane - punish them.
CARSON ELROD FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
KANSANSTAFF
BEN GROVE. Editor
LISACOSMILLO, Managing editor
TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser
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Deep messages and guitar licks don't always make good music
When students arrive at college or at a university, they often find their beliefs, values and attitudes challenged by others. I know, because I've undergone the experience myself. Upon my arrival at KU, I took a lot of heat solely because I grew up in Southern California, and was seen as an outsider to many people native to the Midwest. After everyone finished asking me whether I surfed, or why I said "dude" a lot, I thought my dose of interrogation was over.
I was wrong. It seems, according to many of my friends, that I have a huge problem with the type of music I listen to and enjoy. According to them, music is only worth listening to if the particular artist is especially skilled at playing an instrument, such as Jimi Hendrix on the guitar, or if a song contains a deep, provocative message.
However, I enjoy many groups that apparently have no musical talent because they opt to use a synthesizer to produce their music, and spew out complete nonsense for lyrics. A couple of examples are New Order with
its synthetic sound and Violent Fermines with its strange lyrics. I can't tell you how many times I've heard one of my friends say, "I've never heard you listen to a group with a good guitar," or "What the heck does that song mean?"
Hearing these types of comments drives me crazy, because I don't pick the music I listen to based on whether there's a good guitar, or a singer with an unusually distinctive voice, or some deep, hidden meaning. I choose the music I listen to because of the way it makes me feel, and the effect it has on me. And I think this is the way
music is meant to be.
If hearing Hendrix work the strings of a guitar is what turns you on, that's great. Maybe listening to one of his albums floods you with memories and positive vibes.
That's what the type of music I enjoy does to me. I like certain songs or groups because they remind me of my best friends from high school, or my first date or my Senior Prom. I like music that puts me in a good mood, or at the very least, lifts me out of a bad mood. I like music that makes me laugh and have a good time. And whether it's courtesy of a synthesizer, or Bruce Hornsby on the piano, it shouldn't and doesn't matter.
For example, one of my favorite songs is "Bizarre Love Triangle" by New Order. I've never even attempted to figure out the song's meaning, or worried about what instruments were used to produce the music. I love this song because it takes me back to the days when, as a high school freshman, I had to catch a ride to school with a friend of mine and his
older brother. We had the best times that year, just cruising to school, hanging out and enjoying life, and listening not only to New Order, but to Depeche Mode, R.E.M., Midnight Oil and many of the other groups that I still enjoy.
Granted, some of the stuff I listen to is strange. And for those people who like to keep their course and listen to mainstream rock 'n' roll, my musical taste is going to seem a little odd. But don't tell me it isn't good because there's no guitar or message. When people do so, they are only stereotyping each other and those musical groups that have made names for themselves by using a synthesizer or spewing out any words that come to mind.
And this shouldn't happen. Music is something everyone should be able to enjoy. It should be free of the stereotypical attitude that now pervades nearly every aspect of society.
Of sisters, grunge and Doc Martens
It has recently hit me that my little sister is going to graduate from high school in about two months.
I don't really know how I feel about that. First of all, I can't believe that Ashley is that old. Second, I can't believe that she's going to go to college next year. Time sure flies when you're not at home.
I worry about her sometimes. I wonder where she'll go to school, who she'll hang out with, what she'll major in, etc. She's kind of, well, she's unique.
Ashley has been going through several different phases in her high school career. She began as a metal head, then moved on to become a "techno" fiend who would only listen to Depeche Mode and dress in black. About two years ago she entered her "I'm a grunger so get used to it" phase. As far as I know, this is where she remains today.
Ashley doesn't dream. She actually doesn't do much of anything. My theory is that she just likes to be "be." That's it. And I think that it suits her just fine.
Technically she is my "little" sister because I am older, but in reality she is much larger than me. She is about 5 feet 9 inches tall with a size 11 shoe (in her sizes that say a about 9 1/2).
Because she is a self-proclaimed "grunge queen," she finds it necessary to wear plaid flannel shirts a least six days a week. She does not wear these on her body, but around her waist so as to show off her collection of Primus, Fishbone and Nirvana T-shirts.
Then, of course, she has the uniform shoe of the grunge generation — Doc Martens. The particular style she chose was the royal blue eight-hole boot. On her huge feet, the boots happen to look like big blue clown shoes.
Her hair is dark blonde. Maybe I should say *was* blonde. Apparently she dyed it fire-engine red last weekend. She used to threaten to dye it purple, so red is a great improvement.
Her whole "look" makes it easier for
her to go to concerts and keep herself standing amid the sea of sweaty teenage bodies in the mosh pits. This "look" also makes it easier for her to make my mother nervous and neurotic.
Making my mother nervous and neurotic also seems to be a part of her "grunge" persona. Actually, it is probably part of that "I'm a teenager so it's my job to make you crazy, Mom" attitude we all had when we were in high school.
Anyway, she is sort of undecided on the whole future thing.
I wish I had been able to be like that when I was her age. For that matter, I wish I could be like that now. I stress about everything and anything. It seems to me that I have spent most of my life worrying about things that haven't even happened yet.
She goes with the flow. I admire her for that.
Ashley doesn't let things bother her. I admire her for her ability to stay calm and cool while the world happens around her. I also worry about her for the very same reason.
She is one of those kids who doesn't really know what she wants from her life and isn't really in any hurry to find out. She just sticks to the things that make her happy for the time being.
I worry that when she gets out of high school, and is out in the wild and demanding world of college, she will get lost. I worry that someone will take advantage of her openness and that she'll get hurt somehow.
I'm probably underestimating her, however. I'm sure that she'll be just fine. Just because she doesn't care about some things and is very open to all kinds of people and things doesn't mean she's stupid.
So, I sit and nervously wait to see where she will go to school next year. I'm sure that she isn't getting worked up over the whole thing.
When I go back to Chicago in May, I will attend her high school graduation. The whole family will be congratulating her and partaking in all the other graduation rituals.
I can see Ashley now. She'll be sitting there with her floor-length white graduation dress on and her royal blue Docs sticking right out the bottom calmly watching everyone freak out around her.
Danielle Raymond is a Willimette, ill., Junior
in Journalism.
Washington press corps
misunderstanding South
The big, national pundits have gone to the mountaintop of the Whitewater "scandal" — Little Rock, Ark. — and found it to be a confluence of power and money."
NATIONAL PERSPECTIVES
Wait a second. Let's get this straight. The Washington media are surprised that in a relatively small (by Northern standards), Southern city as Little Rock that the bankers and the lawyers there not only did business with one another but knew one another? Why, horrors! ...
You don't live in a small, Southern place for six or seven generations and not get related to other residents, either by blood or by marriage (or both).
What really seems to get the Washington Press Corps smelling blood in the water, though, is that the "scandal" involves a failed $&L.
But the $Ll involved, Madison Guarity, which was set up for a fall by Washington's deregulation, was .05 percent of the Silverado bellyflop in which George Bush's son was involved and .001 percent of the total cost of the $Ll disaster.
Mind you, there really could be something to the Whitewater "scandal." There is a special counsel investigating and there is likely to be some congressional hearings. They should be left to do their work, without all the rumor-mongering and general sounding of alarms.
know each other, too.
The Clarion-Ledger Jackson, Miss.
Then again, someone could point out that Washington still is a relatively small, Southern town, where all the movers and shakers not only do business with one another, but
know each other, too.
Scandalous! 'It's District of
Foxhunting.'
---
Sex predators should be kept off Kansas streets
He photographed the boy—in various positions, in the nude. He had sex with the boy—writing of his satisfaction in his journal as well.
And, when his obsession had run its course, he took the little nude boy — someone's beautiful son whom they would tuck into bed with a kiss
He kidnapped the 4-year-old boy — a happy-looking child, judging from the Polaroid pictures he took. He kept the child with him for some time, writing in his journal about his feelings — his sexual feelings.
— and he strung him up with a piece of rope. Then he took pictures of his nude body.
He — and this was an actual case, the police even found the journal and the photographs — was what authorities call a sexual predator, and Kansans want special laws to make sure he stays in prison, even after he's served his sentence ...
Predator is the proper word for these beings, and like a predator of the jungle, you must kill them, lock them up forever, or return them to the jungle. If we allow them freedom, then make it on an American Devil's island where they and others of their kind can victimize each other.
Don't return the predators to the streets. treatment or not.
The Tribune Great Bend, Kan.