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Monday, October 16, 1972
University Daily Kansan
KANSAN comment
Editorials, columns and letters published on this page reflect only the opinions of the writers.
Heavenly Memo
Sometimes I have a hard time believing that Melvin Laird is an honest man. This morning was one of those times. "How." I had to demand, "can he expect us to believe that the damage is always done by North Vietnamese missiles? How can we tell if Americans only bomb three targets when there are no military targets within three miles of the embassy?"
Just as I was getting warmed up for a monumental tirade on the corrupt personality of the Nixon Administration, I was interrupted by a heavier cry at the midst of my twenty-fourth birthday. How can he expect us to believe . . . "an angel appeared and handed me this:
from His desk
MEMO
To: the chosen people
Re: the French Mission disaster
It has come to my attention that the recent devastation of a French Embassy in Hanoi has caused various personnel at all levels of this organization to doubt the true sanctity of this corporation's mission in Vietnam. This memo (which outlines the contents of this report) described the damage (45-0729) will clearly define this corporation's position on this matter, as well as explain how this tragedy fits into the divine game plan.
1. Describe the claims of the multitude of unfaithful, this corporation was not at fault in this unfortunate incident. The Canadian reporter, Michael MacLear, who reports having witnessed American bombs falling on the French embassy is an instrument of the devil and wholly unreliable. Our latest intelligence report indicates that there are about 40 bombs close to near the beginning of last week. All personnel are directed to offer special prayers in his behalf, that he may be relieved of such delusions and returned to the fold of the faithful.
2. Statements such as those of Secretary Laird which imply that the divine corporation could possibly err, are not consistent with true corporate loyalty. We are very sorry to see brother Laird stray thus from the path of righteousness and pray that he may soon return to the ranks of the faithful. We also pray that the rest of the brotherhood will avoid temptation and resist such logical arguments.
3. As we have pointed out, this tragedy was not the fault of the holy corporation; this tragedy was caused by the evil North Vietnamese who repeatedly refuse to submit to the rule of love. However, even though this destruction was caused by the devil's impotent SAM's, it is not without function in our game plan, for it will serve to separate the faithful from the unbelievers.
4. Finally, and most important, it is hereby divinely proclaimed that this holy corporation--with the exception of a few unbelievers who will soon be penalized—has not strayed from its most holy mission as defender of all wordly good. And I reiterate, that those who remain truly faithful to me and the corporate destiny will receive divine enlightenment and be saved from all wrong doing.
I sincerely hope this will clarify for my faithful American servants the part this holy American corporation had in this act of mine. If I have, however, overlooked anything (HA,HA), please forward it to my office through the regular channels.
Humbly yours,
I guess there are some things one just has to accept on faith.
—Robert Ward
Readers Respond
The F111, Employment . . .
Aircraft Expertise
I must protest the uninformed nonsense printed in Scott Spreier's name in the Kansan of October 11. Even an editor should not have the right to spread lies and inform the in manner Spreeer does
Spreier states that the F11 has "undoubtedly" the worst flying record of all modern planes. I would like him to show me a video of the aircraft he him up. As soon as we see it, know that his statement is false.
To the Editor:
Spreier states that the F111 is attracted by gravity as a moth is built out of it and under the impression that Newton's Laws apply to all creatures.
Spreier states that the F111 is condemned by aircraft experts. I am an aircraft expert and I am not aware of this. I would like to know what type of aircraft I claim. Spreier states that the F111 is symbolic of America's role in S.E. Asia. Maybe in Spreier's poor judgment. In terms of combat missions fown in Afghanistan, Mr. he would have been closer in
picking the F4, the A37 or the B52. Spreier states that works only半时 the time. Again Mr. Ridgway is substantial this ridiculous claim.
Speier states that the laws of nature are against the F111. To uninformed editors this may be so. To aircraft experts, not at all. To doctors and teachers, not spreading lies in a field in which I am an expert, I think it is reasonable for me to wonder how many lies he spreads when writing about the war. Check him on every statement, Mr. Sperier, where are your ethics? As a newspaper writer, I hope that you have been taught the fact that you must remember that you cannot anxiously await your anologies
Dr. Jan Roskam Professor and Chairman Aerospace Engineering
meager for women wanting to work at non-domestic and non clerical jobs.
★★★
I have sympathy for the frustrations they expressed, since I had similar disap-
pose with them. I'm looking for employment.
However, I find it hard to believe that local hiring practices can significantly affect the situation. I work in a town where Lawrence, like most university areas, has relatively many educated, capable women but few 'suitable' jobs? If so, open up jobs that do not exist.
Job Market
The Oct. 9 Kansan published a letter from Mrs. Neisen-Seinhard and the author out that the job market in Lawrence is extremely
To the Editor:
The student wife now looking for employment in Lawrence will not have an easy time. If she has a job, the best company—and perhaps some help—in the Affirmative Action programs. In the end she will need to take many college graduates and take a job less suited to her interests or more suited to her marketable job skills. And perhaps she will realize that enjoyment of one's education and talents can be gained through
Sincerely yours,
Hope K. Goldman
Lawrence, Kansas
Graduate Student
Public Indifferent to Corruption
James J. Kilpatrick
WASHINGTON-George McGovern has been bearing down hard lately on the issue of corruption. The Republicans have being helped him make his case, but behold a crucible thing: The public seems indifferent to the charge.
This was the finding of last week's Gallup Poll: "Only a small percentage of the electorate believe corruption in government to be one of the nation's top problems." Dr. Gallup found that barely half the population heard of the Watergate affair, and only one in three could describe the key facts.
The poll, based upon a statistically valid sample, confirms my own hapachar impressions from the lecture circuit. You might suppose that to mention the Watergate affair before a predominantly adult audience and at least invite boos, or at the very least a few expressions of indignation and outrage. Not so. The word "Watergate" gets to trigger only a siggie, only a snicker.
It is difficult to comprehend this complicity. Over the past six months, Republican wheel-dealers have provided the Democrats with one damned thing after another. Under the old rules of political rules that pave the way for a severely delayed—age the series of incidents would have amounted to an embarrassment of riches.
There was the ITT affair, in which it appeared that ITT had arranged a settlement of its antitrust troubles in exchange for a
To be sure, the several charges can be defended: the ITT settlement was reasonable; the dairyman contributed richly to Democrat's also; the Watergate affair was the work of overzealous underlings; there is no evidence of corruption in the grain deal—these is evidence that the government makers had a strong case to justify their request. Assume for the moment that Richard Nixon and his top people are personally innocent of impropriety.
hefty contribution toward a Republican convention in San Diego. While that was under investigation, it transpired that the dairymen's lobby had pledged $255,000 to the Nixon campaign at the very time, by the efforts of the Department of Agriculture was announcing an increase in the support price of milk. Then came the Watergate scandal. Then came the Great Wheat Deal. Last week Washington's Senator Warren G. Magnuson charged that the carpet manufacturers' lobby, in turn, won a delay in the fixing of flammability standards. The list goes on and on.
years have seen a terrible cynicism growing within the body politic. Americans always have their preoccupations with their apprehension was among the great underlying themes of 1781—and that suspicion, within limits, is a marvelously healthy attitude and attitudes are something else.
Surely there has been at least the appearance of impropriety and 20 years ago, when Dwight Schrader tried to "clean up the mess in Washington," the appearance of impropriety have had sufficed. But there is the current Gallup The voters could care less.
My own guess, for whatever it may be worth, is that these 20
become so costly that enormous funds are now required. Wheever puts up the dough, regardless of political label, will gain access to power. It is a fight between your rascals and my rascals, one establishment against another, the outs against the ins.
A widespread conviction exists, if I am not mistaken, that in this regard it makes no difference which party holds control of Congress or the White House. If I am mistaken, the Democrats Big Business, well, the Democrats are cozy with Big Labor. Political campaigning has
If that assessment is valid and I think it is—how do we cure the illness? It is not enough merely to deliver sermons on public office as a public trust. Answers have to be sought in other sources, including paigining, and in putting new restraints upon power. The ancient mechanisms of federalism, rusting and unused, could be
employed to transfer many decisions out of Washington and back to the States. If our economic system were less dependent upon government, the United States would be ten thousand other petitioners would not be swarming around this town.
I don't know the answers. But Dr. Gallup has it right: the pessimisticism shewled appraising a way of political life, perceive special interests working on both parties. It is six of one, in their view, and half a dozen of the other.
(C) The Washington Star Syndicate, Inc.
Jack Anderson
Digest of U.S. Intelligence Info
WASHINGTON—Every day, coded messages flood into Washington from our embassies, military commands and in-depth world. The most urgent telegrams are funneled into the Hickey King's command post in the White House. Digests of official news reports are delivered each morning to President Nixon.
From sources with access to this intelligence flow, here are some recent highlights:
NEW OFFENSIVE? - Privately, Kingfisher is optimistic about the prospects of a cease-fire in Vietnam. Yet intercepted messages indicate that North Vietnam is preparing for a renewed offensive. Our intelligence trace, however, that Russia has replaced the tanks and artillery the North Vietnamese lost in their spring offensive. They were able last spring to sneak heavy hardware into South Vietnam virtually undetected. But the best news is that both Russia and China have cut back military ships to North Vietnam. Hanol's military preparations, therefore, may be
for a limited attack upon a political target, perhaps even Saigon itself. But no one really knows whether the guns will be moved to booming when the voters go to the polls on November 7.
SOFT ON THEIU—Hanoi may be softening its onch ar enemy, President Thieu. In the secret truce talks, North Vietnam's Le Du Cao has emphasized that the Saigon regime must be dismantled and the government dominated by neither side. But he has indicated that Saigon can choose anyone it wishes to the new government, that neither side should have a vet over the other's appointments. The imposition of an object if Saigon appointed the hated Thieu as a member of the tripartite government.
MAO S' VOW - China's supreme ruler, Mao Tse-tung, told visiting Japanese Prime Minister Kakui Kanafirely that the Chinese would resist to the death any encroachments by Russia. A CIA report in the secret Mao-Tanaka talks quotes old Mao as saying China would sacrifice its own people to
prevent Soviet domination. He cited the fate of his former he apparent, Lin Piao, who died in a plane crash fleeing to Russia after attempting a pro-Soviet coup against Mao.
CHOU'S OPPOSITION--The Central Intelligence Agency reports that Chinese Premier Chou En-lai is still encountering challenges on his own circle. Chou's opponents are upset over his policy of detente with the United States, Japan and the West. They contend that the United States has credibility with revolutionaries forces around the world.
SOCIET SHIPMENTS—A classified State Department analysis charges that Israel's forays across her borders against the Palestinian guerrillas have given the Soviets a pretext for strengthening their foothold in Syria and Iraq. Military shipments have been sent not only to Syria and Iraq but to the country as a result. Contrary to press reports of a Soviet "airlift" to Syria, however, the airlift consisted of only four transport planes which have ceased to make regular deliveries. But the shipments,
though no more than token military aid, have had the effect of strengthening Soviet bonds with the Arab hatheads. The analysis concludes, nevertheless, that Russia wouldn't likely risk war for Syria, Iraq or any other Arab country.
AFRICAN WILDMAN—The efforts to placate Uganda's wildman, General Idi Amin, appear to have backfired. He has ordered the Asians, who had become backbone of Uganda's economy, out of the country. He has made impossible demands upon neighbouring Kenya. He has made broken promises to visiting mediators. He has imposed harsh martial law upon his country, charging that Tanzania, India and even Britain are planning to invade his small country. For the sake of black African solidarity, a host of black African leaders have made a call to Uganda to placate Gamal Amin. But a CIA report suggests all this attention has merely enlarged his ego and made him more difficult than
CASTRO 'UNCOUTH'— Intelligence reports acknowledge a rise in anti-U.S. feeling
throughout Latin America. But, apparently, Cuban dictator Fidel Castro's attempts to exploit U.S. unpopularity for his own purposes have been successful from our defense attack in Ecuador, where Castro visited last year, describes the top Ecuadorean military brass an anti-U.S. but also anti-Castro. The message quotes them as saying, "I'm not the great leader that many people consider him to be."
CUBA-PANAMA FRIENDSHIP - A secret CIA cable, reporting on a conversation with a Cuban intelligence officer known only as "Alfredo", quotes that she has said the government generally supports the PJG (Panama's military junta) and General Omar Torrijos, the head of Panama, but wants to find ways to encourage Torrijos to move further in the fight against them ... that . . . lfters in Panama form a Panama-Cuba Friendship Society, which could promote friendship with Cuba, put pressure on Torrijos from the left and possibly be used as the center of unspecified Cuban activities."
Copyright, 1972 by United Feature Syndicate, Inc.
Garry Wills
Shriver: Hard Time in Baltimore
His wife had the tougher going. She invaded a Democrats for Nixon rally held by a Polish boss, and she later joined the Democrats 'ethnic celebrant,' ran interference for her; but that was not enough. Even ritual appeal to the Kennedy name and history made it difficult she disaffected Catholic workers.
BALTIMORE-Baltimore is in some ways Sargent Shriver's home town. His mother and brother live here, and a scatter of his friends and his wife were not made to feel at home here Sunday, Oct. 8.
She tried to say she understood
Griff and the Unicorn
Polish pride, since she comes from a proud Irish family. But that Kennedy pride got wounded the next instant when a political operative, afraid she was launched into a political speech, seized the microphone from her. Many of the 1,200 people present had not even bothered to turn their chairs toward her when she was embarrassed and embarrassed retreat. Back out in the bus, she humped that "it's their loss." Pride must be saved when it cannot be saved.
Meanwhile her husband was having his troubles, too. He decided to go see the U.S. Frigate
By Sokoloff
At one of his stops, only 30 black ministers, along with some of their wives, had turned out to meet him. They had been waiting an hour, and he gave his standard half-hour, or two-and-a-half minutes. After a long embarrassing pause, he tried to hand out copies of his speeches.
"Constellation." But it was closed. So he dragged the press tail of cars and bus and police car to the mother's house. But she was out.
(C) Universal Press Syndicate 1972
Shriver sounds at times like a thin Humphrey—the same high hoarse voice flogging him to extra (sometimes self-canceling) effort, the same impulse plunge his tongue outacriminating his brain.
"To the ministers he said,
"There was a song going around for a while"--like, forever.
"It went, I've got the whole world in my hands"--was Shriver speaking for God? "We hear the old man of our past," the first raised, the black power salute; was he Bobby Seale in white face? "But no one ever gave power to the people"--is he mocking the salute, then?
"You've got power in your hands"--oh, yeah! "The power is mine." Each tug on the crowd was contrary or eminacious, leaving it unsatisfied, uncomfortable.
Shriver's turn to be uncomfortable. We went into a black revivalist church in plangent mid-ceremony, Choirs, music boxes, differing vestments, and the building shuddered with song. Shriver was seated just inside the sanctuary rail for a couple of thunder-rhythmed hymns. He interrupted to say that he was on the sanctuary rail, smiling an endless receptive smile like Miss America.
At the next stop, it was
Then, just as he was about to be introduced, a young woman danced right by him and crumpled on the floor. He leaned over the rail, still in his seat, now standing with an express concern, or to smile the same smile of approval. Finally he risked approval; this must be the Spirit's work, since others leaped up in spasms and beat the floor with an ankle-breaking grunt in jagged heraldic patterns—rampant, couchant, freakant—then, as quickly, unfroze in a clatter of ice shyming. The Spirit, it seems, is a reverse sexist, since all nine of our women were women; two men, it is true, went palied, but could not quite make it to the moaning swoe.
It went on and on. A young middle-class black couple left in disgust, the wife muttering "Ive
When he got up, he said that all men are equal before God, but that's the only way they are. "I sure can't dance or sing like you," he added. "And I'm rhythm. But he stayed it out, and spoke from the pulpit for 8 minutes (he had been allotted 5), and the word "God" didn't sound blasphemous in his mouth, as it does in Nixon's. He spoke simply and was well aware of the Spirit was just high enough.
seen everything now." An elderly man, disapproving, said "The Spirit's too high, and uniformed the officers of persistent fires. Shriver, isolated in the dink, kept hedging his pleasure with concern, concern with pleasure, his grim rocking with pleasure, an ambiguous between the two.
On the way out, I tried to imagine President Nixon here. He'll visit the moon first. There is much of America that America's ruler will never reach, or even see.
(C) 1972, Universal Press Syndicate
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