The University Daily Kansan emphasizes the First Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the tree exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech.
or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble.
and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
EDITORIAL: The minister's speech on Wescoe Beach last Wednesday was reprehensible, but we support his right to preach what he believes. See kansan.com for more opinions and Free for All comments
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2006
WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PAGE 7A
> OUR VIEW
Minister's speech disgusting,rightly protected
Students may have disapproved of the minister's rant against homosexuals, Jews, Muslims and others last Wednesday, but the First Amendment rightly protects this objectionable behavior.
Count the editorial board among those who deplore the minister's message. But we support his First Amendment right to express it. Those students who
tried to suppress his speech were not only wrong in a legal sense, but in a practical sense as well.
A speaker's messages of hate and intolerance serve to inform civil people of the speaker's extremist viewpoints. If hate speech were banned, how would we know who hated?
Reasonable people must have access to this knowledge to make
good decisions, such as whether to give the men jobs, should their stint as preachers fail to pay the bills. At least now we know that neither Michael Venyah, the preacher, nor Chris Lemieux, the cameraman, should hold jobs teaching religious and cultural tolerance.
Fortunately,the CodeofStudent Rights and Responsibilities does
not prohibit hate speech, unlike other universities. Courts have mostly struck down these policies because the Constitution protects this type of speech.
Court precedents like R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul likely make hate speech codes unconstitutional, according to legal experts. In the 1992 case, a youth was charged with violating a hate crime ordinance after burning a cross on a black family's property. Supreme Court justices unanimously ruled against the ordinance because of its vagueness.
Justice Antonin Scalia, in the Court's main opinion, wrote, "The First Amendment does not permit St. Paul to impose special prohibitions on those speakers who express views on disfavored
subjects."
Similarly, though we find Venyah's views repugnant and offensive, we still support his right to express those views. His speech is not worthless; with it, Venyah lets us know that people like him exist.
Steve Lynn for the editorial board.
COMMENTARY
In a world of falling prices, (most) resistance is futile
The City postponed the Wal-Mart proposal again, but that doesn't mean Lawrence isn't going to get a second retail monstrosity. "Postponed" isn't the same as "denied," and the long and costly battle against Wal-Mart will ultimately end with a second store being built at Sixth and Wakarusa streets. There isn't a need for a second store, especially when the store on Iowa has just recently undergone expansion, but trying to understand Wal-Mart is as futile as trying to fight it.
There was a period of my life when I was so outraged by the business practices of the store that I vowed to never shop there. In Lawrence, it was an easy endeavor thanks to Target, but when I traveled home to see my parents, Wal-Mart was the only real retail option I had. Furthermore, it was hard to stand by my morals when my parents kept sending me on errands to Wal-Mart to buy their groceries, toiletries, and prescription drugs. In the end, I gave up my righteous fight and fell victim to the drug that is low prices.
Most Kansas students have grown up with Wal-Mart. I remember when I was a kid in Coffeville, there was a small Wal-Mart on our east side of town. Later, a bigger and nicer store was built on the west side. In Independence, a town nearby, Wal-Mart arrived and people worried that other stores subsequently would close. Wal-Mart promised that it was a good thing they were coming: They would bring jobs and their low prices would force other businesses to compete, causing a bargain domino effect. However, I saw a different domino effect when Dillons, Food-4-Less, and K-Mart closed down: When their competitors closed, Wal-Mart's prices rose.
That was my domestic Wal-Mart experience. I never thought that I would get to see a Wal-Mart in China, or factories that produced goods for Wal-Mart in China, but this summer I got to do just that.
The Wal-Mart I saw in China had several floors and sold goods as cheap as those one could find on the street. The workers wore their blue vests, and they looked as unhappy as many of their American counterparts.
The factories provided an even odder experience. I watched dozens upon dozens of Chinese youth, mostly women, toil away making headphones and toys. With all
BY TERESA LO
KANSAN COLUMNIST
OPINIONKANSAN.COM
the tiny bits, the brightly colored paint and the non-stop work of the employees, I felt as if I were in a miserable Santa's toy shop, except I am sure most of Santas elves would wear masks when dealing with paint fumes for hours a day, unlike the Chinese.
I spoke with a few Chinese college students and asked them if they felt that factory owners exploited workers like the ones I had seen. Their response was what I had expected. They believed factories in developing countries exploited their workers, but that they were forced to do so by large foreign corporations. Wal-Mart buys $18 billion worth of merchandise from China, according to wakeupwalmart. com, and if Wal-Mart were its own economy, it would do more trading with China than Canada, Russia, and Australia.
Even after reviewing the information and recollecting my experiences, domestic and abroad, I can still understand why people continue to shop at Wal-Mart. It's cheap; it's convenient; some are open 24 hours; and in some towns, Wal-Mart is the only retail option.
I commend the City for trying to fight the big, bad bully of a corporation, but we all know that Wal-Mart is going to win and that the little guy (everyone else) is going to lose. Wal-Mart promises that the new store will be aesthetically pleasing and that traffic will not be a problem, but I have a feeling that Wal-Mart is just telling the city what it wants to hear.
Lawrence does not need Wal-Mart Part Deux. I have accepted that a person can't beat Wal-Mart, but I cannot accept extraneous Wal-Marts. Students, buy your retail goods at Target or Wal-Mart on Iowa, and your cheap prescription drugs at Watkins Health Center. Save your gas money, and stay away from Wal-Mart at Sixth and Watakusa streets. They may bully their way into our town, but they can't bully their way into our wallets.
Lo is a Coffeyville senior in history.
Grant Snider/KANSAN
> LETTERTO THE EDITOR
Editorial misrepresents guaranteed tuition plan
The editorial on Friday had some problems with the numbers ("Guaranteed tuition plan unrealistic, needs revision").A freshman coming to the University being guaranteed a base tuition rate would pay the average of their next four years of tuition increases. So the first two years would be a higher rate and the second two lower, respectively.
For a student paying for their
fifth year, the increase would be the same inflationary rate and would be an increase over the average of the preceding four years. So, in the example of $208 per credit hour for four years, the fifth year would not be $265.
For the sake of argument, let's say fresh tuition is $100, going up $5 (not 5%) per year. Without a guaranteed base the second-year student would be paying $105, then
$110, then $115, then $120 for the fifth year, etc. But under a guaranteed base tuition, the freshmen would pay $107.50 for all four years. If that same student took a fifth year, it would still be $120, the same as if we had never been guaranteed a base rate for tuition.
Ian Staples Legislative director, Student Senate
The hateful actions of many Americans are responsible for my inability to marry a man. I would blame bigoted lawmakers and voters — not angry gay men — for the hate towards the LGBT community in America.
I agree with Campbell that responding to hate speech with threats and eggs merely lowers all involved to the level of the fool misinterpreting the Bible. I take issue with Campbell's statement that "some people hate queers" because of idiots who "act like vicious children." He asks, "You wonder why gay marriage is illegal?" and answers by telling those who protested the man on Wescoe Beach, "look in the mirror."
Campbell forgets that the LGBT community in this country has long faced a campaign of hatred. This comes not just from the religious right, but also from Americans who believe homosexuals are sexually perverse and should not be afforded fundamental rights. He seems to forget that there are people across this country who are not as vocal as the man on Wescoe Beach but who feel similarly.
J. Brendan Shaw Milwaukee junior
FREE FOR ALL
In response to "Bible thumper a disgrace to University," Ryan Campbell treats a complicated issue in America — gay rights — in a way that oversimplifies and insults the LGBT community.
LGBT community historically target of hate speech in US
Call 864-0500
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.
tolera
Why is this "caution too hot" thing on McDonald's coffee cups larger in Spanish than English?
I just saw someone walk by with a mullet.
When self-proclaimed tolerant people are intolerant of the intolerant, they aren't really being
How can the leader of the so-called "free world" be such a
Be careful: The green Bible mafa has returned to save your soul.
saying God hates them.
This is for everyone out on Wescoe listening to the crazy man: If you ignore him, he will go away.
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saying God hates them.
C. J. Giles: I saw you playing basketball at the rec. Does that mean you aren't on the team anymore? If you aren't, do you want to be on
my intramural team?
I love it, KU. You preach tolerance then throw stuff at that man.
Good morning, Free for All.
This is the guy that sits outside of Wescoe smoking a cigar. To the gent who thinks I should get a girlfriend: I'll ask my wife and see what she thinks about that proposal.
When I'm smoking that cigar I am reading one of the finest publications on the UK
saying God hates them.
I would just like to say: You people on Wescoe Beach should be ashamed. Homosexuality isn't a problem you can make go away by
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To the freshmen frat boys in Sociology 104: I don't want to hear how much you hate emo kids, because Just listening to you talk, I'm sure someone out there hates
you, too.
I find it funny that the one part of the Bible that the bigots in front of Wescoe don't take literally is "Don't judge your fellow man."
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To the cheap freshmen who sat here and ripped out 50 free sub coupons: You can at least take care of your trash.
When you have a fat friend, there are no see-saws, just cata- nal
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》TALK TO US
Dave Rulgh, associate opinion editor
864-4924 or druligh@kansan.com
Jonathan Kealling, editor
684-854 or jealqing.kearn.com
Erick B. Schrub, managing editor
684-854 or exchallenge.kearn.com
Gabellia Souza, managing editor
684-854 or gcourtalk.kearn.com
Frank Tawardt opinion editor
684-854 or frank.tawardt.kearn.com
864-4024 or druid@kananakan.com
Kyle Hoedl, *business manager*
864-4011; hoedl@kananakan.com
Lindsey Shirak, sales manager 864-4462 or lishirak@kansan.com
Malcolm Gibson, general manager, news adriser
864-7667 or mgblison@kansan.com
>> SUBMISSIONS
Jennifer Weaver, sales and marketing adviser
864-7666 or jweaver@kansasan.com
The Kansan welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni.
The kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length, or reject all submissions.
For any questions, call Frank Tankard or Dave Rugh at 864-4810 or e-mail opinion@kansan.com.
General questions should be directed to the editor at editor@kansan.com.
LETTER GUIDELINES
Maximum Length: 200 word limit
Include: Author's name and telephone number;
class, hometown (student); position (faculty member/staff);
phone number (will not be published)
SUBMIT LETTERS TO:
111 Stairfoyer -First Hall
1435 Jayshore Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 76045
(785) 844-4818. jefferson@kansas.edu
GUEST COLUMN GUIDELINES
**Maximum Length:** 500 word limit
**Include:** Author's name; class, hometown (student); position (faculty member/staff); phone number (will not be published)
**Also:** The Xansson will not print guest columns that attack a reporter or another columnist.
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EDITORIAL BOARD
Jonathan Kealing, Erick R. Schmidt, Gabriella Souza, Frank Tankard, Dave Ruigh, Steve Lynn, McKay Stangler and Louis Mora
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