4
Monday, August 26, 1991 / University Daily Kansan
OPINION
Tainted methods
Operation Rescue has overstepped bounds
The national debate concerning abortion has found a new home in Wichita.
For more than 40 days, the anti-abortion protestors of Operation Rescue have targeted the city's clinics and health centers where abortions are performed. More than 2,500 protesters have been arrested in connection with attacks they have overtly defied U.S. District Judge Patrick Kelly's orders and remain firm in their commitment.
With that step, Operation Rescue has dealt itself a serious blow. Members have forfeited any claim to praise for using constitutional right to protest against the police in hostile infringement on the legal rights of others.
Operation Rescue members have made clear their message and their mission. Unfortunately, they have abandoned acceptable methods and have chosen to be zealous martyrs instead of legal
protesters.
Past protesters also have resorted to illegal methods to make their views known. During the Vietnam War draft cards were burned. But there is one intrinsic difference in those actions and Operation Rescuie's'draft card burners chose as individuals to be defiant and accepted responsibility for their actions, which did not infringe on other's rights.
Operation Rescue members continue to counteract their goals. As espouses of the pro-life philosophy, it is hypocritical when they threaten the safety of those who do not share their views.
In an Associated Press article published Wednesday, an Operation Rescue leader, Phil Vollman, had a message for one of the doctors who performs abortions.
"George Tiller, Your days are numbered," he
said. "Your family is in danger."
Another unacceptable aspect of the protest is the use of children as pawns. Adults simply shouldn't place children in a volatile situation and use them as their messengers.
They should be adult enough to speak for themselves and keep their own children safe.
It is also unfortunate that Kansas is forced to be shown in the national media as the home of the exec.
If Operation Rescue members want to try to change the image of law-breaking extremists they should return to the acceptable, legal, forms of protest. That might allow them to regain some of the respect they have lost.
Holly Neuman for the editorialboard
Beware of speculation, but...
Democracy could emerge after Soviet coup
The only conclusion anyone could reach in the early stages of the failed Soviet coup was to acknowledge that there was utter chaos. Now, with Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev safety back in Moscow talking candidly, emotionally and with his help, they were able to see the emergence of an astounding revolution.
But beware of the wild speculation that has started and will continue. Experts make predictions of who will emerge triumphant from Russian President Boris Yeltsin's and Gorbachev's competition, who will have success in contests and what will happen to Kansas farmers since Soviak grain purchases may be in jeopardy.
Keep in mind that the following weeks will be full of speculation because the future is uncertain.
What we can be sure of is that conservatives have been dealt a serious blow and that Yeltsin has
emerged as a national hero and champion of democracy. True, in the relatively free society Gorbache has created with *perestroika*, he and Yeltsin were adversaries, but no more so than Republicans and Democrats are here. During a coup, both of them were allies fighting for democ-
What is astounding about these events is that it requires the words revolution, democracy and the Soviet Union be issued with the same breath. Not since 1917 has there been such an apparent funda-
ment of resistance to any people or Russia. Just a decade ago President Reagan called the Soviet Union an "Evil Empire."
President Bush's foreign policy has been exactly as it should be. Bush displayed outrage at the coup and his rhetoric demanding the coup leaders step down was appropriate without implying any
threat. It is, after all, an internal matter of the Soviet Union.
Sending Secretary of State Baker to confer with the NATO allies, although a minor event, should not go unnoticed. The move showed a basic courtesy to our allies and will promote a feeling of trust with them.
No matter what happens in the near future, it will be interesting to see if Soviet democracy flourishes and what Bush will do. At this time, Bush and the rest of the United States are spectators at what could be the birth of a truly democratic Soviet Union. But remember about wild speculation.
Stay tuned.
Thistles of campus life test student tolerance
Good day children, it is the beginning of yet another year before we experience our parent's forewarned "Real World."
The dreary land our parents spoke of when discussing mortgages and tax shelters may be looming in the air like that questionable period after really loud flatulence, but until then, we, as college students, live in a "quasi-real world."
In this place we must deal with the frustrations of getting classes, paying for books and having multitudes of students. We have students thrown at us on our way to pay fees.
Preparation for school used to consist of having *Mom* take us clothes shopping until her gold card cried out for mercy. Now, our frames of mind have changed slightly and we're thinking to ourselves, "I'm sure this underwear will last another year."
Finding suitable housing is the first step before school starts. Many people worry a little bit too much about which residence hall they'll have to live in.
Roommates usually play a factor whether you're in a hall or in your own apartment. Of course, you think of your roommate in different ways according to which housing arrangement you have.
If you live in a hall, you may measure how much you like your roomie by the closet space he\she allots you. Roommates are generally more of an
Matt Walsh
Staff
Columnist
economical element when renting an apartment.
Classes are not classes without obscensely inflated book prices. We are paying a lot of money to see what some bored English student did last semester, and we can picture a picture of Emily Dickinson needed a little facial hair and Satan horns.
I find the need to end this jumble of words feeling fairly confident that I've warned you of at least a couple key factors of living at KU. Even in our "quasireal world" you must always follow the eleventh commandment - Never Let Them See You Sweat.
Residency established, numerous unsavvy tasks await you. Getting the classes you need without getting teachers who abuse two letters of our alphabet (namely T.A.) can be a true chore. Add/Drop period can be a marathon experience consisting of running all over campus with a closed class opener slip clutched in your hands like a baton in a relay.
President's craftiness foils Democrats again
Matt Walsh is an Emporia sophomore planning to major in journalism.
Benjamin Allen for the editorial board.
It didn't take long for President Bush to put his Democratic critics in their place.
They've been complaining that he is indifferent to domestic problems and spends most of his time jetting to far-off places with strange-sounding names.
But as soon as he returned from his last assault, Bush pulled back. And he fired again.
Before dashing to the golf course, he made a speech to a gathering of law enforcement officials. And made his own key domestic issue perfectly clear.
He is against crime.
DeRipper said, "It took a lot of courage on Bush's part to come out against crime and to stand up for law and order. Remember, there are millions of criminals in this country, and many of them vote.
Bush's bold stance took many political observers by surprise. Among them, Jack DeRipper, a Republican strategist and media consultant.
"But by daring to stake out this anticrime position, he has made it difficult for the Democrats, especially if they run a candidate who comes out against law and order and in favor of crime."
Is that likely?
Mike
Royko
Syndicated
columnist
"Anything is possible, except that which is impossible. But I believe that this shows that there is no validity to the claims that Bush doesn't have any domestic agenda. And I'm sure that this will be only the first in a series of strong domestic positions that he will take."
those who believe it is their right to be unhappy and miserable? Or those who don't want some uppity neighbor to have a better life?
"Yes, but as I said, he is willing to take an unpopular position if he believes it is the right thing to do."
"Domestic tranquility. Bush is ready to take a stand in favor of it. And the strength of his belief in this issue can be seen in the White House itself. Those who have visited the White House can attest to the tranquility of the domestic help.
I'm sure of that. But what are the other national issues?
But doesn't that risk alienating
But what about issues such as the environment? The Democrats say that Bush is vulnerable on that point.
"He is a great believer in preserving the environment, and no president has demonstrated it more dramatically." In what use?
"You have seen how often he goes fishing, haven't you?"
Yes, many times.
"Well he hasn't hurt one fish vet."
No, George, not the priorities in Maine, but the ones that we, the American people, are worried about, and the same issues that the Soviet people worry about, such as poverty, pollution, inflation and civil rights just to name a few.
Bush should trade his tackle box for a soap box to speak about domestic issues
■ Mike Royko is a syndicated columnist with the Chicago Tribune.
Thank goodness this attempted coup to overthrow democracy in the Soviet Union is over, George Bush now you can get back to your domestic affairs.
Daniel Janousek Staff columnist
It's time to quit gloating about your foreign policy successes, (a fact that is still being debated) and start hammering out some substantial work on the issues that concern us most. But you don't stop, do you George?
The day the coup ended you had the gall to tell us that suspension of aid to the Soviet Union may have had something to do with the overthrow of the coup leaders. No, George, it was the people and their conviction for freedom with less government regulation that did it.
The people of the Soviet Union, like
the people of the United States, do not wish to be patronized by the rich and powerful, whether they be nations, or wealthy individuals like yourself.
All too many times in the past few decades have those in power forgotten the will of the people, and all you have to do, I look is at the headlines a little more closely to learn from them.
Ask yourself: Why did the Berlin Wall crumble? Was it a bad mix of concrete, or was it the will of the people?
Ask yourself: Why did the coup in the Soviet Union fail? Did the leaders just become ill, or did they listen to the people?
Ask yourself: Why do the American people cry out for domestic reform? Have they nothing better to do, George, or are their concerns real and of the utmost importance to them?
There are few who can remember the last time you talked to your people about domestic affairs, fewer still who
Look, we all know what you are against, and the fact that your veto stamp is wearing out proves it. Put away the tackle box, George, and kindly step up to the Mike.
Oh, I guess you'll have to, your next battle is, well, "Coming next November to the theater near you."
can put a finger on what you're going to do about them.
Daniel Janousek is a Dodge City junior majoring in journalism.
KANSANSTAFF
HOLLY LAWTON
Editor
JENNIFER REYNOLDS
Managing editor
General manager, news adviser
TOMEBLEN
Editors
News ... Erik Schutz
Editorial ... Karen Park
Planning ... Sarah Davis
Campus ... Eric Gorski
Sports ... Mike Andrews
Photo ... Brian Scheooni
Features .. Tiffany Harness
Graphics .. Melissa Unterberg
KATIE STADER Business manager
Campus sales mgr ... Leanne Bryant
Regional sales mgr ... Jennifer Claxton
National sales mgr ... David McLwainte
Co-op sales mgr ... Lisa Keeler
Production mgrs ... Jay Steiner,
Marketing director ... Wendy Sertz
Creative director ... David Haggerty
Classified mgr ... Jennifer Jacquoin
RICH HARSHBARGER Retail sales manager
Business Staff
JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser
Letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 300 words. They must include the writer's signature, name, address and telephone number. Writers are affiliated with the University of Kansas
The Kankan reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kankan newsroom, 111 Staffer-Flint Hall.
Great columns should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 20 words. The writer will be phonetized.
Loco Locals
TODAY, ON K-BLAB, THE EMOTIONS PARENTS EXPERIENCE AS THEIR CHILDREN GO OFF TO COLLEGE. WITH ME IS MY OWN MOTHER TO SHARE 'HER FEELINGS.'
by Tom Michaud