KANSAN Comment
Yankee imperialism
By Lawrence E. and Rebecca Woodward II Kansan Correspondents
(Editor's note: Mrs. Woodward, a 1968 KU graduate in music education and music therapy, and her husband are serving as Peace Corps volunteers in Venezuela.)
They told us that they did not like Peace Corps because we were teaching Venezuelan children to trust and respect "Yankees".
Starting from the premise that America exploits anyone who is weak, the logic was foolproof. If Peace Corps volunteers make friends of the people, then it follows that the "Yankee imperialists" will have a clear pipeline to valuable oil resources. Their claim was that "El Yanqui nos explota"—that Americans drain away the precious blood of the Venezuelan economy and then send back fancy cars and gadgets to win back the meager amount that we pay for it. They lose twice while we win twice—and the Peace Corps is the public relations agency that smooths it all over.
We had difficulty in responding.
We saw the rationality of what they were saying, but we also knew the truth. They were university students filled with hopes, pride, nationalism and half-truths. They live in an economy which is everywhere dominated by "foreigners". They are the products of a culture that is defensive, self-righteous and critical.
And they are young.
Before we could persuade them, we had to agree with them. We told them they were right; that America does exploit them, and that she will continue to do so until Venezuelans do something about it. But we said what they need to do is not to sit and gripe about American exploitation. They need to get off their back-sides and take advantage of their opportunities and build themselves a strong, self-sufficient economy.
We reminded them that Venezuela has an opportunity through its oil revenues to do something few other South American nations can. It can build highways, airports, electrical power networks, schools and factories. It can use its oil-centered U.S.-dependent economy to train the technicians and build the facilities it needs to be a diversified, self-sufficient economy.
We then asked them what they had done in recent months to help their country, and more importantly, their own town. They could name nothing. They said they had no money. We suggested that there were three solutions to that problem: they could save, request help from various government and private organizations or choose projects that don't require money. They were only slightly impressed.
When we asked them what they were studying, some said law, others said medicine. We laughed. Almost every student plans to be a lawyer or doctor, while there are not enough engineers to build sufficient hospitals or courtrooms. We suggested to them that if they were anxious to rid Venezuela of "Yankee exploitation" they had better study petroleum, geology and chemistry to produce their own oil and gas, or agriculture and veterinary medicine to become self-sufficient in food, or electronics and auto mechanics to produce their own television sets and automobiles.
We accused them of exploiting their own country and town by enjoying the fruits and doing nothing to contribute to its healthy development. We said that if they would draw up a plan for any worthwhile project, we would do our best to help them obtain any needed money, materials or information.
They agreed that maybe it was a good idea and they would start making plans immediately.
We exchanged good-byes, and as they left, they lit their contraband American cigarettes.
Letters to the Editor
"Oh, I'm just a teacher"
To the editor:
The University administration (Office of Research Administration) recently sent the following warning to members of the faculty:
"Foundations and public agencies which grant large sums . . . apply a more currentist approach to (research) proposals in order to justify the expenditure of these funds. Humanist scholars may have to bend a little in order to make their proposal more attractive to agencies concerned with the relevance of research to contemporary problems. If humanist scholars stand
too stoutly on principle in this matter they may soon be driven into teaching." (Emphasis mine)
And of course, no scholar worth his salt would want to be reduced to mere teaching. What an interesting future our University will have once this policy becomes effective. KU, the home of relevant research and bent faculty members. KU, overflowing with research grants and teacherless students. The combination of enlightened faculty scholarship and unenlightened students will no doubt further enhance the reputation of the great center of learning.
Mary Kay Condill
A goad for Shultz
To the editor:
I just wanna take this opportunity to praise Sen. Reynolds Shultz. I was at that meeting in the Kansas Union Ballroom last week when many people present seemed to be confused about Sen. Shultz' statements. I understood him real clearly. He made it obvious that he represents all the people of Kansas and not any one interest group or faction. He was serving all the people by getting those names released of the guilty students at the demonstration last May. He knows that there are good people and bad people. I think he pointed out that those who are connected with civil rights groups are probably communists anyway. I'm not sure who else are, but I bet Sen. Shultz knows!
Anyway, Sen. Shultz "fired me up" because he is tired of state property being destroyed and state laws being broken and nothing being done about it. So when I went to Saturday's football game I was horrified to see those goal posts being torn down. Goal posts are expensive—probably three times more expensive than that gate which was broken down last spring by the demonstrators. Well, I took my camera and got pictures of several of those types who call themselves Americans that were tearing down state property and I got their names, too! Then, as I was walking out of the stadium I was almost thrown down by a guy who was so drunk that he could hardly stand up. Well, I know what Sen. Shultz thinks of this because he said that he "never takes a jug onto state property." So I got about ten more pictures of drunk alumni and when I talked to them they were only too glad to give me their names and addresses. I'm afraid I lied somewhat because I told them that I was getting the names and pictures of the top ten American types among the KU alumni. Well, the one thing I don't understand is that these people were all good Kansans and I would never have thought of Kansans breaking their own state laws, but I guess that's a sign of the times.
Would you believe that one guy even said, in a drunken stupor, that he was a "friend of Reynolds ole" boy" and that he has given thousands to KU. Well, I know my senator well enough to know that when I give him the pictures he will prosecute all these people to the limit of the law. Nobody's above the Kansas law and nobody's special to Sen. Shultz!
I hope that Sen. Shultz gets all these names and pictures into every newspaper in the state so that employees can know what type of lawbreakers and agitators their employers are.
Hats off to our man Sen. Reynolds Shultz!
Phil Weiss Senator (student, that is) Philadelphia, Pa. graduate student
On property rights
To the editor:
Walking on campus last Friday, I noticed "Oct. 15" boldly written on the front plaque of the art museum. As I looked at other buildings, these notices kept attracting my attention. Taken as a whole they should probably be regarded as a groovy show of interest; involvement in a cause. But to me, these were deemed defacements of public property, somewhat comparable to obscenities written on the side of a bridge.
The Moratorium is a good cause for those who believe it can prove that peacefulness is possible and the war is despised. But to those who hold that war is the way to resolve difficulties or are indifferent to the whole idea, Oct. 15 and everything that day was to stand for is an imposition of their beliefs.
If peace mongers, who are spreading their propaganda, really find it so necessary to plaster KU buildings with "Oct. 15," why didn't they do it in paint, so the campus could have a lasting tribute, sort of like bullet holes left on a building after a war?
Jennifer Henderson Topeka sophomore
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GRIFF AND THE UNICORN
by DAVE SOKOLOFF
Griff & the Unicorn, Copyright, 1989 University Daily Kanmau.