4 University Daily Kansan/Wednesday, December 4, 1991 OPINION Mixed Messages Dragging our feet U.S. not doing enough to combat AIDS Listen up! AIDS is the sixth leading cause of death for people aged 15-24. Twenty percent of all people diagnosed with AIDS are in their early 20s. This disease is now possibly the greatest threat to our country and the entire world. It's a shame that the international medical community, including that of the United States, is not exploring every and all avenues for finding a cure for HIV. In the African nation of Kenya, the Kenyan Medical Research Institute has developed a drug called kemron, which reportedly reverses many of the symptoms of HIV. Many AIDS patients suffer from fatigue, diarrhea and loss of appetite after contracting the disease. Currently in the United States, AZT has been the best drug developed to help AIDS patients, but it has many painful side effects. Until recently, the international medical community ignored the development of kemron, which has proved more successful than anything that has been developed in this country. Some AIDS patients from the Harlem Hospital in New York have improved the quality of their lives by traveling to Nairobi, Kenya, for this treatment. Let's hope the scientists in Kenya achieve much success and hope the United States does all it can to help. It would be a tragedy if someone discovered a cure for AIDS and our government found it unacceptable for an invalid reason. We still have not heard a valid reason for the rejection of kemron. James Baucom for the editorial board Where is George Bush's 'kinder, gentler America'? Recently, President Bush committed another of his double takes. In much fanfare Bush finally signed the 1991 Civil Rights Act while half-secretly telling the federal government, the nation's largest employer, that it could forego its current affirmative action guidelines. After an uproar, Bush canceled his attempted abrogation and moved to a more aggressive action program. Given the president's record, this should come as no surprise. The day after winning the 1982 presidential election, Bush said he wanted a "kinder, gentler America, and I mean it," without any further explanation of why he would be just about as clear as his "hundred points of light" and "new world order." After almost three years in office, I ask: "Where is this new America and has Bush done to create it?" There are more homeless people, more people infected with HIV, more cases of discrimination, more murders and other acts of violence, more people living in poverty, more people with poor education and more unemployed. Is this the "kinder, gentler America?" In 1989, Bush gave the country his first war with the "just cause" invasion of Panama, which left thousands in that nation homeless. This year, Bush gave the country Scott Link Guest columnist "Desert Storm," his second war, bigger, better and presented as the world's largest video-game. He aggravated the situation by hinting at aiding a Kurdish rebellion against Saddam Hussein, and then doing nothing. I now ask: Where will Bush's third war take place: Libya, North Korea or some other Third World country? Is this a 'kinder' America?" Bush's solution to the rising crime rate is to build more prisons, to give tough prison sentences and to support the death penalty more frequently. The United States already has the largest per capita prison population in the world. Perhaps a better solution may more equitable distribution of wealth? If Bush has his way, women will soon have to seek abortions in back alleys and other unsafe places in order to avoid the police, adding fear and paranoia to an already difficult personal decision. Is this a "gentler" America? Bush wants to be the "environmental president" although he supports making pollution control standards for cars more lenient. More importantly, Bush says he is the "education president" although he is attempting to cut financial aid programs. Bush's only attempt to improve primary and secondary education is to suggest voluntary academic testing and let the forces of the free market solve the education problem. Bush should be called the "doublethink" president, or the "doublespeak" president. The use of Orwell's 1984 is intentional. Bush has consistently attempted to solve the nation's problems by stating they do not exist and themselves. At the same time Bush promises one thing and contradicts it. This should come as no surprise because Bush had eight years of practice as vice president under Ronald Reagan. And before he served under Reagan, Bush obtained plenty of practice as director of the CIA under Gerald R. Kerry time Bush's best bounce take was when he government had any knowledge of the 1976 Washington assassination of Chile's ex-embassy Orlando Lete- We have seen how well the free market works with low-income housing and alternative forms of energy and mass transit. lier by Pinochet's secret police and anti-Castro Cuban exiles. Actually, Bush's statement of a "kinder, gentler America" should have served as an anon of what was to come. In this simple statement, Bush revealed his disdain for Reagan's eight years as president. After all, before becoming the vice presidential candidate in 1980, Bush called Reagan's supply-side economics "voodoo economics." So the nation will have to either approve Bush's tenure as president by re-electing him or reject Bush and his ghost policies for an alternative. Recently the National Education Association called Bush's bluff and it said it would not support him for reelection in 1992. Let us hope that the American public follows the National Education Association's example and supports Bush's next major decision take, convincing the electorate that he effectively executes his duty to the country as president of the United States. - Scott Link is a Green Bay, Wis., Spanish and Portuguese graduate student. LETTERS to the EDITOR American Indians deserve respect Most people do not understand why Native Americans are so offended by the "tomahawk chop," symbols and names used by professional sports. Most people do not want to take time to listen to them. Isn't that how American Indians have been treated since this country began? We would never think of naming an athletic team "The Blackies," "The Blackskins," "The Niggers" or "The Slaves." It would be extremely offensive to African-Americans. There are no blacks in the N.C. team, "Redskins," and the "Chiefs," and a Most Caucasians would not put black paint on their faces to imitate an African-American, yet thousands of people smear what they consider "war paint" on their faces to imitate Indians. Parents would never think of dressing their children in ragged pants and tights when treating on Halloween, yet fans dress themselves in recreated costumes and symbols of the American Indian. When are American Indians going to earn the same respect that is shown for African-Americans? professional baseball team, the "Braves." American Indians will no longer be silent. Respect for the symbols and culture of American Indians has to begin now. People who know me are probably thinking, "Why would Jeana write something like this?" I am tired of listening to the jokes and derogatory remarks. I am offended. Why? I am partially of American Indian descent. Jeana Jackson Lawrence graduate student The one who is first to save U.S. economy wins game With a presidential election coming up, Americans have an unusual civic opportunity. Just about anyone can be a political activist. And you can do it without sending in a campaign contribution, volunteering to stuff envelopes, making partisan phone calls, ringing doorbells or calling the police. In fact, you can make an impact without leaving the comfort or discomfort of your own home. It works this way: If the slump gets worse, and more people lose their jobs, a Democrat will have an excellent chance of beating Bush. Especially if the pink skips keep going to well-educated white collar workers, it won't accustomed to such rude treatment. Most political experts agree that the key to this election will be the economy. If times don't get much worse, or if they improve, President Bush has a good chance of being re-elected. (Of course, the political experts weren't saying this six months ago.) Then they agreed that bold warrior-chieftain Bush was unbeatable and we could be suicidal enough to run. That's why so many political experts are vo-os. But now what's his-name, Saddam Hussein, is old news. And when was the last time you heard anything about "Stormi'n' Norman," unless you are the booking agent for a speakers bureau? The welcome-home parades are over. The yellow ribbons are gone. And if anyone in Washington is thinking about the troops, it's in terms of how to persuade them to accept the troops early and cut the military pay. You'll ask will: "Uh-huh. And what kind of job you figure it can get out there?" Now it is bottom-line time. One of the oldest truths in American politics is that people vote their pocketbooks. When their pocketbooks runneth over, they hail the president's vision, wisdom, statesmanship and erect posture. But if they look in the pocketbook and see only lint and Kleenex, they ask how a boob like that ever stumbled into public office. And that is how you can help shape the outcome of next year's election even before you vote. Then what they should do to support Bush is spend. That's right, buy something right now. And tomorrow. And the day after. Whip out that checkbook. If you don't have enough in the account, use the credit card and pay later. Your car is wheezing? Don't put more money into that clunker. You still don't see? It's so simple. Mike Royko Syndicated columnist down to the showroom and drive home in something new. As the ads say, you owe it to yourself. You deserve it. Big-ticket items are the best. Wouldn't you like a big-screen TV? Or new furniture? Or maybe a personal computer? Or just need it tneed it and it will just confuse you? Then do it and help keep Bush in office. Go Christmas shopping immediately. Or order from a catalog if the weather is lousy. And don't be a cheap—let your loved ones know that you care enough to blow a wad. By spending, you will stimulate the economy and create jobs. The retailer, the wholesaler, the shipper, the manufacturer — you'll make them all happy. (Unfortunately, many of them are 5,000 miles away and speak no English, but some of it will trickle down here.) And don't worry about getting in over your head. Debt is good. If it wasn't, why would Bush have talked at lowering credit card interest rates so people would buy, buy, buy? Remember, we don't have debtors' prisons. And if you can't handle the payments, let them repossess. You can get a new piece of plastic and start over again later. That should be the Republican strategy. But for hard-core Democrats, it is just the opposite. Think poor. Think cheap. Think hot dogs and beans. Think resale shops. Think putting your coat on the mattress or burying it in the back. Think putting a bit a extreme, so put it into something that pays interest. Then don't touch it. But don't spend. Or spend as little as possible. Believe me, your wife will be thrilled when she removes the gift wrapping and funds a darning needle. If you get that Christmas bar of non-scented shaving soau you always wanted. When you see Dickens "A Christmas Carol" on TV, cheer for Scrooge—at least until he turns into a money-squandering fool. If enough Democrats do that, every time one of those economic indicators is announced, it will go down by two-tenths of one percent and Wall Street will have another nervous breakdown. If it will shriek: "What is Bush going to do?" And he'll say: "Indexes, not reliable. Future.bright." And off-camera: "Barbara, doo-doo deen." KANSAN STAFF HOLLY LAWTON Editor JENNIFERREYNOLDS Managing editor TOM EBLEN General manager,news adviser Editors JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser News Erik Erkis Editorial Kara Park Planning Sarah David Campus Eric Gorski Sports Mike Andrews Photo Brian Schoenii Features Tiffany Harness Graphics Melissa Unterberg RICHARD HARSHBARGER Retail sales manager KATIE STADER Business manager Business Staff Campus sales mgr...Leonay Brannan Regional sales mgr...Jeffrey Claxton National sales mgr...David McWilane Co-op sales mgr...Lisa Koefer Production mgrs...Jay Steinner, Wendy Sterts Marketing director. Creative director. David Habiger Classified mgr. Jennifer Jacquoin Letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words. They must include the writer's signature, name, address and telephone number. Writers affiliated with the University of Kansas must include class and homework, or faculty or staff position. Gestal tables should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be pho- The Kansan reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest column and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansan newroom, 111 Sausfer-Flint Hall. Loco Locals YA SEE. IN THE GBAND SCHEME OF THINKS MATERIAL POSSES WORK ARE NECESSARY WEIGHTS. SO YOU CAN HAVE MY STUFF. WCDWLN, MY RADIO PROGRAM AT KROB. Mike Royko is a syndicated columnist with the Chicago Tribune. by Tom Michaud