4A the university daily kansan
opinion
wednesday, october 8, 2003
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Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
For more comments, go to www.kansan.com
I just wish you weren't a liar.
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My roommate peeled her banana by herself for the first time the other day. Megan, I am very proud of you.
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Seven out of 10 times when you see someone driving with their fingers hanging out of the window moving around they are most likely trying to dry a boozer that they picked out of their nose and let it fall off.
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Why does Scuba Steve look so good naked?
I just saw a piece of a condom wrapper on the ground. Someone is having sex on this campus and it is not me.
It is called a sidewalk, not a sidestand, so let's keep it moving. people.
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When you fall in a bottomless pit, you die of starvation.
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For all you people who don't know what Yom Kippur is: I am sick of you asking me. Please shut up.
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GSP dining hall food sucks. Just to let you know.
Matthew: How can you write an article about racism when you don't even know what racism is?
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Does anybody else think George W Bush looks like the evil guy on The Care Bears?
meigs' view
Connor Meigs for The University Daily Kansan
perspective
Understanding, getting involved keys to change
GUEST COMMENTARY
No one can deny that inequality exists in society. But often times people forget that, and unintentionally create further disproportions.
In a world where instant gratification and success is steadily overtaking understanding and personal growth, I believe people have the power to make noticeable differences if they want to. Still, being a black male in society can be difficult. Every move can mean some comparison to a stereotype, whether it is my race or gender.
Trey Allen
opinion@kansan.com
Overall, social wrongs concerning minorities and women have made it necessary for changes in the way people interact. Fortunately, there have been steps made to level the "playing field" in the areas of education, work and civil rights.
Measures taken to eliminate biases are by no means simple tools used to "prop up" a minority's standing and to boost his or her self-esteem. Programs such as affirmative action are used to correct past wrongdoing.
In all fairness, according to many studies, affirmative action mostly benefits white women rather than the intended minority group.
Not that every change has been completely correct, because it hasn't, but people have generally accepted minorities (in terms of race and gender) into higher paying positions.
We must also keep in mind that we are far from having a harmonious representation of fall races and genders. This doesn't mean that over-the-top steps have to be made to make conditions even. Sure, there are some government programs that have "racial quotas" but these are created to make conditions more fair, not to appease minorites.
Keep in mind that there are nearly 7.5 times as many whites as there are minorities on this campus, yet this correlates with an increase in minority enrollment. The category of "majority" also contains individuals from settlements that could
have faced persecution and segregation in their own right. Consequently, no one has the right to generalize; more often than not, clear-cut distinctions about controversial topics can't be drawn.
I hold an important position as president of the Black Student Union at the University of Kansas, a standing that has helped me understand the imperativeness of students being responsible and living up to their expectations. I believe too many people try to be reactive rather than proactive in thinking and reasoning. This happens too many times.
For example, this happened when The University Daily Kansan was chastised for a misleading caption in a front-page photograph. The caption did contain a derogatory term against blacks, although only a handful of those who read the article knew what the term meant. Therefore, only a handful had a right to be upset.
Cultural knowledge must be appreciated more so we can all learn from our mistakes and ignorance. This includes being cognizant of words and phrases that may be offensive. Of course, this world is nowhere close to being perfect, but everyday change is the tool that will one day make perfection a reality for
everyone.
Therefore, I have a challenge. I challenge anyone with a desire for change to join an organization to learn more about preconceived opinions that are mere speculation rather than fact. If people truly want to make an impact on society or leave a lasting legacy, they must address their problems in groups directly related to their concern. If problems dealing with one's race or gender are not approached correctly, many qualms will be left unheard.
The lasting hope for the future is that we can develop our morale by realizing the entire world around us. We can't fall into the trap of generalizations. We can't attack one's personal character to get our own point across. We can't avoid situations due to what some people see as the "hypersensitivity of American minorities." The truth is that no person can ever feel the emotion or be as knowledgeable as someone in that situation. So let's take it upon ourselves to make change sensibly. After all, it's what we need to survive.
Allen is a Wichita sophomore in atmospheric science. He is president of the Black Student Union.
letters to the editor
Editor's note: The following letters address Monday's column "Racist accusations miss point."
Racial commentary needs understanding, compassion
I am writing this commentary in response to Mr. (Matt) Pirotte's article that appeared in Monday's University Daily Kansan. It is my opinion that his assertions are off the mark. As a minority, I feel as if Mr. Limbaugh's comments were offensive, and given his history as a syndicated talk show host, I believe that he is a racist. After appearing on NFL Countdown for just four weeks, Mr. Limbaugh could no longer bite his tongue and made a racist comment. As a person that also feels that Donovan McNabb is an overrated player, I agree with Mr. Limbaugh to some extent. However, that comment can be made without the inclusion of racist connotations. Is it as bad as calling a black man a monkey? No it isn't, but it takes
away from the accomplishments that McNabb has made as an NFL player.
As for Mr. Pirotte's comments about minorities being hypersensitive, I strongly disagree. There is no problem with having a conversation about race if it involves a level of consciousness. By consciousness I mean a level of understanding and compassion about the history and experience of the minority group that you are discussing. People of all ethnicities can attain a level of consciousness about other groups, but rarely do. So when comments like those made by Rush Limbaugh and now Mr. Pirotte are made, it demonstrates a lack of consciousness.
I'm not branding Mr. Pirotte a racist, but I am saying that he lacks consciousness. If proof is needed, look no further than the comments that he made about programs such as affirmative action. Did he ever really consider why these programs were necessary in the first place?
In closing, I would like to suggest that people try to attain consciousness. Until
Novotny Lawrence Junction City Graduate student in film
that journey begins, stop writing articles that demonstrate that you are just as oblivious to the status of race relations in America as Mr. Limbaugh.
Limbaugh doesn't deserve defense for racist remarks
I think the writer in this article is missing a big point himself.
Rush Limbaugh is an ultra-conservative, right-wing moron who just puts his right-wing slant into every possible issue he can. It doesn't matter the issue. His opinion will be whatever is in line with ultra-conservative right wings. If you've ever listened to his radio program, it's quite ridiculous. So for him to go on a show like Sunday NFL Countdown, which usually has to do with match-ups and analysis, and then pull out this accusation on one of the best QB's
I know the writer said he didn't follow football, so I'll explain: Donovan McNabb is good; he really good. So what I'm saying is that Rush is an idiot. He is just this ridiculously lying hypocrite (see drug charges, which he claims to always be a liberal's problem) and for a writer at this esteemed University to take up a column's worth of space defending anything this idiot does, this in itself offends me more than what Rush did at all. Perhaps you should look a little deeper into the issues and the man you're writing about and see if the things he does deserve to be defended. If not, maybe your next article could be "Overreaction to Rush's drug charges, liberals at it again." Because I don't know anyone that would defend this moron unless they're a part of the right-wing conservatism lies themselves.
in the league is ridiculous.
Rashid Kazerooni Overland Park Fifth-year pharmacy student
Writer should attempt to understand hidden racism
I find it almost laughable when someone tells me I am hypersensitive to comments or issues that deal with race. I am a 40-year-old black male who still deals with racism on a daily basis. Yes, we have come a long way in dealing with racism in America, although it still is prevalent in our society. Blacks in this country now call it "hidden racism." Situations like being followed around stores or given higher rates on loans or not given loans at all. I could list many more situations I have experienced. My point is, do not call me hypersensitive when it comes to race when you have no idea what it is like to live in this country as a black male. If you spent 40 years in my shoes, maybe you could tell me something about being hypersensitive when it comes to racial issues.
Kermit Aldridge
Baldwin City
Alumnus