4
University Daily Kansan/Tuesday, December 3. 1991
OPINION
Free-speech debate
Even hate expressions must be protected
Most people probably would agree that cross burning and yelling racial epithets are examples of repulsive, ignorant behavior. Additionally, most people probably would agree that such behavior annoys and disgusts others and should not be condoned. But should that behavior be against the law?
If you're in St. Paul, Minn., it is. Certain expressions of hate or "bias-motivated" acts are prohibited by law. The St. Paul law has become the focus of a debate between groups such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and People for the American Way, which support the law, and groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union, which opposes it
on the grounds of free speech. The case of a St. Paul family that was the victim of harassment in an east St. Paul neighborhood is going before the U.S. Supreme Court as the first test of the constitutionality of such laws.
However, the issue of free speech has not been confined to debate between special-interest groups. College campuses also have become embroiled in the controversy, with some universities attempting to limit certain expressions of speech that they consider objectionable. The University of Kansas has no such explicit prohibition against racial epithets but states that it should not provide a forum for expressions of hate or prejudice.
As objectionable as such expressions of hate or bias are, they cannot be prohibited. KU is correct in not attempting to stop "bias-motivated" acts because doing so would infringe on one's right to free speech. The principle of free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment does not mean that language always should be pleasant to hear.
How then are we to respond to ignorant, hateful behavior? The answer is simple: by acknowledging the right to say those hateful things but denying the relevance or meaningfulness of them.
Kevin Bartels for the editorial board
Too much free time leads to deep, random thoughts that beg the question: 'Should I get a life, or what?'
Scary things happen to those with lots of time.
After the whirlwind chaos of midterm passes, I found myself the recipient of plenty of free time. My priorities became a little lax and a matinee at Liberty Hall seemed more important than any reading assignment I had. Besides catching the flicks, I had time to think, to think about life.
Granted, I not Socrates or Nietzsche, nor do I want to be. My thoughts are much deeper than that. Please bear with my rambling, keeping in mind that I have, in fact, had lots of time:
I started thinking about how all the starving children on television are still starving, but Sally Struthers is consistently getting larger.
Is there an unwritten law that says once you reach 65, you must fall and break your hip?
If you watch television at 3 a.m., the Richard Simmons "I used to be fat" weep sessions are kind of interesting. It blows my mind that little Cindy Brady, in a bad career move, has been featured in some magazine under the
Matt
Walsh
Staff
columnist
heading "Hooters O' the Month" for reportedly entering the world of pornography.
- The campus group *Students Against Hunger* is a great organization, I'm sure, but why don't we have clubs that are equally as important like "Students Against Big Hair and Lycra on Large Thighs," or "Students Morally Opposed to Guatemalan Swatshirts and Pegged-Coug Jean's?" We can't but all the interesting people sit in front of us, and I die before my time from second-hand smoke because I enjoy good people-watching?
Why do women feel so comfortable telling each other how menstrual they feel? Guys don't hug each other and share their personal insights on jock-
itch at the drop of a hat
Have you ever noticed that even though the girl in the hot car asks if those are Bugle Boy jeans he's wearing that she's not overly impressed? Could it be that his denim of choice is the only thing keeping her from ripping off his clothes right there on the highway?
■ Why does really good cold water only readily come through the bathroom faucet?
Did anyone look at the blueprints to Wescrow Hall before it was built and say, "Now, that's a pretty layout?" "Now, that's both straps of a backpack anymore!"
- Did anyone ever go out and shop exclusively for a Pinto or go to Denny's because they wanted to?
Why are all the beautiful blondes at KU dying their roots brown?
■ David Letterman has done his show for years. Why doesn't he ever know how much time he has left or what is next?
Where do urinal deodorant cakes go?
- Speaking of talk-show hosts — is there anyone that Arsenio Hall does
What is it about some sorority women's fashion sense that says that all their hair pulled directly on top of them has a "scrunchie" barrette is a good look?
not love and respect when the guest is sitting on stage with him? "Let's get busy?" Not quite — more like, "Let's kiss booote!"
Anytime you use the word "jutapose" in an essay question, your professor is trained to pick on it and realize that you are shoving bull.
I think the key to having a popular restaurant in Lawrence is for all the waiters to have longer hair than the waitresses.
- Why do people from Kansas make fun of foreigners' "funny way a talkin'?"
I warned you free time's bad influence on me. You're probably sitting there thinking to yourselves," This poor boy needs a life! Well, perhaps I can give him lots of things. For example, I still need to know when those urinal cakes go.
Matt Walsh is an Emporia sophomore majoring in English.
LETTERS to the EDITOR
AIDS does discriminate
It is beyond any college student's comprehension how anyone will swallow such a pathetically absurd and irresponsible claim as was made in an editorial article in Nov. 20 Kanan that "AIDS does not discriminate."
The article had used a very narrow range of sampling groups of homosexuals, intravenous drug users and heterosexuals, as though these form the totality of the humans. AIDS clearly discriminates between two groups, discriminates having sex with one spouse and those having sex with more than one.
T. S. David English graduate student
While I too am opposed to unnecessary animal cruelty, the Kansan editorial opposing animal cruelty was troubling to me. Amy Francis, writing for the editorial board, makes many credible arguments against animal cruelty. She writes that animals provide love, are not supposed to be a release human frustrations or anger, are not so sensitive as humans, they are no longer convenient, are capable of feeling pain and have rights.
Cruelty applies to fetuses, too
What troubles me is the seeming hypocrisy in the Kansan's stance. Unborn children also provide love, are not supposed to be a release for human frustrations and anger, are not something to be thrown away when no longer convenient and are capable of feeling pain within the first trimester, yet the Kansan has consistently kept the child lighthearted whatsoever to the unborn. Why does the Kansan ignore its own convincing arguments which it offers against the abuse of animals when it addresses the issue of abuse of unborn children?
KaseyRogg
Kasey Rogg Lawrence second year law student
Despite Republican jeers Mario is a wonderful name
Politics is a rough game. And Mario Cuomo is seeing a preview of what he might be up against if he runs for president.
Then came Vice President Dan Quayle. During a television gab session, Quayle made a point of referring to the New York governor as Mario rather than as Gov. Cuomo, Mr. Cuomo or plain Cuomo.
He has already been accused by same Republicans of being named Mason.
There is no way Cuomo can deny it.
It's right there on his birth certificate and other official documents.
The next his-name-is-Mario blast came from Marin Litzfit Water, President Bush's press secretary, who said: "That's his name-Mario, Mario, Mario, Mario, Mario. He better get used to it."
So what does this mean? Is a moniker like Mario a political liability? If Cuomo is a candidate, would the Republicans be able to chant "Mario, Mario, Mario" and frighten millions of people into believing that with a president like Mario they will be forced to listen to grand opera and eat garlic?
This was taken by pundits to mean that someone with a foreign-sounding name like Mario would be viewed with Clint, Bubba or guys named Bart, Clint, Bubba or Ty.
Well, it is true that Mario is not a common name. I happen to know several Marios because live in a city that has a sizable Italian-American population. And almost any New Yorker knows a Mario or two.
His name was first raised as an issue by Sen. Phil Gramm, who said: "We don't have many Marios down (in Texas)."
I looked at him blankly, so he said, "I'll give you one clue, he breaks bricks with his head, he and his brother Luui."
Of course, how foolish of me to forget. The one and only Super Mario, the
When I mentioned this to my friend Slats Strogat, he said, "You're forgetting the most famous Mario in the history of the world."
But off the top of my head, I can think of only two other famous Marios: Mario Lanza, the Hollywood singing star Andretti, the famous racing driver.
Mike Royko Syndicated columnist
Nintendo game superstar
If you aren't familiar with Super Mario and don't know what thrill you have missed, he is a bricklayer. He must battle his way from one scary cave to building all of sorts of big and little monsters, while trying to save his princess.
If you have children or grandchildren, it is likely that you are familiar with Super Mario. About 40 million Mario games have been sold in the six years. It is the most popular video game there has ever been.
Some people are such avid Super Mario players that a medical journal has reported a painful condition known as "Super Mario Thumb," which is caused by hours of pressing the little buttons that make Mario run, leap, crouch and shoot his fireballs. (He is an unusual bricklayer.) Some people scoffed at the medical report. I didn't. My thumb hurt too much for me to laugh. Anyway, there is a world-famous Mario, although he is an animated creature. And this could work to Mario Cuomo's advantage.
Super Mario is heroic. He assumes a bold stance when standing still. And he never gives up, even when the little ones in his kingdom forget their names, land on his head.
So, despite what Sen. Gramm says and the "nah, nah, nah, your name is Mario" jibe from Marin Fitzwater, Mario is not an unfamiliar name to tens of millions of Americans. And they like him. The Super Mario, I mean. We still don't know whether the New York Mario is super.
And it should be noted that there is no brave, princess-rescuing, monster-fighting Nintendo character named Super George Herbert Walker. Nor is there a character named Super J.丹forth, especially among those who have a sense of the ridiculous. They might have to change the format though. When Super J.丹forth leaped and smashed bricks with his head, he might have to be programmed to sav. "Mommv. owwie!"
So the Republicans might be wise to drop the Mario name-battling gambit. Citizens who think Mario is a public man. And we have sore thumbs to prove it.
HOLLY LAWTON
Editor
KANSANSTAFF
JENNIFERREYNOLDS Managing editor
TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser
■ Mike Royko is a syndicated columnist with the Chicago Tribune.
News Erik Schultz
Editorial Karen Park
Planning Sarah Davis
Campus Eric Goraki
Sports Mike Andrews
Photo Brian Schooni
Features Tiffany Harness
Graphics Melissa Unterberg
Editors
JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser
KATIESTADER Business manager
RICHARD HARSHBARGER Retail sales manager
Business Staff
Campus sales mgrs ... Laime Bryant
Regional sales mgrs ... Jennifer Claxton
Creative director ... Lisa Keeler
Coop sales mgrs ... Lisa Keeler
Production mgrs ... Jay Steiner
Wendy Starz
Marketing director ... Mike Beane
Marketing manager ... Jennifer Jaworlogi
Classified mgrs ... Jennifer Jaworlogi
Business Staff
Letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words. They must include the writer's name, title, address, contact information, and must include class and hometown, or faculty or staff position. The letter should include a resume if appropriate. The cover letter will be on the back of the resume.
Guest columns should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be photographed.
The Kansan reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Staffer-Flint Hall.
Loco Locals
PICTURES, THAT WERE TAKEN
A MONITORIAL SURFACE
IN PLANGIRL...MY CREDIT
CARD IS BUSTED UP MY DEST.
THEN MY MOM, FEELING that
I DIDN'T STAY LONG ENOUGH,
FOR THANKSGIVING...FADS
GUIDO TO BEAT THE #! OUT OF ME
WHY ME GOD!?
IS IT FOR ALL
THOSE GIRLS I
HIT ON ... OR JUST
ONE IN PARTICULAR?
HOW CAN I MAKE it
UP TO YOU?!
by Tom Michaud
4