OPINION
5A
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2008
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FROM THE EDITORIAL BOARD
FAFRYBOOTS@FLICKR.COM
The Lawrence City Commission is considering the creation of tougher panhandling laws. The argument is that there has been a substantial number of complaints against panhandlers, specifically downtown.
Panhandling law isn't necessary
But Lawrence doesn't need any tougher laws because it already has an ordinance that sufficiently controls panhandling. Ordinance 7891, passed in 2005, prohibits any form of aggressive panhandling. This means that those who panhandle are not allowed to touch the solicited person, block
the path, continue soliciting after being denied, follow people around or solicit close to ATMs.
Panhandlers in Lawrence are limited to
passive soliciting, such as holding up signs or just asking once — nothing that should be considered very controversial.
The problem is that a new ordinance like this would be a considerable encroachment of First Amendment rights. Freedom of expression includes tolerating being asked to contribute to something. It happens all the time; organizations are allowed to approach people to ask for donations or signatures. And it shouldn't be different with panhandlers.
OUR
VIEW
Street musicians, a considerable part of the charm of downtown, are probably not the targets of the ban, but they might be affected by it. Most likely the city wants to get rid of those who panhandle to buy alcohol. But if those people are the real target, a better idea would be to invest in programs that would help reincorporate them into society.
Being asked for money might be something some people find uncomfortable, but it's something we have to deal with. Panhandlers are part of our society. There
is no reason to further ostracize panhandlers just because downtown businesses think the image they wish to portray is being hurt. This ban tries.
the problem under the carpet so that we don't have to confront it
As long as the person panhandling is not being intimidating, nothing wrong is being done, and Lawrence already has an ordinance in place to deal with aggressive panhandlers.
A tougher law against panhandlers is unnecessary. Lawrence just needs to enforce the ordinance already in place.
Patrick de Oliveira for the editorial board
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Hecklers at speech should be ashamed
I was deeply disturbed during the discussion with former
George H.W. Bush on Sunday, as he was heckled several times by people in the audience for comments about things that he had
Bush
done during his administration and career.
Regardless of your opinions or party alliances, some amount of respect for a great leader of our country would have been decent. He didn't seem to be bothered by it, as I'm sure he has dealt with his fair share of hecklers as a politician, but I was embarrassed that people from my university would participate in such classless behavior.
Although I have major issues with Barack Obama's proposed policies, if he were to come to
speak at KU, I would either respectfully decline to attend or would calmly and quietly listen to what he had to say.
Heckler do have the right of "free speech," but how about common decency and respect? As adults, this would be expected and understood. But respect seemed to be a concept that those people in the audience could not grasp.
I hope those hecklers feel some amount of shame that they were such poor ambassadors for the University. They were truly an embarrassment to KU.
President Bush, I sincerely hope that you will only reflect kindly on your visit here to KU, as many have only the utmost respect and admiration for you and the great things that you have accomplished in your lifetime. Some may not agree with every decision that you made, but they can still respect the leadership that you once provided for our great country.
Whitney Taylor is a junior from Singapore.
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What will late-night hosts talk about now?
As of yet, Obama has yet to display any really humiliating personality traits. With at least four years in office, he's bound to let slip at some point that he is deathly afraid of the color fuschia or that the sound of a ringing bell makes him think he's Sean Connery. The problem is, we haven't seen it yet. The man looked so damn dignified during his campaign that I'd almost be willing to believe he isn't going to do something incredibly stupid that makes the country roll its collective eyes.
pretzel.
"Change is here," President-elect Barack Obama said while speaking to throngds of supporters in Chicago during his acceptance speech, which was broadcast around the world. The election had finally ended with a bang, and That One had emerged victorious. With this victory comes many things, including a new era for racial equality in the country (1 hope), a renewed trust in America by the international community (likely) and apparently a new puppy for the Obama daughters (definitely, or the whole speech would have been ruined).
OK, back on topic. There was something that the president-elect did not mention, something that will be dramatically different once his administration takes over. What will those most important members of our media, the hosts of late-night talk shows, make fun of now?
There was something that soo-to be President Obama... Actually, before I go on, could we just savor that a bit? Mmmm, President Obama...
For eight years, George W. Bush has been generous enough to take time out of his busy schedule as president of the United States of America, most powerful nation on the planet, to provide ample fodder for Jay Leno and his contemporaries.
The rise of Ion Stewart, Stephen Colbert and the like has made late-night comedy the primary
If David Letterman needed to pad out his monologue a bit, all he needed to do was turn on the news and listen to Bush speak, and he had a wealth of bad jokes, mispronounced words and other bits of evidence which point to the president possibly being a poorly programmed robot.
But for the sake of Leno, Stewart and all of the other trustworthy journalists out there, I hope something comes up soon.
news outlet for many young people. "Saturday Night Live" even flirtd with running a half-hour version of its popular "Weekend Update" news segment on the air on Thursdays.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cohen is a Topeka senior in political science.
There will always be government types to make fun of, but it is never that much fun if there isn't a president to constantly rib, as we've become used to. Most commanders-in-chief just scream out to be insulted. Bush gave off the impression that he left his office reluctantly, and most people of my generation know Dana Carvey's impression of him better than the actual man or his policies. Bill Clinton had a libido that we all claim to be embarrassed about, even though about half of us are secretly proud of. And Bush was once nearly assassinated by a
We don't have to fear Obama's next four years
I'm getting the feeling that I'm the only Republican out there who's not terrified of the next four years.
I have spent the last two weeks being entertained by all my Democratic friends who very thoughtfully called and texted me, just to make sure I had heard how the election went while friends and family on my side of the aisle beat their chests and agonized over the inevitable destruction of our great nation. The "South Park" episode called "About Last Night" has never been so spot-on.
Although it has been a real treat, it's about time somebody offered some clarity on what we can actually expect from President-elect Barack Obama.
Sure, he may talk like a Marxist at times and has the quasi-socialist economic policies to back it up. He may be one of the most liberal senators ever to grace the halls of Capitol Hill. Heck, he may even be best friends with the reputable William Ayers, Jeremiah Wright and Tony Rezko for all I know.
But let's not forget that he may be capable of doing some things well. A man who is popular in Europe must be just the thing America needs now, right?
He also has an awful lot of campaign promises to deliver on. And I'm not just talking about his brilliant and substantive promises like "change!" and "yes we can!"
Joking aside, it never hurts to have international approval, and Obama will be keener about it than what we have become accustomed to these past eight years. This ought to help mend some relationships with our allies throughout the world — and yes, some of their opinions do matter — just as long as we don't begin catering to them.
No, he already addressed those in his victory speech where he lowered the bar for himself: "Change is on the way! Just don't expect to see it any time real soon."
Some troubling things we have to look forward to other than his tax plan include closing Guantanamo Bay and shutting down the missile defense program.
Although I can appreciate the PR value of both ideas, the possible consequences for our national security are disturbing. I am not worried about his healthcare plan as even he has come to admit that, after the bailout, our government simply cannot afford socialized medicine.
and ineffective president. Although I would have preferred to see a Republican in the White House, we have nonetheless witnessed an extraordinary point in our nation's history, and it would be a shame if our first minority president turned out to be no more than another Jimmy Carter.
My real worry for Obama is that he will turn out to be a good motivational speaker, but a weak
This is a real concern. There are already so many comparisons between the two. On the bright side, Jimmy Carter brought us Ronald Reagan, and there are plenty of rising stars within the Republican Party today.
My prediction is that he will try to deliver on his promise to unify the nation. This means — and I'm really keeping my fingers crossed here — that he will not give Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid free reign over Congress. He knows that the majority of the country leans center-right, and he, like Bill Clinton before him, will do what he can to appeal to that majority while staying true to his liberal roots.
Poole is a Wichita senior in psychology and political science.
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I just found a guy on campus dressed as Ron Burgundy, and I don't think it was on
I'm really glad that the Kansas basketball story beat the cure for AIDS story for the first page of the UDK. Rock Chalk lahawk
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Drunk dialing Free for All is my favorite.
Someone just compared Hashinger Hall to the Incredible Hulk.
You know it's basketball season when the UDK can't even get the football team's record right on the back page.
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Where have all of the hot guys gone?
Does anyone else think that Kanye West may be the stupidest man alive?
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Someone just told me I was a busted rubber.
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For the last hour, I have been looking for someone to give me a ride to the titty bar, and no one will do it.
Free for All, did you know that you have the most beautiful
I just wanted to say that I missed you and welcome back
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I just beat Kerry Meier in darts. Oh yea, that was awesome.
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If you have to say "this com-
mercial saved my life," your life
must surk
To the people who heckled George H.W. Bush: You are an embarrassment to all of us.
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I freaking hate the damn Park and Ride
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To the kids walking back from Budig this morning, learn to share the damn sidewalk.
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Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time.
I think I've forgotten this
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Screw you dude,you can just leave then.
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It is possible that I am naked today.
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