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Monday, November 26, 1990 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
Pop-rock cover-up Milli Vanilli shames industry
Recording technology and live performance met recently in a head-to-head battle for superiority in the music industry. Neither won, and the results of the fight may
have damaged the credibility of the entree U.S.' music industry. The industry has reeled in shock since the Nov. 15 admission that his band's song "Won't It Rain" by he nor his partner Fab Mavn sang a single note of their multi-million copy selling album, "Girl You Know It's True."
Music industry officials not only should feel shock but should be embarrassed. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences was forced last week to strip Milli Vanilli of a 1989 best new artist Grammy award because the duo no longer was eligible to receive it. Grammy recipients are required to perform their own material.
Meanwhile, the academy is left to decide to whom the Grammy should be awarded.
All parties involved in the Milli Vanilli scam should be held accountable. The real performers of the songs are just as guilty in the cover-up as Pilatus and Morvan, and should not receive the Grammy.
The award instead should be given to the musical group that received the second-highest number of votes for best new performer, providing that the group performs its own material.
Mary Neubauer for the editorial board
Oscar Mayer can't help save the wetland frogs
T
the message was clear.
"You're meat, just like the bologna enclosed in the greasy envelope you just opened. And we, the undersigned, want to let you know how much your opinions bother us."
"Sincerely, the members of SPAAM, or Stupid People Acting As Morons."
OK, that is not exactly what was stated in anonymous letters received this month by four opponents of the South Lawrence Trafficway. Rather, the note stated, "For your support of CARED — The Coalition of Assholes and Retards Against Enlightened Development."
The message was clear. The messenger or messengers appeared to wish to inform the members of CARES, or Citizens for Appropriate Coasts and Safeguards, that, by discharging their duties, roadway, they were full of baloney.
Pretty funny. It's too bad the *bass* soul or souls forgot to sign the lunchmeat. Otherwise, CARES crews complete the road, those disgruntled about its construction could scrape from the asphalt the little frog native to the Baker University campuses and mail them to highway supporters.
Not that CARES members would want to make their point in an infant manner surpassing what the grease-fingered bologna bandids did. They already made their feelings known in that form of democracy so after elections that fail to bring about a group's desired result: A lawsuit.
On Nov. 15, as postal workers unknowingly carried lunchmeat to them, the righteous few filed a suit that protested an explanatory statement on the Nov. 6 ballot that called for county voters to mandate or reject the South Lawrence Trafficway.
By laughing off a notion that a new high school should be built, voters were able to afford the trafficway and the East Lawrence Bypass. They spared cement makers and frog haters the irritation of those who work in the service area; the trafficway wouldn't serve to relieve traffic messes.
Many of the trucks and cars that struggle through town on 23rd Street do so because their drivers and passengers wish to shop in its mini-
Rich Cornell
Associate
Editorial
Editor
malls or eat in its fast-food joints Some even deliver goods, such as bologna, to 32rd Street businesses to be sold there
Those people aren't going to use the trafficway, except to squash frogs after a tough day. That is, if there is a trafficway. A restraining order last week temporarily prevents further spending for the road.
So what will result from the prank? Not much. Those who received the pressed, pink mail found it too foolish to complain about.
Don Strole, CARES' attorney, said last week that he would not seek a criminal investigation. "There's no way to even know who did it."
Some anxiety accompanied Strole's feeling that the balcony shouldn't be taken seriously. The problem, he suggested, was irrational hatred to him.
The content of the packages suggested poor taste in food.
Wheever sent them should consider postal regulations in the future, said Bill Lawrence. Lawrence assistant postmaster. "There are regulations because it must be packaged properly of meat and meat products.
Lawrence scanned a 150-page booklet that describes rules one must follow when mailing "hazardous货物". The author "addresses all of which describes balooma
More important questions remain, however. For starters, why do we spell a word that sounds like BUB-LOHE with a "g" and an "a"? And, as terrorism experts often have said, the word is flirted upon in fictional terms on the lover's next?
in it, he found that meat and meat products must be refrigerated in waterproof containers when mailed. Other regulations, available by consulting the U.S. Department of Agriculture, also must be followed.
Finally, what exactly is in a slice of bologna, and why do mothers everywhere still think it's a good idea to give it to their kids?
Rich Cornell is an Olathe senior majoring in journalism.
Rush toward war must be ended
U.S. should question addiction to oil
A war fever sweeps our nation, it is time for citizens to question the generalizations, simplistic analyses and power interests fueling the rush toward a disastrous confrontation. The best time to stop a war is before it is started. We must efforts, we can more effectively press against makers to more seriously consider alternatives to war.
Toward this end, a University of Kansas organization called 'Voice' has formed and is becoming increas ing active
The Bush administration's policies are decreasing multilateral, non-military alternatives to war in the Middle East. Several principles form the foundations of the U. S. policy that Iraq must bow to 100 percent of our governments' demands or face all-out war. One such principle is that the United States will not negotiate a ceasefire trade agreement another country or who takes responsibility may be a noble principle, but are willing to sacrifice tens or hundreds of thousands of human lives to adhere to such formulaes?
There is indeed a risk of sanctioning future aggression if the United States compromises on the principle of "absolutely no negotiation." On the other hand, it is nearly certain that a U.S. counter-invasion would cause more death and worldwide economic disruption than if our leaders show some flexibility. The back end of the war will spread widely and go on for years. International pressure on Iraq, guided by the U.N. and regional mediation attempts, should be given a chance to succeed without being
Guest columnist
Wendell Weibe-Powell
undermined by the onslaught of U.S forces.
The United States has a legacy of manipulation, intervention and bending of our own principles in the Middle East and in other regions of the world. The Iran-conviction scandal is one among numerous examples. Our government also supported Saddam Hussein during the recent Iran/Iraq war.
People in the Middle East are painfully aware of the United States' opportunistic involve
States oppotunitive involvement in their region. The current Republican leaders have a force to stop further aggression by Saddam Hussein's forces. Powerful oil interests lie beneath the invasion-oriented buidup and refusal to negotiate compromise or support regional settlement efforts. When we talk about it is pumped out of one oil, we forget that it is being pumped out of one else's ground.
This relates to a principle or motivation stated by President Bush, protecting "our way of life." If "our way of life" has become such that we must go to war at the cost of thousands of lives for something halfway around the world that pollutes the earth and will not be here for too many more years, then we must make significant changes. Regional
and renewable consumption patterns are critical for our own security, and survival as well as for others around the world.
Some people may think that we are massing forces in the Middle East to protect principles of freedom and democracy. Kuwait has been ruled by a monarchy. This small group of rulers has amassed incredible wealth, much of which they siphoned into their accounts and bank accounts. Poverty and social problems among their own people have been largely neglected.
Borders were drawn and monarchs set in place by colonial powers motivated by oil interests. That does not mean that no war has ever taken place. On the other hand, such complexities must be taken into account if we want to avoid years of conflict, including the risk of chemical and nuclear increase the death toll to millions.
Freedom and democracy would be more secure if we supported multilateral and regional mediation efforts such as attempts by King Hussein of Jordan and former West German chancellor Willy Brann, Conversely, if we go to war, governments in various parts of the world would be pressured toward police-state tactics and would demand greater violence. Our way of life would be highly disrupted because of devastating economic consequences.
The primary justification for the massive invasion-oriented U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf is to compromise or support mediation, we will be encouraging future aggression. Are we willing to sacrifice thousands of children, women and families? Possibility? Saddam Hussein has
made some offers to pull out of Kuwait. The U.S. does not have to accept these offers outright, but we are asking that all proposals to avoid a protracted war.
Currently, our society is fighting a war against drugs. Our security and possibly our survival will depend on withdrawal from our most extensive addition of all fossil fuels. If we had heeded the environmentalists' calls 10 or 15 years ago to implement conservation, fuel efficiency and renewable energy, we probably would be part of a multi-sector effort in the Persian Gulf but would not be building up for an all-out war.
If we had paid attention to those with sight, we would not have a 'chemical dependency' threatened by tyrants such as Saddam Hussein. We still can learn a lesson from this crisis. We can put pressure on our elected officials to implement policies that tree us from dependency on other non renewable resources and to stop the rush toward war.
If we don't respond to the handwriting on the wall, we will continue to face recurring wars and ecological destruction regardless of how this country sees its responsibility are ours. As foreboding as this crisis is, we can use it to wake our society to the realization that changes in our way of life and policies are essential for our security, survival and quality of life. Let us work together of work into efforts for international justice, peace and sustainability.
Wendell Weibe-Powell is associate minister for the Ecumenical Christian Ministries.
LETTERS to the EDITOR
Student labels mislead
I am 14 and a freshman at the University of Kansas. When I started at college last fall, I received a label: "non-traumatic student." At first I did not know what it meant, and, of course, I thought it did not matter. Then the whole academic mentality and system began to subtle, but
consistently, bombard me with these uplifting messages:
"You're too old to study, you waited too long. You should have started college when you were 18. You wouldn't be the present frustrate you and the future worry you. Because you need the apprehension of others, feel very guilty for anything about you they might see you getting too many A's at your age.
"College is very hard work, so make good use of your time. Skip as many meals as you can, stay up as late as possible — you cannot afford to waste too much of your precious time eating and sleeping — and
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You're too old to study; you waited too long.
spend the time thus earned to cram and be like the typical college student. Studying is boring. Should you ever enjoy it, consider yourself a criminal, and feel very guilty. And, please, know your No.1 priority. You came to the University to be 'integrated', so don't ever miss a protest march scheduled by a student organization, even though you have a test
”
the next day, and especially if the protest does not make any sense to you.
"Finally, keep this in mind: Happiness occurs only when everybody agrees with you. If you don't find it now, keep searching. You will certainly encounter it after graduation, provided you graduate with the highest honors a university has ever awarded to a student, the job market is clear, and you experienced professionals, and of course, you are not too old."
If there is a better definition of bologna, it is yet to be invented.
KANSAN STAFF
Ndomby Fhunsu
Caracas freshman
DEREK SCHMIDT
Editor
TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser
KJERSTIN GABRIELSON Managing editor
Editors
News. Julie Meitenburg.
Editorial. Mary Neubauer.
Planning. Pam Solner.
Campus. Holly Lawton.
Sports. Brent Maycock.
Photo. Andrew Morrison.
Graphics. Brett Brener.
Features. Stacey Smith
MARGARET TOWNSEND Business manager
business staff
Campus sales mgr...Chantal Doolal
Regional sales mgr...Jackie Schumatzmalz
National sales mgr...David Price
Co-op sales mgr...Deborah Salzer
Production mgr...Missy Miller
Production assistant...Julie Aixland
Marketing director...Audra Langford
Creative director...Gail Einbinder
JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser
MINDY MORRIS Retail sales manager
Business staff
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