Opinion
Page 4 University Daily Kansas, January 15, 1981
Remember the dream
If it hadn't been for an assassin's bullet, Martin Luther King Jr. would have celebrated his $22nd birthday today.
This year, like previous years, both blacks and whites have been calling for the creation of a new national holiday—Jan. 15, Martin Luther King's Birthday. The civil rights leader would then be in the company of Presidents Washington and Lincoln, whose birthdays are celebrated by people sleeping in late and sitting around the house.
But perhaps such a holiday isn't the best way to honor King. After all, even "national" holidays like Washington and Lincoln's birthdays apply only to a fraction of society, chiefly government employees, bank tellers and school children in some states. Remember, at this University Feb. 12 and 22 pass almost unnoticed.
Because of the curious nature of so-
called national holidays, some of those who've pushed the hardest for a Martin Luther King Day would benefit the least from it; they'd still be working.
But there is another, more important reason why making Jan. 15 a holiday isn't the right way to honor King.
Holidays named for great men honor the men. But with King, it is an idea that needs to be honored. When he was alive, King didn't promote himself, the man; he promoted his dream. Thus, the best way to remember King is to preserve that dream and make it a reality.
Every time a discriminatory rule or practice is ended, every time a black finds a job to build a better life, every time a black - or a white -fights for his rights and those of others, Martin Luther King's dream lives on. That's how to remember King: continue what he began.
Wouldn't he have wanted it that way?
Kansan's structure, attitudes change for readers' benefit
You've probably heard it all before
"The Kansan is one of the finest college newspapers in the country. Aspiring college journalists put in long hours every day to ensure the finished product now in your hands."
. . . and you probably don't want to hear it again.
More than anything else, actions are going to spark increased interest from our readers, and the staff realizes this. This semester, therefore, we are going to emphasize the practical approach: A better newspaper can—and will—generate more interest from the University.
Despite the Kanan's numerous achievements and national awards the newmaker now faces an
identity crisis. Some perceive the Kanan as an
boree with the publication. Some are
bored with the publication.
DAVID LEWIS
Editor
We will be the first to admit that there is room for improvement on this newspaper. At times, stories have been long and dull, often neglecting the stories. But they how affect students and faculty members.
Most significant, much of the University has viewed the Kansan as inaccessible, not to mention stuffy. Whether this reputation is deserved, we plan to shed it this semester by making some attitude and structural changes in this newspaper.
If you have a tip, story idea or photo idea, call us. If you have a complaint (or compliment), call us. We can’t promise that every idea will be used, but we will work to see that your calls are with the utmost professionalism and courtesy. And your calls or visits will be appreciated.
Besides a renewed emphasis in dealing better with the public, we have made structural changes in our office.
communication problems—the root of our weaknesses—at a minimum.
The assignment editor—a new position—will supervise reporters in the daytime hours and will plan assignments further in advance. The art director—another new position—will be in charge of a newly consolidated art and photography department and will work full time on creating the photo content of the paper. These changes should make it easier for us and for our readers.
We will strive to produce crisp news stories
variety of personality profiles and
features.
For starters, the Kanas—for the first time ever—will have a daily entertainment page. "The Genre Page" will explore movies, books, music, art, theatre, and a variety of other entertainment. We hope you enjoy the page throughout the semester.
To liften up Monday's newspapers, the Kansas will feature "Monday Morning," an interpretative news or feature piece that will make for some interesting reading. We think our "Monday Morning" will make your Monday mornings a little more bearable.
On our sports pages, we hope to increase coverage of non-revenue producing sports and to offer sports columns and features. On the editorial page, we will have a continued assortment of columns and an accessible public forum for the University.
As in the past, our stories and columns will be thorough, accurate and well edited. Editorial judgment will be exercised in the best way we can make sure we take our responsibilities as journalists seriously.
This semester represents an excellent opportunity for the Kansan to shape a new personality—one that will further reflect the needs of the University. Yet we will maintain our ideals. We will report the news ethically, responsibly and intelligently.
Sometimes a column or story may not be so popular, but we will continue to print the news with your best interests in mind. Indeed, our structural and attitude changes are not designed so much to gain popularity but as to gain the confidence and respect of our readers.
We've set our goals. Now it's time for us to get to work.
KANSAN
(USPS 650-640) Published at the University of Kansas daily August through May and Monday and Thursday during June and July except Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Second-class postage paid at Lawrence, Kansas 6045. Subscriptions by mail are $15 for six months or $27 a year in Douglas County and $13 for six months or $35 a year outside the county. Student subscriptions are $2 a semester, paid through the student activity fee.
Postmaster: Send changes of address to the University Daily Kansan, Flint Hall,
The University of Kansas, Lawrence. KS. 68045.
Unused editors represent the opinion of the Kanaan editorial staff. Signed column represents the views of only the writers. Letters are welcome. They should be typewritten, double-space and not exceed 199 words. They may contain punctuation, italics or hyperlinks. The letter should include the writer's class and homework or faculty or staff position. The Kanaan reserves the right to edit letters for publication. They can be delivered personally or mailed to the Kanaan waterway, 112 Ft
David Lewis
Managing Editor ... Ellen Iwamoto
Editor/Editor ... Don Hankey
At Drawing ... Bob Schaffer
Campus Editor ... Scott Faint
Associate Campus Editor ... Grant Faint
Assistant Campus Editors ... Ray Fornasek, Susan Schoemaker
Assignment Editor ... Kathy Brussell
Sports Editor ... Katie Bostel
Associate Sports Editor ... Tracee Hamilton
Entertainment Editor ... Shawn McKay
Associate Entertainment Editor ... Makup Editors ... Cynthia Curri, Pat Weema
Wire Editors ... Rene Bell, Gall Eggers
Staff Photographers ... Jessie Hoe,巴德 Bede, Jordi Kellner
Staff Photographers ... Ben Bigler, Scott Hooker, Bob Greengman, Dave Krush, Mark McDonald, Bob Poole
Editorial Columnists ... Erin Brende, Cynthia Curri, David Henry, Vanessa Heron, Amy Holloway
Kevin Mills, Jane Needfal, Peter Somevile, Dan Tuchla, Jady Lee
Editorial Cartoonist ... Joe Barton
Staff Artists ... Margie Deeb, Brad Harrison, Greg Leibert
Staff Writers ... Dog Hurson, Tom Green, Fred Marham, Bill Vogt
Business Manager
Terry Fr耳
Retail Sales Manager ... Barb Light
National Sales Manager ... Barb Wiley
Campus Sales Manager ... Kevin Wupp
Production Manager ... Annette Conrad
Channelled Manager ... Jennifer Lennard
Staff Artist ... Rick Blissley
Staff Photographer ... John Hanmacher
Retail Sales Representatives ... Joely Adams, James Hearn, James Coleman, Angela Calderon,
Dennis Hognock, Ann Hornberg, Marcee Jacobsen, Howard Shaimsky, Thine Sheetter, Laura Mennes, Terry Knoebler
General Manager and News Advisor ... Chuck Christine
"I'm beginning to see the advantages of computerized pre-enrollment."
1981 might not be so bad-if only .
If no major catastrophe occurs and we survive a recession and possible U.S. involvement in a Persian Gulf war, the chances are good that 1981 may not be such a bad year. Prospect, are dim for landmark developments in energy or agriculture and panacea will cause the nation's economic woes.
But if you're worried that spiraling inflation, unemployment and fuel shortages may become the watchwords for 181, just think of the multitude of things we could very happily do without—or at least do without hearing about—this year:
Nancy Reagan's style or tiny pistol.
Erik Estrada's hate life
Barba Streisand and her latest attending musician
Any rock musicians with the initials Bee Gees.
How grown-up Marie Osmond is.
Dollv Parton's Ts.
The newest T and A on "Charlie's Angels."
Brooke Shield's blue ads for blue jeans.
Miss Piggy's boar-ing exploits.
How much America respects Walter Cronkite and how much money Dan Rather will make as a governor?
The "preppie" look.
The trials and triumphs of middle-age motherhood.
Whether the EBA will pass.
Interviews with, books or articles by and references to Richard Nixon.
PETER
SOMERVILLE
Politicians 'entrapped' in dirty deeds by the FBL, homosexuality or Demon Run.
The dirty deeds of J.R. Ewing.
Wines that will not be sold before their time.
Wet lashes wan it not be past before their time.
Toilet paper that's squeezably soft.
paper that a newspaper uses.
K-cars or any other alphabet cars.
Frank Sinatra, George Kennedy, Ernest Borgnine or any other actor hawking K-ears and telling us that "America's not going to be pushed around anymore."
How much less Saudi Arabian crude costs compared to the stuff from OPEC countries that really want to push us around.
Loe Jaeocca's sacrificial salary or his latest plans for bailing out the Chrysler Corp.
Little plastic hands waving from car windows.
Little plastic hands waving from car windows. Bankers who can't make money at 20 percent interest.
The cosmos according to Carl Sagan.
Anything that is inevitable
Moral decay according to the Rev. Jerry Falwell.
Pornography according to the Citizens for a Decent Community.
Movies with budgets big enough to feed half the starving in Somalia, particularly those like "Heaven's Gate," "Xanadu" and "Popeye," which figured at the box office.
which flopped at the box office.
People who complain about Howard Cosell.
Howard Cosell
**Learn about Howard Cossell.**
Combackes, particularly by boxers.
George Brett's hemorrhoids.
Anyone's hemorrhoids.
Makiwa.
Disco, punk, regale, new wave.
Lists of anything other than groceries
Carter's fate sealed by lack of fortitude
A few close remarks about Jimmy Carter seem in order before his political body, after being kept on ice for 10 weeks, is officially committed to the ground Jan. 20.
There are, roughly thinking, two schools of thought concerning his brief stay in the world of mortal politicians: the school that eulogizes it and the one that deprecates it.
The former holds that he was merely a victim of circumstances, that history will be kinder to him than present company. *Cling Iran*, the French admiral who was a party, its principal proponent is Rosalyn Carssen.
The latter holds that Carter was the reincarnation of King Midas—with a twist. Everything he touched turned to dross instead of gold. Citing Iran, the economy, or the splintering economy, his principal propositions are Republicans and Democrats unrelated to the Carter family.
Despite the seeming disparity between them, both schools of thought are correct, roughly speaking. Carter allowed himself to become a victim of circumstance, or rather, a slave to it. And as a result, everything he touched even before he was born was stolen, however, to say that history will regard him with kindness, especially if early returns mean anything.
Consider, for example, the not-too-kind words of historian and Democrat Arthur Schlesinger Jr., who said of Carter before the election, "He alters his course with every prevailing wind. He has no compunction about basing a policy on premises he had grandly rejected a short time
before . . . he ad hoc it all over the place while the country sinks ever deeper into the morsel. "
Thus Carter, instead of controlling events, allowed events to control him, making himself a victim of circumstance. His demise because of his own inadecency to the task at hand.
Successful presidents are ones whose personalities and sets of principles are fortified with
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From the beginning, Carter was the original plastic man, who largely subordinated his own personality and principles to the many and varied roles assigned him by his media advisers and indeed mastered, like no other before him, the art of seeming all things to all people.
enough tensile strength to withstand what Schlesinger would call a "prevailing wind" when it is necessary to do so. "Great" presidents like Washington, Lincoln and the two Roosevelts were able to control events, instead of the reverse. Though it may come as a disappointment to Rosalynn Carter, who predicts that her husband will be one of history's "great" presidents, she still doesn't character necessary for it. And the sad thing is that we didn't see it coming.
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To conservatives, he was the Southern conservative who preached family values and the reduction of the "blotted, wasteful and unmanageable" bureaucracy in Washington. To liberals, he was the Kennedy Democrat, qualifying his conservative platitudes or, rather, nullifying them, by promising federal programs destined to interfere in family life or increase the bureaucracy. :
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From the recent election, we can recall the soft-spoken Carter, the vociferous Carter, the hard-spoken Carter, the despotic Carter because he spends to by its demographic traits dictates to Carter just what to say and how to behave.
The result was a man who, upon entering office, had lost touch with the principles that initially may have guided him and, perhaps, with his own identity. Consequently, he was a sitting duck for becoming a victim of circumstance, buffeted by both events and by public opinion.
Sure enough, even though reducing defense spending was one of his major campaign promises in 1976, increasing defense spending was an accomplishment he bragged about in 1980. He will leave office "Jimmy Wha?" and not so much because people will have forgotten him but because they won't know who he was or what he stood for.
But Carter didn't necessarily die a political death in vain. the average college Joe-hey, this may mean you! can learn a thing or two from the president's mistakes if he realizes that the failures Carter experienced on a national scale are not because of an intimate one by the person who subordinates his own personality to the dictates of fashion and pressure.