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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday, October 15. 1968
Concern offers action
College students are perhaps the most vocal group of American society in criticizing the status quo, condemning the Administration, cursing the Vietnam war. For the past few years, their collective voice of protest has become louder. Few people question the sincerity of their dissatisfaction, but many people of the Establishment wonder how many of the youthful protesters would bother to work towards changing the "system."
For those who protest the inequities of a rich society waging war in an impoverished nation, Project Concern, Inc., offers a chance for Americans to make a positive effort to help correct war atrocities. Project Concern is an independent, non-profit relief organization "involved in mankind," as its founder, Dr. James W. Turpin says. Turpin founded the organization in 1961 to give medical aid to the needy people of the world. He believes that people who are materially fortunate have a moral obligation to help develop well-being for those who lack basic elements of health, education, shelter and job opportunities.
Project Concern has set up out-patient clinics in Hong Kong and Mexico. College students, however, seem to be most interested in its 42-bed hospital and 15 out-patient clinics in South Vietnam. Project Concern's most important contribution to the health and welfare of these near-destitute people has been the training of young Vietnamese as village medical assistnatsants who can continue service if Project Concern is forced to leave the country. Many college students feel that this is the most direct way to do something constructive for humanity in the war effort.
What Project Concern needs to continue its success is, of course, money. A few pennies go a
long way in providing food and medical supplies to the needy overseas. KU students easily can adopt the modest support projects suggested by the KU branch.
The first college branch of Project Concern was established at KU by Dave Keesling, Herington senior and now national chairman of Collegates for Concern. In less than two years, KU students have raised nearly $7,000 through various support programs. As a result of Keesling's speeches at national conventions and of his work in Washington, D.C., last summer as aide to Sen. James Pearson (R-Kan.), about 160 college campuses are now involved in Project Concern.
For two years, Keesling has received help from living groups in collecting Union Bookstore rebate slips. Many living groups have promised support with Pennies Per Meal. The Inter-Residence Council has promised $400 for its sale of Big Blue buttons to help produce the third annual Project Concern variety show, "Simple Joys." Even area high schools are planning fund-raising campaigns, such as Christmas Carols for Concern and trick-or-treating for contributions.
Keesling is now speaking to living groups, explaining the purpose of Project Concern and its various medical aid programs. So far the response has indicated that KU students in general are ready to make a commitment. Nearly every living group has adopted a support project suggested by Keesling. KU students are recognizing that moral progress and justice are not achieved by tearing, rioting and destruction, but by giving time, money and effort to this cause. They are channeling their dissatisfaction with status quo into constructive action.
Linda McCrerey
Kansan staff member
Letters to the editor
About Tran Van Dinh
To the Editor:
Tran Van Dinh stated in his speech that he considered the war in Vietnam to be a civil war. Accepting his stated position I asked him which side he was on. If he had stated that he was on neither the Communist nor American side, but on a neutralist Buddhist position, as Mr. Sampson states in his letter, I would have accepted his answer. He did not say this, however. He stated that he was on the "Buddhist side," and, unless he considered the civil war in Vietnam to be between the Buddhists and the Catholics this is an unacceptable answer. I restated the question. Mr. Van Dinh attempted to evade the question by saying that I was opposed to all communists. What this had to do with my question is beyond me, but I told Mr. Van Dinh that I was not opposed to all communists, and restated the question. For the record, last year at this time I was living on a commune
and I am now a member of a socialist youth group whose constitution calls for the establishment of more communes. Mr. Van Dinh finally gave me an answer. I must admit that I was not surprised by his answer.
Mr. Sampson wrote as follows: "Only in the question period, when pursued by an incredibly ill-mannered boor through a loathsome series of questions and challenges, did the ambassador declare his position." He goes on to call me an "inquisitionist" and to state that I recognize only two positions—American and Communist.
I wonder what Mr. Sampson feels toward the hippies who attempt to disrupt the speeches of the candidates they disagree with. Perhaps the hippies have a right to disrupt the speeches of those they disagree with. I do not know what Mr. Sampson feels about the hippies, but if he judges them by a separate standard as many campus "intellec
tuals" do, he is a hypocrite.
Mr. Sampson fails to realize that the roots of the ill-will which he so detests in me are more manifestly evidenced in the actions of the anti-war demonstrators and in Mr. Sampson's letter.
Yours truly,
Jonathan Jordan
Washington, D.C., freshman
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The Hill With It by john hill
Even after 162 orbits around the earth, the three astronauts were still completely awed by the beauty of the earth and the stars.
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star," said one of the astronauts and the other two smiled at the irony. Distortions in the earth's atmosphere are the cause of the twinkling effect of stars; the astronauts now had a completely clear view of the stars, which were billions of beautiful pinpoints of light set against the black velvet of limitless space.
"You would have thought that after 11 days, we would be tired of looking out the portholes," said another astronaut, "but I could spend the rest of my life looking out there."
The earth was a huge green sphere of mountains and continents and oceans and cities and lights. And beauty.
"It's too bad all those people down there can't see the world like we can now," said the third astronaut.
"They're too busy," said the first astronaut, who appreciated irony. "Half the world's busy just trying to get enough food to eat every day, and the other half's busy with money, prestige and power."
"Power . . ." said one of the men, thoughtfully. "No small part of the significance of our flight's success will be military advantages. It's hard to look at that beauty and realize that men will someday fight wars out here; has man ever gone any place where he didn't make war?"
"You know what, though?" he continued, "we'll be the same once we get back down there. A little changed maybe, but not much." He paused. "Just look at it . . ." he said, gesturing toward the line of sunlight, bringing morning to half the earth below.
The metallic voice from the radio cut into the three men's reverent quiet.
"Houston Center to Spacecraft. Houston Center to Spacecraft. Come in please."
The three watched the simple majesty of the earth and the sun and the stars. without touching the radio controls.
"Houston Center to Spacecraft. You are rapidly approaching the point in your final orbit where the retro-rockets must be manually operated. Please acknowledge so we can radio instructions."
“It’s not all bad by any means,” said the third astronaut, absently, looking at the earth, “it’s got its good and has its pettiness—God, just think of all the politics that will follow space exploration—but out here, it’s all good. All simple, unspoiled beauty. It’s pure out here.”
"Houston center to Spacecraft. Contact us immediately. You are rapidly approaching your rendezvous with your re-entry orbit. Acknowledge immediately for instructions."
None of the men touched the button. They watched the partially eclipsed moon poised as though motionless against the infinity of stars.
"Houston center to Spacecraft. Acknowledgement must—"
"Anybody want to go back to earth?" asked one of the men, almost casually.
"Don't believe so," said another, and a third just shook his head. One of the men pulled a set of wires from the communications panel, severing contact with the earth.
Quietly, peacefully, the satellite continued its endless orbit. . .