The University Daily Kansan emphasizes the First Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free 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.
KIELER: By preventing same-sex couples from getting married, politicians and other opponents violate the American tradition of civil liberties for all people. See kqnsan.com for more opinions and Free for All comments
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2006 WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 7A
》 OUR VIEW
Once fun and friendly, Facebook turns creepy
Ooh look, John wrote on Suzie's wall. Didn't they break up? Oh man, Helga's spent a lot of time updating her profile lately ...
On Tuesday, facebook.com launched a series of new features that have turned every Facebook user into a dreaded "Facebook stalker."
Now every time a user changes something on Facebook, whether it's writing a message on someone's "wall," adding favorite quotes or adding a "friend," it is tracked for every Facebook member to see. The site even publishes when the changes were made. Creepy.
Also, Facebook now tracks "stories," which show how a user's profile has changed over time. If Josie switches her "relationship
status" to single, then switches back to "in a relationship with Joe" a day later, everyone can see they've had some problems. Sure, you can't erase the past, but you used to be able to ignore it on Facebook.
What makes Facebook appealing, and separates it from blog sites like MySpace and Xanga, is that it's not highly personal. Rather than an online diary, it's a bulletin board where students can post pictures, keep in touch and create lists that are fun to read but shed little light on the user's private life.
Facebook used to show only the face users wanted people to see. Change it back, Mark Zuckerberg.
Frank Tankard for the editorial board.
FREE FOR ALL
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. Standerous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
Hey, why don't you learn how to parallel park?
I just paid $1.50 for the worst cup of coffee I have ever had to inflict on myself for a caffeine fix.
Thank you. Pulse. Thank you.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
ment, particularly since the latter is not always "normal" or "healthy." According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce; these statistics are extremely damaging to the emotional stability of our next generation.
Facebook is for stalkers.
Today is a great a day for science. Yes it is.
What is my position on oral sex?
Well, I'll tell you: to give is human;
to receive is divine.
OPINION
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Oh no, we can't talk about zookayhem.com. We can talk Wal-Mart, Milton's and all these other things, but we can't talk about the
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I just want to say thank you to whoever returned my wallet to the Hawk Shop today. That was really good of you and I hope you have lots of good karma coming your
Ohio Street is for hustlers.
way.
This is Harry Barber, and Harry Barber would like to say that he doesn't like the article about the cross country team and the author who said "the cross country team scored enough points to win." Cross country goes by lowest standard.
score, stup
Which is worse for your lungs, smoking weed or campus buses?
My roommates and I are in our own sorority, Kappa Kappa Gangsta.
--ment, particularly since the latter is not always "normal" or "healthy." According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce; these statistics are extremely damaging to the emotional stability of our next generation.
Gungju
I was just wondering if Steve Irwin was a Kappa Sigma, because they have a rest-in-peace sign outside their house.
This year I would really like to see our football team on ESPN instead of our fans tearing down the goal posts.
I just ate some Best Choice bread, and it is definitely not the best choice.
So now everyone can see every thing I do on facebook. Might as well change it to creepbook.com.
I think I can sit around all day and watch people attempt to parallel park and be amused.
So, Adam, you want to make out with Speef? Well, get in line. The line is waaaaay back there.
ment, particularly since the latter is not always "normal" or "healthy." According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce; these statistics are extremely damaging to the emotional stability of our next generation.
Hi, Adam, welcome to the "I want to make out with Speef" club Congratulations, you are member
ment, particularly since the latter is not always "normal" or "healthy." According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce; these statistics are extremely damaging to the emotional stability of our next generation.
1,842.
I've actually been looking forward to a monogamous relationship because I'm just sick of trying.
I would just like to point out that Mangino said he is going to give the team a mulligan.
I would definitely vote yes for allowing longboards on campus, as long as they come with topless
ment, particularly since the latter is not always "normal" or "healthy." According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce; these statistics are extremely damaging to the emotional stability of our next generation.
Facebook is now a stalker's paradise, and I'm considering leaving. It is becoming MySpace, but
women
Zookmayhem. Zookmayhem.
Why aren't you printing anything?
It's happening.
Thank you so much for the heads up on Grade B eggs. We almost bought them, then we remembered what we read.
To all the cute girls driving around in the Saturn: I wish I was
Zookmayhem is my president.
ment, particularly since the latter is not always "normal" or "healthy." According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce; these statistics are extremely damaging to the emotional stability of our next generation.
GSP, thanks for the great food
Down with the goal posts.
ment, particularly since the latter is not always "normal" or "healthy." According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce; these statistics are extremely damaging to the emotional stability of our next generation.
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ment, particularly since the latter is not always "normal" or "healthy." According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce; these statistics are extremely damaging to the emotional stability of our next generation.
you.
Grant Snider/KANSAN
COMMENTARY
Prohibiting gay marriage contradicts America's principles
As hard as some may try, no one will ever convince members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to change their sexual orientation. They will be here today and in the future, just as they have been in virtually every culture since the beginning of time.
That being said, there are several arguments often used against the ever-popular issue of gay marriage that need to be addressed. Because, despite the fact that moral issues such as gay marriage have become the most common concerns in politics, we cannot, and should not, legislate morality.
One argument frequently used to dispute gay marriage is that gays are too promiscuous to be married. This is an interesting proposition because marriage is, in fact, a promise to remain loyal to one other person. Thus, two men or women who want to be married generally want to have a monogamous relationship.
Another argument is that by allowing LGBT couples to marry we are opening the door for a number of awkward arrangements. Imagine, for example, a young man and a goat. Unquestionably, this is an awkward situation. But besides the fact that the partnering of a young man and a goat has never been a common or natural occurrence and is solely attributable to severe mental issues, I say, why not let the young man and the goat live happily ever after, since surely no woman in her right mind would get along with this particular man anyway?
BY ALISON KIELER
KANSAN COLUMNIST
OPINION@KANSAN.COM
The important point here is that people have loved other people of the same sex for quite a while, and the idea that individuals might one day be able to marry an animal or a minor is quite an improbable story, in which morality would not be the sole concern.
A third argument bemoans the tragedy of letting two men or two women adopt a child. Children are just so impressionable, so the argument goes, and having two mothers or fathers must really confuse them.
Of course, there is an alternative to letting LGBT couples adopt, keeping in mind that not all children who need new families are adopted. Children in need of loving homes can reside in orphanages (yes, they still exist) or bounce between dozens of temporary foster homes that can simulate love but not stability. Unfortunately, many children in these situations, particularly older, "damaged" or less attractive children, will face problems with homelessness or drug addiction as they grow older.
In these cases, it is absurd to outweigh the need for a stable loving environment with the "need" for a traditional marriage environment, particularly since the latter is not always "normal" or "healthy." According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce; these statistics are extremely damaging to the emotional stability of our next generation.
So what if we do give LGBT couples the right to marry and have families? On one hand, we might set a better example of true love and commitment for today's heterosexual couples. And on the other, we might just give others the right to be miserable married couples as well. If this is the case, then I think we should be less stingy when it comes to who we allow to marry.
Perhaps the most important reason that gay marriage should not be fought as a moral issue in the U.S. is because our country was created as a beacon of religious freedom, and of freedom of choice without persecution. If people choose not to follow a specific religious denomination, that is their prerogative. If they choose to be committed to a member of the same sex, to love or be miserable with that person, and to provide a loving home for a child who needs it, then this is also their prerogative.
As for the issue of morality in the U.S., I would suggest that we focus on our own lives. Our country's marriage record could certainly use improvement.
Kieler is a Lenexa senior in political science and international studies.
COMMENTARY Feminism at KU misunderstood, continues to evolve
Take a moment to picture in your mind what a feminist looks like. Some of you may envision a bra-burning butch lesbian, out to systematically destroy all men. Or maybe you see a slightly overweight academic women who hasn't shaven in nine years. Stereotypes like these have often overshadowed the true goals of those who call themselves "feminists."
Judging groups based on the actions of a few members rarely leads to greater understanding. Can you define, for example, the entire religion of Christianity, based solely on a fundamentalist sect or individual? Islam? Any religion or political belief for that matter, by the behavior of a few extremists?
I am not criticizing extremists, especially since I wouldn't have the opportunities I do today were it not for the actions of women extremists in the past, and I am not defining what a feminist is in broad or general terms, but I am going to tell you about a dedicated and diverse group of people on campus known as the February Sisters.
The February Sisters Association was founded by a group of University women who took over a campus building in 1972, demanding equal resources for women on campus. They called for hiring more women in the University administration, the establishment of a campus daycare and the creation of a women's studies program, among other things.
Their spirit of igniting change lives on. The feminists of today come from diverse majors, including biology, business, computer science and fine art. Many come from different religious and ethnic backgrounds, and vary in sexual preference. The vast majority are not lesbians, and do not hate men in the slightest. Some of you might be surprised to learn that feminists aren't always women, and that men, both straight and gay, can be feminists.
Despite the differences, all University feminists share a common goal: to organize feminist educational, political and cultural events.
So what does that encompass? First of all, during February, the February Sisters Association coordinates a series of concerts, speakers, theatre productions, and performances, including the popular "Vagina Monologues." These events support domestic violence shelters and other organizations for women.
If you're curious about what else the organization has planned, or if you're a closed feminist who thinks there are no battles left to be fought, you should consider attending the next February Sisters Association meeting on September 21 at 7 p.m. in the Kansas Union's Walnut Room, or e-mail februarysistersassociation-owner@yahoogroups.com for more information.
You might be more of a feminist than you think. If you are a person who cares about women's issues and wants to help, then you can proudly call yourself a feminist. An important part of being a feminist is being active, so enter with an open mind and a desire to ignite change.
Lavinia Roberts is a Parsons junior in English and theatre and film.
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