4A - THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
TUESDAY,DEC.11,2001
TALK TO US
Kursten Phelps
editor
864-4854 or
editor@kansan.com
Leita Schultes
Christina Neff
managing editors
864-4854 or
editor@kansan.com
Erin Adamson
Brendan Woodbury
opinion editors
864-4810 or
opinion@kansan.com
Jenny Moore
business manager
864-4014 or
adddirector@kansan.com
Kate Mariani
retail sales manager
864-4462 or
realtaisales@kansan.com
Tom Eblen
general manager and
news adviser
864-7667 or
tebler@kansan.com
Matt Fisher
sales and marketing
adviser
864-7666 or
mfischer@kansan.com
KEVIN GRITZKE/KANSAN
PERSPECTIVE
America right to use military force in Afghanistan
The hottest of topics on this campus lately has been the pros and cons of the American campaign in Afghanistan. The popular opinion here is that America is harming innocent Afghan citizens with military strikes and that this will only escalate violence and suffering both in our own country and abroad. I find this opinion to be not only false, but based on innuendo and loose logic.
Commentary
Instead, U.S. leaders seek to cripple the infrastructure of the Al Qaeda terrorist organization and the Taliban, which has acted as an enabler. This position has been clearly articulated by President George W. Bush, British Prime Minister
Those who think America should not be in Afghanistan argue we should not follow the eye-for-an-eye method of retaliation. Herein lies the first error in the logic of these protesters. America does not seek mere retaliation. If that what was sought, then clearly action would have been taken in several instances around the world during the past few years.
Jimmy
Lightfoot
Guest columnist
opinionanscan.com
Tony Blair and other U.S. and British leaders. America is not in this for pure revenge. The only revenge that will be satisfactory will be the permanent debilitation of Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations around the globe.
The anti-war faction on this campus also argues that innocent Afghan citizens have been injured in the conflict. No one would disagree that this is an unfortunate consequence. To me there are two ways of looking at this dilemma. First, one might argue that the Afghan people, by allowing the Taliban to gain power in their country, chose their own fate and have in essence become a party to the
Taliban's atrocities. I would argue though, that the people of Afghanistan did not really have a say in who their leaders were, and had been stuck under the foothold of an oppressive regime.
The only way to free the Afghan people from their plight was to forcefully remove the Taliban from power. Did some innocent Afghans die in the process? Yes. Was this a necessary sacrifice that needed to be endured for peace in the Middle East and throughout the world? Definitely.
The other problem with the University anti-war movement is the view that the U.S. military action was somehow influenced by racism or anti-Arab sentiments. While this view is undoubtedly held by some, the vast majority of Americans recognize the beauty and the wealth of Arab culture. As President Bush said, we are not battling Islam, but rather a perversion of the faith that threatened to harm the esteem of Islam in America and other Western societies.
To this aim, retaliation alone will be
insufficient, as it must be accompanied by tolerance and compassion by our largely Christian culture. Yet the fact remains that only the most cynical person or a hermit who missed the events of Sept. 11 would believe that this conflict is a product of racism.
The United States did not chose this conflict. Rather, the country was delivered a tremendous slap in the face by bitter, heartless terrorists, who seek not only the fall of America, but the spread of their dangerous ideals to all corners of the globe.
the terrorists are only in a few Middle Eastern countries and are part of a few corrupt, evil regimes. For this reason, America should and must take forceful action to ensure the events of Sept. 11 are not repeated so the world can live without fear and with freedom.
Lightfoot is a Schaumburg, III. senior in French and biology
FREE for ALL 864-0500
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Not all of them will be published. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed.
For more comments, go to www.kansan.com.
The one time I called into Free for All, you guys didn't put me in. I think I'm going to be traumatized for life.
We need to make the world safe for our children, but not our children's children, because children shouldn't be having sex anwav.
The History Channel is showing live broadcasting. Does anyone else find that weird?
To the girl listening to Lisa Loeb in his car on campus today: Are you a sensitive guy? I was just curious.
I hope our football team's turnaround is as big as the Chiefs was with their new coach.
What's the deal with the trash cans that say "Sand Only?"
图
Nice boys are lying.
=
Teen Wolf is life, the rest is just details.
I'm going to declare *Jihad* on this Subway sandwich.
So, I found this number on the back of a bathroom stall, and it said "call for a good time." So ... what are you doin'?
I just wanted to say that I saw the new Dave Matthews Band video, so if I give you a hug on campus, you'll know why.
Some weird guy just hugged me.
Foster's isn't Australian for beer it's Australia
for "wha! I forgot how to walk
How come boys think they're good dancers when they're drunk?
I think everybody should know that KU Crew is the best sport in the world.
Why does the cattle graze at the foot of Minerva?
We can't leave the party because our friend locked herself in the room. Please come out of the room.
Four girls on my couch, and I gettin' nothing? What's up with that?
With all these ridiculous campus fees, why do we still have to supply our own computer paper?
DECENCY ON THE HILL
Dear editor.
I have read the Kansan a few times a week this semester and have enjoyed it each time with one exception. Today's edition features a special section on sex at the University. I thought the articles discussing the interracial couples and the thoughts of the transgender students were interesting and thoughtful, but those could have been included in any edition of the paper.
I had two problems with this section. My first was that it was included at all. Society is already preoccupied with sex to the point that almost all jokes on television, radio and in films are sexually related. Most music now is marketed as sexy, and music videos are becoming more and more explicit in their depiction of sexual activities. I am a promoter of people exploring and learning about sex, but considering the saturation that society is experiencing with sexual content, do we really need another bunch of columns on sex so we can all giggle during boring lectures?
my second contention is with self-styled sex "icon" Meghan Bainum. First of all, I don't think she has done anything to deserve icon status. As one person's editorial mentioned, Bainum seems to have no expertise in sex, sociology, or psychology so why on earth is she writings these columns? The columns themselves also seem to be lacking in actual content, sounding more like conversations in junior high locker rooms. The idea of a column about sex in the paper is a good idea as long as it has some sort of merit. In supposed sex "icon" Meghan Bainum's columns I find none.
Mike Milford Houston, Texas, graduate student
Call me a repressive, boring, Victorian-esque, traditionalist Catholic White male, and you'd be right about the traditionalist Catholic White male part. Probably right about the rest, too.
That said, "Sex on the Hill" was one of the most disgustingly licentious things I have seen during my time on campus.
As a transfer student and former senior editor of a twice-weekly college newspaper, I'd say that very little in that section was actually "journalism." Even the most liberal editors I have worked with would have perhaps discussed it, but never thought to publish such smut. You devoted only one article to chastity, and at least seven to brazen things, which is hardly fair and balanced.
Thankfully Meghan Bainum's nafarious column is buried in your pages weekly, but now, glaring before everyone is a full section of crap. In your fanaticism, you've turned your newspaper into a soapbox, not a forum.
tan A. Palko
Annapolis, Md., sophomore
Sex is a beautiful, but dangerous gift from God. What you've published debates the beauty of it, turning it into simply a dangerous thing, which must be done in secrecy, or flaunted as Bainum constantly encourages.
Ian A. Palko
If sex and carnal license, in the way you've presented them, are nothing to be ashamed of, then may God help us!
Dear editor,
I would like to comment on the extravagance of the newspaper readership program. I feel there is not, nor will there ever be, a need to have four different newspapers available every week day. While I can appreciate the original intent of the program, I believe it is just not practical and at the very least extremely wasteful and decadent.
Dear editor.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
SURPLUS NEWSPAPERS
As an employee of KU Recycling, I get to see first hand the waste that is generated by this program. Since the readership program began, waste newspaper collection has increased by thousands of pounds per week and makes up by far the
Michael Koehler Kansas City,Mo., senior KU Recycling technician
I can see no major difference in the content of the newspapers. They all pretty much cover the day's most important news. And especially since there are so many other sources available to read about the news such as the Internet and the Kansan, the need for four major newspapers is not justified. So please, save some trees and student money and get rid of the program!
SENATE RESOLUTION
largest part of our collection.
Dear editor.
Student Senate wants every student to know all the facts about the proposed tuition increase. First of all, students have every right to be outraged about the way these "scenarios" are being presented to them. The Provost and the Chancellor have both stated that they received notification of the tuition increases at the Nov. 17 Board of Regents meeting. However, minutes from the Board of Regents meeting on Oct. 17, 2001, indicate the need for each university to begin considering a tuition increase.
Essentially, the administration has so far completely left students out in the cold on these discussions — the ones mandated by the Board of Regents. Faculty has also been entirely absent from these dialogues. The initial scenarios that are on the table right now were created by an extremely exclusive group of KU administrators. This proposed increase reflects a disturbing national trend to place the primary financial burden of higher education on students, making it less of a state institution and more closely mimicking a private institution.
But don't lose hope yet. There are a variety of actions we can take to counteract what has happened so far. We feel the state should want to seek out more funding for KU—it is the state's flagship institution and draws national attention to the State of Kansas.
Ideally, the committee responsible for determining where this money goes will soon contain more students and become a way for students to advocate for themselves, rather than remain bureaucratic and ineffective. Finally, you can help encourage discussion. Bring it up in your classes, living organizations and campus groups. When you go home for winter break, discuss it with your parents, family and KU alumni in your community.
By increasing education about the situation and letting the administration know that students demand to be an important part of this process, we can help ensure that the most sound decision is made one that benefits members of the KU community and saves their pocketbooks.
Student Senate
You can be a part of this process. Write your district representatives and let them know how you feel about these proposed astronomical increases. A form letter for each student to use is available at the Student Senate Office in 410 Kansas Union. Also, fill out the survey in the Kansan this week asking you where you would like to see the increased revenue go: GTA salaries, to fix crumbling classrooms or anything on campus that you see as a need.
Dear editor.
The Board of Regents and administration may be increasing junior/senior courses by 14 credit hours without asking for KU—it is the state's flagship institution and draws national attention to the State of Kansas.
Dear editor,
I thought the Student Senate would have a substantial influence in KU legislation and regulations. I thought the Senate would be advised on credit hours, and tuition increases. But now I am completing my first semester at the University of Kansas, and I am realizing this is not the case.
Crystal Crain Shawnee freshman
RACIAL BIAS
ing a single student about the effect this increase would affect their schooling or financial situation.
The Board of Regents did not want to do research on how to counteract the decrease in the state funding. So KU has been forced to increase tuition. Just think of the addition of credit hours and tuition increase, students are going to have to pay up to an extra $2,500. Not only is it going to take me longer to graduate, I am now going to be more in debt.
Thank you so much Board of Regents.
Also with the proposed increase in tuition, the administration has asked few questions of the student body and in return has not answered our questions.
The Board of Regents is looking at increasing the number of credit hours required to graduate and also increasing our tuition in one semester.
Dear editor,
Following the Oklahoma City bombing, nobody said we should interview and/or expel every right-wing redneck in the Midwest with a chip on his shoulder for the federal government.
Yet, after Sept. 11, such treatment of our international guests is widely deemed prudent. How easy it is to dredge up the latent racism we Americans harbor.
Shaun Morrell
Salina graduate student
---