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Opinion
Friday, October 29, 1999
Perspective
Reform party is crazy, but Buchanan trumps all
Born-again reform party candidate leads the three-ring circus of presidential hopefuls
W“
If you had told me a year ago that
when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." Hunter S. Thompson If you had told me a year ago that
Donald Trump, Jesse Ventura, Ross Perot, Warren Beatty and Pat Buchanan would all come together in a populist-painted third party. I'd have laughed in your face and asked how much the wacky weed cost you.
God bless the Reform Party. Politics haven't been this much fun in years. All the favorite nutballs of yesteryear and a host of wackos, all under one roof. It really doesn't get any better than this.
It was bound to happen, I suppose. The GOP represents the conservative wing of the nation, and the Democrats take care of the liberal and the poor. But who was going to look out for the rich egomaniac billionaires? Or the Nazis? or the featherboa-wearing demographic? Who? Well, fret no longer. The Reform Party is here to save the day.
The newest member of the club is Pat Buchanan — rich guy, cop-puncher, Nixonteer, Apartheid fan and leader of America's own serf rebellion.
say to the money boys and the Beltway elites who think that, at long last, they have pulled up their drawbridge and locked us out forever. You don't know this peasant army," Mr. Buchanan said, announcing his candidacy on the Reform
wrong on air credits.
Peasant army? In a way it’s apt; if you mean torch-wielding enemies of civilization.But Patrick J. Buchanan is no huddled mass.
ticket. He was wrong, wrong on all counts.
Washington outsider? Folks, he's the son of a government accountant. He has never held a job that wasn't in either government or the media. The only time
Loader columnist
opinion at kansan.com
Populist? Rabble-rouser, certainly. But the term "populist" is used to mean a man of the people with the interest of the masses at heart. Which masses does Pitchfork Pat serve?
he hasn't been based out of Washington, D.C. was when he did a brief stint for a conservative St. Louis paper. The man's led a bit of a sheltered life.
"Rail as they will about discrimination," Pat said in a 1983 column, "women are simply not endowed by nature with the same measures of single-minded ambition and the will to succeed in the fiercely competitive world of Western capitalism." Clearly, he's not
the voice of American women.
Scratch roughly half the country from his populist cause.
"And every study shows blacks 15 IQ points below whites on average..." Buchanan wrote in a 1971 memo to President Nixon. "If there is no refutation, then it seems to me that a lot of what we are doing in terms of integration of blacks and whites — but even more so, poor and well-to-do, is less likely to result in accommodation than it is in perpetual friction — as the incapable are played consciously by government side by side with the capable." No, 'ol Patt clearly isn't a spokesman for the African-
"How, then, can the fedjs justify favoring, sons of Hispanics
tify favoring sons of Hippopotamus over sons of white Americans who fought in World War II or Vietnam?" he asked in 1995. How indeed? Senor Pat evidently doesn't represent Latinos, either.
"White rule of a black majority is inherently wrong. Where did we get that idea? The Founding Fathers did not believe this," he said in 1990, speaking in favor of white rule in South Africa. "We are in the process of destroying the one working economy (in Africa) — because it doesn't adopt an idiotic 'One man, one vote' regimen." Whoops. Looks like he doesn't represent Africans, or African Americans. Or Americans, come to think about it, since we sorta see that whole "one man, one vote" thing as an article of faith.
American community. Or for poor folks, either. When Catholic leaders graciously met with their Jewish counterparts to
Apparently the peasants of Buchanan's ideal army are rich, white, Catholic, straight and Nazi. A fairly narrow demographic, there. This is populism?
No. This is comedy, pure and simple.
Of course, Buchanan doesn't really believe the death camps existed at all. Why? "Diesel engines do not emit enough carbon monoxide to kill anybody," he said in 1990, noting that since children stranded in an auto tunnel had escaped unharmed, Jews could not have been gassed to death. I think it's safe to assume that Pat doesn't speak for them.
discuss the placement of a convent next to a Holocaust death camp, Pat had some sensitive, thoughtful words about it. If U.S. Jewry takes the clucking appeasement of the Catholic cardinalate as indicative of our submission, it is mistaken. When Cardinal O'Connor declares this 'is not a fight between Catholics and Jews,' he speaks for himself. Be not afraid, Your Eminence; just step aside, there are bishops and priests ready to assume role of defender of the faith."
Pat Buchanan is the performing pit bull of the Reform Circus. Go, Pat, Go. Sit. Stay. Good boy. Please don't bite any of the other candidates, and make sure you get all your shots.
Loader is a Henderson, Nev., junior in journalism.
Editorials
Jerry Falwell's reconciliation a victory against blind hatred
When Jerry Falwell met with gay Christians last week in the hopes of finding some reconciliation between Falwell's vehement antihomosexual stance and the gay community, a victory was won for those who abhor violence of any kind. While people on both sides of the ideological struggle might find fault with what transpired, there can be no doubt that progress was made.
Meeting with gay Christians helps to reconcile some of Falwell's outlandish beliefs
Falwell has distinguished himself in the past as one of the foremost leaders in a movement that has sought to discredit homosexuals in this country. Through stances as outrageous as the one regarding Tinky Winky of the Teletubbies, Falwell has let it be known that he is a staunch opponent of gay and lesbian sexuality. Last week, Falwell ensured that his name could no longer be associated with those who carry out this anti-gay message to the extreme through acts of violence.
understood by those too ignorant to comprehend and too hateful to care. At the very least, Falwell has let it be known that he does not stand on the side of those whose hatred blinds a respect for humanity.
Too often, figures like Falwell are unaware, or uncaring, about the actions that might be inspired by the vocalization of hatred. While Falwell felt that his past statements had amounted only to a hatred of a behavior and not a hatred of people, this mincing of words could not be
Many feel that Falwell's statements and actions amount to nothing more than an equally disturbing viewpoint on homosexuality. This could not be further from the truth. By meeting with gay Christians, Falwell lessened the impact that his views had thus far carried. Granted it is a small victory, but it is one that must be applauded. In the war against intolerance, even the smallest battles are important.
Jeff Engstrom for the editorial board
Mammoth clone too useful to refuse
is it possible that the state Board of Education soon may have an answer to whether evolution really occurred? If some geneticists have their way, so we all may witness an important moment in science and human history.
Several months ago, paleontologists found the remains of a woolly mammoth in the Jarkov permafrost in Siberia. This normally would not be such a significant find, except that the mammoth was uncovered frozen — hair, skin and all. It is quite possibly the largest link to hominids' ancestral past ever discovered.
One of the possibilities (though difficult) stemming from the recovery mission is to clone DNA from the preserved body, creating a new mammoth. Sounds like a movie
Scientific value of cloning mammoth outweighs most people's ethical arguments
The question many people have is;. should we bring back a species that has been extinct for 20,000 years? The answer is difficult with so many unforeseen variables, but it is a solid yes.
Science and humanity would benefit greatly from the genetic research done by re-introducing the species. In the past year, we have seen the cloning of a sheep and human organs. While these had much more practical uses for humans, the mamoth research would allow scientists to perfect the nuclear-transfer
doesn't it?
More likely, however, DNA may be taken directly from the mammoth's sperm cells and combined with an Asian elephant. Long-term selective breeding with the half-species could yield a nearly pure-bred mammoth.
method of cloning from a new species.
It would seem logical that evolutionary biologists would benefit and more information could be provided about a possible ancient food source to our "de-emphasized" ancestors.
Paleobotanists also would benefit from the cloning by analyzing the flora the mammoth consumed in its prime. Microbiologists have a stake in the mammoth, too, as the DNA may yield clues to viral and disease research today.
Corey Snyder for the editorial board
I was in attendance Saturday at the KU - MU football game. I'm writing this to you today to make an apology for the actions of some of the MU football team during the half-time festivities. Some MU players were practicing punting and snapping while your band and flag team were performing. Unfortunately, these players were occupying part of the playing field. I don't understand why they were on the field, not the sidelines, at that time. I also can't understand why, when your flag team approached, they didn't move out of the way.
MU alumni apologizes
Feedback
I'm a Columbia, MO resident, longtime MU sports fan, and a former University of Missouri student. I've been attending MU football games since 1969. Ive never seen such a display of arrogance or disregard for others as these players put on.
Even the intensity of the MU · KU rivalry doesn't excuse this performance. It was disgusting, regardless of whether you wear black/gold or blue/red. I'm sure that no other MU fan would approve of this type of behavior, either.
A team can win or lose a game with or without class. I'm afraid that we lost this one without showing much (if any) class.
On behalf of the University of Missouri, MU fans everywhere, and the state of Missouri, I apologize for these actions by representatives of MU.
Mr. Foster; please accept this apology and pass this along to your flag team members who were disrupted by our players.
Mr. Frederick; thank you for taking time out of your schedule, to talk with me, and also please accept this apology to you and your institution.
Mike Atchley Columbia, MO
I woke up hung over yesterday morning. (Oh, no, the reader thinks. It's another self-indulgent Kansan column discussing the author's personal life. These are never as interesting as the columnists seem to think they are.) I thought I had been hung over before, but this time was different. The hangover was much worse. (The intrigue continues. I want to read more!)
Back in my glory days — sophomore year — it seemed like I could drink ridiculous amounts of alcohol and wake up relatively unscathed. (What is the agenda here? The
Effects of aging hit hard when you are only 21
Mark
McMaster
columnist
jonline@kansan.com
author bragging about his ability to handle alcohol? This borders on irresponsibility, especially considering the anti-alcohol attitude on campus these days. Binge drinking is out, and most students consume 0 to 5 alcoholic beverages when they party). Sure, I was suffering from last night a little in the morning, but after an hour or two lying around the house and a quick shower, I
was back to 100 percent and ready to face the day. I remember making it up for 8:30 a.m. classes after a long night of nartving.
It seems that I am aging. (Hmm, aging. Maybe this is going somewhere. At least that's a popular topic for essayists. Everyone ages. I can relate to that). I didn't think this would happen to me until I was at least in my mid-20s or so, but I just don't have the energy I did three years ago. (Has every one heard that there's a new Indian restaurant opening on 10th Street? I love Indian food, and I was just thinking that it was odd that Lawrence didn't have an Indian restaurant. I hope its menu is affordable). Even as I stay up cramming for a midterm or writing a long paper, I find that around 2 a.m., I am more likely to give up the night and finish it in the morning. What happened to the all-nighters of my junior year when I got so far behind on my readings that I read an entire semester's worth of books in a single night before a major test? (The author should realize that you don't actually remember anything if you
I remember way back in my youth, long before I felt my muscles get sore from exercise or before I realized the effect of sleep deprivation. I could eat bags and bags of candy and never get sick of it. I just wanted to keep eating and eating until the candy ran out. Now, a single bag of Shock Tries makes me ill. (Joe the landlord, we'd really like a new door to our garage if we could have one. There's an entire possum family living in there).
try to do that. Moderate amounts of studying produce the most retention. Most students concentrate for 0 to 5 hours when they study). The willpower to stay up late escapes me now, and I'm afraid of the effect that will have on my grades.
McMaster is a Wichita senior in journalism, political science and humanities.
Halloween is approaching, that holiday most perfectly suited for children. (I=interesting place, C=Cameron Diaz, E=eat a lot of fish there, L=love to visit sometime, A=a lot of geothermal activity, N=north and west of the United Kingdom, D=don't you wish you were there.) I'll be stuck drinking lightly, staying away from the candy and going to bed early. That's all I can handle these days. (If you take the first letter of the second sentence in each paragraph, it forms an anagram. Rearrange it to spell a special Halloween greeting).
I'm fighting back, though. I'm eating low-fat foods for the first time in my life. (Go what about those new Dillons savings cards? Big brother is watching your grocery purchases! Pretty scary. they lure you with free cookies and 2-for-1 deals, but pretty soon, they'll be planting mind-control chips in your Lunchables and hiding miniature cameras inside Cheez-it boxes. That's my Dillons? Yeah, that's what you think.)
It's sad to be 21 and know that, from here on out, it's all downhill. I have all the privileges I will ever have: I can go to the dog track, I can vote and I can buy as much pornography as I want. All I have to look forward to is a gradual decay ending in death. (Knock knock). Who's there? (Sophora). Sophia who? (Sophora Petrello, from TV'S The Golden Girls)
I even tried running once, but that was way too much effort. It just made me more tired.
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"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."—Oscar Wilde
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