4 Friday, October 16, 1992 1234567890 OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN IN OUR OPINION Oregonians seek to legalize intolerance and ignorance Voters in Oregon are being asked to decide whether homosexual actions are morally wrong, and in the case that they are, to require all levels of government to teach the youth of that state that such actions are to be discouraged and avoided. The measure is the most actively anti-homosexual piece of legislation put to a public vote in recent years. It not only says that homosexuality should be discriminated against but also that it should be actively discouraged by the state. Proponents of the measure argue that they simply don't want their tax dollars going to promote or encourage a behavior that they disagree with. Openly gay public officials, for instance, could influence the easily impressionable youth of Oregon in presumably undesirable ways. Where the advocates of this proposal miss the mark is in the assumption that gays are somehow a different breed of human. Also, they believe that if one engages in homosexual actions all other aspects of one's life will be profoundly different from that of a "normal" person. This assumption is wrong. This measure denies that gays are men and women like any other, full of love, hate, fear and joy. Does someone's choice of sexual partners automatically preclude them from being an effective public servant? Does the fact that Oregon has openly gay people on its payroll somehow constitute approval? The answer to both questions is no, just as it would be if the people in question were Democrats, Republicans, Catholics and Jews or any part of any other group. The measure could also be interpreted to mean that homosexuality should not be discussed except in a negative light by employees of the state and that any book, film or painting that deals with homosexuality in any manner other than a derogatory one should not be the property of the state. This has profound implications for academic discourse in the state's schools and universities. To require that employees of the state only discuss homosexuality if they are critical of the practice is to deny freedom of inquiry. A measure that would limit the kinds of books that state libraries could purchase smacks dangerously of censorship. The advocates of Measure 9 are correct in asserting that values should be taught in our schools. Where they are wrong is in the assertion that the values of hate and intolerance are the ones that should be taught. The really important values that schools should be teaching to their students are those of love, respect and tolerance. And these are values that anyone, regardless of sexual orientation, is qualified to promote. MARK COATNEY FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD Kansan editorial staff Editorial board: Debbie Brodsky, Mark Coatney, David Frankel, Ann Jurcyk, Jenny Martin, Stephen Martino, David Mitchell, Jeff Reynolds, Janet Rorholm, Julie Wasson and Ashley Wright. Cartoonists: Michael Irvin, Tom Michaud, David Rosen field, Moses Smith, Rob Tapley and Ashley Wright. KANSAN STAFF BILL SKEET, Technology coordinator ... SCOTT IHANNA Business manager BILL LEIBENGOOD Retail sales manager JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser ERIC NELSON Editor GREG FARMER Managing editor TOM EBLEN General manager, course advisor Editor Aust. Managing ... Almee Brainand News ... Alexander Blohmhof Editorial ... Stephen Martino Campus ... Gayle Osterberg Sports ... Shelly Solon Photo ... Justin Knupp Features ... Cody Holl Graphics ... Sean Teixis Business Staff Campus sales mgr Angela Cleverman Regional sales mgr Melissa Tellarp National sales mgr Brian Wilkes Co-op sales mgr Amy Stumbo Production mgrs Brad Bronn Kim Claxton Marketing director Ashley Largend Director of sales Classified mgrs Judith Stanley **Letters** should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words. They must include the writer's signature, name, address and telephone number. Writers affiliated with the University of Kansas must include class and homeown, or faculty or staff position. **Guest columns** should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be photographed. The guest reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansas newsroom, 111 Stuffer-Flint Hall. Publicity played into the hands of singer's pontiff persecution I was flipping through the TV channels the other night when I came across a tabloid news show that was just beginning. The lead story? Sinead O'Connor. After spending 10 minutes rehashing the almost two-week-old story about O'Connor tearing up a picture of the pope on "Saturday Night Live," the show offered its editorial onion. I know what you're thinking: How can you tell the difference between editorial opinion and usual reporting in tabloid news? By over publicizing her every pronouncement, the media is enabling O'Connor to do exactly what they are criticizing her for doing — using her celebrity status to promote her own idiotic ideology. Here's how. Tabloid television is generally an insult to the intelligence of anyone capable of speaking in complete sentences. But editorial opinions on tabloid television make the regular stories look like Pulitzer Prize-winning pieces of work. The show's editorial commentator was a whiny little man who behaved like an ill-mannered 5-year-old. He carried on for a good five minutes, calling O'Connor names (as 5-year-olds are wont to do), criticizing her for daring to express an opinion contrary to what is generally acceptable and concluding that the whole event was all just a big publicity stunt. O'Connor has made some pretty cool music, and her success in that field has given her celebrity status. But that status alone does not mean that her opinions are necessarily informed or relevant. And since she is a celebrity, she is afforded the opportunity to express Let's think about that for a minute. This woman does something mildly controversial, and 10 days later she's still the lead story. Just who is generating the publicity? Maybe if she had shot the president, I could understand why she still her opinions in a very public way. However, the fact that she is a celebrity does not necessarily make her opinions significant. Both the mainstream press and tabloid television keep dragging this saga out as if it were really important. But she was in the paper again yesterday. Her latest words of wisdom? She told Rolling Stone that everybody should smoke pot, "there's absolutely no point" in voting and the Los Angeles riots were "great." If the media has concluded that she was more concerned with garnering publicity than expressing her opinion, why keeping writing about her? It seems fairly clear that the quickest way to quell a publicity stunt is to quit publicizing it. JULIE WASSON She clarified this a little in an interview with Rolling Stone, where she said she blames the Catholic Church for child abuse she suffered from her parents. So if she thinks that organized religion, in general, and the Catholic Church, in particular, are responsible for child abuse, I guess that ripping up the pope's picture was her way of striking right at the heart of the problem. would be in the news. But all she did was rip up a picture of a prominent religious figure. Do we really need to keep watching and reading reactionary pieces? Is it really that big of a deal? In my quest to understand O'Connor's actions, I watched an interview with her on MTV in which she discussed her opposition to organized religion. Before people become enraged by such comments, consider the source. It's Sinead, for God's sake. Julie Wasson is a Springfield Mo., senior majoring in journalism and political science. NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Romanian mistakes U.S. should learn from If President Bush wins Nov. 3, he may have an opportunity to appoint more right-wing U.S. Supreme Court justices and accomplish the Republican goal of making abor- crime in the United States again. If a woman's right to choose is revoked, what might be the result? A new study from Romania hints at a potential threat to dead women and deserted children. ror followed. The American Journal of Public Health reported Oct. 5 that the change "resulted in the highest maternal mortality rate in Europe and in thousands of unwanted children in institutions "The anti-abortion law in Romania resulted in over 10,000 deaths of women from unsafe abortions." Before the dictator's ban, Romanian women had suffered only about 20 deaths per 100,000 births, the journal said, adding: In 1966, dictator Nicolae Ceausescu outlawed both abortion and birth control in little Romania. Hor- "For the decade 1980 to 1989, the average Romanian maternal mortality rate was 154 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Many women obtained abortions illegally, and every year approximately 500 otherwise healthy women of childbearing age died from post-abortion hemorrhage." After Causesuces was overthrown and executed, his anti-abortion law was repealed. Maternal deaths fell 50 percent in the first year and the number of abandoned children dropped. If you think abortion should be made a crime in the United States as it was in Romania, vote for Bush on Nov. 3. But if you don't like the name, name, name, vote for Clinton, who has pledged to keep abortion legal. Charleston Gazette Charleston, W.V. Recently, that simple three-word phrase was uttered in the latest attempt by toy makers to boost sales. Talking Barbie Math is tough. As someone who had to take Algebra 101 three times, I truly understand the meaning of that sentence. Loco Locals And it has people mad. Educators, women's rights advocates and concerned citizens are all up in armor over Barbie's bubble-headed babble. New Barbie model is no role model for children At first, I was amazed at all of the hubbub. What's the big deal? Social unrest exists all over the world, and people are mad about a doll? NOW I SEE WHY TV IS KNOWN AS AS 'BIOBOX...' GUEST COLUMNIST "She's not just a doll," a friend explained, "She is our good-will ambassador to little girls all over the world. If Talking Barbie is sent abroad, the women's movement could be set back hundreds even thousands of years, not to mention what she is subliminally doing to our own children." VAL HUBER Corporate Climbing Barbie: With her own cellular phone, blue power suit and penthouse office suite. A Ken-dell secretary would be just the thing to combat sex-role stereotypes. Could this be? Could a seven-inch doll with two-inch breasts and feet permanently designed for stiletto shoes be the secret weapon in the Republican National Committee's plan to return the United States to family values of the '50s? With all these options, Barbie could truly serve as a role model for girls of all ages. And she sure would have some cool clothes. If Barbie does play such an important role in our psychological development, toy makers need to put more thought into what they are making. With a few politically correct models, many of the world's problems may be solved by children who were lucky enough to possess such a doll. Here are just a few suggestions: Val Huber is a Lawrence graduate student majoring in Journalism. Gee, at the time, I just thought she had cool clothes. Conservation Barbie: With 100 percent recyclable clothing, her own Barbie can smasher, big enough for little girls to use, of course, and Barbie solar mountainside skelat. Anatomically Correct Barbie: With breasts that really sag. What better way to teach little girls about safe sex at an early age? Support bra and anatomically correct Ken sold separately. The possibilities made me shudder. Talking Barbie, with her painted smile and vivid blue eyes could be a source of worldwide unrest. A Russian version, Babushka Barbie could be the impetus for another Cold War. If the Japanese get wind of this, we could soon be victim to Karaoke Barbie whose songs subliminally compel moniums to buy Subaru station wagons instead of Fords. I thought about my own Barbie, a Malibu model, complete with perma-tan and beach-front condo. What kind of psychological damage did I suffer? Is my desire for the perfect tan some vestige of Barbie conditioning? Could the expression, "Blonds have more fun," actually be society's call to be like Barbie? By Tom Michaud OPINION HAS CAUSED MORE TROBLE ON THIS LITTLE EARTH THAN PLACES OR EARTHQUAKEES