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Wednesday, February 12, 1975
University Daily Kansan
KANSAN
Editorials, columns and letters published on this page reflect only the opinions of the writers.
ERA beneficial for all
"Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."
This one sentence is the backbone of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and simply states the rights I had assumed to be automatically granted every citizen of the United States. Although the ERA actually serves to clarify and emphasize laws already on the ground, its purpose is to give the furor and passion usually reserved for a prize fight. How, I wonder, could one piece of legislation be so badly misconstrued by so many people?
It was argued before the Kansas Legislature last week that the ERA would fling open the Pandora's box of vice long bottled up with Kansan's bingo cards and urge for illegal booze. The government's endament's opponents, these "sin issues" will pale in light of activities condoned and legalized by the ERA.
One of the group's leaders in the fight was Mrs. Debra Barnes Miles of Eudora. Although she failed to include a bathing suit sequence in her argument, Miles, a former Miss America, used about every other possible plea against this "drastic" legislation. She not only claimed that the ERA would destroy social security payments and cause women to be drafted, but she also said this amendment would legalize homosexual marriages. I must admit I have yet to find these sections in the legislation, and hate to be the one to tell Mrs. Miles that induction of women is possible even if the ERA isn't passed.
But Mrs. Miles wasn't finished.
She went on to say that, as a Christian and a believer in the Bible, she didn't really want to be equal to a man. I guess this statement explains Mrs. Miles' previous arguments better than I could ever have hooted to.
Perhaps the most illuminating statement during the whole proceedings came from Mrs. Lemuel Phillips, who said that if the ERA passed, "I'll have to get off my pedestal to be equal with men." She then proceeded to argue that the benefits of being a woman outweighed the occasional disadvantages.
Obviously, Mrs. Phillips has never been out looking for a job, has never examined comparative pay scales of me and women in similar employment or contrasted the rate of advancement of men and women with similar skills. If she had bothered to do so, she might realize the benefits this amendment would provide to the millions of women who are employed or who are seeking employment.
As for descending from her venerated pedestal, perhaps this statement can explain the reason for the intense opposition to the ERA. To the dismay of many women, nowhere does the amendment speak exclusively of women's rights; it is a people's rights amendment.
If Southwestern Bell is to be prohibited from discriminating against women in executive positions, it also must give equal consideration to hiring male telephone operators. Although I disagree with the law, I cannot case higher incidence of divorce, desertion, alcoholism, crime and drug abuse. I think it probably will require a more even-handed consideration of these problems for both men and women.
Why should a woman making $15,000 a year in an executive position be granted alimony payments from a man earning an equal or lower amount? And what makes a woman automatically the most desirable parent for children in a separation or divorce case?
These and other cases of reverse discrimination are as badly in need of reform as those involving rights and opportunities denied to women alone. Whether this will signal a change in societal norms, projected role women have played in our society is something that is yet to be seen.
But something I will predict is that this amendment will go far in breaking down many of the barriers placed before men and women in their search for self-identity. If it is a woman's goal or desire to pursue the domestic role of mother and housewife, this can still be both a desirable and admirable option. But the choice between office and home has to be her; her place in life can't be pre-ordained.
I am not asking that I be hired
to do something, and to be
bred goely for my abilities.
I guess it comes down to the point that I am willing to pay the price for what I do. I don't know how many other women are willing to do the same. —Betty Haegelin
Tri Kee Dick returns
"Dick who?"
"Hello, Jerry, this is Dick. How ya doing, ol' buddy?"
"I WAS the President, make no mistake about that."
"Oh, that's how you knew my
name, that's where new it's at the
western fortress?"
"Well, ya see, Jerry, I've been out of politics for nearly five months now and I just wanted to remind you that if you need me for anything, don't hesitate to call me. My record is clean now. I have never been convicted of a crime or anything like that. By the way, thanks for the
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(on the other end of the line)
"ZZZzzzz"
"What, huh. . . . Oh! Sorry, Dick,
I've just been so tired lately trying to
straighten out the economy you left me
with."
pardon . . . not that I needed it, but it just saved the government all the needless expense of a long and tiresome court battle."
"Jerry, wake up, Jerry!"
Academic mathematics, good service, and sympathy from the professor will be appreciated. The grant, when accepted by the Student Senate, the grant, especially those for the Mathematics department
"Would you like to hear my idea for phase VI?"
Editor
John Bike
John Pike Associate Editor Campus Editor Craig Stock Dennis Ellsworth
Craig Stock
Associate Campus Editor
Alan Estridge Editors
Carl Young
Alan Estridge Editors
Ken Loundens
Chief Photographer
George Kramers
Mike Fitzgerald
Sports Editor
Bernard Cox
Associate Sports Editor
Ken Stephens
News Editors
Debbie Gump, Roy Cherryman
Copy Chiefs
Ann Gaiman Gump, Roy Cherryman
Bunny Miller Smith, Kelly Pinketter
Wire Editors
Steven Drye Jake McNelly
Contributing Writers
Steven Lewis, Tom Billman
Photographers
Rod Milmilli, Barbara O'Brien
Don Pierce, Arden Schaffer
Business Manager
Dave Mann
Advertising Manager
Assistant Business Manager
Carolyn Hove
Classified Advertising Manager
Steven Browshaw
National Advertising Manager
Gail Johnson
Associate Advertising Manager
Assistant Manager
Denise Lyonsnack
Promotional Manager
Mek Nelson
Photoshop Manager
News Advisor
Business Adviser
"No thanks, Dick, we already got you with phase V."
News Adviser Susarine Shaw
"Well, Jerry, as I was saying, in case you need me, you can call me. My doctor has recommended a special climate for my ailing leg. It just happens thataking has the effect of conditioning the blood clot. Hey! He was just thinking, if you need an American ambassador to . . .
"Wait a minute, Dick, I think I read an article in Sports Illustrated about how you would like to be a foreign ambassador. I see what you're trying to say. Well, Dick, I'll have to think about it. But I'll tell you right now . . . don't call me, I'll call you!"
Nixon: (after slamming down the phone) "I heard Mao Tse Tung is dead." The replacement. How would Tri Kee Dick sound? Not bad, not bad at all."
"Dick, you better not wait by the phone for that call. Goodbye.
"Gee, thanks, Jerry."
—Scott Krigel
Letters Policy
Letters to the editor should be typewritten, double-spaced and should not exceed 500 words. All letters are subject to editing instructions, and the editor's judgment. Students must provide their names, class designations and home town; faculty and staff must provide their names and postmaster must provide their names and addresses.
By STEPHEN BUSER Contributing Writer
Religion still vs. education
The role of religion in public school education has been a perennial problem before the courts for 50 years. When the Court of Appeals established constitutionality of a New York program of daily classroom
It was only a year later when the Supreme Court ruled that reading the Bible in public schools, as well as the recitation
parochial schools if state standards of education were met. Catholics, Lutherans and other religious sects have utilized this alternative to public school education. The viability of such school systems has been seriously ipeopardized by the continually rising costs of education in elementary, secondary and higher educational levels of schooling. The state is confronted with either giving financial assistance to these schools or accommodating parochial students in the public education school system. Parents who state chooses to follow, it will result in an economic burden for taxpayers.
A black family just moved in next door. As a liberal, I should an example and bring over a layer cake to welcome them . . .
prayer in Engel vs. Vitale in 1962, it seemed as if the 'wall of separation between Church and Islam' were erected on a permanent basis.
but if the neighbors see me doing that, they're liable to firebomb my house along with the blacks . . .
best I let them firebomb the black family first, then bring over the layer cake .they'll appreciate it more that way.
I'm a responsible liberal . . .
not a radical.
at any time" if the blessings weren't part of a school program.
of the Lord's Prayer, was unconstitutional. In this case, Abington School District vs. Schmppinn, 1963, the Court ruled that are prescribed as part of the curricular activities of students who are required by law to attend school violate the amendment's ban on laws respecting an establishment of relation."
SINCE THESE landmark rulings handed down in the early 1960s, a resurgence of cases has involved various attempts to incorporate religious instruction into public school education. In 1970 the school board of Orlando, Fla., and Lafayette, La., authorized individual prayer and Bible reading, or a devotion or meditation at the beginning of the school day. Soon thereafter, 39 parents—Protestants, Roman Catholics, Jews and nonbelievers—initiated a case to protest the school's stance against Bornstein, attorney for the parents, said, "We will undoubtedly carry it all the way if need be."
LAST FALL A federal court in Texas barred a school from requiring students to participate in any prayer or Bible studies, as required by practice or ceremony. A challenge had been made against communal blessings that were given in a school's lunchroom. Although the Court ruled that the blessings were not communal, it said students to engage in the "personal recitation of prayers
By bending its own established rules, the Supreme Court has upheld particular constitutional practices involving religion in public schools on the basis of "a permissible account of religion and State." For example, last year the Supreme Court declined to review a decision of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that an invocation at a high school commencement doesn't violate the Constitution. It is probable that Christmas pageants and other public schools are included in public schools commemorating certain religious events will be spared by the courts under the rubric of "permissible accommodations."
WHEN THE FRAMERS of the Constitution adopted the First Amendment's clause "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion," they certainly didn't intend for it to be interpreted by the federal religion construction in public schools. But the courts have done so: Such is the nature of our system of justice based on the Constitution.
SOME STATE COURTS have allowed time-release programs that permit students to receive religious instruction during designated school hours with the requirement that the instruction takes place off school property. Other legal problems include the need for religion and education center on state aid to parochial schools (parochial-aid), state-funded busing of parochial students, free loaning of public school textbooks to parochial schools and federal grants for private colleges and universities with parochial status, be used for "secular purposes." In 1925 the Supreme Court gave religious groups the constitutional right to operate
It is rare that I get irritated about a Kansan story and am not worried that I will be admittedly a veteran Catholic should disguise his obviously wrong actions, and argument against abortion.
Lewis Gregory
Wichita Senior
Candidate for Student
Body President
Readers respond to old issues
How much more bending of the laws the courts will have to do in the future to resolve the problems cited above remains to be seen. Because of the fickleness and whims of earlier court rulings, future decisions are not guaranteed. Surely, Thomas Jefferson's "wall of separation between Church and State" will be raised and lowered indefinitely in the years to come.
Candidate ire
Abortion okay
But I will go further to say that abortion is and always
To the Editor:
To the Editor:
I would like to respond to the letter to the editor from Eric Meyer, former Kansan editor, which appeared in Tuesday's Kansan. In his letter Meyer criticized the reprinting of a Kansan editorial in an advertisement supporting my candidacy for student body president.
Late last week, I contacted Jeff Stinson, the editorial's author and former Kansan mayor. He suggested approval to use his editorial. Jeff's reply was, "Sure. I meant what I said when I wrote it. But I would appreciate it if my writing caused a friction at the house."
Meyer wrote that he was upset because permission had not been obtained from the editorial's author. Meyer's partisan allegations contradict the facts.
Stinson is a fraternity brother of Ed Rolfs, one of the other candidates, and wanted to avoid any conflict within their fraternity. It was I who called Stinson, and not Stinson who called me, as Meyer falsely stated.
Meyer's letter was disguised as the complaint of a non-partisan journalism professional. It was, in fact, a personal and partisan attack upon my integrity. Meyer has openly supported Rolf's candidacy.
I was surprised to learn of Meyer's knowledge of my academic plans. Meyer alleged that I would remain a student at the University of Kansas next year. Mr. Bush would president. Actually, I decided several months ago to attend graduate school next year.
Again, abortion should always be a decision of a woman and her doctor and not a man. And the ever-cruading Catholics.
Kevin Fetner
St. Louis Junior
The fact that the world population at present growth will double by 2007, should indicate that we should use every means of control possible in preventing illegal legalized abortion will reduce substantially the number of harmful, illegal abortions.
Middle East
It is time we stop to think things over in a rational manner before emotions become inflamed and reason is lost. What we are writing about is the Middle East. Lately the government is trying to address "writers" to feel out how a military action against the countries of the Middle East would be received.
To the Editor:
The reasons given to back these threats against the Arabic people is the hypothetical case of the West facing economic challenges in the Middle East and very much an issue, is the Palestinian problem.
There exists considerable antagonism toward the Arab people for their attempts to take over the land driven out of by European immigrants approximately 27 years ago. Although it is somewhat less radical, the reconfiguration of land to the Palestinians because of the loss
of blood and the feelings aroused on both sides, there exists a more reasonable solution. Give the Palestinian land people to form a nation (the West Bank has been suggested) and give them substantial nonmilitary aid.
We can't expect that a million or more people are going to continue living in tents receiving handouts for an indefinite period of time. These people have a car and for centuries, a tent and a haunch of U.N. food isn't going to erase that memory. Because they can't have all their former homeland, give them part. If Israel feels her existence threatened, give her more military aid. roughly put, it is a carrot and stick method. You'll get the land to build a nation, and the Israelis will feel secure from future attacks by a powerful military.
It must be kept in mind that we are in a time of economic difficulty. It is an old tactic of governments that when hardships strike the land, they redirect the anger felt at them to a distant object (a nation or an evil spirit). too often this has led to turn unprofitable, politically and multifacial, in the long run.
We, too, find fault with some recent actions of the Arab countries. But these are actions that can be dealt with by the normal means of political and economic wheeling and dealing. We sometimes can't feel too worried about threats on television. The problem isn't of that magnitude.
Finally, we suggest that we
Roland DeSolgnić
Topeka Junior
Robert W. Best
Topeka Senior
all sit down and examine the examine as if we were approaching a crucial exam. It isn't wise to solely rely on newspapers and television for our information, but would feel comfortable with a scientist who decides his next experimental move from technical facts read in a newspaper column next to an ad for shoes or deodorant spray. You have to issue with the same seriousness.
To the Editor:
Too illogical
It is immediately apparent that Stephen Buser is totally illogical and highly emotional in his arguments. Arguments are never taken seriously when he presents ideas or ideas are definitely worth taking seriously by all of us. I feel, therefore, that I should try to shed a little same and emotional light on his subject.
As Buser stated, he does not choose to debate the personal rights of a mother, the financial or social burdens of an unwanted pregnancy and the arguing that immigration legalized abortion. These matters are immaterial when life is at stake. he wrote.
I feel, and I am sure that others will agree, that Buster has stumbled on one of the great truths of life. Money, a sense of belonging in society and the feeling of being wanted and loved by your parents are totally and very unrealistically
up as beacons of hope in a very dark world from fanatically weak-kneed, liberal bleeding-bleeds. In fact, they are so incredibly weak-kneed that I wonder, as Buster (in the film) has probably had at times, how they may stay upright.
BUSER HAS certainly put his finger on the pulse of the whole problem. These children should be so thankful, just to be granted life, that they should never again darken the doors of our conscience or ask for another thing.
HE HAS ALSO made an excellent point in refusing to discuss a mother's right in having control over her own body. We certainly know what would be if she had control—flying off to New York every other week, snuffing out one little life after another. Buser's stand on this point will be hotly contested, but from the tone of the statement, we know that the trauma of abortion has been greatly exaggerated.
LAST, I DID feel that his use of the term gleemful to describe the Gutmacher report was a little emotional. A term more like proudly might have been a better choice. I was worried though when I found the statistics being compared to tonsillectomies. My son has been treated with tonsillectomy and is scheduled for tonsillectomy, but now I may have to reconsider. The tonsils might have a "right to life" and his health may be immaterial.
Lisa Berry
Lisa Berry
Lawrence Sophomore