KANSAN COMMENT
hearing voices About Cambodia
To the editor:
It seems to be more than a coincidence that the U.S. should decide to invade Communist sanctuaries in Cambodia about the same time that Premier Lon Nol's shaky regime came under attack. It now appears that more than these sanctuaries are on the agenda for this campaign with our convos moving up the Mekong River toward Phnom Penh. This could be expected, however, for the U.S. has always responded reflexively to Communist threats.
Our policy in Southeast Asia, as well as all over the world, seems to be most concerned with retaining a stable, Right-wing form of government despite the manner in which this stability is facilitated. In our efforts to insure a pro-American government, we have been willing to support the power structures of countries headed by the generals and the wealthy, to the neglect of the lower classes who represent the large majority of the people. In supporting suppressive leaders, we antagonize the majority and force them to turn to other powers for assistance. Also, there is always the chance that U.S. troops will be needed to aid in the suppression of the rebels and keep our "chosen" government in power.
The effects of the present protests against our Southeast Asian policy will be, at best, temporary, unless our foreign policy undergoes changes which will result in the valuing of social justice and equality over political and economic stability which is bought at the price of individual freedom.
Don Vest
To the editor:
graduate student in Education
The YMCA-YWCA of the University of Kansas (known as the KU-Y) has until now remained a nonvocal organization on specific issues. It has instead offered its facilities for educational purposes such as a Dialogue Week on Vietnam in December and a White Racism institute in April. But we of the Y feel we can no longer remain silent on pressing issues of the university, Lawrence, and world communities. We have come to a point where we must take stands on issues and we must take whatever action possible through the Y to follow up support on our stands.
Therefore we feel we must add our voice to the already loud cry against President Nixon's policy of sending troops into Cambodia and therefore escalating what we believe to be an already immoral and unjust war. And we further deplore the senseless deaths of the four Kent State students and a situation in a democratic society where peaceful protests precipitated violence.
We do not speak for every member of the KU-Y when taking this or any stand on issues, any more than a bill passed in Congress speaks for every member of that body, but out of a consensus of the KU-Y Cabinet members, we present this stand.
Laura Friesen
Gary Gardner
Co-Presidents
'That takes care of the press, student unrest, Michigan University, Yale, Dr. Spock, permissive middle class parents, ministers and the National Council of Churches. What's your schedule for tomorrow?'
BY SOKOLOFF
David Sokoloff 1970
No results?
By LOUIS CASSELS
WASHINGTON (UPI)One reason so many problems remain unsolved in this democracy is that the public has a short attention span.
In all age groups, and particularly among the idealistic young, there is a tendency to flit from cause to cause, without pursuing any of them to a successful conclusion.
At the moment, pollution is the "in" issue. Citizens young and old are making histrionic gestures to dramatize their concern.
The concern indubitably is justified. The question is whether it will continue long enough to have any real impact on this complex and difficult problem.
Offers Little Optimism
Past experience offers little ground for optimism. Many of the same people now parading against pollution were demonstrating last year against the war in Vietnam.
This response overlooks the fact that there still are about 434,000 U.S. troops in Vietnam.
If you ask them why that issue is suddenly out of style, they explain that the get-out-of-Vietnam crusade has already attained its objective, so they now can turn their attention to something else.
Even if President Nixon is able to carry out his announced timetable for future withdrawals, there will be 284,000 American boys in the Southeast Asia war zone a year from now. At a highly conservative estimate, 2,000 of them will be killed and 17,000 wounded during the next year.
Far Cry From Demands
President Nixon's plan for gradual withdrawal may be the only practical and honorable course open to the United States. But it is a far cry from the immediate, total withdrawal which anti-war demonstrators were demanding in their moratoriums and mass rallies last fall.
Before Vietnam, the fad issue was poverty. And before poverty, it was civil rights.
No realist could believe for a moment that either of these movements has carried to a successful conclusion. Yet, in the words of one college activist, they are "definitely out of priority now."
This business of stampeding from one enthusiasm to another may be relatively harmless when it's a question of following the fashion in dress, music or slang. But it's no way to accomplish lasting results in alleviation of serious national problems.
Letters policy
Letters to the editor should be typewritten, double-spaced and should not exceed 500 words. All letters are subject to editing and condensation, according to space limitations and the editor's judgment. Students must provide their name, year in school and home town; faculty and staff must provide their name and position; others must provide their name and address.
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