4a
Opinion
Monday, October 9, 2000
For comments, contact Ben Embry or Emily Hughey at 864-4924 or e-mail opinion@kansan.com
Candidates blend issues with hostility
like millions of other Americans, I sat down before the TV Tuesday and watched Bush and Gore try to verbally disembowel each other.
It was a pretty good fight. Jim Lehrer was suitably neutral, and asked some tough, pointed questions. We learned that Bush and Gore, knowledge aside, share the same tailor.
My roommate and I were disappointed that the debate did not include a Steel Cage Match, which would have been both amusing and a clear message to rogue dictators that our next president will be tough.
From the look of things, the candidates were wishing that they could engage in a little of that themselves. The two were openly hostile in a civil manner — a good thing, in my opinion.
There were several points that stood out, both high and low.
■ Shame on Fox and NBC for not carrying the debate. Their refusal to set aside 90 minutes to help Americans make an informed choice on the next leader of the free world is a petty, selfish, despicable show of amoral greed. It is especially galling in light of a recent bill, a Congressional giveaway
Congressional giveaway on next-generation communications rights to the
Mike Loader
columnist
opinion@kansan.com
networks, on the caveat that they use it in the public interest.
It is safe to say that presidential debates are in the public interest. Yet Fox thinks that an overdone drama series is more important
— because it makes the network more money. Such a lack of patriotism and public interest, not to mention the executives' casual disregard of the nation's trust in them, should be remembered the next time a similar bill comes to Congress.
Congratulations to Lehrer, Bush and Gore for a debate focused on issues. Both men showed a refreshing lack of sound bites, even though each candidate did feel compelled to repeat his main theme again and again like a religious mantra. Their exchanges were spirited and vigorous, and both men gave the electorate something to be proud of.
electronic sorts Just in case you thought Al Gore didn't have ice water in his veins: Apparently his team requested that the temperature in the hall be a balmy 50 degrees. The Bush side understandably refused.
"And so that's my plan, Jim."
And so that governor Bush, why don't you respond to the vice president while I try to burn my podium for warmth?"
"Mah hands are blue! Ah can't speechify with blue hands!"
**Silly rhetoric was a repeated feature. For Gore, it was his "keep fighting for working families" pledge. Al Gore the Populist is a new and puzzling beast, only recently arrived on the political scene. Who knows when it'll vanish?**
For Bush, it was the rather whining accusations of "fuzzy math." There was nothing fuzzy about it. Gore may be wooden, uninspiring personally and pretty wokish, but he can handle a calculator. So can I. "Fuzzy math" apparently means "correct math that I don't like you telling people about." Name-calling as a defense of your budget proposal is weak and petty.
Bush came out the winner on style in several questions, most noticeably "snap decision in times of crisis" and "use and funding of the military." His delivery was superior to Gore's in those areas and probably sold people.
On reflection, however, Bush's example of a snap decision was the release of flood aid to Texas communities.
Texas communities.
Ahem. Sending relief aid to a devastated town in your state is hardly a tough decision for a governor — and the vice president's example, the risky involvement of the Russians in the Kosovo crisis, stands as a much harder choice under much greater pressures. Similar factual problems stood behind the military issue — Bush sounded better, but Gore promised twice as much money and more sophisticated weapons.
the winner? None. Both men handled themselves well. Gore did a better overall job, but with the lowered expectations for Bush, the governor scored a victory by just showing up and not drooling.
Loader is a Henderson, Nev., senior in journalism.
BUSINESS CLASS ON THE FLIGHT TO HELL
Chan Lowe / TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES
Kansan.com poll
Last week's question
What do you think of Mr.
Wong, the cartoon on
icebox.com?
Funny.
Sick.
Stupid.
Mr. Who?
Note: This poll is not scientific. Numbers may not add up to 100 because of rounding. 101 people voted.
Next week's question:
Who's do you think is winning in the presidential debates? Log on to www.kansan.com to cast your vote on this issue.
Perspective
Cheese inspires change
Cheese. I never thought that a simple dairy product could change my outlook on life in one night.
At 20 years old, I found myself feeling as though I was in a rut, as though I wasn't moving forward in my life. I'm young. I work hard, have great friends and plenty of fun, yet somehow I felt alone and wanted more. I just didn't know what.
So I left. I left Lawrence and took a long weekend vacation to Colorado, and it was one of the best decisions of my life. In Colorado, I
felt like I really discovered myself and figured out that it was where I needed to be at that point in time.
But I came back. Back to Lawrence, a city I love dearly, but at a time when I needed to decide whether to stay here and be comfortable or to take action and get out, I stayed.
Then I got a package in the mail. Out of the blue, a friend sent me a book called Who Moved My Cheese? I set it on the
bookshelf and didn't think twice. Last night, I decided to pick up the book. I read it front to back in 30 minutes.
Jennifer Dartt guest columnist opinion.com/kanan.com
Sniff and Scurry put on their running shoes and enter the maze in search for New Cheese. Hem and Haw feel cheated and wait for the Old Cheese to return.
The book is a fictional story about four mice looking for cheese, and it meant the world to me.
Sniff, Scurry, Hem and Haw walk the same path of a maze every day to get to the "cheese" that they think makes them happy. One day the cheese is gone.
The cheese represents anything in life that you think makes you happy: a job, a relation.
ship, school, anything that makes you feel stable and safe. In my case, it was everything
Each character can represent how a person reacts to change or how each reader can find a combination of all four characters inside themselves. I realized that I was made of all four, but Haw and Hem were the biggest contributors, the ones afraid of change.
Haw eventually sets out in search of New Cheese. He realizes that the maze has changed since that last time he was in it. It is long, uncertain and scary. But he learns to laugh at his own fears of leaving the Old Cheese. Once he can picture himself being happy with New Cheese, the maze becomes easier, and even a little fun.
Hem never stops waiting for the Old Cheese to come back and make him feel comfortable again.
Whether I will find it if I pack up and move to Colorado, I don't know. I may find my New Cheese right here in Lawrence. But I have no excuse not to find out if it is waiting for me somewhere else.
Why my friend decided to send me this book now, I will never know. But I have taken it as a sign to get myself in gear and stop living life every day "comfortably."
The Sniff and Scurry in me are already there, helping me picture myself enjoying life with something new. The Haw in me is hesitant but willing to try.
I have a need for change in my life and I know there are others out there who feel it, too. My advice: Leave the Old Cheese, search for the New. If you don't abandon what makes you comfortable, you will never know if there are other things out there that make you even happier.
Unfortunately, the Hem in me is still there, so comfortable that he will do anything to keep things the way they are.
Editorial
Darit is a Lenexa junior in journalism.
Students, fans should support homecoming
Students should show their school spirit for this year's Homecoming.
In years past, Homecoming at the University of Kansas has been more of an afterthought than the celebration it is intended to be. This apathetic situation needs to change.
Homecoming is a time of parades, alumni returning to their alma mater and a time when young and old Jayhawks can celebrate their time at the University together.
This year's Homecoming, when the Jayhawks play the University of Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday. October 21, the University community needs to be more enthusiastic than in the past.
At many other Big 12 schools, Homecoming is a huge event. Other schools have parades in their cities that go through the downtown areas and are packed with screaming fans on both sides of the street.
Here at the University, people are involved in the Homecoming festivities but not nearly to the extent they should be.
Students, professors and alumni should be standing alongside Jayhawk Boulevard for Friday afternoon's parade. People should be there to show support not only for the football team and the KU Band but also for the University as a whole.
However, school support should not end Friday afternoon. Other Big 12 schools customarily tailgate before games, making Homecoming a special event. Everyone should get out on Saturday to show support for the University.
Let's show the other schools in the Big 12 that even though we may not be a football powerhouse, our fans are the best in the Big 12.
Brett Norman for the editorial board
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. The Kansan reserves the right to edit submissions, and not all of them will be published. Slanderous statements will not be printed. To read more, go to www.kansan.com.
-
Instead of complaining about the price of Coke, students should just not buy the useless product.
-
It looks like liberals are crying again because a few conservatives are trying to make everything less biased.
---
The only people who can fully comprehend Dennis Miller's football commentary are those Dawson river kids.
The housing ordinance isn't that big of a deal because, when it comes down to everything, we're all brothers and sisters anyway.
-
If men menstruated in communities, it would be frontpage news.
---
I find it ironic that Republican conservatives are all for the government out of businesses, homes and citizens pockets, yet they support government intervention in abortion, which is the most personal decision of all.
图
Everyone should respect the dignity of the human life, no matter how tiny that life may be.
Oppose the housing ordinance. Go to the City Commission planning meeting at City Hall on Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m.
图
---
It's time to produce those electric cars.
---
I eat rocks.
Liberals and conservatives need to listen to one another.
-
-
I hope the Lawrence cops and the KU cops never find out about partyku.com. It would suck if they did.
The Lieberman/Cheney debate was the most thoughtful and civil debate we've ever had. It's too bad these guys aren't running for president. Something might get done.
How to submit letters and guest columns
Letters: Should be double-spaced typed and fewer than 200 words. Letters must include the author's signature, name, address and telephone number plus class and hometown if a University student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions.
Guest columns: Should be double-
spaced typed with fewer than 700 words.
The writer will be willing to be pho-
tographed for the column to run.
All letters and guest columns should be e-mailed to opinion@kansan.com or submitted to the Kansarnewsroom, 111 Stauffer-FintHall. The Kanansa reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Ben Embry or Emily Hughey at 864-4924.
If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924
Editor ... Nathan Willis
Managing editors.. Chris Borniger,
... Kristi Elliott
Readers' rep ... Erinn Barcomb
Opinion ... Ben Embry,
... Emily Hughey
Sports ... Melinda Weaver
Associate sports ... Jason Walker
Campus ... Jessie Meyer,
... Mindie Miller
News editors
The University Daily Kansan
editor@kansan.com
or 864-4854
readersrep@kansan.com
or 864-8100
opinton@kansan.com
or 864-8294
sports@kansan.com
or 864-8298
writer@kansan.com
or 864-8100
Features ... Clay McCuistion
Jayplay ... BriAnne Hess
Online ... Chris Hopkins
Photo... Nick Krug
Design, graphics ... Amy Train
Wire ... Lori O'Toole
Special sections ... Clare McLellan
General manager
and news adviser. Tom Eblen
features@kansan.com
or 864-4924
jayplay@kansan.com
or 864-4810
webeditor@kansan.com
or 864-4810
864-4821
864-4812
864-4810
864-4810
telebler@kansan.com
or 864-7687
Business ... Brad Bolyard
Retail sales ... Becky LaBranch
Marketing ... Trent Guyer
Campus ... Monica Hahn
Regional ... Brooke Johnson
National ... Katy Hyman
Online sales ... Lindsay Gross
Online creative ... Patrick Rupe
Advert
addirector@kansan.com
or 864-4324
retailsales@kansan.com
or 864-4462
864-4358
864-4358
864-4358
864-4358
onlineads@kansan.com
or 864-4358
864-4358
Advertising managers
Creative ... Erin Endres
Production ... Jenny Weaver
Classifieds ... Sarah Lando
Zone ... Cecilly Curran
Zone ... Anika Entwistle
Zone ... Chris Davenport
Zone ... Jenny Moore
Sales and marketing Matt Fisher
864-4358
864-4475
classiffeels@kansan.com
or 864-4358
864-4358
864-4358
864-4358
mfisherkansan.com
or 864-7666
---