Applaud KU-SDS—
National Chapter Aims, Acts not Same
Despite what many narrow-minded and short-sighted people say to the contrary, the right of those individuals who demonstrated this weekend across the United States must be upheld. They should be heard.
But, many of their actions are showing them to be as incredibly short-sighted and narrow-minded as those who oppose their right to demonstrate. What is their purpose?
Having a naturally optimistic nature, we must assume their ends are what they claim them to be. They say they are for an honorable peace. They say they are disturbed by bombings of civilians in North and South Viet Nam. They say they are afraid of being irrevocably involved in a war with China.
IF THEY THINK THEY are convincing the President and Congress to stop the war, if they think they are performing a noble humanitarian act, they are mistaken.
Well, who isn't? To that extent they probably do represent the feelings of most Americans. But, their actions are not in harmony with their aims.
President Johnson at one time refused to clarify his war aims in Viet Nam. He also rejected all thought of negotiating a settlement. At that time, demonstrators had a legitimate gripe. They demonstrated. They were considered. Their actions were sensible.
Negotiation has now fallen in the lap of Hanoi. It is out of Washington's hands. The fault may lie in Washington; it may lie in Hanoi. Whoever is to blame, the present situation is what must be considered. Of course Washington has made some blunders in this senseless war that cannot be retracted. But, these
have been no more glaring than those presently being made by our pro-pace demonstrators.
The members of the protest should remember the French position in Viet Nam from 1950 to 1953. There was a similar bad feeling in France against the Viet Nam war. The Communist leaders felt no need to negotiate because they could see public opinion was against the French government. Why negotiate? They could easily see a war of propaganda being fought and won for them.
THE COMMUNISTS ARE not presently winning the ground war in Viet Nam, but they are again winning the propaganda war. And the demonstrators here, whether they realize it or not, are aiding that defeat. They reason that they need not negotiate peace when a possible victory looms in the future because of anti-war feelings here.
No one but a confirmed sadist seeking a vent for his stupid anger against the world wants to fight a war. Most people would like to end the fighting in Viet Nam. But, this project to jam the draft will solve nothing. Pleading conscientious objection is only infringing upon the rights of honest conscientious objectors. This is not stopping the war in Viet Nam; it is prolonging it.
The KU chapter of Students for a Democratic Society should be commended for its action this past weekend, whatever their reasons may be. Leaders of the local chapter explained their absence in Saturday's demonstration in Lawrence by saying its position in "conservative Kansas" does not offer "especially profound opportunities to change basic power structures and social attitudes."
SDS's national constitution says the organization's purpose it that of "... an education and social action organization dedicated to increasing democracy in all phases of our common life. It seeks to promote ... the constitution of a national and international order that is free from poverty, ignorance, war, exploitation, and the inhumanity of man to man." As stated, its objectives are truly to be commended. But, the same cannot be said of its actions in attaining these objectives.
JOHN GARLINGHOUSE, president of the KU chapter, says this chapter emphasizes the educational role of the organization. In referring to what he calls the fixed, narrow concern that dominates the Kansas personality, Garlinghouse said, "KU-SDS feels that the democratic left can be a sane, constructive element in a free society. To implant that feeling upon the Kansas scene, to evidence it by KU-SDS actions; that is the foremost goal of KU-SD."
The KU chapter remained loyal to their stated objectives when they supported a teach-in on Viet Nam in the Kansas Union rather than bodily aiding the demonstrators. The teach-in does have validity. It can inform students of the real problems in many contemporary issues. This is needed, not the meaningless demonstrations which contradict expressed aims.
The demonstrators' actions have caused many narrow and un-thinking people to connect National SDS claims of a fight for "increasing democracy in all phases of our common life" with a Communist backed movement.
Janet Hamilton
We Really Care
"Well, hi there, Claude! Come on in . . . Have a beer.
"Hey, listen, Claude, I've got a funny story to tell you. You'll never believe it—this'll kill you!
"You remember that Peace Corps engineer, Meyer, I was telling you about, who extended his service in East Pakistan for another year because he said he wanted to finish the job he'd started? Well, I got another letter from him."
"But first, you and me, Claude, we both know about the uselessness of the Peace Corps and all that crazy waste of money and people ol' LBJ keeps plunging into those ungrateful donkey cart countries, don't we, Claude? Well, my story clinches it.
"This Meyer's in East Pakistan, see, and he's been having a hard time because a lot of those dumb people aren't too hot on the U.S. Can you imagine that? Well, hey, here...have a pretzel, Claude. Well, anyway, this Meyer is down in southern East Pakistan when some cyclone hits, you know, and kills over ten thousand people.
"MEYER AND THE other Peace Corps engineers decide to design some storm shelters for them . . . and they make several trips back and forth to the area from their home base.
"Boy, Claude, if that had been me—I would have cleared out fast—let those scrawny people
figure out the mess themselves. And I tell you, if it had been me, I wouldn't have done anymore than I could get away with. You and I would just say 'lose a few, win a few' wouldn't we, Claude?
"But these crazy fellows start working on these plans, see?"
"Well, then, this India-Pakistan thing comes up and the U.S. government evacuates the Corpsmen to Manila for awhile. But this Meyer, he still keeps working on his plans for the shelter.
"I don't know about you, Claude, but me, I would have tossed those of' plans right out and slept for a week—Good grief, Claude, nobody would have known the difference, except, maybe, a few Pakistani and they don't count much, eh, Claude?
"Well, to go on, Claude, when he finally learns, for sure, that they're not returning—this Meyer finishes up the plans anyway and mails them back to those little people.
"AND YOU KNOW WHY, Claude? This'll get you, Claude, this'll really get you, because he says, because—'This way, at least, they'll see that we really did care.'
"Now, what's he mean by that, Claude? — What's he mean, hub?"
—Rosalie Jenkins
HERBLOCK
THE WASHINGTON POST
On the Side -
KU's one hundred and we're going to have a symposium. Whoopeee! I'm not against symposium, but is that any way to treat an institute of Higher learning that has reached the venerable age of 100? Well, could be since old age is a serious problem.
But there's another side of the campus that hasn't been explored yet. I'm speaking of the golden opportunities for enterprising campus capitalists. (Sorry SDS, I had to use the term.)
Souvenirs Proposed
“Look, Fella —— Things Are Tough Enough”
"... Happy birthday Dear KU, happy birth-day to you."
IVE HAD MY MARKETING research department scouring the area for possible KU Centennial souvenirs and am ready to distribute them so any enterpriser can make a bundle during homecoming weekend.
Lawrence citizens have indicated a strong interest in these fine dinner plates and have pledged to hang them on their walls in a place of reverence.
The researchers have found a great market for Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe dinner plates. They feature a regular size plate with a likeness of the chancellor superimposed over an etching of Strong Hall.
OTHER IDEAS INCLUDE PLASTIC Fraser Hall Piggy Banks for returning alums, and, practically the only item found acceptable to the student body, a joke book featuring the KU football team.
So, there they are, let's see if we can't make a killing.
Eric Johnson
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY kansan
Serving KU for 76 of its 100 Years
UNiversity 4-3646, newsroom
UNiversity 4-3198, business office
Founded. 1889.
Founded 1889
Represented by National Advertising Service, 18 East 50 St. New York.
N.Y. 10022. Mail subscription rates: $4 a semester or $7 a year. Published and second class postage paid at Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays, University holidays and examination periods. Accommodations, goods, services and employment advertised in the University Daily Kansan are offered to all students without regard to color, creed or national origin.
EXECUTIVE STAFF
MANAGING EDITOR ... Judy Farrell
BUSINESS MANAGER ... Ed Vaughn
EDITORIAL EDITORS ... Janet Hamilton, Karen Lambert
NEWS AND BUSINESS STAFF
Assistant Managing Editors ... Suzy Black, Susan Hartley
                      Jane Larson, Jacke Thayer
Circulation Manager ... Mike Robe
Advertising Manager ... Dale Reinecker
City Editor ... Joan McCabe