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Opinion
Monday, September 25, 2000
For comments, contact Ben Embry or Emily Hughey at 864-4924 or e-mail opinion@kansan.com
Perspective 'Tolerance' groups foster intolerance
Last June, the Supreme Court ruled that as a private organization, the Boy Scouts of America has a First
Scouts of America has a First Amendment right to exclude homosexuals from leadership positions. Because it doesn't accept federal funds, it can regulate its own membership and have leaders whom it believes personify the principles in the Scout Oath and Law, which obliges scouts to be "morally straight."
As Chief Justice William Rehnquist wrote, "The Boy Scouts asserts that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the values embodied in the Scout Oath and Law." Thus, compelling them to admit gay Scout leaders would "force the organization to send a message, both to the youth members and the world, that the Boy Scouts accepts homosexual conduct as a legitimate form of behavior."
So, the Supreme Court has ruled. Case closed, right? Not so fast.
mate form of behavior."
Immediately, gay- rights groups, politicians, and assorted champions of tolerance nationwide took to the airwaves vowing not to tolerate the Supreme Court's ruling. And no way were they going to tolerate the Boy Scouts' policy on homosexuality.
Though the Court invoked the settled interpretation that "the First
John McCool
guest columnist
opinion@kansan.com
Amendment protects expression, be it of the popular variety or not," the Human Rights Campaign, a prominent gay-rights group, called the ruling "a travesty of justice." And Cozza Scott, a former Scout banned for advocating homosexuality, denounced the Boy Scouts for using "the Scout Law and Scout Oath as weapons of hatred, discrimination, and bigotry to hurt people who are gay."
The backlash didn't stop there, though. Many of the Boy Scouts' longtime financial backers – such as Levi Straus, Wells Fargo, and JP Morgan – began withdrawing their support, collectively worrying that Scouting might not coincide with their "commitment to diversity." But it didn't stop there, either.
Last month at the Democratic National Convention, six Eagle Scouts were invited to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. But as they arrived onstage, they were greeted by boos and jeers from members of the California delegation, who claimed to support "gay scouts."
One delegate, Alex Mallonee, said, "I think it was odd that they had the Boy Scouts up there, given the situation. It was pretty insensitive."
Mallone apparently didn't see anything insensitive about booing and screaming at a group of kids reciting the Pledge of Allegiance
This shameful episode aside, the broader issue of tolerance remains. These days, it seems that gay-rights groups, while demanding tolerance for gays, simply won't tolerate any person or group who believes homosexuality is wrong.
No matter a person's motivations, for those groups, disagreement is discrimination, and dissenters are branded bigots and homophobes. What many gay-rights groups can't seem to accept, though, is that sometimes decent, sincere people have different fundamental beliefs. That's real diversity. And that's exactly what we have here.
The Boy Scouts isn't a breeding ground for future Klansmen, nor a modern-day Hitler Youth, schooling boys in the finer arts of gaybashing and brainwashing them into bigots. It's simply a private, voluntary organization that insists upon the freedom to teach the traditional values it holds most dear. America, by law, has that freedom. And if homosexuals don't like it, they shouldn't try to disrupt or hijack the Boy Scouts, but rather use that same freedom to start their own organization and teach the values they esteem, confident that others won't interfere.
As I see it, the true test of tolerance is tolerating those with whom you disagree. Following the Court's decision, the Boy Scouts said, "We respect other people's right to hold differing opinions and ask that they respect ours."
Now that's tolerance. How odd that gay-rights groups, who have made such remarkable progress during the past few decades in gaining tolerance (even acceptance) for their beliefs, seem mired in the very intolerance they condemn in others.
McCool is an Evansville, Ind., graduate student in history.
Kansan.com poll
Last week's question: Should the Lawrence High School students who created The Low Budget, a satirical newspaper, have been reprimanded for distributing copies on campus
Yes, the paper was not based on fact, so it should not enjoy the same freedoms of the school newspaper.
Yes, the school had a legal right to ban the paper if it deemed the distribution disruptive.
No, the students' First
Amendment rights should not be trumped by the administration's personal decision.
No, creativity at all levels should be encouraged, even satire.
Next week's question:
What do you think of NBC's Olympic coverage?
Log on to www.kansan.com to cast your vote.
Perspective
Note: This poll is not scientific. Numbers may not add up to 100 because of rounding. Total votes: 140
We all know that a slightly prolonged workout does not constitute punishment for the alleged
Demonstrators deserve explanation from Allen
It seems that many of you wish this whole Terry Allen flasco was over. "He is a good man," one Free for All caller said, while another rather cunningly pointed out that the sexual assault of one student-athlete protested by, among others, the KU Pro-Choice Coalition paled in comparison to the murder of billions of helpless babies through abortion.
The collective headache that surfaced before the first home game Sept. 16, as demonstrators distributed handbills protesting the conduct of the good coach Allen, seems to be rooted in
What do we think that these groups are asking for, after all? Aztec open-heart sacrifice? A public lynching to satisfy their bloodlust? Are they
merely vindictive student- activist types who have latched on to a good cause and would be damned before giving it up? Why can't they stop contributing to our collective headache? Why the continued scandal mongering when it's quite evident that Allen isn't to be fired?
There is, however, an obvious danger in accepting such statements at face value and moving on. We've all heard the argument that complacency smacks of complicity; this is an unflattering thought to be sure, both in regard to respected figures in the Athletics Department and to ourselves. Yet the apparently high comfort level of an entire campus in accepting the nonverdict of a powerful Athletics Department is precisely what was being protested by the demonstrators.
the belief that what's done is done, and closure is better than stewing over past wrongs. We have our apology; what more can the man do?
Ramona
DeNies
columnist
opinion@kansan.com
sexual assault and mental abuse of a fellow student. We also know that accepting such "punishment" adds insult to a very troublesome injury, one we may not be able to (or wish to) relate to at all. Sexual assault alone has severe and lasting implications for the victim; can we even imagine the personal repercussions of knowing that such injury meant so little to a football coach that a wrist-slapping suffaced as a reprimand to the alleged perpetrators?
Effectively, what happens when we agree to speak no more is that we accept both the "punishment" of the offending football players and the reluctant apology of Allen. By not asking for an explanation as to why such a protocol was seen to have suffered at the time, we are complicit in the student-athlete's continuing humiliation and the self-interested and manipulative behavior of Very Important Administrative Officials.
Let us make something clear. The goal of the students distributing handbills at the game was not to call for Allen's dismissal. I doubt the protesters were driven by the drama of an Elizabeth-esque revenge plot. My understanding of the day's events has convinced me that the relatively nonoffensive act of distributing handbills was far from a picnic in this particular situation.
Rather, the aim was to make it clear to the powers-that-bear that KU students will not accept marginalization, manipulation and victimization to allow a university department to avoid the stench of scandal. The student groups involved would like to make sure that KU students and members of the community are aware of what happened and the repercussions of tacit approval. The flyers suggest that a letter of inquiry be sent to Bob Frederick, athletics director, requesting an explanation of Terry Allen's actions.
1. for one, would be interested to know.
DeNies is a Portland, Ore., junior in Latin-American studies.
Editorial
Cell phones disruptive to students
Cell phone users should turn off ringers while in the classroom.
Although public cell phone use has become mainstream all over campus, users should refrain from phone use in certain places such as the classroom.
Students sporting extra facial appendages can be found all around campus. Although students should be aware that everyone around them is listening to their conversation, there is no problem with students using cell phones as they wait for the bus or during their free time.
Cell phones often are useful tools, but this convenient possession is irritating when it rings during class. It is vital that people remember to mute their phones while in class.
Catchy tunes such as "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," while amusing, are very disruptive. The interruption typically leads to a perturbed professor and an apologetic student searching frantically through his or her book bag.
The simple task of muting phones prior to class will not only spare everyone from added distractions but also will save the phone owners from embarrassment.
Although the University does not have any specific provisions regarding cellular phones, professors do have the option of asking a student to leave the class for the rest of the period.
Under the University's guidelines for academic misconduct, professors are given the authority to set reasonable rules for classroom conduct. Disrupting class is grounds for academic misconduct.
The easiest way to avoid class disruption is to leave the phone at home. For the students who must constantly be reachable, do yourself and everyone else a favor: Turn the phones off during class.
Kate Hazelwood 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.
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Cassio Furtado's column on George W. Bush is baseless and immature. He needs to learn the basic lesson to use examples to support his point, even though it's way off the mark.
Americans should re-evaluate the presidency of Richard Nixon. He did more for America in foreign policy than any other president. It's time to forgive him and let history judge him fairly.
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Today I heard a guy say cheating is the best way to learn. That's just sad.
I think with all the increase in activity fees we pay each year, students should have better access to the weightroom facilities.
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Regis Philbin's fashion line is a scam. I was wearing those ties way before him.
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Maybe the parking department should spend their time and money building more parking than patrolling around issuing tickets.
I can't believe the bikers in the Critical Mass bike ride didn't expect to get tickets if they were riding on the wrong side of the road. They should at least be following the rules if they're going to have a demonstration.
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Mullets aren't taking over the world, but they do have a foothold in Kansas.
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The only thing dumber than chickens are chicken-rights activists.
I'm just curious why people who call in the Free for All take uncensored to mean, let's see how many mean things we can say about other people in the paper. Why aren't any people saying any nice things about anybody?
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Parking on campus is horrible. Every spot should be on a first come, first-served basis.
Why can't we just be happy that we're attending this beautiful University?
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The state of Kansas makes me want to throw uncontrollably.
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