Opinion
Page 4 University Daily Kansan, June 10, 1983
Classy station still lives
We got trouble right here; right here in River City.
The trouble we "got" is a radio station that doesn't seem to have any luck in carrying out its main function, broadcasting. With every step forward, it seems that KANU-FM, the University's radio station, must take two steps backward.
KANU's excellence was violated by the severing of 24 tower support cables last December. The 605-foot tower came tumbling down, bringing with it the joy of its listeners.
The temporary tower followed suit two weeks ago when it met an early demise as the victim of a construction crane. The station now operates at a meek 4.5 kilowatts, a mere shadow of its normal 110 kilowatts.
Meanwhile, the station is plodding through other technical difficulties and has had to postpone its sorely needed Campaign for Excellence-fund drive until September. The reason is that much of its listening audience lives beyond its severely limited broadcasting range.
What we're wondering is whether these setbacks have lowered the morale of those at KANU. If each new day seems to bring on another tragedy, will there be a straw to break the camel's back?
The construction of the new antenna is proceeding slowly, due to the inevitable red tape of the corporate world. Another setback, another day.
Do the employees of KANU, from the disc jockeys to the producers, wake each morning with dread of what unhappiness the day may bring?
We, the listeners of KANU, certainly hope not. There is a reason in calling their fund drive the "Campaign for Excellence." It is an excellent station.
We truly pity those unfortunate listeners who live outside of KANU's range now. Those people tune in 92 FM on their radio dial and only get static where, once before, the beautiful sounds of Bach, bluegrass or Brubeck could be found. It is them that the staff of KANU must remember when they feel like throwing in the towel.
The impact of a 106 kilowatt drop in power can be felt as one drives away from Lawrence. The station fades as you drive behind hills and disappears completely when you leave town. It's almost a crime to only hear half of Ravel's "Bolero."
Lawrence is lucky to still have the ability to tune in one of the last strongholds of fine, musical entertainment in the Midwest.
What went through the mind of the vandal who violated our airwaves, leaving an abyss of white noise in his path? What could he possibly have gained from the destruction of the KANU tower? Was it merely a cheap thrill, or perhaps a prank, the result of a mindless dare?
Those questions may haunt the dreams of the KANU staff, but we hope they are aware of the need for a classy radio station in the Midwest. When you're spinning the dial past the many rock, Top 40, country, and "beautiful" music stations, it's refreshing to hit KANU with its mix of classical, jazz and alternative music.
Salesmen may come and go, But God should not be sold
As a resident of a relatively average house in a relatively average Lawrence neighborhood, I am relatively susceptible to the average door-to-door salesman.
Upon opening my door to solicitors over the years, I have been given the opportunity to purchase the "world's greatest" carpet cleaner, weed killer, encyclopedias and furniture wax — none of which are available in any stores. Why aren't they not available in stores, I've never been told.
Also, I have been "selected" to have my
WARREN BRIDGES
recently-painted house painted, my 3-month-old bushes trimmed and my grassless violet mowed.
Recently, however, I was "called upon" by two salesmen offering me what no others had
bottles is a mirror and my grandmother jnr showed
They are usually quite friendly as are most people with something to sell. The lines are the same, as are the products and the faces.
Not God in a general sense, but rather, their
God
There apparently was no money required, no contracts to be signed and no 'We'll bill you
The only commitments in accepting their offer, I later discovered while doing some research, were simply refusing to salute any person who was not a service or to profess loyalty to any government.
Of course they didn't mention that those were the tenets of their faith. They said they only wanted to talk to me about the Bible and my own beliefs.
I graciously told the gentlemen I was not interested.
Despite the right of individuals to try to sell essentially anything to anyone for whatever price they can get, there are certain things that should remain "not for sale."
Religious beliefs, and God, are two of these.
Religious beliefs, and God, are two of these.
I realize there are many different religions with a vast number of particular do's and don'ts within each one, and that one of the goals of many of these religions is to increase their congregations' sizes.
However, individuals also possess the inable-
right to select their own religion and many interpre-
t that religion as they see fit. They should
not remain unsolicited by "religious
alienmen."
They were not as persistent as other salesmen who have ventured upon my porch, but they did leave me with a couple of brochures advertising how modern day occurrences and dilemmas could be associated with the Bible — and their religion
As an avid reader, I glanced at the brochures and found several interesting items.
For example, I am sure that many of the brochure's readers are fascinated with the religious beliefs of Kiyoshi Myobudani, a Japanese wrestler who discovered God while wrestling.
Moybuban says in the article, "My first desire was to become a Christian and remain in the church."
The article was meaningless and inappropriate in its discussion of religious beliefs.
The article, written by Myobudani, offers three pages of the rules, regulations and the history of sumo wrestling. A little more than a page tells of his religious attitudes.
I can certainly see why door-to-door religious salesmen want to hand out brochures about him.
Perhap if the gentlemen return to my door,
we can discuss Indian wrestling; arm wrestling,
belt wrestling; and boxing.
And perhaps in the future they will hand out brochures door to door about how an alligator wrestler discovered God while grappling with the monster.
TREES CAN ALERT OTHER TREES TO DANGER. SCIENTISTS SAY...
Pursue dreams with care and nerve
BY GILBERT E. KAPLAN
New York Times Syndicate
NEW YORK - Have you thought about living out your dreams? I have, and some months ago I actually lived one out, a dream that had haunted me for almost two decades. My dream had to do with music, specifically, the "Resurrection Symphony" by Gustav Mahlers.
New York Times Syndicate
From the first time I heard this symphony, it has had an emotional claim over me, difficult to describe. After years of studying the work, attending every performance I could, *I*ittening to every record available. I decided that the only experience it was actually to conduct the work.
Nervous as I was, when I finally walked out on the stage. I sensed that the audience was even more nervous. Sure, I was on the podium, but everyone in the hall was up there with me. And this was because their unfulfilled dreams were up there, too. While I was living out my own private dream, I was also living out the special dreams of countless other people in the hall.
We all have dreams and there is no question that one of life's great tragedies is that so few of us fulfill them. Often it is because we are so locked into our daily routine that we cannot see
our way clear. More fundamentally, though, it's a lack of nerve, an unwillingness to take the necessary risks.
But at some moment of your life — no matter how successful you become, there comes a glimmer — an idea, a fresh conclusion, a dream. You are you for the rest of your life unless you act on it.
Of course, if you try, you will face a wall of resistance. If you tell someone about it, they will probably dismiss the idea out of hand. A world of frustrated dreamers is unfortunately a world often hostile to people who seek to fulfill their dreams. It has been said that it is actually better for your reputation to fail conventionally than to succeed unconventionally. So anyone who goes against the grain will require enormous inner strength.
Just recall the ridicule with which many of our great composers were greeted in their own
Of one piece, a critic wrote: "Several times I had difficulty keeping awake. It was a great relief when the choral part was arrived at." That, in case you hadn't guessed, was what one prominent critic of the day wrote of the premiere of Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony."
At a certain point, then, you simply have to disregard the experts and learn to trust your own
instincts. How do you spot the difference?
First, when everybody tells you that you are being idealistic or impractical, consider the possibility that everybody could be wrong about what is right for you. Look inside yourself the way nobody else can. Will the pursuit of your dream hurt anybody? Do you stand at least a fair chance of success? If you fail, will you be seriously damaged or merely embarrassed? If you succeed, will you continue like the better? When you can persuade yourself that your dream is worthwhile and achievable, then say thank you to the doubters and take the plunge.
Second, consider the real possibility that everybody may be right and you may be looking at life cocked. Understand your limitations. You are likely only are beyond your reach. Let the illusions go by.
Third, be willing to deal with the most incredible amount of detail. Often, little details frustrate us and bore us, but so much of what we need to see on such details. And dreams require even more.
Finally, if you decide to gamble on your dream, have a plan. That won't make it easy but it will enable you at least to start. So many things can happen the gate and won't even take the risk to open it.
Reagan to hold hickory stick over teachers
United Press International
By DONALD DAVIS
WASHINGTON — That old school rhyme about the three 'R's "is" about to be expanded. Now there is a fourth "R" to reading, "riting and rithmic. You can add Reagan.
President Reagan has latched onto education and it will be a centerpiece in the future months of the administration, particularly as a campaign issue should the president seek re
an issue.
The issue emerged, explosively, when the National Commission on Excellence in Education wrapped up a lengthy study of the nation's public school system, the teachers providing instruction, the quality of their information and the student who eventually is produced by the 12 public schools alone. The blanket condemnation and was the political equivalent of gold on the ground.
Reagan hailed the report and pollsters and presidential aides quickly saw the potential as
Democrats were not left at the starting gate on the issue. Former Vice President Walter Mondale has called for an expansion of some $11 billion in federal aid to education.
Reagan contends that the vast sums already spent on education by the federal government failed to produce the outstanding students desired.
The president had been preaching for some time about the value of vocational educational training and urging students to jump onto the computer bandwagon. Then, a week ago, he changed direction sharply and criticized some of them who were condemned in the commission's report.
Although he did not say so in his speech to the graduating class at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, Reagan left the impression that the NEA had been sitting by idy while the public school system went down the drain. He called for merit pay for teachers, an idea pollsters say is popular, but an issue that is staunchly opposed by the NEA.
The NEA rebelled and issued a sharp challenge, pointing out that Reagan has never said the federal government would provide more money to localities to help support the changes for which he called. Reagan snapped back with a letter, made public, claiming the NEA was again demanding repolitions are绕开 a meeting between Reagan and NEA President William McGuire.
Reagan has not abandoned his 1980 call for abolishment of the Department of Education, but has pushed it onto a back burner. But he continues to fight for his plan of giving tax credits for parents who pay private school tuitions; prayer in public schools; and tax breaks for parents saving to send their children to college.
In all, it adds up to a late-blooming issue of the sort that Reagan jokes.
And, too, as Reagan knows well, talk is cheap. He can criticize, appoint study commissions and continue to use education as a political issue ever if he has to actually solve the problem.
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Generic consumerism is taking over
Bv DICK WEST
United Press International
WASHINGTON - Two national sales reports this spring indicate that buying habits in America may be changing.
One compilation from figures supplied by the major tobacco company showed that their cigarette sales dropped about 1 percent last year, with another decline expected this year.
Aha! you might be exclaiming to yourself. This must mean an equivalent number of people stopped smoking.
Don't be too quick to jump to that conclusion. The other report shows that sales of generic cigarettes increased more than 200 percent during 1982.
From the latter figure we can surmise that many smokers didn't actually kick the habit; they just quit buying name brands.
Similar switches are happening all over.
The breakfast food industry, for example, reports that consumers are buying more generic cereals, which they presumably soak in generic milk.
what happens in the twilled cotton pants business
Could this be the coming trend in retail merchandising? If so, it will be interesting to see
In recent years, one of the biggest splashes in the clothing industry has been made by designer jersey
The prime attraction of generic products would appear to be conspicious humility, or snob appeal in reverse.
Will the more forward-looking, fashion-
conscious stores now start replacing their
traditional merchandise.
Here we have demonstrated what a little snob appeal will do for what was traditionally a proetarian garment, primarily identified with the working classes.
Might it become possible to buy a pair of denim trousers that doesn't have a label prominently displayed on a protuberant part of the anatomy?
More likely, the label will be as evident as ever, but in keeping with the generic custom will include the following:
Probably the most disturbing element of the generic upsurge is what it might do to advertising.
For better or worse, the Madison Avenue boys and girls have made their mark promoting the new school year.
Generic acceptance doesn't just spring out of thin air, you know. It takes real genius to exploit the commercial possibilities of products in the lower case.
designations could require a whole new set of skills
Some of the airlines have cut ticket prices by offering "no frills" service, which is vigorously advertised. If these enterprising carriers now offer a new service they could add a new dimension to the aviation wars.
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