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University Daily Kansan, March 24, 1982
Opinion
Rough sailing ahead
The state deprogramming bill, after cruising smoothly through the Kansas House, has sailed into rougher waters in the Senate.
The opposition of some senators to the bill is hardly surprising. What is surprising is that the bill has made it this far.
Although its authors carefully avoided using the words "cult" or "religion" when writing the bill, it is clearly aimed at members of controversial religious groups.
Under the bill's vague wording, parents or relatives of adults who join groups which use "systems of coercive persuasion" could be made their temporary guardians. The guardians, with the help of professional counselors, could then subject their offspring to some "coercive persuasion" of their own, commonly called "deprogramming."
Members of the Senate's Judiciary Committee recognize the dangers inherent in this bill, which, if misused, could easily become a tool working against those who hold unpopular beliefs.
Supporters of the bill fail to realize that a threat to individual freedom is a two-edged sword. Anything that undercuts constitutionally guaranteed individual rights, such as the freedom to establish and exercise religion, also wounds the foundations of a free society.
The stories told by those who claim to be victims of cult brainwashing are frightening.
It's encouraging to see state senators oppose this bill. Their stance is certainly wiser than that of their counterparts in the House.
More frightening, though, is a legislative attempt to allow others to crawl inside a person's mind and regulate his beliefs.
Turn left at that rainbow but watch those tornadoes
As I was waiting to change planes in St. Louis, a stranger tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Excuse me, did I hear you say you were going to Baltimore?"
He said he was an East Coast preyed turnover, California. He had never been to the Midwest.
"Could you tell me," he said, "are we in St. Louis, Missouri, or St. Louis, Kansas?"
Such questions rarely surprise me anymore.
Andhra Pradesh, the Midwest for other parts.
Anytime I leave the Midwest for other parts of the country or find myself in places like airports,
TERESA
RIORDAN
Usually they're directed at Kansas in particular rather than the Midwest.
I know I'm wide open for some regional questions and comments.
When I say I'm from Kansas, eyes widen and mouths drop open.
from Kansas, eyes wide and mouths drop open. People want to know, "Is that where all the tornadoes are?" Then they ask many tornadoes "Ive seen in my life and how many times I have."
During my first trip to the East Coast, when I was a child, an adult, in utter solterity, asked whether I was from the same part of Kansas as Dorothy and Toto.
Most people, whether from the North, South, East or West, seem disappointed, if not disillusioned, that I'm a Kansan and I don't have a shirt, wear a red-checkered jersey or live on a farm.
In fact, a Californian acquaintance was harried when she found out I hailed from Texas.
Missouri—some place half-way civilized," she said.
I'm not saying that midwesterners—Kansans—aren't guilty of rovinancial as well.
I'm sure many an Easterner cried when I once asked whether Newark was very close to
But it seems to me that the type of provincialism that prevails in the Midwest is much more benign and should therefore be more dominant than the provincialism of other regions.
The word provincialism has several meanings, but two definitions are particularly applicable to the United States.
The first definition is "lacking urban polish or refinement." In a word, unsophisticated.
The second definition is "of local or restricted interests or outlook." In another word, narrow.
The difference in definitions sums up the differences in regional attitudes of Mid-Western Europe.
Midwest provincialism stems from a certain naive about the rest of the country, which perhaps can lead to a narrow outlook. This naive is part of the same stereotype held by other regions, which imagines the Midwest as a vast desert of corn and wheat.
But while people of other regions typecast the Midwest as being provincial in the naive sense, the first definition, they are many times guilty of being even more provincial in the second sense.
Both kinds of provincialism reduce other regions to stereotypes and clichés.
But there is a big difference between the two kinds of provincialism. One is a conscious choice to simply ignore other regions because of an implied superiority; the other is a lack of experience in the rest of the world, but not particularly by choice.
And I don't know about other Midwesterners, or Karansis, but I would rather be naive than man.
From what authority do I write, throwing down such universal condemnations?
Letters to the Editor
I speak with the authority of a student who has so much unintelligible snoop that he cries for a little.
Writers pushing pet ideas
To the Editor:
I have been reading many of your editorial and letters columns for years. Infrequently do I find the urge to write a reply to any. A letter on March 11 from Chris Hamilton, assistant instructor of political science, however, gave the impetus to this letter.
I don't mean to discredit Hamilton's letter on any point; though I wouldn't take the letter too seriously. (Hamilton defended Keynesian economics with evidence of that particular reason, that's how forecasting prowess as if the school were a different group that periodically issues forecasts.)
I would like to note that Hamilton was writing about economics. He is a political science professor at MIT.
We have been studying economics for years and realize that the field is complex. There is a great deal of confusion in the "science." Obviously, a meaningful discussion of contemporary economic conditions cannot be detailed in a letter to the editor. This goes for Hamilton, Douglas Martin and even Harry Shaffer. Economics has become so important that seems to feel he is capable of enlightening us. He has often used this forum in an unprofessional manner. ) Equality about economics.
Hamilton's letter brings to attention a larger fault characteristic of the Kanan. That is, the unenlightened nature of your editors and letters. Hamilton accuses Martin of writing outside his sphere of knowledge. I accuse most every editorial contributor of the same fault.
How disappointing it is to open to this page every day and read some pet idea or practiced pen. I wish so much that I might some day read an essay. A genuine one. Not so much fatulence. Something of content concerning a subject the author knows well.
Cary DuBois, Lawrence senior
Everything the University Daily Kansan publishes that is of serious value can be placed on less than one page each day. Perhaps if the Kansan were restricted to one page the editors would become more discriminating. They might then be able to discriminate between
unlightened blatering and a genuine thoughtful essay by someone who understands
May I add a little light to the conflagration Torchia is discussing? He mentions that in Wichita, the Wichita Christian Center held a "ritual burning of books, magazines and record albums, said to be responsible for 'immorality, rebellion, drugs and perversion.'"
Regarding Dan Torchia's 5 column
Regarding Dan Torchia's 5 column
minded-minded book banning protects none,
threatening to the public.
To the Editor:
As a member of the Wichita Christian Center at that time, I would like to state that there was nothing ritualistic about the burning that took place in the center's parking lot that evening.
Book-burning symbolic
"Many of the believers who had been practicing black magic confessed their deeds and brought their incantation books and charms and burned them at a public bonfire. This indicates how deeply the whole area was stirred by God's message." (Acts 19:18-20)
The Christians in Wichita were doing this action to God, not to neighbors, media or other interested parties. The books. Ouija boards and other materials that were burned were personal belongings of the believers. No one was "forced" to burn his books.
The Bible says, "When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
What happened was similar to another burning:
This process of new life isided by taking away the old. The books and other materials are not given away because gifts to others should be helpful, not harmful.
Of course, other gods are available. As Mark Twain adroitly summarized, " Its name is Public Opinion. It is held in reverence. It settles everything. Some think it is the voice of God."
Anyone have a light?
Anyone have a light? Lorette Fleenauer
Lawrence graduate student
Loretta Flanagan.
No news good news during vacation
Normaly has returned, but I doubt I will ever forget that week of hell. While thousands of KU students prepared to flock to Ft. at home, I readied myself for a week of solitude.
I didn't have the money to go anywhere, nor the forest to plan to do anything. I was trapped in my home.
The next day was Monday, but there was no school and no students. I had no desire to study, but I sensed I was in danger of letting my mind atrophy.
KU student held hostage: Day 1—The rain pounded incessantly on the roof of my apartment as the drudgery of captivity began. The knowledge that there was no chance of escape began to demoralize me, but I resolved to stick it out.
I was a victim of the education system, a student without a purpose. My mind told me to learn, but my heart overruled and told me it was a holiday. As I climbed into bed earlier than usual Sunday night, I knew that a fate worse than the Red Brigade playing hours of rock music awaited 'me. My captivity had begun.
pouncing on the newspapers in the parking lot. I scanned the pages my nerves began to quiet.
As I lay watching "The Beverly Hillbills," a revelation came to me: My only chance for survival was the news. Rather than think about what my friends were doing on the beach, I decided to concentrate on how much news they were missing. While chasing members of the opposite sex, they wouldn't have time to read a newspaper or even watch a news program. Because of the days from March 19 March 19 would be forever void of local or national news.
Having read the Time article on Patty Hearst, I knew that holding on to this one thought through my days of captivity would preserve my mental health. I raced outside,
*Rumor had it that Tom Deckham would be Geo Carlin's choice as his running mate for the 2016 election.*
**Another rumor that Belinda Carlsle, lead singer of the Go-Go's, was dewed was quelched by the team.**
- Locally, Furr Cafeteria Inc., of Lubbock,
Texas, announced its intention to build on the
company's existing food facilities.
- In sports, Tyke Peacock skipped the NCAA indoor meet in Detroit, instead using
CHRIS COBLER
the break to visit his father in Scaramento, Calif.
- Kansas State prepared for its next game in the NCAA basketball tournament, having defeated
- Day 2 - The weather began to improve and so did my spirits. I had a purpose :
- Leonid Breznev, Soviet president, announced a freeze on deployment of medium-range nuclear missiles in the western part of the Soviet Union.
- A jury found sociale Claus von Bulow guilty of twice trying to murder his wife hew
- *Douglas County officials predicted that Lone Star Lake might be reopened by summer.
- Douglais' County births' peleuca 'nua, Lone Star Lake might be reopened by summer. Temperatures in Tampa are 30 degrees, but no one was around to share it with. I turned to the news:
- President Reagan called Brezhnev's offer propaganda aimed at undermining preparations for U.S. missile installation in Western Europe.
- Pat Nixon celebrated her 70th birthday and David and Julie Eisenhower in Beryn, Pa.
- A St. Patrick's Day travel scaled the side of the Ayhyt Regency Hotel in Kansas City, Mo.
- Lawrence police cut down a crudely made dummy that dung between the Varsity Theatre and Granada Theatre between 9:45 and 10 a.m. The sign on the dummy read "Dear to Iran."
- Day 4 - The weather remained good, but the
wind was changing. In the wind turning
the pages of my newspaper;
- President Reagan complained that the
  people would always downbeat and
  would allow any economic crisis to
  happen.
- Ann Landers told a single mother that the bondage-playing of her 14-year-old daughter and her 7-year-old sister was the cause of death.
- The U.S. Attorney in Topeka decided not to prosecute the 19-year-old Lawrence man who allegedly threatened the life of President Reagan in December. The man, David Bateman, a Haskell Indian Junior College student, was arrested Dec. 11 after allegedly entering police headquarters and delivering a note that read, "I want to kill the president."
Day 5 - Temperature skyrocketed to 79, but I knew couldn't hold on much longer. The news that popped out of the pages kept getting weirder and weirder:
*E evangelist Billy Graham was said to be considering preaching in Moscow. He was invited by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.*
- Four Dutch TV newsman were killed when they went to cover the guerrilla side of EI Salyva's forces.
- A Hyattvillse, Md., mother of five won
the "Balloon" Donald's "Quality in the
Bail" giveaway game.
The week was almost over, and I saw my chance for freedom. Slowly, the town was shaken. I checked it out, but now I knew why no news is good. Next spring, I resolve not to bend, but to break.
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KANSAN
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